Ultraviolet ray irradiation equipment having scraper rings fitted to light transmission tubes

Abstract

An ultraviolet light irradiation apparatus providing combined mechanical and chemical cleaning of light irradiation tubes for removing radiation blocking precipitates from the surface of the tubes. A scraper ring is fitted to the outside of each of the tubes and includes a chamber for receiving a relatively small quantity of cleaning solution. The scraper rings are reciprocated in a sliding action along the tubes which action synergistically acts with the cleaning solution to remove precipitates from the tube surface including fine particles lodged in concave pits in the tube surface.

1. An ultraviolet light irradiation apparatus for irradiating untreated water or other fluids, comprising:
 a light transmission tube having an internal light irradiation lamp;    a scraper ring slidably and tightly fitted to the circumference surface of the light transmission tube;    said scraper ring having an internal cleaning solution chamber communicating with means for providing a chemical solution;    wherein said scraper ring is movably mounted so as to be reciprocally moved over the circumference surface of said light transmission tube to clean said light transmission tube and wherein said means for providing a chemical solution feeds the cleaning solution into said cleaning solution chamber as said scraper ring is reciprocally moved; and    mechanical means for reciprocally sliding said scraper ring over the circumference surface of said light transmission tube.    
     
     
       2. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing material fitted against the surface of said light transmission tube and adjacent to said cleaning solution chamber. 
     
     
       3. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the sealing material is an O-ring. 
     
     
       4. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for reciprocally sliding comprises a moving frame fitted to a rotating screw stem installed externally to said light transmission tube, and a drive means for rotating said screw stem in normal and reverse order. 
     
     
       5. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the drive means is a motor. 
     
     
       6. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising means for reciprocally sliding said scraper ring over the circumference surface of said light transmission tube. 
     
     
       7. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the means for reciprocally sliding comprises a moving frame fitted to a rotating screw stem installed externally to said light transmission tube, and a drive means for rotating said screw stem in normal and reverse order. 
     
     
       8. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the drive means is a motor. 
     
     
       9. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the scraper ring is composed of an elastic material. 
     
     
       10. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning solution chamber has an open annular configuration such that the opening portion is adjacent to and circles the surface of the light transmission tube and wherein the means for providing a chemical solution introduces the chemical solution into the chamber so that the solution flows annularly over the surface of the light transmission tube. 
     
     
       11. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein a plurality of scraper rings are mounted to the frame and are reciprocated together with the frame. 
     
     
       12. The ultraviolet ray apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for providing a chemical solution comprises a chemical solution supply pipe. 
     
     
       13. The ultraviolet ray apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the rotating screw stem and drive means are configured above the tube and spaced apart therefrom so as to be above the flow level of the fluid to be irradiated. 
     
     
       14. An ultraviolet light irradiation apparatus for irradiating untreated water or other fluids, comprising:
 a plurality of light transmission tubes each having an internal light irradiation lamp;  
 a plurality of scraper rings slidably and tightly fitted to the circumference surface of each of the light transmission tubes;  
 said scraper rings each having an internal cleaning solution chamber;  
 means for reciprocally moving the scraper rings together over the circumference surface of the respective light transmission tubes to clean said light transmission tubes; and  
 means coupled to the cleaning solution chamber of each of said scraper rings for supplying cleaning solution to said plurality of scraper rings while said scraper rings are reciprocated along said light transmission tubes, said means for supplying comoving with said scraper rings as they are reciprocated over said light transmission tubes, and wherein said means for reciprocally moving said scraper rings is independent of said means for supplying cleaning solution.  
 
     
     
       15. The ultraviolet ray apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said means for supplying cleaning solution is a common supply pipe communicating with said plurality of cleaning solution chambers. 
     
     
       16. A method for cleaning the surface of a UV light emitting tube of a light irradiating apparatus immersed in a liquid to be treated, employing a scraper ring having an internal annular chamber fitted over the tube, comprising the steps of:
 reciprocating the scraper ring back and forth over the surface of the tube; and  
 feeding a chemical cleaning solution into the chamber, so as to annularly flow about the surface of the tube, while the scraper ring is reciprocated along the tube;  
 and wherein said reciprocating step is not dependent on said feeding step.  
 
     
     
       17. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said internal cleaning solution chamber is connected to means for recirculation of cleaning solution. 
     
     
       18. The ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said internal cleaning solution chamber is connected to means for discharging of cleaning solution. 
     
     
       19. The method for cleaning the surface of a UV light emitting tube as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said chemical cleaning solution in said chamber is recycled. 
     
     
       20. The method for cleaning the surface of a UV light emitting tube as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said chemical cleaning solution is discharged from said chamber after flowing about the surface of the tube.