Aircraft UV Sanitization Enclosure with Safety Interlock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft sanitization systems are limited in their ability to sanitize surfaces frequently contacted by passengers and crew members during flights, such as trays, handles of overhead storage bins, and lavatory handles, without disrupting flight operations or exposing passengers to UV radiation.
Innovation Solution
The development of an aircraft sanitization system that incorporates sets of UV LEDs affixed to various surfaces and enclosures within the aircraft, including safety belts, trays, armrests, and handles, which can sanitize these surfaces during flights by activating the UV LEDs in closed or locked states to prevent exposure to passengers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV light is used to sanitize surfaces during flights, then the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms is reduced, but passengers and crew members are exposed to harmful UV radiation
Solution Approach 1:
A reflective surface is introduced as an intermediary between the UV light source and the surfaces to be sanitized. The reflective surface directs UV light onto trays, handles, and other frequently contacted surfaces, enabling sanitization while positioning the UV source away from passengers and crew members to minimize exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV lighting system is segmented into multiple targeted sources positioned at specific locations (overhead bins, tray tables, lavatories) rather than a single comprehensive source. This allows localized sanitization of high-touch surfaces while limiting UV exposure to specific zones away from occupied areas.
2Productivity
If UV LEDs are installed in enclosures like stowage encasings and armrests, then continuous sanitization of high-touch surfaces is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
UV LED sanitization components are merged with existing aircraft furniture and fixtures. UV LEDs are integrated into armrests, tray tables, overhead bin encasings, and lavatory fixtures, combining sanitization functionality with structural elements already present in the aircraft interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV LED modules are designed to serve multiple functions: sanitizing different surfaces (trays, handles, armrests) depending on their installation location. A single UV LED component can sanitize multiple high-touch surfaces within its radiation range, reducing the total number of separate sanitization devices needed.
3Reliability
If UV sanitization is performed in enclosed spaces like stowage encasings, then complete coverage of surfaces is achieved, but the space required for encasements increases
Solution Approach 1:
UV LED components are nested within existing structural cavities and hollow spaces of aircraft furniture. For example, UV LEDs are positioned inside the hollow sections of armrests, within the storage compartments of overhead bins, and in the recesses of tray table mechanisms, utilizing existing void spaces rather than adding external encasements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing uniform UV coverage throughout entire enclosures, the system focuses UV radiation locally onto specific high-touch surfaces such as tray surfaces, handle grips, and armrest exteriors. This targeted approach achieves effective sanitization of critical surfaces without requiring large enclosed spaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables continuous sanitization of high-touch aircraft surfaces during flights, effectively reducing the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms while ensuring passenger safety by preventing direct UV exposure.
Implementation Method 1
Ultraviolet (UV) light waves in a wavelength range of 100 nano-meter (nm) to 280 nm are germicidal in nature. The germicidal wavelength range of UV corresponds to short-wavelength UV, also known as UV-C.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft sanitization device is disclosed. The aircraft sanitization device includes a curved enclosure operatively coupled to a first surface of an enclosed area. At a first position the curved enclosure at least partially encloses a handle affixed to the first surface. A set of Ultraviolet (UV) Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) configured to sanitize the handle are affixed to an inner surface of the curved enclosure. At least one switch therein is activated in a closed state and deactivated in an open state of the enclosed area. At least one locking mechanism is configured to engage with the first surface in the closed state and disengage with the first surface in the open state. A controller is configured to activate the set of UV LEDs, when each of the at least one switch is activated and the locking mechanism engages the first surface in the closed state.