Annular Gasper Knob With Embedded UV LEDs for Full-Surface Sanitization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sanitization methods for aircraft interiors, particularly gasper knobs, are inadequate in ensuring thorough disinfection of small components that are difficult to reach with conventional UV illumination due to line-of-sight limitations.
Innovation Solution
Embedding UV LEDs directly into gasper knobs made of UV-transparent material, allowing for comprehensive sanitization of all surfaces by directing UV illumination through the knob itself, and controlling air flow using a central cone mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional UV illumination is used for sanitization, then the sanitization system is simple and inexpensive, but it cannot thoroughly disinfect small components like gasper knobs due to line-of-sight limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The UV LED is embedded within the gasper knob structure itself, with the light source positioned inside the knob and the UV-transparent material forming the outer shell. This nested configuration allows UV radiation to emanate from within the component, ensuring all surfaces including internal passages and external surfaces are thoroughly illuminated without requiring external UV sources or complex positioning systems.
Solution Approach 2:
A UV-transparent material is used as an intermediary between the UV LED light source and the surfaces requiring sanitization. This material allows UV radiation to pass through while forming the structural body of the gasper knob, enabling the light to reach all surfaces without direct line-of-sight from an external source, thus solving the shadowing problem inherent in conventional illumination.
2Reliability
If UV LEDs are embedded in gasper knobs, then all surfaces of the knob are thoroughly sanitized, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gasper knob structure and UV sanitization system are merged into a single integrated component. The UV LED, UV-transparent material, and gasper knob housing are combined such that the knob itself serves as both the functional air flow control element and the UV radiation source. This integration eliminates the need for separate UV illumination systems and reduces the number of assembly steps compared to attaching external UV components.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the gasper knob are changed by selecting UV-transparent materials with appropriate optical transmission characteristics. This parameter change allows the material to serve dual functions: maintaining structural integrity and air flow control while simultaneously transmitting UV radiation for sanitization. The LED wavelength and intensity parameters are also optimized to match the transmission properties of the selected material.
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
Ensures effective disinfection of gasper knobs by eliminating line-of-sight limitations, providing thorough sanitization of passenger-interaction surfaces and reducing the risk of microbial transmission within aircraft cabins.
Implementation Method 1
a UV illuminator mounted to the gasper knob. The UV illuminator includes a strip of light emitting diodes (LED's) configured to emit UV illumination through the UV transparent material
Implementation Method 2
illumination using a UV illuminator mounted to the gasper knob to destroy structures of microbes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 4
AI summary
An air gasper knob system for an overhead Passenger Service Unit (PSU) (10) includes an annular gasper knob (102) of a UV transparent material. The annular gasper knob defines an air passage (108) therethrough, and extends about the air passage from a first annular end face (104) to a second annular end face (106). The system also includes a UV illuminator (110) mounted to the gasper knob, oriented to transmit UV illumination through the UV transparent material to sanitize exterior surfaces of the gasper knob. A method of sanitizing an air gasper knob comprises illuminating a gasper knob in an overhead PSU using UV illumination to destroy infectious agents on surfaces of the gasper knob.