Deployable UV Wing for Mobile Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UV disinfection devices are inefficient for horizontal and textured surfaces due to vertically oriented UV sources, which require manual relocation and prolonged exposure times, posing safety risks and inefficiencies in germicidal UV light delivery.
Innovation Solution
A mobile sanitization apparatus with a deployable wing that can orient UV sources from vertical to horizontal positions, allowing close proximity to surfaces and adjustable angles for effective UV radiation delivery, combined with a protective shield for operator safety, enabling rapid disinfection of both vertical and horizontal surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vertically oriented UV sources are used, then UV disinfection can be performed, but UV effectiveness on horizontal and textured surfaces is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The UV source is mounted on a deployable wing that can be extended and oriented at different angles relative to the mobile body. This dynamic positioning system allows the UV source to adapt its orientation to match the surface being disinfected, whether vertical, horizontal, or textured, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable UV disinfection and achieving versatility across different surface types.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a fixed vertical UV source orientation to a multi-dimensional positioning system where the UV source can be extended laterally and angled to achieve optimal proximity and orientation relative to various surface geometries. This dimensional flexibility enables effective UV delivery on horizontal and textured surfaces while maintaining disinfection reliability.
2Reliability
If UV sources are positioned close to surfaces for optimal disinfection, then UV delivery effectiveness improves, but operator safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a mobile body that remains at a safe distance from surfaces and a deployable UV wing that extends close to surfaces for optimal UV delivery. This segmentation allows the UV source to achieve close proximity positioning for effective disinfection while the operator controls the device from the safe mobile body, resolving the contradiction between UV effectiveness and operator safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployable wing acts as an intermediary between the operator (on the mobile body) and the surface being disinfected. It extends the UV source close to the surface while maintaining physical separation between the operator and the hazardous UV radiation zone, thereby enabling effective disinfection without compromising operator safety.
3Reliability
If stationary UV devices are used, then UV disinfection can be performed, but manual relocation to multiple locations is required
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile UV device combines the UV disinfection capability of stationary devices with the mobility to relocate between multiple locations. The integrated mobile platform with deployable UV wings can service multiple surfaces and locations without requiring manual relocation of separate devices, thereby maintaining disinfection reliability while significantly improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges multiple stationary UV device functions into a single mobile platform that can sequentially or simultaneously service multiple locations. By combining mobility with UV disinfection capability in one integrated system, the device eliminates the need for manual relocation of separate stationary devices, resolving the contradiction between maintaining disinfection capability and improving disinfection speed.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple UV devices are used simultaneously to cover all surfaces, then complete surface coverage is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile UV device is designed as a universal platform capable of disinfesting multiple surface types (vertical, horizontal, textured) and multiple locations through its deployable wing system. This single multi-functional device replaces the need for multiple specialized stationary UV devices, achieving complete surface coverage while reducing system complexity and cost.
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
Achieves 99.9% bacterial kill rates in as little as 3 minutes per room, significantly reducing infection transmission and treatment times while maintaining operator safety by allowing manual operation and optimal UV source positioning.
Implementation Method 1
a source of UV radiation mounted on the sanitization device... exposing the surface to UV radiation produced by the source
Data Source
AI summary
Sanitizing surfaces comprising a sanitization device including a mobile body; and extending the sanitization device (102) laterally from the mobile body across a surface. A source of UV radiation (104) is mounted on the sanitization device. The sanitization device moves across the surface; exposing the surface to UV radiation produced by the source; directing a source of UV radiation to the surface at a predetermined dosage while the device moves over surface. Moving and locating the sanitization device can be inwardly and outwardly relative to the mobile body to extend at different angles being from a horizontal angle relative to the mobile body to a non-horizontal angle relative to the mobile body and to effect sanitization when so extended. The device is operable upwardly and downwardly across the surface while effecting the sanitation.