Ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultraviolet disinfecting apparatuses often create shadows, leading to inadequate UV light coverage beneath the device, necessitating longer disinfection times or additional disinfection steps.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a dual set of UV emitters, with mercury vapour lamps forming a perimeter to cover the room and LEDs positioned beneath to eliminate shadows, ensuring comprehensive disinfection without extended operation times or secondary disinfection steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single set of UV emitters is used to disinfect a room, then the device structure is simple, but shadow areas form beneath the apparatus resulting in inadequate UV coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The UV emitter system is segmented into two distinct sets: a first set positioned to emit UV light into the room, and a second set positioned to emit UV light into the region beneath the base region. This segmentation eliminates shadow areas by distributing UV emission from multiple spatial locations, ensuring comprehensive coverage without requiring complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a vertical dimension to UV emission by positioning the second set of UV emitters to illuminate the region beneath the base region. This multi-dimensional emission approach (combining horizontal and vertical UV propagation) eliminates shadow areas that would otherwise exist beneath the apparatus, achieving uniform coverage without increasing horizontal structural complexity.
2Reliability
If UV emitters are energised for longer periods to ensure sufficient dose in shadow areas, then adequate disinfection is achieved, but the disinfection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the UV emitter system into two sets positioned at different locations, the invention enables simultaneous illumination of both the room interior and the region beneath the base region. This eliminates shadow areas during the disinfection process, allowing adequate UV dosage to be delivered to all surfaces without extending the disinfection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual set of UV emitters operates continuously and simultaneously to provide uninterrupted UV illumination throughout the entire room, including previously shadowed areas. This continuous multi-directional UV emission ensures that all surfaces receive adequate dosage during the standard disinfection cycle, eliminating the need for extended operation or additional disinfection steps.
3Reliability
If additional disinfection steps are performed to address shadow areas, then complete disinfection is achieved, but the overall process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV emitter system is segmented into two spatially distributed sets, with the first set illuminating the room and the second set illuminating the region beneath the base region. This integrated dual-emitter configuration eliminates shadow areas in a single disinfection operation, removing the need for additional discrete disinfection steps or apparatus repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus performs multiple disinfection functions simultaneously: the first set of UV emitters disinfects the room interior while the second set disinfects the region beneath the base region. This multi-functional design achieves complete disinfection coverage in a single operation, eliminating the need for separate disinfection steps or additional equipment.
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 configuration enhances disinfection speed and efficiency by ensuring uniform UV light coverage, reducing the need for extended operation or additional disinfection methods.
Implementation Method 1
The UV emitters of the first set may each take the form of a mercury vapour lamp
Implementation Method 2
The UV emitters of the second set may each take the form of an LED lamp
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus for disinfecting a room, the apparatus comprising: a support structure with a base region; a first set of UV emitters supported by the support structure to form a perimeter about which UV light can be emitted into said room; and a second set of UV emitters supported by the support structure such that they can emit UV light into a region of said room which lies beneath the base region and inside the perimeter.