Submerged Lighting Fixture Anti-Biofouling via UVC Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Submerged lighting fixtures in marine environments suffer from biofouling, where biological organisms such as barnacles and algae adhere to the surfaces, obstructing the transmission of visible light and reducing the effectiveness of the fixtures for both functional and decorative purposes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a sealed chamber with a window member made of UV-transmissible materials, such as quartz, and a source of UVC radiation within the chamber to inhibit biofouling by emitting UVC radiation that prevents the adherence of biological organisms on the surface, ensuring effective light transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If lighting fixtures are installed in submerged marine environments, then functional and decorative lighting purposes are served, but biological organisms adhere to the surfaces and obstruct light transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating UVC radiation sources that continuously emit ultraviolet light before and during the potential attachment of biological organisms. This pre-emptive measure creates an antimicrobial barrier on the window member surface, preventing biofouling before it can compromise light transmission effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UVC radiation as an intermediary substance between the lighting fixture and marine environment. The UVC light acts as a mediating field that eliminates biological organisms in the water near the window member surface, allowing the lighting fixture to maintain reliability while serving diverse marine applications.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional lighting fixtures are used in submerged environments, then installation is simple, but biofouling accumulates and requires maintenance intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by integrating UVC radiation sources within the lighting fixture itself, enabling the fixture to automatically combat biofouling without external intervention. The system maintains its own performance by continuously emitting UVC light that prevents organism attachment, eliminating the need for manual cleaning or maintenance during the service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by designing the lighting fixture to simultaneously provide both illumination and UVC radiation throughout its operational life. The UVC emission continues uninterrupted, maintaining the anti-biofouling effect continuously, which extends service life without requiring periodic maintenance interruptions.
3Reliability
If UVC radiation is applied to prevent biofouling, then light transmission is maintained, but additional components increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the UVC radiation source with the visible light source within a single integrated lighting fixture. Both radiation sources are housed together with shared structural components, sealing, and mounting mechanisms, reducing overall complexity compared to separate systems while maintaining light transmission effectiveness through the window member.
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
The solution effectively prevents biofouling, allowing for wider and more diverse use of submerged lighting fixtures, maintaining their operational efficiency and extending their service life without compromising marine structures or vessels.
Implementation Method 1
a source of ultraviolet radiation inserted within the window member and arranged to direct ultraviolet radiation comprised of UVC radiation for transmission to the outer surface of the window member
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting fixture and method resist bio-fouling of the outer surface of a window of the lighting fixture when submerged and exposed to biological organisms within a surrounding environment. Ultraviolet radiation is directed to the outer surface of the window from a source inserted within the window, enabling transmission of ultraviolet radiation to the outer surface of the window of an intensity limited to essentially that which is effective in rendering the outer surface immune to adherence of biological organisms to which the outer surface of the window is exposed when submerged, and thereby allowing light from a source behind the window to be projected effectively through the window and into the surrounding environment.