Air germicidal device

Abstract

An air germicidal treatment device and system for removing or eliminating unwanted pathogens or bacteria in an airstream is shown. The device or system has a removable irradiation chamber that divides an interior area of the device into an air pre-chamber area, an air post-chamber area and an irradiation area therebetween. The removable irradiation chamber is generally trapezoidal in shape and has end walls that are inclined with respect to an interior divider wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An irradiation chamber for use in a germicidal device comprising:
 a chamber housing defining a primary chamber;   at least one spar or deflector situated in said chamber housing for increasing a length of an air pathway through the irradiation chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The irradiation chamber as recited in  claim 1  wherein said chamber housing comprises a first wall and a generally opposing second wall, each of which are generally trapezoidal in shape and a first end wall and a second end wall coupling the ends of said first and second walls and being generally inclined relative to each other;
 said at least one spar or deflector being situated in said chamber housing to define a first chamber and a second chamber so that airflow is directed in a generally U-shaped path, said airflow passing into and through said first chamber in a first direction, around an edge of said at least one spar or deflector, and then into said second chamber where said airflow passes through said second chamber in a second direction that is generally opposite said first direction. 
 
     
     
         3 . The irradiation chamber as recited in  claim 2  wherein said irradiation chamber comprises a reducer for reducing air velocity and linearity of said airflow as it passes through said irradiation chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The irradiation chamber as recited in  claim 3  wherein said reducer comprises a plurality of multitude of discrete, randomly oriented and radiation-transmitting objects situated in at least one of said first chamber or said second chamber. 
     
     
         5 . A germicidal device comprising:
 a device housing;   a removable irradiation chamber;   means for reducing velocity and linearity of air flowing through said removable irradiation chamber;   at least one airflow generator for creating an airstream through said germicidal device; and   a germicidal irradiation source for inactivating airborne microbes and unwanted bacteria in said airstream.   
     
     
         6 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 5  wherein said irradiation chamber is configured to define an air pre-chamber area adapted to facilitate preventing radiation leakage from said chamber and an air post-chamber area adapted to prevent radiation leakage from said chamber after said removable irradiation chamber is removable mounted in said device housing. 
     
     
         7 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 6  wherein said air pre-chamber and said air post-chamber are generally triangular. 
     
     
         8 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 6  wherein said air at least one airflow generator comprises a first airflow generator mounted in proximity to a first end of said device housing for creating a positive air pressure in said air pre-chamber and a second airflow generator mounted in proximity to a second end of said device housing for creating a negative pressure in said post-chamber area. 
     
     
         9 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 5  wherein said germicidal irradiation source is ultraviolet radiation. 
     
     
         10 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 5  wherein said means for reducing velocity and linearity comprises at least one spar or deflector being situated in a chamber housing to define a first chamber and a second chamber so that airflow is directed in a generally U-shaped path, said airflow passing into and through said first chamber in a first direction, around an edge of said at least one spar or deflector, and then into said second chamber where said airflow passes through said second chamber in a second direction that is generally opposite said first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 10  wherein said irradiation chamber comprises a reducer for reducing air velocity and linearity of said airflow as it passes through said irradiation chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 11  wherein said reducer comprises a plurality of multitude of discrete, randomly oriented and radiation-transmitting objects situated in at least one of said first chamber or said second chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 5  wherein said device housing comprises a first wall and a generally opposing second wall, each of which are generally trapezoidal in shape, a first end wall and a second end wall coupling the ends of said first and second walls to define an irradiation chamber, said generally opposing first and second walls being generally inclined relative to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 13  wherein said irradiation chamber comprises at least one spar or divider that divides said irradiation chamber to provide a first chamber area, a second chamber area and a joining area for joining said first and second chamber areas, said first and second chamber areas and said joining area cooperating to define a generally U-shaped or V-shaped airflow passageway. 
     
     
         15 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 5  wherein said irradiation chamber comprises at least one spar or divider that divides said irradiation chamber to provide a first chamber area for receiving airflow from said at least one airflow generator, a second chamber area and a joining area for joining said first and second chamber areas, said first and second chamber areas and said joining area cooperating to define a generally U-shaped or V-shaped airflow passageway. 
     
     
         16 . The irradiation chamber as recited in  claim 15  wherein said joining area is operatively related and generally opposed to said germicidal irradiation source. 
     
     
         17 . The irradiation chamber as recited in  claim 15  wherein said irradiation chamber is a one-piece construction and removable mounted in said germicidal device. 
     
     
         18 . A germicidal treatment system comprising:
 a housing;   an irradiation source;   an irradiation chamber that is sized and adapted to be removable mounted in said housing, said irradiation chamber cooperating with said housing to define an air pre-chamber and an air post-chamber, said irradiation chamber having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and an irradiation opening that becomes operatively associated with said irradiation source in order to receive radiation from said irradiation source;   a first airflow generator mounted on said housing and adapted to generate a positive pressure in said air pre-chamber and for introducing airflow from said air pre-chamber to said inlet opening; and   a second airflow generator mounted on said housing and adapted to generate a negative pressure in said air post-chamber and for permitting said airflow to exit said outlet opening and into said air post-chamber.   
     
     
         19 . The germicidal treatment system as recited in  claim 18  wherein said air pre-chamber and said air post-chamber are generally triangular. 
     
     
         20 . The germicidal treatment system as recited in  claim 18  wherein said first airflow generator is mounted in proximity to a first end of said housing for creating said positive air pressure in said air pre-chamber and said second airflow generator is mounted in proximity to a second end of said housing for creating said negative pressure in said air post-chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The germicidal treatment system as recited in  claim 18  wherein said irradiation source is ultraviolet radiation. 
     
     
         22 . The germicidal treatment system as recited in  claim 18  wherein said irradiation chamber comprises and irradiation chamber housing, said germicidal treatment system comprises at least one spar or divider situated in said chamber housing to define a first chamber and a second chamber so that airflow is directed in a generally U-shaped or V-shaped airflow passageway, said airflow passing into and through said first chamber in a first direction, around an edge of said at least one spar or deflector, and then into said second chamber where said airflow passes through said second chamber in a second direction that is not co-linear with said first direction. 
     
     
         23 . The germicidal treatment system as recited in  claim 22  wherein said irradiation chamber comprises a reducer for reducing air velocity and linearity of said airflow as it passes through said irradiation chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The germicidal treatment system as recited in  claim 23  wherein said reducer comprises a plurality of multitude of discrete, randomly oriented and radiation-transmitting objects situated in at least one of said first chamber or said second chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The germicidal treatment system as recited in  claim 22  wherein said irradiation chamber housing comprises a first wall and a generally opposing second wall, each of which are generally trapezoidal in shape, a first end wall and a second end wall coupling the ends of said first and second walls to define an irradiation chamber, said generally opposing first and second walls being generally inclined relative to each other. 
     
     
         26 . The germicidal treatment system as recited in  claim 22  wherein said at least one spar or divider divides said irradiation chamber to provide a first chamber area for receiving airflow from at least one airflow generator, a second chamber area and a joining area for joining said first and second chamber areas, said first and second chamber areas and said joining area cooperating to define said generally U-shaped or V-shaped airflow passageway. 
     
     
         27 . The germicidal treatment system as recited in  claim 26  wherein said joining area is operatively related and generally opposed to said irradiation source. 
     
     
         28 . The germicidal treatment system as recited in  claim 18  wherein said irradiation chamber is a one-piece construction and removable mounted in said germicidal treatment system. 
     
     
         29 . A germicidal device which utilizes:
 a germicidal irradiation source for the inactivation of airborne microbes;   a removable irradiation chamber with means for reducing velocity and linearity of irradiated air;   an air pre-chamber adapted to prevent radiation leakage from said chamber;   an air post-chamber adapted to prevent radiation leakage from said chamber;   an intake fan creating a relative high air pressure in said air pre-chamber; and   an exhaust fan creating a relative vacuum in said air post-chamber.   
     
     
         30 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 29  wherein said air pre-chamber is substantially triangular. 
     
     
         31 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 29  wherein said air post-chamber is substantially triangular. 
     
     
         32 . The germicidal device as recited in  claim 29  wherein said germicidal irradiation source is ultraviolet radiation. 
     
     
         33 . An air irradiation chamber utilizing:
 a shape to allow for air ingress and egress with minimal air resistance;   a central spar for increasing the length air pathway through said air irradiation chamber; and   a means for reducing air velocity and linearity.   
     
     
         34 . The air irradiation chamber according to  claim 33  wherein said shape is substantially trapezoidal. 
     
     
         35 . The air irradiation chamber according to  claim 33  wherein said means for reducing air velocity and linearity is a multitude of discrete, randomly oriented, radiation-transmitting objects.