CH707681A2 - Device for forming a UV source as well as a modular system for UVC disinfection systems. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for forming a UV radiation source for UVC sterilization according to at least one of the standards IP52 to IP 68, comprising: - at least one tube body (2) having an emitting light source with electrical connections (3 ), - at least one socket carrier (4) for receiving the electrical connections (3) of the tube body (2), and - an electrical connector (7) for transmitting electrical energy via the socket carrier (4) to the tube body (2). According to the invention it is provided to provide a kit in connection with the device (1), which allows a variety of arrangement and applications.

Description

Description of the invention

The invention relates to a device for forming a UV source and a modular system for UVC disinfection according to the IP52 to IP68 standard, the device at least from a tube body which comprises an emitting UV source with electrical connections , at least one socket carrier for receiving the electrical connections of the tube body and an electrical connector for transmitting the electrical energy via the socket carrier to the tube body.

Definitions

[0002] In relation to this application, UV means ultraviolet and is used to identify a defined wavelength range.

[0003] Ultraviolet rays form part of the natural sunlight spectrum. Short-wave ultraviolet rays belong to the group of optical rays. Yet they are invisible to the human eye. The UV rays from the so-called C-band (hence the name UVC) have a strong germicidal effect around 260 nm (nanometers). The killing rate is subject to the dose-effect principle; Therefore, the technical characteristics of the tube performance and the description time for functionally reliable UVC disinfection are crucial.

The germ killing acts in particular on bacteria, viruses, yeast and mold. These microorganisms are effectively inactivated by a so-called UV disinfection of air, water or surfaces. The UV disinfection technology does not use any chemicals or toxic compounds and does not lead to mutation-related resistance build-up. The unwanted microorganisms become inactive within seconds, while the product properties of the irradiated product remain almost unchanged. UV disinfection is used in particular in areas where there are high demands on consumer protection and the requirements of the HACCP concept.

[0005] The ultraviolet radiation is very high in energy and, when the radiation is absorbed, triggers photochemical reactions in the respective nucleic acids of the exposed cell. If two thymines lie next to each other in the DNA strand, they react and form a dimer that cannot be used for duplication and transcription. If there is more than one damage, the cell is no longer able to regenerate. It loses the ability to divide and multiply and dies.

From an economic point of view, the germ reduction of up to the 5-log level is possible. The exact UV dose that leads to the inactivation of the microorganisms is different for each type. While the majority of bacteria and viruses become inactive with a relatively low dose, yeast, mold, fungi and spores require a correspondingly higher dose.

The short-wave UVC radiation can be shielded by ordinary window glass, transparent plastic, such as, for example, Makroion <®> or Plexiglas and all practically opaque materials.

[0008] UVC disinfection is used in particular in the food processing industry. Due to the environment in which the radiation sources are used, special requirements are placed on the UC source. It must at least meet the IP52 standard.

According to EN 60 529, protection against the ingress of foreign bodies and moisture is characterized by a fixed key. This key consists of the letters IP followed by 2 digits. The first digit indicates the degree of protection against dust and the second digit against water. The degree of protection according to the table below can be read from the digits.

In order to take appropriate precautions, the UV source is arranged in a tube body, one end of which is provided with at least one electrical connection. These are usually received by socket carriers, which in turn provide an electrical link between the tube body and a power supply unit, such as a power source. In this case, the tube body is accommodated in a socket carrier in a manner comparable to neon tubes and held there. The tube body can also meet the minimum standard IP52.

Disadvantages of the prior art

The aforementioned UVC disinfection devices are generally always exposed to dirt and liquids. In particular for wastewater treatment, but also for the sterilization of products in meat processing, high demands are placed on the sterilization devices.

In order to meet these and in particular the corresponding prescribed standards such as IP52, IP 54, IP64 and IP68, the devices shown have a very complex structure and are usually designed as special solutions.

This means that they are costly and therefore more expensive. The cleaning and repair of such UV disinfection systems are also very complex for the user, as they are always structured differently and require a lot of maintenance.

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a UVC disinfection device which is very simply constructed and inexpensively adaptable to the respective application.

Solution of the task

The object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

Advantages of the invention

The basic idea of the invention is to provide the essential components for a UVC disinfection device and to train them as a kit, the individual components of the kit being characterized in that they can be used for different areas of application. Special components are not necessary. By adding different components together, a large number of designs are achieved that meet the known requirements.

Thus, it is advantageously provided that in connection with the tube body, which is the emitting light source (UV source), together with the socket carrier, which receives the tube body and together with an electrical connector that can be inserted into the socket carrier and transfers the electrical energy from the electrical connector via the socket carrier to the tube body, additional components are provided which, on the one hand, fix the socket carrier to the tube body according to the necessary standards IP 54, IP64 and IP68, but also the entire emitting light source together with the socket carrier can be properly fixed and arranged in corresponding devices in accordance with the relevant standards, namely in such a way that they are easy to assemble on the one hand, but can also be disassembled again very quickly on the other. In this way, for example, appropriate maintenance can be carried out easily. In addition, it is possible to simply replace the tube body after it has exceeded a certain period of use.

Thus, according to the invention, a union nut, for example, is provided as a component of the kit, which serves to fix the socket carrier on the tube body. In order to meet the corresponding tightness standards, additional sealing elements are provided which provide the desired tightness between the union nut and the tube body and thus also against the socket carrier. By screwing on the union nut it is effected that the socket carrier is brought up to the tube body and it is ensured that the plug contacts of the tube body interact properly with those of the socket carrier. For this purpose, the union nut provides an area that covers a flange of the holder. The flange is provided with a thread which cooperates with a thread arranged in the union nut. By screwing on, a flange arranged on the tube body is drawn onto the flange of the socket carrier and pressed flat so that on the one hand a proper electrical connection is created between socket carrier and tube body but also that the necessary tightness is provided. A seal is also provided inside the union nut.

This simplest form is suitable for arranging the device with corresponding beam sources in a holding device in which the rod-shaped tubular body can be inserted.

In order to enable a better arrangement, it is optionally also provided to feed the connector either at an angle or in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body. Optionally, one of the two embodiments can be selected by the user.

Depending on the load and length of the tubular body, it is necessary that the end of the tubular body opposite the socket carrier is also properly held. For this purpose, a holding element is also provided as a kit, which is also formed from a union nut. The union nut is preferably identical to that which is also suitable for the socket carrier. In addition, a screw element can be arranged on the union nut which cooperates with the holding element so that the end of the tube body opposite the socket carrier can be arranged in a screw-like manner on a frame.

If there are no grid-like devices for receiving the corresponding tubular bodies of the device, the kit provides a further component. It is a flange element that also interacts with the union nut and the socket carrier. Cooperation with the holding element is also provided so that there is the possibility of connecting the flange element to the components described above in an additive and effective manner by means of screw connections.

To make this possible, a center piece is provided which has threads provided on both sides, so that the flange element on one side and the union nut on the other side can be received in a screw-like manner. On the side facing the socket carrier, the flange of the socket carrier is overlapped together with the flange of the tubular body and secured with the union nut. The flange element can be arranged on the other side of the middle piece. It is larger in diameter than the other elements and therefore offers attachment surfaces on the end face via which the device can be fixed.

A reflector body is provided as a further component of the kit. The reflector body is used to properly accommodate the tube body and to output the emitting radiation in a directional manner. Like the tube body, this reflector body is rod-shaped and designed as a hollow body. A recess is provided on its circumference, which preferably extends almost over the entire longitudinal extent of the reflector body. As already described above, the UVC radiation is bundled by the reflector body and output via the recess.

Due to the fact that the reflector body is only immovably arranged on the tubular body and is thus held stationary by the arrangement of the corresponding on the opposite side of the socket carrier, this is rotatable and thus orientable in the desired direction.

Due to the fact that the kit comprises only a few components, but a large number of possible combinations are possible, the device according to the invention can be used in many ways, without the need for new designs or special training. This leads to the fact that the device can be manufactured much more cheaply than the special solution and yet the possible uses are similarly large.

[0027] Further advantageous embodiments emerge from the following description, the drawings and the claims.

drawings

1 [A-B] shows a side view of a first exemplary embodiment in the assembled and non-assembled state; 2 [A - B] a side view of a second exemplary embodiment in the assembled and non-assembled state; 3 [AB] shows a side view of a third exemplary embodiment in the assembled and non-assembled state; 4 [A - B] shows a side view of a fourth exemplary embodiment in the assembled and non-assembled state; Fig. 5 [AB] a side view of a fifth embodiment in the assembled and non-assembled state.

Description of several exemplary embodiments

The basic idea of the invention is based on a tube body 2, which comprises an emitting UV source with electrical connections 3, and a socket carrier 4, which can be fixed for receiving the electrical connections 3 of the tube body 2 via a connecting element 5 and a connector 6, which can be plugged into a plug connection 7 of the socket carrier 4.

All of the exemplary embodiments which are described below contain these basic elements mentioned. On the basis of these basic elements, different components of the kit are then used according to the invention, depending on the specific application, in order to meet the technical requirements for arranging the device according to the respective desired or necessary standards IP 52 to IP 68.

The device 1 shown in Fig. 1 thus consists of a tubular body 2 to which a socket carrier 4 can be attached. The figure [A] shows the arrangement in the unassembled state, whereas the figure [B] shows the device in the assembled state. Infection takes place via the contact elements arranged in the tube body 2, which are received by plug-like recesses in the socket carrier 4. To fix the socket carrier 4 on the tube body 2, a union nut 8 is pushed over the tube body 2 in the direction of arrow 9. The flange arranged on the tube body rests against the flange of the socket carrier 4. A thread is arranged on the flange of the socket carrier 4 so that the overlapping union nut 8 pulls the flange of the tube body 2 onto the flange of the socket carrier 4 and fixes it. In order to achieve the corresponding IP standard class, for example IP 52, IP 65 or IP 68, depending on the type of tube, an O-ring or a flat seal is inserted between them as a seal 10, so that the device 1 shown in FIG. 1 with the tube body 2 , the socket carrier 4, the connector 6 and the union nut 8 is made. The tube body 2 shown here corresponds to class IP 52.

A development of the device 1 is provided in FIG. The figure [A] shows the arrangement in the unassembled state, whereas the figure [B] shows the device in the assembled state. It differs from FIG. 1 in that two union nuts 8.1, 8.2 are used. These union nuts 8.1, 8.2 are attached to a center piece element 11, which is also shown on the tube body 2 in the direction of the arrow 9.

A seal 10, as also shown in Fig. 1, is also provided. The middle piece element 11 has a thread 11.1, 11.2 on both sides, which is connected by the union nut 8.1 or 8.2 and the intermediate O-rings.

In this way, a device 1 is provided which has a higher IP standard, namely IP 68, compared to FIG. 1.

In FIG. 3, a further development of FIG. 2 is shown. The figure [A] shows the arrangement in the unassembled state, whereas the figure [B] shows the device in the assembled state. Instead of the union nut 8.1 (FIG. 2), a flange element 12 is used. The flange element 12 is used to mount the device 1 within a holding device (not shown) by means of the openings 13 provided on the flange element 12.

The socket carrier 4 shown both in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 has no thread. Rather, it has a cylindrical surface 14 with a corresponding recess, the cylindrical surface serving to receive the center piece 11 and the recess serving to receive a seal. In the assembled state, the center piece 11 engages over the flange of the tubular body and presses it against the flange of the socket carrier 4. The necessary contact pressure is provided by the union nut 8.1 arranged on one side of the center piece. The flange element 12 is arranged on the other side of the center piece 11.

4 differs from the rest of FIGS. 1 to 3 in that the union nut 8.1 is designed as an alternative. The figure [A] shows the arrangement in the unassembled state, whereas the figure [B] shows the device 1 in the assembled state. The union nut 8.3 here has an external thread 8.4 which is received by the flange element 12 shown here.

Depending on the use of the corresponding seal 10 or seals 10 between these connections, a standard according to EN 60 529 can be created.

5 shows a further development of the device 1 according to the invention. The figure [A] shows the arrangement in the unmounted state, whereas the figure [B] shows the device in the mounted state. In Figure [C], a section of an alternative embodiment to Figures 5 [A-B] is shown. This device 1 in turn has a tube body 2 which shows electrical connections 3. These serve to provide an electrical contact with a socket carrier 4, which in turn has a plug connection 7, which enters into an electrical connection with a plug connector 6.

A connecting element 8.3 with an external thread 8.4, as shown in FIG. 4, is used to cover the cylindrical surface of the socket carrier 4 and to interact with a union nut 8.5.

This union nut 8.5 is characterized in that it has a flange-like design 8.6 pointing away from the socket carrier 4. This in turn serves to accommodate a reflector element 15. So that this can be arranged in the correct position, a union nut 8.7 in a similar design is also shown on the side opposite the socket carrier 4. This also has a flange 8.8 pointing towards the reflector element 15. The union nut 8.7 has a threaded hole on the front side. This is used to fasten the system by means of a screw 16 to a holding device not shown in the drawings.

The reflector element 15 is arranged in the correct position above the tubular body 2 and can be rotated in and against the direction of the arrow 18 (FIG. 5 [B]).

As a result, a recess 17 provided in the reflector element 15 is aligned. This recess 17 extends in the longitudinal direction of the hollow body-like reflector element 15. This recess is provided so that the UV source arranged by the UV source inside the tube body 2 can emit UV radiation in the direction of arrow 19.

The alternative to the embodiments [A-B] shown in FIG. 5 [C] differs in that a flange element 12, comparable to FIG. 3 [B], is provided on the socket carrier 4.

The selection of the exemplary embodiments shows a small excerpt from which various possibilities of combining the individual or several named components of the proposed inventive kit for producing a UV source for UVC disinfection can be created.

REFERENCE LIST

Device for forming a UV source as well as a modular system for UVC disinfection systems

1. Device 2. Tube body 3. Electrical connections 4. Socket carrier 5. Connecting element 6. Connector 7. Plug connection 8. Union nut 8.1 Union nut 8.2 Union nut 8.3 Union nut 8.4 External thread 8.5 Union nut 8.6 External thread 8.7 Union nut 8.8 Flange 9. Direction of arrow 10. Seal 11. Center piece element 11.1 thread 11.2 thread 12 flange element 13 opening 14 cylindrical surface with recess 15 reflector element 16 screw 17 recess 18 rotating arrow 19 emitting radiation

Claims (5)

1. Device (1) for forming a UV source according to one of the IP52 to 68 standards consisting of At least one tube body (2) comprising an emitting UV source (3) with electrical connections, - At least one socket carrier (4) for receiving the electrical connections (3) of the tube body (2), - An electrical connector (6) for transmitting electrical energy via the socket carrier (4) to the tube body (2), characterized in that, according to a kit optionally one or more of the following components are additionally used: - A nut (8, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3) and / or a flange (12) for fixing the socket carrier (4) on the tube body (2), wherein the socket carrier (4) either a cylindrical surface (14) or a flange having, which cooperates with the flange of the tube body (2), At least one sealing element (10) for providing the desired tightness according to the respective selected standard, A center piece element (11) with threads provided on both sides (11.1, 11.2) for receiving a flange element (12) or a union nut (8.1, 8.2), A reflector element (15) for receiving the tubular body (2) and for arranging at least on the socket carrier (4), - Another union nut (8.7) for fixing the reflector element (15) and for possible attachment to a holding device. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the reflector body (15) consists of a hollow body, is dimensioned such that it can receive the tubular body (2) and that this on its circumference a recess (17) for the emission of radiation (Arrow direction (19)) of the UV source. 3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the recess (17) is provided on a part of the circumference of the reflector body (15) and extends in the longitudinal extension of the reflector body (15). 4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that for further fixing of the reflector body (15) two union nuts (8.5, 8.7) are provided which at least partially engage over the reflector body (15) and the a union nut (8.7) penetrating screw (16 ) fixed the front side of the reflector body (15). 5. Lighting unit consisting of at least one tubular body (2) comprising a UV source with electrical connections (3), at least one socket carrier (4) for receiving the electrical connections of the tubular body (2), and an electrical connector (7) for Transmission of electrical energy via the socket carrier (4) to the tube body (2), characterized in that in addition at least one device provided by a kit according to one or more of the preceding claims is provided, which permits UVC sterilization.