US2327142A - Sterilization or treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 17, 1943. G. SPERTI 2,327,142

STERILIZATION OR TREATMENT lfxPPARATUS Filed July 30, 1940 4 INVENTOR.

5 I GEO/P65 SPERTI.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 17, 1943 STERILIZATION on TREATMENT APPARATUS "/George' Sp'erti, Covington, Ky., assignor to Science Laboratories, Inc., Norwood, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application July so, 1940, Serial No. 348,383 12 Claims. (Cl. sac-51) My invention relates to apparatustmeans and V a method for the use of light sources employing an. arc struck between electrodes in an envelope containing an ionized gas,;and in particular to the control and operationof suchdevices in such away that instant response is assured; Ishall describe my invention in connection with an: apparatus for the quick sterilization of glassesor other containers. 3

An object of my inventionis the provision of means and a mode of operation whereby without the expenditure of full operating current, lamp devices may be maintained in a condition'whereby the full power of the irradiation isinstantly available when desired. Light sourcesof the type hereinabove referred to, require an-appreciable time to come into operation. When a cold lamp is turned on it is necessary first to ionizethe atmosphere within thelamp before the main arc discharge can be created between the electrodes. This is a matter of no consequence in continuous treatment devices; but where the use ofthe device is sporadic or non-continuous, it is frequently inconvenient, costly or impossible towait. at each operation for the light sources to come into full efficiency. Thus in the particular embodiment which will hereinafter be described, instant sterilization of the glasses or. containers is required when they are presented to the apparatus; yet in restaurants, soda fountains: and. similar. businesses, the use of the apparatus will be discontinuous and sporadic.

It would be uneconomical to keep the light sources in full operation at all times due to cur.- rent consumption, as well as to the consequent shortening of the life of the light sources. Yet the use of the apparatus would be impractical if upon the presentation of each glass to be sterilize the operator had to wait for cold light sources to start and come up to full operating efficiency. Moreover, in a particular use which will be described, the very great number of starting operations compared with the total length of time during which the light source or sources are in full operation, would in itself out down the useful life of the light sources.

As applied to the specific embodiment, myin- I vention has for its object the provision of a small, neat, attractive but-inexpensive terilizer for glasses or other containers, which can be placed upon a counter, serving table'or the like, and used by the regular staff of the food or beverage dispensing business with. no significant loss of time. It is further an object of my invention to provide such a sterilizing apparatus which nevertheless will be positively effective in destroyin pathological and other growths of micro-organ isms for the greater safety of the consuming public.

1943 and entitled Light sources.

Itis further an'object of my invention to provide a device, the operation of which is not a matter of significant cost either as to the apparatus involved, or as to the operation thereof.

These and other objects, of my invention which will be set forth hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish in that structure, assembly and mode of operation of which I shall now describe the aforesaid exemplary embodiment.

\ Reference is made to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through my exemplary device.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. l. The section line |l on this figure indicates the direction of the sectional view which is Fig. 1. V V

Fig. 3 is an exemplary wiring diagram.

My invention is not limited to any particular form of envelope light source including arcs. I

may employ with it, by way of example but without limitation, the type of'apparatus described in my co-pending applicationv entitled Ultra violet light source, Serial No. 350,425 filed August 3, 1940, now Patent No. 2,284,775, issued June 2, 1942, and I will describe it in this connection. However, I may use other light sources including,

but again without limitation, light sources such as are described in the. co-pending application of John R. Stirnk-orb, Serial No. 345,807 filed July 16, 1940, new Patent No. 2,307,971, issued Jan, When light sources requiring external starting means are employed, it will be obvious to the ski ed Work in the art how such starting means may be employed with such light sources from the teachings hereinafter made. r

Briefly in the practice of my invention I provide one or more light sources (sufficient to give the strength of irradiation required), and after starting the light sources I maintain them in a condition of continuous discharge but at relatively low Wattage.

The wattage need only be such as to maintain the discharge with reason- .alole commercial certainty. In this way frequent 7 represents a base which may be provided with feet 4. This base supports a housing in two parts, 5 and 5a, the parts being separable to give access to the apparatus enclosed within them. In the particular embodiment I employ a choke,

.both as anecessary stabilizing impedance and.

also as a means for varying the wattage consumed by the light sources. This choke comarticle for treatment to lessen the effect of said impedance, whereby the wattage applied to said source is increased during the time the article is so presented.

2. A mode of operation of a treatment device including an arc source of ultra violet radiation, power supply means therefor and a stabilizing impedance which comprises maintaining said are source in a state of continuous arc discharge at relatively low wattage consumption, and causing an article presented to said means to vary said impedance, whereby to operate said arc at a different wattage to which said are is instantly responsive.

3. In a treatment device an arc source of ultra violet radiation, power supply means for maintaining said source in a condition of continuous discharge, a controlling impedance, means to be contacted by an article presented for treatment,

5. In a treatment device an arc source of ultra violet radiation and comprising an envelope containing arc discharge electrodes, a source of power, a controlling impedance having a sumcient value to maintain the arc discharge at a relatively low wattage, and means for causing the presentation of an article for treatment to lessen the value of said impedance whereby the are discharge is caused to take place at higher wattage with higher radiation.

6. In a treatment device an arc source of 'ultra violet radiation and comprising an envelope containing arc discharge electrodes, a source of power, a controlling impedance having a sufficient value to maintain the arc discharge at a relatively low wattage, and means for causing the presentation of an article for treatment to lessen the value of said impedance whereby the arc discharge is caused to take place at higher wattage with higher radiation, said impedance being a choke coil, and said last mentioned means comprising switch means for rendering part only of said choke coil effective as an impedance.

7. In a treatment device an arc source of ultra violet radiation and comprising an envelope containing arc discharge electrodes, a source of power, a controlling impedance having a sumcient value to maintain the arc discharge at a relatively low wattage, and means for lessening the value of said impedance upon the presentation of an article for treatment whereby the arc discharge is caused to take place at higher wattage with higher radiation, said impedance being a choke coil, and said last mentioned means comprising switch means for rendering part only of said choke coil effective as an impedance, said switch means being a double throw double pole switch, having two poles connected to said source and two poles connected respectively to one end and to an intermediate tab on said impedance, means actuated by the presentation of an article for treatment and a mechanical connection between said means and said switch.

8. In a sterilization apparatus for articles, a housing, an arc discharge device in said housing,

power leads for said device and an impedance of a value suflicient to maintain said device in a state of discharge at low wattage, means against which an article for treatment may be presented, a switch, a connection between said means and said switch, and a connection between said switch and said impedance whereby to render a portion of said impedance inactive upon the actuation of said switch.

9. In a device of the character described, a

' discharge at low wattage, and means in connection with said engagement means for increasing the wattage of said discharge upon the presentation of an article. I

10. In a device of the character described, a base, a housing attached to said base, an impedance attached to said base and a sub-base mounted on said impedance, a source of ultra violet radiation mounted within said housing on said sub-base, means to be actuated by the presentation of an article for treatment movably mounted onsaid sub-base, a switch arranged to be actuated thereby and connections between said switch and said impedance whereby upon actuation of said movablemeans the operation of said source of ultra violet light is caused to take place at increased wattage.

11. In a device of the. character described, a base, a housing attached to said base, an impedance attached to said base and a sub-base mounted on said impedance, a source of ultra violet radiation mounted within said housing on said sub-base, means to be actuated by the presentation of an article for treatment movably mounted on said sub-base, a switch arranged to be actuated thereby and connections between said switch and said impedance whereby upon actuation of said movable means the operation of said source of ultra violet light is caused to take place at increased wattage, said means to be actuated upon thepresentation of an article comprising a head and a slidable shaft, and said switch comprising a rockable mercury switch arranged for actuation by said shaft, said housing being perforated for the reception of said article in a position to be contacted by said head.

12. In a device of the character described, a base, a housing attached to said base, an impedance attached to said base and a sub-base mounted on said impedance, a source of ultra violet radiation mounted within said housing on said sub-base, means to be actuated by the presentation of an article for treatment movably mounted on said sub-base, a switch arranged to be actuated thereby and connections between said switch and said impedance whereby upon actuation of said movable means the operation

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