WO2023131508A1

WO2023131508A1 - Hvac duct based dual purpose ultraviolet light luminaire

Info

Publication number: WO2023131508A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/086694
Authority: WO
Inventors: Voya Vidakovic; Parth JOSHI; Nam Chin Cho
Original assignee: Signify Holding B.V.
Priority date: 2022-01-04
Filing date: 2022-12-19
Publication date: 2023-07-13

Abstract

A germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) luminaire for attachment to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct includes a housing that is attachable to the HVAC duct such that the housing is positioned around a window in a wall of the HVAC duct. The GUV luminaire further includes louvers positioned in the housing and an ultraviolet (UV) light transmissive panel positioned closing an opening of the housing. The GUV luminaire also includes a light source designed to emit a UV light such that a first portion of the UV light is directed toward the UV light transmissive panel through spaces between the louvers and such that a second portion of the UV light is directed into a cavity of the HVAC duct.

Description

HVAC DUCT BASED DUAL PURPOSE ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT LUMINAIRE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to germicidal ultraviolet light, and more particularly to germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) luminaires integrated with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct.

BACKGROUND

A GUV luminaire generally includes lamps that emit an ultraviolet light that can disinfect the air near the luminaire. For example, upper-room GUV luminaires are installed in the upper part of a space to disinfect the air while minimizing ultraviolet light exposure to people in the space below the GUV luminaire. In some spaces, installing upperroom GUV luminaires at desired locations and heights may be challenging.

Examples of GUV air purification systems in HVAC systems includes US Patent Publication 2018/0133355, which discloses a system that has a removable irradiation chamber that divides an interior area into an air pre-chamber area, an air post-chamber area and an irradiation area therebetween. US Patent Publication 2002/0155805 discloses a fabric duct with a light-transmitting fabric wall that is illuminated to provide a room with a soft lighting effect and to enhance the appearance of an exposed air duct, where ultraviolet light may be is used to help kill microorganisms inside the air duct. European Patent EP 0736159 discloses an air purification system where a housing includes UV light sources and air filtration with moveable covers that can be closed for internal air purification using the UV light sources or open where the UV light sources can provide air purification and disinfection outside the housing.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to germicidal ultraviolet light, and more particularly to germicidal ultraviolet luminaires integrated with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ducts. In an example embodiment, a germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) luminaire for attachment to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct includes a housing that is attachable to the HVAC duct such that the housing is positioned around a window in a wall of the HVAC duct. The GUV luminaire further includes louvers positioned in the housing and an ultraviolet (UV) light transmissive panel positioned closing an opening of the housing. The GUV luminaire also includes a light source designed to emit a UV light such that a first portion of the UV light is directed toward the UV light transmissive panel through spaces between the louvers and such that a second portion of the UV light is directed into a cavity of the HVAC duct.

In another example embodiment, a GUV light system includes an HVAC duct having an air inflow opening, an air outflow opening, and a window in a wall of the HVAC duct. The GUV light system further includes a GUV luminaire attached to the HVAC duct. The GUV luminaire includes a housing (114) that is attachable to the HVAC duct such that the housing is positioned around the window. The GUV luminaire further includes louvers positioned in the housing and an ultraviolet UV light transmissive panel positioned closing an opening of the housing. The louvers are positioned between the UV light transmissive panel and the window. The GUV luminaire also includes a light source designed to emit a UV light such that a first portion of the UV light is directed toward the UV light transmissive panel and such that a second portion of the UV light is directed into a cavity of the HVAC duct.

These and other aspects, objects, features, and embodiments will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIGS. 1 A-1C illustrate different views of a germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) light system including a GUV luminaire according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the GUV light system of FIGS. 1 A-1C according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates the GUV light system of FIGS. 1 A-1C with some components omitted according to an example embodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate different views of the GUV light system of FIGS. 1A-1C according to an example embodiment;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate different views of the housing, the gasket, and the ultraviolet (UV) light transmissive panel of the GUV luminaire shown in FIGS. 1 A-1C before assembly according to an example embodiment; FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate different views of the louvers and the UV light transmissive panel attached to the housing of the GUV luminaire shown in FIGS. 1 A-1C according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates the GUV system of FIGS. 1 A-1C with the housing hingedly opened according to an example embodiment; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) light system according to another example embodiment.

The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the example embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions or placements may be exaggerated to help visually convey such principles. In the drawings, the same reference numerals used in different drawings may designate like or corresponding but not necessarily identical elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

In the following paragraphs, example embodiments will be described in further detail with reference to the figures. In the description, well known components, methods, and/or processing techniques are omitted or briefly described. Furthermore, reference to various feature(s) of the embodiments is not to suggest that all embodiments must include the referenced feature(s).

FIGS. 1 A-1C illustrate different views of a germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) light system 100 including a GUV luminaire 102 according to an example embodiment, and FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the GUV light system 100 of FIGS. 1 A-1C according to an example embodiment. In some example embodiments, the GUV light system 100 is an upper-room GUV light system that is used in an occupied space. The GUV light system 100 may comply with one or more Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) standards.

Referring to FIGS. 1 A-2, in some example embodiments, the GUV light system 100 includes the GUV luminaire 102 and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct 104. The HVAC duct 104 may be installed as an exposed duct section of an HVAC duct system. To illustrate, when the HVAC duct 104 is integrated in an HVAC duct system of a space, the HVAC duct 104 may be viewable by occupants of a space.

In some example embodiments, the GUV luminaire 102 is attached to the HVAC duct 104 at a window 206 in a wall 110 of the HVAC duct 104. The HVAC duct 104 may include walls 106, 108, 110, 112 and airflow openings 140, 142. For example, after the HVAC duct 104 is integrated in an HVAC duct system (i.e., the HVAC duct 104 is attached to other HVAC duct(s) of an HVAC duct system), HVAC air may flow through the HVAC duct 104 in a direction shown by the AIR FLOW arrow. Alternatively, the HVAC duct 104 may be attached to other HVAC duct(s) such that the HVAC air flows through the HVAC duct 104 in an opposite direction. The window 206 is formed in the wall 110 as more clearly shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the window 206 may be formed in the wall 112 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

In some example embodiments, the GUV luminaire 102 includes a housing 114, louvers 130, an ultraviolet (UV) light transmissive panel 122, and light sources 124, 126, 128. The louvers 130 may be positioned in the housing 114. For example, the louvers 130 may extend between walls 136 and 138 of the housing 114 that are at opposite sides of the housing 114. The louvers 130 may be extend between the walls 136 and 138 at an angle that is one (1) to five (5) degrees above an imaginary horizontal plane between the walls 136 and 138. The louvers 130 may be made from aluminum or steel using one or more methods such as stamping, bending, cutting, molding, etc. as can be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

In some example embodiments, the UV light transmissive panel 122 may be positioned in the housing 114 and may close off/cover an opening 208 of the housing 114. In general, the UV light transmissive panel 122 is transmissive of UV light allowing the UV light pass through. To illustrate, the UV light transmissive panel 122 may be made from quartz and may have a thickness that is less than 2 millimeters (mm). For example, the UV light transmissive panel 122 may be made from quartz and may a thickness of 1.5 mm.

In some example embodiments, the UV light transmissive panel 122 may be attached to a frame of the housing 114 and may be positioned between the louvers 130 and the frame of the housing 114. The GUV luminaire 102 may also include a gasket 204 that is positioned between the UV light transmissive panel 122 and the frame of the housing 114. For example, the gasket 204 may form an airtight seal between the UV light transmissive panel 122 and the housing 114 and may prevent air from leaving and entering the housing 114 through the opening 208. The gasket 204 may be a foam gasket, a silicone gasket, and/or another suitable gasket as can be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of the scope of this disclosure.

In some example embodiments, the light sources 124, 126, 128 of the GUV luminaire 102 may emit a UV light. For example, the UV light may be a UV-C light. To illustrate, the UV light emitted by the light sources 124, 126, 128 may have a wavelength that is in a range between 100 nanometer (nm) and 290 nm. For example, the UV light may have a wavelength of 254 nm. The light sources 124, 126, 128 may each be a mercury vapor lamp or another type of lamp (e.g., LED lamp) that emits a UV light.

In some example embodiments, the light sources 124, 126, 128 may be attached to the wall 110 of the HVAC duct 104. For example, the light sources 124, 126, 128 may be positioned at the window 206 in the wall 110 such that some of the UV light is directed toward the UV light transmissive panel 122 and some of the UV light is directed toward a cavity 144 of the HVAC duct 104. The UV light that is directed toward the UV light transmissive panel 122 may pass through the UV light transmissive panel 122 into the space outside of the GUV luminaire 102. The individual louvers of the louvers 130 are spaced from each other to allow UV light from the light sources 124, 126, 128 to reach the UV light transmissive panel 122. The light sources 124, 126, 128 may be positioned on the outside of the HVAC duct 104 as more clearly shown in FIG. 2, and some of the UV light emitted by the light sources 124, 126, 128 may enter the cavity 144 of the HVAC duct 104 through the window 206. The individual louvers of the louvers 130 are spaced from each other to allow UV light from the light sources 124, 126, 128 to reach the UV light transmissive panel 122. While allowing UV light to reach the UV light transmissive panel 122, the louvers 130 may be positioned such that the light sources 124, 126, 128 are not viewable by a person from below the GUV luminaire 102 when the GUV light system 100 is installed in a space.

In some example embodiments, the housing 114 may be attached to the wall 110 of the HVAC duct 104. The housing 114 may be made from sheet metal such as aluminum sheet metal using methods such as stamping, bending, cutting, etc. as can be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. To illustrate, the housing 114 may be attached to the HVAC duct 104 using fasteners such as screws, clips, an adhesive, etc. For example, fasteners 116, 118, 120 may be used to attach the housing 114 to the HVAC duct 104. The fasteners 116, 118, 120 may extend through flanges of the housing 114 to attach the housing 114 to the HVAC duct 104. The fasteners 116, 118, 120 may be thumb screws and may be used to attach the housing 114 to the HVAC duct 104 without the use of a tool. The fasteners 116, 118, 120 may be made from phenolic plastic or another material that can provide a sealed attachment between the fasteners 116, 118, 120 and respective attachment holes in the HVAC duct 104. Alternatively or in addition, a gasket, a washer, and/or other components may be used along with the fasteners 116, 118, 120 to provide airtight seals between the fasteners 116, 118, 120 and the attachment holes in the HVAC duct 104.

In some example embodiments, the housing 114 may also be hingedly attached to the HVAC duct 104 using a hinge 134 (e.g., a piano hinge). The hinge 134 may be made from durable steel or another suitable material as can be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The hinge 134 may be attached to the housing 114 and to the wall 110 of the HVAC duct 104. The hinge 134 may be attached to the housing 114 at an opposite side of the housing 114 from the fasteners 116, 118. To illustrate, the fasteners 116, 118 may extend through attachment holes in a flange extending from a wall 146 of the housing 114, and the hinge 134 may be attached to a flange that extends from a wall 132 of the housing 114. The use of the hinge 134 may allow the housing 114 to be rotated away from the window 206 in the wall 110 about the hinge 134 by loosening the fasteners 116, 118, 120 while the housing 114 remains hingedly attached to the HVAC duct 104 by the hinge 134. The use of the hinge 134 may simplify maintenance tasks such as repairing and/or replacing the light sources 124, 126, 128, one or more louvers of the louvers 130, etc. The hinge 134 may be attached to the housing 114 and to the wall 110 using fasteners in an airtight manner by using, for example, gaskets (not shown) between the hinge 134 and the housing 114 and between the hinge 134 and the wall 110 as can be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

In some example embodiments, the housing 114 of the GUV luminaire 102 is attached to the wall 110 fully enclosing the window 206 on the outside of the HVAC duct 104. To illustrate, the housing 114 may be attached to the wall 110 such that outside air does not enter the housing 114 between the housing 114 and the wall 110 and such that air that enters the housing 114 from the HVAC duct 104 through the window 206 does not escape to the outside space between the housing 114 and the wall 110. To illustrate, a gasket 202 may be placed between the housing 114 and the wall 110 around the window 206 to form an airtight seal between the housing 114 and the wall 110. The gasket 202 may be a foam gasket, a silicone gasket, and/or another suitable gasket as can be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of the scope of this disclosure. In general, the GUV luminaire 102 provides an airtight compartment with respect to the HVAC duct 104.

By providing UV light to both the space on the outside of the GUV light system 100 and inside the HVAC duct 104, the GUV light system 100 may be used to disinfect air outside of the GUV light system 100 as well as air passing through the HVAC duct 104. Because the GUV light system 100 can be integrated in an exposed HVAC duct section installed at an upper part of space (e.g., a room), the GUV luminaire 102 can operate as an upper-air GUV luminaire. Because the GUV light system 100 may be integrated at a desired location in an exposed duct section of an HVAC duct system, the GUV light system 100 provides installation flexibility. Because the GUV luminaire 102 may be attached to the HVAC duct 104 at a window of the HVAC duct 104, such as the window 206, instead of a vent of an HVAC duct system, the GUV light system 100 provides installation flexibility without being limited to vent locations.

In some alternative embodiments, the HVAC duct 104 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the HVAC duct 104 may be a round duct, and the housing 114 may be shaped to conform with the shape of a round HVAC duct. In some alternative embodiments, the housing 114 and other components of the GUV luminaire 102 may have different shapes than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the window 206 of the HVAC duct 104 may have a different shape (e.g., round, triangular, etc.) than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the GUV system 100 may include more or fewer light sources than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, a single UV light source, two UV light sources, or four or more UV light sources may be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, one or more of the light sources 124, 126, 128 may be attached to the HVAC duct 104 at a different location than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, one or more of the light sources 124, 126, 128 may be positioned at the window 206 inside the cavity 144 of the HVAC duct 104. In some example embodiments, the light sources 124, 126, 128 may be attached to the housing 114 instead of to the HVAC duct 104 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the GUV luminaire 102 may include more or fewer louvers than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the hinge 134 may be at a different location with respect to the housing 114 than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the hinge 134 may be omitted and one or more fasteners similar to, for example, the fasteners 116, 118, 120 may be used instead. In some alternative embodiments, additional one or more of the GUV luminaire 102 may be attached to the wall 110 or another wall of the HVAC duct 104 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates the GUV light system 100 of FIGS. 1A-1C with some components omitted for clarity of illustration according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1 A-3, in some example embodiments, the light sources 124, 126, 128 extend across the window 206. For example, the light source 124 may be attached to sockets 302, 304 that are attached to the wall 110 of the HVAC duct 104. The light source 126 may be attached to sockets 306, 308 that are attached to the wall 110 of the HVAC duct 104. The light source 128 may be attached to sockets 310, 312 that are attached to the wall 110 of the HVAC duct 104. Electrical power may be provided to the light source 124 via the socket 302, to the light source 126 via the socket 306, and to the light source 128 via the socket 310. For example, an electrical cable 314 (e.g., an SJT cord) may be used to provide electrical power to the light sources 124, 126, 128. Because the light sources 124, 126, 128 are positioned across the window 206, a portion of the UV light emitted by the light sources 124, 126, 128 may enter the cavity 144 of the HVAC duct 104 through the window 206 and may disinfect the air passing through the HVAC duct 104.

In some example embodiments, the gasket 202 may be placed on the wall 110 around the window 206 and the sockets 302-312. The fasteners 116, 118, 120 (more clearly shown in FIG. 1C) may each be inserted in a respective one of attachment holes 316, 318, 320 formed through the wall 110 to attach the housing 114 to the wall 110 with the gasket 202 positioned therebetween.

In some alternative embodiments, a different type of gasket or multiple gaskets may be used instead of the gasket 202 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the window may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the light sources 124, 126, 128 may be attached to the HVAC duct 104 in a different configuration than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the light sources 124, 126, 128 may each have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the light sources 124, 126, 128 may each be attached to a single socket instead of two sockets without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate different views of the GUV light system 100 of FIGS. 1 A-1C according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1 A-4B, in some example embodiments, a driver 402 may provide electrical power to the light sources 124, 126, 128 of the GUV luminaire 102 that extend across the window 206. The driver 402 may be positioned in the cavity 144 of the HVAC duct 104. For example, the driver 402 may be attached to the wall 110, and the electrical cable 314 may extend through a grommet 404 into the cavity 144 and may be connected to the driver 402. The grommet 404 may make an airtight contact with the HVAC duct 104. The grommet 404 may also make an airtight contact with the electrical cable 314. The driver 402 may receive, for example, line power via the electrical cable 314 and may provide electrical power compatible (e.g., required voltage level) with the light sources 124, 126, 128. For example, the driver 402 may provide electrical power to the light sources 124, 126, 128 via one or more electrical wires 406. To illustrate, the one or more electrical wires 406 may be connected to the sockets 302, 306, 310 that are connected to the light sources 124, 126, 128, respectively.

In some example embodiments, the louvers 130 extend between the walls 136, 138 of the housing 114 of the GUV luminaire 102. The louvers 130 may be positioned spaced from each other to allow UV light emitted by the light sources 124, 126, 128 to reach the UV light transmissive panel 122 of the GUV luminaire 102. For example, the louvers 130 may each be attached to the housing 114 at an angle that is between one (1) and five (5) degrees from an imaginary horizontal plane in compliance with UL requirements.

In some alternative embodiments, the driver 402 may be at a different location than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the electrical cable 314 may enter the HVAC duct 104 at a different location than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the driver 402 may be attached to the wall 106 of the HVAC duct 104. In some example embodiments, the driver 402 may provide electrical power to fewer or more light sources than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the driver 402 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate different views of the housing 114, the gasket 204, and the UV light transmissive panel 122 of the GUV luminaire 102 shown in FIGS. 1 A-1C before assembly according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1 A-5B, in some example embodiments, the housing 114 may include the walls 132, 136, 138, 146. The housing 114 may also include a frame that include frame sections 502, 508, 526, 536. The frame section 502 may extend down from the wall 146 of the housing 114 forming a perimeter section of the opening 208. The frame section 508 may extend sideways from the wall 136 forming another perimeter section of the opening 208. The frame section 526 may extend sideways from the wall 138 forming another perimeter section of the opening 208. The frame section 536 may extend up from the wall 132 forming another perimeter section of the opening 208. In some example embodiments, the gasket 204 may be positioned against the frame sections 502, 508, 526, 536, and the UV light transmissive panel 122 may be attached to the frame sections 502, 536 with the gasket 204 positioned therebetween. The UV light transmissive panel 122 may be securely attached to the housing 114 using fasteners such as fasteners 504, 528, 530. For example, each one of the fasteners 504, 528, 530 may be a stud and nut combination fastener. To illustrate, the fasteners 504, 528 may each extend through a respective one of attachment holes 506, 532 in the frame section 502, and the fastener 530 may extend through an attachment hole 534 in the frame section 536. The fasteners 504, 528, 530 as well as other fasteners that are used to attach the UV light transmissive panel 122 to the housing 114 form an airtight contact with the respective attachment holes of the housing 114. Alternatively or in addition, the fasteners 504, 528, 530 as well as other fasteners that are used to attach the UV light transmissive panel 122 to the housing 114 may extend through the gasket 204 that provides an airtight seal between the UV light transmissive panel 122 and the housing 114.

In some example embodiments, the housing 114 may include bars 510, 512, 514 that extend between the frame sections 502, 536. For example, the bars 510, 512, 514 may provide structural support to help retain the UV light transmissive panel 122 in place, particularly under pressurized conditions of the HVAC duct 104 and the GUV luminaire 102.

In some example embodiments, the housing 114 includes flanges 516, 518, 520, 522. The flange 516 extends outwardly from the wall 138 of the housing 114. The flange 518 extends outwardly from the wall 132 of the housing 114. The flange 520 extends outwardly from the wall 136 of the housing 114. The flange 522 extends outwardly from the wall 146 of the housing 114. The fasteners 116, 118 may extend through attachment holes in the flange 522 to attach the housing 114 to the HVAC duct 104 (shown in FIG. 1 A). The fastener 120 may extend through an attachment hole in the flange 516 to attach the housing 114 to the HVAC duct 104. The fastener 524 may extend through an attachment hole in the flange 520 to attach the housing 114 to the HVAC duct 104.

In some alternative embodiments, the fasteners used to attach the UV light transmissive panel 122 to the housing 114 may be at different locations than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, more or fewer fasteners than shown may be used to attach the UV light transmissive panel 122 to the housing 114. In some alternative embodiments, one or more of the bars 510, 512, 514 may be omitted, in a different configuration, and/or at different locations than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, one or more of the frame sections 502, 508, 526, 536 may be at different locations than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, one or more of the flanges 516, 518, 520, 522 may be omitted or may have different shapes than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, one or more of the fasteners 116, 118, 120, 524 may be a different type of fastener and/or at different locations than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate different views of the louvers 130 and the UV light transmissive panel 122 attached to the housing 114 of the GUV luminaire 102 shown in FIGS. 1 A-1C according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1 A-6C, in some example embodiments, the louvers 130 are positioned in a cavity 606 of the housing 114 of the luminaire 102. When the housing 114 is attached to the HVAC duct 104 as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 A, the cavity 606 may be aligned with the window 206 in the wall 110 of the HVAC duct 104.

In some example embodiments, the louvers 130 may be attached to the walls 136, 138 of the housing 114. For example, the walls 136, 138 may include outward indentations to receive the louvers 130. Alternatively, the walls 136, 138 may include slots to receive the louvers 130, where the slots are airtight sealed by the louvers 130. In some alternative embodiments, a sealant or a gasket may be used to form an airtight seal around the louvers 130 when the louvers 130 are inserted in the slots.

To illustrate, one end portion of a louver 602 among the louvers 130 may be inserted in a slot 604 in the wall 136 of the housing 114, and an opposite end portion of the louver 602 may be inserted in a slot 608 in the wall 138 of the housing 114. A sealant may also be used at the slots 604, 608 to form an airtight seal.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 6C, which is a cross-sectional view of the housing 114 along with the UV light transmissive panel 122 and the louvers 130, the UV light transmissive panel 122 may be positioned between the louvers 130 and the frame of the housing 114 that includes the frame section 502, 536. In addition to the fasteners 504, 530, and other fasteners used to attach the UV light transmissive panel 122 to the housing 114, the louvers 130, the framed sections, such as the frame section 502, 536, and the bars, such as the bar 512, may provide structural support to help retain the UV light transmissive panel 122 in place, particularly under pressurized conditions of the HVAC duct 104 and the GUV luminaire 102.

In some alternative embodiments, the louvers 130 may be spaced differently than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the louvers 130 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates the GUV system 100 of FIGS. 1 A-1C with the housing 114 of the GUV luminaire 102 hingedly opened according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1 A-7, in some example embodiments, the housing 114 may remain attached to the HVAC duct 104 in an open position as shown in FIG. 7. To illustrate, the fasteners 116, 118, 120, 524 may be first loosened to rotate the housing 114 about the hinge 134 while the housing 114 remains attached to the wall 110 of the HVAC duct 104. For example, the fasteners 116, 118, 120, 524 may be loosened by hand without a use of a tool. Alternatively, a tool may be used to loosen the fasteners 116, 118, 120, 524 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 7, the louvers 130 remain attached to the housing 114 when the housing 114 is rotatably opened providing access to the light sources 124, 126, 128 as well as to the driver 402 (more clearly shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) through the window 206 in the wall 110 of the HVAC duct 104. The hinged attachment of the housing 114 to the HVAC duct 104 simplifies maintenance and repair work to be performed on the GUV luminaire 102 and other components of the GUV light system 100. In some alternative embodiments, the housing 114 may be hingedly attached to the wall 110 of the HVAC duct 104 at a different side of the window 206 than shown in FIG. 7 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a GUV light system 800 according to another example embodiment. In some example embodiments, the GUV light system 800 includes GUV luminaires 802, 804 and an HVAC duct 806. For example, each one of the GUV luminaires 802, 804 may correspond to the GUV luminaire 102 shown in FIGS. 1 A-1C. In some example embodiments, the GUV light system 800 corresponds to the GUV light system 100, where the GUV luminaire 804 is added to the GUV light system 100 by attachment to the HVAC duct 104 and where GUV luminaire 802 is the same as the GUV luminaire 102.

As shown in FIG. 8, the GUV luminaires 802, 804 may be attached to opposite walls of the HVAC duct 806 at respective windows in the walls. To illustrate, the GUV luminaire 802 may be attached to a wall 808 of the HVAC duct 806, and the GUV luminaire 804 may be attached to a wall 810 of the HVAC duct 806. For example, the GUV luminaire 802 may be attached to the wall 808 aligned with a window 812 in the wall 808, and the GUV luminaire 804 may be attached to the wall 810 aligned with a window in the wall 810. Each of the GUV luminaires 802, 804 may be attached to the HVAC duct 806 using fasteners and/or a hinge in the same manner as described above with respect to the GUV luminaire 102.

In some example embodiments, a driver 814 may provide electrical power to the light sources of the GUV luminaires 802, 804. The driver 814 may be in a cavity 818 of the HVAC duct 806. The driver 814 may be attached to the wall 808 and may receive power from outside the HVAC duct 806 using an electrical cable 816. The electrical cable 816 may be routed into the cavity 818 of the HVAC duct 806 through a grommet 820 that forms an airtight seal with the HVAC duct 806 as well as with the electrical cable 816 as the electrical cable 816 extends through the grommet 820.

In some example embodiments, after the HVAC duct 806 is integrated in an HVAC duct system (i.e., the HVAC duct 806 is attached to other HVAC duct(s) of an HVAC duct system), HVAC air may flow through the HVAC duct 806 in a direction shown by the AIR FLOW arrow. Alternatively, the HVAC duct 806 may be attached to other HVAC duct(s) such that the HVAC air flows through the HVAC duct 806 in an opposite direction.

By providing UV light to both the space on the outside of the GUV light system 800 and inside the HVAC duct 806, the GUV light system 800 may be used to disinfect air outside of the GUV light system 800 as well as air passing through the HVAC duct 104. Because the GUV light system 800 can be integrated in an exposed HVAC duct section installed at an upper part of space (e.g., a room), the GUV luminaires 802, 804 can operate as an upper-air GUV luminaire. Because the GUV light system 800 may be integrated at a desired location in an exposed duct section of an HVAC duct system, the GUV light system 800 provides installation flexibility. Because the GUV luminaires 802, 804 may each be attached to the HVAC duct 806 at a respective window of the HVAC duct 806 instead of vents of an HVAC duct system, the GUV light system 800 provides installation flexibility without being limited to vents locations.

In some alternative embodiments, the HVAC duct 806 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the GUV luminaires 802, 804 may be at different locations with respect to each other than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, multiple drivers may be used to provide power to the GUV luminaires 802, 804 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, additional one or more of the GUV luminaire 802 may be attached to the wall 808 or additional one or more of the GUV luminaire 804 may be attached to the wall 810 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Although particular embodiments have been described herein in detail, the descriptions are by way of example. The features of the example embodiments described herein are representative and, in alternative embodiments, certain features, elements, and/or steps may be added or omitted. Additionally, modifications to aspects of the example embodiments described herein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims, the scope of which are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass modifications and equivalent structures.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) light system (100), comprising: a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct (104) having an air inflow opening (140), an air outflow opening (142), and a window (206) in a wall (110) of the HVAC duct; and a GUV luminaire (102) attached to the HVAC duct, the GUV luminaire comprising: a housing (114) that is attachable to the HVAC duct such that the housing is positioned around the window; louvers (130) positioned in the housing; an ultraviolet (UV) light transmissive panel (122) positioned closing an opening (208) of the housing, wherein the louvers are positioned between the UV light transmissive panel and the window; and a light source (124) designed to emit a UV light such that a first portion of the UV light is directed toward the UV light transmissive panel and such that a second portion of the UV light is directed into a cavity (144) of the HVAC duct.

2. The GUV light system of Claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light has a wavelength that is in a range between 100 nanometer (nm) and 290 nm.

3. The GUV light system of Claim 2, wherein the light source includes a mercury vapor lamp.

4. The GUV light system of Claim 1, wherein the housing is hingedly attachable to the HVAC duct.

5. The GUV light system of Claim 1, wherein the light source is attachable to the HVAC duct such that the second portion of the UV light is directed into the HVAC duct through the window (206) in the wall of the HVAC duct.

6. The GUV light system of Claim 1, wherein the UV light transmissive panel is made from quartz.

7. The GUV light system of Claim 1, further comprising a gasket (204) between the UV light transmissive panel and a frame (502, 508, 526, 536) of the housing to form an airtight seal.

8. The GUV light system of Claim 7, further comprising a second gasket (202), wherein the housing is attachable to the HVAC duct such that the gasket is between the housing (114) and the HVAC duct (104) and forms a second airtight seal.

9. The GUV light system of Claim 7, wherein the UV light transmissive panel is positioned between the louvers and the frame.

10. The GUV light system of Claim 9, wherein the louvers (130) are attached to the housing (114) and extend between opposite walls (136, 138) of the housing.

11. The GUV light system of Claim 1, further comprising: a first gasket (204) forming a first airtight seal between the UV light transmissive panel and a frame of the housing; and a second gasket (202) forming a second airtight seal between the housing and the HVAC duct.

12. The GUV light system of Claim 1, further comprising a second GUV luminaire (802) attached to the HVAC duct at a second window (812) in the wall of the HVAC duct.