INTERCHANGEABLE DRAIN DISINFECTING DEVICE WITH UV SOURCE IRRADIATION OPTIMIZATION

Abstract

A device for disinfecting the interior of a drain pipe having a tubular wall formed with a hole between the sink drain inlet and the U-shaped trap. A UV-C LED module is positioned to register with the hole and includes a UV-C LED that generates a radiation beam having a predetermined radiation angle to transmit UV-C light into the drain pipe through the hole to irradiate at least a portion of said interior surface and expose airborne pathogens contained therein to UV-C light. A lens generally coextensive with the tubular wall has a peripheral edge aligned with the hole. The UV-C LED is spaced from the lens a distance to cause the radiation beam to extend up to but not beyond the peripheral edge of the lens to maximize transmission of UV-C light through the lens to maximize exposure of the interior surface and airborne pathogens to the UV-C light.

Claims

1. A disinfecting device for disinfecting the interior of a drain pipe leading from a drain inlet of a sink basin to a U-shaped trap beneath the sink basin, the device comprising a drain pipe section below or downstream of the sink drain inlet, said drain pipe section having a tubular wall defining an interior space and interior surface and formed with a hole between the sink drain inlet and the U-shaped trap; at least one UV-C LED module positioned to register with said hole and including a UV-C LED that when energized generates a radiation beam having a predetermined radiation angle to transmit UV-C light into said drain pipe section through said hole to irradiate at least a portion of said interior surface and expose airborne pathogens contained therein to UV-C light in proximity to said drain inlet; a lens generally coextensive with said tubular wall and having a peripheral edge aligned with said hole; and energizing means for energizing said at least one UV-C LED module, said UV-C LED being spaced from said lens a predetermined distance to cause said radiation beam to extend to the region of said peripheral edge of said lens to transmit a substantial portion of UV-C light through said lens and expose said interior surface to said UV-C light, whereby energizing said at least one UV-C LED module exposes pathogens on said interior surface and airborne pathogens within said interior space to UV-C radiation and reduces the ability of pathogens from entry into the sink basin.

2. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said hole is circular and said lens is circular and said peripheral edge is a circumferential edge substantially coextensive with said hole.

3. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said predetermined distance is selected to extend up to but not beyond said peripheral edge of said lens to maximize transmission of UV-C light into said drain pipe.

4. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said lens is a flat lens.

5. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said lens is spaced from said UV-C LED a distance “s” and has a thickness “t”, and said radiation angle is “0” and said lens has a diameter “D” wherein s=D/[2 tan (θ/2)]−t.

6. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 5, wherein s is within a critical range s.sub.c and s.sub.c=s±0.1 s.

7. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said UV-C LED module is removably attachable to said drain pipe section.

8. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein a threaded sleeve is fixedly secured to said drain pipe section and wherein said UV-C LED module comprises a threaded member threadedly engageable with said threaded sleeve and configured to position said UV-C LED at said predetermined distance when said sleeve and said member are fully threadedly engaged.

9. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is internally threaded and said member is externally threaded.

10. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 9, wherein said sleeve is a circular cylinder having one axial end fixed to said drain pipe section and having an opposing axial end formed with a first annular surface and said member being formed with a second annular surface; and further comprising an annular washer interposed between said first and second annular surfaces.

11. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 10, wherein said washer has a thickness selected to provide a seal between said sleeve and said member and to position said UV-C LED at said predetermined distance from said lens when said first and second annular surfaces abut against said washer when said sleeve and said member are fully threadedly engaged.

12. A disinfecting device for disinfecting the interior of a drain pipe leading from a drain inlet of a sink basin to a U-shaped trap beneath the sink basin, the device comprising a drain pipe section below or downstream of the sink drain inlet, said drain pipe section having a tubular wall defining an interior space and interior surface and formed with a hole between the sink drain inlet and the U-shaped trap; at least one UV-C LED module positioned to register with said hole and including a UV-C LED that when energized generates a radiation beam having a predetermined radiation angle “θ” to transmit UV-C light into said drain pipe section through said hole to irradiate at least a portion of said interior surface and airborne pathogens contained therein with UV-C light in proximity to said drain inlet; a lens having a diameter “D” generally coextensive with said tubular wall and having a peripheral edge aligned with said hole; and energizing means for energizing said at least one UV-C LED module, said UV-C LED being spaced a distance from said lens a predetermined distance “s” to cause said radiation beam to extend up to but not beyond said peripheral edge of said lens to maximize transmission of UV-C light through said lens and maximize exposure of said interior surface to said UV-C light, wherein
s=D/[2 tan(θ/2)]−t, whereby energizing said at least one UV-C LED module maximizes exposure of pathogens on said interior surface and airborne pathogens within said interior space to UV-C radiation and reduces the ability of pathogens from entry into the sink basin.

13. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 12, wherein said lens is a flat lens.

14. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 13, wherein said UV-C LED generates a radiation beam having a radiation angle θ of 120°, said lens having a diameter of D equal to 0.625 inches and a thickness t of 0.08 inches and said UV-C LED is spaced 0.1 inches from said lens.

15. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 12, wherein said UV-C LED module is removably attachable to said drain pipe section.

16. A disinfecting device for disinfecting the interior of a drain pipe leading from a drain inlet of a sink basin to a U-shaped trap beneath the sink basin, the device comprising a drain pipe section having a first axis and positioned below or downstream of the sink drain inlet, said drain pipe section having a tubular wall defining an interior space and interior surface and formed with a hole between the sink drain inlet and the U-shaped trap; at least one UV-C LED module having a second axis generally perpendicular to said first axis and positioned to register with said hole and including a UV-C LED that when energized generates a radiation beam having a predetermined radiation angle along said second axis to transmit UV-C light into said drain pipe section through said hole to irradiate at least a portion of said interior surface and airborne pathogens contained therein with UV-C light in proximity to said drain inlet; a lens generally coextensive with said tubular wall and having a peripheral edge aligned with said hole; and energizing means for energizing said at least one UV-C LED module, said UV-C LED being spaced from said lens a fixed distance to cause said radiation beam to be substantially transmitted through said lens to expose said interior surface to said UV-C light, said UV-C LED module being removably attachable to said tubular wall for replacement or maintenance, whereby energizing said at least one UV-C LED module exposes pathogens on said interior surface and airborne pathogens within said interior space to UV-C radiation and reduces the ability of pathogens from entry into the sink basin.

17. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 16, wherein a threaded sleeve is fixedly secured to said drain pipe section and wherein said UV-C LED module comprises a threaded member threadedly engageable with said threaded sleeve and configured to position said UV-C LED at said predetermined distance when said sleeve and said member are fully threadedly engaged.

18. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 17, wherein said sleeve is internally threaded and said member is externally threaded.

19. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 17, wherein said sleeve is a circular cylinder having one axial end fixed to said drain pipe section and having an opposing axial end formed with a first annular surface and said member being formed with a second annular surface; and further comprising an annular washer interposed between said first and second annular surfaces to provide a compression contact between said washer and said first and second annular surfaces when said sleeve and member are fully threadedly engaged.

20. A drain disinfecting device as defined in claim 17, wherein said washer has a thickness selected to provide a seal between said sleeve and said member and to position said UV-C LED at said fixed distance from said lens when said first and second annular surfaces abut against washer when said sleeve and said member are fully threadedly engaged.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Those skilled in the art will appreciate the improvements and advantages that derive from the present invention upon reading the following detailed description, claims, and drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a sink installation, showing how a drain disinfecting device in accordance with the invention can be installed to disinfect the internal surface and pathogen-laden air within a drain pipe;

[0020] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail, in cross-section, showing the manner in which the drain disinfecting device interfaces with the drain pipe shown in FIG. 1, showing how a UV-C LED module is secured to the drain pipe;

[0021] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the UV-C LED module shown in FIG. 2;

[0022] FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, showing a radiation beam emanating from a UV-C LED spaced a distance less than an optimal distance in accordance with the invention; and

[0023] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, showing the UV-C LED spaced at a distance from the lens that maximizes exposure of the interior of the drain pipe to UV-C light in accordance to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Referring now specifically to the Figures, in which the identical or similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout, and first referring to FIG. 1, a sink installation is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0025] The sink installation 10 can represent a sink, for example, in a bathroom or in a kitchen or elsewhere. As shown, the sink installation is typically mounted on a wall 12, with the sink basin 14 supported on a countertop or support panel 16 and, as with most sink basins, is provided with a fixture tail piece 18 designed to be connected to a drain pipe.

[0026] While many different drain pipe configurations are used in connection with different sinks, a simple arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 1 in which the tail piece 18 is joined to a drain pipe 20 by means of a union or a locknut 22. The drain pipe 20 defines a generally vertical axis A. The drain pipe 20, in turn, is connected to an outlet pipe 24 by means of another union or locknut 22 as shown. The outlet pipe 24, sometimes referred as a P-pipe or tube, includes a U-shaped trap 24a and a horizontal extension portion 24b through which waste water is drained to a sewer pipe. Under normal conditions, without blockages, air locks or other pressure differentials, U shaped traps are filled with waste water 24c to a level determined by the overflow level 26. When water rises above the overflow level 26 it flows out through the horizontal extension 24b to the main waste pipes. The regions of the drain pipes that are normally problematic in terms of organism proliferation are designated by the height “H”. This region, as suggested, is exposed to moisture, air or oxygen as well as nutrients that are flushed down the drain. The level of the liquid “d1” within the U-shaped trap 24a prevents gases from the sewer pipes entering the space where the sink installation is located through the sink basin. The level “d2” is normally referred to as the trap seal depth and can range between 1.5-4″ to ensure that there is no reverse flow of noxious gases. The invention is designed to provide UV-C light that irradiates most or all of the drain pipe 20 over the height h and, preferably, along the entire height H.

[0027] In FIG. 1 a drain disinfecting device in accordance with the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 28. The device 28 includes at least one UV-C LED module 30 (FIG. 2). The drain pipe 20 is typically a conventional cylindrical tube or pipe that has a tubular wall 20′ defining an interior space and interior surface, and it is formed with a hole, opening or aperture 32 between the tail piece 18 and the trap 24a above the overflow level 26 and can be close or proximate to the tail piece 18 although the precise position is not critical. The module 30 is positioned and oriented to be aligned with or register with the hole 32 along an axis A′ that is normal to the axis A of the drain pipe.

[0028] In a presently preferred embodiment a cylindrical sleeve 34 is aligned with the hole 32 along the axis A′ and has one axial end 34a integrally formed with or fixedly joined to the drain pipe 20 and has an opposing free axial end 34b that defines a first annular bearing surface 34c (FIG. 3). The sleeve 34 is provided with an internal thread 34d.

[0029] The LED module 30 is provided with a externally threaded cylindrical end 30a configured to be received within the internally threaded end 34b of the sleeve 34 to threadedly mesh with the sleeve and move along the axis A′ relative to the fix or stationary sleeve along the axis A′ with rotation of the module 30 relative to the fixed sleeve 34. A printed circuit board 36 is provided within the module 30 for mounting a UV-C LED 38. A quartz or other UV-C transparent lens 40 is provided, the lens 40 forming a transparent medium through which UV light can be transmitted with minimal or no attenuation.

[0030] The UV-C LED 38 when energized generates a radiation beam B having a predetermined radiation angle θ to transmit UV-C light into the drain pipe section 20 through the hole 32 to irradiate at least a portion of the interior surface and also expose airborne pathogens contained within the air column above the level 26 to UV-C light in proximity to the drain inlet at the tail piece 18.

[0031] The lens 40 is positioned generally coextensively with the tubular wall 20′. The lens 40 in the embodiment shown is a flat circular lens having a peripheral or circumferential edge 40a generally coextensive with the hole 32. Lenses other than flat lenses, such as convex or concave lenses, may be used to converge or diverge the beam B to effectively decrease or increase the angle θ, with different degrees of advantage.

[0032] An important feature of the invention is the selection of the spacing “s” between the UV-C LED 38 and the lens 40 to maximize the degree of exposure of the interior surface of the drain pipe to the UV-C light beam B. Referring to FIG. 3 the distance “s” of the UV-C LED 38 from the lens 40 is critical. When “s” is less than a critical value, referring to FIG. 4, the beam B does not reach the peripheral edge 40a and the beam B covers less of the internal surface area of the drain pipe. As the distance “s” is increased, referring to FIG. 5, the radiation pattern on the interior surface increases with the optimum value of “s” being selected when the beam B passes through the outer region of the lens 40 and optimally through the peripheral edge 40a. Increasing the distance “s” beyond the preferred value causes the beam to be blocked or cut off by the supporting structure of the module 30, again reducing the effective coverage of the interior surface. When a flat lens 40 is spaced from the UV-C LED a distance “s” and has a thickness “t”, the radiation angle is “θ” and the lens has a diameter “D” the optimum distance s=D/[2 tan (θ/2)]−t. While s in the optimum spacing for best performance, with slight deviations within a critical range still provide good results with slightly different degrees of performance. A critical range for the spacing s is s.sub.c=s±0.1 s without significant deterioration or effectiveness. In one example, the UV-C LED generates a radiation beam having a radiation angle of 120°, the lens 40 has a diameter of 0.625 inches and a thickness of 0.08 inches so the optimum spacing “s” is 0.1 inches from the lens. While the specific LED has a radiation pattern of 120°, there are different factors that affect the radiation pattern of an LED. One of these factors is the lens type of the LED. When the LED has a flat window lens this results in a wider angle of emission when compared to a curved lens. Another factor is whether the LED is a surface emitter or a volume emitter. Surface emitters have a maximum emission angle of 90°.

[0033] Another feature of the invention is that the UV-C LED module is removably attachable to the tubular wall 20′ for replacement or maintenance. Referring to FIGS. 2-5 this is achieved by providing a threaded sleeve 34 fixedly secured to the drain pipe section 20 and providing a UV-C LED module 30 that is formed with a threaded member or portion 30a threadedly engageable with the threaded sleeve 34 and configured to position the UV-C LED 38 at a predetermined optimum distance “s” when the sleeve 34 and the member or module 30 are fully threadedly engaged as shown in FIG. 2. A shown, the sleeve is internally threaded and member or module is externally threaded.

[0034] In the depicted embodiment the sleeve 34 is a circular cylinder having one axial end 34a fixed to the drain pipe section 20 and has an opposing axial free end 34b formed with a first annular bearing surface 34c and the member or module 30 is formed with an enlarged collar 30b forming a second annular bearing surface 30c, 34c. The first and second bearing surfaces are like annular surfaces that have the same or substantially equal outer diameter D′ that face each other. An annular washer 42 also having an outer diameter substantially equal to D′ is interposed between the first and second annular surfaces 30c, 34c to provide a compression contact between the washer and the first and second annular surfaces when the sleeve 34 and member or module 30 are fully threadedly engaged in the operative condition as shown in FIG. 2. The washer 42 has a thickness “t′” selected to provide both a seal between the sleeve 34 and the module 30 and to position the UV-C LED at the predetermined or optimum desired distance from the lens within the critical range when the first and second annular surfaces 30c and 34c abut against the washer when the sleeve and the module are fully threadedly engaged.

[0035] While the lens 40 is preferably made of quartz, any suitable glass or transparent material may be used that does not attenuate or unduly attenuate the UV-C radiation beam B.

[0036] The UV-C LED 38 is connected by means of electrical conductors 44 within a conduit 46 to a suitable voltage converter that serves as a driver for the LED. A driver 48 is connected to a programmable controller 50 that, in turn, is connected to a source of power, such as a 110 volt power outlet at a J-box 52. The programmable controller 50 is also advantageously connected to a motion detector 54 that can detect motion in the general facility or area of the sink basin. The programmable controller 50 and the voltage converter or driver 48 are preferably enclosed within a box or housing 56 that can be attached to the wall 12. The enclosure 56 is also advantageously water resistant. To facilitate installation, the conduit 46 is preferably a flexible conduit that can be extended between and connected to the casing enclosure 56 and the drain pipe 20.

[0037] In FIGS. 1 and 2 only one module 30 is shown. It will be appreciated that two or more modules may also be installed on a single drain pipe. When two or more UV-C LED modules are used they are preferably linearly and angularly spaced or offset from each other in relation to the axis A or length direction of the tail pipe 20 to maximize the surface area exposed to the UVC radiation.

[0038] In FIGS. 2 and 3, the lenses 40 are generally flat and abut against the outside surface of the drain pipe to prevent interference with the normal flow of waste water down the drain. However, a greater drain pipe inner surface area exposed to radiation may be obtained by utilizing a spherical or conical surface lens that projects only slightly into the interior of the drain pipe. This allows the UV-C LED to be moved closer to the center of the drain pipe. However, such extension of the module into the drain pipe should normally not exceed ¼ of an inch to insure the normal flow and operation of the drain pipe.

[0039] The depth at which the device is inserted into the wall of the drainpipe must also be considered. The design is meant to insert the device 0.02 inches or a negligible distance into the pipe as seen on the drawing. The device is preferably inserted a very small distance into the pipe to ensure the radiation pattern is not interfered. This distance is very small so essentially the system is along the wall of the pipe and does not interfere with water flow in the drain pipe.

[0040] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.