Apparatus for disinfecting a fluid
AssigneeInternational Water-Guard Industries, Inc.
InventorsJose Wong, Steven Bis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is described an apparatus for disinfecting a fluid, such as water. The apparatus includes a housing having a fluid inlet for inflow of a fluid to be disinfected, and a fluid outlet for outflow of the fluid to be disinfected. The apparatus further includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) operable to emit ultraviolet (UV) light for disinfecting the fluid to be disinfected. A fluid flow path extends from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. The fluid flow path is configured such that, when the fluid to be disinfected flows along the fluid flow path, the fluid to be disinfected flows sufficiently close to the one or more LEDs so as to absorb heat generated by the one or more LEDs.
Claims28
An apparatus for disinfecting a fluid, comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- a fluid inlet for inflow of a fluid to be disinfected;
- and
- a fluid outlet for outflow of the fluid to be disinfected;
- one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) operable to emit ultraviolet (UV) light for disinfecting the fluid to be disinfected,
- a window at least partially transparent to UV light, positioned in front of the one or more LEDs,
- wherein a fluid flow path extends from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet and is configured such that, when the fluid to be disinfected flows along the fluid flow path, the fluid to be disinfected absorbs heat generated by the one or more LEDs,
- wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more baffles defining one or more first branches and one or more second branches of the fluid flow path, wherein the one or more first branches extend in a first direction and the one or more second branches extend in a second direction opposite the first direction,
- wherein the one or more baffles comprise one or more portions that are transparent to UV light so that the fluid to be disinfected undergoes disinfection when flowing along the one or more first branches and the one or more second branches of the fluid flow path, wherein the fluid inlet is located behind the one or more LEDs such that the fluid flow path extends from the fluid inlet to an area behind the one or more LEDs and then to the fluid outlet, and such that, when the fluid to be disinfected flows along the fluid flow path, the fluid to be disinfected flows behind the one or more LEDs and absorbs, from behind the one or more LEDs, heat generated by the one or more LEDs,
- wherein the fluid inlet comprises an opening in the housing to permit the fluid to be disinfected outside the apparatus to flow into the apparatus by passing from outside the apparatus, through the opening, and into the apparatus, and
- wherein the one or more baffles are positioned relative to the window such that the fluid to be disinfected, when flowing along the fluid flow path, flows from the area behind the one or more LEDs and away from the one or more LEDs along a branch of the one or more first branches, and then toward the one or more LEDs along a branch of the one or more second branches, before coming into contact with the window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.