Ultrasonic cleaning in liquid purification systems
OwnerEdward A. Pedziwiatrinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Cleaning apparatus and method for use in cleaning ultraviolet radiation inhibiting deposits from the active surfaces of ultraviolet radiation emitting devices utilized in liquid purification systems by inducing ultrasonic vibrations in the emitting devices with ultrasonic transducers coupled to portions of the emitting devices extending outside the conduit through which the liquid to be purified is passed, the coupling being accomplished through a coupling liquid contained within a chamber of relatively small volume into which the extending portions of the emitting devices project to be immersed in the coupling liquid.
Claims17
In a liquid purification system of the type in which the liquid to be purified is passed through a conduit and at least one ultraviolet radiation emitting device extends into the conduit so as to provide active surfaces from which ultraviolet radiation will emanate to purify the liquid passed through the conduit, the improvement comprising:
- means for extending a portion of the emitting device outside the conduit such that said portion is essentially isolated from the liquid in the conduit;
- ultrasonic means for generating ultrasonic vibrations;
- and
- coupling means for coupling the ultrasonic means with the portion of the emitting device extending outside the conduit so as to induce ultrasonic vibrations in the emitting device and effect the cleaning of unwanted ultraviolet radiation inhibiting deposits from the active surfaces.
A cleaning apparatus for use in connection with a liquid purification system of the type in which the liquid to be purified is passed through a conduit and a plurality of ultraviolet radiation emitting devices extend into the conduit to provide active surfaces from which ultraviolet radiation will emanate to purify the liquid passed through the conduit, the emitting devices each including a portion extending outside the conduit, the cleaning apparatus being effective to clean ultraviolet radiation inhibiting deposits from the active surfaces, said cleaning apparatus comprising:
- means for extending a portion of each of the emitting devices outside the conduit such that said portion is essentially isolated from the liquid in the conduit
- a chamber for location adjacent the conduit such that said portions of the emitting devices extending outside the conduit will extend into the chamber;
- ultrasonic means associated with the chamber for generating ultrasonic vibrations;
- and
- an ultrasonic coupling liquid in the chamber in contact with said portions of the emitting devices such that ultrasonic vibrations are induced in the emitting devices, through the coupling liquid, for cleaning said deposits from the active surfaces.
The method of cleaning ultraviolet radiation inhibiting deposits from the active surfaces of an ultraviolet radiation emitting device extending within a conduit of a liquid purification system such that ultraviolet radiation will emanate from the active surfaces to purify liquid passed through the conduit, the emitting device including a portion extending outside the conduit, said method comprising:
- providing ultrasonic vibrations;
- and
- coupling the ultrasonic vibrations with the portion of the emitting device extending outside the conduit such that said portion is essentially isolated from the liquid in the conduit to induce ultrasonic vibrations in the emitting device for cleaning the deposits from the active surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.