Apparatus and method for combined use of ultraviolet and ozone in appliances

An appliance capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water, said appliance including an apparatus for treating said oxygen containing gas and water, said apparatus comprising:

• a source of ultraviolet radiation;
• a first input associated with said source for receiving water to be exposed to said radiation;
• a first output for said water which has been exposed to said radiation;
• a second input associated with said source for receiving said oxygen containing gas to be exposed to said radiation so that ozone is formed in said gas;
• a second output for said gas containing said ozone;
• and
• a controller for controlling said source of ultraviolet radiation so that said source is turned on when water begins to flow into said first input, and remains on for a fixed period of time after water ceases to flow into said input, so that water which has flowed into said input but has not yet flowed out of said output is fully treated.

An appliance capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water, said appliance including an apparatus for treating said oxygen containing gas and water, said apparatus comprising:

• a source of ultraviolet radiation;
• a first input associated with said source for receiving water to be exposed to said radiation;
• a first output for said water which has been exposed to said radiation;
• a second input associated with said source for receiving said oxygen containing gas to be exposed to said radiation so that ozone is formed in said gas;
• a second output for said gas containing said ozone;
• and
• a controller for controlling said source of ultraviolet radiation so that said source is turned on when water begins to flow into said first input, and remains on for a fixed period of time after water ceases to flow into said input, so that water which has flowed into said input but has not yet flowed out of said output is fully treated, wherein said gas is air.

An appliance capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water, said appliance including an apparatus for treating said oxygen containing gas and water, said apparatus comprising:

• a source of ultraviolet radiation;
• a first input associated with said source for receiving water to be exposed to said radiation;
• a first output for said water which has been exposed to said radiation;
• a second input associated with said source for receiving said oxygen containing gas to be exposed to said radiation so that ozone is formed in said gas;
• a second output for said gas containing said ozone;
• and
• a controller for controlling said source of ultraviolet radiation so that said source is turned on when water begins to flow into said first input, and remains on for a fixed period of time after water ceases to flow into said input, so that water which has flowed into said input but has not vet flowed out of said output is fully treated,
• wherein said controller periodically causes said source of ultraviolet radiation to be turned on to periodically ensure treatment of said water held in the device.

An appliance capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water, said appliance including an apparatus for treating said oxygen containing gas and water, said apparatus comprising:

• a source of ultraviolet radiation;
• a first input associated with said source for receiving water to be exposed to said radiation;
• a first output for said water which has been exposed to said radiation;
• a second input associated with said source for receiving said oxygen containing gas to be exposed to said radiation so that ozone is formed in said gas;
• a second output for said gas containing said ozone;
• a pressure sensor for detecting a drop in pressure at said first output;
• and
• flow activating apparatus for activating flow of water into said first input when a drop in pressure is detected by said pressure sensor.

An appliance capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water, said appliance including an apparatus for treating said oxygen containing gas and water, said apparatus comprising:

• a source of ultraviolet radiation;
• a first input associated with said source for receiving water to be exposed to said radiation;
• a first output for said water which has been exposed to said radiation;
• a second input associated with said source for receiving said oxygen containing gas to be exposed to said radiation so that ozone is formed in said gas;
• a second output for said gas containing said ozone;
• a pressure sensor for detecting a drop in pressure at said first output;
• flow activating apparatus for activating flow of water into said first input when a drop in pressure is detected by said pressure sensor;
• and
• a sensor for detecting ultraviolet radiation produced by said source;
• wherein said flow activating apparatus activates the flow of water into said first input only when both said drop in pressure and detection of ultraviolet radiation by said sensor occur.

An appliance capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water, said appliance including an apparatus for treating said oxygen containing gas and water, said apparatus comprising:

• a source of ultraviolet radiation;
• a first input associated with said source for receiving water to be exposed to said radiation;
• a first output for said water which has been exposed to said radiation;
• a second input associated with said source for receiving said oxygen containing gas to be exposed to said radiation so that ozone is formed in said gas;
• a second output for said gas containing said ozone;
• a tube through which said water flows from said first input to said first output having characteristics which permit said ultraviolet radiation to suppress biological activity in said water, wherein said tube is substantially transparent to said ultraviolet radiation;
• and
• a plenum through which gas may be caused to flow from said second input to said second output, said plenum being sized, shaped, and positioned so that when said gas is in said plenum, said gas is exposed to said ultraviolet radiation to a degree sufficient to form ozone in said gas.

An appliance capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water, said appliance including an apparatus for treating said oxygen containing gas and water, said apparatus comprising:

• a source of ultraviolet radiation;
• a first input associated with said source for receiving water to be exposed to said radiation;
• a first output for said water which has been exposed to said radiation;
• a second input associated with said source for receiving said oxygen containing gas to be exposed to said radiation so that ozone is formed in said gas;
• a second output for said gas containing said ozone;
• a tube through which said water flows from said first input to said first output having characteristics which permit said ultraviolet radiation to suppress biological activity in said water, wherein said tube is formed of tetraflouro-ethylene or quartz;
• and
• a plenum through which gas may be caused to flow from said second input to said second output, said plenum being sized, shaped, and positioned so that when said gas is in said plenum, said gas is exposed to said ultraviolet radiation to a degree sufficient to form ozone in said gas.

An appliance capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water, said appliance including an apparatus for treating said oxygen containing gas and water, said apparatus comprising:

• a source of ultraviolet radiation;
• a first input associated with said source for receiving water to be exposed to said radiation;
• a first output for said water which has been exposed to said radiation;
• a second input associated with said source for receiving said oxygen containing gas to be exposed to said radiation so that ozone is formed in said gas;
• and
• a second output for said gas containing said ozone,
• wherein said appliance is one of a refrigerator, a dishwasher a clothes washing machine, a clothes dryer and a clothes washer/dryer.

An appliance capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water, said appliance including an apparatus for treating said oxygen containing gas and water, said apparatus comprising:

• a source of ultraviolet radiation;
• a first input associated with said source for receiving water to be exposed to said radiation;
• a first output for said water which has been exposed to said radiation;
• a second input associated with said source for receiving said oxygen containing gas to be exposed to said radiation so that ozone is formed in said gas;
• a second output for said gas containing said ozone;
• and
• at least one gas conducting means for conducting said ozone containing gas to a food storage means remote from said appliance.

A system for use in an appliance for reducing biological activity, said system comprising:

• a source of ultraviolet radiation;
• a first input for receiving water to be exposed to said radiation;
• a first output for said water which has been exposed to said radiation;
• a controller for controlling said source of ultraviolet radiation so that said source is turned on when water begins to flow into said first input, and remains on for a fixed period of time after water ceases to flow into said input, so that water which has flowed into said input but has not yet flowed out of said output is disinfected;
• a second input for an oxygen containing gas to be exposed to said radiation so that ozone is formed in said gas;
• and
• a second output for said gas containing said ozone.

A method for reducing biological activity in a refrigerator which is capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water, comprising:

• generating ultraviolet radiation;
• exposing said oxygen containing gas and said water in said appliance to said radiation to suppress biological activity in said water and to generate ozone in said gas;
• and
• circulating said gas containing said ozone in food containing compartments of said refrigerator.

A method for reducing biological activity in a refrigerator which is capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water comprising:

• generating ultraviolet radiation;
• exposing said oxygen containing gas and said water in said appliance to said radiation to suppress biological activity in said water and to generate ozone in said gas;
• and
• periodically circulating said gas containing said ozone in food containing compartments of said refrigerator.

A method of for reducing biological activity in a refrigerator which is capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water comprising:

• generating ultraviolet radiation;
• exposing said oxygen containing gas and said water in said appliance to said radiation to suppress biological activity in said water and to generate ozone in said gas;
• and
• periodically circulating said gas containing said ozone in food containing compartments of said refrigerator, wherein said gas is circulated for a relatively short period of time once every day.

A method for reducing biological activity in a refrigerator which is capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water comprising:

• generating ultraviolet radiation;
• exposing said oxygen containing gas and said water in said appliance to said radiation to suppress biological activity in said water and to generate ozone in said gas;
• and
• periodically circulating said gas containing said ozone in food containing compartments of said refrigerator, wherein said gas is circulated at a time of day when said refrigerator is not generally in use.

A method for reducing biological activity in a refrigerator which is capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water comprising:

• generating ultraviolet radiation;
• exposing said oxygen containing gas and said water in said appliance to said radiation to suppress biological activity in said water and to generate ozone in said gas;
• and
• periodically circulating said gas containing said ozone in food containing compartments of said refrigerator, wherein said gas is circulated at a time of day when said time of day is at least one of during sleep of individuals using said refrigerator and during periods of time when said individuals are working.

A method for reducing biological activity in a refrigerator which is capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water comprising:

• generating ultraviolet radiation;
• exposing said oxygen containing gas and said water in said appliance to said radiation to suppress biological activity in said water and to generate ozone in said gas;
• and
• periodically circulating said gas containing said ozone in food containing compartments of said refrigerator, wherein said gas is circulated at a time of day when said time of day is at least one of during sleep of individuals using said refrigerator and during periods of time when said individuals are working for a period of time between thirty seconds and two hours, once every day.

A method for reducing biological activity in an appliance which is capable of receiving an oxygen containing gas and water, comprising:

• generating ultraviolet radiation;
• exposing said oxygen containing gas and said water in said appliance to said radiation to suppress biological activity in said water and to generate ozone in said gas;
• and
• conducting said ozone containing gas to a food storage means remote from said appliance.