Optical waveguides – Optical fiber waveguide with cladding – Utilizing multiple core or cladding
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-19
2004-08-03
Palmer, Phan T. H. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Optical fiber waveguide with cladding
Utilizing multiple core or cladding
C385S012000, C385S123000, C385S147000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06771866
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photocatalyst apparatus using a plurality of photocatalytic optical fibers which include a photocatalyst material, a method of manufacture thereof and a photocatalyst reactor using the photocatalyst apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known that a photocatalyst (i.e. photocatalytic material) is made of photo-activating or photo-catalyzing semiconductor typically Titanium Dioxide (TiO
2
). The photocatalyst is activated by irradiation of light including relatively short wavelength such as ultraviolet (UV) light, purple or blue visible light.
The photocatalyst oxidizes and/or reduces contaminants (i.e. pollutants) so as to decompose (i.e. dissolve, resolve) the contaminants by a photo-catalyzing reaction or effect.
The photocatalyst is capable of applying to various fields by utilizing the photo-catalyzing reaction of the photocatalyst. That is, these fields are, for example, a cleaning to delete dirty components from a surface of articles, a dirt protection to prevent the surface from fixing or attaching or sticking a dirty component, an infection, a deleting of offensive odor (i.e. bad smell), a purification of gas (e.g. air) or liquid (e.g. water), a processing of exhausting gas, a processing of waste liquid, a generation of Hydrogen and/or Oxygen from water, a speeding up of chemical reaction and a dissolving of contaminants to cause social pollution.
All the applications as mentioned above utilize the photocatalyst reaction or photocatalyst function by a strong oxidation and/or reduction power to show when the photocatalyst is activated by the light with relatively short wavelength. For example, as for the purification of the air or water, when the photocatalyst is irradiated by the light rays having comparatively short wavelength (e.g. ultraviolet light, purple or blue visible light), Oxygen (O
2
) existing in the air or dissolving in the water is activated by the photo-catalyzing reaction so that Ozone (O
3
) and/or activated Oxygen (O) generate.
The Ozone or the activated Oxygen decomposes contaminants or microorganism including in the air or water, such as mold (i.e. fungi), bacteria or organic chlorine compound by an oxidization reaction. Therefore, the air or water is sterilized (i.e. disinfected, removed from microorganisms,) purified (i.e. sanitized), deodorized or discolored.
Furthermore, when the photocatalyst is irradiated by the light rays with short wavelength, it accelerates to decompose (i.e. resolve) the water H
2
O to activated oxygen (O) and/or hydrogen (H
2
).
Moreover, the photocatalyst as a circumstance cleaning material contributes to decomposition of pollutants, which give a bad influence to a social circumstance.
The pollutants are for example a volatile organic solvent, a chemical agent for agriculture such as grass eliminating agent (i.e. insecticide), an organic phosphate and a deleterious inorganic chemical compound such as cyanide and a kind of chrome.
In case that multiple photocatalyst particles (i.e. photocatalyst particulates) are used directly for reaction of oxidation and/or reduction with any substance, it is so difficult that the photocatalyst particles are separated and collected and a device to utilize the photocatalyst particles becomes complicated and large.
While, in the case that multiple photocatalyst particles are used as a form of photocatalyst supported substrate in which a layer or film including the photocatalyst particles is fixed and supported on the substrate, a recycling or reuse of the photocatalyst particles can be easily carried out, because the separation and collection of the photocatalyst particles are not required.
As for the latter case using the photocatalyst supported substrate, it is disclosed, in the publication of Japanese patent application Laying-open No. H05-155726 published on Jun. 22, 1993, (Japanese Patent No. 2883761 issued on Apr. 9, 1999), that a Titanium Dioxide layer (i.e. film) is formed on a substrate made of a heat resistance material such as metal, ceramic or glass in such a manner that Titania sol. is first coated on a surface of the substrate and then the Titania sol. is fired (i.e. baked) to produce the Titanium Dioxide layer on the surface. Thereby, the surface of the substrate is prevented from growth (i.e. proliferation) of bacteria.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to propose an enhanced photocatalyst apparatus utilizing photocatalytic optical fibers.
It is another object of the present invention to propose an enhanced photocatalyst reactor utilizing the photocatalyst apparatus utilizing photocatalytic optical fibers.
It is a still another object of the present invention to propose a method for manufacturing or fabricating the photocatalyst apparatus utilizing photocatalytic optical fibers.
The entire disclosure of my U.S. patent applications: Ser. No. 09/644,418 filed on Aug. 21, 2000 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,501,893) and Ser. No. 09/146,915 filed on Sep. 2, 1998 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,476) are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Further, the entire disclosure of my Japanese Patent application No.2002-143727 filed May 17, 2002 (Japanese Patent application Laid-open No. 2003-334422 published on Nov. 25, 2003), which is the prior foreign application of the present U.S. Patent application and Japanese Patent application No.H08-80434 filed on Feb. 27, 1996 (Japanese Patent application Laid-open No. 09-225295 published on Sep. 2, 1997), which is the prior foreign application of the U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 09/644,418 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,501,893) and Ser. No. 09/146,915 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,476) are also hereby incorporated herein by reference.
In an aspect of the present invention, a photocatalyst apparatus comprises: a plurality of photocatalytic optical fibers, each photocatalytic optical fiber having a core and a photocatalytic clad including a photocatalyst; and a substrate having at least one surface, wherein the photocatalytic optical fibers are disposed on the substrate to project from the surface.
The photocatalytic optical fibers may project in a substantially perpendicular direction and/or project substantially parallel to one another.
The core may comprise a solid core composed of a substantially transparent material or a hollow core composed of a substantially transparent tubular member having a hollow space therethrough.
The substrate may comprise a substantially rectangular panel composed of a solid body or a substantially rectangular panel composed of a hollow structure having a pair of substantially rectangular plates and a substantially rectangular hollow space therebetween. The substrate may comprise a solid or hollow light guide. The substrate may comprise a column-like solid body or a column-like hollow structure having a substantially transparent tubular member and a space therethrough. The substrate further may comprise at least one opening to pass through a thickness thereof. The substrate further comprise at least one opening to pass through a thickness thereof, wherein the opening may be composed of a dot and/or linear shape. The substrate may be composed of a substantially, uniform thickness. The substrate may be composed of a substantially variable thickness having e.g. such as a taper-like shape. The substrate may be an existing article, installation or facility and the photocatalytic optical fibers are attached to/on the at least one surface by an electrostatic process at a site where the existing article, installation or facility is located. The substrate may comprise a filter device composed of a filter medium having a thickness and a plurality of through holes to pass therethrough. The substrate may comprise a filter device composed of a filter medium having a thickness and a plurality of through holes to pass therethrough, wherein the filter medium contains an adsorbent and/or a photocatalyst therein/thereon.
The photocatalyst apparatus may further comprise an adhesive for adhering the photocatalytic optical fibers to/on
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