Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Chemical reactor – With means applying electromagnetic wave energy or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-08
2001-05-15
Gorgus, Kathryn (Department: 1741)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Chemical reactor
With means applying electromagnetic wave energy or...
C210S748080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231820
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a UV disinfecting device for flowing fluids, with a plurality of UV-emitting lamps arranged in parallel.
BACKGROUND
Such devices are installed in the clarified effluent flow from a sewage treatment plant. This effluent flow is conveyed through an open canal into which the UV disinfecting devices of this type are inserted. Elongated UV emitters, in the form of gas-discharge lamps, are disposed essentially horizontally and with their longitudinal axes in the flow direction. Depending on the effluent quantity, a greater or smaller number of emitters is disposed parallel, next to one another, and one above the other, so that there is no point in the effluent flow which is more than a predetermined maximum distance from the radiation sources. In this manner, the bacteria present in the clarified effluent are reliably killed and the effluent is thus disinfected.
A UV disinfecting device of this type is known from EP 0 080 780 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,809. In this structure, a number of UV lamps are surrounded by cylindrical casing sleeves and, together with them, constitute lamp units. A number of lamp units are disposed horizontally, parallel to one another, and one above the other, wherein the casing sleeves are each disposed in a water-tight fashion in bases that are fixed to the frame. The inside of the casing sleeves, the inside of the bases, and the inside of the frame thus communicate with each other, so that the electric supply lines can be routed through these hollow spaces.
In this structure, it is problematical that on the one hand, this system is technically expensive. On the other hand, in order to replace a single UV lamp that has become defective, the system that is closed in a water-tight fashion has to be opened, which in particular can lead to sealing problems later, particularly when there is external contamination. Finally, there is the not-insignificant danger that with a single leak in the entire system, all of the hollow spaces that communicate with each other become flooded with effluent and, as a result, an entire vertical row of UV emitters fails and is severely damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to produce a UV disinfecting device for flowing fluids that is structurally simpler, easier to maintain, and more reliable in operation.
This object is achieved by a device with respective clamps which hold each lamp unit in place.
Because clamps are provided for securing the lamp units, individual lamp units can easily be removed from the disinfecting device without impairing the secured and water-tight assembly of the remaining lamp units. The clamps are cheap to produce, and furthermore offer the advantage that less of a flow resistance is presented, to the flow of the effluent to be disinfected, in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the individual lamp units.
A favorable service life of the securing device is achieved when the clamps are made of a corrosion-resistant spring steel, for example as punched, bent components made from a steel band.
A reliable and particularly safe configuration in electrical terms is achieved when the UV lamp is enclosed by a casing tube that is also permeable to UV radiation. A secure hold is produced, even with moderate loads on the lamp units, if the clamps have such an opening width that they grip the lamp units in their circumference region in a spring-actuated manner, with or without interposed components. The lamp units can be associated, at least in part, with retaining rings that are disposed between the casing tubes and the clamps during operation. This embodiment is particularly safe from damage to the casing tube.
In a particularly simple manner, the casing tubes can be closed in a water-tight manner, in such a way that they are closed on at least one end by a stopper made of a rubber-elastic and/or UV resistant material. This obviates the need for a complex stopper device, which has numerous sealing surfaces and therefore has numerous potential defect sources. It is particularly advantageous if, on its outer circumference, in the region that can be inserted into the casing tube, the stopper is provided with circumferential ribs that can rest in a sealed fashion against the inner surface of the casing tubes during operation. Such ribs seal in the same manner that O-rings, for example, would seal at this location. The at least one electrical connection can be routed through the stopper. The electrical connection can be secured in the stopper by being cast or vulcanized there.
In order to secure the position of the stopper of a lamp unit, it is advantageous, for example, if in each lamp unit, one or two clamps engage the respective stopper directly, and not the corresponding end of the casing tube.
It is furthermore advantageous if a wiper is provided to clean the outer surface, which wiper can slide cleaning elements that encompass the casing tubes in the axial direction of the respective casing tube, and the cleaning elements, for example in the form of stripping rings, are secured to the wiper by means of clamps, which are preferably structurally identical to the clamps for securing the lamp units. In this manner, a removal of the lamp unit from both the frame and the wiper is permitted, wherein identical components are used. If at least one stopper thereby does not protrude past the outer diameter of the casing tube, each stripping ring can be removed from the casing tube for maintenance without opening the lamp unit.
Finally, if the casing tubes each have at least one circumferential constriction or groove in whose region the lamp units are secured by the clamps, then the respective lamp unit is fixed in the axial direction and can be removed in a radial direction easily and without tools. The flow resistance is reduced further by means of this measure.
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Gorgus Kathryn
Tran Theo
Woodbridge Richard C.
Woodbridge & Associates P.C.
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