US1193209A - Hausen - Google Patents

Description

M. VON .RECKLINGHAUSEN. APPARATUS FOR STERILIZATION 0F FLUIDS BY ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I4, I914. I I 9 3%09 Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

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v VON BECKLINGHAUSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE E. "U. V. COMP W INQ, OENEW YORK, Y., A CORPORATION 015 NEW YORK.

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To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, MAX VON Rnoxnmo- HAUSEN, a subject of the Emperor of. Germany, residmg at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ap-' paratus for Sterilization of Fluids by Ultrathe action of the rays while in the form of a thin sheet or film, and the object of the invention which forms the subject of this application is primarily the production of a sterilizing apparatus by the use of which the fluid is presented to the ultra-violet rays while in this condition.

The invention also embodies a means for starting the lamp into action in an apparatus of this particular kind, when its construction or mode of use precludes its proper movement for this purpose, independently of the apparatus, and other features of improvement useful in devices of this kind.

To these ends the invention consists of a vessel or receptacle for containing the source of the rays, having corrugated walls over and down .which the water is permitted to trickle or flow in a thin film or sheet through the zone of the rays, into a lower part of the receptacle in which, if so desired, one or both ends of the lamp may be supported, so as to be immersed in and cooled by the fluid. v

The invention also comprises a vessel or receptacle of the kind described, supported on pivotal bearings, so that it may be turned through a certain angle, and by such move? ment bring the contained lamp into a position in which the mercury completes a metallic circuit between the two terminals.

Another feature of the invention consists in mounting the vessel or receptacle on pivotal bearings and providing for it an Specification of Letters Patent.

-with corrugations indicated by ATUS FOR STERILIEA'JLION 01E FLUIDS JB'lt 'IULTRAeVIOLET RAYS.

Patented ta i, tote.

Application filed March 1 2:, 1914i. Serial No. 82%.655.

outlet or overflow opening through which it is emptied of its contents after use or before bein started into operation.

Another eature of the invention involves the provision of means for automatically regulating the rate of flow of fluid through the receptacle, and finally, the invention involves an attachment, by the operation of which fluid will flow through the apparatus only when the lamp is in operation.

These several features of invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the preferred form of apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

.lFig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of the receptacle.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

When the vessel or receptacle in which the sterilization takes place is one in which the lamp may'not be inserted or withdrawn at pleasure it is necessary to provide for the tilting of the apparatus itself in order that the lam may be started in operation, and

that shown in the drawing being circular in general outline, and its walls are rovided The upper portion of the receptacle contains a receiver of any suitable design into which the fluid to be sterilized is discharged and from which it overflows on to the corrugated walls.

The receptacle A is supported by an enlarged base A. mounted by pivotal bearings H in a supporting bracket J, and the lamp B, which, as above described, is a tube bent back upon itself and the whole, bent into U-form, projects into the receptacle from below, its ends passing through the base A. The device is held normally in a vertical position by. means of a catch L which, when released, permits it to be turned until the mercury flowing from the terminal chambers into the main tube completes a metallic circuit between the two terminals and at the same time lowers an outlet M to a point where the contents of the receptacle can escape. To permit the free movement of the entire receptacle, the pipe or duct, by which the fluid is led into the apparatus, should have a pivotal connection therewith coincident with the axis of the device.

The base A of the main receptacle contains a perforated or open discharge chamber from which leads an outlet M, and these parts are so constructed that a certam amount of fluid suflicient to cool the electrode chambers of the lamp will accumulate in the base A.

In practice I prefer to maintain the device in its operative position by means of an electro-magnet O in the lamp circuit. Thismagnet, when energized, may maintain the latch or catch L closed, but when not influenced by current will allow the catch to swing and drop the pivoted receptacle. In this way, as-soon as the circuit through the lamp is interrupted the receptacle swings 'on its pivots and is automatically drained of the fluid which may be in the base A.

It is important that the film of water descending over the corrugations E shall not be too thick, and that a ready but simple means for regulating the flow should therefore be at hand. To accomplish this I employ in the cap or 'upper portion of the receptacle a nozzle or spout P for delivering the fluid, which is vertically adjustable about its pivotal connection with the inlet pipe. The orifice of this spout is directed toward the opening R of a path for fluid around the apparatus, and if the flow from the spout is too abundant, a portion of the fluid will be carried off through this path. By the adjustment of the spout the amount of fluid which it can deliver into the receptacle will thus be readily determined.

The construction of the described apparatus may be greatly' varied without departure from the invention, and the ways and means shown for accomplishing the result specified may be widely modified.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for sterilizing fluids by exposure to ultra-violet rays, comprising in combination a source of ultra-violet rays,

a pivoted receptacle with corrugated walls containingsuch source, means for causing a fluid to trickle down over the corrugations in the zone of the rays, and means comprising an electro-magnet in the circuit of the source of the rays for holding the receptacle in operative position when the lamp is energized, and to automatically release the receptacle when the circuit is cut off.

2. An apparatus for sterilizing fluid by exposure to ultra-violet rays, comprising, in combination, a source of ultra-violet rays which requires to be tilted for starting it in operation, a pivoted receptacle containing said source, means for passing a fluid through the receptacle in. the zone of the rays, and an electro-magnet in the circuit of the source of the rays, for holding, while energized by the current, the receptacle in operative position and for automatically releasing the same when the current is interrupted.

3. An apparatus for sterilizing fluids by exposure to ultra-violet rays, comprising in combination a source of ultra-violet rays, a pivoted receptacle with corrugated Walls containing the said source, means for causing a fluid to trickle down over the corrugations in the zone of the rays, and an electromagnet in the circuit of the source of the rays, for holding the receptacle in position.

.41. An apparatus for sterilizing fluids by exposure to ultra-violet rays, comprising in combination a source of ultra-violet rays, a pivoted receptacle with corrugated walls containing the said source, means for causing a fluid to trickle down over the corrugations in the zone of such rays, and an overflow-outlet in the base of the receptacle which discharges the contents of the same when the receptacle is tilted.

5. An apparatus for sterilizing fluids by exposure to ultra-violet rays, comprising in combination a pivoted receptacle through which the fluid is adapted to flow, provided with an inlet and 'an outlet for said fluid, a trap at the bottom of the receptacle for containing a quantity of the fluid while the receptacle is in operative position, and a source of ultra-violet rays located in said receptacle, consisting of a mercury vapor lamp, aportion of which is submerged in the fluid contained in the trap, the trap being also provided with an outlet for discharging the fluid therefrom when the receptacle is turned to inoperative position.

6. An apparatus for sterilizing fluid by exposure to ultra-violet rays, comprising, in

combination, a source of ultra-violet rays, :1 pivoted receptacle containing said source, means for passing a fluid through the receptacle in the zone of the rays, and an electro-magnet in the circuit of the source of rays for holding, while energized by the current, the receptacle in operative nosition and for automatically releasing the which fluid trapped in the bottom of the same when the current is interrupted. receptacle passes When the latter is turned 7. An apparatus for sterilizing fluids by to inoperative position. exposure to ultra-violet rays, comprising in In testimony whereof I aifix my signature 5 C0mbin3ti0i1 a pvoted riaceglifitachil provided in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. l

with an in et an an out et or t e passage of fluid therethrough, a source of ultra-vio- MAX VON REGKLINGHAUSEN' let rays contained in said receptacle, and Witnesses: through the zone of Whose rays the fluid M. LAWSON DYAR, l0 passes, and an additional outlet through JOHN B. MCGUIRE.

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