US-12616762-B2 - Ultraviolet device and methods of using the same

US12616762B2US 12616762 B2US12616762 B2US 12616762B2US-12616762-B2

Abstract

A device including an outer shell having a first longitudinal axis and a first arcuate shape. The outer shell is opaque to ultraviolet light and to visible light. The device also includes an inner shell having a second longitudinal axis. The inner shell is connected longitudinally to the outer shell along a first longitudinal length and a second longitudinal length. The inner shell has a second arcuate shape different than the first arcuate shape. A chamber is disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell. The chamber is defined by a difference between the first arcuate shape and the second arcuate shape. The device also includes an ultraviolet light source disposed along the second longitudinal axis.

Inventors

Jagdish T. Madhav
Geoffrey Thomas Warr

Assignees

THE BOEING COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20211026

Claims (7)

1 . A device comprising: an outer shell having a first longitudinal axis and a first arcuate shape; an inner shell having a second longitudinal axis, wherein the inner shell is connected longitudinally to the outer shell along a first longitudinal length and a second longitudinal length, wherein the inner shell has a second arcuate shape different than the first arcuate shape, wherein a chamber is disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell, and wherein the chamber is defined by a difference between the first arcuate shape and the second arcuate shape; an ultraviolet light source disposed along the second longitudinal axis; and an actuator connected to at least one of the outer shell and the inner shell, wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the outer shell and the inner shell together about the ultraviolet light source.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising: a negative pressure source in fluid communication with the chamber.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the second arcuate shape is elliptical, and the first arcuate shape is circular.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of holes penetrate through the inner shell.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the outer shell comprises a composite material and the inner shell comprises aluminum alloy.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises a tube along a length of the inner shell.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the inner shell has an outer surface that reflects ultraviolet light, and wherein the outer shell is opaque to ultraviolet light and to visible light.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/134,110, filed Jan. 5, 2021, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND Improved anti-viral and sterilization devices and methods are sought. Ultraviolet light is one means for sterilizing a surface or an area of viruses. As used herein, the term “UV” means “ultraviolet” and the term “emitter” refers to a UV lamp or other UV light source. SUMMARY The one or more embodiments provide for a device. The device includes an outer shell having a first longitudinal axis and a first arcuate shape. The outer shell is opaque to ultraviolet light and to visible light. The device also includes an inner shell having a second longitudinal axis. The inner shell is connected longitudinally to the outer shell along a first longitudinal length and a second longitudinal length. The inner shell has a second arcuate shape different than the first arcuate shape. A chamber is disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell. The chamber is defined by a difference between the first arcuate shape and the second arcuate shape. The device also includes an ultraviolet light source disposed along the second longitudinal axis. The one or more embodiments also provide for a vehicle. The vehicle includes a fuselage including an outer skin. The fuselage has an interior including a passenger cabin and a utility space defined between the outer skin and the passenger cabin. The passenger cabin and the utility space are separated by a ceiling. The ceiling is of varying height relative to a floor of the passenger cabin. The ceiling includes an inset area, and storage bins connected to the ceiling extend into the passenger cabin, relative to the inset area. The vehicle also includes devices connected to the ceiling within the inset area. Each of the devices includes a corresponding rotating reflector disposed around a corresponding ultraviolet lamp that is fixed relative to the fuselage. The devices are arranged in series longitudinally end-to-end. The one or more embodiments also provide for a method of sterilizing a vehicle. The vehicle includes a fuselage including an outer skin. The fuselage has an interior including a passenger cabin and a utility space defined between the outer skin and the passenger cabin. The passenger cabin and the utility space are separated by a ceiling. The ceiling is of varying height relative to a floor of the passenger cabin. The ceiling includes an inset area. Storage bins are connected to the ceiling extend into the passenger cabin, relative to the inset area. Devices are connected to the ceiling within the inset area. Each of the devices includes a corresponding rotating reflector disposed around a corresponding ultraviolet lamp that is fixed relative to the fuselage. The devices are arranged in series longitudinally end-to-end. The method includes emitting ultraviolet light from the corresponding ultraviolet lamp. The method also includes concurrently rotating the corresponding rotating reflector. Other aspects of the one or more embodiments will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a reflector, in accordance with one or more embodiments; FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a vehicle, in accordance with one or more embodiments; FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method, in accordance with one or more embodiments; FIG. 4 shows an aircraft, in accordance with one or more embodiments; FIG. 5 shows an interior of an aircraft having an anti-viral ultraviolet light sterilization system, in accordance with one or more embodiments; FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 show details of a rotatable ultraviolet lamp, in accordance with one or more embodiments; FIG. 10 shows an arrangement of multiple rotatable ultraviolet lamps within the aircraft of FIG. 4, in accordance with one or more embodiments; FIG. 11 is an exemplary aircraft manufacturing and service method, in accordance with one or more embodiments; and FIG. 12 is another example of an aircraft, in accordance with one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Specific embodiments of the one or more embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the various figures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency. In the following detailed description of the embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the one or more embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description. Throughout the application, ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) may be used as an adjective for an element (i.e., any noun