Ultraviolet lamp assembly

An ultraviolet lamp assembly for destroying microorganisms in aquarium water includes an elongated ultraviolet lamp, a compartment member wrapped in a helical pattern around and along the length of the lamp, an elongated refelctor tube enveloping the lamp and compartment member with its inner surface abutting against the outer periphery of the compartment member thus defining a helical water flow passage and plug members secured to open ends of the reflector tube. The plug members are formed with inlet and outlet ports respectively communicating ends of the helical passage and exterior of the assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to devices for purifying water in an aquarium, and 
more particularly to an improved ultraviolet lamp assembly for such 
device. 
A known ultraviolet lamp assembly used in devices for purifying water in 
aquarium, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a tubular housing 1 with open 
ends, two plugs 3 removably secured to the open ends of the housing 1 
against fluid pressure and an ultraviolet lamp 2 retained by the plugs 3 
in the housing 1 and cooperating therewith to provide an annular fluid 
flow channel 13 for fluid to be irradiated. An inlet port 11 is formed in 
an end portion of the housing 1 for connection to a source of fluid under 
pressure to be irradiated and is directly communicating with the fluid 
flow channel 13. An outlet port 12 is formed in another end portion of the 
housing 1 and is also directly communicating with the fluid flow channel 
13 for discharging irradiated fluid. 
It is found that in such known devices during operation of the lamp, 
calcium and other colloidal matter tends to coat the lamp envelope or 
other transparent medium separating the fluid from the lamp, thus building 
up a scale or other contamination which reduces the intensity of the 
ultraviolet rays and therefore reduces the effectiveness of the lamp in 
destroying the microorganisms. Moreover, the water or fluid to be 
irradiated flowing directly from inlet port 11 to outlet port 12 is too 
short in distance and too soon in time spending to be fully sterilized. To 
this end, the inventor has attempted to make an improved ultraviolet lamp 
assembly to overcome the drawbacks of a known ultraviolet lamp assembly. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
An object of this invention is to provide an ultraviolet lamp assembly 
which can diminish the disadvantages of a known assembly. 
It is another object of this invention to provide an ultraviolet lamp 
assembly with a construction allowing for conducting a swirling motion to 
the water passing therethrough to prolong flowing distance and time 
spending for an effective irradiating treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIGS. 2 & 3, the ultraviolet lamp assembly according to this 
invention comprises a high intensity ultraviolet lamp 1 and a compartment 
2 being wrapped in a helical pattern around and along the length of the 
lamp 1. The wave length of the ultraviolet lamp 1 is preferably in a range 
of 1400 to 3900 A and, in general, the effective distance for 
sterilization of the ultraviolet lamp 1 is 1.0 cm whereby the diameter of 
cross section of the compartment 2 is preferably 1.0 cm. 
A tubular housing 3 of appropriate material and preferably of a material 
such as stainless steel or other highly reflective material with 
respective to ultraviolet rays is provided for enveloping the ultraviolet 
lamp 1 and the helical compartment 3 and has two open ends. Two identical 
plugs 4, 5 formed with inlet port 41 and outlet port 51 both bent 90 
degrees towards attachment ends thereof are secured to the open ends of 
the housing 3 to seal the same against fluid pressure. The ultraviolet 
lamp 1 is located in inwardly spaced relation within the reflector housing 
3 and extends lengthwise therethrough by means of the helical compartment 
2 of which the outer periphery abuts against the inner side wall of the 
housing 3 and the inner periphery abuts against the outer side wall of the 
lamp 1 whereby providing a helical fluid flow passage 21 for irradiating 
water. 
The inlet port 41 bent 90 degrees to communicate with the inlet end of the 
helical passage 21 is press-fitted with an inlet pipe 42 for connection to 
a water source under pressure to be sterilized in an aquarium and the 
outlet port 51 bent 90 degrees to communicate with the outlet end of the 
helical passage 21 is press-fitted with an outlet pipe 52 for discharging 
irradiated water into the aquarium. The electric supply conductors 11, 12 
extend outwardly through the plugs 4, 5. 
Said helical passage 21 defined by the compartment 2 between the housing 3 
and lamp 1 prolongs the flow distance and time spending of water flow, 
thus rendering a thorough sterilization to the water to be irradiated. 
Moreover, the helical passage 21 conducts a swirling motion to the water 
passing through the assembly to remove any particles which may tend to 
settle on the lamp covering 1. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the ultraviolet assembly is further provided with a 
casing 6 for water-tightly enveloping the ultraviolet lamp assembly shown 
in FIG. 3. Said water inlet pipe 42 is connected to an inlet opening 61 
formed in the casing 6 for water suction and said water outlet pipe 52 is 
connected to an outlet opening 62 formed in the casing 6 for water 
discharge. Said electric supply conductors 11, 12 are collected at the 
same side of the assembly and extend outwardly through the casing 6. The 
ultraviolet assembly so constructed is ready for installation in an 
aquarium. 
Referring to FIG. 5, another embodiment of this invention is simplified in 
construction by providing two identical bends 8 communicatively connected 
to two open ends of the housing 3 through joints 7. This embodiment of the 
ultraviolet lamp assembly can be applied to an aquarium in combination 
with a conventional filter 9 which is accommodated with a loose granular 
activated charcoal or other suitable filtering material. Water in the 
aquarium passes first through the filter 9 to filter out any solids and 
then passes through inlet joint 8 and lengthwise through the helical 
passage 21 around the ultraviolet lamp assembly where it is thoroughly 
exposed to ultraviolet irradiation. Finally, the sterilized fluid is 
discharged through the outlet bend 8. 
It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown 
in the accompanying drawing be interpreted as illustrative and not in a 
limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the following claims are 
intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the 
invention herein described.