Abstract:
A device for on-line radiating gas-containing liquid with light that can mix ozone and water, and radiate the same on-line as well as remove accretions on protective sheaths (preferably quartz tubes) of the device to reduce energy loss. Ozone and water is mixed in a gas-liquid mixer of the device and the ozone-water mixture is guided by a conduct of a gas-liquid separator of the device and spayed out to be radiated by multiple UV lamps protected by the protective sheaths. The accretions on the protective sheaths are removed by scraper mechanisms of a washing assembly of the device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a device for on-line radiating gas (e.g. ozone) containing liquid (e.g. water) with light (e.g. UV light). In particular, the device is provided with a washing assembly for removing accretions on protective sheaths that enclose lamps. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Water is an important resource that is used for many commercial purposes, such as agriculture and swimming pools as well as for household use. Furthermore, clean water that is free from unhealthy chemicals and microorganism is becoming a more precious resource as populations increase. Disinfection of water to remove chemicals and/or microorganisms is an important way to acquire clean water. The use of ultraviolet (UV) light as a disinfecting agent is well known and useful since it leaves no toxic residue in the water. However, the elements of conventional UV reactors are usually submerged in water and mineral deposits or soils therein will attach to the elements thereof and cause energy loss. 
     Ozone also has the advantage of leaving no residue and is often used in treating water. When ozone is applied to water treatment, a gas-liquid mixer should be provided to dissolve ozone into water. However, conventional gas-liquid mixer utilizing Venturi Tubes have the disadvantages of a low gas dissolving rate and leakage of gas. The problem has been substantially overcome by the techniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,023, which relates to a fluid dynamic ozone generating assembly. 
     Accordingly, using both ozone and UV light to treat water can produce highly purified water. Conventionally two separate processes and devices for using ozone and using UV light to treat water are required to obtain the highly purified water. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a single device that can simultaneously mix ozone and water, and radiate the same. It is further desirable that the device be provided with a washing assembly for removing accretions on elements of the device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a single device that can mix ozone and water, and radiate the same on-line. Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing assembly that can remove accretions on protective sheaths enclosing lamps to reduce energy loss. 
     The present invention in one preferred embodiment relates to a device for on-line radiating gas-containing liquid with light. The device mainly contains a gas-liquid mixer, a gas-liquid separator, multiple lamps, and a washing assembly. The gas-liquid mixer contains a liquid inlet through which a liquid is introduced in, a gas inlet through which a gas is sucked in and mixes with the liquid such that at least part of the gas is dissolved in the liquid to produce a gas-liquid mixture, and a gas-liquid outlet through which the gas-liquid mixture flows out. The detailed structure of the gas-liquid mixer is based on U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,023. The gas-liquid separator contains a conduit provided inside the gas-liquid separator with a lower end thereof connected to the gas-liquid outlet of the gas-liquid mixer and an upper end thereof extending to near a top of the gas-liquid separator wherein a top of the upper end is sealed and multiple pores are disposed near the top of the upper end, an outlet disposed near the bottom of the gas-liquid separator, and a gas-release valve disposed near a top of the gas-liquid separator. A similar gas-liquid separator adaptable to the present invention has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. US 2006/0037899 and labeled with reference numeral  30 . The multiple lamps are disposed coaxially inside protective sheaths transparent to light respectively. The protective sheaths are disposed inside the gas-liquid separator, placed around and generally parallel to the conduit, and fixed on the bottom of the gas-liquid separator. The washing assembly is for removing accretions on the protective sheaths and contains at least one holder, and means for driving the at least one holder to move axially along the protective sheaths. The holder has plural through holes and a center hole allowing the conduit of the gas-liquid separator to pass through. Each of the plural through holes has a scraper mechanism therein for scraping the accretions on each of the protective sheaths. Each of the protective sheaths passes through the scraper mechanism. In operation, the gas-liquid mixture together with an un-dissolved gas are drawn into the conduit of the gas-liquid separator from the gas-liquid outlet of the gas-liquid mixer and the gas-liquid mixture is sprayed against an inner wall of the gas-liquid separator through the multiple pores of the upper end of the conduit where the un-dissolved gas is separated from the gas-liquid mixture and remains near the top of the gas-liquid separator and creates a partial pressure of gas, which is adjustable by the gas-release valve of the gas-liquid separator while the gas-liquid mixture flows downwardly and is radiated by the multiple lamps and then flows out from the outlet of the gas-liquid separator. 
     The present invention in another preferred embodiment relates to a scraper mechanism incorporated with a device for on-line radiating gas-containing liquid with light as the aforementioned embodiment and primarily containing a generally hollow-cylinder-shaped housing, a ring-shaped stopper, and at least one ring-shaped scraper. The housing forms an inner flange in a bottom thereof. The stopper is fixed in the housing and flush with a top of the housing. The stopper and the inner flange of the housing define a chamber. The scraper has a tapered inner edge, is disposed and movable in the chamber, and has an inner diameter smaller than those of the stopper and the inner flange. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1   a  is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention wherein holders of the washing assembly are driven downwardly; 
         FIG. 1   b  is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention wherein holders of the washing assembly are driven upwardly; 
         FIG. 1   c  is an enlarged view of the means for driving the holders to move axially along the protective sheaths; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a schematic perspective view showing that the multiple lamps are disposed coaxially inside the protective sheaths and generally parallel to the conduit; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a schematic perspective view of a holder of the washing assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the gas-liquid separator; 
         FIG. 4   a  is a cross sectional view of the scraper mechanism; 
         FIG. 4   b  is an explosive view of the scraper mechanism; 
         FIG. 5   a  is a cross sectional view showing that the scrapers of the scraper mechanism fit with the protective sheath, which is tilted to the left; and 
         FIG. 5   b  is a cross sectional view showing the scrapers of the scraper mechanism fit with the protective sheath, which is tilted to the right. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1   a,    1   b,    1   c,    2   a,    2   b,  and  3 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a device for on-line radiating gas-containing liquid with light wherein the gas is ozone, the liquid is water and the light is UV light. The device mainly contains, a gas-liquid mixer  10 , a gas-liquid separator  20 , multiple UV lamps  30 , a washing assembly  50 , and a driving pump  90 . 
     The gas-liquid mixer  10  is generally in the form of a tube, which contains a liquid inlet  12  at an end thereof through which water is introduced in, a gas inlet  14  at a side thereof through which ozone is sucked in and mixes with the water such that at least part of the ozone is dissolved in the water to produce an ozone-water mixture, and a gas-liquid outlet  16  at another end thereof through which the ozone-water mixture flows out. The driving pump  90  is a commercial pump connected to the liquid inlet  12  of the gas-liquid mixer  10  whereby water is pumped into the gas-liquid mixer  10 . The gas-liquid separator  20  is generally in the form of a hollow cylinder, which contains a conduit  22  provided inside the gas-liquid separator  20  with a lower end  222  thereof connected to the gas-liquid outlet  16  of the gas-liquid mixer  10  and an upper end  224  thereof extending to near a top  21  of the gas-liquid separator  20  wherein a top  224   a  of the upper end  224  is sealed and multiple pores  224   b  are disposed near the top  224   a  of the upper end  224 . An outlet  24  is disposed near a bottom  23  of the gas-liquid separator  20 , and a gas-release valve  26  is disposed near the top  21  of the gas-liquid separator  20 . A liquid level monitor  100  is attached to and connected with the gas-liquid separator  20  for monitoring the level of the ozone-water mixture therein and an outlet pipe  110  is connected with the outlet  24  of the gas-liquid separator  20 . The shell of the gas-liquid separator  20  is made of stainless steel. The bottom  23  of the gas-liquid separator  20  contains multiple pins  232  thereon. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2   a,  a plurality of protective sheaths  40  are disposed inside the gas-liquid separator  20 , and placed around and generally parallel to the conduit  22 . The multiple UV lamps  30  are disposed coaxially inside protective sheaths  40  which are transparent to UV light respectively. The protective sheaths  40  are preferably made in the form of quartz tubes, which are resistant to high temperature. The protective sheaths  40  are engaged to and fixed with the multiple pins  232  on the bottom  23  of the gas-liquid separator  20  with one end and connected to the top  21  of the gas-liquid separator  20  with the other end. In operation, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the gas-liquid mixture (indicated by solid arrow lines) together with an un-dissolved gas are drawn into the conduit  22  of the gas-liquid separator  20  from the gas-liquid outlet  16  of the gas-liquid mixer  10  and the gas-liquid mixture is sprayed against an inner wall  11  of the gas-liquid separator  20  through the multiple pores  224   b  of the upper end  224  where the un-dissolved ozone (indicated by dashed arrow lines) is separated from the ozone-water mixture and remains near the top  21  of the gas-liquid separator  20  and creates a partial pressure of gas, which is adjustable by the gas-release valve  26  of the gas-liquid separator  20  while the ozone-water mixture flows downwardly and is radiated by the multiple UV lamps  30  and then flows out from the outlet  24  of the gas-liquid separator  20  into the outlet pipe  110 . In addition to facilitating dissolving the ozone in the water, the partial pressure at the outlet  24  of the gas-liquid separator  20  also facilitates the ozone-water mixture to flow out of the outlet  24 . However, during the operation process, the accretions existed in the ozone-water mixture attach to the protective sheaths  40  of the gas-liquid separator  20  and cause energy loss. 
     The washing assembly  50  is for removing accretions on the protective sheaths  40  of the gas-liquid separator  20  and contains two holders  60 , and means  80  for driving the two holders  60  to move axially along the protective sheaths  40  of the gas-liquid separator  20 . Each of the two holders  60  has plural through holes  62  and a center hole  64  allowing the conduit  22  of gas-liquid separator  20  to pass through. Each of the plural through holes  62  has a scraper mechanism  70  (see  FIG. 2   b ) therein for scraping the accretions on each of the protective sheaths  40 . Each of the protective sheaths  40  passes through the scraper mechanism  70 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1   c,  the means  80  for driving the two holders  60  primarily contains a frame  85 , a driving motor  84 , a plate  86 , and three rods  88 . The frame  85  is fixed on the top  21  of the gas-liquid separator  20  by bolts and has plural posts  81  at the surroundings thereof and a worm shaft  82  rotatably disposed generally in the center thereof. The driving motor  84  is disposed on the frame  85  for driving the worm shaft  82  to rotate. The plate  86  is disposed among the plural posts  81  and has a center hole  862  engagable with threads of the worm shaft  82 . The plate  86  is slidably secured to the plural posts  81  to prevent the plate  86  from rotating. The three rods  88  are fixed to the plate  86  with upper ends  882  respectively, slidably pass through the top  21  of the gas-liquid separator  20  and are fixed to the two holders  60  (see  FIG. 2   a ). In operation, as shown in  FIG. 1   a,  when the driving motor  84  drives the worm shaft  82  to rotate in one direction (e.g. clockwise), the plate  86  moves downwardly along the worm shaft  82 . Since the three rods  88  are fixed to the plate  86  and the two holders  60  are fixed to the three rods  88 , the two holders  60  moves synchronously with the plate  86 . As shown in  FIG. 1   b,  when the driving motor  84  drives the worm shaft  82  to rotate in another direction (e.g. counter-clockwise), the plate  86  together with the two holders  60  moves upwardly. Thereby, as shown in  FIG. 2   a,  the scraper mechanisms  70  in the two holders  60  moving downwardly and upwardly along the protective sheaths  40 , remove accretions such as mineral deposits on the protective sheaths  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b,  the scraper mechanism  70  mainly contains a generally hollow-cylinder-shaped housing  72 , a ring-shaped stopper  74  made of metal, a first ring-shaped scraper  76 , and a second ring-shaped scraper  78 . The housing  72  forms an inner flange  722  in a bottom thereof. The stopper  74  is fixed in the housing  72  and flush with a top  726  of the housing  72 . The stopper  74  forms a threaded hole  741  at an edge thereof corresponding to a through hole  721  in the housing  72  whereby a screw  79  passes through the through hole  721  and is threadly connected with the threaded hole  741 . The stopper  74  and the inner flange  722  of the housing  72  define a chamber  728 . The second ring-shaped scraper  78  is disposed under the first ring-shaped scraper  76 . An inner edge  761  of the first ring-shaped scraper  76  is tapered from a lower edge  762  to an upper edge  763  thereof and an inner edge  781  of the second ring-shaped scraper  78  is tapered from an upper edge  782  to a lower edge  783  thereof. The inner diameters of the scrapers  76 ,  78  and the outer diameter of each of the protective sheaths  40  are smaller than the inner diameters of the stopper  74  and the inner flange  722  of the housing  72 . The scrapers  76 ,  78  and the housing  72  are preferably made of Teflon. The first ring-shaped scraper  76  and the second ring-shaped scraper  78  are movable relative to each other in the chamber  728 . The design of dual scrapers  76 ,  78  can more efficiently remove accretions on the protective sheaths  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b,  the design of the scraper mechanism  70  can safeguard the protective sheaths  40  from damage due to slight tilt of the protective sheaths  40  (the axis  49  of the protective sheaths  40  is not overlapped with the axis  75  of the scraper mechanism  70 ). When each of the protective sheaths  40  passes through the scraper mechanism  70 , the tapered inner edges  761 ,  781  of the scrapers  76 ,  78  fit an outer edge  41  of the protective sheaths  40 . Because the outer diameters of each of the protective sheaths  40  are smaller than the inner diameters of the stopper  74  and the inner flange  722  of the housing  72 , gaps exist between the protective sheaths  40  and the inner flange  722  of the housing  72  as well as the protective sheaths  40  and the stopper  74  whereby the housing  70  united with the fixed stopper  74  is movable relative to the outer edge  41  of said protective sheath  40  while the scrapers  76 ,  78  are still in tight contact with the outer edge  41  of said protective sheath  40 . In addition, the scrapers  76 ,  78  will adjust their locations in the chamber  728  depending on tilt orientation of the protective sheaths  40 . Thereby the scraper mechanism  70  will not over stress on the outer edge  41  of the protective sheaths  40  and cause the protective sheaths  40  to break apart due to slight tilt of the protective sheaths  40 . 
     Accordingly, the device of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention efficiently dissolves ozone into water and radiates the ozone-water mixture with UV light to disinfect water. Furthermore, the radiated water produces hydroxide ions, which are also useful in disinfecting water. 
     The invention may also be implemented in other specific modes without departing from the spirit and the essence of the invention. Thus, the above-mentioned preferred embodiments shall be regarded as explanatory but not restrictive. All changes consistent with the meaning and range of the claims and the equivalents shall fall within the scope claimed by the invention.