Abstract:
A UV chamber for inactivating microorganisms in an agricultural facility and method of enhancing sanitation in an agricultural facility using the same. Items are placed inside the UV chamber when entering an agricultural facility. The chamber locks enclosing the item therein and a lighting device directs UV radiation toward the item for a predetermined amount of time necessary to inactivate any microorganisms on the items. The inactive microorganisms are then exposed to the animals within the facility so the animals can build immunity to the microorganism.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/006,483, filed on Jun. 2, 2014, entitled “UV Chamber and Method of Sanitizing Agricultural Facilities Using the Same” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This invention relates to sanitation in agricultural facilities. More specifically this invention relates to the use of UV radiation to prevent the spread of disease in agricultural environments. 
         [0003]    In the swine industry the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has been identified in the U.S. for the first time. While PEDV is a virus that has existed in other parts of the world for many years, for the first time it is hitting U.S. farms. The virus is not only deadly for piglets, but extremely contagious. At this time there is not a known cure for the virus and once in a swine facility entire liters are wiped out. 
         [0004]    As a result of PEDV the swine industry has attempted to increase sanitation measures to ensure the virus does not get into additional swine facilities. Measures include having individuals visiting swine facilities to be tested by a doctor before entry into the farm is allowed, the wash down of individuals and changing of clothes before entering a swine facility and mandatory waiting periods before a visitor is allowed to visit a swine facility. Specifically, once a visitor has been to another swine facility, at least two or even three weeks must pass before that individual is allowed back into a different swine facility. 
         [0005]    Still besides these precautions PEDV continues to spread across the U.S. In particular, in the industry, individuals that provide feed, water and equipment must travel from farm to farm. Similarly veterinarians similarly must travel to and from different facilities. Other times individuals are not truthful about the last time they were in a different swine facility. Over time, despite all of the precautions, the virus still finds human carriers that take the disease from one swine facility to the next. 
       Overview 
       [0006]    Thus, a need in the art exists for a manner in which swine facilities can be protected against PEDV and other dangerous pathogens and microorganisms that can be detrimental to a swine facility. Specifically additional sanitation measures are required within the industry to combat disease. Therefore a principle object of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet (UV) light chamber that inactivates viruses and other germs that are harmful with agricultural facilities. 
         [0007]    The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that a UV chamber for inactivating microorganisms within an agricultural facility and a method of enhancing sanitation with the agricultural facility using the same can address these and other problems. A UV chamber includes an interior chamber with a tray member that receives items. Upon placement of the items within the interior of the UV chamber the interior is enclosed and sealed through a magnetic interlock. A timing device is actuated and UV radiation from at least one lighting device is directed toward the item for a predetermined amount of time to inactivate a microorganism. The inactive microorganism is then exposed to the rest of the facility where livestock is exposed to the inactive microorganism to develop an immunity to the microorganism. 
         [0008]    This overview is intended to provide an overview of subject matter of the present patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the invention. The detailed description is included to provide further information about the present patent application. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0009]    In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an open UV chamber. 
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an enclosed UV chamber. 
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective cut away view of an interior of a UV chamber. 
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the electrical components of a UV chamber. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The figures show a UV chamber  10  having a body  12  that in one embodiment is generally shaped like a box, or has a rectangular cross section. In particular in this embodiment the body  12  has a frame  14  with first support members  16  running in parallel spaced relation in an x axis, second support members  18  running in parallel spaced relation in a y axis and perpendicular to the first support members and third support members  20  running in parallel spaced relation in a Z axis perpendicular to both first and second support members  16  and  18 , thus forming the frame  14  having a square or rectangular cross section. 
         [0015]    The first, second and third support members  16 ,  18  and  20  support first and second sidewalls  22  and  24  that are in parallel spaced relation that extend between a top wall  26  and bottom wall  28 . First and second door members  30  and  32  are hindgedly connected to the first and second sidewalls  22  and  24 . The door members  30  and  32  while described as hindgedly connected can be connected to the first and second sidewalls  22  and  24  in other manners that allow the door members  30  and  32  to be opened to gain access to the open interior  34  of the UV chamber. This includes being connected to the top or bottom walls  26  and  28 . 
         [0016]    The interior  34  of the UV chamber includes a retractable tray member  36  on which items  38  such as clothing, pieces of jewelry, feed, packages, water containers, beverage containers and the like can be placed. In one embodiment the tray member  36  is within tracks and slide outwardly until engaging a stop member. In other embodiments the tray member  36  is on rollers and again engages a stop member. By having two separate door members  30  and  32  in association with the tray member  36  an individual can place the items  38  into the first door member  30  and then go through decontamination themselves and get their items  38  through the opposite door member  32 . This provides a user with additional flexibility and functionality regarding where to locate the chamber  10 . 
         [0017]    A plurality of lighting devices  50  are also disposed within the interior  34  of the UV chamber  10 . The lighting devices  50  in one embodiment are received by light holders  52  having a reflective plate  54  that preferably is made of or coated with a UV reflective material. The reflective plate  54  surrounds attachment members  56  such as c-shaped clamps. In this preferred embodiment the lighting device has a transparent tubular body  58  that preferably is made of a material that absorbs a minimal amount of UV wavelength light as the radiation/light passes through the material. Within the tubular transparent material is a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed therein that has a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit UV wavelength light, or a wavelength between 100 nm-400 nm, more preferably 200-300 nm, even more preferably between 250 nm-260 nm and more preferably approximately 254 nm, to the interior  34  of the UV chamber  10 . 
         [0018]    In this embodiment a first light holder  52  is secured to the body  12  of the UV chamber running along the corner of the UV chamber  10  created between the first sidewall  22  and the top wall  26  and extending the length of the interior  34 . When in place the PCB is angled at the center of tray member  36  and the reflective plate  54  arcuately extends around the tube in approximately a half circle such that a maximum amount of light is directed directly at the tray member  36 . Similarly a second light holder  52  extends in the opposite corner of the UV chamber  10  adjacent the second sidewall  24  and top wall  26  again having the same lighting device  50  in the same light holder  52  and with the same directional lighting to focus the UV radiation toward the tray member  36 . While these lighting devices have been described as on a light holder  52 , the lighting devices could be secured directly to the chamber  10  or on an elongated angled member built into the interior  34  of the chamber  10  or other similar mounting means without falling outside the scope of this disclosure. Also, while the lighting device  50  has been described as using LEDs as a light or radiation source, any light source, incandescent, compact fluorescent, high pressure sodium, halogen, DC driven LED, AC driven LED or the like that can emit wavelengths of light in the 200 nm-300 nm range is contemplated and fall within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0019]    In addition to the lighting devices  50  running along the top wall  26  of the interior  34 , additional auxiliary lighting devices  50  are below the tray along each of the first and second sidewalls  22  and  24  and the bottom wall  28 . Each lighting device  50  optionally can be in a light holder  52  with the reflective plate  54 , attachment members  56 , transparent tubular body  58 , printed circuit board (PCB) and plurality of light emitting diodes that emit UV wavelength as described above angled toward the tray member  36 . The lighting device  50  in one embodiment has an electrical connector  63  that can only be inserted our actuated with a predetermined connector. In this manner, if an individual were to remove the UV lighting device  50  from the chamber, they would be unable to power the lighting device  50  from a common power source or common means to ensure UV light is not emitted outside the interior  34  of the UV chamber  10 . In one embodiment an angled surface  64  can extend the length of the interior again providing a directionally supported lighting device  50  where light is directly aimed at the tray member  36 . 
         [0020]    The angled surface  64  along with all the surfaces within the interior  34  of the UV chamber, including those interior surfaces of the sidewalls,  22  and  24 , the top and bottom walls  26  and  28  and door members  30  and  32  are either made from, is anodized or coated with UV reflective material that absorbs a minimal amount of UV radiation. In this manner, as a result of all lighting devices  50  being directional and pointing directly at the centrally located tray member  36  and all interior surfaces having UV reflective materials the UV chamber maximizes the effect of UV radiation used to radiate any item  38  on the tray member  36 . Thus the least amount of energy required is used and the effectiveness of the UV radiation is maximized. 
         [0021]    Exterior to the chamber  10  a handle  70  is secured to each door member  30  and  32  and has a magnetic interlock  72  therein that engages a sidewall  22  or  24  or top or bottom wall  26  or  28  to provide an interlocking connection. Surrounding the exterior surface  74  of each sidewall  22  and  24  and top and bottom walls  26  and  28  is a seal  76  preferably made of elastic material and is of size and shape that upon closing of a door member  30  or  32  and the magnetic interlock  72  engages and locks the seal prevents light from lighting devices  50  from escaping the interior  34  of the chamber. 
         [0022]    A control panel  80  is disposed below each door member  30  and  32  and includes an emergency stop button  82 , a timer button  84  and an indicator light  86 . Disposed within and originating from a compartment within the UV chamber  10  is electrical wiring  88  for the electronic components  50 ,  72 ,  82 ,  84  and  86  of the chamber  10 . In one embodiment the wiring terminates in a connector  89  for the UV lighting devices  50  that only plug into the connector of the UV lighting device  50 . 
         [0023]    The figures provide a schematic diagram of the electrical system  100  of the UV chamber  10 . The electrical system has an input line L, neutral line N and ground G. A circuit breaker CB 1  is within in the input line L in series with first and second emergency stop switches ES 1  and ES 2  actuated by the emergency stop buttons  82  of each control panel  80 . Control relays CR 1  and first and second switches SW 1  and SW 2 , that in one embodiment are Reed switches, provide electrical pathways to ensure that should a door member  30  or  32  be opened current no longer flows to the lighting devices  50  to ensure UV light that can be harmful to the eyes of humans cannot be emitted by the lighting devices  50  when a door member  30  or  32  is open. 
         [0024]    A timing circuit  102  is connected to the input line L and neutral line N and is electrically connected to the timer button  84 , such that when both door members  30  and  32  are closed and interlocked and a timer button  84  (PB 1  and PB 2 ) is actuated the timing circuit  102  is actuated. The timing circuit provides current to the ballasts (BL 1  and BL 2 , and BAL 1  and BAL 2 ) of lighting devices  50  for a predetermined period of time. In one embodiment the predetermined period is approximately two minutes. The predetermined amount of time can be several seconds to several days without falling outside the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0025]    The timing circuit  102  is also connected in parallel with the ballast (BL 1  and BL 2 , and BALI and BAL 2 ) for the lighting devices  50  indicator lights  86  (LT 1  and LT 2 ) such that while the lighting devices  50  receive current the indicator lights  86  similarly receive current and lights to provide a warning to users that the UV lights are emitting radiation in the chamber  10 . This provides a warning to a user that the door members  30  and  32  should remain closed. 
         [0026]    In operation, the UV chamber  10  is placed at the entrance of a swine facility. When an individual comes to the swine facility, before entering the individual takes any packages, feed, water, jewelry, shoes, clothing or the like and takes such items  38  and places them on the tray member  36 . At this time the individual closes the UV chamber  10 , ensuring the door members  30  and  32  are magnetically interlocked. Then the individual engages a timer button  84 . If both door members  30  and  32  are not interlocked the electrical system  100  will not actuate as a result of the switches SW 1  and SW 2  and circuit relays C 1  and the lighting devices  50  do not emit UV light that could escape the chamber and be harmful to a user. 
         [0027]    If the door members  30  and  32  are completely closed and interlocking has occurred, the switches SW 1  and SW 2  and circuit relays CR 1  provide a completed circuit allowing current to flow to the timing circuit  102 . Thus, when the timer button  84  is actuated current flows to the ballasts (BL 1  and BL 2 , and BALI and BAL 2 ) of lighting devices  50  to direct UV radiation directly at the item or items  38  on the tray member  36  for a predetermined amount of time. During this time as current is flowing to the ballasts (BL 1  and BL 2 , and BALI and BAL 2 ) of lighting devices  50 , current is simultaneously flowing to indicator lights  86  (LT 1  and LT 2 ), thus actuating the indicator lights  86  to alert a user that UV radiation is present and the door members  30  should remain closed. In one embodiment the magnetic interlocking prevents opening of the door members  30  and  32  during the predetermined period of time. If a user ignores the indicator lights  86  and is able to open a door member  30  or  32 , the circuit is no longer operable as a result of the switches SW 1  or SW 2  and the circuit relays CR 1  thus stopping current flow to the ballasts (BL 1  and BL 2 , and BALI and BAL 2 ) of lighting devices  50  and the indicator lights  86  shut off. If a malfunction occurs and current continues to flow to the ballasts (BL 1  and BL 2 , and BAL 1  and BAL 2 ) of lighting devices  50  and the indicator lights  86  remain on, a user recognizing this can actuate an emergency stop switch (ES 1  or ES 2 ) by actuating the emergency stop button  82 . Thus multiple methods are presented to minimize and eliminate an individual from being exposed to potentially harmful UV radiation of the lighting devices  50 . 
         [0028]    If the UV chamber  10  is operated properly and a door member  30  or  32  is not opened during the predetermined amount of time, the UV radiation radiates the item or items  38 . Thus if a germ, microorganism, virus or the like is on the item  38  it is exposed to the UV radiation for the predetermined period of time. 
         [0029]    During this period, the UV radiation is absorbed by DNA of these microorganisms breaking the molecular bonds within the micro-organismal DNA, producing thymine dimers in the DNA preventing the DNA from replicating. In this manner, cells and viruses become inactive and unable to reproduce. Thus, if a virus such as the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus is on an item  38  the exposure to the UV radiation for the predetermined amount of time inactivates the virus, preventing it from replicating. As a result the exposure of swine in a facility to only an inactive virus allows the swine to be able to be resistant and fight off the virus, and even build proteins and immunities to the virus. In this manner the inactive virus and thus the UV chamber presents and manner in which one can provide immunization for the swine within in the facility in case the swine where exposed to the virus at a later time. 
         [0030]    In particular, the entire UVC range of ultraviolet radiation is germicidal. Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) deactivates the DNA of bacteria, viruses and all pathogens and consequently destroys their ability to multiply and cause disease. UVGI causes damage to the nucleic acid of microorganisms by forming covalent bonds between certain adjacent bases in the DNA. The formation of such bonds prevent the DNA from being unzipped for replication, and the organism is unable to reproduce. In fact, when the organism tries to replicate, it dies. 
         [0031]    While described as combating the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in a swine facility, the UV chamber can be used as a sanitation device in any agricultural facility, including for chickens, turkeys, cows, horses and the like and to inactivate or kill any germ, microorganism, virus or the like, both without falling outside the scope of this disclosure. In particular, the chamber  10  provides enhanced sanitation of items  38  entering an agricultural facility. 
         [0032]    Thus provided is a UV chamber  10  that provides a manner of inactivating viruses, germs and other microorganisms through use of UV radiation to ensure an animal can fight off and become immune to the effects of such virus, germs or microorganisms. The chamber  10  also presents multiple safety features to ensure that a user is not exposed to the UV radiation that can have harmful effects on humans. Thus, at the very least, all of the stated objectives have been met.