Patent ID: 7837951

Claim:
An ozone generator for providing ozone enriched air, said ozone generator comprising in combination: a) a body defining a chamber for air flow therethrough; b) an ultraviolet lamp disposed in said chamber for irradiating the air passing through said chamber to convert oxygen molecules to ozone molecules, the ultraviolet lamp comprising a first end and a second end; c) an air inlet on an upper side of the body for introducing air; d) a diffuser for diffusing the introduced air about said lamp, said diffuser having a diffuser inlet coupled to the air inlet, the diffuser inlet in fluid communication with a continuous cylindrical cavity encircling at least a first portion of the first end of the ultraviolet lamp, the cylindrical cavity being surrounded by a cylindrical portion encircling an annular flange which extends inwardly therefrom and encircles at least a second portion of the first end of the ultraviolet lamp, the annular flange comprising a plurality of apertures extending therethrough from the cylindrical cavity to an outer surface of the diffuser, the plurality of apertures being spaced around the annular flange such that air introduced into the diffuser through the diffuser inlet is dispersed into the chamber through the plurality of apertures encircling the first end of ultraviolet lamp; and e) an air outlet on a lower side of the body for discharging ozone enriched air, the air outlet in fluid communication with an opening in the chamber near the second end of the ultraviolet lamp.