PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultraviolet sterilization unit which prevents an ultraviolet transmitting plate from attenuating ultraviolet radiation and more accurately detects the damage to the ultraviolet transmitting plate.SOLUTION: The ultraviolet sterilization unit comprises: an ultraviolet lamp a housing for enclosing the ultraviolet lamp an ultraviolet transmitting part disposed at the lower aperture of the housing, having an ultraviolet transmitting plate and means for holding the ultraviolet transmitting plate and means for detecting air flow. The holding means in the ultraviolet transmitting part has sealing means which forms a sealed space to communicate with the means for detecting air flow in company with the periphery of the ultraviolet transmitting plate. The means for detecting air flow includes air pressure adjusting means for adjusting the air pressure in the sealed space and a flow meter. The flow meter detects the air flow in the sealed space, which is caused when the sealed state in the sealed space is released due to damage to the ultraviolet transmitting plate.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】石英ガラス等の紫外線透過板による紫外線の減衰を抑えつつ、紫外線透過板の破損をより高い精度で検出することができる紫外線殺菌装置を提供すること。【解決手段】紫外線ランプと;該紫外線ランプを包囲するハウジングと;該ハウジングの下方開口部に設けられ、紫外線透過板と紫外線透過板の保持手段とを有する紫外線透過部と;エアー流検出手段と;を備え、前記紫外線透過部の保持手段は、一端において前記エアー流検出手段に連通する密閉空間を、紫外線透過板の外周部と協働して形成する密封手段を有し、前記エアー流検出手段は、密閉空間内の気圧を調整するためのエアー圧調整手段とフローメータとを備えた紫外線殺菌装置であって、紫外線透過板の破損に伴い前記密閉空間の密封状態が解放されたときに生じる密閉空間内のエアーの流れをフローメータにより検出する。【選択図】図1
