EP0705139B1 - Multifunctional device for spraying and fumigating a vaporizable fluid material - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP94/01880 Sec. 371 Date Jun. 10, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Jun. 10, 1996 PCT Filed Jun. 9, 1994 PCT Pub. No. WO94/29032 PCT Pub. Date Dec. 22, 1994The invention relates to multifunctional apparatus for spraying and fumigating a vaporizable fluid, the apparatus comprising an actuator head (1), a tank (100) containing said fluid, and a pump mounted on the tank, wherein the actuator head (1) includes electromechanical means for actuating the pump and an electronic control and power supply circuit (101) having a microprocessor. The invention is characterized in that the apparatus further includes a regulated electrical heater element adapted to be placed facing the outlet nozzle of the pump to receive said fluid sprayed by the pump and to vaporize it, the apparatus including means for detecting the presence of said regulated heater element facing the outlet nozzle of the pump, for detecting operation of said regulated heater element, and for transmitting a signal to said microprocessor indicating that the regulated heater element is present and operating, and said microprocessor is programmed to control actuation of the pump automatically at predetermined time intervals while it is receiving said signal indicating that the regulated heater element is present and operating.

Description

The present invention relates to a versatile device for spraying and fumigation of a fluid substance.

More specifically, the invention relates to a device as disclosed in the documents EP-A-0 401 060 and WO-A 92/12801 in which a manual pump for spraying is activated automatically by electromechanical means, which allows in particular to obtain a pseudo-continuous fine spray when the means electromechanical devices are operated repeatedly at a rapid rate. We thus obtain a spraying comparable to that of aerosols, even better, avoiding their disadvantages (harmfulness of freons to the environment, danger to users when replacing the freons with hydrocarbons).

The document EP-A-0 401 060 also discloses a device in which a manual pump is actuated by electromechanical means to spray on a metal surface a finely sprayed jet of fluid substance, and the metal surface is heated to a temperature higher than the vaporization temperature of the fluid substance, so that said fluid substance is vaporized instantaneously in gaseous form, therefore with a change of state . In the following, this vaporization will be called fumigation . Fumigation advantageously replaces the use of aerosols for the treatment of air volumes with deodorants, insecticides, room fragrances, etc. Indeed, as the fluid substance passes into the gaseous phase, its dispersion in the atmosphere is much better than with aerosols that produce droplets suspended in the air. Therefore, one can use much less of the said substance than with an aerosol to obtain the same result (Avogadro Law - Ampère), which on the one hand is economical, and on the other hand, is better for the human health and the environment. Furthermore, the fine droplets produced by the spraying are instantly vaporized by the heated surface, so the fluid substance does not have time to be degraded by heat during vaporization and it retains all its properties.

Certain substances can be used both in spraying and in fumigation. For example, an insecticide can be used as a spray to have a rapid localized effect on one or more insects, or in fumigation to treat the air of a continuous room, for example overnight.

The object of the present invention is to propose a device of the type mentioned above, but which allows both a spraying similar to that of an aerosol, and a fumigation, depending on the desired use.

Thus, the subject of the present invention is a versatile device for spraying and fumigating a vaporizable fluid substance, comprising an actuating head, a reservoir containing said fluid substance, and a pump mounted on the reservoir, said pump comprising a nozzle. Release,
in which the actuation head comprises electromechanical means for actuating the pump and an electronic control and supply circuit having a microprocessor for controlling said electromechanical actuation means,
the device comprising a heating element arranged opposite the outlet nozzle of the pump, for receiving said fluid substance sprayed by the pump and vaporizing it, said heating element having a temperature higher than the vaporization temperature of said fluid substance, said element heating being in communication with the atmosphere to evacuate said vaporized substance,
characterized in that the device further comprises means for detecting the operation of said heating element, and for transmitting to said microprocessor a signal indicating the operation of the heating element, said microprocessor is programmed to control the actuation of the pump automatically at intervals predetermined times when it receives said signal indicating the operation of the heating element.

In a second embodiment, the invention defines a versatile device for spraying and fumigating a vaporizable fluid substance, comprising an actuating head, a reservoir containing said fluid substance, and a pump mounted on the reservoir, said pump. having an outlet nozzle,
wherein the actuation head comprises electromechanical means for actuating the pump and an electronic control and supply circuit having a microprocessor for controlling said electromechanical actuation means, characterized in that
the device also comprises a movable heating element which, depending on the device in the fumigation mode, is arranged opposite the outlet nozzle of the pump, to receive said fluid substance sprayed by the pump and to vaporize it, said heating element having a temperature higher than the vaporization temperature of said fluid substance, said heating element being in communication with the atmosphere to evacuate said vaporized substance,
the device comprises means for detecting the presence of said heating element facing the outlet nozzle of the pump and the operation of said heating element, and for transmitting to said microprocessor a signal indicating the presence and operation of the heating element, and said The microprocessor is programmed to control the actuation of the pump automatically at predetermined time intervals, when it receives said signal indicating the presence and the operation of the heating element.

Advantageously, said heating element is an electrical element regulated in temperature.

According to a characteristic of the second embodiment, said heating element is arranged in a fumigation box which is adapted to be removably attached to said actuating head and which is supplied with energy by the electronic circuit of control and supply of the actuation head.

• le boítier de fumigation comporte deux contacts électriques reliés audit élément chauffant électrique, ladite tête d'actionnement comporte deux contacts électriques extérieurs en regard desdits contacts électriques du boítier de fumigation pour connecter ledit élément chauffant électrique au circuit électronique de commande et d'alimentation de la tête d'actionnement,
• le boítier de fumigation comporte deux bras élastiques d'encliquetage qui enserrent ladite tête d'actionnement et appuient élastiquement sur ladite tête d'actionnement,
• et lesdits contacts électriques du boítier de fumigation sont disposés à l'intérieur desdits bras élastiques et sont appliqués par lesdits bras élastiques contre les contacts électriques extérieurs de la tête d'actionnement.

In this embodiment, it is particularly desirable that the electrical connection of the fumigation box to the actuation head is simple and quick. According to one embodiment of the invention, this problem is solved in that:

• the fumigation box has two electrical contacts connected to said electric heating element, said actuation head has two external electrical contacts opposite said electrical contacts of the fumigation box for connecting said electric heating element to the electronic control and supply circuit of the actuator head,
• the fumigation box has two elastic snap-on arms which enclose said actuation head and press elastically on said actuation head,
• and said electrical contacts of the fumigation box are arranged inside said elastic arms and are applied by said elastic arms against the external electrical contacts of the actuation head.

• le boítier de fumigation comporte deux contacts électriques reliés audit élément chauffant électrique, ladite tête d'actionnement comporte deux contacts électriques extérieurs en regard desdits contacts électriques du boítier de fumigation pour connecter ledit élément chauffant électrique au circuit électronique de commande et d'alimentation de la tête d'actionnement,
• lesdits contacts du boítier de fumigation et lesdits contacts de la tête d'actionnement coopèrent ensemble pour positionner le boítier de fumigation sur la tête d'actionnement.

It is also highly desirable to guarantee precise positioning of the removable fumigation box on the actuation head. According to one embodiment of the invention, this problem is solved in that:

• the fumigation box has two electrical contacts connected to said electric heating element, said actuation head has two external electrical contacts opposite said electrical contacts of the fumigation box for connecting said electric heating element to the electronic control and supply circuit of the actuator head,
• said contacts of the fumigation unit and said contacts of the actuation head cooperate together to position the fumigation unit on the actuation head.

• le boítier de fumigation comporte deux contacts électriques reliés audit élément chauffant électrique, ladite tête d'actionnement comporte deux contacts électriques extérieurs en regard desdits contacts électriques du boítier de fumigation pour connecter ledit élément chauffant électrique au circuit électronique de commande et d'alimentation de la tête d'actionnement,
• lesdits moyens pour détecter la présence de l'élément chauffant régulé, détectent la présence d'un circuit électrique extérieur entre les deux contacts extérieurs de la tête d'actionnement.

Advantageously,

• the fumigation box has two electrical contacts connected to said electric heating element, said actuation head has two external electrical contacts opposite said electrical contacts of the fumigation box for connecting said electric heating element to the electronic control and supply circuit of the actuator head,
• said means for detecting the presence of the regulated heating element, detect the presence of an external electrical circuit between the two external contacts of the actuating head.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, when the housing of fumigation is removable, the electronic circuit and the actuation head include in addition to means for detecting an insufficient electrical resistance of said circuit electric external and to transmit to said microprocessor a signal indicating that said electrical resistance is less than a determined value, and said microprocessor is programmed to prevent the operation of said electric heating element and actuation of the pump, when it receives said signal indicating that said resistance is below a predetermined threshold.

The invention also relates to the removable fumigation box, as such.

According to another embodiment of the invention, said regulated heating element is integral with a movable member, the actuating head movable between a position cleared where it leaves the pump outlet nozzle clear to allow spraying of said fluid substance, and a fumigation position where said regulated heating element is arranged opposite the spray nozzle, said regulated heating element being supplied with energy by the electrical control and supply circuit of the head actuation when the movable member is in its fumigation position.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, said heating element regulated is integral with a fixed fumigation box, the device comprising means positioning to position the actuating head relative to the housing fumigation. Advantageously, said means for detecting the presence and the operation of the fumigation box comprising at least one integral photoemitter of the fumigation box and a photoreceptor secured to the actuation head.

The device may optionally include an interface for at least reading information in a removable programmable card, and means for transmitting said information to the electronic circuit of the actuating head. In addition, the device may also include a connector for connecting a microcomputer on said fixed box.

• le réservoir de substance fluide est fixé de façon amovible à la tête d'actionnement, le réservoir comporte un support d'informations portant au moins une information binaire indiquant si la substance contenue dans le réservoir peut être vaporisée avec le boítier de fumigation,
• le circuit électronique de commande et d'alimentation de la tête d'actionnement comporte des moyens pour lire ladite information binaire et pour envoyer audit microprocesseur un signal indiquant que ladite substance peut être vaporisée avec le boítier de fumigation si ladite information binaire lue sur le réservoir indique que ladite substance peut être vaporisée avec le boítier de fumigation,
• le microprocesseur est programme pour empêcher l'actionnement de la pompe si ledit microprocesseur n'a pas reçu ledit signal indiquant que ladite substance peut être vaporisée avec le boítier de fumigation et si ledit microprocesseur a reçu ledit signal indiquant la présence du boítier de fumigation.

In order to prevent fumigation of substances which are not suitable for vaporization by the fumigation unit, it can be provided that:

• the fluid substance reservoir is removably attached to the actuation head, the reservoir comprises an information carrier carrying at least binary information indicating whether the substance contained in the reservoir can be vaporized with the fumigation unit,
• the electronic circuit for controlling and supplying the actuating head comprises means for reading said binary information and for sending to said microprocessor a signal indicating that said substance can be vaporized with the fumigation unit if said binary information read from the reservoir indicates that the said substance can be vaporized with the fumigation box,
• the microprocessor is programmed to prevent actuation of the pump if said microprocessor has not received said signal indicating that said substance can be vaporized with the fumigation box and if said microprocessor has received said signal indicating the presence of the fumigation box.

Advantageously, particularly when the device is powered by batteries, the operation of said electric heating element is controlled by the microprocessor, and the microprocessor is programmed not to trigger the operation of said element electric heater only a short time before each actuation of the pump predetermined time intervals and to stop the operation of said element heating immediately after said actuation of the pump, in order to save energy and avoid unnecessary wear of the heating element.

• en l'absence du signal indiquant la présence et le fonctionnement de l'élément chauffant régulé, soit arrêter le fonctionnemnt de la tête d'actionnement, soit faire fonctionner la tête d'actionnement pour actionner la pompe un nombre prédéterminé de coups chaque fois qu'un utilisateur appuie sur un bouton de commande, soit faire fonctionner la tête d'actionnement pour actionner la pompe tant que l'utilisateur appuie sur le bouton de commande,
• en présence du signal indiquant la présence et le fonctionnement de l'élément chauffant régulé, faire fonctionner la tête d'actionnement pour vaporiser par fumigation, soit une quantité horaire minimale de substance fluide, soit une quantité horaire moyenne de ladite substance fluide, soit une quantité horaire maximale de ladite substance fluide.

Advantageously, a three-position selector is connected to the electronic control circuit, and the microprocessor is programmed to, depending on the position of said selector:

• in the absence of the signal indicating the presence and operation of the regulated heating element, either stop the operation of the actuating head, or operate the actuating head to actuate the pump a predetermined number of strokes each time '' a user presses a control button, either operate the actuation head to activate the pump as long as the user presses the control button,
• in the presence of the signal indicating the presence and the operation of the regulated heating element, operate the actuating head to vaporize by fumigation, either a minimum hourly quantity of fluid substance, or an average hourly quantity of said fluid substance, or a maximum hourly quantity of said fluid substance.

Other characteristics and advantages will appear during the description following of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, next to the attached drawings.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un exemple de dispositif selon l'invention, sans son boítier de fumigation,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'un exemple de pompe utilisable dans le dispositif de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue éclatée du dispositif de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 est une en coupe du dispositif de la figure 1,
• la figure 5 est une vue de détail de la figure 4,
• la figure 6 est une vue de détail de la partie supérieure du réservoir du dispositif de la figure 1,
• la figure 7 est une vue d'ensemble du dispositif de la figure 4, avec son boítier de fumigation,
• la figure 8 est une vue de détail de la figure 7, le boítier de fumigation étant coupé,
• la figure 9 est une vue en perspective du boítier de fumigation des figures 7 et 8,
• la figure 10 est un schéma partiel du circuit électronique de contrôle et de commande du dispositif des figures précédentes,
• la figure 11 est un schéma d'une variante du circuit de la figure 10,
• les figures 12 et 13 sont des vues en perspective d'une variante du dispositif des figures 1 à 11, respectivement en position de pulvérisation et en position de fumigation,
• la figure 14 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une autre variante du dispositif de l'invention,
• la figure 15 est une vue similaire à la figure 14, le vaporisateur étant enlevé du boítier de fumigation,
• la figure 16 est un schéma électrique du boítier de fumigation des figures 14 et 15, et
• les figures 17 à 19 sont des vues schématiques illustrant divers modes de programmations du dispositif de la figure 14.

In these drawings:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a device according to the invention, without its fumigation box,
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an example of a pump usable in the device of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the device of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 5 is a detailed view of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the upper part of the reservoir of the device of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 7 is an overall view of the device of FIG. 4, with its fumigation box,
• FIG. 8 is a detailed view of FIG. 7, the fumigation box being cut off,
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fumigation box of FIGS. 7 and 8,
• FIG. 10 is a partial diagram of the electronic control and command circuit of the device of the preceding figures,
• FIG. 11 is a diagram of a variant of the circuit of FIG. 10,
• FIGS. 12 and 13 are perspective views of a variant of the device of FIGS. 1 to 11, respectively in the spraying position and in the fumigation position,
• FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of another variant of the device of the invention,
• FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14, the vaporizer being removed from the fumigation box,
• FIG. 16 is an electrical diagram of the fumigation box of FIGS. 14 and 15, and
• FIGS. 17 to 19 are schematic views illustrating various modes of programming of the device of FIG. 14.

In the different figures, the same references designate the same elements.

Figure 1 shows an overview of the device according to the invention, without sound fumigation box. The device of FIG. 1 comprises an actuating head 1 cylindrical, below which is fixed a reservoir 100 of fluid substance. The head actuator 1 comprises a control button 103, and an outlet 105 which allows the exit of the pulverized fluid substance. The actuating head 1 comprises at further advantageously a selector 136 which allows for example to choose between a stop complete, piecemeal operation and repetitive rate operation rapid giving a pseudo-continuous spray. The actuating head 1 can also include a light indicator 137, for example to indicate the wear of the batteries, the appliance running, etc.

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the device of Figure 1. The tank 100 can be molded from plastic, and has a cylindrical side wall 100a which extends axially between a bottom 100b and an upper wall 100c in which is formed an eccentric neck 5. The tank 100 further comprises in the upper part a handle 106, arranged radially with respect to the axis of the neck 5, and which extends axially upward from the top wall 100c. In the neck 5 is snapped a ring 114, provided with a central duct 108 in which a dip tube 109 is mounted, which extends to the bottom of the tank 100. A plug 50 is mounted in the ring 114, and a pump 6 is fixed in the plug 50, the pump 6 being provided with a pusher 10 with a side nozzle 11 for the outlet of the sprayed substance. The actuation head 1 includes an actuating block 138 which includes an electronic circuit 101 power supply and control, a solenoid 12 connected to the circuit 101 and containing a core 13 (not shown) for actuating the pusher 10, and accumulators 102.

The pump 6 can be of the type described in French patents FR-2 305 241 and FR -2 314 772 and in the corresponding American patent US-4,025,046, including an example is shown in Figure 3. Such a pump comprises a cylindrical pump body hollow 7 in which slides a piston 15 connected to the actuating rod 9. The body of pump and the piston define a pump chamber 13 which communicates with the orifice intake 8 by an inlet valve 17, constituted here by a skirt which is fitted on a tubular nozzle 128 formed around the inlet orifice. In addition, the pump 16 communicates with the outside by an outlet valve 19, constituted here by a needle 18 applied elastically against a seat formed in the rod 9. The pump described briefly here, and described in detail in the aforementioned patents, is given only by way of nonlimiting example. Other pumps could be used, for example the pump described in European patent application EP-0 330 530 and the American patent US-4,936,492. In all cases, the pump 6 includes a pump chamber cylindrical normally filled with the substance to be sprayed, a piston which slides in the pump chamber, an inlet valve and an outlet valve.

It is preferable that the skirt 17 is not fitted with sealing on the end piece 128 that at the end of a stroke C1 which is advantageously worth from 0.5 to 2 times the stroke C2 of the piston, during which the piston expels the substance contained in the pump: thus, the core 12 accelerates on the stroke C1 before starting to put under pressure the fluid substance in the pump chamber, which gives it a sufficient kinetic energy to produce a uniform spray of fine particles from the beginning to the end of the useful stroke C1 of the piston. For example, tip 128 may include in the upper part an axial groove 129, which extends over a certain distance to inlet 8.

The device is shown in more detail in Figures 4 and 5. The pump 6 is fixed in the plug 50, for example by snap-fastening, the plug 50 is screwed inside the ring 114, which is itself snapped into the neck 5 of the reservoir. The conduit central 108 of the ring 114 has an internal ring 126, fitted with sealing in said conduit, and the dip tube 109 is fitted into the ring 126. Optionally, the dip tube 109 could be fitted directly with sealing in the central duct 108 of the ring 114. The pump 10 comprises a pump body 7 having an inlet end 7a, which is fitted with sealing in the central duct 108 of the ring 114 when the plug 50 is screwed onto the ring 114. The ring 114 further includes an air return port 110, which allows the pump 6 to return from the air in the tank 100 on each actuation.

The actuating head 1 comprises an external rigid shell 104 which makes it possible to hold the device in one hand, and in which the actuator block 138 is fixed. The circuit electronics 101 includes a microprocessor 139, which controls operation at device. The circuit 101 also includes the signaling means 137, which can consist of a light-emitting diode, possibly double, and the selector 136. The accumulators 102 are connected to the electronic circuit 101, and the head actuator 1 has a socket 140 for connecting a transformer for recharging accumulators 102. The electronic circuit 101 is also connected to the control button 103, which starts the operation of the device. The circuit of the device 101 is connected to the solenoid 13, and supplies electric power to said solenoid 13 each time the pump 6 must be activated. A core 12, which can be made of soft iron, slides axially inside the solenoid 13, and said core 12 comprises a rod 14, preferably in non-magnetic material which extends towards the pusher 10, and whose end is snapped removably on said pusher 10. The rod 14 advantageously has a groove annular in which is fixed a piece 141 preferably of damping material. The rod 14 passes through a wall 142 integral with the solenoid 13 and the actuation head 1, and the core 12 is axially displaceable with lost movement between a low position determined by the stop of the core 12 against the wall 142, and a determined high position by the stop of the part 141 against the wall 42. When the reservoir 100 is fixed on the head actuation 1, the plug 50 is snapped into a wall 143 perpendicular to the axis of the rod 14 and integral with the actuating head 1, and the axial position of said plug 50 relative to the solenoid 13 is fixed precisely by an upper stop of said plug 50 against a wall 144 integral with the actuation head 1, and the bottom stop of said plug 50 against said wall 143 in which the plug is snapped. So the pump 6 is positioned axially very precisely with respect to the solenoid 13, so that the push rod 9 of said pump is moved in a predetermined stroke at each actuation so that the predetermined strokes C1 and C2 are respected very precisely at each actuation, as described above with regard to Figure 3.

It is also possible not to attach the rod 14 to the pusher. In this case, he may be possible to separate the rod 14 by a certain axial distance C1 relative to the pusher, so that the core 12 travels a certain dead travel C1 before coming into contact with the pusher. In this case, the groove 129 becomes unnecessary. In any case, it is preferable that the pump body 7 be positioned axially very precisely by relative to solenoid 13, to respect the C1 and C2 strokes (dead stroke and stroke useful). To fix the reservoir 100 on the actuation head 1, first engage axially the plug 50 in a recess 143a of said wall 143 which has a shape outer substantially corresponding to the outer shape of the plug 50, and in doing so the pusher 10 is snapped onto the end of the rod 14 of the core 12. The rod 14 and the push rod 9 of the pump are then aligned. We then carry out a movement of rotation of the pusher 100 relative to the head 1, so as to cause the locking of the plug 50 on said wall 143 due to the external shape of plug 50, which does not has no symmetry of revolution. In addition, the actuation head 1 includes a hook 107 arranged orthoradial with respect to the common axis of the core 12 and the pump 6, so that the hook 107 engages in the handle 106, maintaining said handle 106. Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 41, the tank 100 can include coded indications relating for example to the content of the tank 100. These indications may for example be in the form of clear or reflective spots 145 arranged at the top of the handle 106, so that said spots 145 are directed towards the actuating head 1 when the reservoir 100 is mounted on said head 1. The head actuator 1 includes a reading device 146, disposed above handle 106, said device 146 being connected to electronic circuit 101. Device 146 can include, for each spot to be detected, an assembly consisting of a diode electroluminescent associated with a lens to send a light beam towards said spot, and a phototransistor for detecting the reflection of said light beam by said spot 145. For each reflective spot to be detected, for example, an opto-electronic component marketed by SIEMENS under the references SFH 900-2 and SFH 900-5, which includes an LED, a lens and a phototransistor. he goes either that other reading devices or other information coding means on the tank could be used. The coded information is transmitted to the microprocessor 139, which can, for example, prevent the head from working of activation 1 for certain products, or when the expiration date of the product contained in the tank 100 is exceeded, etc.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the pump body 7 partly comprises upper an outer annular flange 134, and the piston 15 is held inside the pump body 7 by a ferrule 40, which has a cylindrical side wall 131 fixed inside the pump body, and an outer annular flange 132 superimposed on the pump body flange 134. When the pump 6 is mounted in the plug 50, the flanges 132 and 133 are snapped under the rib 172 of said plug. Ferrule 130 has an axial external groove 111, which extends over the entire height of the wall lateral 131 outside said lateral wall, and which extends under the flange 132, up to the radially outer end of said flange 132. The groove 111 opens out in an inner chamfer 132a of the flange 132, said chamfer 132a communicating with an axial groove 135 of the flange 133 of the pump body, and said flange 133 comprises itself an internal chamfer 134 which communicates with an axial groove (not shown) of the plug 50 when the pump body is fitted into the plug 50, and said axial groove communicates with the air intake orifice 110 of the ring 114, so that the pump 6 returns air to the tank 100 on each actuation. The pump 6 could also operate without air intake without departing from the scope of this invention, in which case the reservoir is generally deformable under the effect of the vacuum created by the pump, and the pump is generally not connected to a tube diver 109.

As just described above, the device allows the spraying of the fluid substance in fine droplets, equivalent to an aerosol spray.

According to the invention, the device further comprises a removable housing 200 of fumigation, which is shown in Figures 7 to 9. The fumigation box has a bottom wall 209, one bottom wall 212, one top wall 213, and two walls side 210, 211. The bottom wall 212 is pierced by slots 205, and the wall upper 213 is pierced by slots 204. The slots 204 and 205 are used to create a current of hot air through the housing 200 as will be seen later. Slots 204 and 205 could be replaced by other air passages, possibly arranged differently.

In addition, the side walls 210, 211 are each extended in the direction opposite of the bottom 209, by two elastic arms 208 which have a shape complementary to the outer surface of the actuator head. The bottom wall 212 has an edge free 212a opposite the bottom wall 209, and said free edge 212a has a shape complementary to the external shape of the actuating head. Likewise, the wall upper 213 has a free edge 213a which is opposite to the bottom wall 209 and which has a shape complementary to the outside shape of the actuation head 1. In addition, the elastic arms 208 each have an electrical contact 206, which has the form of a lug directed towards the inside of the arms. The electrical contact 206 is connected by a conductor electrical (not shown) to an electrical resistance 201 visible in Figure 8, which is preferably a PTC resistance. Resistor 201 is in thermal contact with a plate 202, made of metal or another heat-conducting material, and said plate 202 extends parallel to the bottom wall 209 inside the housing 200.

Furthermore, the actuation head 1 has two external electrical contacts 207 having a hollow shape corresponding to the lugs 206. To fix the housing fumigation 200 on the actuation head 1, the elastic arms 206 are snapped around of the side wall of the actuating head 1, thereby engaging the contacts 206 in the contacts 207. The external electrical contacts are positioned in such a way that when the electrical contacts 206 of the fumigation box are engaged in said electrical contact 207, the fumigation box 200 is placed opposite the outlet 105 of the actuating head 1. Thus, the metal plate 202 is substantially perpendicular to the spray jet 214 which is produced on each actuation of the pump. The electrical contacts 206, 207 thus guarantee proper positioning of the fumigataion box, and participate in the retention of the fumigation box 200 on the head actuation 1.

When the fumigation box is fixed on the actuation head 1, it is connected to the electronic circuit 101 already mentioned. This electronic circuit 101 is shown partially in Figure 10.

In FIG. 10, the two external electrical contacts 207 of the actuator head 1, which are referenced 207a and 207b. When the fumigation box is fixed on the actuation head 1, each of the electrical contacts 206 of the housing fumigation is connected to one of the external electrical contacts 207a and 207b of the head actuation. The two contacts 206 of the fumigation box are connected to the resistance PTC 201. The external electrical contact 207a is connected to the accumulators 102 and it is brought to a potential + Vo, for example +5 volts. The circuit of figure 20 further comprises two Schmitt triggers T1 and T2, a resistor R1, which may have a resistance for example of 10 kΩ, and a MOSFET T transistor, which includes conventionally three contacts, a source contact S, a gate contact G and a contact of drain D. The microprocessor 139 has an analog input 139a, an input binary 139b and binary output 139c. Analog input 139a of microprocessor 139 is connected directly to the external electrical contact 207b. Analog input 139a is connected to an analog-to-digital converter integrated in microprocessor 139, which is adapted to transform into a digital signal understandable by the microprocessor, the existing voltage value V at the electrical contact 207b. The electrical contact 207b is also connected to the input of the Schmitt T1 trigger, and the output of said trigger of Schmitt T1 is connected to binary input 139b of the microprocessor. The resistor R1 is connected between electrical contact 207b and earth. Binary output 139c from microprocessor is connected to the input of the Schmitt T2 trigger, and the output of said trigger of Schmitt T2 is connected to the gate G of the MOSFET transistor T. The source S of the MOSFET T transistor is connected to ground, and the drain D of said MOSFET T transistor is connected to the external electrical contact 207b. Finally, each optoelectronic component 146 already mentioned has a binary output 146a, which is connected to a binary input 139d of the microprocessor 139. The microprocessor 139 comprises at in addition to a binary input 139f. An R2 resistor, which can be worth 10kΩ for example, is connected between binary input 139f and ground. On the other hand, the command button 103, which constitutes a switch, is itself connected between input 139f and the contact 207a (+5 volts). Finally, microprocessor 139 has a binary output 139g, which is connected to a power circuit 215 to control the actuation of the core by the solenoid. Component power contacts, including the microprocessor 139 and the opto-electronic component 146 have not been shown, to simplify the diagram.

The electronic circuit works as follows.

As long as the fumigation box 200 is not mounted on the actuation head, the electrical contact 207b is grounded via resistor R1, so said contact 207b is at 0 volt potential. In this state, the binary input 139b of the microprocessor remains in a first state, which indicates to the microprocessor 139 that the housing 200 is not fixed on the actuation head 1. In this case, each time the user presses the control button 103, it brings the binary input 139f of the microprocessor to a potential about 5 volts, and this change of state causes a reaction of the microprocessor 139 which depends on the programming of said microprocessor and the position of the selector 136 mentioned above, which is also connected to microprocessor 139 (the connector of the selector 136 to the microprocessor is however not shown, for the sake of clarity diagram). For example, as long as the user presses the control button 103, the binary output 139g from microprocessor 139 sends a signal to power circuit 215 continuous, which can consist for example of a series of voltage slots, each slot corresponding to an actuation of the pump.

When the fumigation box 200 is fixed on the actuation head 1, like the resistance PTC 201 is connected between contacts 207 a and 207b. CTP 201 resistance has a low resistance value, for example around 5 Ω. Therefore, as the resistance of resistor R1 is much higher than the value of resistance PTC 201, the contact 207b is brought substantially to the potential of +5 volts. This change of state applied to the input of the Schmitt T1 trigger causes a change of state of the output of the Schmitt T1 trigger, connected to binary input 139b. This change of state of the input binary 139b triggers the running of a particular program inside the microprocessor 139. According to this program, at predetermined time intervals, the binary output 139c sends a 0 volt signal to the Schmitt T2 trigger. The trigger Schmitt T2 then imposes a potential of + 5 volts on the gate G of the MOSFET transistor T. This unlocks the MOSFET T transistor, which causes the passage of a large current in resistance PTC 201. This current can reach 5 to 10 amps. After a very short duration, around 100 ms, the PTC resistance begins to heat up in turn heating the metal plate 202. When the MOSFET transistor T is enabled, the value of the internal resistance of said transistor T between these terminals D and S is fixed, so that the electrical potential V of the electrical contact 207b is proportional to the electric current I which travels through the PTC resistance 201, that is to say proportional to the value of the PTC resistance 201. The potential V is measured by the analog input 139a of the microprocessor. If the potential V is greater than a given threshold V1, which indicates a too high current I between contacts 207a and 207b, microprocessor 139 blocks at again the MOSFET T transistor via the binary output 139c and the trigger by Schmitt T2. Indeed, in this case, it may be a short circuit between the contacts 207a and 207b of the parking head 1, which could damage the circuit electronic and to wear out the batteries unnecessarily. However, if the electrical potential V is less than the threshold V1, the heating of the PTC resistor 201 continues. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, the circuit 101 can include a converter analog / digital external 216 connected to input 139a of the microprocessor and to contact 207b, to send to said input 139a a signal representative of the potential V of the contact 207b. In this case, the input 139a is constituted by a series of binary inputs.

After a sufficient time to allow the temperature to rise PTC resistance 201, so that the metal plate 202 is at a temperature greater than or equal to the vaporization temperature of the fluid substance being sprayed, the microprocessor 139 triggers an actuation of the pump via its binary output 139g. Fine spray droplets 214 are instantly sprayed by the plate 202, and the vapors thus created are entrained in the atmosphere by the upward current of hot air passing through slots 204 and 205. Just after this actuation of the pump, the microprocessor 139 blocks the MOSFET T transistor by via its binary output 139c and said Schmitt T2 trigger. This avoids continuously operate the resistance CTP 201, which saves accumulators 102 and avoid premature wear of the PTC resistance 201. At the end of a predetermined duration, the cycle begins again.

If the user wants to induce fumigation outside the normal cycle, he can press the control button 103, which changes the state of the binary input 139f of the microprocessor, in which case microprocessor 139 initiates a cycle of operation with first the heating of the PTC resistance then an actuation of the pump.

When the fumigation box is removed from the actuation head 1, the potential V is at 0 volts, so that the output of the Schmitt T1 trigger changes state, so the input binary 139b also changes state, and the microprocessor then returns to its conventional spray programming.

Schmitt T1 trigger, resistance R1 and input 139b could possibly be omitted, the detection of the presence or absence of the housing 200 being then performed by analog input 139a (spraying operation if V = o, fumigation operation if o <V <V1, and inhibition of operation if V> V1).

Advantageously, the actuation head comprises at least one optoelectronic component 146 as described above which has binary output 146a connected to a binary input 139d of the microprocessor. When the handle 106 of the tank has a clear or reflective spot next to the optoelectronic component 146, the output 146a of said component is placed in a low state at a potential of 0 volts, indicating at binary input 139b that the substance contained in the reservoir 100 can be vaporized using the fumigation box 200. On the other hand, when the handle 106 of the tank 100 does not have a clear or reflective spot next to the component opto-electronic 146, output 146a is at 0 volt potential, as is input 139d of microprocessor 139, which indicates to the microprocessor that said substance does not cannot be vaporized by fumigation. In this case, if the fumigation box 101 is mounted on the actuation head 1, the microprocessor 139 neutralizes the actuation of the pump and heating of the PTC resistance.

When the fumigation box 101 is mounted on the actuation head 1, the selector 136 can be used to vary the frequency of fumigations or the number successive actuations of pump 6 at each fumigation.

The device of Figures 12 and 13 is a variant of the device of Figures previous, in which the fumigation box 300 is integral with the head actuator 1, and comprises a sliding part 301 adapted to selectively release (fig. 12) or cover (fig. 13) the outlet orifice 105 of the actuating head 1. When the sliding part 301 is retracted (fig. 12) the user can spray the substance fluid by pressing the control button 103. When the sliding part 301 is drawn (fig. 13) a PTC resistor contained in said sliding part is supplied with energy and microprocessor 139, notified for example by closing a contact electronic, triggers a pump actuation at a predetermined interval, as it has been explained above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. The sliding part 301 has an internal metal plate, heated by PTC resistance, which is arranged in face of the outlet orifice 105: as before, the sprayed fluid substance is instantly vaporized by the metal plate, and the vapors escape through slots 304 in the upper part of the fumigation box 300.

FIGS. 14 and 15 represent another variant of the device of the invention, in which the fumigation box 400 is fixed and supplied with energy by the sector, at by means of a cable 418. The fumigation box 400 comprises a base 410 and an upright 411. The upright 411 has an orifice 428 behind which a plate is disposed metallic heated by a PTC resistor (not shown), as well as a photoemitter 412 (for example, infrared emitting diode).

Furthermore, the actuation head 1 comprises a photoreceptor 417 which is arranged opposite the photoemitter 412 when the tank 100 is placed on the base 410. Preferably, the base 410 and the tank 100 include means for positioning, for example a relief 415 on the base 410 and a corresponding recess 416 in the bottom 100b of the tank 100, to guarantee that the photoreceptor 417 is in good face of the photoemitter 412, and that the outlet orifice 105 of the head 1 is indeed opposite the orifice 428 of the fumigation unit 400.

The housing 400 includes a connector 422 provided with a cable with windings (not shown), which can be connected to socket 140 on head 1 to recharge the batteries of the head 1.

Figure 16 is an electrical diagram of the fumigation box 400. The conductors of the cable 418 are connected on the one hand to the input of a transformer 423, and on the other hand at the terminals of a PTC 403 resistor arranged in thermal contact with the aforementioned metal plate. The transformer 423 is preferably of the type 110/220 V adaptable, so that the fumigation box 400 can be used in different countries. The PTC 403 resistance, meanwhile, operates at the same temperature regardless of the supply voltage. The output of transformer 423 is connected to the input of a rectifier bridge R with diodes. Bridge R has two terminals output S1 and S2. Terminal S1 is connected to ground, while a capacitor C of filtering (for example, with a capacity of 1000 µF) is connected between terminal S2 and ground. The terminal S2 supplies on the one hand, the aforementioned connector 422 which can be, for example jack type, on the other hand, a thermal bimetallic strip B, in thermal connection with the resistor CTP 403, is connected between terminal S2 and a first terminal 425 of a circuit monostable / astable 424. A second terminal 426 of circuit 424 is connected to ground and a third terminal 427 of circuit 424 is connected, via a resistor R3, at the base of a transistor T3 PNP whose emitter is connected to the terminal 425. A light emitting diode 412 (for example, an infrared diode) is connected between the collector of transistor T3 and ground.

At the start of operation of the PTC 403 resistor, its temperature is insufficient to allow fumigation. So the bimetallic strip B remains open, which prevents operation of the 412 light emitting diode. As soon as the temperature of the resistance CTP 403 is sufficient, this temperature causes the bimetallic strip CB to close, which allows operation of the 412 light emitting diode. Regularly (for example, ten milliseconds per second), the monostable / astable circuit 424 then emits a low signal on its third terminal 427, which activates the transistor T3, which triggers the operation of the light emitting diode.

When the assembly constituted by the actuating head and the reservoir 100 is disposed on the base 410, the photoreceptor 417 detects the signal sent by the photoemitter 412, and transmits to the microprocessor 139 a signal indicating the presence and the operation of the fumigation box. The microprocessor 139 then operates the pump intermittently to trigger fumigation at time intervals predetermined, as described above. The vapors produced escape through slots 404 in the upper part of the upright 411 of the fumigation box 400.

Optionally, the housing 400 may include various sensors so as not to trigger the operation of the device only in the presence of humans, or in function certain events. Such sensors may include volumetric sensors of presence, door contacts, a photo-diode detecting the lighting of a room, a sound sensor (flushing noise) etc. The housing 400 can also possibly be equipped with a radar sensor to assess the volume of the room, in order to send to the head 1 by the photoemitter 412 a signal indicating the number of actuations of the pump perform each fumigation, and the frequency of fumigations.

The fumigation box can optionally include both a photoemitter and a photoreceptor at 412, and the head 1 can comprise both a photoemitter and a photoreceptor at 417, to establish a dialogue between the housing 400 and the head 1.

The fumigation box 400 may also include a card reader 413, adapted to receive a RAM type 421 card (ISO 7816) or a smart card.

As shown in Figure 15, you can program a card 421 using a 419 microcomputer equipped with a case, then insert the card into the reader 413 of the fumigation box 400. Card 421 can be used to program only the fumigation box fumigation 400, for example by determining the fumigation periods. Eventually, card 421 can also be used to reprogram microprocessor 139 on the head 1. In this case, the information contained in card 421 is transmitted to the actuating head 1 by the photoemitter 412, in order to determine by example the frequency of fumigation and the number of pump actuations at each fumigation.

The fumigation box 400 can also be fitted with a connection socket low current 414, for example of RS 232 type (fig. 18 and 19). We can thus connect a microcomputer 419 on the housing 400, to reprogram the card 421 or possibly to reprogram the microprocessor 139 of the actuation head. The connection between the microcomputer 419 and the case 400 can be direct (fig. 19) to be do this via modems 430 (fig. 18) if programming is done remotely.

Claims (16)

1. Multifunctional apparatus for spraying and fumigating a vaporizable fluid, the apparatus comprising an actuator head (1), a tank (100) containing said fluid, and a pump (6) mounted on the tank, said pump having an outlet nozzle (11),
      in which the actuator head (1) includes electromechanical actuator means (12, 13) for actuating the pump and an electronic control and power supply circuit (101) including a microprocessor (139) for controlling said electromechanical actuator means (12, 13),
      the apparatus including a heater element (201, 202, 402) disposed facing the outlet nozzle (11) of the pump to receive said fluid sprayed by the pump and to vaporize it, said heater element having a temperature greater than the vaporization temperature of said fluid, said heater element being in communication with the atmosphere to exhaust said vaporized fluid,
      characterized in that the apparatus further includes means for detecting the operation of said heater element and for transmitting a signal to said microprocessor indicating operation of said heater element, said microprocessor (139) being programmed to control actuation of the pump automatically at predetermined time intervals when it receives said signal indicating that the heater element is operating.
2. Multifunctional apparatus for spraying and fumigating a vaporizable fluid, the apparatus comprising an actuator head (1), a tank (100) containing said fluid, and a pump (6) mounted on the tank, said pump having an outlet nozzle (11),
      in which the actuator head (1) includes electromechanical actuator means (12, 13) for actuating the pump and an electronic control and power supply circuit (101) including a microprocessor (139) for controlling said electromechanical actuator means (12, 13), characterized in that:
      the apparatus further includes a movable heater element (201, 202, 402) which, as a function of the apparatus in fumigation mode is disposed facing the outlet nozzle (11) of the pump to receive said fluid sprayed by the pump and to vaporize it, said heater element having a temperature higher than the vaporization temperature of said fluid, said heater element being in communication with the atmosphere to exhaust said vaporized fluid,
      the apparatus including means for detecting the presence of said heater element facing the outlet nozzle (11) of the pump and the operation of said heater element, and for transmitting a signal to said microprocessor indicating that the heater element is present and operating, and said microprocessor (139) is programmed to control actuation of the pump automatically at predetermined time intervals when it receives said signal indicating that the heater element is present and operating.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which said heater element is a temperature regulated electrical heater element.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which said heater element (201, 202) is disposed in a fumigation box (200) which is adapted to be removably fixed on said actuator head (1) and which is powered by the electronic control and power supply circuit (101) of the actuator head (1).
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which:
      the fumigation box (200) includes two electrical contacts (206) connected to said electrical heater element (201, 202), said actuator head includes two external electrical contacts (207) facing said electrical contacts (206) of the fumigation box to connect said electrical heater element (201, 202) to the electronic control and power supply circuit (101) of the actuator head (1),
      the fumigation box (200) includes two snap-fastening resilient arms (208) which embrace said actuator head and bear resiliently against said actuator head (1), and
      said electrical contacts (206) of the fumigation box are disposed inside said resilient arms (208) and are pressed by said resilient arms against the external electrical contacts (207) of the outer shell (104).
6. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which:
      the fumigation box (200) includes two electrical contacts (206) connected to said electrical heater element (201, 202), said actuator head includes two external electrical contacts (207) facing said electrical contacts (206) of the fumigation box to connect said electrical heater element (201, 202) to the electronic control and power supply circuit (101) of the actuator head (1),
      said contacts of the fumigation box and said contacts of the actuator head co-operating to position the fumigation box on the actuator head.
7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, in which:
      the fumigation box (200) includes two electrical contacts (206) connected to said electrical heater element (201, 202), said actuator head includes two external electrical contacts (207) facing said electrical contacts (206) of the fumigation box to connect said electrical heater element (201, 202) to the electronic control and power supply circuit (101) of the actuator head (1),
      said means for detecting the presence of the regulated heater element detecting the presence of an external electric circuit (206, 201) between the two external contacts (207) of the actuator head.
8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the electronic circuit (101) and the actuator head further include means (216, 139a) for detecting insufficient electrical resistance of said external electrical circuit and for transmitting a signal to said microprocessor (139) indicating that said electrical resistance is below a determined value, and said microprocessor is programmed to prevent operation of said electrical heater element (201) and to prevent actuation of the pump while it is receiving said signal indicating that said resistance is below a predetermined threshold.
9. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said regulated heater element is secured to a moving member (301) of the actuator head (1) movable between a retracted position in which it leaves the outlet nozzle (11) of the pump disengaged to enable said fluid to be sprayed, and a fumigation position in which said regulated heater element is disposed facing the spray nozzle (11), said regulated heater element being powered by the electrical control and power supply circuit (101) of the actuator head when the moving member (301) is in its fumigation position.
10. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said regulated heater element (402) is secured to a fumigation box (400), the apparatus including positioning means (415, 416) for positioning the actuator head (1) relative to the fumigation box (400).
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, in which said means for detecting that the fumigation box (400) is present and operating include at least one photoemitter (412) secured to the fumigation box (400) and a photoreceiver (417) secured to the actuator head (1).
12. Apparatus According to any preceding claim, including an interface (413) at least for reading information in a removable programmable card (421), and means (412, 417) for transmitting said information to the electronic circuit (101) of the actuator head (1).
13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, further including a connector (414) for connecting a microcomputer (419) to said box (400).
14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which:
       the tank (100) of fluid is removably fixed to the actuator head (10), the tank (100) including a data medium (145) carrying at least one binary item of data indicating whether the fluid contained in the tank is suitable for vaporizing with the fumigation head (206),
       the electronic control and power supply circuit (101) of the actuator head includes means (146) for reading said binary data and for applying a signal to said microprocessor indicating that said fluid is suitable for vaporizing with the fumigation box if said binary data read on the tank indicates that said fluid is suitable for being vaporized with said heater element (201, 202; 402) and if said microprocessor (139) has received said signal indicating that the regulated heater element is present and operating,
       the microprocessor (139) is programmed to prevent actuation of the pump if said microprocessor (139) has not received said signal indicating that said fluid is suitable for being vaporized with the fumigation box.
15. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which operation of said electrical heater element (201, 202) is controlled by said microprocessor, and said microprocessor (139) is programmed to trigger operation of said electrical heater element (201, 202) for a short period of time only prior to each actuation of the pump at predetermined time intervals, and to stop operation of said heater element (201, 202) immediately after said actuation of the pump.
16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 15, in which a three-position selector switch (136) is connected to the electronic control circuit (101) and the microprocessor is programmed, as a function of the position of said selector switch:
       in the absence of said signal indicating that the regulated heater element is present and operating, either to stop operation of the actuator head (1) or to cause the actuator head to operate to actuate the pump (6) a predetermined number of times each time a user presses on a control button (103), or else to cause the actuator head to actuate the pump so long as the user is pressing on the control button,
       in the presence of the signal indicating that the regulated heater element is present and operating, to cause the actuator head (1) to operate to vaporize by fumigation, either a minimum hourly quantity of the fluid, or a mean hourly quantity of said fluid, or else a maximum hourly quantity of said fluid.

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