Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
  • A01M1/00—Stationary means for catching or killing insects
  • A01M1/20—Poisoning, narcotising, or burning insects
  • A01M1/2022—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide
  • A01M1/2061—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide using a heat source
  • A01M1/2077—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide using a heat source using an electrical resistance as heat source
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
  • A01M1/00—Stationary means for catching or killing insects
  • A01M1/20—Poisoning, narcotising, or burning insects
  • A01M1/2022—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide
  • A01M1/2027—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide without heating
  • A01M1/2044—Holders or dispensers for liquid insecticide, e.g. using wicks
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L9/00—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air
  • A61L9/015—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone
  • A61L9/02—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone using substances evaporated in the air by heating or combustion
  • A61L9/03—Apparatus therefor
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
  • A01M1/00—Stationary means for catching or killing insects
  • A01M1/20—Poisoning, narcotising, or burning insects
  • A01M1/2022—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide
  • A01M1/2027—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide without heating
  • A01M1/2033—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide without heating using a fan
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
  • A01M1/00—Stationary means for catching or killing insects
  • A01M1/20—Poisoning, narcotising, or burning insects
  • A01M1/2022—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide
  • A01M1/2027—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide without heating
  • A01M1/2055—Holders or dispensers for solid, gelified or impregnated insecticide, e.g. volatile blocks or impregnated pads
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
  • A01M1/00—Stationary means for catching or killing insects
  • A01M1/20—Poisoning, narcotising, or burning insects
  • A01M1/2022—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide
  • A01M1/2061—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide using a heat source
  • A01M1/2072—Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide using a heat source combined with a fan
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2209/00—Aspects relating to disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air
  • A61L2209/10—Apparatus features
  • A61L2209/13—Dispensing or storing means for active compounds

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of diffuser devices intended to disperse in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at room temperature. More particularly, the invention relates to a removable assembly that can be used in such a diffuser device.
• a diffuser device of the aforementioned type is known for example from document WO 2019/243734 A1.
• a storage container containing the substance is connected to a distributor member.
• the distributor member comprises micro-pipes forming an outlet arranged in the pipe in order to constitute there an evaporation zone for the substance.
• a heating member is arranged on or in the distributor member so as to control a flow of the substance through the distributor member.
• One idea at the basis of the invention consists in proposing an arrangement of the distributor member and of the storage container which facilitates the positioning of the heating member relative to the distributor member.
• the invention thus proposes a removable assembly for a diffuser device, the diffuser device being intended to disperse in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at room temperature, the removable assembly including: - a storage container containing the substance and having a drain hole, the drain hole being oriented downwards when the removable assembly is in a position of use; And - a distributor member positioned at the outlet of the drain orifice and connected to the drain orifice, the distributor member comprising a porous body having an evaporation surface located outside the storage container to evaporate the substance in Ambiant air, wherein the storage container has a concave outer shape at least partially surrounding a central free space so as to uncover a contact surface presented by the porous body on the opposite side to the evaporation surface, the contact surface being accessible through central free space.
• the heating member makes it possible to control the flow of the substance through the porous body, simply by heating or not heating the porous body.
• the physical principles underlying this control of the flow of the substance through the porous body are described in document WO 2019/243734 A1 already cited above or in document WO 2020/254733 A1.
• the heating member can come into place on the contact surface of the dispensing member simply by passing through the central free space of the storage container.
• This can in particular be obtained by arranging the heating member in a housing of the device which is provided to receive the removable assembly. It is then particularly simple to position the heating member relative to the distributor member.
• such a removable assembly may have one or more of the following characteristics.
• the porous body has a lower porosity in an inner part of the porous body than a porosity in an outer part of the porous body surrounding the inner part.
• the porous body comprises a wick made of wood, textile, ceramic, polymer, or a porous metallic material obtained by sintering a metallic powder or a metallic alloy powder.
• the porous body has a recess located in the extension of the central free space surrounded by the storage container, and the contact surface comprises an inner surface of the recess.
• the heating member is partly received in the recess that the porous body has so as to come into contact with the contact surface.
• the contact between the heating member and the porous body takes place over a larger surface than by plane contact. This tends to make it easier to control the temperature of the porous body and thereby to control the flow of the substance through the porous body.
• the recess is preferably blind.
• the recess is not blind, that is to say it opens through the porous body.
• the porous body comprises a cylindrical portion.
• the central free space extends in a direction coaxial with the cylindrical portion of the porous body.
• the recess extends in an axial direction of the cylindrical portion of the porous body.
• the porous body further comprises a protruding portion in the shape of a hemisphere or a spherical cap, the protruding portion being arranged at an axial end of the cylindrical portion opposite the central free space.
• the recess extends into the protruding portion.
• the storage container extends along a main axis.
• an axis of the cylindrical portion of the porous body coincides with the main axis.
• the direction in which the central free space extends is parallel to the main axis.
• the axial direction in which the recess extends is parallel to the main axis.
• the porous body has a symmetry of revolution around the main axis.
• the main axis in the position of use, is parallel to the direction of the acceleration of gravity.
• the storage container has a bottom wall, the bottom wall being at a lower end of the storage container along the main axis.
• the drain orifice is made in the bottom wall.
• the lower wall comprises a counterbore, the central free space opening into the counterbore, and the drain orifice being formed in the counterbore.
• said concave outer shape of the storage container is annular.
• a section of the storage container, perpendicular to the main axis, is annular in shape.
• the storage container has a symmetry of revolution around the main axis.
• said concave outer shape of the storage container is “C” shaped.
• a section of the storage container, perpendicular to the main axis, is “C” shaped.
• the drain orifice is closed off by a lid.
• the removable assembly further comprises a perforation device disposed between the porous body and the seal, the perforation device comprising a plurality of teeth and/or needles configured to perforate the seal when the porous body is moved towards the operculum.
• the removable assembly further comprises a wick support element configured to be assembled to the storage container, the wick support element comprising a support portion, the support portion being configured to support the porous body and having a through hole through which the porous body passes, and the support portion including a plurality of teeth and/or needles configured to puncture the seal when the wick support member is assembled to the container of storage.
• the wick support element is configured to be assembled to the storage container by screwing.
• the plurality of teeth and/or needles perforate the lid when the wick support element is screwed to the storage container.
• the wick support element may comprise an assembly portion having an internal thread configured to cooperate with an external thread presented by the storage container.
• the wick support element is configured to be assembled to the storage container by screwing, in an intermediate position in which the plurality of teeth and/or needles do not perforate the lid, and in a final position in which the plurality of teeth and/or needles perforate the lid, the passage from the intermediate position to the final position requiring a greater clamping force than the clamping force necessary to screw the support element tail to the middle position.
• the assembly portion may have an internal projection configured to cooperate with external projections presented by the storage container, the passage from the intermediate position to the final position requiring a sufficient clamping force for the internal projection to be able to cross the exterior projections.
• said substance comprises at least one compound selected from semiochemical molecules, pheromones, allomones, kairomones, synomones of natural or synthetic origin.
• the substance is a solution containing at least one sexual or non-sexual pheromone, an allomone, a synomone or a kairomone intended to cause a positive or negative response with respect to the targeted species, the behavioral result of which may be a sexual confusion, confusion of another kind, sexual attraction, attraction of another kind, repulsion of any kind, in arthropods, including arachnids, or including hexapods, including in particular insects, including harmful insects .
• the substance is a solution containing at least one pheromone or one sex pheromone, an allomone, a synomone or a kairomone intended to cause a positive or negative response with respect to the target species, the behavioral result of which may be including appeasement, relaxation, euphoria, or intimidation in mammalia and aves classes.
• the substance comprises a solvent chosen from isopropyl myristate, dipropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, and an isoparaffin hydrocarbon, for example an L or P or N or V isoparaffin.
• the substance comprises at least one compound taken from the group formed by odoriferous agents usable for humans or animals, semiochemicals, cosmetic agents, essential oils, perfumes, disinfectants and phytosanitary and agricultural agents.
• the substance is a solution comprising at least one compound taken from this group.
• the substance comprises at least one compound taken from the group formed by odoriferous agents usable for humans, cosmetic agents, essential oils, perfumes, disinfectants.
• the substance is a solution comprising at least one compound taken from this group.
• the odoriferous agents that can be used for animals are chosen from fatty acids or the esterified form of said fatty acids, such as methyl oleate, methyl palmitate, dimethyl azelate, and dimethyl pimelate. dimethyl.
• the substance has in the liquid state a viscosity greater than 1 cPa.s at 25° C., for example greater than 8 cPa.s at 25° C., and less than 1 cPa.s at 60° C. vs.
• the substance has a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of between 30°C and 400°C.
• the substance is in the liquid state at room temperature
• said storage container further contains an internal alveolar retention member impregnated with said substance in the liquid state.
• the alveolar retention member comprises a material chosen from among a felt, for example wool felt, and a melamine foam.
• a plurality of alveolar retention members are in contact and arranged in the storage container.
• the storage container has no opening other than the drain orifice, and the storage container contains, in addition to the substance, a gaseous phase occupying at least 20% of the volume of the storage container.
• the first temperature can be set in different ranges. If the diffuser device is intended to be used outdoors, the first temperature will be chosen in particular according to local climatic data. According to embodiments, the first temperature is for example between 1°C and 50°C, or between 5°C and 40°C or between 10°C and 35°C, or even between 15°C and 25°C. vs.
• the substance has a variable viscosity as a function of temperature, said viscosity being such that, in the position of use, the substance cannot flow through the porous body at any ambient temperature below a first temperature, the first temperature being greater than 0°C, and that the substance flows through the porous body at a second temperature greater than the first temperature.
• the substance is in the liquid state at room temperature.
• the substance may have a melting point at atmospheric pressure of between -70°C and 0°C.
• the substance is in the solid state at room temperature.
• the substance may have a melting point above 30°C at atmospheric pressure, for example between 30°C and 40°C.
• the removable assembly comprises several storage containers containing different substances, each of the storage containers having a drain orifice communicating with the dispenser member.
• Such storage containers can be made in different ways, for example with internal partitioning of a single tank or by means of several separate tanks.
• the invention also proposes a diffuser device, the diffuser device being intended to disperse in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at room temperature, the diffuser device comprising; - A removable assembly according to any one of the embodiments described above; And - A fixed part comprising a diffusion box which defines a housing in which said removable assembly can be inserted; And - a heating device, wherein the heating member is arranged in the housing so as to engage in the central free space of the storage container and come into contact with the contact surface presented by the porous body of the removable assembly when the removable assembly is inserted into the housing in the use position.
• such a diffuser device may have one or more of the following characteristics.
• the heating member is partly received in the recess that the porous body has so as to come into contact with the contact surface.
• the heating member comprises an electrical resistor in contact with the contact surface.
• the diffuser device further comprises an electronic card, the heating member being electrically powered by the electronic card.
• the diffuser device further comprises a control device configured to control the heating member according to a setpoint temperature defining a temperature of the porous body.
• control device is arranged on the electronic card.
• the fixed part further comprises an air inlet and an aeration system configured to create an air flow from the air inlet towards the evaporation surface of the porous body.
• the ventilation system comprises at least one fan.
• said control device is configured to control said at least one fan.
• the fixed part further comprises a power supply unit.
• a power supply box may include one or more batteries, an AC power outlet, a DC power connector, or a combination thereof.
• the diffusion box is adapted to be fixed to the power supply box.
• the air inlet comprises a gap made between the power supply box and the diffusion box.
• FIG. 1 There is a sectional view of a storage container of a removable assembly intended to be received in a housing of the diffuser apparatus of Figures 1 and 2.
• FIG. 4 There is a perspective view of the storage container and dispensing member of Figures 4 and 5, together with a support.
• FIG. 1 There is a perspective view analogous to the , further showing an tamper evident in place between the storage container and the holder.
• FIG. 4 There is a side view of another alternative embodiment of the removable assembly shown in Figures 4 and 5, comprising the storage container shown in the and the , the wick holder member of the , and a distributing organ.
• FIG. 10 There is a perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of a diffuser apparatus intended to disperse in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid state at room temperature.
• This diffuser device bears the reference 10 in the drawings; it will be referred to below as “the device 10” for convenience.
• the device 10 comprises a fixed part generally designated by the reference 20.
• the fixed part 20 comprises a diffusion box 30 and an electrical supply box 40.
• The is a cross-sectional view of apparatus 10 and thus reveals components of apparatus 10 disposed within diffusion housing 30 and power supply housing 40.
• the diffusion box 30 defines a housing 31, here of generally cylindrical section.
• the housing 31 is able to receive a removable assembly 50 described below.
• the power supply box 40 includes one or more batteries 41 in order to supply electricity to the electrical components of the diffusion box 30.
• a power cable 42 is connected to an external power source, such as a panel. photovoltaic (not shown), in order to supply electricity to the device 10.
• the device 10 is suspended from a stretched cable 1000 (not shown in the but represented on the ), such as a trellising wire, by means of two suspension rings 1001.
• the suspension rings 1001 are arranged on either side of the diffusion box 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• the removable assembly 50 comprises a storage container 60 and a wick 70.
• the wick 70 is integral with the storage container 60 so that the removable assembly 50 can be inserted in one piece into the housing 31 by grasping the removable assembly 50.
• the storage container 60 has the outer shape of an annular cylinder extending along a main axis PP.
• annular cylinder it is meant that a section of the storage container 60, perpendicular to the axis PP, is of annular shape, as illustrated diagrammatically in the .
• the storage container 60 has, at its center and in the vicinity of the axis PP, a central free space 62.
• the central free space 62 is delimited by a proximal wall 63 of the storage container 60.
• the interior volume 69 of the storage container 60 is delimited by the proximal wall 63, by a distal wall 64 farther from the axis PP than the proximal wall 63, by an upper wall 66, and by a lower wall 65.
• the bottom wall 65 has a counterbore 65A.
• the central free space 62 opens into the counterbore 65A.
• a drain hole 61 is made in all or part of the bottom of the counterbore 65A.
• the drain orifice 61 is oriented downwards in a position of use of the removable assembly 50, this position of use being represented on the .
• the storage container 60 may have a symmetry of revolution around the axis P-P.
• the storage container 60 is produced by injection molding of a suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene (PP) for example.
• PP polypropylene
• One or more pressurization vents may be provided in the top wall 66 and/or the distal wall 64 to ensure that the liquid substance contained in the storage container 60 can continue to flow as the container storage 60 is emptied.
• the storage container 60 does not have any opening other than the drain orifice 61, and contains, in addition to the liquid substance, a gaseous phase occupying at least 20% of the volume of the storage container 60.
• the proximal wall 63 may have an inclined portion 63A so that the section of the central free space 62 increases towards the upper end of the storage container 60.
• distal wall 64 may also have an inclined portion 64A so that the distal wall 64 approaches the axis P-P going towards the upper end of the storage container 60.
• the walls of the storage container 60 can be flexible such that the interior volume 69 of the storage container 60 decreases under the pressure. effect of atmospheric pressure as storage container 60 is emptied.
• the techniques for making such flexible walls are known as such and are not described in detail here.
• the section of the storage container 60 perpendicular to the axis PP, is not necessarily annular in shape.
• Any external shape of the storage container 60 is possible as long as this external shape is concave and at least partially surrounds a central free space 62 and as long as the heating member 100 can be received in the central free space 62 as we will describe below.
• the storage container 60 may have a concave external shape in the form of a "C", as shown schematically in top view on the , or a more complex concave outer shape.
• the interior volume 69 of the storage container 60 can optionally be at least partially filled with a polymeric foam (not shown) impregnated with the liquid substance. Alternatively, the interior volume 69 can simply be filled with the liquid substance.
• Reference 69L indicates a free surface of the liquid substance in the drawings.
• the interior volume 69 can contain several different liquid substances.
• the interior volume 69 can be partitioned so as to define several interior sub-volumes, each interior volume 69 containing a liquid substance and having a drain orifice 61 for this liquid substance.
• the removable assembly 50 may comprise several storage containers 60, possibly identical, each containing a liquid substance and all connected to the wick 70 which will now be described. These variants make it possible to provide a removable assembly 50 containing several liquid substances which only mix when they are released by the device 10.
• the wick 70 is positioned at the outlet of the emptying orifice 61, so that the liquid substance can pass from the interior space 69 of the storage container 60 to the wick 70 and thereby to the evaporation surfaces constituted by the external walls of the wick 70.
• the wick 70 here comprises a cylindrical central portion 72 and a protruding portion 73, which is hemispherical here but which could also be in the form of a spherical cap.
• a recess 75 extends in the wick 70, here parallel to the axis P-P and thus in the extension of the central free space 62.
• the recess 75 is preferably blind as shown in the figures.
• the recess 75 may or may not extend into the wick 70 up to the protruding portion 73.
• the recess 75 is not blind, that is to say it opens through the protruding portion 73 .
• the wick 70 may have a symmetry of revolution around the axis P-P.
• the wick 70 can be attached to storage container 60 in various ways.
• the wick 70 includes a cylindrical lug 77, so as to close the lower end of the central free space 62.
• the lug 77 is for example forced into the central free space 62.
• the upper surface of the lug 77 is marked 77A in the drawings.
• the wick 70 is partially or entirely made of a porous material, for example wood, textile, ceramic or polymer.
• a porous material for example wood, textile, ceramic or polymer.
• a porous metallic material obtained by sintering a metal powder or a metal alloy powder.
• Such porous metallic materials are known as such and the techniques for obtaining them are not described in detail here.
• the storage container 60 includes a drain orifice 61 which is oriented downwards in a position of use of the removable assembly 50.
• the wick 70 is positioned at the outlet of this drain orifice 61 so as to receive and be impregnated, due to its porosity, with the liquid substance contained in the interior volume 69 of the storage container 60.
• drain 61 is closed by a cap 65B.
• the removable assembly 50 further comprises a perforation device 140 disposed between the flange 79 and the drain orifice 61.
• the perforation device 140 comprises an annular main body 141 which is dimensioned so as to allow the pin 77 of the wick 70.
• the main body 141 has a plurality of teeth 142, and, between the teeth 142, a plurality of slots 143.
• the teeth 142 are arranged so as to be able to perforate the lid 65B. Once the lid 65B is perforated by the teeth 142, the liquid substance flows through the holes made by the teeth 142, then through the slots 143, and wets the collar 79, then the rest of the wick 70 by capillarity.
• the perforation device 140 can for example be produced by injection molding of a suitable polymer. As a variant, it could also be a metal part, for example molded, or even a ceramic part. In addition, the perforation device 140 could consist of several annular sectors, optionally but not necessarily integral with each other.
• the teeth 142 and the lumens 143 are preferably regularly spaced so as to promote uniform impregnation of the wick 70 by the liquid substance.
• the geometry of the teeth 142 and the slots 143 represented on the is just one example. Many other configurations are possible. Furthermore, in addition to or in replacement of the teeth 142, needles, hollow or not, can be arranged on the perforation device 140 so as to perforate the lid 65B as just described.
• connection which has just been described between the wick 70 and the interior volume 69 of the storage container 60 via the drain orifice 61 is only one example. Many other connections are possible.
• the wick 70 may have one or more lugs which pass through the drain orifice 61 until they come in contact with this polymer foam.
• One or more seals can then be arranged so as to guarantee a tight connection between the wick 70 and the drain orifice 61.
• a heating element is arranged in the diffusion housing 30.
• the heating element heater 100 comprises a rod 101 carrying at its lower end an electric resistor 110. Due to the presence of the central free space 62, the rod 101 can extend through the central free space 62, so that the electric resistance 110 comes into contact with the walls of the recess 75 when the removable assembly 50 is in place in the housing 31.
• By supplying or not supplying electricity to the electric resistance 110 it is possible to implement a control of the flow of the liquid substance through the wick 70 according to the physical principles described in the documents WO 2019/243734 A1 and WO 2020/254733 A1.
• the upper surface 77A can be connected to the recess 75 by an inclined face 77B, so as to facilitate the insertion of the rod 101 and the electrical resistor 110 into the recess 75.
• the heating device 100 can comprise an electronic card 130 for the electric power supply and the control of the electric resistance 110.
• a control device such as a microprocessor
• the electronic card 130 can be arranged at various locations of the device 10. Purely by way of example, the electronic card 130 is represented on the as being disposed in the housing 31 above the removable assembly 50.
• the apparatus 10 further comprises an aeration system configured to create a flow of air from an air inlet 99 towards the evaporation surfaces constituted by the exterior walls of the wick 70.
• This aeration system comprises a fan 120.
• the fan 120 is arranged above the removable assembly 50.
• the fan 120 brings the flow of air from an air inlet 99 to the wick 70.
• the air inlet 99 is materialized by a gap made between the diffusion box 30 and a cover 33 integral with the diffusion box 30.
• the arrow F in dashed line on the illustrates the direction of air inlet through this gap.
• An air filter may optionally be placed between the air inlet 99 and the fan 120 in order to limit the risk of the wick 70 becoming clogged by undesirable external particles.
• the diffusion housing 30 may include fins 309 arranged between the inner wall of the diffusion housing 30 and a casing 39 intended to receive the storage container 60.
• the fins 309 may be shaped so as to guide the flow of air towards the wick 70.
• the bottom of the casing 39 can be provided with a bottom plate 39F to support the electronic card 130.
• a through hole 39FF is then made in the bottom plate 39F to allow the rod 101 and the electrical resistor 110 to pass.
• the fan 120 can be controlled by the control device mentioned above carried by the electronic card 130.
• the removable assembly 50 can be kept in place in the housing 31 in various ways, as long as the removable assembly 50 can be removed from the housing 31 in order to be replaced identically when the liquid substance contained in the storage container 60 is sold out.
• the removable assembly 50 can be screwed or snapped into the housing 31.
• the removable assembly 50 comprises, in addition to the storage container 60 and the wick 70, a support 80.
• the support 80 comprises a central body 81 and a peripheral body 82.
• the central body 81 comprises at least one central portion 81A (cf. ) which is flared so as to receive the support of a lower portion of the storage container 60 and the support of the collar 79 of the wick 70 (cf. ).
• the central body 81 has a through hole 81AA which is dimensioned so as to allow the wick 70 to pass, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 2 and 6B. More specifically, the through hole 81AA lets through at least the projecting portion 73 and possibly part of the central portion 72 as can be seen on the .
• the peripheral body 82 is annular and integral with the central body 81.
• the peripheral body 82 is intended to be fixed to the interior wall of the diffusion box 30.
• the peripheral body 82 is fixed to the interior wall of the diffusion box 30 by means of a bayonet attachment, here comprising notches 89 (FIGS. 6A and 7) which are carried by the peripheral body 82 and which cooperate with corresponding studs 30A ( ) which are carried by the inner wall of the diffusion box 30.
• the peripheral body 82 is here secured to the central body 81 by being formed in one piece with ribs 812 arranged between the central body 81 and the peripheral body 82. Ribs 812 may be at least partially shaped to guide airflow to wick 70.
• the central body 81 could receive support from the storage container only at its flared central portion 81A.
• the central body 81 further comprises an annular support strip 81R which is received in a groove 68 which the storage container 60 has.
• the groove 68 and the support strip 81R can optionally allow the installation of an integrity indicator 150 which is represented on the .
• the integrity indicator 150 has at least one “C” shaped portion 152 which is also received in the groove 68, more precisely above the backing strip 81R.
• the integrity indicator 150 can also include a gripping tab 151 which facilitates the removal of the integrity indicator 150 by a user.
• the portion 152 prevents the support strip 81R from coming into abutment against the upper wall of the groove 68.
• the support 80 can move in the direction of the upper wall 66 of the storage container 60, until the support strip 81R abuts against the upper wall of the groove 68.
• this movement of the support 80 can in particular cause the perforation described above of the lid 65B by the teeth 142 of the perforation device 140. It is understood that the absence of the integrity indicator 150 then indicates that the lid 65B has potentially been punctured and therefore storage container 60 has begun to release liquid substance.
• a second alternative embodiment of a device 710 is shown partially in perspective on the .
• the elements identical to those described above in relation to FIGS. 2 to 8 bear identical references and are not described in detail again.
• the device 710 differs from the device 10 in that the power supply box 740 comprises, on the side opposite the diffusion box 30, a mains power socket 741.
• the device 710 can thus be supplied with electricity on mains, which allows in particular use in an enclosed place such as a greenhouse or a building, for example.
• a third alternative embodiment of an apparatus 810 is shown partially in perspective on the .
• the elements identical to those described above in relation to FIGS. 2 to 8 bear identical references and are not described in detail again.
• the device 810 differs from the device 10 in that the power supply box 840 comprises, on the side opposite the diffusion box 30, a DC power supply socket 841, here a Pogo pin ("pogo pin " in English).
• the device 810 can thus be supplied with electricity by a direct current source such as a battery.
• a fourth embodiment variant of a device 910 is represented in perspective on the .
• the device 810 differs from the device 10 in that it comprises two diffusion boxes 30 arranged on either side of a common power supply box 1040.
• the power supply box 1040 can contain, for example, batteries (not shown) and be supplied with electricity by a power supply cable 42 as described above.
• the apparatus 910 can thus be used to diffuse two different substances, by inserting into each of the two diffusion boxes 30 two removable assemblies 50 containing different substances.
• a fifth alternative embodiment of a 1910 device is represented in exploded view on the .
• the 1910 device is designed to be placed outdoors and at height.
• the diffusion box 30 is fixed to a vertical post 2000, for example by means of a fixing flange 1991.
• a power supply box 1940 here of cylindrical shape and of the same diameter as the diffusion box 30, is arranged above the diffusion box 30.
• the power supply box 1940 is also fixed to the post 2000, for example by means of a fixing flange 1995.
• the diffusion box 30 is fixed to the power supply box 1940 by screwing or snapping, for example.
• the power supply box 1940 can include batteries (not shown) and/or be connected to a photovoltaic panel (not shown) in order to supply the device 1910 with electricity.
• the device 1910 can be supplied with electricity from other ways, including through AC power.
• the air inlet 99 is materialized by a gap (not referenced) formed between the diffusion box 30 and the power supply box 1940.
• the arrow F12 in dashed line on the illustrates the direction of air inlet through this gap.
• FIG. 250 Another example of a removable assembly 250 is shown in section on the . There is an exploded view of the storage container 260 of this removable assembly 250.
• the elements identical to those described above in relation to FIGS. 2 to 12 bear references increased by 200 and are not described in detail again except where necessary.
• the storage container 260 takes the form of a very elongated cylindrical part, produced for example by injection molding of a suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene (PP) for example.
• the interior volume 269 of the storage container 260 is filled with a polymeric foam 268 impregnated with the liquid substance.
• One or more pressurization vents may be made near the upper end of the storage container 260, for example in its upper wall 266 and/or its distal wall 264.
• the storage container 260 does not has no opening other than the drain orifice 261, and contains, in addition to the liquid substance, a gaseous phase occupying at least 20% of the volume of the storage container 260.
• the lower end of the storage container 260 is provided with an external thread 291 allowing the screwing of a cap 290 which has a corresponding internal thread (not referenced).
• the stopper 290 thus makes it possible to avoid losing liquid substance before the use of the removable assembly 250, in particular during its transport.
• the wick 270 can be retained on the storage container 260 by the cap 290, which makes it possible to misplace or damage the wick 270 before the use of the removable assembly 250.
• a lid 296 can be placed at the lower end of the storage container 260 so as to close its drain orifice 261.
• plug 290 may be sized such that it is possible to screw plug 290 back onto thread 291 after wick 270 has thus been inserted, thereby improving the seal of the junction between wick 270 and foam polymer 268.
• the lug 279 can be configured such that the wick 270 can be screwed into the drain hole 261 of the storage container 260.
• the lug 279 can include micro -needles (not shown) from perforating the lid 296 during this screwing.
• removable assembly 350 includes a storage container 360, a wick 370, and a wick support member 380.
• the storage container 360 is described. is a side view of the 360 storage container alone, and the is a sectional view of the storage container 360.
• the storage container 360 has the outer shape of an annular cylinder extending along a main axis QQ; in other words, a section of the storage container 360, perpendicular to the axis QQ, is annular in shape.
• the storage container 360 has, at its center and in the vicinity of the axis QQ, a central free space 362.
• the central free space 362 is delimited by a proximal wall 363 of the storage container 360.
• the interior volume 369 of the storage container 360 is delimited by the proximal wall 363, by a distal wall 364 farther from the axis QQ than the proximal wall 363, by an upper wall 366, and by a lower wall 365.
• a drain orifice 361 is formed in the lower wall 365.
• the drain orifice 361 is oriented downwards in a position of use of the removable assembly 350, this position of use being represented on the .
• the storage container 360 may have rotational symmetry around the Q-Q axis.
• the storage container 360 is produced by injection molding of a suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene (PP) for example.
• PP polypropylene
• One or more pressurization vents may be provided in the top wall 366 and/or the distal wall 364 to ensure that the liquid substance contained in the storage container 360 can continue to flow as the container storage 360 is emptied.
• the storage container 360 has no opening other than the drain orifice 361, and contains, in addition to the liquid substance, a gaseous phase occupying at least 20% of the volume of the storage container 360.
• proximal wall 363 may have a rounded portion 363A so that the section of the central free space 362 increases towards the upper end of the storage container 360.
• distal wall 364 may further have a rounded portion 364A so that the distal wall 364 so that the distal wall 364 approaches the Q-Q axis towards the upper end of the storage container 360.
• the walls of the storage container 360 can be flexible such that the interior volume 369 of the storage container 360 decreases under the pressure. effect of atmospheric pressure as storage container 360 is emptied.
• the techniques for making such flexible walls are known as such and are not described in detail here.
• the section of the storage container 360, perpendicular to the axis P-P, is not necessarily annular in shape. Any external shape of the storage container 360 is possible as long as this external shape is concave and at least partially surrounds a central free space 362 and as long as the heating member 100 can be received in the central free space 362 as we will describe below.
• the storage container 360 can have a "C" shaped concave outer shape or a more complex concave outer shape.
• Interior volume 369 of storage container 360 may optionally be at least partially filled with a polymeric foam (not shown) impregnated with the liquid substance.
• the interior volume 369 can simply be filled with the liquid substance.
• the interior volume 369 can contain several different liquid substances.
• the interior volume 369 can be partitioned so as to define several interior sub-volumes, each interior volume 369 containing a liquid substance and having a drain orifice 361 for this liquid substance.
• the removable assembly 350 may comprise several storage containers 360, possibly identical, each containing a liquid substance and all connected to the wick 370 which will be described later. These variants make it possible to provide a removable assembly 350 containing several liquid substances which only mix at the time of their diffusion.
• the wick support element 380 is shown alone in side view on the .
• Wick holder member 380 is configured to receive wick 370 and to be assembled to storage container 360 such that wick holder member 380 holds wick 370 in position relative to storage container 360.
• the removable assembly 350 can then be inserted in one piece into the housing 31 by grasping the removable assembly 350.
• the wick 370 comprises a cylindrical central portion 372 and a projecting portion 373, which here is hemispherical but which could also be in the form of a spherical cap.
• a recess 375 extends into the wick 370, here parallel to the Q-Q axis and thus in the extension of the central free space 362.
• the recess 375 is preferably blind as shown in the figures.
• the recess 375 may or may not extend into the wick 370 up to the protruding portion 373.
• the recess 375 is not blind, that is to say, it opens through the protruding portion 373 .
• the 370 bit may have rotational symmetry around the Q-Q axis.
• the wick support element 380 comprises a support portion 381 and an assembly portion 386.
• the support portion 381 and the assembly portion 386 can be formed as a single piece, for example by making the element wick support 380 by injection molding of a suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene (PP) for example.
• PP polypropylene
• the wick support element 380 could be a metal part, for example molded, or even a ceramic part.
• the support portion 381 has a central through hole 382 (cf. ).
• the orifice 382 is here in the extension of the central free space 362.
• the orifice 382 is dimensioned to allow an upper portion of the wick 370 to pass as represented on the .
• the wick 370 has a flange 379 whose lower surface rests on a shoulder 383 that the support portion 381 has around the orifice 382.
• the support portion 381 can also present an internal projection 384 around the shoulder 383 to cooperate with a lateral surface of the collar 379, and/or an external projection 385 in the extension of the orifice 382 to cooperate with a chamfer that the wick 370 presents under the collar 379.
• the support portion 381 here has a frustoconical section to provide sufficient space for the collar 379 between the lower wall 365 of the storage container 360 and the support portion 381.
• the support portion 381 may have a symmetry around the axis Q-Q.
• the assembly portion 386 here has the outer shape of a cylinder extending along the Q-Q axis and of larger diameter than the storage container 360. Thus the assembly portion 386 can be assembled on a lower part of the storage container. storage 360.
• the assembly portion 386 has an internal thread 386A (cf. ) corresponding to a 364A external thread (cf. , And ) on the distal wall 364 of the storage container 360, the cooperation between the internal thread 386A and the external thread 364A making it possible to screw the assembly portion 386 onto the storage container 360.
• the storage container 360 may have an upper flange 367, projecting from the distal wall 364 perpendicular to the Q-Q axis, to materialize a final position of the assembly portion 386.
• the storage container 360 may have a lower collar 365A, projecting from the lower wall 365 perpendicularly to the Q-Q axis, to cooperate with an internal projection 386B of the assembly portion 386 and to hold the assembly portion 386 in place in the final position of the assembly portion 386.
• the drain orifice 361 is closed off by a cap 365B.
• the assembly portion 386 has a plurality of teeth 388, only one of which is shown in the .
• the teeth 388 are configured to be able to perforate the lid 365B. More specifically, the teeth 388 perforate the seal 365B during the screwing of the assembly portion 386 on the storage container 360. Once the seal 365B is perforated by the teeth 388, the liquid substance flows through the hole made by the teeth 388, and wets the collar 379, then the rest of the wick 370 by capillarity.
• the teeth 388 are preferably regularly spaced so as to promote uniform impregnation of the wick 370 by the liquid substance.
• needles can be placed on the assembly portion 386 so as to perforate the cover 365B as just described.
• the storage container 360 may have, in addition to the external thread 364A, two external projections 364P (cf. , And ) protruding from distal wall 364 perpendicular to axis QQ.
• the assembly portion 386 has an internal projection 386P (cf. ).
• the assembly portion 386 can then be partially screwed onto the storage container 360 by means of the threads 364A and 386A, until the inner projection 386P comes to cooperate with the outer projections 364P.
• the assembly portion 386 is then in an intermediate position in which the teeth 388 or needles have not yet perforated the lid 365B.
• the removable assembly 350 can then be transported in a preassembled state, where the wick support element 380 receives the wick 370 and is retained on the storage container 360 by screwing, and where the cover 385B is not perforated. .
• the assembly portion 386 which carries the internal projection 386P has an enlargement of cross-section and/or a certain elasticity, for example due to the manufacture of the assembly portion 380 by injection molding of a suitable plastic material such as polypropylene (PP).
• PP polypropylene
• the assembly portion 386 may be assembled to the storage container 360 in other ways, such as by snapping, clipping, using a bayonet fitting, or using a guillotine type closure. .
• the assembly of the assembly portion 386 causes the described perforation of the seal 365B by the teeth 388 and/or the needles.
• a device 2010 according to a sixth variant embodiment.
• the elements identical to those described above in relation to FIGS. 2 to 8 bear identical references and are not described in detail again.
• the rod 101 Due to the presence of the central free space 362, the rod 101 can extend through the central free space 362, such that the electrical resistance 110 comes into contact with the walls of the recess 375 when the removable assembly 350 is in place in the housing 31.
• By supplying or not supplying electricity to the electric resistance 110 it is possible to implement a control of the flow of the liquid substance through the wick 370 according to the physical principles described in the documents WO 2019/243734 A1 and WO 2020/254733 A1.
• the recess 375 may have a shoulder 375A (cf. And ) to facilitate the insertion of the rod 101 and the electrical resistance 110 into the recess 375.
• the diffusion box 30 of the device 2010 may include a holding portion 2080 to hold the removable assembly 350 in place in the housing 31.
• the holding portion 2080 holds the removable assembly 350 by supporting the removable assembly 350, here via the wick support element 380 thereof.
• the holding portion 2080 has a through hole 2081 to allow the wick 370 to pass. This through hole 2081 can contribute to guiding the flow of air created by the fan 120 along the evaporation surfaces constituted by the walls exteriors of the 370 wick.
• the diffusion box 30 of the device 2010 may also comprise an annular portion 2090 around the wick 370.
• the annular portion 2090 is open under the wick 370 in the position of use of the removable assembly 350 represented on the .
• the substance evaporated at the outer walls of the wick 370 can be dispersed in the air, while the annular portion 2090 tends to protect the wick 370, for example against mechanical damage (for example during transport of the device 2010) and/or against contact with unwanted external particles.
• annular portion 2090 and the holding portion 2080 are formed in one piece as shown in the .
• FIG. 4 Another example of a removable assembly 450 is shown in section on the .
• the elements identical to those of the removable assembly 350 bear the same reference numerals increased by 100 and are not described again except where necessary.
• the removable assembly 450 differs from the removable assembly 350 in that the wick 470 has, perpendicular to the axis QQ and over its entire length, a cylindrical annular section.
• the wick 470 has over its entire length a cylindrical recess 475, in the extension of the central free space 462.
• a part of the wick 470 is received in the central free space 462 of the storage container 460. dotted on the the position of the electrical resistor 110 when the removable assembly 450 is in place in the housing 31.
• the wick 470 can be held in place on the wick support element 481 in a manner analogous to the wick 370 on the wick support element 381, and/or be held in place in the central free space 462, for example by screwing, snap-fastening, clipping, by means of a bayonet attachment, or by means of a guillotine-type closure.
• the substance is in the liquid state at room temperature.
• the substance is in a solid state at room temperature.
• the substance may have a melting point above 30°C at atmospheric pressure, for example between 30°C and 40°C.
• the storage container 60 (or respectively 260, 360, 460) contains the substance in the solid state at room temperature.
• the heating of the wick 70 (or respectively 270, 370, 470) by the heater 100 causes a local melting of the substance in the vicinity of the drain orifice 61 (or respectively 261, 361, 461). The substance thus become liquid can then flow through the wick 70 (or respectively 270, 370, 470) as described above.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
• Disinfection, Sterilisation Or Deodorisation Of Air (AREA)

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• 2021
  • 2021-10-27 FR FR2111442A patent/FR3128378B1/fr active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-10-26 CN CN202280071683.2A patent/CN118215509A/zh active Pending
  • 2022-10-26 AR ARP220102908A patent/AR127463A1/es unknown
  • 2022-10-26 EP EP22809133.6A patent/EP4422706A1/de active Pending
  • 2022-10-26 JP JP2024525259A patent/JP2024539319A/ja active Pending
  • 2022-10-26 WO PCT/EP2022/079910 patent/WO2023073004A1/fr not_active Ceased

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