ES2878477A1 - Portable equipment for rapid decontamination (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Portable equipment (1) for rapid decontamination, comprising: a tank (6) for storing a decontaminating liquid; a pressure regulated air compressor (12); a portable frame (24), which moves on wheels and supports the tank (6) and the compressor (12); and a device (22) for generating decontaminant mist with manual grip, configured for its connection with a lower end of the tank (6) through a supply line (15) of pressurized decontaminating liquid and for its connection with the compressor (12) through a compressed air supply line (14). The mist generation device 10 (22) comprises means for generating a rotating cone of mist formed by submicron particles of said decontaminating liquid, as well as means (17) for selecting the particle size that alternates between a plurality of corresponding discrete positions. at predetermined particle sizes. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Portable equipment for rapid decontamination

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention belongs to the field of decontamination of interior or exterior spaces by means of conical jet cleaning of decontaminant mist.

The object of the present invention is a rapid decontamination equipment specially designed to be easily transported manually by a single person.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently it is known to use spray nozzles capable of spraying one or more liquids in the form of small particles for various applications such as, among others, extinguishing fires, decontamination tasks, cleaning industrial waste, etc. In particular, the decontamination of public facilities and critical infrastructure has recently acquired tremendous importance due to the situation created globally by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The inventors of the present application discovered that the various known devices for spraying or nebulizing for the purpose of decontamination present different problems. The nozzles normally used for spraying for decontamination were only useful for decontaminating surfaces, since the size of the generated particles was excessively large to produce a relevant decontamination in terms of airborne pollutant particles. Furthermore, said nozzles produce the re-suspension of small and / or light pollutants. Other known nozzles, such as those based on thermal mists, in which the drops move slowly through thermal currents and evaporate slowly, taking several hours to disinfect a room that must also be sealed.

To solve this and other problems associated with conventional nozzles, in the European patent application EP3406317A1 entitled " Method and system for eliminating particles, gases or liquids floating on a if the inventor of the present application proposes a cleaning procedure based on the generation of a rotary fog cone sized submicron. Furthermore, in the European patent application EP3395449A1 entitled "Atomizing nozzle " and in the national patent application ES202030349 entitled " Improved mist injection nozzle ", the inventor of the present application describes two nozzle configurations capable of generating a rotating cone of fog to carry out the above procedure.

Finally, in the patent application ES201731246 entitled " Cleaning system by artificial fog ", the inventor of the present application a system for washing air and surfaces where a single pressurization means is used to pressurize both air and liquid decontaminant. For this, a decontaminant liquid reservoir is arranged in communication with the pressurization means, and pressure regulation valves allow the pressure of the air and the decontaminant liquid that are fed to the nozzle to be controlled independently.

By acting appropriately on said pressure regulating valves, the size of the mist droplet can be modified. Sometimes it is convenient to use a submicron particle size, more efficient for the capture and decontamination of airborne particles whose size is also micro and submicron, such as viruses or COVID19. Additionally, the use of a submicron mist minimizes the amount of decontaminating product required, as well as the evaporation time of the liquid after the decontamination process. Possible damage to objects, materials and surfaces present in the facility to be decontaminated is also reduced. On other occasions, it is necessary to decontaminate especially absorbent surfaces, particularly contaminated, or even dirty, that need a higher dose of decontaminant product, thus requiring larger particle sizes.

As mentioned, to modify the particle size using the system described in document ES201731246, the user must act on the mentioned pressure regulation valves. However, precisely acting on the pressure regulating valves can be difficult for a user who wears protective equipment that normally includes a mask that reduces their visibility and gloves that reduce their sensitivity.

In addition, the mobility needs for the decontamination of interior spaces make the weight and size of the decontamination systems critical. Being able to have all the control elements easily, immediately and accessible by the operator is a necessity in those settings. Again, the fact that the operator must wear protective equipment makes the importance of each gram of weight much greater.

In short, there is currently in the art the need for a portable decontamination system that can be moved in a simpler and more agile way, and that is also controlled in a more convenient way taking into account the reduced capacities of a person wearing a device. protective equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The portable decontamination equipment of the present invention solves the above problems thanks to a specially designed configuration to allow manual transport. This new decontamination equipment can thus be used indoors, and even in rooms or spaces located inside a building.

On the other hand, the inventors have been able to verify in different tests and trials that in the decontamination operation normally only a limited number of types of mist are needed, the possibility of continuous variation of the particle size being not necessary. In view of this, the present invention also has the advantage of having means for modifying particle size that act discretely between various predetermined positions. This allows a user in a protective suit to operate the equipment in a simpler and more convenient way.

The portable equipment of the present invention basically comprises the following elements:

a) Deposit

It is a tank that stores a decontaminating liquid for use in the decontamination of air and surfaces. This tank is made of a mechanically and chemically resistant material, preferably stainless steel, capable of withstanding the pressure to which the decontaminating liquid inside is subjected. The storage volume of the tank will be as high as possible as long as the weight of the assembly is kept within a range that allows a user to transport the assembly manually. For example, the tank can have a volume of between 6-15 liters.

b) Pressure regulated compressor

It is a pressure-regulated air compressor that has the function of supplying compressed air at a constant pressure to the mist generating device described below, so that it can generate a rotating cone of decontamination mist formed by a stream of air that carries particles of decontamination liquid of submicron size. Pressure regulation can be achieved, for example, by means of a frequency converter arranged between the compressor and the electrical supply. The use of a pressure-regulated compressor allows direct air pressure control, avoiding the need to use valves or regulators for this.

In principle, any compressor of suitable power can be used, such as a Kaeser i-Comp 1.5 kW compressor capable of providing pressures of approximately 10-11 bar. This model of compressor has the advantage of not needing a compressed air cylinder, which allows significant savings in weight and volume. In addition, it is free of oil, so it does not contaminate the nebulization. Thus, the air regulation valve and the air cylinder can be eliminated, making the assembly lighter and more manageable.

c) Portable rack

The portable frame supports the tank and the compressor, and is moved on wheels to allow manual transport by a user. It can be, for example, a trolley made up of tubular bars comprising a horizontal base equipped with one or two pairs of wheels on which the compressor and the tank rest. The base can be attached to vertical bars that end in a handle or handle that the user can take to pull the assembly and transport it from one place to another. The assembly consisting of the frame, the compressor and the tank will have such dimensions that it can pass through a door or enter an elevator. For example, it can be approximately 80-90 cm wide, 60-70 cm deep, and 130-140 cm high.

d) Fog generator

It is a hand held decontamination mist generating device. This device is configured for connection to a lower end of the tank through a pressurized decontaminant liquid supply line, and for connection to the compressor through a compressed air supply line. The mist generation device further comprises means for generating a rotating cone of mist formed by submicron particles of said decontaminating liquid.

The mist generating device further comprises a particle size selection means that alternates between a plurality of discrete positions corresponding to predetermined particle sizes. This allows the operator to easily select between different cleaning modes. The particle size selection means will be described in more detail later in this document.

To use the equipment of the invention, it is first necessary to pressurize the decontaminant liquid stored in the reservoir. In principle, this could be done in any way, although according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the equipment's own compressor is used for this. Thus, in this case the compressor is connected to the reservoir through a pressurization line attached to an upper end of said reservoir to pressurize said decontaminant liquid reservoir. This pressurization line can also comprise a pressurization valve and a non-return valve that prevents the liquid from coming to the compressor in the event of an overfilling of the tank and could generate a fault.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower end of the tank is further connected to a fill line comprising a fill valve and a quick connector. Furthermore, the upper end of the tank can be connected to a vent line in communication with the outside provided with a vent valve. As will be described in greater detail later in this document, the fill and vent lines will allow the decontaminant liquid reservoir to be emptied and refilled with a different decontaminant liquid.

According to another preferred embodiment, the connection between the pressurized decontaminant liquid supply line and the compressed air supply line with the device The mist generation system comprises two quick connectors. This allows the mist generation device to be connected to the respective ducts or hoses in a quick and easy way.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the connection between the pressurized decontaminant liquid supply line and the compressed air supply line respectively with the lower end of the tank and with the compressor comprises respective quick connectors. It is thus possible to quickly connect said pipes or hoses to the tank and to the compressor.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the mist generating device is briefly described below, comprising a mist nozzle having a compressed air inlet connected to the compressed air supply line and a pressurized decontaminant liquid inlet connected to the supply line. pressurized decontamination liquid feed. For example, a mist generating nozzle of the type described in the documents EP3395449A1 and P202030349 mentioned above can be used. These nozzles are particularly designed to receive a decontaminant liquid through a rear longitudinal inlet and compressed air through a lateral transverse inlet, mixing both streams inside to generate a rotating cone of mist formed by submicron particles of decontaminating liquid that is emits through an anterior longitudinal outlet.

In principle, the particle size selection means can be implemented in different ways as long as it has several fixed positions that are selected in a simple way even taking into account the loss of sensitivity of a user wearing protective elements such as gloves. , glasses, or other items. Each fixed position can be selected by means of a suitable selector, and corresponds to a given particle size. These positions can be marked on the selection means with labels indicative of the particle size of the mist generated, or by means of indications regarding their preferred use. In this way, it is guaranteed that the equipment works in a predetermined, qualified and certified regime without depending on the skill of the operator. The use of this type of particle size selection means also allows to greatly reduce the weight of the equipment compared to the system described in the application ES201731246 mentioned above.

For example, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the selection means Particle size may comprise a pressurized decontamination liquid feed regulator disposed between the pressurized decontamination liquid inlet of the nozzle and the quick connector. Said regulator has a plurality of predetermined positions corresponding to different degrees of opening. This regulator can be, for example, a stencil or calibrated taper. The pressurized decontamination liquid feed regulator may be provided with a closed position that cuts off the decontamination liquid feed to the nozzle. Alternatively, it may be arranged in series with a valve that only alternates between two positions corresponding to open and close.

The mist generating device preferably further comprises a compressed air supply valve arranged between the compressed air inlet of the nozzle and the quick connector. This valve allows opening and closing the compressed air supply to the nozzle. Along the same lines, between the compressed air inlet of the nozzle and the quick connector, a non-return valve is preferably also arranged.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the mist generating device is configured to be grasped with one hand. For example, the mist generating device may comprise an ergonomically shaped elongated handle. The user can thus comfortably grasp the device with one hand and operate it comfortably with the other hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an equipment according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the equipment according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the mist generating device of the equipment according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a user holding the mist generating device.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

An example of embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to Figs. 1-4 attached.

The portable equipment (1) shown in the figures comprises a 12-liter capacity tank (6) and a 1.5 kW compressor (12) that are coupled to a cart (24) fitted with wheels. The compressor (12) is supported on a base of the trolley (24) formed by a set of tubular bars which, in the natural position of use of the trolley, are essentially horizontal. The tank (6) is fixed to a portion of the cart (24) formed by essentially vertical tubular bars emanating from a rear side of the base of the cart (24). In this example, the fixing is carried out by means of a clamp (25). On said rear side of the trolley base (24) there are also two wheels that allow the equipment (1) to be transported comfortably.

The tank (6) has an inlet / outlet connected to a filling pipe in which a filling valve (5) and a quick connector (4) are arranged. The quick connector (4) can be coupled to a supply pipe (3) at the end of which a funnel (2) is arranged. Thus, to fill the tank (6) starting from an initial state in which it is completely empty, it is only necessary to keep the funnel (2) at a higher height than the upper end of the tank (6) and introduce the decontaminating liquid through funnel (2) until the desired level is reached. To allow the evacuation of the air initially housed in the tank (6), the upper end of the tank (6) also comprises a section of vent pipe that ends open to the environment. This vent pipe has a vent valve (6) which, during the tank filling process, remains open.

The equipment (1) further comprises a pressurization pipe (23) arranged between an outlet of the compressor (12) and the upper end of the tank (6). This pressurization pipe (23) comprises a pressurization valve (9) and a non-return valve (8). In this way, once the tank (6) is full of decontaminating liquid, it is possible to pressurize it with the help of the compressor (12). To do this, firstly all the possible decontaminating liquid outlets from the tank (6) are closed. That is, the filling valve (5), the vent valve (7), and an outlet valve (10) connected to the inlet / outlet of the lower end of the reservoir (6) are closed. Then, the compressor (12) is activated and the pressurization valve (9) is opened until the decontaminating liquid present in the tank (6) has reached a desired pressure, for example 10 bar. Naturally, during the filling process those valves (17, 18) in communication with the other outlet of the compressor (12) and with the outlet of the tank (6) will also be closed. These valves (17, 18) are described in more detail more ahead.

The equipment (1) of the invention also has a device (22) for generating decontaminant mist with manual clamping that can be connected to the tank (6) and to the compressor (12) to receive from the same pressurized air flows and pressurized decontaminant liquid. This mist generation device (22) is shown in detail in Fig. 3 (where some ducts appear disconnected) and Fig. 4 (where it is shown how a user holds it during use). In particular, the mist generation device (22) can be connected to the inlet / outlet of the tank (6) located at its lower end through a decontaminant liquid feed pipe (15) equipped with quick connectors (11a, 11b ) in both extremes. A quick connector (11a) allows the coupling between the decontaminant liquid feed pipe (15) and an outlet pipe of the tank (6) in which the outlet valve (10) is located, while another quick connector (11b ) allows the coupling between the decontaminating liquid feed pipe (15) and the decontaminating liquid inlet of the mist generation device (22). Additionally, the mist generation device (22) can be connected to an outlet of the compressor (12) through a compressed air supply pipe (14) provided with quick connectors (13a, 13b) at both ends. A quick connector (13a) allows the coupling between the compressed air supply pipe (14) and the tank outlet (6), while another quick connector (13b) allows the coupling between the air supply pipe (14) compressed air and the compressed air inlet of the mist generating device (22).

The mist generation device (22) is designed to, from these pressurized flows of decontaminating liquid and air, respectively, generate a rotating cone of mist formed by submicron-sized particles of decontaminating liquid. For this, the decontaminant mist generation device (22) is basically formed by lines of decontaminant liquid and compressed air connected to a mist generation nozzle (21). The mist generating nozzle (21) can be, for example, the nozzle (21) described in any of the European applications EP3395449A1 and P202030349.

More particularly, the decontaminant liquid line of the mist generation device (22) comprises a filter (16) and a regulator (17) for supplying the decontaminant liquid, while the compressed air line of the mist generation device (22) mist comprises a compressed air supply valve (18) and a valve (19) non-return. These valves (17, 18) allow to selectively open or close the flow of air and decontaminating liquid towards the nozzle (21) to selectively modify the characteristics of the emitted decontaminant fog cone. Specifically, by keeping the compressed air supply valve (18) open, an adequate control of the degree of opening of the decontaminant liquid supply regulator (17) allows the particle size emitted to be gradually modified. This regulator (17) has several fixed positions that are selected, for example, by operating a control wheel.

The mist generating device (22) is further configured to be hand held by a user. For this, it has a block (20a) that provides support to the liquid and gas supply lines under pressure of the device (22). From that block (20a) an ergonomic handle (20) designed for manual holding protrudes. The user can thus easily direct the emitted fog cone to the place that is necessary at all times.

Claims (14)

1. Portable equipment (1) for rapid decontamination, comprising: - a tank (6) for storing a decontaminating liquid; - a pressure regulated air compressor (12); - a portable frame (24), which moves on wheels and supports the tank (6) and the compressor (12); Y - a device (22) for generating decontaminant mist with manual grip, configured for its connection with a lower end of the tank (6) through a supply line (15) of pressurized decontaminating liquid and for its connection with the compressor ( 12) through a compressed air supply line (14), where said mist generation device (22) comprises means for generating a rotating cone of mist formed by submicron particles of said decontaminating liquid, and where said device (22 ) fog generation comprises a particle size selection means (17) that alternates between a plurality of discrete positions corresponding to predetermined particle sizes. 2. Portable equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the compressor (12) is connected to the tank (6) through a pressurization line (23) connected to an upper end of said tank (6) to pressurize said reservoir (6) of decontaminating liquid. 3. Portable equipment (1) according to claim 2, wherein the pressurization line (23) comprises a pressurization valve (9) and a non-return valve (8). 4. Portable equipment (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper end of the tank (6) is further connected to a vent line in communication with the outside provided with a vent valve (7). Portable equipment (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower end of the tank (6) is further connected to a filling line comprising a filling valve (5) and a quick connector (4). 6. Portable equipment (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connection between the pressurized decontaminant liquid supply line (15) and the compressed air supply line (14) with the generation device (22) The fog lamp comprises two quick connectors (11b, 13b). 7. Portable equipment (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connection between the pressurized decontaminating liquid supply line (15) and the compressed air supply line (14) respectively with the lower end of the tank ( 6) and with the compressor (12) it comprises respective quick connectors (11a, 13a). 8. Portable equipment (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mist generation device (22) comprises a nebulization nozzle (21) having a compressed air inlet connected to the supply line (14) of compressed air and a pressurized decontaminant liquid inlet connected to the pressurized decontaminant liquid feed line (15). 9. Portable equipment (1) according to claim 8, wherein the particle size selection means (17) comprises a pressurized decontaminant liquid feed regulator arranged between the pressurized decontaminant liquid inlet of the nozzle (21) and the quick connector (11b), said regulator having a plurality of predetermined positions corresponding to different degrees of opening. 10. Portable equipment (1) according to claim 9, wherein the mist generation device (22) further comprises a filter (16) arranged between the pressurized decontaminating liquid inlet of the nozzle (21) and the quick connector ( 11b). 11. Portable equipment (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mist generation device (22) comprises a compressed air supply valve (18) arranged between the compressed air inlet of the nozzle (21) and the quick connector (13b). 12. Portable equipment (1) according to claim 11, wherein the mist generation device (22) further comprises a non-return valve (19) arranged between the compressed air inlet of the nozzle (21) and the quick connector ( 13b). Portable equipment (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mist generating device (22) is configured to be grasped by hand. Portable equipment (1) according to claim 13, wherein the fogging device (22) comprises an elongated ergonomically shaped handle (20).