FR2963826A1 - On-site cleaning and decontamination device for air-conditioning apparatus in building, has suction turbine arranged in manner to allow suction of air and salt water inside bonnet by connection duct - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a bonnet formed by a rigid, three-dimensional and self-supporting external wall. The external wall of the bonnet supports pressurized water injecting nozzles, where the nozzles are located on a side of a heat exchanger in a upstream compartment (31) delimited by the external wall of the bonnet. The nozzles are connected to a pressurized water supply pipe (91). A suction turbine is arranged in a manner to allow suction of air and salt water inside the bonnet by a connection duct (8b). An independent claim is also included for an on-site cleaning and decontamination method for an air-conditioning apparatus.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning and on-site decontamination of air conditioning units and, more specifically, to the internal part of said air conditioning units comprising a heat exchanger. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION These apparatuses comprise a box supporting: at least one heat exchanger, and a turbine vis-à-vis the exchanger, which creates a circulation of air through the exchanger, and the assembly being covered by a cover, and - said cover having air inlet openings, giving access to one side of the exchanger called upstream compartment, and air outlet orifices, on the other side of the exchanger, in a compartment called downstream compartment. There are two types of air conditioning equipment: - equipment with high flow, and - equipment with suction flow. In the high-flow equipment, the turbine is positioned in the upstream compartment, before the exchanger, between the exchanger and the part of the cover comprising said air intake orifices. The air is sucked by said air intake ports and pushed by the turbine through the exchanger, from the upstream compartment into the downstream compartment located on the other side of the exchanger.

In suction flow equipment, the turbine is positioned in the downstream compartment, between the exchanger and the exchanger support box.

Conventionally, so-called "inserted cassette" apparatus or equipment placed on the ground, called "console", are of the high-flow type, while the apparatuses applied against a wall, particularly in height (not laid on the ground), conventionally called wall or surface mounted apparatus, are of the suction flow type. It should be noted here that, from the point of view of health, the equipment with suction flow has a higher risk of contamination in that the turbine is located in the downstream compartment, in which the temperature is different from the outside temperature, either cooled or heated, which generates condensation phenomena on the turbine and increased fixation of dust and pollutants. The current use of air conditioning equipment poses, for many years, difficulties for their cleaning and is a source of significant health risk for the reasons explained below. These air conditioning units, for their part inside buildings, include heat exchangers, also called "evaporators", which work by transferring frigories produced by an outdoor compressor, to the air inside the building. To do this, the exchanger consists of copper tubes carrying a refrigerant liquid during evaporation, absorbing the heat of the external hot air mass which is transmitted to it by thin aluminum plates in large numbers crimped on these tubes, from which it results a cooling of the air. The thin aluminum plates are arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to said tubes and very close to each other to provide a maximum contact surface with the air. The aluminum plates are very thin, with a thickness of the order of a tenth of a millimeter and are spaced from each other by no more than 1 to 3 mm in general. This extreme fineness of the aluminum plates makes them very sensitive to all shocks, touches, friction or simple supports. These accidental or repeated actions have an extremely damaging effect on the performance of the device. Because, when we close the space between the aluminum plates, air circulation and energy transfer are prevented. On the other hand, a heat exchanger is always wet because the air, while cooling, discharges a large amount of water vapor (so-called condensation effect). The air brewing turbine is also always wet. On the other hand, the air entering the air conditioning unit can not be filtered too thin because the air flow rate within the air conditioning unit must be important for its exchange capacity. thermal is important. As a result, fine pollutants are carried and stick inside the spaces between moist aluminum plates, such as pathogens such as yeasts, fungi, bacteria, including staphylococci, streptococci, salmonella, as well as debris, such as pollen, dust, earth, mites, etc. In two years of operation, a modest power evaporator or heat exchanger, normally used in a medium pollution area, can be described as potentially dangerous to health. Indeed, at 8 hours of operation per day for 100 days, an evaporator will have stirred more than 600 000 m3 of air. In an air, even very clean, a quantity of 10-4 g / m3 of contaminants is frequent. These contaminants, smaller than 10 pm, will gradually accumulate in the exchanger and develop a pathogenic population. Techniques are known consisting of spraying fungicidal and bactericidal products on the elements to be cleaned but their effectiveness is questionable and carries a risk of letting escape and spread in the room or around the evaporator pollutants that we seeks to eliminate.

Another method is to disassemble the devices and clean separately the various components, including washing with water and brush. However, in addition to the dangers represented by its operations for operators in direct and permanent contact with pollutants and contaminants, its devices are not designed to be dismantled in this way regularly, without their mechanical and technical reliability being affected. The best technique developed to date is the use of a pressurized jet system directed manually to the elements to be cleaned on site, without dismantling. To do this, it is known in FR 2 908 059, a device for recovering waste water from liquid waste during cleaning air conditioning or aeration devices, using a gutter or trough and a tank recovery of liquid waste washing. However, the device does not create any containment of the equipment, so that projections and contamination may occur to the outside, this especially as the cleaning is carried out using water injection lances and / or high pressure air, handled independently and manually by the cleaning staff. Due to the absence of confinement, it should be observed that the recovery of effluents in said chute is by simple gravitational phenomenon. All aerosol particles, solid or liquid, are released into the atmosphere, which poses a real danger for cleaning staff, not equipped.

The invention proposes to provide a new device for cleaning the inside of air conditioning apparatus, in particular heat exchangers, in which the apparatus to be cleaned is confined so as to protect the personnel involved in the cleaning by means of said apparatus. device, and it confines the waste recovery system resulting from the cleaning of the device, including pollutants and contaminants.

In US 2003/0024552 there is described a cleaning system comprising a confinement cover of the appliance to be cleaned, inside which are arranged rotating water injection nozzles intended to clean the internal part of the appliance. air conditioning, said confinement hood being connected to a central unit comprising, on the one hand, means for generating water under pressure and transfer of said water to said nozzles, and, on the other hand, a filtration tank and wastewater storage resulting from cleaning. The tightness of the containment of the hood on the apparatus is achieved by mechanical fastening means, such as straps, and the recovery of wastewater is by simple gravity flow between the hood arranged in height and said central unit having a reservoir disposed below said hood. In fact, in US 2003/0024552, is injected a mixture of air and hot water produced by a generator, said steam generator, by mixing air and hot water within said hood. It is, in fact, more of a fogger than a steam generator itself. The disadvantage of the device described in US 2003/0024552 is in the relative difficulty of fixing the cover and achieving a complete seal by simple mechanical attachment. Another disadvantage is that the recovery of wastewater by simple gravity flow is relatively slow. Another drawback is that the injection of steam and / or high-pressure water into the apparatus, without any protection of the electrical or electronic elements within said apparatus, constitutes a risk of degradation of the elements in question. . In WO 2010/064924, there is also provided an air conditioner cleaning device comprising a containment cover of the apparatus, by creating a seal between the cover and the wall surface on which the apparatus is applied, and not a seal between the cleaning device and the appliance to be cleaned only. Sealing is created by creating a vacuum between the inside of the containment hood and the outside. This fixing is unreliable because there are often perforations in the wall at this level, allowing the passage of the connecting pipes between the external compressor and the exchanger inside. The disadvantage of this cleaning system is that the cleaning is done by simple circulation of compressed air. The pressurized air injected into the upstream compartment, between the cleaning cap and the exchanger, passes through the exchanger and draws dust into the downstream compartment before being sucked out. In WO 2010/064924, a depression is created between the interior of the cleaning head and the atmosphere external to the cleaning head. On the other hand, the cleaning of the exchanger is done by simple entrainment of the waste resulting from the circulation of air through the exchanger, without creating a vacuum between a downstream compartment and an upstream compartment of the exchanger. In addition, in the absence of any injection of water or steam, it is impossible to take off the contaminants of the type bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms attached to the exchange surfaces of the exchanger and / or the turbine. Another disadvantage results from the fact that the turbine of the air conditioning unit, which is located in the downstream compartment, is not cleaned by the simple flow of air evacuation. It should be noted that, in the usual operation of these devices, the turbine is already subjected to an air flow of 2 to 3,000 m3 / h with speeds of the order of 5 m / s. Therefore, to consider cleaning this type of turbine, it would be necessary to create a flow of air at the turbine very much higher than its operating airflow, which is, in practice, not possible to achieve. Another disadvantage of this device is that it is only applicable on wall devices.

Another disadvantage is that the injection of air is done using lances manually manipulated by a cleaning staff, introduced successively and thus moved progressively through different orifices distributed on the hood of the cleaning device, so as to clean the entire surface of the exchanger, which involves the risk of degradation of the aluminum plates of the exchanger if the air jet under pressure is mis-oriented and deforms said plates and creates clogging spaces between the plates, as previously explained.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved cleaning and decontamination device of the type providing a total containment of the equipment to be cleaned and the recovery of waste to preserve, among others, the cleaning staff, which provides a solution the disadvantages of prior devices.

More particularly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved cleaning system in terms of efficiency and speed of cleaning and decontamination, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, in terms of greater ease and reliability of sealing of the containment of the cleaning and the recovery of the waste.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning and decontamination device which involves the minimum of intervention of the cleaning personnel used and, in particular, a reduced and facilitated intervention for the installation and removal of the containment hood. which will be hereinafter called "cleaning head", as well as for the injection of the cleaning fluid into the containment hood of the device. Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device by injection of water or water vapor to achieve a decontamination, but which allows to preserve the areas of the device containing electronic cards or electrical circuits that could be damaged by contact with water or water vapor.

In this respect, it should be noted that, in cassette-type apparatus inserted in a partition or ceiling, the electronic and electrical circuits are arranged at a central compartment delimited by a bent heat exchanger comprising a plurality of portions. exchangers arranged in a square, as explained hereinafter, with the electric motor of the turbine in said central compartment. On the other hand, in appliances of the wall or console type, in general, the turbine motor, as well as the electronic cards and electrical circuits, are arranged outside, in a lateral compartment, that is to say outside the compartment. central internal exchangers. Another difficulty of cleaning exchangers is that the aluminum plates connecting the tubes and constituting the exchanger, are very thin and fragile and can not undergo any friction, shock or even simple support. These accidental and repeated actions would have an extremely damaging result on the performance of the device, in particular, a deformation at the level of the plates or aluminum fins would reduce or even close the space between them, which would prevent their good ventilation and air circulation through the exchanger, which is a decisive element in the heat transfer performance between the air and the aluminum plate. It will be recalled that these exchangers consist essentially of: a series of very thin aluminum plates, of the order of one-tenth of a millimeter, arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart by 1 to 3 mm, and a series of portions of tubes arranged parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the plates, said tubes being crimped on the plates. The tubes are traversed by a cold or hot fluid vis-à-vis the temperature of the air in contact with the aluminum plates.

The function of aluminum plates is to increase the area of contact with the air to ensure the transfer of calories or frigories of the fluid flowing in the pipes to the ambient air. The aluminum plates are arranged parallel to each other and as close to each other as possible, so as to have as many as possible to have the exchange surface with the most important air, while preserving the circulation of the air between the plates. The present invention provides a cleaning device comprising a cleaning head with a cover coming to cover the heat exchanger to be cleaned, whose operating principle essentially consists of a double circulation of air and water or water vapor, d. on the one hand, and, on the other hand, creating a vacuum, that is to say a pressure differential, between upstream and downstream compartments located respectively on either side of the exchanger . This dual circulation of air and water under pressure aims to improve the efficiency and speed of cleaning. The creation of the pressure differential between the upstream and downstream compartments is essentially performed by an isolation element or mechanical partitioning integrated into the cleaning head. The cleaning, by the circulation of hot water or steam under pressure, allows efficient decontamination of the exchangers. Air circulation has a multiple function. The first function of the air circulation is to create a vacuum inside the hood vis-à-vis the outside atmosphere to achieve sealing of the fastening of the hood on the device itself and not on a partition on which is fixed the apparatus. A second function of the air circulation in the concept of the invention is to be able to create, in combination with said mechanical isolation element, an increased vacuum between the upstream and downstream compartments vis-à-vis the depression between the upstream and outboard compartment. In practice, an increased vacuum is created between the upstream and downstream compartment to increase the efficiency of cleaning the flow flowing through the exchanger, the depression of the upstream compartment vis-à-vis the outside of the external atmosphere having for the sole purpose of sealing the attachment of the cleaning head to the appliance to be cleaned. Another function of the circulation is to rotate the turbine when it is arranged in the downstream internal compartment of a wall unit, this rotation of the turbine being essential for its complete cleaning by water. If the turbine does not rotate, the water will clean only a portion of the blades of the turbine. But, more generally, even in appliances in which the turbine is located in the upstream compartment, the combination of an air circulation and a water circulation, between the fins of the exchanger, has an effect on cleaning in that the circulation of air increases the flow of water through the exchanger. Another function of the circulation is to make it possible to protect, as the case may be, the electrical or electronic equipment situated in the upstream compartment, generally the central compartment of the apparatus of the insertion cassette type, which comprises electrical elements and the motor of the unprotected turbine, as will be explained below. A cleaning and decontamination device, according to the invention, is intended for cleaning an air conditioning unit comprising at least one heat exchanger supported by an internal box. The device comprising a cleaning head essentially comprising a cover comprising bearing edges adapted to follow the contour of a peripheral zone of said support box, so as to confine said air conditioning apparatus by covering said exchanger, said cover supporting air nozzles injection of water, located in an upstream compartment delimited by said cover and a front face of said exchanger and supporting an inner flap adapted to be applied against at least one lower end of said exchanger, thus blocking the communication between said upstream compartment and a compartment downstream delimited by said support box and the opposite face of said exchanger, said cover comprising a connecting pipe cooperating with a suction turbine adapted to suck air and water in said connecting pipe, from a lower opening of said downstream compartment . More specifically, the present invention provides an on-site cleaning and decontamination device for an air conditioning unit comprising at least one heat exchanger and a first air circulation turbine supported by an inner casing, said cleaning and decontamination device comprising a head cleaning device comprising: a cover formed by a self-supporting external wall, at least partly rigid, three-dimensional, in the form of a shell open at least partially on one face, said open face being delimited by support edges of said wall, said bearing edges being able to follow the contour of a peripheral zone of said support box when they are applied against said peripheral zone of said support box, said support edges being preferably equipped with seals, and said outer wall of the hood supporting pressurized water injection nozzles, said injection nozzles being located s on the same side of said exchanger in an upstream compartment between said outer wall of the cover and a front face of said exchanger when said support edges are applied against said peripheral zone of said box, so as to allow water injected under pressure said nozzles passing through said exchanger to access the other side of said exchanger in a downstream compartment delimited by said support box and an opposite face of said exchanger, said nozzles being connected to a pressurized water supply pipe, preferably to from a main tank and using a pump for injecting liquid under pressure, - said outer wall of said cover supporting at least one inner flap constituting a mechanical partitioning element capable of being applied, preferably by pivoting or sliding, against a lower end of said heat exchanger, said inner flap thus blocking communication between said upstream compartment and said downstream compartment, said downstream compartment having a lower opening delimited by said support box, said lower end of the exchanger and said inner flap, when this latter is applied against said lower end of the exchanger, and - said external wall of said cover comprising or cooperating with a connecting conduit adapted to channel air and dirty water and, where appropriate, biologically contaminated, discharged from said downstream compartment by said lower opening after water injection through said exchanger, the device comprising a second suction turbine, arranged to allow the suction of said air and said dirty water inside said cover by said connecting conduit. It is understood that said front face and face opposite to said front face of said exchanger are the faces vis-à-vis the walls of the hood and respectively the support box and, that said front and opposite faces are perpendicular to the plates of said heat exchanger. said nozzles can propel a vertical flat jet passing in the space between two adjacent contiguous vertical plates of said exchanger. More particularly, this device is intended to clean an air conditioning unit fixed on a partition or a ceiling or resting on the ground, and said air conditioning unit cover comprises at least one air intake orifice opposite the upstream compartment and at least one air outlet orifice vis-à-vis the downstream compartment, said cover being fixed on a peripheral zone of said support box and covering said exchanger and said turbine. The expression "lower", "upper", "front" or "rear" is understood in the present description of relative positioning with respect to an operator disposed vis-à-vis the apparatus on site when the edges support of the outer wall of said cleaning head are applied against said peripheral zone of the box of said air conditioning apparatus.

For an air-conditioning unit attached to a partition or a ceiling, the air is sucked in front (in front) of the apparatus and expelled downwards by said first turbine through a lower opening of said downstream compartment, said shutter being a inner flap cooperating with a lower end of the exchanger. On the other hand, for an air conditioning unit resting on the ground, the air is sucked down the apparatus and expelled through an upper opening of the downstream compartment upwards by said first turbine, said flap will be an upper flap cooperating with a upper end of the exchanger.

In all cases, the right and left lateral ends of the longitudinal exchangers are partitioned by the sealed supports preventing any lateral communication between the upstream and downstream compartments. It will be understood that: said cover applied against said box makes it possible to confine the internal atmosphere of the cleaning head and of the inner part of the air conditioning apparatus covered with said cover, with respect to the external atmosphere. - The passage of the water under pressure is in the spaces between the plates of said heat exchanger and the water sprayed against said front face of the heat exchanger is prevented from accessing said suction line and liquid effluent recovery since the upstream compartment other than by accessing the downstream compartment after crossing said exchanger, thanks to said partitioning element. the suction of air through said connecting duct makes it possible to provide a sealed connection by suction of said hood against said peripheral zone of the caisson of the air-conditioning apparatus, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to accelerate the recovery of the liquid effluents through said connecting pipe, and - said inner flap makes it possible to partition the upstream and downstream compartments and thus force the passage of air and water through the exchanger to recover the air and dirty water exclusively through said lower opening through said connecting conduit. The present invention is advantageous in that it allows the cleaning of air conditioning units, without disassembly, which preserves the mechanical or electrical integrity of the various components, on the one hand, and, above all, physical integrity cleaning staff, given the total containment achieved by the cleaning head on the air conditioning unit. The suction of the effluents, for their recovery, allows an instantaneous recycling of accelerated cleaning treatment times. The present invention also provides a method of cleaning the site of the heat exchanger (s) of the cooling apparatus, using a device according to the invention, comprising the following successive steps in which: said support edges delimiting an open face of an outer wall of the cover of a cleaning head are applied against a peripheral zone of said support box so as to achieve the confinement of an inner part of the air conditioning apparatus containing said exchanger covered by the cleaning head, vis-à-vis the outside atmosphere located on the other side of the wall of said cover of the cleaning head, 2) one said one said internal shutter forming mechanical partitioning element against a lower end of the exchanger, moving if necessary said flap, so as to define an upstream compartment between the cleaning head and said exchanger and a downstream compartment between led it caisson support and said exchanger, such as the upstream compartment is completely closed by said inner flap, 3) sucks the air from the inside atmosphere of the cleaning head and the inner part of the air conditioning unit covered with said hood through said connecting duct so as to create a vacuum inside the cleaning head thus creating a tight connection by suction between said support edges and the surface of said peripheral zone of the support box, the air suction is preferably made from a second suction turbine cooperating with the end of said connecting pipe, 4) pressurized water is injected through said exchanger using the nozzles; injection of water supported by said hood, located in said upstream compartment and connected to a pipe for supplying water under pressure, preferably from a main tank and with the aid of an injection pump of pressurized liquid, and the pressurized water passes through a main front face of said exchanger to access the other side of said exchanger in said downstream compartment, preferably said nozzles projecting a flat jet parallel to the plates of said exchanger and between said plates, and 5) recovering the liquid effluents from said downstream compartment through said lower opening defined by said lower end of the exchanger and / or said partitioning element, into said connecting pipe and preferably into a buffer tank at the end of said rigid connecting pipe extended by an effluent recovery pipe ensuring the connection between said connecting pipe and a said buffer tank. More particularly, said hood wall comprises at least one vent opening on said upstream compartment, said vent comprising an adjustable opening and said vent including, if necessary, an external air transfer tube from said vent to said upstream compartment.

It will be understood that the adjustable opening of said vent makes it possible to modulate the vacuum differential between, on the one hand, the vacuum APo between the downstream compartment inside the cleaning head and the outside of the hood and, on the other hand, the PLC depression between said downstream and upstream compartments, given that the exchanger is an at least partial barrier between the two compartments. More particularly, said cover contains probes for measuring pressure inside said upstream and downstream compartments. Advantageously, said vent may be of sufficient size to constitute a inspection hatch inside said opening hood, when said vent is completely open. More particularly, a cleaning method according to the invention comprises the characteristics according to which: in step 3), a low pressure APo is created between the downstream compartment and the atmosphere outside the hood, after step 3) and before or simultaneously in step 4), at least one opening with adjustable opening is opened on the wall of said cover, which furthermore comprises, if necessary, an external air transfer tube from said vent to the upstream compartment, in such a way that to create a low pressure API between the downstream and upstream compartments, lower than said low pressure APo between the downstream compartment and the atmosphere outside the hood, - in step 5), said effluents are recovered in said connecting pipe, creating a suction of a flow of air within said connecting duct, the air suction being made from a second suction turbine cooperating with the end of said connecting duct. "Depression APo between the downstream compartment and the atmospheric pressure outside the hood" means that the pressure of said downstream compartment is lower than the atmospheric pressure outside the hood; and "low pressure API between downstream and upstream compartments" means that the pressure of the downstream compartment is lower than the pressure of the upstream compartment. It is understood that: the low pressure APo between the downstream compartment and the atmosphere outside the hood is sufficient to maintain the attachment and sealing of the hood against said box, the creation of a vacuum API between the two upstream and downstream compartments less than APo is possible due to the implementation of said inner flap, which obstructs the communication between the two compartments other than through said exchanger and the fact that the exchanger is a barrier at least partial air passage between the two compartments, and - because of this depression AP1, between downstream and upstream compartments, creates a flow of air through said exchanger from upstream to downstream, which increases the efficiency of the transfer of water downstream through said exchanger and increases the effectiveness of the washing, and especially accelerates the recovery of liquid effluents at said connecting pipe, this recovery is no longer done by simple gravitational flow, but by suction of these driven by the flow of air thus created. More particularly, the following steps are carried out in which: a low pressure APo is produced between the downstream compartment and the external atmosphere of at least 20 Pa, preferably 20 to 50 Pa, and a low pressure API between the downstream and upstream compartments. at least 10 Pa, preferably from 15 to 30 Pa, in step 4), 100 to 300 l / hr of water are injected at a pressure of 10 to 50 bar, preferably 10 to 25 bar. bars, and - in step 3) and in step 5), a suction of air is created within said connecting duct with an air flow rate of at least 500 m 3 / hr, preferably 500 to 2000 m3 / hr. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning and decontamination device according to the invention further comprises that it comprises a compressed air generator of the compressor type and, preferably, a suitable compressed air tank (s). ) to supply said nozzles with compressed air, and, more preferably, a means for heating water supplying said nozzles.

The sending of compressed air into the nozzles alternately and successively injects pressurized water and compressed air sequentially and continuously through said exchanger to better decolorize the dirt between the plates of said exchanger if necessary. .

The heating means makes it possible to inject hot water, or even water vapor, in order to clean the exchanger more efficiently. In practice, we start by injecting cold water, then increase the temperature gradually to avoid solidifying and fix the waste in the exchanger.

More particularly, the device according to the invention comprises: - a buffer tank capable of collecting and storing the effluents and dirty water coming from said connecting pipe, - preferably, an evacuation pipe connecting said connecting pipe and said buffer tank, a filter capable of cleaning and decontaminating the effluents and dirty water contained in said buffer tank, and a recycling pump capable of transferring the clean water resulting from the filtration of said effluents into said filter, to said main water supply tank. .

A fine-particle filter of not more than 10 microns in size, capable of being cleaned by reverse flow from said main tank at the end of cleaning or, as soon as the clogging of the filter is detected, especially in case increasing the differential of the water pressure between the inlet and the outlet of the filter, in particular a pressure difference greater than 2 bars. In another variant, there is implemented or a disposable cartridge filter so as to eliminate any risk of transmission of contamination within the main reservoir.

More particularly, a cleaning method according to the invention comprises the characteristics according to which: in step 4), said nozzles are supplied with water from a main reservoir, and in step 5 and decontaminates the effluents through a cleaning and decontamination filter, then is recycled, preferably continuously, into said main tank, more preferably, the effluents are recovered from a buffer tank before being sent to said filter and then to the main tank. More particularly, in step 4), cold water is first injected and then the water is heated to a temperature of 60 to 120 ° C. In a preferred embodiment, said nozzles said nozzles are supported by a movable support, integral with the outer wall of the cover and able to be displaced in translation or in rotation, and said nozzles are able to propel a jet of flat water and are arranged to propel a vertical flat water jet once said bearing edges of the outer wall of the hood of said cleaning head are applied against said peripheral zone of the box of said air conditioning apparatus. The flat vertical water jet aims to cross the spaces between the plates of the heat exchanger to clean them and not to create an impact against the fragile plates of the heat exchanger because, in these devices, the liquid transfer tubes The heat exchangers of the exchanger are arranged horizontally, while the aluminum plates are crimped on the tube bundle, arranged vertically, parallel to each other, so that the condensation water can flow gravitarily between the plates. This mobile nozzle support makes it possible to traverse and clean all of said front surface of said exchanger by moving said nozzle support by translation and / or rotation and thus to carry out said cleaning with a relatively small number of nozzles, which requires the implementation of less powerful pumping means under pressure and therefore less bulky. In a particular embodiment of the cleaning method according to the invention, in step 4), pressurized water and compressed air are injected alternately and successively through said exchanger, and / or, finally cleaning, compressed air is injected inside said cleaning head and said inner part of the air conditioning unit to dry with a hand-operated gun by an operator from a inspection door on the wall of said hood.

Advantageously, at least a portion of said outer wall of the cover and at least a portion of said inner flap are displaceable, preferably by pivoting in rotation and / or sliding in translation, so as to allow said cover to be adapted to air conditioning units of different sizes, preferably of different lengths and / or different heights, and / or to facilitate the application of said cover of the cleaning head to said apparatus to be cleaned. More particularly, at least a portion of said outer wall of the cover and / or at least a portion of said flap is (or are) further expandable (s) by sliding in a longitudinal direction of the apparatus to be cleaned, and / or expandable in length so as to adapt the hood to air conditioning units of different dimensions, preferably of different lengths and / or different heights. These embodiments, in which the hood and / or the internal partitioning flap are adaptable in size, are particularly useful for the cleaning heads intended for air conditioning devices fixed on a partition or resting on the ground, the heat exchanger of which is long form. In a first variant embodiment, said cleaning head is adapted to be applied to a wall-mounted air conditioning apparatus in which said exchanger is disposed longitudinally and incorporates a first air circulation turbine disposed in said downstream compartment constituting a compartment. rear, the engine of said first turbine being disposed adjacent in the longitudinal direction XX 'of a first lateral end of the exchanger, characterized in that said outer wall of said cover comprises at least a first portion, preferably an upper portion; able to be pivotally displaced, preferably under the effect of a spring, in a leaktight manner against a part of said peripheral zone of said caisson, and, preferably, a said first outer wall portion, extensible in length in said longitudinal direction XX ', and said outer wall of the cover supports at least one said inner p-pane ivotant adapted to be applied by pivoting in a sealed manner against a said lower end of said exchanger, thus blocking the communication between said upstream compartment disposed on the front of said exchanger and said downstream compartment disposed behind said exchanger when the support edges of said hood are applied against said support box and said inner flap is applied against said lower end of the exchanger, said inner flap being preferably extensible in length and said nozzles are supported by a support movable in longitudinal translation in said upstream compartment on the front said heat exchanger once said cover applied against said support box, and said outer wall of the cover supports a side wall forming a second lateral flap adapted to be moved by sliding and / or pivoting so as to partition said upstream compartment to the lateral end of said adjacent exchanger e to said turbine engine, said turbine engine thus being outside said upstream compartment and said nozzle support being able to be displaced in translation by a second motor, preferably hydraulic or electric, disposed laterally to said second component lateral to the outside of said upstream compartment.

In this embodiment, said downstream compartment comprises a lower opening delimited by said lower end of the exchanger and / or said inner flap, and the other lateral and upper ends of said exchanger are sealingly attached to said box or on integral supports the case of the air conditioning unit. The right and left lateral ends of the longitudinal exchangers are partitioned by the sealed supports preventing any lateral communication between the upstream and downstream compartments, the communication between the upstream and downstream compartments being only at said lower opening.

Said pivotable upper part of the outer wall of the cover facilitates the application of the cleaning head against the device to be cleaned. When said inner flap and said upper outer wall portion are further extensible in length, they allow to adapt the cleaning head on devices of different lengths. Said second flap or side flap further protects the electric motor of the turbine from any contact with the water ejected into the cleaning head. In this type of wall mounted air conditioning units, the turbine engine is disposed laterally to the exchanger, that is to say after said exchanger in the longitudinal direction of said exchanger.

More particularly, the second lateral flap is able to be slidably displaced in the longitudinal direction of said exchanger, to abut against its lateral end, and also in the transverse direction to abut against the wall of the hood and thus laterally partition said exchanger for communication between said upstream and downstream compartments is exclusively at said lower opening. In another embodiment, said second lateral flap comprises a first rigid wall, able to be slidably displaced in the longitudinal direction of the exchanger and having at its free end a relatively flexible part, able to be deformed by folding or curvature. , so as to abut against the lateral end of said exchanger, after sliding in the longitudinal direction of said rigid wall and against the wall of the hood.

More particularly, the second lateral flap comprises a first rigid part capable of sliding longitudinally along a longitudinal wall of said cover, and a second flexible part, fixed to said first rigid part, preferably consisting of a brush, of which one face lateral is able to abut against the lateral end of the exchanger by longitudinal sliding of said second lateral flap. In one embodiment of the cleaning method according to the invention with a cleaning head according to said first variant above, the cleaning of a said wall-mounted air-conditioning unit in which the said exchanger is arranged longitudinally and incorporates a said first turbine in said downstream compartment and, before step 4), creates a flow of air between and within said upstream and downstream compartments by modulated opening of said adjustable opening vent on said outer wall, which allows rotating said first turbine in the downstream compartment and thus complete the concomitant cleaning of said turbine, and, in step 4), moving said nozzles longitudinally in front of said main front face of the exchanger. In a second variant embodiment, said cleaning head is adapted to be applied to an air conditioning apparatus in the form of a cassette inserted into a ceiling or partition in which said exchanger is bent and closed on itself, thus delimiting a compartment central upstream and a peripheral downstream compartment, said upstream compartment incorporating a first turbine engine, characterized in that said wall of said hood supports at least one said inner flap, said inner flap preferably being able to slide or pivot relative to a wall internal supporting it, said inner flap being adapted to be applied against a said lower end and thus block communication between them the communication between said upstream compartment disposed on the front of said exchanger and said downstream compartment disposed behind said exchanger and said nozzles are supported by a mobile support able to be moved in rotation vertical axis in said central upstream compartment of said exchanger, said nozzle support being integral and located above said inner flap, preferably secured to and above said inner wall, said outer wall of the cover having at least one vent with adjustable opening comprising a tube for transferring the outside air from said vent to the upstream compartment, said nozzle support being able to be rotated by a second motor disposed below said inner flap, preferably below said inner wall, supporting said support; nozzle, preferably a second hydraulic motor fed with pressurized water from the same said main tank using the same said pump for injecting water under pressure as said nozzles, said second motor being disposed below said inner flap, preferably below said inner wall (10a), supporting said nozzle support. It is understood that the terms "above" and "below" refer here to a relative position when said outer wall of the cover is applied against said box and that said inner flap partitions from below said central upstream compartment. It is therefore understood that said second motor is thus disposed outside said upstream compartment.

In this embodiment, said downstream compartment comprises a lower opening defined by said lower end of the exchanger and said sliding inner flap, once it is applied against said lower end of the exchanger, and an upper end of said exchanger is sealingly attached to said inner support box of the air conditioner. It is understood that the exchanger "bent and closed on itself" means that it is bent so that its lateral ends are joined end-to-end, one opposite the other, preferably, said exchanger comprising at least 3 bends, so that said vertical front face of the exchanger thus comprises 4 parts delimiting a rectangle or central square in horizontal section, corresponding to said central upstream compartment. Due to the arrangement of the exchanger closed on itself, said main face of the exchanger has a vertical surface closed on itself and it is entirely traversed over its entire surface by the jets of pressurized water injected by said nozzles when said nozzle holder is rotated. In this last embodiment, the creation of an air flow, within the central upstream compartment by modulated opening of said adjustable opening vent, further allows to preserve the contact of the turbine engine of the air conditioning unit. any contact with the water injected into said upstream compartment. In one embodiment of the cleaning method according to the invention with a cleaning head according to the second variant above, the cleaning of a said air conditioning apparatus in the form of cassette inserted in a ceiling or partition in which said heat exchanger is in closed form on itself and incorporates a motor of said first turbine in said upstream compartment, said first turbine having been removed from the air conditioning unit, and, before step 4) creates an air flow between and within said upstream and downstream compartment by modulated opening of said adjustable opening vent on said outer wall and comprising an air transfer tube communicating with the upstream compartment, thereby preserving the contact of the engine of first turbine of the air conditioning unit of any contact with the water injected into said upstream compartment, and, in step 4), the said nozzles are rotated in front of the said face main frontal of the exchanger. In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises a central unit comprising a support frame adapted to be moved on wheels preferably motorized, preferably further equipped with tripod wheels able to climb stairs, said enclosure enclosing a main reservoir for supplying clean washing water, - a water injection pump, - means for heating the water injected by said pump, - a second air suction turbine, - a suitable filter. cleaning and decontaminating the recovered dirty liquid effluents, and preferably a buffer tank capable of storing said effluents upstream of said filter, and preferably a compressed air generator of the compressor and compressed air tank type capable of supplying said nozzles in compressed air, - a power supply battery and / or an electrical connection for the power supply of said pump, turbine, compressor sseur, heater, and displacement motor of the central unit, and - electronic means for controlling and controlling said water injection pumps, said heating means, said second turbine, said air generator compressed according to the data recorded by pressure and preferably temperature probes in said cover, and - said central unit being connected to said connecting pipe of the cleaning head by at least: - a recovery pipe, preferably flexible effluents between the end of said rigid connection pipe of the cleaning head and a said filter or, preferably, a said effluent recovery buffer tank, and - a pressurized water supply pipe connecting said pump injection and said nozzles, and - preferably, a compressed air supply pipe connecting a compressed air reservoir and said nozzles and / or a gun, and - a connection line than electric data transmission and power supply. The power supply line is used to power a geared motor adapted to move said movable supports of said nozzles. Said line of connectors can, in particular, be used to transmit and receive information and data to electronic control and control means of the central unit. It is also mentioned, as data, that the electronic control and control means of the central unit are capable of recognizing which type of cleaning head is connected to the central unit, so as to automatically adapt the flow rate. air intake and therefore the APo and AP1 values, as well as the cycles, the water temperature, among others, depending on the dimensions of the cleaning heads.

Indeed, it is expected to implement several different dimensions of cleaning heads corresponding to different standard dimensions of air conditioning. Said central unit thus fulfills the following functionalities: - generating a water pressure, hot or cold, with variable flow, - generating water vapor under pressure, - developing a suction power of the effluents after washing, - filtering the effluents after washing to recirculate the volume of purified water, after being pressurized and reheated if necessary, - direct connection to the sewer system for the evacuation and water supply network, if necessary, - generate and store air under pressure, - be mobile, easily transportable, especially able to pass through narrow passages, no more than 75 cm wide, - have electronic means capable of managing and programming the different process steps of cleaning. Another function of the central unit is that it can be connected, not to the cleaning head, but to a cleaning cabinet, in which the covers of the air-conditioning units could be cleaned, said cabinet comprising injection nozzles. water under pressure. Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises a mobile support, preferably able to be supported by a frame of said central unit, said mobile support being able to support said cleaning head and said connecting pipe, and said pipe of pressurized water supply, and preferably said compressed air supply pipe, and a so-called line of electrical connections, and a said effluent recovery pipe. It is understood that said movable support makes it possible to support, or even to transport, all the connections and pipes necessary for the transport of hot or cold water and / or the steam or the gas and the return by suction of the effluents and the conducting electricity or other electronic data, for supplying said cleaning head from said central unit. More particularly, said movable support comprises a vertical support column, sliding height-adjustable, said column comprising a lateral arm supporting the cleaning head, said lateral arm being movable in rotation around said column and thus making it possible to operate with the head above a desk or counter, without having to move them to clean a wall mounted air conditioning unit above the desk or counter. Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given in an illustrative and nonlimiting manner, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents a device 1 according to the invention; , comprising a cleaning head 7 supported by a mobile support column 18 and connected to a central control unit 14 for controlling and protecting fluid under pressure, said cleaning head being applied to a wall-mounted air conditioning apparatus; FIG. 1A is a diagram schematizing the operation of a cleaning device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cleaning head 7 of the type intended to be applied to a wall-mounted air-conditioning unit 11, the cover 8 of which is transparent to reveal the constituent elements of the cleaning head; inside the hood. - Figure 2A is a front view of a cleaning head 7 of Figure 1, the cover being shown transparent to allow to see the inside of the cleaning head of Figure 2; - Figure 2B shows a section along AA of Figure 2A; - Figure 2C shows a section along BB of Figure 2B; - Figure 2D is a side view of the second side flap 82 inside the cover 8 of Figures 2A to 2C; - Figure 2E shows a rear view of the cleaning head with the rear face of the box of the air conditioning unit; FIG. 3A represents an axial vertical sectional view of a cleaning head arranged facing each other and ready to be applied to a cassette-type air conditioning apparatus 1 inserted in a ceiling 1c and in which it has previously been removed. said first turbine of the air conditioning apparatus; FIG. 3B represents a view from above of a section AA of FIG. 3A; and - Figure 4 shows a view of the central unit of Figure 1.

FIG. 1 shows a view of a cleaning and decontamination device according to the invention 1 with a cleaning personnel 30, handling a carriage comprising a frame 14a able to be moved on the ground and on stairs by means of tripod wheels 14b.

The frame 14a supports the various components of the central unit 14 for generating pressurized cleaning fluids, store them and transfer them to a cleaning head 7. Among the constituent elements of the central unit that will be described Hereinafter with reference to FIG. 4, there are also elements able to recover and store the effluents and dirty water after washing from the cleaning head. In FIG. 1, the frame 14a supports a support device 18 supporting a cleaning head 7. The cleaning head 7 is applied to a wall-mounted air conditioning apparatus disposed above a cabinet 31 against a vertical partition 1d . The support device 18 consists of a vertical column 18a, integral with the frame 14a. The column 18a is slidable in vertical translation to apply the cleaning head to air conditioning units arranged at different heights. The column 18a comprises an articulated arm 18b able to be displaced in rotation with respect to a vertical axis at the level of the column 18a. The arm 18b comprises two parts 181, 183 hinged about a central axis of rotation 182, the arm 18b comprises, at its distal end, a support 184, adapted to support the cover 8 of the cleaning head 7. The support device 18 also supports the various fluid transfer conduits 91 and 12b and electric energy transfer as well as electronic information 17 between the cleaning head 7 and the appropriate constituent elements 93, 12b, 15 (battery) and 16 of the unit Central 14 described below. In particular, the support column 18 supports two lines 17 of electrical connection and power data transmission to a single quick-connect body 24, on which are also connected the pressurized water supply pipes 91, the conduits pressurized air supply 12b to the nozzles 9 inside the cleaning head. The line of electrical / electronic connections 17 ensures the data transfers between the pressure probes 6 able to determine the pressure inside the cover 8 and the electronic control means 16 of the washing process on the central unit 14. Connector line 17 also provides power to the geared motor 9d included in the cleaning head adapted to move the nozzles 9 in longitudinal translation in the direction XX 'according to the example 1 cleaning head described below.

The support device 18 also supports a conduit 20 ensuring the evacuation of effluents and dirty water and the air sucked into the cleaning head 7 from the connecting pipe 8b opening on a lower face 87 of the cover 8 of the cleaning head, the duct 20 providing the connection at its other end with an effluent storage tank or buffer tank 21 and cooperates with an air suction turbine 11. In the two embodiments below, the cleaning head 7 comprises a cover 8 comprising support edges 8a able to follow the contour of a peripheral zone 5a of said support box 5, so as to confine said air conditioning unit by covering said exchanger, said cover 8 supporting injection nozzles; water 9, located in an upstream compartment 31 defined by said cover 8 and a front face 2a of said exchanger 2 and supporting an inner flap 10 adapted to be applied against at least one lower end 2b of said exchanger, thus blocking the communication between said upstream compartment 31 and a downstream compartment 32 delimited by said support box 5 and the opposite face 2e of said exchanger 2, said cover comprising a connecting pipe 8b cooperating with a suction turbine 11 suitable for sucking air and water into said connecting pipe from a lower opening 33 of said downstream compartment 32. The cover 8, covering the exchanger 2, replaces a set of cover parts (not shown ) of the visible face of the air conditioning unit, which has been previously removed before applying the cover 8 against the casing 5.

Example 1 cleaning head. A first embodiment of a cleaning head applied or intended to be applied to a wall-mounted air conditioning apparatus 1a, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 2E, is described below. This cover 8 comprises a front wall 85 vertical or substantially inclined relative to the vertical, two side walls 83 and 84, an upper wall 86 and a bottom wall 87. The front walls 85, 86 upper and lower 87 extend in the longitudinal direction XX '. The side walls 83 and 84 extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction XX 'of the cleaning head and perpendicular to the wall 1d against which they are applied. Said wall 8 thus forms an open shell with an open rear face 8 'delimited by the various front, upper and lower side walls of the shell 8. The side walls 83 and 84, upper wall 86 and lower wall 87 of the shell 8 comprise support edges applied against a peripheral zone 5a of a support box 5 of the wall-mounted air conditioning unit. This support box 5 supports an exchanger / evaporator 2 of the wall-mounted air conditioning unit 1a on its front face, so that when the cover 8 is applied against the support box 5, the exchanger 2 is confined to The inside of the cover 8. In FIG. 2E, the rear face of the support box 5 is shown which, in reality, is applied against the wall 1d. The rear face of the box 5 comprises an opening 5b through which passes fluid supply pipes of the exchanger 2 through the wall 1d to join a compressor not shown on the other side of the wall 1d. The wall-mounted air conditioning apparatus la comprises an exchanger 2 extending in a longitudinal direction XX '. It is secured to the support box at its longitudinal lateral ends 2d on the one hand and 2f waterproof support on the box 5 at its upper end 2c. It comprises a front end face 2a, facing the front wall 85 and the upper wall 86 and lower wall 87 of the hood, a rear face 2e opposite to the front face 2a, said rear face facing the support box 5. In space 32 contained between the support box 5 and the rear 2nd side of the exchanger 2, the support box 5 also supports a first suction turbine / air discharge 4 of the air conditioning unit.

The lower end 2b of the exchanger is remote from the support box 5, providing a lower opening 33. The cover 8 of the cleaning head 7 comprises an upper flap 81 pivoting about a spring upper hinge 81a integral with the wall 86 upper cover 8, the upper flap 81 has a free longitudinal edge equipped with a seal 8a, constituting the upper bearing edge of the cover against a lateral peripheral zone 5a of the box 5. Similarly, the lower wall 87 and the side walls 83, 84 of the cover each comprise a longitudinal end edge equipped with an elastomeric seal 8a, constituting a bearing edge of the cap abutting against a lower wall of the peripheral zone 5a of the caisson 5. An exhaust duct 8b opens at the bottom wall 87 of the hood. A pivoting inner flap 10 comprises a first rigid portion 10a mounted on a spring hinge 10c at the bottom of the front wall 85 of the hood. Said rigid portion 10a ending in a flexible portion 10b whose free end 10d abuts against the lower end 2b of the exchanger 2 over its entire length when the cover 8 is applied with its support edges and seals 8a sealing against the peripheral zone 5a of the box 5. The inner flap 10 can be moved in rotation relative to its longitudinal hinge 10c by an outer lever (not shown) opening on the front face 85 of the cover and to remove the end 10d of the inner flap 10 of the lower end 2b of the exchanger to allow the application of the cap 8 against the box 5, then release the inner flap 10 so that it comes to abut against the lower end 2b of the exchanger 2, once the cover 8 in place over the exchanger 2 against the box 5. The pivoting of the upper flap 81 of the hood also aims to facilitate the introduction of the hood against the cais its support 5.

The front face 85 of the cover 8 supports a nozzle support 9a disposed between the wall of the cover 8 and the front or front face 2a of the exchanger 2. The nozzle support 9a is arranged vertically and the four nozzles 9 are arranged in a vertical plane below each other, so that the flat jets 9b they propel cover the portion of the surface of the front face 2a of the exchanger vis-à-vis said nozzles over the entire height of said front face. The exchanger 2 comprises vertical plates 22, traversed by horizontal pipes 21 carrying the refrigerant, so that the flat jets 9b, propelled by the nozzles 9, pass through the exchanger between and parallel to these vertical plates 22 and ensure thus cleaning without risk of deterioration of said plates by the force of the jet of water propelled by said nozzles 9. The surface of the front face 2a of the exchanger is cleaned in all its longitudinal direction XX 'because the support of nozzle 9 is moved in longitudinal translation along longitudinal rails 9c by means of a geared motor 9d disposed inside the cover 8 near one of its side walls 84. The cover 8 has a second lateral flap 82, defining a compartment sealed side 88 between said second side flap 82 and one of said side walls 84 of the cover inside which the geared motor 9d and the turbine engine 41 of said first turbine 4 are confined in a relatively tight manner when the nozzles 9 send flat water jets 9b to the exchanger 2. This second lateral flap 82 has a rigid portion 82a mounted 82c on the front wall 85 of the hood 8 , so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction XX ', so that a flexible portion consisting of a brush 82b fixed on said rigid portion 82a can abut against a side wall 2d at the longitudinal end of the exchanger 2 to define said sealed compartment 88. The sliding, in the longitudinal direction XX 'of the second side flap 82, is advantageous when it is to be possible to apply the same cleaning head 7 to air conditioners whose exchanger comprises a different length. in the longitudinal direction XX '. The free end of the brush constituting the flexible part 82b of the lateral wall 82 also bears against the lateral peripheral zone 5a of the box 5.

When the second lateral flap 82 includes translational sliding means 82c against the wall 85, it is also provided that the inner flap 10 is itself extendable longitudinally so as to close the upstream compartment 32 delimited inter alia by said inner flap 10 and said second lateral flap 82.

Once the support edges 8a of the upper flap 81 of the bottom wall 8c and the support edges of a side wall 87, applied against the peripheral zone 5a of the caisson 5 and the flexible brush portion 82b of the second lateral flap 82 applied against the side wall 2d of the exchanger 2, and the inner louver 10 applied against the lower end 2b of the exchanger 2, the inside of the hood is partitioned in the following manner with: - an upstream compartment 31 delimited by the front face 2a of the exchanger 2, the upper thief 81, the upper wall 86, the front wall 85, the inner louver 10, a side wall 83 of the hood and the second inner side flap 82 of the hood, and - A downstream compartment 32, delimited by the rear face 2e of the exchanger 2 and the support box 5, said downstream compartment 32 containing within it said first turbine 4 of the air conditioner, the downstream compartment 32 has a lower opening 33 arranged between the box support 5 and the inner flap 10. The connecting duct 8b opens into the cover 8 vis-à-vis this lower opening 33. Thus, when propelling water under pressure through the nozzles 9 in the upstream compartment 31 and, when implementing at the end of a conduit 20 connected to the connecting conduit 8b a second suction turbine 11 adapted to suck the air and water contained in the compartment downstream 32, the lateral partitioning through the second side flap 82a and lower partitioning through the inner flap 10 separating the upstream compartments 31 and downstream compartments 32, allow to force all the water propelled by the nozzles 9 to cross the exchanger 2 between its front face 2a and its rear face 2e for optimum cleaning of the interstices between the plates 22 of said heat exchanger 2. In this way, the inside of the hood is completely confined so that all the contaminated effluents, resulting from the net cleaning the exchanger 2 by the flat jets 9b, are well discharged through the lower connecting pipe 8b. The partitioning of said upstream compartment 31 also makes it possible to create a sealed connection by suction between the support and seal edges 8a of the cover 8 against the box 5 when suction is applied through the lower connecting pipe 8b, to using the second turbine 11. The sealed connection by suction here to achieve the fixing of the cleaning head 7 on the box 5 and the total containment of pollutants recovered during cleaning.

In the first embodiment described above, the first turbine 4 has the function of sucking the outside air and propelling it through said exchanger of the air conditioning unit to cool or reheat it. When cleaning said exchanger, the water and, if appropriate, the air propelled by the nozzles 9 and the suction implemented in the lower connecting duct 8b, allow to drive in rotation said first turbine 4 and allow its cleaning concomitant with that of said exchanger. In this type of wall unit, the first turbine 4 is dirty because it sucks air loaded with moisture and pollutants. That is why it is advantageous to be able to maintain and clean the first turbine in the downstream compartment 32 for a wall unit. Example 2 cleaning head. A second embodiment of a cleaning head according to the invention is described below, applied to a cassette-type air conditioning apparatus 1b, inserted in a ceiling 1c, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In this type of air conditioning apparatus in the form of cassette, the exchanger 2 has, in bent form closed on itself, as shown in Figure 3B.

In this embodiment, the support box 5 is of parallelepipedal shape with a lower open face. The box 5 supports, at its upper wall 5c a motor of said first turbine 41. This box 5 is sealed at its side wall 5d and top wall 5c In this type of air conditioning unit lb in the form of cassette inserted in a ceiling, the exchanger 2 comprises four parts 23, 24, 25, 26 facing each other in pairs, delimiting a parallelepipedal internal space with an open bottom face and a closed upper face constituted by the upper wall 5c of the parallelepiped box 5 The upper ends 2c of the exchanger in these four parts form substantially a square in horizontal section, are fixed on the upper wall 5c of the parallelepiped box 5. The four parts 23 to 26 of the exchanger are separated by three bends 2f.

The outer wall of the shell-shaped cover 8 delimits an open upper face 8 '. The wall of the cover 8 comprises peripheral support edges equipped with a seal 8a bearing on the lower peripheral edge 5a of the side walls 5d of the box 5. The cleaning nozzles 9 and nozzle holder 9a supported by the hood 8 are housed in the inner compartment thus constituting a central upstream compartment 31 in the parallelepipedal space delimited by the four faces 2a of the four parts 23 to 26 of the bent heat exchanger 2. The external faces 2e of the four parts 23, 24, 25, 26 delimit with the side walls 5d of the box 5, an outer compartment constituting a downstream compartment 32. The downstream compartment 32 comprises a peripheral lower opening 33 delimited by the lower ends 5a of the peripheral side walls 5d of the box 5 and the lower ends 2b of the exchanger 2 in these four parts 23, 24, 25, 26.

When this air conditioning unit lb operates in air conditioning, the first turbine 41 inside the central compartment 31 sucks in the outside air and propels it from said central compartment 31 to the lower peripheral opening 33. The air in the room is located thus cooled or heated by passing through the vertical plates 22 of the exchanger 2. In this second embodiment of cleaning head according to the invention, the lower outer wall of the cover 8 also opens on a lower connecting pipe 8b. On the other hand, this outer wall 8 of the cover supports a horizontal inner wall 10a parallel to the open face 8 'of the cap delimited by the peripheral support edges 8a of the cover.

This inner wall 10a supports a horizontal peripheral inner flap 10, preferably slidable, so as to be applied against the lower ends 2b of the different parts 23, 24, 25, 26 of the exchanger 2 without obstructing said lower opening 33 device so as to form an upstream compartment 31 closed. The inner wall 10a supports the nozzle support 9a, itself supporting a plurality of nozzles (here eight nozzles 9) on two vertical branches 9a1, 9a2 each carrying four nozzles 9 arranged vertically one below the other, the two branches 9a1 and 9a2 being arranged symmetrically opposite two exchanger parts 23, 25, arranged parallel to each other. The nozzle support 9a is adapted to be rotated by a hydraulic motor 9d, supplied with pressurized water by the pipe 91, from the main tank 92 by means of the injection pump 93 as said nozzles 9. The second motor 9d is itself also supported by the inner wall 10a but disposed below it. By rotation of the nozzle support 9a, the main internal end faces 2a of the four parts 23, 24, 25, 26 of the exchanger 2 are sprayed by flat jets 9b thus traversing the entire internal surface 2a of said exchanger 2. In this second embodiment, the inner wall 10a also supports transfer tubes 8d opening into the upstream compartment 31 at one end and cooperating at their other end with vents 8c with adjustable opening opening to the outside 34 of the cover. Thus, when the air is drawn through the connecting pipe 8b, by adjusting the opening of the vents 8c, a flow of air is created in the upstream compartment 31 which protects the motor 41 of the first turbine 4 of the air conditioning unit by avoiding that the flat water jets 9b moisten the engine 41.

The transfer tubes 8d make it possible to transfer the outside air 34 directly to the upstream compartment 31 without the risk of being diverted towards the downstream external compartment 32, which contributes to forcing the air and the water of the flat jets 9b to cross. the exchanger from the upstream compartment 31 to the downstream compartment 32 before passing through the lower opening 33 and being sucked into the lower connecting pipe 8b by using a second suction turbine 11 to level of the central unit 14. Note that in this second embodiment, it removes preferably said first suction turbine of the air conditioning unit inside the upstream compartment 31 before inserting the cover 8 and the nozzle holder 9a. In this type of air conditioning apparatus lb, said first turbine is generally clean because it is located upstream of the exchanger and brews a non-humidified air and not loaded with pollutants. The removal of the first turbine 41 within the upstream compartment 31 of the cassette-type apparatus 1b is therefore not a disadvantage. Example 3 of washing process. In the two embodiments above the cleaning head, initially, when the air is sucked into the interior of the cover 8, the opening of the vents 8c is adjusted at the top wall 86 of the hood 8, so as to achieve a depression AP6 between the downstream compartment 32 and the outside atmosphere 34, of at least 20 Pa, preferably 20 to 50 Pa and a depression AP1 between the downstream compartment 32 and upstream compartment 31, d at least 10 Pa, preferably from 15 to 30 Pa. Then, to carry out the cleaning of the exchanger 2, 100 to 300 l / h of water are injected with a pressure of 10 to 50 bars (1 to 5 MPa), preferably 10 to 25 bar through the nozzles 9 and there is created, concomitantly an air intake within the connecting pipe 8b, corresponding to an air flow rate of at least 500 m3 / h, preferably 500 to 2000 m3 / h. Preferably, in the embodiment of Example 1, the cover 8 comprises transparent opening 8e doors, for visual inspection or manual intervention when it is necessary. In all cases also, the quick connection system 24 is self-sealing type for fluid supplies and withdrawable for the electrical part.

The pressure sensors 6 measure the depressions APo and AP1 in each of the two upstream compartments 31 and downstream 32. The probes 6 make it possible to record the pressure and possibly also the temperature inside the cover 8. As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1A and, in connection with the different elements constituting the central unit described in FIG. 4, a method of implementing the cleaning and decontamination device according to the invention comprises the following steps: 1) on-site displacement of the central unit 14 on its carriage 14a with the column of the support device 18 and connection of the various pumps, compressors, turbines and control and control devices on the power supply 15, 2) disconnection of the power supply of the air conditioner 1a, 1b , 3) removal of the cover of the air conditioner and installation of the cover 8 on the box 5 of the air conditioning unit 1a, 1b, so as to confine the air conditioner n with the cleaning head 7, and 4) connection of the various fluid and energy transfer lines between the central unit and the cleaning head, namely: - the pressurized water supply line 91 between a pump 93 for transferring the water from the tank 92 under pressure to the cleaning head and supplying the nozzles 9, - a compressed air supply pipe 12b from a storage tank 12a downstream of a compressor 12 supported by the frame 14a, - a line of connectors 17 bringing the power supply of the geared motor 9d and the transmission of the data provided by the probes 6 between the cleaning head 7 and the electronic control and control element 16 of the cycle washing, - a discharge pipe 20 waste water and air from the lower connecting duct 8b of the cover 8 to a wastewater storage tank 21 by passing through a second water / air suction turbine 11, 5) implementation aspiration route and verification of depressions APo and AP1 between the two upstream compartments 31 and downstream compartments 32 by adjusting the openings of the vents 8c, 6) starting a cleaning cycle using the control and control means 16 of the central unit 14, 7) including, where appropriate, recycling steps of the wastewater using a recycling pump 191 towards a filter 19 before being reintroduced into the tank of supply of clean water 92, 8) if necessary, emptying of the wastewater tank by means of a drain pump 21a towards a sewer 23, where appropriate, via an evacuation tank 22, and 9) launching a drying cycle using compressed air delivered via the compressed air supply duct either directly at the nozzles 9, or via a gun manipulated by the operator 30 at the 8th visit hatches. During the cleaning step, the nozzles 9 can be supplied with a mixture of water and compressed air and, preferably, the water is heated by means of a heating device 13 at the level of the tank. 92, preferably at a temperature of at least 60 ° C and, if necessary, to vaporize at more than 90 ° C, especially 60 to 120 ° C. The jet nozzles 9b achieve an angular projection of about 40 °, corresponding to a water consumption of about 5 I / min. The air / water suction turbine 11 produces an air flow rate of 500 to 2,000 m3 / h with an engine with a power of 2 to 3 Kwatts. The pressurized water supply pump is capable of supplying the nozzles with a flow rate of 100 to 300 l / h of water at a pressure of 10 to 50 bar with a power motor of approximately 1 Kwatt. The compressed air compressor 12 is able to feed the nozzles so as to make a hot air / water mixture in the washing nozzles 9 and allowing the drying of the air conditioner at the end of the cycle, the air being injected at a pressure of 5 to 10 bars from an intermediate storage tank 12a of 20 to 30 liters, the power of the compressor being about 1 kwatt. The waste water tanks 21 each represent a volume of 20 to 50 liters.

The electronic control and control means 16 make it possible to manage the conditions for implementing the different steps as a function of the values of the vacuum APo and AP1 and the number of recycling of the volume of water.

Finally, the device according to the invention may also comprise an annex unit 26 for washing the lids and grilles of the air conditioning apparatus comprising an enclosure 25 constituting a watertight enclosure, enclosing baskets in which said lids can be placed. and grids, said baskets being movable, especially in rotation, to facilitate the cleaning of the objects they contain. Said chamber 25 may contain nozzles which may be oriented to a clean water supply tank 251, a circulation pump 252 between the tank 251 and the adjustable nozzles, a wastewater collection tank 253, a drain pump 254 and, optionally, additional heating means 255 for heating the feed water of the tank of clean water 251. Said enclosure 25 is advantageously mobile and easily transportable. In another embodiment, the enclosure 25 will not have its own management and programming system but will be connected to the water supply tanks 93 and sewage supply tanks 21 and the pumps 93, heating means 13 and emptying pump 21 of the central unit 14.

Advantageously, the clean water tank 92 may represent, when there is a smaller volume of only 10 to 20 I. In this case, the recycling will have to be more frequent or faster from the wastewater tank 21.

Claims (15)

REVENDICATIONS1. Device for cleaning and decontamination (1) on the site of an air conditioning unit (1a, 1b) comprising at least one heat exchanger (2) and a first air circulation turbine (4) supported by an internal box (5), said cleaning and decontamination device comprising a cleaning head (7) comprising: - a cover (8) formed by a self-supporting external wall, at least partly rigid, three-dimensional, in the form of a shell open at least partially on one face, said open face (8 ') being delimited by support edges (8a) of said wall, said support edges being able to follow the contour of a peripheral zone (5a) of said support box (5) when they are applied against said peripheral zone (5a) of said support box (5), said support edges (8a) being preferably equipped with seals, and said outer wall of the cover (8) supporting the nozzles injection (9) of water under pressure, said injector nozzles ction being located on the same side of said exchanger (2) in an upstream compartment (31) delimited by said outer wall of the cover (8) and a front face (2a) of said exchanger (2), when said support edges ( 8a) of the hood wall (8) are applied against said peripheral zone (5a) of said box, so as to allow the water injected under pressure by said nozzles to pass through said exchanger (2) to access the other side said exchanger in a downstream compartment (32) delimited by said support box (5) and an opposite face (2e) of said exchanger (2), said nozzles (9) being connected to a feed pipe (91) in pressurized water , preferably from a main tank (92) and with the aid of a pressurized liquid injection pump (93), and - said outer wall of said cover (8) supporting at least one inner flap ( 10) constituting a mechanical partitioning element capable of being applied, preferably by pivot or sliding, against a lower end (2b) of said exchanger, said inner flap (10) thus blocking the communication between said upstream compartment (31) and said downstream compartment (32), said downstream compartment having a lower opening (33) delimited by said support box (5), said lower end (2b) of the exchanger and said inner flap (10), when it is applied against said lower end (2b) of the exchanger, and - said outer wall of said cover (8) comprising or cooperating with a connecting pipe (8b) adapted to channel the air and the dirty water, if necessary biologically contaminated, discharged from said downstream compartment (32) by said lower opening (33), after injection water through said exchanger, the device comprising a second suction turbine (11), arranged to allow the suction of said air and said dirty water inside said cover (8) by said conduit li aison (8b). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said wall of the cover (8) comprises at least one vent (8c) opening on said upstream compartment (31), said vent (8c) comprising an adjustable opening and said vent (8c). ) including, if necessary, a transfer tube (8d) of the outside air from said vent to said upstream compartment (31). 3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a compressed air generator (12) of the compressor type and, preferably, a compressed air reservoir (12a) suitable for ) to supply said nozzles (9) with compressed air and, more preferably, a means (13) for heating the water supplying said nozzles. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises: - a buffer tank (21) adapted to collect and store the effluents and dirty water from said connecting pipe (8b), preferably an evacuation pipe (20) connecting said connecting pipe (8b) and said buffer tank (21), - a filter (19) suitable for cleaning and decontaminating the effluents and dirty water contained in said buffer tank, and - a recycling pump (191) adapted to transfer the clean water resulting from the filtration of said effluent in said filter, to said main water supply tank (92). 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said nozzles (9) are supported by a movable support (9a), integral with the outer wall of the cover (8) and able to be moved in translation or in rotation, and said nozzles are able to propel a flat water jet (9b) and are arranged to propel a flat vertical water jet once said support edges (8a) of the outer wall of the hood of said cleaning head are applied against said peripheral zone of the box of said air conditioning apparatus. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least a portion (81) of said outer wall of the cover (8) and at least a portion of said inner flap (10) are able to be displaced preferably by rotational pivoting and / or translational sliding, so as to make it possible to adapt said hood to air conditioning units of different dimensions, preferably of different lengths and / or different heights, and / or so as to facilitate the application of said cover (8) of the cleaning head (7) to said cleaning device (1). 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said cleaning head (7) is adapted to be applied on a wall mounted air conditioning apparatus (la) wherein said exchanger (2, 21) is disposed longitudinally and incorporates a first air circulation turbine (4) disposed in said downstream compartment (32) constituting a rear compartment, the motor (41) of said first turbine being disposed alongside in the longitudinal direction (XX ') of a first lateral end (2d) of the exchanger (2), characterized in that said outer wall of said cover (8) comprises at least a first part, preferably an upper part (81), able to be displaced by pivoting, of preferably under the effect of a spring (81a), sealingly against a portion of said peripheral zone of said box (5), and, preferably, a said first portion (81) of outer wall (8), extensible in length in said direction lon longitudinal (XX '), and said outer wall of the cover (8) supports at least one said pivoting inner flap (10) adapted to be applied by pivoting sealingly against a said lower end (2b) of said exchanger, thus blocking the communication between said upstream compartment disposed on the front of said exchanger and said downstream compartment disposed behind said exchanger when the bearing edges (8a) of said cover are applied against said support box (5) and said inner louver (10) is applied against said lower end (2b) of the exchanger, said inner flap being preferably extensible in length, and said nozzles (9) are supported by a movable support (9a) in longitudinal translation (9c) in said upstream compartment on the front said heat exchanger once said cover applied against said support box, and said outer wall of the cover (8) supports a side wall forming a second lateral flap (82) adapted to be moved by sliding and / or pivoting so as to partition said upstream compartment (31) at the lateral end (2d) of said exchanger adjacent to said turbine engine (41), said turbine engine (41) thus being located at outside said upstream compartment (31), said nozzle supports (9a and 9c) being able to be displaced in translation by a second motor (9d), preferably electric or hydraulic, arranged laterally to said second lateral flap (82) at outside said upstream compartment (31). 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said second lateral flap (82) comprises a first rigid portion (82a) capable of sliding longitudinally (82c) along a longitudinal wall (85) of said cover (8), and a second flexible portion (82b) attached to said first rigid portion (82a), preferably consisting of a brush, a side face of which is adapted to abut against the lateral end (2d) of the exchanger by longitudinal sliding of said second lateral flap (82). 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said cleaning head (7) is adapted to be applied to an air conditioning apparatus in the form of cassette (lb) inserted into a ceiling or partition (1c) wherein said exchanger (2) is bent (2f) and closed on itself, thus delimiting a central upstream compartment (31) and a peripheral downstream compartment (32), said upstream compartment incorporating a first turbine engine (41), characterized in that said wall of said cover (8) supports at least one said inner flap (10), preferably said inner flap being able to slide or pivot relative to an inner wall (10a) supporting said inner flap, said inner flap being capable of being applied against a said lower end (2b) of the said exchanger (2) and thus blocking the communication between the said upstream compartment (31) disposed on the front (2a) of the said exchanger and the said downstream compartment (32) placed behind ( 2nd) said exchanger and said nozzles (9) are supported by a movable support (9a) adapted to be displaced in vertical axial rotation in said central upstream compartment of said exchanger, said nozzle support (9a) being integral and situated above said internal shutter (10), preferably secured to and above said inner wall (10a), said outer wall of the hood (8) having at least one vent (8c) with adjustable opening comprising a transfer tube (8d) air outside from said vent to the upstream compartment (31), said nozzle support (9a) being adapted to be rotated by a second motor (9d), preferably a second hydraulic motor supplied with water under pressure from the same said main tank (92) using the same said injection pump (93) as said nozzles, said second motor (9d) being disposed below said inner flap (10), preferably below said inner wall (10a), supporting said nozzle support. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a central unit (14) comprising a support frame (14a) adapted to be moved on wheels (14b) preferably motorized (14c), preferably still equipped with tripod wheels suitable for climbing stairs, said enclosure enclosing: a main reservoir (92) for supplying clean washing water, - a water injection pump (93), heating means ( 13) of the water injected by said pump, - a second air suction turbine (11), - a filter (19) suitable for cleaning and decontaminating the recovered dirty liquid effluents, and preferably a buffer tank ( 21) adapted to store said effluent upstream of said filter, and 15 - preferably a compressed air generator of the compressor type (12) and compressed air reservoir (12a) adapted to supply said nozzles with compressed air, - a battery power supply and / or an electrical connection (15, 151, 152, 153) allowing the power supply 20 of said pump, turbine, compressor, heater, and displacement motor of the central unit (14), and - electronic control and control means (16) said water injection pumps (93), said heating means, said second turbine (11), said compressed air generator (12) as a function of the data recorded by probes (6) of said pressure and, preferably, temperature in said hood, and said central unit (14) being connected to said connecting pipe (8b) of the cleaning head (7) by at least: a recovery pipe, preferably flexible (20) effluents between the end of said rigid connecting pipe (8b) of the cleaning head (7) and a said filter (19) or, preferably, a said effluent recovery buffer tank (21) ( 19), and a pressurized water supply pipe (91) connecting said injection pump (9 3) and said nozzles (9), and preferably a compressed air supply pipe (12b) connecting a compressed air reservoir (12a) and said nozzles and / or a gun, and a line (17). ) of electrical connection of data transmission and power supply. 11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a movable support (18), preferably adapted to be supported by a frame (14a) of said central unit (14), said movable support (18) being adapted to support said cleaning head (7) and said connecting pipe (8b), and said supply pipe (91) with pressurized water, and preferably said compressed air supply pipe (12b ), and a said line of electrical connections (17), and a said recovery pipe (20) effluents. 12. A method of cleaning the site of the heat exchanger (s) of the air conditioning apparatus, using a device according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the following successive steps in which: 1 said bearing edges (8a) delimiting a partially open face (8 ') of an outer wall of the cover (8) of a cleaning head are applied against a peripheral zone of said support box so as to carry out the confinement an inner part of the air-conditioning unit (1) containing said exchanger covered by the cleaning head (7), vis-à-vis the external atmosphere (34) located on the other side of the wall of the cover (8) of the cleaning head, 2) a said internal shutter (10) forming a mechanical partitioning element is applied against a lower end (2b) of the exchanger, by displacing the shutter if necessary, so as to delimit a compartment upstream (31) between the cleaning head and said exchange ur and a downstream compartment (32) between said support box (5) and said exchanger (2), such that the upstream compartment is completely enclosed by said inner flap (10), 3) the air is sucked up from the inside atmosphere the cleaning head and the inner part of the air-conditioning unit covered with said cover via said connecting duct (8b) so as to create a depression inside the cleaning head thus creating a tight connection by suction between said support edges (8a) and the surface of said peripheral zone (5a) of the support box, the air suction being preferably from a second suction turbine (11) cooperating with the end of said connecting duct (8a), 4) water is injected under pressure through said exchanger using the injection nozzles (9) of water supported by said cover (8), located in said upstream compartment (31) and connected to a supply pipe (91) in water under preferably from a main reservoir (92) and a pressurized liquid injection pump (93), and the pressurized water passes through a main end face (2a) of said exchanger to access the other side of said exchanger in said downstream compartment (32), preferably said nozzles (9) projecting a flat jet (9a) parallel to the plates (23) of said exchanger and between said plates, and 5) recovering the liquid effluents from said downstream compartment (32) through said lower opening (33) delimited by said lower end (2b) of the exchanger and / or said partitioning element, into said connecting pipe (8b) and preferably into a buffer tank (21) at the end of said rigid connecting pipe (8b) extended by an effluent collection pipe (20) ensuring the connection between said connecting pipe (8b) and a said buffer tank (21). 13. The method of claim 12, characterized in that - in step 3), creates a vacuum (OPo) between the downstream compartment (32) and the atmosphere outside the hood (34), - after the step 3) and before or simultaneously with step 4), at least one opening (8c) with adjustable opening is opened on the wall of said cover (8) further comprising, if necessary, a transfer tube (8d) of the outside air from said vent to the upstream compartment (31), so as to create a vacuum (AP1) between the downstream compartments (32) and upstream (31), lower than said depression (APo) between the downstream compartment and the outside atmosphere (34) to the hood, and - in step 5), said effluent is recovered in said connecting pipe (8b) by creating a suction of an air flow within a said connecting pipe (8b) , the air being sucked from a second suction turbine (11) cooperating with the end of said connecting pipe (8b). 14. Method according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that: - in step 4), said water nozzles are fed from a main tank (91), and - in step 5 ), the effluents are cleaned and decontaminated through a filter (19) for cleaning and decontamination, and then recycled, preferably continuously, into said main reservoir (91), more preferably, the effluents from a reservoir are recovered. buffer (191) before sending them into said filter (19) and then into the main tank (91). 15. Method according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that, in step 4), alternately and successively injected water under pressure and compressed air through said exchanger, and / or at the end of cleaning, compressed air is injected into the interior of said cleaning head (7) and said inner part of the air conditioning unit (1) to dry with a hand-operated gun by an operator ( 30) from a inspection hatch (8e) on the wall of said hood.