FR3037501B1 - SYSTEM FOR DISINFECTING AN OBJECT, IN PARTICULAR A HELMET AND PARTICULARLY A MOTORCYCLE HELMET. - Google Patents

Abstract

System 10 for disinfecting an object, in particular a motorcycle helmet 11, characterized in that it comprises: an enclosure 12 for accommodating said object; and means 13-16, 19 for circulating a flow of ozone in said enclosure; the flow rate of said stream being at least equal to one hundred milligrams of ozone per hour and per liter of enclosure volume, preferably greater than one hundred and ten milligrams per hour and per liter of enclosure volume. This system is particularly advantageous because it is rapidly effective and uses ozone alone, without other liquid or sprayed product.

Description

The present invention relates mainly to the field of machines for disinfecting, especially machines not using water.

Motorcycle helmets, especially, are worn daily by their users, and often lent without being regularly disinfected. They are therefore the nest of many bacteria. However, because of its configuration and the materials that compose it, such a helmet can not be disinfected by traditional means, including using water and detergents, except by separating the various elements constituting the helmet.

There are helmets with removable covers. Boxes diffusing ozone supplemented with silver nanoparticles are generally used to eliminate the bacteria responsible for unpleasant odors in shoes; the well known "Steril-Rex Sanitizer" brand box is well known. However, these boxes are of limited effectiveness. In particular, it takes at least 6 minutes to simply eliminate odors. In addition, such a machine requires the use of silver nanoparticles. The invention aims to provide a system for more efficient disinfection, especially faster and does not impose the use of silver nanoparticles.

According to the invention, such a system for disinfecting an object dry, in particular for cleaning a helmet and particularly a motorcycle helmet, is characterized in that it comprises: - an enclosure for housing said object; and, means for circulating a flow of ozone in said enclosure; the ozone output supplied, in established operation, being at least equal to fifty milligrams of ozone per hour and per liter of enclosure volume, preferably greater than fifty-five milligrams per hour and per liter of enclosure volume . Even more preferably, the ozone output provided, in operation, is at least equal to sixty milligrams of ozone per hour and per liter of enclosure volume.

The volume of the enclosure may be less than one hundred and twenty-five liters. In particular for receiving a motorcycle helmet, the volume of the enclosure is preferably between fifty-five and sixty-five liters.

According to a first embodiment, the enclosure comprises an air inlet for air coming from the outside and means for producing ozone from this outside air, before its introduction into the interior of the room. said enclosure.

According to a second embodiment, the system according to the invention comprises circuit means, preferably closed circuit means, for the air in the enclosure. Preferably, these circuit means comprise: at least one air intake opening; at least one air injection orifice; a pipe formed between the setting orifice and the injection orifice; means for driving air into the pipe; - means for producing corona ozone, disposed in the pipe.

The means for producing ozone advantageously comprise ceramic electrodes.

The system may also include an outlet for air from within the enclosure, said outlet including filter means for limiting ozone discharge to the outside.

Preferably, the system comprises counting means for preventing its use when the ozone generating means or filter means are to be replaced.

Advantageously, the enclosure comprises a grid for supporting the object. The grid may also be arranged to prevent the user from accessing the means for producing ozone, in particular the closed circuit means, when these are located in the lower part of the enclosure.

The term air is used in a broad sense, its composition changing, especially because of the production of ozone from the air surrounding the disinfection system.

Several embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment for a system of disinfection according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment for a disinfection system according to the invention; and, - Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment for a disinfection system according to the invention.

A first embodiment will firstly be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system 10 for the disinfection of objects, in particular motorcycle helmets. Such a helmet 11 is illustrated in the system 10, in position to be disinfected.

The system comprises an enclosure 12 substantially airtight and provided to receive the helmet 11, as illustrated. The enclosure comprises a door, not shown, provided for introducing the helmet into this enclosure. The enclosure further comprises an air inlet 13 and an air outlet 14. The enclosure is mounted in a box enclosing the enclosure and forming a frame. The box is not shown in the figure, for reasons of simplification.

In the illustrated example, the air inlet 13 comprises two fans 16 for collecting ambient air in the environment 17 of the system and to propel it towards the inside 18 of the enclosure 12. The arrival air further comprises means for producing corona ozone; these means comprise two ceramic electrodes, here in the form of plates 19, and power supply means for subjecting these plates to a very high voltage. The power supply means are not shown. The air intake also includes first filtration means 21 to preserve the cleanliness of the enclosure. The air outlet 14 comprises second filtration means, in particular to limit the release of ozone into the environment. The box comprises removable parts to give access to the filtration means 21, 22 and allow their change.

The system 10 further comprises a grid 23 on which the helmet IL resting. The grid 23 makes it possible to keep the helmet elevated, so that the air enriched with ozone can circulate around the helmet 11.

In the illustrated example, the system is designed to produce an ozone flow rate of 7 g / h, in an enclosure that measures about 126.5 liters.

The illustrated system further comprises: - a 220V AC / 12V DC transformer; means for detecting the opening of the enclosure door, intended to immediately cut off the production of ozone; - Usage counting means, intended to make it impossible to use the system when the theoretical life of the electrodes is exceeded and / or when the filters must be replaced.

A second embodiment will now be described, with reference to FIG. 2, only in that it differs from the first embodiment, previously described with reference to FIG. 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the system 10 comprises closed circuit means 30 for the circulation of air in the enclosure 12. In the example illustrated, the closed circuit comprises: at least one orifice of air intake 31; at least one air injection port 32; a line 33 formed between the engagement orifice 31 and the injection orifice; means 34 for driving air into the pipe, for example a fan or a turbine; means 19 for producing ozone by corona effect.

Instead of being arranged in the inlet 13 for air coming from outside 17, the ozone production means 19 are arranged in the pipe 33. Thus, the air flowing there is gradually loaded into it. ozone throughout the duration of the disinfection procedure. At the end of the procedure, the air is renewed in the enclosure, that is to say that: the closed circuit means 30 are deactivated; the air contained in the enclosure is evacuated and treated by the outlet 14; - Fresh air is admitted through the air inlet 13; then, the air of the enclosure having been renewed, one unlocks the door of the enclosure.

Preferably, the at least one air intake orifice 31 has a larger section than the at least one injection port 32. The intake and injection ports are formed in a plate forming the bottom, c 12 is the bottom of the enclosure 12. When the enclosure is designed to receive a helmet, in particular a motorcycle helmet, the injection port 32 is placed opposite the vehicle. limited opening by the neck of the helmet, to favor the disinfection of the helmet interior.

A third embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 3 only in that it differs from the first and second embodiments, previously described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, respectively.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the enclosure comprises a horizontal wall, forming a bottom 42, on which a helmet 11 can rest directly. The system 10 of FIG. 3 further comprises an injection circuit 43 and an air outlet 14.

The air outlet 14 comprises an outlet duct 44 formed between an extraction orifice 45, on the enclosure side, an expulsion orifice 46 on the outer side. It also comprises means 47 for driving air into the pipe 44, for example a fan or a turbine, designed to extract air from inside and to expel it outside the enclosure .

The injection circuit 43 comprises: at least one air intake orifice 31; at least one air injection port 32; a line 33 formed between the engagement orifice 31 and the injection orifice; means 34 for driving air into the pipe, for example a fan or a turbine; an outside air inlet 13 formed in a wall of the pipe 33; and means 19 for producing corona ozone. The air inlet 13 is disposed upstream of the ozone production means 19. There is no other air intake. Advantageously, this air inlet 13 is equipped with a valve, not shown, to prevent ozone-laden air from leaving the enclosure by this route.

In this third embodiment, the air intake, injection and extraction ports are formed in the bottom 42 of the enclosure 12. In addition, the injection orifice and the extraction orifice are arranged so that if a helmet is suitably disposed in the chamber 12, as illustrated in Figure 3, the injection port 32 and the extraction port 45 are vis-à-vis the inside the helmet, and the air intake 31 is on the outside of the helmet. Thus, air used in the system 10 follows a circuit illustrated in Figure 3 by the arrows F43, Fil, F44 and F14.

Thus, when the door of the system 10 is hermetically closed, the treatment begins and during the entire treatment period, the air: - is sucked through the air intake 31, - travels along F43 the injection pipe 43 , where he takes care of ozone; - is injected inside the helmet 11, a first side of the helmet; - travels inside the helmet, according to Fil.

When the treatment time has elapsed: the drive means of the injection circuit are cut off: the air is extracted from the helmet, from a second side of the helmet, opposite to the first; then, - travels the pipe 44 along F44, where it is filtered by the ozone filter 22; then, - rejected outside according to F14; and, - fresh air is sucked from the outside 17 through the air inlet 13. The air intake through the air inlet 13 prevents the interior of the the speaker is depressed, which would prevent the opening of the door and the removal of the helmet.

The representations of the three embodiments described above are extremely schematic, to facilitate their description. Nevertheless, in a real system, the air outlet is preferably disposed on a face of the system opposite to the face in which the door opens. This arrangement makes it possible to prevent air that may contain ozone residues from being ejected towards the user of the system.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

Thus, the use of such a system is not limited to the disinfection of motorcycle helmets. It can be used to disinfect all types of objects, including other types of helmets, gloves or surgical instruments, for example.

The size of the enclosure, and the means of producing ozone, can be adapted to the objects intended to be disinfected, in particular to ensure a sufficient flow of ozone. Thus, it is preferable to have an ozone flow rate of at least fifty milligrams per hour and per liter of enclosure volume, still more preferably fifty-five milligrams per hour and per liter of enclosure volume.

Advantageously, for self-service use, the system may be equipped with payment means, preferably electronic payment means.

Preferably, in the first two embodiments, the air inlet comprises two orifices, each equipped with a fan. Also, the number of fans or electrodes can vary, from one to more than two.

Such a system is particularly advantageous, ozone being neutral for most of the materials and electronic components present, especially in motorcycle helmets, no other product being used, liquid or sprayed. It allows treatment in four or five minutes, significantly faster than previous systems. It is effective and can destroy at least 90% of viruses and bacteria. It also gives an impression of clean, increasing the comfort of the user.

Claims (8)

claims System (10) for disinfecting a motorcycle helmet (11), comprising: - an enclosure (12) for housing said helmet; and - means (13-16,19) for circulating a flow of ozone in said enclosure; the flow rate of said flow being at least equal to fifty milligrams of ozone per hour and per liter of enclosure volume, preferably greater than fifty-five milligrams per hour and per liter of enclosure volume, characterized in that the volume of the enclosure is between fifty-five and sixty-five liters. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the enclosure (12) comprises an air inlet (13) for air coming from the outside (17) and means for producing ozone ( 19) from this outside air, before its introduction to the interior (18) of said enclosure. 3. System according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises circuit means (30, 43) comprising: - at least one intake port (31); at least one air injection orifice (32); a pipe formed between the engagement orifice (31) and the injection orifice (32); - Drive means (34) of the air in said pipe; - means (19) for producing corona ozone disposed in the pipe. 4. System according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the means for producing ozone comprise electrodes (19) ceramic. 5. System according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it comprises counting means for preventing its use when the ozone production means must be replaced. 6. System according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it comprises an outlet (14) for air from inside the enclosure, said outlet comprising filter means (22) for limiting the release of ozone outside (17). 7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises counting means for preventing its use when the filter means must be replaced. 8. System (11) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the enclosure comprises a grid (23) for supporting the helmet.