GB1573969A - Apparatus for the diffusion of a mist into the atmosphere - Google Patents

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR THE DIFFUSION OF A MIST INTO THE ATMOSPHERE (71) We, SOCIETE DETEC S.A., a Swiss Company, of 18 Place Cornavin, Geneva, Switzerland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to .be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to an apparatus for diffusing mists of active products stored in liquid form and adapted to be diffused into the atmosphere, in particular in buildings or an enclosed space, with a view to ensuring the slow and regular dispersion of active products into the ambient atmosphere.

The apparatus finds particular application in the diffusion of active mist into the atmosphere of residential dwellings with a view to obtaining the effect of disinfecting this ambient air, particularly by destruction of the germs present on the solid or liquid particles suspended in the air; the active mist may also have olfactive or aromatic properties which enables the ambient air to be deodorized by diffusion of essences or suitable aromatic products.

The invention is therefore applicable in residential dwellings where particularly strict conditions of hygiene must be respected, for example, in the case of hospital or medical premises. The apparatus according to the invention will also find particularly advantageous application in all public buildings such as station concourses, administrative buildings, departmental stores or supermarkets; these areas are known to be a source of dissemination of germs in view of their nature as zones of passage where people of very diverse origins meet, thus rendering the maintenance of these buildings and the respect of strict conditions of cleanliness and hygiene particularly difficult.

In addition to these applications in the domain of disinfection, - the apparatus according to the invention may be used whenever it is desired to maintain in a determined atmosphere the regular and slow diffusion of a mist of active products, whatever their action; the apparatus may therefore be used for diffusing in a silo, a glasshouse, store, or any similar premises, whose ambient temperature is no more than 50"C, compositions for example with phytosanitary, fungicidal, disinfecting or insecticidal action; the apparatus according to the invention will also find a particularly appropriate application in the disinfection of stock-breeding premises, particularly battery-rearing premises such as poultry farm buildings, or cattle, sheep, pig farm building, where the prevention of epizootic diseases involves a constant fight against germs which may spread rapidly and affect the whole stock.

Apparatuses as are already known for.

diffusing active mist into the atmosphere of determined premises, said apparatuses as being constituted in known manner by a reserve of active product maintained under pressure of an inert gas and associated with an atomization device, itself subjected to the intermittent action of a programmer such a a time-switch; the programmer may therefore set off intermittent atomizations in the premises in a regular cycle.

However, these apparatus do not satisfactorily fulfill their objectives.

The reserve of active product which is associated with each apparatus must be regularly replenished and this renewal is as frequent as the consumption is high and the capacity of each reserve is limited. These reserves are constituted by a metal container, a so-called aerosol, of standard type; however, presently used aerosols are of limited capacity and it is difficult to develop them and increase their size without encountering difficult problems during handling when the aerosols are to be replaced, particularly due to the weight of an aerosol of large dimensions, filled with liquid.

An important condition for obtaining an effective action of the products is the regularity of their diffusion, so that the ambient atmosphere has substantially constant characteristics; too great a concentration of the active product in the atmosphere risks attacking the humans or aliimals present, whilst too weak a concentration does not attain the threshold of efficacy of the product. It is therefore necessary to ensure a regular and exactly determined diffusion of the active mist :n the premises to be treated, this being an indispensible condition of the efficiency of this technique.

The presently known apparatus do not fulfill this objective unless the personnel entrusted with checking the degree of filling of the aerosols or pressurised reserves carry out their duties extremely frequently and very regularly, to ensure that the aerosol still contains a sufficient amount of product for diffusing mist until the next check; however, the check itself also involves particularly demanding conditions; the maintenance staff has no other means of checking the degree of filling of an aerosol than removing the aerosol from the apparatus and assessing by guesswork, from its weight, whether the reserve that it contains is sufficient.

The presently known apparatus with a reserve of active product to be diffused in the form of mist are not very widespread in view of the difficult conditions of maintenance required of the staff for obtaining effective conditions of action.

It is an object of the present invention to remedy these drawbacks and to this end it relates to an apparatus for ensuring, for a prolonged period of time, the regular diffusion of active mist in any enclosed space, whilst relieving the maintenance staff of the frequent, time-consuming and tedious visits, with control by guesswork of the degree of filling of the reserve.

In fact, the invention makes it possible, as will be set forth in the course of the present description, on the one hand to space out the visits by a prolonged period of time, this considerably lightening the staffs tasks, and on the other hand to make the control itself by reading a display system indicating, on the outside of the apparatus, the state of filling of the reserve.

To this end, the invention relates to an apparatus for the regular diffusion, by intermittent injections into the atmosphere, of a mist emitted from a reservoir under pressure, the apparatus comprising a control member such as a time switch adapted to release the mist, at predetermined intervals, at least two reservoirs of mist, and a transmission member, subjected to the action of the control member preferably of the time switch type, the transmission member being adapted successively to actuate the first reservoir, then a second reservoir when the first reservoir is empty, each reservoir being associated with means to dissociate it from the transmission member when empty.

Further in apparatus according to the invention the reservoirs are constituted by aerosols of active products on . which aerosols are mounted cylindrical nozzles emitting by a vertical thrust, a jet of mist in a radial direction, the transmission member comprising a plurality of push buttons, preferably constituted by plunger members, each push button being so positioned as to actuate the nozzle of one of the aerosols when the transmission member is manoeuvred, each push button being associated with a particular nozzle, the associated push buttons and nozzle being spaced apart by a different distance for each aerosol so that by manoeuvering the transmission member and thus moving the push buttons, the push button and nozzle that are closest to each other come into contact this contact forming a stop and opposing the action on the other nozzles by the other push buttons mounted in the transmission member.

One embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the different mechanical and electrical parts constituting the apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b show a transverse section through the apparatus illustrating in particular the tipping of the aerosol from its active position (2a) to its inactive position (2b); and Fig. 3 shows an outside view of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 2a, 2b and 3 show the apparatus which is constituted by a parallelepipedic casing 1 adapted to be fixed to the wall, said casing comprising a hinged front panel 2 for closing the inside 3 containing the aerosols 4, 5 and 6 of known type; each aerosol contains for example 4 litres.

Figs. 2a and 2b show that each aerosol may move from an active position, as shown in Fig. 2a into an inactive position shown in Fig. 2b.

To this end, the full aerosol (Fig. 2a) is balanced on a bevel and on a rear fulcrum 7 itself mounted on a calibrated leaf spring 8.

When the aerosol is full, its weight easily compensates the forward tilting movement induced by the bevel. The surface bearing the aerosol is so calculated that, when the latter is empty or substantially empty, it leans over, resulting in its centre of gravity being displaced; at this moment, the aerosol tips over forwards into inactive position.

In this movement, the fulcrum 7 rises under the action of the spring, the switch 9 closes a signalling circuit and switches on a display device, for example in the form of a warning light arranged on the front of the apparatus, such as light 10, 10' or 10" indicating that the corresponding aerosol is empty and is therefore to be replaced.

The functioning of the apparatus will now be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 1.

All the aerosols 4, 5 and 6, which are three in number in the present example (but which could be increased in number or even possibly reduced to two), are arranged on a plate 11 on the same plane, each aerosol being associated with a tiltable fulcrum 7 described hereinabove.

Each of the aerosols comprises, inmanner known per se, an upper nozzle 12, 13 and 14 formed of a cylindrical discharge valve emitting a radial jet; in this case, the aerosols are so positioned that the nozzle directs a jet out of the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises a transmission device, formed in the present case of a bar 15 provided with push buttons 16, 17 and 18 of decreasing dimensions: push button 16 is longer than its neighbour 17, which is itself longer that adjacent push button 18.

Under these conditions, the lowering of the transmission bar 15 firstly brings push button 16 in contact with nozzle 12 and this contact forms a stop to oppose the movement of the bar 15, the aerosol 4 emits a jet of mist as long as the bar 15 is in lower or active position; however, the contact of push-button 16 on the nozzle 12 prevents the bar from continuing its downward movement and there is therefore no contact between push buttons 17 and 18 on nozzles 13 and 14 respectively, with the result that only the aerosol 4 is actuated when the transmission bar 15 is manoeuvred.

When the aerosol 4 is empty, it tips into inactive position, as has been described hereinabove, and the push button 16 no longer makes contact with the nozzle 12 (which has moved out of its active position) further to the vertical displacement of the bar 15, and the push button 16 continues to descend into emptiness.

Push button 17 therefore comes into contact with the nozzle 13 and actuates the following aerosol 5, aerosol 4 having tipped over.

As long as the aerosol 5 is in active position, plumb with the push button 17, any manoeuvre of the transmission bar 15 will cause push button 17 to actuate nozzle 13 which forms a stop and opposes any further downward movement of the bar and thus contact of the push button 18 with nozzle 14 of adjacent aerosol 6.

When, in its turn, aerosol 5 is empty, it tips over, as described hereinabove, into inactive position; the push button 17 is no longer in contact with nozzle 13, with the result that a subsequent downward movement of the bar 15 brings the push button 18 in contact with the nozzle 14, this actuating aerosol 6.

The fact that aerosols 4 and 5 are empty and out of action is displayed by warning lights 10" and 10' being lit up.

Under these conditions, the maintenance staff supervising the installations and the apparatus is thus informed as to whether the aerosols are empty or not and are to be replaced.

It follows that the personnel are no longer obliged to take out each aerosol individually to check its state and degree of filling and replace it, since the fact of it being empty is indicated on the front.

Furthermore, the fact of there being a plurality of aerosols in the same apparatus avoids too frequent replacements and enables a permanent reserve to be maintained in the apparatus which may be renewed under particularly flexible conditions; the personnel may therefore make their rounds at suitable intervals and proceed with any necessary replacements without having to manipulate or transport large-capacity reserves or containers which would raise problems of positioning, in addition to the problems of safety associated with the character of pressurised containers.

The bar 15 is moved in a downward vertical movement by a suitable manoeuvring and drive member which may be an electro-magnet and which in the present example is a motor 20 associated with a transmission rod 21 acting on the end 22 of the bar which may advantageously be pivoted at its opposite end 23.

The assembly is controlled by a time switch 30 constituted by an electric motor with a speed reduction group 31 driving a cam 32 comprising a groove of a few degrees (for example obtained by juxtaposing and fixing two cams, thus enabling the angle of opening 33 and consequently the atomization time to be adjusted).

The cam is in contact with a finger 34 controlling contact 35 and when the finger reaches the groove 33, the contact 35 is closed for the whole dwell period of the finger 34 in the groove 33, thus supplying the motor 20 which drives the bar carrying the push buttons.

The auxiliary circuit 36 passing through switch 37 constitutes a safety device intended to supply the motor 20 until the bar 15 returns to high position; in fact, the finger 34 may be driven by the cam into position of opening of contact 35 whilst the motor 20 has brought bar 15 into low position: the assembly would then be blocked and stopped in low position, causing an uninterrupted emission of mist, which is to be avoided; the circuit 36 constitutes an auxiliary circuit supplying the motor 20 via the switch 37 subjected to the action of rod 38; it is seen that when the bar 15 is in low position, the rod 38 pushes the switch 37 and brings it in contact with stud 37', thus closing the auxiliary circuit 36 and ensuring the maintenance of the supply of motor 20 until the bar 15 is returned to high position; the switch 37 then opens the auxiliary circuit 36; in this position, if the finger 34 is still located in the groove 33 pf the cam 32, the contact 35 is still closed and.

the motor 20 starts again; if, on the contrary, the finger 34 is not in said groove, thus opening contact 35, the motor 20 which is no longer supplied either by the main circuit nor by the auxiliary circuit 36 remains stopped and the emission of mist is terminated until the next cycle, i.e. until the next passage of the finger 34 in the groove 33 of the cam.

A safety assembly is constituted by a lever 40 returned into locking position by spring 41, the lever being vertical with respect to the transmission bar 15 and consequently opposing any downward movement of the bar towards the active, mist-emitting position.

The locking lever 40 is subjected to the action of the electro-magnet 42 supplied in parallel by the supply circuit of the motor 20.

When the supply circuit is closed by contact 35, the motor 20 and the electromagnet 42 are therefore supplied and the locking lever 40 is unlocked at the same time as the motor 20 actuates the transmission bar 15; this device ensures the safety of the apparatus, particularly in the case of an electrical failure occurring for example during an emission of mist, the motor 20 having brought the bar 15 into position of contact of a push button on an aerosol; if the motor stops, it blocks the push button and the atomization would continue; however the electro magnet which is no longer supplied ceases to act on the locking lever and this latter, under the action of spring 41, is returned into high position and, in its angular movement, it pushes the transmission bar 15. upwards, thus releasing the nozzle subjected to the action of the push button.

The apparatus according to the invention is totally reliable in operation and it may be left to emit active products contained in the aerosols at regular intervals (programmed by the section of the cam 32 and its speed of rotation); the apparatus requires no maintenance and the safety devices provided therein enable it to operate normally without being effected by incidents such as an electrical failure or the like.

It requires only little maintenance, limited to the simple replacement of empty aerosols and this replacement is facilitated by the warning lights by which a rapid glance is sufficient to see whether or not empty aerosols are to be replaced and whether such replacements are urgent.

This replacement will be carried out by removing the empty aerosols and moving the still active aerosols to the left. For example, if aerosols 4 and 5 are empty, aerosol 6 will be placed in position 4 and two new aerosols in positions 5 and 6; this particularly avoids the aerosol 6 remaining too long in the apparatus without being used and possibly exceeding the date of expiration of the active product. In this way, aerosol 6 which will not have been used will pass into first position of use and will subsequently be replaced in its turn.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An apparatus for the regular diffusion, by intermittent injections into the atmosphere, of a mist emitted from a reservoir under pressure, the apparatus comprising: a control member adapted to release the mist from a reservoir at predetermined intervals; at least two reservoirs of mist under pressure and a transmission member subjected to the action of the control member and adapted to actuate the first reservoir and then the second reservoir when the first reservoir is empty, each reservoir having means to dissociate it from the transmission member when empty.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which both reservoirs are filled with active products in liquid form which are pressurised and atomised to form a mist.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the control member is of the time switch type adapted to release mist from a reservoir at predetermined intervals.

4. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each reservoir may move from an active position in which it is subjected to the action of the transmission member to an inactive position in which it is removed from contact with the transmission member, the apparatus comprising means adapted to cause the displacement of said reservoir from its active position to its inactive position, these

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (13)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   intended to supply the motor 20 until the bar 15 returns to high position; in fact, the finger 34 may be driven by the cam into position of opening of contact 35 whilst the motor 20 has brought bar 15 into low position: the assembly would then be blocked and stopped in low position, causing an uninterrupted emission of mist, which is to be avoided; the circuit 36 constitutes an auxiliary circuit supplying the motor 20 via the switch 37 subjected to the action of rod 38; it is seen that when the bar

   15 is in low position, the rod 38 pushes the switch 37 and brings it in contact with stud 37', thus closing the auxiliary circuit 36 and ensuring the maintenance of the supply of motor 20 until the bar 15 is returned to high position; the switch 37 then opens the auxiliary circuit 36; in this position, if the finger 34 is still located in the groove 33 pf the cam 32, the contact 35 is still closed and.

   the motor 20 starts again; if, on the contrary, the finger 34 is not in said groove, thus opening contact 35, the motor 20 which is no longer supplied either by the main circuit nor by the auxiliary circuit 36 remains stopped and the emission of mist is terminated until the next cycle, i.e. until the next passage of the finger 34 in the groove 33 of the cam.

   A safety assembly is constituted by a lever 40 returned into locking position by spring 41, the lever being vertical with respect to the transmission bar 15 and consequently opposing any downward movement of the bar towards the active, mist-emitting position.

   The locking lever 40 is subjected to the action of the electro-magnet 42 supplied in parallel by the supply circuit of the motor 20.

   When the supply circuit is closed by contact 35, the motor 20 and the electromagnet 42 are therefore supplied and the locking lever 40 is unlocked at the same time as the motor 20 actuates the transmission bar 15; this device ensures the safety of the apparatus, particularly in the case of an electrical failure occurring for example during an emission of mist, the motor 20 having brought the bar 15 into position of contact of a push button on an aerosol; if the motor stops, it blocks the push button and the atomization would continue; however the electro magnet which is no longer supplied ceases to act on the locking lever and this latter, under the action of spring 41, is returned into high position and, in its angular movement, it pushes the transmission bar 15. upwards, thus releasing the nozzle subjected to the action of the push button.

   The apparatus according to the invention is totally reliable in operation and it may be left to emit active products contained in the aerosols at regular intervals (programmed by the section of the cam 32 and its speed of rotation); the apparatus requires no maintenance and the safety devices provided therein enable it to operate normally without being effected by incidents such as an electrical failure or the like.

   It requires only little maintenance, limited to the simple replacement of empty aerosols and this replacement is facilitated by the warning lights by which a rapid glance is sufficient to see whether or not empty aerosols are to be replaced and whether such replacements are urgent.

   This replacement will be carried out by removing the empty aerosols and moving the still active aerosols to the left. For example, if aerosols 4 and 5 are empty, aerosol 6 will be placed in position 4 and two new aerosols in positions 5 and 6; this particularly avoids the aerosol 6 remaining too long in the apparatus without being used and possibly exceeding the date of expiration of the active product. In this way, aerosol 6 which will not have been used will pass into first position of use and will subsequently be replaced in its turn.

   WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An apparatus for the regular diffusion, by intermittent injections into the atmosphere, of a mist emitted from a reservoir under pressure, the apparatus comprising: a control member adapted to release the mist from a reservoir at predetermined intervals; at least two reservoirs of mist under pressure and a transmission member subjected to the action of the control member and adapted to actuate the first reservoir and then the second reservoir when the first reservoir is empty, each reservoir having means to dissociate it from the transmission member when empty.
2. 2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which both reservoirs are filled with active products in liquid form which are pressurised and atomised to form a mist.
3. 3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the control member is of the time switch type adapted to release mist from a reservoir at predetermined intervals.
4. 4. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each reservoir may move from an active position in which it is subjected to the action of the transmission member to an inactive position in which it is removed from contact with the transmission member, the apparatus comprising means adapted to cause the displacement of said reservoir from its active position to its inactive position, these

   means being set into action by gravity and being sensitive to the weight of the reservoir so that said means cause the reservoir to tip over when said latter has dropped to a critical weight of the container when empty.
5. 5. The apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5, in which the reservoirs of active products are constituted by aerosols on which are mounted cylindrical nozzles emitting, by a vertical thrust, a jet of mist in a radial direction, the transmission member comprising a plurality of push buttons, each push button being so positioned as to actuate the nozzle of one of the aerosols when the transmission member is manoeuvred, each push button being associated with a particular nozzle, the associated push buttons and nozzles being spaced apart by a different distance for each aerosol so that, by manoeuvring the transmission member and thus moving the push buttons, the push button and nozzle which are closest to each other come into contact, this contact forming a stop and opposing the action on the other nozzles by the other push buttons mounted on the transmission member.
6. 6. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the transmission member bearing the push buttons is constituted by a horizontal bar subjected to the action of a vertical displacement member controlled by the time switch, the push buttons being constituted by plunger members and disposed on said bar, each push button being positioned plumb with a nozzle of one of the aerosols, the aerosols being positioned in the same plane so that the corresponding nozzles are located at the same height, the push buttons corresponding to each of the nozzles being of unequal heights so that the lowering of the transmission bar causes the longest push button to abut the first on the nozzle corresponding thereto and to actuate it, the transmission bar thus being prevented from continuing its descent and coming into contact with the other nozzles.
7. 7. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, in which the member for vertically displacing the transmission bar bearing the push buttons is constituted by an electric motor transmitting a vertical reciprocating movement to the transmission bar via a rod, the motor itself being subjected to the action of the time-switch control.
8. 8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, comprising a device for returning and locking the transmission bar blocked in its inactive position when the member for vertically displacing said bar is not in action, this locking device being constituted by a lever forming a stop in its active position and positioned vertically beneath the transmission bar, opposing the downward displacement of said latter, said lever being brought into inactive position by the action of an electro-magnet supplied by the circuit supplying the control member of the transmission bar.
9. 9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 8, in which the means for moving each aerosol from its active position (in which its nozzle is plumb with the corresponding push button) to its inactive position (in which the nozzle has moved out of the range of the push button) are constituted by a mobile fulcrum adapted to receive a peripheral zone of the bottom of the aerosol, this fulcrum being associated with a calibrated spring placed under strain by the weight of the aerosol when said latter is sufficiently full, the reduction in weight of the aerosol as its contents are gradually discharged causing the fulcrum to rise under the action of the spring until the aerosol tips over when it is substantially empty, this tipping action displacing the nozzle which is no longer in contact with its corresponding push button.
10. 10. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims I to 9, comprising a signalling assembly comprising at least one switch associated with each of the aerosols, the switch being sensitive to the active or inactive position of the aerosol and being adapted to close and open a signalling circuit depending on the active or inactive position of the aerosol, the inactive position of the aerosol thus triggering off an outside signal, via said switch, such as a warning light.
11. 11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 10, wherein the control member of the time switch type is constituted by an electric motor with speed reducing unit driving a cam adapted to close an electric circuit supplying the member driving the transmission member, said latter being constituted by the bar with push buttons.
12. 12. An apparatus as claimed in one of Claims 7 to 11, further comprising an auxiliary circuit supplying the motor driving the bar, this auxiliary circuit comprising a switch subjected to the action of the bar, and adapted to close the circuit supplying the member driving the transmission bar, when said bar is in low or active position, the switch opening said auxiliary circuit when said bar is in high or inactive position.
13. 13. An apparatus for diffusing mists of active products into the atmosphere, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.