ITCA20130001A1 - PORTABLE HOT SHOWER FOR VEHICLES - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the industrial invention entitled:

"PORTABLE HOT SHOWER FOR VEHICLES"

Field and pre-existing state of the art

To date, there is no resistance of integrated solutions that can allow the user to wash their hands or take a shower outdoors with hot water generated through the current produced by the alternator of their vehicle (typically between 12v and 14v).

There are actually different solutions to have a portable shower or to heat the water through different methods. These methods are described below together with what are believed to be their respective disadvantages:

• solar radiation - eg. black envelope to hang.

Disadvantages: time required to reach the ideal temperature for the shower, difficulty in placing inside the vehicle to ensure exposure to the sun, ineffectiveness in the absence of direct sunlight (overcast sky, low incidence of the sun, night), tank not rigid and easily damageable.

• 220V thermoresistance (such as those used for aquariums) - disadvantages: it requires expensive conversion systems from 12V to 220V (inverter), intrinsic danger in using water in the presence of 220V current.

• heat exchangers suitably connected to the vehicle's cooling circuit - disadvantage: cost, complexity of installing the integrated system, compromise on vehicle warranty.

• gas heating - bulky, requiring the transport of a gas cylinder and therefore more dangerous and complex than other systems, which cannot be used while the vehicle is moving.

Some references are listed below:

• http://www.showercamp.com/camp-showers.html

• Primus portable hot shower

• Coleman hot water on demand

• Companion Aquacube

Detailed description

The solution consists of a tank with a pump to draw water and a hose with a shower head. The water is heated by a thermoresistance and the activation of the latter is regulated by an interruption, a temperature sensor and a level sensor. The solution remedies the above problems as:

• It consists of a rigid, sturdy and easy-to-store tank inside the luggage compartment

• It does not involve installation difficulties or additional dimensions [it does not use gas cylinders and the heating system is immersed inside the tank].

• It is easily transportable

• It works at 12V and is therefore safe to use in the presence of water compared to 220v systems.

• Allows you to effectively heat the water inside the tank during the journey and at night (the time varies according to the quantity of water and the starting temperature}. As a qualitative indication, with 500W of power, 30 'of time is sufficient to raise the water temperature of 151 by 15 ° C.

The essential components that make up the solution are generally available on the market. These components are shown in the document entitled "Drawings" and numbered according to the following list:

1. Portable tank (for example tank for the transport of liquids / fuels) on which the following components are suitably installed and connected to each other. The tank is lined with insulating material (not described in the drawings} to limit heat dispersion .

2. Heating element. This is a thermoresistance consisting of a wire in common Nickel / Chromium alloy suitably sized in section and length to produce about 500W of power at 12V. This power is indicated as an example (different powers can be used according to the contexts}. The heating element is operated by the remote control switch.

3. Flexible hose and perforated nozzle to spray water evenly.

4. Floating sensor to detect any absence of water and preserve the operation of the resistance thermometer which must always be immersed in operation.

5. Thermostat to prevent the water from overheating and at the same time ensure that the optimum temperature for washing hands and body is not exceeded [the thermostat opens the electrical circuit at 40 ° C).

6. 12V electric submersible pump to draw water from the tank and drain it from a flexible hose with a shower mounted at its end.

7. Contactor to activate the heating element and deactivate it automatically in the event of: high temperature and / or lack of water. The remote control switch can only be activated if switch 8 is closed, there is water in the tank and the water temperature is below 40 ° C.

8. Heating element switch required in order to activate and deactivate the heating element using the remote control switch.

9. Water pump switch required in order to activate water pump from the tank.

Note how in the "Drawings" document there is an electric operation diagram for the water heating system (Tab. 1} and for the activation of the pump [Tab 2.). In this diagram, both the thermostat, the switch for the heating element, and the water level sensor are connected in series and provide consent for the activation of the remote control switch and therefore of the heating element. A schematic drawing of the invention is shown in Table 3.

Clarification: it is understood that the electrical system necessary to power the hot shower must be suitably sized and installed by qualified personnel (e.g. auto electricians). The technical characteristics of this system are therefore beyond the description of the invention as far as the sizing of the power cables, of the remote control switch, of the fuses and of the relative connectors must take into account the current load used by the device and in addition, in the case of cable, the distance between the source of electrical energy and the heating element.

Methods of implementation and operation

The hot shower must be connected to the vehicle's electrical system and turned on via a switch for the heating element (8). This switch will give consent to the remote control switch to activate the heating element only if the electrical circuit (consisting of a level sensor and thermostat connected in series to the switch) is closed or water is present and its temperature is lower. at 40 ° C.

The switch for the water pump (9) can be activated at any time, thus allowing washing with cold or partially heated water.

Uses

Target users may include sportsmen who engage in activities such as running, cycling, water sports such as open sea swimming, surfing, spearfishing. Further fields of application include camping in general and more specifically washing children or pets in open spaces.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS 1. Portable hot shower for vehicles characterized by heating element, water level sensor, thermostat, pump, hose with perforated nozzle operating with direct current at 12V.