WO2003033040A1

WO2003033040A1 - Air shower system

Info

Publication number: WO2003033040A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/001905
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chul Ahn
Original assignee: Sudo Premium Engineering Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-10-19
Filing date: 2002-10-11
Publication date: 2003-04-24

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an air shower system, which allows a place where many persons go in and out as well as the paerson's bodies and clothes to be kept clean. The air shower system includes a storage tank (11) for containing therein a mixed solution (1) prepared by mixing a deodorant and/or a disinfectant with water. An atomizing unit functions to atomize the mixed solution (1) contained in the storage tank (11), thus producing a fine spray laden with the deodorant and/or the disinfectant. A mixing space (20) is used for mixing the fine spray produced by the atomizing unit with room temperature air, thus forming a mixed gas. A blower (30) feeds room temperature air into the mixing space (20). A discharging unit functions to discharge the mixed gas to the outside. The mixed gas is produced by mixing the fine spray with room temperature air in the mixing space (20).

Description

AIR SHOWER SYSTEM

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to air shower systems, and more particularly, to an air shower system, which is installed at a front door of a place where many persons enter and exit, such as a restaurant, a hospital, a drug store, a bus, a subway, etc., or is installed at a proper position inside the above-mentioned place, thus removing odors and bacteria from the body and clothes of a person who passes the place, therefore allowing the place as well as the body and clothes of a person who passes the place to be kept clean.

Background Art

Generally, since a restaurant is saturated with the odor of food, the body and clothes of a customer are inundated with the odor of food during a meal.

Above all, in a ribs restaurant, the odor of food absorbed into the body and clothes of a person is too strong to cause other persons to feel unpleasant. In order to prevent the odor of food from being absorbed into the body and clothes of a person, there has been proposed a method of keeping customers' coats in vinyl bags. However, such a conventional method still has a problem in that the body and other clothes except the coat are inundated with the odor of food. Although air inside a restaurant is clean, the body and clothes of a customer who comes into the restaurant are soaked with odor, and besides, many persons are in the restaurant, so air inside the restaurant becomes more and more dirty.

Meanwhile, a hospital or a drugstore is saturated with the odor of medicine. Thus, when a person goes to the hospital or drugstore, medicinal odors permeate the body or clothes of the person, so the person may feel unpleasant. Further, there are many bacteria in a hospital, so the bacteria adhere to the body and clothes of a person who enters the hospital. Unfortunately, such bacteria may easily be communicated to a person's body.

Further, a person who comes in a hospital or a drugstore spreads bacteria and personal odor around the hospital or the drugstore, so air inside the hospital or the drugstore may become dirty and insanitary.

As such, since a place where many persons come in and go out, such as a restaurant, a hospital, a drug store, a bus, a subway, etc., may be saturated with various kinds of odors and bacteria, an apparatus, for removing various kinds of odors and bacteria from the body and clothes of a person who enters or exits a place so as to make air in the place clean, is required. But, there has not been proposed or developed an apparatus having such a function.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air shower system, which allows air in a place where many persons come in and go out, such as a restaurant, a hospital, a drug store, etc. to be kept clean, and besides, prevents various kinds of odors and bacteria from being absorbed into the body and clothes of a person who comes in and goes out of such a place. In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an air shower system, comprising a storage tank for containing therein a mixed solution prepared by mixing a deodorant and/or a disinfectant with water, an atomizing unit for atomizing the mixed solution contained in the storage tank, thus producing a fine spray laden with the deodorant and/or the disinfectant, a mixing space for mixing the fine spray produced by the atomizing unit with room temperature air, thus forming a mixed gas, a blower feeding room temperature air into the mixing space, and a discharging unit for discharging the mixed gas to the outside, the mixed gas being produced by mixing the fine spray with room temperature air in the mixing space. Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a partial broken front view of an air shower system according to a primary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the air shower system according to the primary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the air shower system according to the primary embodiment of the present invention, when the air shower system is installed at a predetermined place;

Fig. 4 is a view showing an air shower system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a view showing a nozzle included in the air shower system according to the present invention;

Fig. 6a is a partial broken sectional view showing an air shower system according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6b is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 6a; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an air shower system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of an air shower system with a heater according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the heater is used as an atomizing unit;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of an air shower system with a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which the piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer is used as the atomizing unit;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of an air shower system with a heater and a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which both the heater and the piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer are used as the atomizing unit;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of an air shower system with the atomizing unit using an injection nozzle according to still another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 12 is a sectional view of an air shower system with the atomizing unit using a hot plate according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of an air shower system with an anion generating unit according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

Fig. 1 is a partial broken front view of an air shower system according to a primary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the air shower system according to the primary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the air shower system according to the primary embodiment of the present invention, when the air shower system is installed at a predetermined place. Fig. 4 is a view showing an air shower system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, when the air shower system being installed at a predetermined place. Fig. 5 shows a swivel-type nozzle included in the air shower system according to the present invention. Fig. 6a is a partial broken sectional view showing an air shower system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6b is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 6a. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an air shower system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of an air shower system with a heater according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the heater is used as an atomizing unit. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of an air shower system with a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which the piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer is used as the atomizing unit. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of an air shower system with a heater and a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which both the heater and the piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer are used as the atomizing unit. Fig. 11 is a sectional view of an air shower system with the atomizing unit using an injection nozzle according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12 is a sectional view of an air shower system with the atomizing unit using a hot plate according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 13 is a sectional view of an air shower system with an anion generating unit according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, the air shower system according to the present invention includes a storage tank 11, an atomizing unit, a mixing space 20, a blower 30, and a discharging unit. The storage tank 11 contains a mixed solution 1 therein. In this case, the mixed solution 1 is prepared by mixing a deodorant and/or a disinfectant with water. The atomizing unit atomizes the mixed solution 1 which is contained in the storage tank 11 to produce a fine spray laden with the deodorant and/or the disinfectant. The fine spray produced by the atomizing unit is mixed with room temperature air in the mixing space 20 so as to produce a mixed gas. The blower 30 functions to feed room temperature air into the mixing space 20. The discharging unit functions to discharge the mixed gas to the outside.

The mixed solution 1 is prepared by mixing the deodorant, the disinfectant, or a mixture of the deodorant and disinfectant with water in a ratio of

1:500. Since various kinds of deodorants and/or disinfectants are known to those skilled in the art, suitable kinds of deodorant and/or disinfectant may be used in the air shower system of the present invention.

The mixing space 20 may be defined in the storage tank 11 for containing the mixing solution 1 therein, as shown in Figs. 1, 6a, and 8 to 13. Alternatively, a mixing tank 21 which defines the mixing space 20 may be provided in the air shower system separately from the storage tank 11, as shown in Fig. 4.

A piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer or a heater may be used as the atomizing unit. Alternatively, an atomizing unit using an injection nozzle or a hot plate may be applied to the air shower system of the present invention. Further, the air shower system shown in Figs. 1 to 4 may use both a heater

10a and a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer 10b as the atomizing unit. The heater 10a heats the mixed solution 1 contained in the storage tank 11 to atomize the mixed solution 1. The piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer 10b atomizes the mixed solution 1 using ultrasonic waves. Meanwhile, the heater 10a also functions to sterilize the mixing solution 1 , in addition to an atomizing function.

The air shower system shown in Fig. 8 uses a heater 10a as the atomizing unit. The heater 10a is installed in the storage tank 11 to heat and atomize the mixing solution 1. The air shower system shown in Fig. 9 uses a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer 10b as the atomizing unit. The piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer 10b is installed in the storage tank 11 to atomize the mixing solution 1 by ultrasonic waves. The air shower system shown in Fig. 10 uses both a heater 10a which is installed in the storage tank 11 to heat and atomize the mixed solution 1 and a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer 10b which is installed in the storage tank 11 to atomize the mixed solution 1 by ultrasonic waves. In the case where the heater 10a is used as the atomizing unit, a heater temperature sensor lOaa is mounted to the heater 10a so as to control the temperature of the heater 10a.

According to the air shower system of Fig. 11, the atomizing unit comprises a pump lOca, an intake pipe lOcb, a discharging pipe lOcc, and an injection nozzle lOcd. The intake pipe lOcb sucks the mixed solution 1 from the storage tank 11 by the operation of the pump lOca. The discharging pipe lOcc discharges the sucked mixed solution 1 by the operation of the pump lOca. The injection nozzle lOcd is installed at an end of the discharging pipe lOcc to spray the mixed solution 1 from the discharging pipe lOcc.

According to the air shower system of Fig. 12, the atomizing unit comprises a pump 10da, an intake pipe lOdb, a discharging pipe lOdc, an injection nozzle lOdd, and a hot plate lOde. The intake pipe lOdb sucks the mixed solution 1 from the storage tank 11 by the operation of the pump lOda. The discharging pipe lOdc discharges the sucked mixed solution 1 by the operation of the pump lOda. In this case, the discharging pipe lOdc horizontally extends to a predetermined position and is downwardly bent at the predetermined position in such a way as to reach a lower portion of a discharging space. The injection nozzle lOdd is installed at an end of the discharging pipe lOdc to spray the mixed solution 1 from the discharging pipe lOdc. The hot plate lOde is installed at a position below the injection nozzle lOdd to heat and atomize the mixed solution 1 sprayed from the injection nozzle lOdd. The hot plate lOde is heated to have an appropriate temperature by electric heating wires which are arranged in the hot plate lOde or on the bottom surface of the hot plate lOde.

The mixing space 20 is used for mixing the fine spray produced by the atomizing unit with room temperature air, thus forming the mixed gas.

When the blower 30 is operated, room temperature air is fed into the mixing space 20. The room temperature air is mixed with the fine spray produced by the atomizing unit to form the mixed gas. Thereafter, the mixed gas is discharged to the outside via the discharging unit. When room temperature air is sucked by the blower 30, the air is filtered by a filter 31 to remove dust from the air. In the air shower system according to the primary embodiment shown in

Fig. 1, two blowers 30 are set at two positions in the mixing space 20, respectively. Alternatively, one blower 30 may be set at a position in the mixing space 20. As a further alternative, the blower 30 may be provided in the air shower system separately from the mixing space 20, as shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Figs. 8 to 13, the discharging unit may comprise a discharging space 71 and one or more outlets 72. The discharging space 71 communicates with the mixing space 20. The grilled outlets 72 are provided at a front wall defining the discharging space 71. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the discharging unit may comprise nozzles 40 which are installed on the storage tank 11 in such a way as to directly communicate with the mixing space 20.

As shown in Fig. 6a, the discharging unit may comprise a flexible hose 41 and a nozzle 42. The flexible hose 41 is connected to the upper portion of the mixing space 20. The nozzle 42 is installed at an end of the flexible hose 41 and fabricated in a form of a sprayer with a plurality of holes. The discharging unit may comprise a plurality of nozzles and a connecting pipe, although it is not shown. The nozzles are installed, in series, on the ceiling between a kitchen and a living room. The connecting pipe connects the nozzles to the mixing space 20.

The nozzle 40 is installed on the storage tank 11 in such a way as to directly communicate with the mixing space 20 so as to spray the mixed gas to the outside. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a swivel-type nozzle is used to control the spray direction of the mixed gas, as shown in Fig. 5.

According to the primary embodiment of the present invention, the air shower system is installed at a position above the front door in the form of a kit, as shown in Fig. 3. According to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in

Fig. 4, the air shower system is designed such that the storage tank 11 with the atomizing unit and the blower 30 are separated from the mixing space 20. The atomizing unit included in the air shower system of the second embodiment is constructed in the same manner as that of the air shower system of the primary embodiment. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the fine spray laden with the deodorant and/or disinfectant which is produced by the atomizing unit in the storage tank 11 is fed into the mixing space 20 to be mixed with room temperature air. In this case, a small-sized blower may be used to smoothly feed the fine spray to the mixing space 20. According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the blower

30 is placed at a position which is spaced apart from the mixing space 20. A filter 31 is installed on a side of the front door. The blower 30 is set at a position of a duct 32 connected to the filter 31. Thus, room temperature air sequentially passing the filter 31 and the blower 30 flows along the duct 32 so as to be fed into the mixing space 20.

Further, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of swivel-type nozzles 40 used as a discharging unit are installed on the lower portion of the mixing tank 21, which defines the mixing space 20.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 7 to 13, all components of the air shower system may be integrated into a single structure, in the form of a kit. Alternatively, only the nozzle 40 or the outlet 72 may be installed at a position above the front door and other components may be installed at another place in such a way that the mixed gas, comprising the fine spray produced by the atomizing unit and air, is supplied to the nozzle 40 or the outlet 72 through the duct 32.

A unit for controlling the air shower system may be integrated with the air shower system into a single structure. Alternatively, the control unit may be installed at a place separate from the air shower system.

In the case of the air shower systems shown in Figs. 1 to 4, it is preferable that an information placard with the following sentence: "please remain in the indicated position for a moment because the air shower system is on" is attached to the front door where the air shower system is installed; or, the above-mentioned sentence may be preferably broadcasted.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the air shower system is designed such that the atomizing unit and the mixing space 20 are provided in a cylindrical storage tank 11 and the blower 30 is installed on a sidewall of the storage tank 11 defining the mixing space 20, as shown in Figs. 6a and 6b. The discharging unit includes the flexible hose 41 and the nozzle 42. The flexible hose 41 is connected to an upper portion of the mixing space 20. The nozzle 42 is installed at an end of the flexible hose 41, and is fabricated in a form of a sprayer with a plurality of holes. The filter 31 is set at an inlet of the blower 30 so as to remove dust from air entering the blower 30.

The air shower system according to the third embodiment of the present invention is configured in the form of a single kit in such a way as to be portable, thus allowing the air shower system to be easily moved to a proper position inside a restaurant, a hospital, or a drugstore. Therefore, when a customer or a patient goes out of the restaurant, hospital or drugstore after having a meal or receiving a medical treatment, the customer or patient takes a shower, using the deodorant and/or disinfectant contained in the air shower system which has been moved to the proper position, so as to remove odor or bacteria from his/her body and clothes.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an air shower system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 8 to 13 are sectional views showing air shower systems using different atomizing units, respectively.

Each of the air shower systems shown in Figs. 8 to 13 has a box shape like the air shower system shown in Fig. 7, and is arranged at a proper place which is convenient to use. As shown in Fig. 7, a sensor 60 for sensing the presence of a person and a plurality of grilled outlets 72 constituting the discharging unit are provided on the front wall of the air shower system. Further, an ON/OFF switch

51 and an alarm lamp 52 are provided on a sidewall of the air shower system. The ON/OFF switch 51 is turned on to apply electric power to the air shower system. The alarm lamp 52 is lit when the mixed solution 1 does not reach a predetermined level. The air shower system of Fig. 13 uses an electrostatic filter, as the filter 31 which functions to remove dust from air entering the air shower system. The filter 31 is installed inside the air shower system. The air shower system also has an anion generating unit 80 which generates anions to the outside of the air shower system. Thus, dust is attached to the positive pole of the filter 31 so as to be filtered, while the negative pole of the filter 31 is connected to the anion generating unit 80 so that the anion generating unit 80 generates anions to the outside of the air shower system.

According to the air shower systems of Figs. 7 to 13, an additional filter 31a is provided between the mixing space 20 and the discharging space 71. A level gauge 11a is provided on a sidewall of the storage tank 11 so as to allow a user to observe a level of the mixing solution 1 from the outside of the air shower system. A level sensor 1 lb is provided in the storage tank 11 to sense a level of the mixing solution 1 and generate an electrical signal according to the sensed level. The reference numeral l ie denotes a solution refill hole which is used for refilling the mixing solution 1. The reference numeral l id denotes an ON/OFF relay which controls a voltage applied to the heater. The operation of the air shower system constructed in this way is as follows.

The air shower system of the present invention may be continuously operated by the ON/OFF switch 51. Alternatively, the air shower system may be operated for a predetermined period of time only when the presence of a person is sensed by the sensor 60. The latter case will be described in detail hereinafter.

First, the sensor 60 installed at a predetermined position of the air shower system or a wall senses the presence of a person, and then transmits a signal to a control unit (not shown). At this time, the control unit controls the atomizing unit and the blower 30 to operate them.

The atomizing unit atomizes the mixed solution 1. The fine spray laden with the deodorant and/or disinfectant which is produced by the atomizing unit flows into the mixing space 20.

The blower 30 feeds room temperature air filtered by the filter 31 into the mixing space 20. The room temperature air entering the mixing space 20 is mixed with the fine spray to produce the mixed gas. The mixed gas is discharged to the outside through the discharging unit.

The mixed gas discharged through the discharging unit is in contact with a person to remove an odor and bacteria from the person's body and clothes. Since the mixed solution 1 is heated to about 90°C in advance so as to be sterilized, there is no danger of infection during a shower. In this case, the atomized gas mixed with room temperature air is about 20~24°C in its temperature and 50-60% in its humidity. Such conditions are optimal conditions allowing a person to feel pleasant during a shower. As the mixed solution 1 is consumed, the level gauge 11a measures the amount of the mixed solution 1 to detect the lack of the mixed solution 1. When it is determined that the amount of the mixed solution 1 is lacked, the alarm lamp 52 of the control unit 50 is lit. When the alarm lamp 52 is lit, a user refills the mixed solution 1 through the solution refill hole 1 lb. The air shower system of the present invention may be designed such that the discharging unit is installed at a position between a place where an odor is emitted, such as a kitchen, and a living room. That is, when a plurality of nozzles are installed, in series, on the ceiling between a kitchen and a living room, the deodorant gas is discharged through the nozzles, thus preventing the odor of the kitchen from spreading to the living room, as well as removing the odor absorbed into the body and clothes of a person who moves from the kitchen to the living room.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides an air shower system, which is installed at a front door of a place where many persons enter and exit, such as a restaurant, a hospital, a drug store, a bus, a subway, and others, or is installed at a proper position inside the above-mentioned place, such that a mixed gas with a deodorant and/or disinfectant is sprayed on a person who goes in and out the place, thus allowing the place to be kept clean, and removing an odor as well as bacteria from the body and clothes of the person, therefore allowing the person's body and clothes to be kept clean.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An air shower system, comprising: a storage tank for containing therein a mixed solution prepared by mixing a deodorant and/or a disinfectant with water; an atomizing unit for atomizing the mixed solution contained in the storage tank, thus producing a fine spray laden with the deodorant and/or the disinfectant; a mixing space for mixing the fine spray produced by the atomizing unit with room temperature air, thus forming a mixed gas; a blower feeding room temperature air into the mixing space; and a discharging unit for discharging the mixed gas to the outside, said mixed gas being produced by mixing the fine spray with room temperature air in the mixing space.

2. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein a mixing tank defining the mixing space is provided in the air shower system separately from the storage tank for containing the mixed solution therein.

3. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein said atomizing unit comprises a heater which is installed in the storage tank to heat and atomize the mixed solution.

4. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein said atomizing unit comprises a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer which is installed in the storage tank to atomize the mixed solution by ultrasonic waves.

5. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein said atomizing unit comprises a heater which is installed in the storage tank to heat and atomize the mixed solution and a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer which is installed in the storage tank to atomize the mixed solution by ultrasonic waves.

6. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein said atomizing unit comprises: a pump; an intake pipe for sucking the mixed solution from the storage tank by an operation of the pump; a discharging pipe for discharging the sucked mixed solution by the operation of the pump; and an injection nozzle installed at an end of the discharging pipe for spraying the mixed solution from the discharging pipe.

7. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein said atomizing unit comprises: a pump; an intake pipe for sucking the mixed solution from the storage tank by an operation of the pump; a discharging pipe for discharging the sucked mixed solution by the operation of the pump, said discharging pipe horizontally extending to a predetermined position and being downwardly bent at the predetermined position in such a way as to reach a lower portion of a discharging space; an injection nozzle installed at an end of the discharging pipe for spraying the mixed solution from the discharging pipe; and a hot plate installed at a position below the injection nozzle to heat and atomize the mixed solution sprayed from the injection nozzle.

8. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein said discharging unit comprises: a discharging space communicating with the mixing space; and at least one grilled outlet provided at a front wall defining the discharging space.

9. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein said discharging unit comprises a nozzle which is installed in the mixing space.

10. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein said discharging unit comprises: a flexible hose connected to an upper portion of the mixing space; and a nozzle installed at an end of the flexible hose and fabricated in a form of a sprayer with a plurality of holes.

11. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein said discharging unit comprises: a plurality of nozzles installed, in series, on a ceiling between a kitchen and a living room; and a connecting pipe for connecting the nozzles to the mixing space.

12. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein a sensor is installed at a predetermined portion of the air shower system or a wall, and senses presence of a person so as to operate the air shower system.

13. The air shower system according to claim 1, wherein an anion generating unit is installed in the air shower system to generate anions to the outside of the air shower system.