Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
  • B66B31/00—Accessories for escalators, or moving walkways, e.g. for sterilising or cleaning
  • B66B31/02—Accessories for escalators, or moving walkways, e.g. for sterilising or cleaning for handrails

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a handrail disinfection device comprising a housing and at least three radiation sources, and a method for disinfecting a handrail using a corresponding device.
• Escalators or passenger conveyors usually have handrails that are guided in an upper strand so that users can hold on to the handrails while driving.
• the handrail is returned as Untertrum contrary to the transport direction of the escalator.
• bacteria, germs and viruses reach the handrail.
• the so-deposited pathogens can multiply on the handrail and transmitted to subsequent users.
• the handrail of, for example, an escalator thus represents an unsanitary place in public space, where infectious diseases can be transmitted.
• the object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device and a corresponding method which make it possible to render pathogens harmless on handrails during the operation of escalators.
• This object is achieved with a device and a method having the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. The features listed individually in the claims can be combined with each other in any technologically meaningful way and can be supplemented by explanatory facts from the description, with further embodiments of the invention are shown.
• a handrail disinfection device comprising at least one housing and at least three radiation sources which emit electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 220 nm [nanometer] to 280 nm, in particular from 240 nm to 250 nm.
• the handrail disinfection device is arranged on a handrail of an escalator, in particular in a region of the lower strand, which is not visible to a user.
• the handrail disinfection device is placed on the escalator so that the handrail passes through the handrail disinfection device.
• connection possibilities for the radiation sources can be arranged, as well as the required for the operation circuit for controlling the handrail - disinfection device.
• the required circuit can also be arranged in the control of an associated escalator or realized in this.
• the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation sources with a wavelength of 220 nm to 280 nm is also known as ultraviolet radiation (UV) and in particular as UVC radiation.
• UV ultraviolet radiation
• UVC radiation ultraviolet radiation
• the handrail disinfection device reduces the likelihood of transmission of diseases via the handrail of escalators.
• the housing has an inlet side and a handrail exit side opposite the entrance side, and the at least three radiation sources are disposed in the housing between the entrance side and the exit side so as to be able to irradiate the handrail from at least two substantially mutually orthogonal directions.
• a handrail is irradiated from at least two sides with the ultraviolet radiation and that the two directions are directed at the handrail during normal operation.
• a handrail usually has a substantially flat shelf on which the hands are placed in use, such as two partially curved side surface, which can be grasped by the hand of a user. At least the radiation of a radiation source is directed to the deposition surface, while the radiation of a second radiation source is directed to a side surface of the handrail.
• the radiation sources are preferably aligned in such a way that the radiation from the radiation sources falls onto the deposition surface and both side surfaces. Such an arrangement ensures that not only the tray for the hands of the handrail is disinfected, but that the entire surface of the handrail is disinfected using the ultraviolet radiation. Thorough disinfection of the handrail is thus possible in a simple way.
• the at least three radiation sources are arranged in the housing between the inlet side and the outlet side, so that the handrail from three directions, from where a first direction of a second direction is substantially opposite and a third direction is directed substantially orthogonal to the first and second directions.
• both the support surface of the handrail and both side surfaces of the handrail are irradiated with the ultraviolet radiation, since all three directions are directed to the handrail during normal operation.
• all surfaces that a user can reach with his hands are disinfected by the ultraviolet radiation.
• the housing and / or the radiation source prefferably have a curvature with a radius of 0.3 m [meter] to 0.7 m.
• the handrail disinfection device can be arranged in a region of the handrail which likewise has a curvature. This is the case in particular where an upper strand of the handrail merges into a lower strand of the handrail. This area is usually accessible from the outside, so that a subsequent installation of already installed escalators in a simple manner is possible.
• the radiation sources each emit radiation with a power of 14 W to 15 W at a wavelength of 254 nm at a power consumption of 41 W [Watt].
• Such an embodiment of the radiation source ensures that the pathogens are effectively rendered harmless on the handrail.
• the housing has on its inner side a surface which at least partially reflects the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the at least three radiation sources in the wavelength range from 220 nm to 280 nm.
• a reflective surface of the housing With a reflective surface of the housing, the radiation originally emitted by the radiation sources, which is not directed to the handrail during operation, is deflected onto the handrail and an increase in the effectiveness of the handrail disinfection device is achieved.
• the housing is designed such that no electromagnetic radiation emitted by the at least three radiation sources emerges from the housing. By a housing from which no radiation, the emission of ultraviolet radiation is avoided in the environment, so that no increased radiation exposure emanating from the handrail disinfection device.
• a method for disinfecting a handrail is proposed in which the handrail is irradiated with a handrail disinfection device according to the invention.
• the handrail is irradiated from at least three directions, wherein a first direction of a second direction is substantially opposite and a third direction is directed substantially orthogonal to the first and the second direction.
• FIG. 2 shows a cross section of a handrail disinfection device according to the invention
• FIG. 3 shows a device according to the invention in operation in a side view.
• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a handrail disinfection device according to the invention 1, which is already mounted on a handrail 4 of an escalator, in a perspective view.
• the users of the escalator can cling to the handrail 4 during transport with the escalator and transmit pathogens such as germs, viruses and / or bacteria to the handrail 4.
• the handrail disinfection device 1 has a housing 2 and a plurality of radiation sources 3 arranged in the housing 2.
• the radiation sources 3 are formed as tubes, which are arranged in the operational arrangement substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the handrail 4. They thus extend from an inlet side 5 of the handrail disinfection device 1, not shown here, to an outlet side 6 of the handrail disinfection device 1.
• the radiation sources 3 emit electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 220 nm to 280 nm.
• the radiation is directed essentially to the surface of the handrail 4, on which bacteria, germs and / or viruses can be present during operation. By the ultraviolet radiation, these pathogens are killed or rendered harmless.
• a surface 10 on the inside of the housing 2 may be provided with a coating that reflects ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation.
• the electromagnetic radiation which is not directed to the handrail 4 when leaving the radiation sources 3, can be deflected by reflection on the surface 10 on the handrail 4.
• Fig. 2 shows a cross section of a handrail disinfection device 1 according to the invention is shown, which is arranged on a handrail 4.
• Both the handrail 4 and the handrail disinfection device 1 have an oval cross-section.
• the flat side of the handrail 4 is to be considered in operation as a storage area 11, on which the users essentially lay down their hands.
• the users can also encompass the handrail 4 so that pathogens can reach the side surfaces 12 of the handrail 4.
• the radiation sources 3 are therefore arranged so that the ultraviolet radiation from three directions 7, 8, 9 is directed to the handrail 4. In this way, the pathogens on all surfaces of the handrail 4 can be rendered harmless.
• Fig. 3 is a side view of the handrail disinfection device 1 is shown, which is arranged in operation on a handrail 4.
• the handrail 4 moves in the direction of the arrow.
• the handrail disinfection device 1 thus has an inlet side 5 and an outlet side 6, through which the handrail 4 passes, wherein the handrail is disinfected when passing through the handrail disinfection device 1.
• the handrail 4 can be permanently freed of pathogens during the operation of an escalator, so that the spread of diseases is made more difficult.

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Cited By (3)

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Citations (3)

• 2010
  • 2010-04-23 DE DE102010018227A patent/DE102010018227A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2011
  • 2011-04-20 WO PCT/EP2011/056383 patent/WO2011131744A1/de active Application Filing
  • 2011-04-20 PL PL11715921T patent/PL2560913T3/pl unknown
  • 2011-04-20 ES ES11715921.0T patent/ES2533585T3/es active Active
  • 2011-04-20 EP EP11715921.0A patent/EP2560913B8/de active Active

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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