WO2012064044A1

WO2012064044A1 - Apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2012064044A1
Application number: PCT/KR2011/008319
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sun Ho Choi; Sang Rae Cho; Chang Yong Choe; Jun Kyu Son
Original assignee: Republic Of Korea (Management: Rural Development Administration)
Priority date: 2010-11-12
Filing date: 2011-11-03
Publication date: 2012-05-18
Also published as: KR20120051231A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle and more particularly, to an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle which disinfects its own vehicle directly.

Description

APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING A VEHICLE

In general, a vehicle, visiting an area where a foot and mouth disease is occurred, visits such an area after disinfected using a disinfectant. Thus, a disinfectant spraying device should be equipped to disinfect vehicles visiting the area at an entrance of the area. However, such a disinfecting way not only requires separate disinfectant spraying device but also needs workforces who use and manage the disinfectant spraying device.

Recently, vehicles visiting an area where a foot and mouth disease is occurred are equipped with a device for spraying disinfectant, instead of the above-mentioned separated disinfectant spraying device. Thus, the vehicles can enter to the area after self-disinfection using the equipped spraying device.

However, such a vehicle equipped with a self-disinfecting device leaves a part of disinfecting solution at hosepipes or spraying nozzles after spraying the disinfection solution. When outside temperature drops significantly, particularly in the winter time, such hosepipes or spraying nozzles can be frozen and burst due to the remained disinfectant.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve such problems associated with the conventional disinfecting ways or devices and provide a vehicle disinfecting apparatus which can prevent being frozen and/or burst due to the disinfectant remained in the hosepipes or spraying nozzles.

According to the apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle of the present invention, the hosepipes and the spraying nozzles are prevented from being frozen and broken due to the disinfectant remained in the hosepipes and the spraying nozzles since the disinfectant remained in the hosepipes and the spraying nozzles is removed by being sprayed out or re-provided back to the container by the external air.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are schematic views of an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

An apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a container mounted on the vehicle for containing the disinfectant; a discharger connected to the container through a discharging pipe for discharging the disinfectant inhaled from the container; a splitter connected to the discharger for splitting and discharging the disinfectant discharged from the discharger into a plurality of discharging lines; a plurality of hosepipes connected to the each discharging line for delivering the disinfectant discharged from the splitter; a plurality of spraying nozzles connected to the each hosepipe for spraying the disinfectant delivered from the each hosepipe to each part of the vehicle; a discharging valve combined with the discharging pipe for opening and closing discharging path of the discharging pipe; and a wireless controller for controlling each of the discharging pipe and the discharger. Here, external air inflow through an air inlet of the discharger is provided to the hosepipes and the spraying nozzles through the splitter to remove the disinfectant remained in the hosepipes and the spraying nozzles when the discharge path of the discharging pipe is closed by the discharging valve.

The discharger inhales the disinfectant from the container and discharges to the splitter by the force of the external air inflow through the air inlet when a motor operates.

An apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a container mounted on the vehicle for containing the disinfectant; an inhaling discharger connected to the container for inhaling and discharging the disinfectant from the container; a splitter connected to the inhaling discharger for splitting and discharging the disinfectant discharged from the inhaling discharger into a plurality of discharging lines; a plurality of hosepipes connected to the each discharging line for delivering the disinfectant discharged from the splitter; a plurality of spraying nozzles connected to the each hosepipe for spraying the disinfectant delivered from the each hosepipe to each part of the vehicle; and a wireless controller for controlling the inhaling discharger. Here, when a pump of the inhaling discharger rotates, the disinfectant is discharged and sprayed from the container to the inhaling discharger, and when a pump of the inhaling discharger reverse-rotates, the disinfectant remained in the hosepipes and the spraying nozzles is provided back to the container.

An apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention comprises a container mounted on the vehicle for containing the disinfectant; a discharger connected to the container for inhaling and discharging the disinfectant from the container; a splitter connected to the discharger for splitting and discharging the disinfectant discharged from the discharger into a plurality of discharging lines; a plurality of hosepipes connected to the each discharging line for delivering the disinfectant discharged from the splitter; a plurality of spraying nozzles connected to the each hosepipe for spraying the disinfectant delivered from the each hosepipe to each part of the vehicle; an inhaler connected to each of the splitter and the container for inhaling the disinfectant from the splitter and providing to the container; and a wireless controller for controlling the discharger and the inhaler. Here, when only the discharger operates, the disinfectant is sprayed by the spraying nozzles, and when only the inhaler operates, the disinfectant remained in the spraying nozzles and the hosepipes is provided back to the container.

The apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle may further comprise an inhaling container arranged between the container and the inhaler and connected to each of the container and the inhaler for temporarily storing the disinfectant from the inhaler and then providing to the container.

An apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention comprises a container mounted on the vehicle for containing the disinfectant; a discharger connected to the container for inhaling and discharging the disinfectant from the container; a splitter connected to the discharger for splitting and discharging the disinfectant discharged from the discharger into a plurality of discharging lines; a plurality of hosepipes connected to the each discharging line for delivering the disinfectant discharged from the splitter; a plurality of spraying nozzles connected to the each hosepipe for spraying the disinfectant delivered from the each hosepipe to each part of the vehicle; an air sprayer connected to the splitter for providing external air to the splitter; and a wireless controller for controlling each of the discharger and the sprayer. Here, when only the discharger operates, the disinfectant is sprayed by the spraying nozzles, and when only the air sprayer operates, the disinfectant remained in the spraying nozzles and the hosepipes is removed through the external air.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0095612 filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on September 20, 2007, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

　These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings or may be learned by practice of the invention.

While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. While such terms as “first” and “second,” etc., may be used to describe various components, such components must not be limited to the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. For example, the first component can be named as the second component and similarly the second component can be named as the first component without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The terms used in the description are intended to describe certain embodiments only, and shall by no means restrict the present invention. Unless clearly used otherwise, expressions in the singular number include a plural meaning. In the present description, an expression such as “comprising” or “consisting of” is intended to designate a characteristic, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a part or combinations thereof, and shall not be construed to preclude any presence or possibility of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts or combinations thereof. In addition, it is to be appreciated that the expression, “A is formed on B” mean “A may be formed on anywhere of B”, not limited to that “A is formed only on the surface of B”.

Certain embodiments of the invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

EXAMPLE 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle is automatic spraying apparatus mounted on a vehicle for spraying disinfectant to an exterior of a vehicle entering an infected area. The apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle comprises a container 110, a discharger 120, a splitter 130, a plurality of hosepipes 140, a plurality of spraying nozzles 150 and a wireless controller 160.

The container 110 has a storing space for storing disinfectant provided through an inputting part 112. The container 110 may be mounted on any part of a vehicle, for example, on the top or on the side of a vehicle.

The discharger 120 is connected to the container 110, inhales the disinfectant from the container 110 and provides it to the splitter 130. Here, a discharging pipe 114 is arranged to connect between the discharger 120 and the container 110. A discharging valve is combined with the discharging pipe 114 to open or close discharging path of the discharging pipe 114.

The discharger 120 includes an air inlet 122 for inflowing external air. When a motor of the discharger 120 operates, it inhales the disinfectant from the container 110 and discharges to the splitter 130 by using the force of the external air inflowed through the air inlet 122.

The splitter 130 is connected to the discharger 120 and splits and discharges the disinfectant discharged from the discharger 120 into a plurality of discharging lines. The splitter 130 may be formed as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 but be formed in a different configuration.

Each of the hosepipes 140 is connected to each of the discharging lines of the splitter 130 and each of the spraying nozzles 150 to deliver the disinfectant discharged from the splitter 130 to the spraying nozzles 150. Here, the spraying nozzles 150 may be arranged in various ways as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the front, the back, the side or the top of a vehicle. Each length of the hosepipes 140 may vary depending on each position of the spraying nozzles 150.

The wireless controller 160 controls the discharging valve 116 for opening or closing the discharging path of the discharging pipe 114 and controls the discharger 120 for discharging disinfectant from the container 110. Here, the wireless controller 160 is operated by a driver of a vehicle.

If the discharger 120 operates when the discharging path of the discharger 120 is opened by the discharging valve 116, the disinfectant is inhaled from the container 110 and sprayed to the outside of a vehicle by the spraying nozzles 150. On the other hand, if the discharger 120 operates when the discharging path of the discharger 120 is closed by the discharging valve 116, external air inflows only to the air inlet 122 and is provided to the splitter 130. The external air, inflowed to the air inlet 122 and provided to the splitter 130, is sprayed outside through the hosepipes 140 and the spraying nozzles 150 to remove the disinfectant remained in the hosepipes 140 and the spraying nozzles 150.

EXAMPLE 2

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention is automatic spraying apparatus mounted on a vehicle for spraying disinfectant to an exterior of a vehicle entering an infected area. The apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle comprises a container 210, at least one inhaling discharger 220, a splitter 230, a plurality of hosepipes 240, a plurality of spraying nozzles 250 and a wireless controller 260.

The container 210 has a storing space for storing disinfectant provided through an inputting part 212. The container 210 may be mounted on any part of a vehicle.

The inhaling discharger 220 is connected to the container 210, inhales the disinfectant from the container 210 and provides it to the splitter 230. Or the inhaling discharger 220 inhales the disinfectant from the splitter 230 and provides it to the container 210. Namely, when a motor of the inhaling discharger 220 rotates, the disinfectant is inhaled from the container 210 and provided to the splitter 230, and when a motor of reverse-rotates, the disinfectant is inhaled from the splitter 230 provided back to the container 210. Here, an inhaling discharging pipe 214 is arranged between the inhaling discharger 220 and the container 210. The inhaling discharging pipe 214 may be combined with an inhaling discharging valve (not shown) for opening or closing the inhaling discharging pipe 214.

The inhaling discharger 220 may be arranged as shown in FIG. 3 but 2 or more of inhaling dischargers may be also arranged as shown in FIG. 4. Here, the force to inhale and discharge may increase proportional to the number of the inhaling discharger 220.

The splitter 230 is connected to the inhaling discharger 220 and splits and discharges the disinfectant discharged from the inhaling discharger 220 into a plurality of discharging lines. Each of the hosepipes 240 is connected to each of the discharging lines of the splitter 230 and each of the spraying nozzles 250 to deliver the disinfectant discharged from the splitter 230 to the spraying nozzles 250.

The wireless controller 260 controls the inhaling discharger 220. Particularly, if the wireless controller 260 controls for a pump of the inhaling discharger 220 to rotate, the disinfectant is discharged from the container 210 to the inhaling discharger 220 and then sprayed. On the other hand, if the wireless controller 260 controls for a pump of the inhaling discharger 220 to rotate reversely, the disinfectant remained in the spraying nozzles 250 and the hosepipes 240 is delivered back to the container 210 through the splitter 230.

EXAMPLE 3

Referring to FIG. 5, an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle of the invention is automatic spraying apparatus mounted on a vehicle for spraying disinfectant to an exterior of a vehicle entering an infected area. The apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle comprises a container 310, a discharger 320a, an inhaler 320b, a splitter 330, a plurality of hosepipes 340, a plurality of spraying nozzles 350 and a wireless controller 360.

The container 310 has a storing space for storing disinfectant provided through an inputting part 312. The container 310 may be mounted on any part of a vehicle.

The discharger 320a is arranged between the container 310 and the splitter 330 to inhale disinfectant from the container 310 and provide it to the splitter 330. Here, a discharging pipe 314 connects between the discharger 320a and the container 310. The discharging pipe 314 may be combined with a discharging valve (not shown) for opening or closing the discharging path of the discharging pipe 314.

The inhaler 320b is opposite to the discharger 320a and arranged between the container 310 and the splitter 330 to inhale the disinfectant from the splitter 330 and provide it back to the container 310.

The splitter 330 is connected to the discharger 320a and splits and discharges the disinfectant from the discharger 320a into a plurality of discharging lines. Each of the hosepipes 340 is connected to each of the discharging lines of the splitter 330 and each of the spraying nozzles 350 to deliver the disinfectant discharged from the splitter 330 to the spraying nozzles 350.

The wireless controller 360 controls each of the discharger 320a and the inhaler 320b. Particularly, the wireless controller 360 controls the discharger 320a to inhale the disinfectant from the container 310 and spray outside through the spraying nozzles 350. On the other hand, it controls the inhaler 320b to inhale the disinfectant remained in the spraying nozzles 350 and the hosepipes 340 and provide it back to the container 310.

EXAMPLE 4

The apparatus is substantially identical to that in FIG. 5, except comprising an additional inhaling container 370. Thus, explanation regarding the apparatus in FIG. 6 will be omitted, except the inhaling container 370. The reference numberals in FIG. 6 are the same as in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention comprises an inhaling container 370 which is arranged and connected between a container 310 and an inhaler 320b, and stores temporarily the disinfectant provided from the inhaler 320b and then provides to the container 310. The inhaling container 370 is connected to the container 310 through an inhaling pipe 316 and connected to the inhaler 320b through a connecting pipe 372.

Bubbling inside the container 310 is prevented by providing the disinfectant directly from the inhaler 320b to the container 310 after storing the disinfectant temporarily provided from the inhaler 320b at the inhaling container 370 which is arranged between the container 310 and the inhaler 320b. Thus, bubbles of the disinfectant are primarily removed at the inhaling container 370 and then the disinfectant is provided back to the container 310.

EXAMPLE 5

Referring to FIG. 7, an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle of the invention is automatic spraying apparatus mounted on a vehicle for spraying disinfectant to an exterior of a vehicle entering an infected area. The apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle comprises a container 410, a discharger 420a, an air sprayer 420b, a splitter 430, a plurality of hosepipes 440, a plurality of spraying nozzles 450 and a wireless controller 460.

The container 410 has a storing space for storing disinfectant provided through an inputting part 412. The container 410 may be mounted on any part of a vehicle.

The discharger 420a is arranged between the container 410 and the splitter 430 to inhale disinfectant from the container 410 and provide it to the splitter 430. Here, a discharging pipe 414 connects between the discharger 420a and the container 410. The discharging pipe 414 may be combined with a discharging valve (not shown) for opening or closing the discharging path of the discharging pipe 414.

The air sprayer 420b is arranged to be opposite to the discharger 420a and connected to the splitter 430 to provide external air with stronger pressure to the splitter 430.

The splitter 430 is connected to the discharger 420a and splits and discharges the disinfectant from the discharger 420a into a plurality of discharging lines. The splitter 430 is also connected to the air sprayer 420b and splits and discharges the external air from the air sprayer 420b to the plurality of discharging lines.

Each of the plurality of hosepipes 440 is connected to each of the discharging lines of the splitter 430 and each of the spraying nozzles 450 to deliver the disinfectant discharged from the splitter 430 to the spraying nozzles 450.

The wireless controller 460 controls each of the discharger 420a and the air sprayer 420b. Particularly, the wireless controller 460 controls the discharger 420a to inhale the disinfectant from the container 410 and spray outside through the spraying nozzles 450. On the other hand, it controls the air sprayer 420b to spray the external air with high pressure through the spraying nozzles 450 via the splitter 430 and the hosepipes 440. As a result, the disinfectant remained in the spraying nozzles 450 and the hosepipes 440 is completely removed.

The present invention can be easily carried out by an ordinary skilled person in the art. Many modifications and changes may be deemed to be with the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. 　　　

Claims

An apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle mounted on a vehicle for spraying disinfectant on the exterior of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a container mounted on the vehicle for containing the disinfectant;

a discharger connected to the container through a discharging pipe for discharging the disinfectant by inhaling from the container;

a splitter connected to the discharger for splitting and discharging the disinfectant discharged from the discharger into a plurality of discharging lines;

a plurality of hosepipes connected to the each discharging line for delivering the disinfectant discharged from the splitter;

a plurality of spraying nozzles connected to the each hosepipe for spraying the disinfectant delivered from the each hosepipe to each part of the vehicle;

a discharging valve combined with the discharging pipe for opening and closing discharge path of the discharging pipe; and

a wireless controller for controlling each of the discharging pipe and the discharger,

wherein external air inflowed through an air inlet of the discharger is provided to the hosepipes and the spraying nozzles through the splitter to remove the disinfectant remained in the hosepipes and the spraying nozzles when the discharge path of the discharging pipe is closed by the discharging valve.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharger inhales the disinfectant from the container and discharges to the splitter by the force of the external air inflowed through the air inlet when a motor operates.
An apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle mounted on a vehicle for spraying disinfectant on the exterior of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a container mounted on the vehicle for containing the disinfectant;

an inhaling discharger connected to the container for inhaling and discharging the disinfectant from the container;

a splitter connected to the inhaling discharger for splitting and discharging the disinfectant discharged from the inhaling discharger into a plurality of discharging lines;

a plurality of hosepipes connected to the each discharging line for delivering the disinfectant discharged from the splitter;

a plurality of spraying nozzles connected to the each hosepipe for spraying the disinfectant delivered from the each hosepipe to each part of the vehicle; and

a wireless controller for controlling the inhaling discharger,

wherein when a pump of the inhaling discharger rotates, the disinfectant is discharged and sprayed from the container to the inhaling discharger, and when a pump of the inhaling discharger reverse-rotates, the disinfectant remained in the hosepipes and the spraying nozzles is provided back to the container.
An apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle mounted on a vehicle for spraying disinfectant on the exterior of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a container mounted on the vehicle for containing the disinfectant;

a discharger connected to the container for inhaling and discharging the disinfectant from the container;

a splitter connected to the discharger for splitting and discharging the disinfectant discharged from the discharger into a plurality of discharging lines;

a plurality of hosepipes connected to the each discharging line for delivering the disinfectant discharged from the splitter;

a plurality of spraying nozzles connected to the each hosepipe for spraying the disinfectant delivered from the each hosepipe to each part of the vehicle;

an inhaler connected to each of the splitter and the container for inhaling the disinfectant from the splitter and providing to the container; and

a wireless controller for controlling the discharger and the inhaler,

wherein when only the discharger operates, the disinfectant is sprayed by the spraying nozzles, and when only the inhaler operates, the disinfectant remained in the spraying nozzles and the hosepipes is provided back to the container.
The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an inhaling container arranged between the container and the inhaler and connected to each of the container and the inhaler for temporarily storing the disinfectant from the inhaler and then providing to the container.
An apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle mounted on a vehicle for spraying disinfectant on the exterior of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a container mounted on the vehicle for containing the disinfectant;

a discharger connected to the container for inhaling and discharging the disinfectant from the container;

a splitter connected to the discharger for splitting and discharging the disinfectant discharged from the discharger into a plurality of discharging lines;

a plurality of hosepipes connected to the each discharging line for delivering the disinfectant discharged from the splitter;

a plurality of spraying nozzles connected to the each hosepipe for spraying the disinfectant delivered from the each hosepipe to each part of the vehicle;

an air sprayer connected to the splitter for providing external air to the splitter; and

a wireless controller for controlling each of the discharger and the sprayer,

wherein when only the discharger operates, the disinfectant is sprayed by the spraying nozzles, and when only the air sprayer operates, the disinfectant remained in the spraying nozzles and the hosepipes is removed through the external air.