WO2022184645A1

WO2022184645A1 - Set for producing a device for reducing the aerosol concentration in air

Info

Publication number: WO2022184645A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/054997
Authority: WO
Inventors: Klaus Heide
Original assignee: Medizinprodukte Dr. Heide UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
Priority date: 2021-03-03
Filing date: 2022-02-28
Publication date: 2022-09-09
Also published as: EP4302020A1; DE102021105130A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a set for producing a device (1) for reducing the aerosol concentration in air, comprising: at least one planar wall element (10) having a front face (12), a rear face (13) that is substantially parallel to the front face (12), and at least one inlet opening (14) and at least one outlet opening (15), wherein the at least one wall element (10) has at least one hollow body (11) and the at least one inlet opening (14) is located in the front face (12) or the rear face (13); at least one holding device (20); a suction unit (30) which can be connected to the at least one outlet opening (15) and by means of which air can be suctioned out of the at least one hollow body (11); and a disinfection apparatus (40) which is used to filter the suctioned air and/or to inactivate pathogens in the air, wherein the at least one wall element (10) and the at least one holding device (20) can be detachably interconnected.

Description

Set zur Herstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Reduzierung der Aerosolkonzentration in der LuftSet for the manufacture of a device for reducing the concentration of aerosols in the air

The invention relates to a set for producing a device for reducing the aerosol concentration in the air.

Due to the pandemic situation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in 2020, there is a recommendation or obligation to wear mouth and nose protection in a large number of countries in order to curb the spread of the pathogen.

A key measure to reduce the risk of infection with the coronavirus, but also with other cold viruses or influenza, is the containment and/or containment of the spread of aerosols that enter the room air through people breathing out. The aerosols can contain the viruses and other pathogens that are spread by the aerosols. While respirators can prevent aerosols from dispersing into the air, respirators are not always practical, such as in physical labor workplaces or for restaurant patrons. In hairdressing salons, too, customers have to take off their masks at least temporarily, otherwise the hair in the area of the ears or temples cannot be cut properly. In addition, shops and service providers with customer contact are obliged to take further measures to protect staff and customers. Spatially installed protective devices are known, e.g. in the form of room dividers and partitions or protective walls, which usually consist of transparent plastic panes.

However, if such partitions are not sufficiently large, they offer only little protection against the spread of the aerosols, since the aerosols are distributed in the room by the air movement and can get from one side of the partition to the other side. However, correspondingly large partitions are heavy and difficult to handle. As a result, the partition walls usually have to be installed in a fixed and location-based manner, as is often the case at supermarket checkouts or at the reception of a doctor's surgery.

Filter devices that suck in room air and, for example, disinfect the sucked air using UV rays can lead to a medium-term reduction in the concentration of pathogens in the room air, but do not prevent a locally increased concentration in the immediate vicinity of a person that excretes pathogens.

DE 196 52 688 A1 teaches a columnar device for ultra-pure filtering and disinfecting air, in which suspended matter is removed from the breathing air in a preliminary stage, this is then disinfected by irradiation with UV-C light and, in a third stage, the breathing air is finely filtered and in a passed through an activated carbon filter in the final stage.

US 10,894,104 B1 relates to an LED lighting device used to sterilize the surface or space.

DE 20 2020 105 873 U1 discloses a room air disinfection device with an air intake, an air outlet through which the air disinfected in a suction channel is discharged, and a blower.

Furthermore, a sterilization device with a blower is known from DE 10 2004 021 585 A1, in which the germs are killed by means of UV light.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a device for reducing the aerosol concentration in the air which is easy to handle and effective.

This object is achieved by a set for producing a device for reducing the aerosol concentration in the air, which has at least one plate-shaped wall element with at least one inlet opening, which is located in the front side or the back side of the wall element parallel to the front side, and at least one outlet opening, wherein the at least one wall element has at least one hollow body. The set also includes at least one holding device, a suction unit that can be connected to the outlet opening and can be used to suck air out of at least one of the hollow bodies, and a disinfection device that serves to filter the sucked air and/or pathogens in the air to inactivate, wherein the at least one wall element and the at least one holding device are releasably connected to each other. The set enables a modular assembly of the device. As a result, the device can be adapted to the given spatial situation. The fact that the at least one wall element and the at least one holding device can be releasably connected to one another simplifies assembly and disassembly of the device, since the connection between the individual components can be released and the components can then be transported individually.

At another location, a device adapted to the other spatial conditions can then be set up from the components of the set.

On the one hand, the wall element can serve as a "splash guard" and hold back exhaled air that is thrown out directly, as occurs when sneezing or coughing. On the other hand, air - and thus also aerosols with pathogens - can be sucked out of the immediate vicinity of the wall element through the at least one inlet opening of the wall element by means of the suction unit. In this way, the aerosol concentration on the side of the wall element that has the at least one inlet opening can be reduced.

The fact that the air exhaled by people can be sucked in in the immediate vicinity of the people prevents the exhaled air from being distributed in the room. The device according to the invention can thus be used to prevent the spread of pathogens in a simple and efficient manner and to reduce the contamination of the air with pathogens.

The size of the wall element can thus be smaller than in the case of the partition walls without suction known from the prior art, which leads to a saving in material and a reduction in weight and thus further increases the handling of the device.

Since the set enables the individual components of the device to be put together in a modular manner, the individual components can be produced in advance or kept in stock, and the set can thus be put together more easily and quickly according to customer requirements.

According to the invention, the extracted air can be filtered and/or pathogens can be inactivated in the disinfection device. In this way, the extracted air is cleaned and pathogens are rendered harmless or removed from the extracted air.

According to the invention, the hollow body is essentially hermetically sealed except for the inlet and outlet openings, so that a vacuum or negative pressure can be applied via the suction unit. As a result, air can only get into the hollow body through the inlet opening and flow out of the hollow body again through the outlet opening.

The at least one wall element is plate-shaped and has a front side and a back side that is essentially parallel to the front side. The at least one inlet opening is in the front or the back. Because the wall element is plate-shaped, the wall element can be easily fastened in the holding device. Panel-shaped wall elements can also be stored and transported in a space-saving manner. This leads to a simplified handling of the device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one wall element has two hollow bodies, which are separated from one another in an essentially airtight manner by an intermediate element. The intermediate element can be a plate or a disc, which is preferably arranged parallel to the front and the rear and preferably divides the wall element into two hollow bodies, preferably with approximately the same volume. Both the front and the back can have at least one inlet opening.

“Essentially airtight” means that a connection between the intermediate element and the wall element does not necessarily have to be completely tight, for example in the area of the outlet opening. It is sufficient if a sufficiently strong suction can be generated in each hollow body by means of the suction unit.

The at least one wall element is preferably transparent. This enables direct visual contact between people who are on either side of the wall element. Light can also fall through the wall element so that areas behind the wall element are not darkened.

The set according to the invention preferably has a plurality of wall elements, in particular plate-shaped ones, from which the desired device can then be constructed—together with the other components.

The size of the panel-shaped wall elements can vary depending on the desired application. Plate-shaped elements with a smaller area can be transported and handled more easily, but more wall elements have to be connected to one another in order to build up a larger wall element area.

A large wall area can be built more quickly from wall elements with a larger area, but large wall elements are more difficult to transport and, above a certain size, to handle.

Depending on the desired application, the areas of the wall elements are generally between 0.5 m ² and 10 m ² , preferably between 1 m ² and 3 m ² . The panel-shaped wall elements are generally square or rectangular so that they can be easily connected to one another. The size can be, for example, 0.6 mx 0.5 m, for example for a simple device to be placed on a desk, but also 0.5 mx 2 m, 1 mx 1 m, but also 2 mx 1 m or 3 mx 2 m.

The thickness of the wall element, the at least one, but also two
or more hollow bodies is generally between 2 cm and 30 cm and preferably between 4 cm and 20 cm.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the set comprises at least one partition element . The at least one partition element can be detachably connected to the at least one wall element. The at least one partition element is preferably designed in the form of a plate.

The at least one partition element serves to increase the area for separating two areas without providing additional extraction options. This can reduce the exchange of air between these two areas.

The at least one partition element can be connected to another partition element and/or to the at least one wall element, for example by plugging, clamping or screwing. A profile or hinge is preferably provided for the connection.

The at least one partition element is preferably transparent.

The area and dimensions of the partition panel are generally the same as those of the wall panel.

The at least one holding device preferably has a receptacle into which the at least one wall element can be inserted, locked, plugged, clamped or screwed.

The receptacle is preferably designed as a groove into which the wall element can engage. The wall element and the holding device can thus be connected to one another in a form-fitting manner, similar to a tongue and groove connection.

In a preferred variant, the receptacle is pivotably mounted in the at least one holding device. The wall element can thus be tilted or rotated in the direction of a person and the at least one inlet opening can be positioned close to the person's mouth and nose. As a result, the efficiency of the device can be increased further, since the aerosols can be sucked off directly at the point of origin.

The receptacle can preferably be rotated or tilted about a longitudinal axis. Alternatively, the receptacle can be mounted in the manner of a ball joint, so that turning and pivoting in all directions is possible.

In order to secure the connection between the wall element and the holding device, securing elements such as screws, cotter pins or clamping or clip fasteners can be provided.

The holding device is preferably cuboid, U-shaped or column-shaped, in particular designed as a stand. It is used for stable attachment of the wall element.

The holding device can be placed on a floor or a table, for example.

In a preferred variant, the at least one holding device is height-adjustable in order to be able to align the at least one wall element close to the head area of people. The device can also be used flexibly, for example with a low total height between seated people and after adjustment of the height by means of the height-adjustable holding device between standing people. For this purpose, the holding device can preferably be telescopically adjustable in height.

The overall height of the device can preferably be between 50 cm and 210 cm, but is not limited to this.

Particularly preferably, two or more wall elements can be accommodated in the at least one holding device and/or the two or more wall elements can be connected to one another laterally.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, an intake port can be provided which can be connected to the at least one inlet opening. The suction nozzle allows the aerosols to be sucked in close to the mouth and nose. The intake port can preferably be flexibly connected to the at least one inlet opening so that it can be aligned with a person's mouth and/or nose. The intake port can preferably be funnel-shaped.

A vacuum pump, a compressor or a compressor is preferably provided as the suction unit. The suction unit particularly preferably comprises a jet pump, in which the air is sucked in by means of an exchange of momentum. In principle, however, any type of pump is suitable that allows the air to be sucked in through the at least one inlet opening and that can supply the extracted air to the disinfection unit.

The suction unit can be positioned in or near the holding device, but also far away from the wall element in order to avoid any noise pollution.

Pathogens that may be present in the extracted air can preferably be filtered out and/or inactivated in the disinfection device using HEPA filters, UV radiation, microwaves, ozone, the effect of heat, in particular water vapor, or a combination of these agents. This prevents pathogens from being distributed in the ambient air via the air released from the device. At the same time, the aerosol concentration in the air is actively reduced.

In a further variant, additional filters can be provided in the disinfection unit, which can remove dust or pollen from the air, for example.

According to a further embodiment of the disinfection unit, substances can be added to the cleaned air in the disinfection unit, preferably fragrances, essential oils or moisturizing agents.

The air is preferably guided through the disinfection device in a meandering line. Thus, a large area to which the agent for disinfection can act at the same time can be provided.

The extracted air, which leaves the disinfection device again, can be returned to the ambient air through one or more air outlets in the holding device. Alternatively, the air can be discharged via a line at another point in the device.

In order to provide a device that is as space-saving as possible and therefore easy to handle, the suction unit and the disinfection device are preferably arranged within the at least one holding device.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the holding device, rollers, wheels or sliders are provided on the at least one holding device. Thus, the device can be pushed to a different position in a simple manner.

According to a further embodiment, if the disinfection device inactivates the pathogens by the action of heat, the air flowing out of the disinfection device can be fed to a heat recovery unit in which heat can be recovered from the air flowing out. The recovered heat can be used to heat the disinfection facility. This enables energy-saving operation of the device, especially outdoors. In addition, excessive heating of the ambient air is prevented.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the set can also comprise at least one lighting means, with which a direct or indirect lighting of the place on which the device is placed can take place. This makes it possible, for example, to optimally illuminate the work area of a desk on which the device is positioned.

In a variant, the wall element can be made of light-scattering material. The lighting means can be arranged on the wall element in such a way that the light from the lighting means shines into the
Wall element can be coupled and emerges again due to the light-scattering material over the entire surface of the wall element. In this way, an attractive area light can be designed.

Furthermore, components of the device such as the wall elements or partition elements can be provided with soundproofing devices such as soundproofing coatings, soundproofing mats or soundproofing panels. Boards made of various plastics such as convoluted foam boards, but also soft wood fiber boards or perforated wooden boards are suitable for this. This variant is particularly suitable if the set is used to set up a device for open-plan offices.

By selecting the appropriate soundproofing equipment, the set can not only reduce the aerosol concentration in the air and the noise, but also achieve a visually appealing, modern design that is no longer reminiscent of plastic panels.

In a further variant, components of the set, preferably at least one wall element or partition element, can be provided with a germicidal and/or antibacterial and/or antiviral coating.

Alternatively, of course, such a coating can also be applied to parts of the device or to the entire device after the set has been assembled.

The set according to the invention preferably comprises at least two, preferably at least three, wall elements, possibly with one or more additional partition wall elements.

The set according to the invention can also have a panel-shaped wall element, a holding device, a suction device and a disinfection device, but also two panel-shaped wall elements, one or more holding devices, a suction device and a disinfection device, possibly with one or more additional partition wall elements, but also three panel-shaped wall elements, one or more holding devices, a suction device and a disinfection device, optionally with one or more additional partition elements.

Of course, other combinations are also possible.

Ultimately, the number of wall elements in the set depends on the length and height of the extraction and how large the partition to be created should ultimately be. If the spatial separation is also to take place above the wall elements with the inlet opening, partition wall elements can also be inserted above the wall elements.

Of course, the alternatives described above can also be combined with one another.

The invention and other advantageous embodiments and developments thereof are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the examples shown in the drawings. The features to be found in the description and the drawings can be used according to the invention individually or collectively in any combination. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a device for reducing the aerosol concentration in the air,

FIG. 2 shows a section through the device according to FIG. 1 along the line AA,

Figure 3 shows a section through an alternative embodiment of the device along the line A-A,

FIG. 4 shows a section through a further embodiment of the device,

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of area C from FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 shows a section through an alternative embodiment of the receptacle according to FIG. 5,

Figure 7 shows a section through a further embodiment of the device along the line B-B,

Figure 8 shows a section through a further alternative embodiment of the device along the line B-B,

Figure 9 shows a section through a further embodiment of the device along the line AA,

FIG. 10 shows a schematic front view of a further embodiment of the device,

Figure 11 is a schematic front view of a further embodiment of the device and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the wall element of Figure 11.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a device 1 according to the invention. The device 1 comprises a wall element 10 which is arranged on the holding device 20 , in particular is inserted into the holding device 20 . The wall element 10 is plate-shaped and the holding device 20 is cuboid. In a front side 12 of the wall element 10 there is an inlet opening 14 through which air can enter the hollow body 11 of the wall element 10 .

The wall element 10 is preferably made of glass or plastic. The wall element 10 is particularly preferably made of Plexiglas.

Figure 2 shows a section along the line A-A, i.e. in the vertical direction, in Figure 1. The section runs centrally through the inlet opening 14. The bottom of the U-shaped receptacle 21 is aligned parallel to the bottom surface 22 of the holding device 20 with which the device 1 can be placed on a floor or table. The wall element 10 is in particular detachably connected to the holding device 20 in a form-fitting manner, in that the wall element 10 can be inserted or clamped into the receptacle 21 .

The wall element 10 has an outlet opening 15 into which a coupling piece 23 can be inserted. The coupling piece 23 is connected to a suction unit 30, which is designed as a vacuum pump. The suction unit 30 generates a negative pressure so that air is sucked into the hollow body 11 through the inlet opening 14 . The air flows through the hollow body 11 and reaches the suction unit 30 via the coupling piece 23 in the outlet opening 15 . In the disinfection device 40, the meandering line 41 is irradiated by means of a UV-C lamp, not shown, and the air is thus disinfected. Alternatively, the meandering line 41 can be heated in order to disinfect the air flowing through the line 41 .

The disinfected air is returned to the ambient air through an air outlet 42 in the holding device 20 .

The suction unit 30 and the disinfection device 40 are located within the holding device 20.

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the wall element 10. The wall element 10 is divided into two hollow bodies 11 by an intermediate element 16. FIG. In this exemplary embodiment, the intermediate element 16 runs centrally between the front 12 and the rear 13 of the wall element 10, which is parallel to the front 12. There is an inlet opening 14 in both the front 12 and the rear 13. The suction unit 30 can be used via the outlet opening 15 through both hollow bodies 11, air is sucked out through the inlet openings 14/14'.

In a further embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 4, an intake port 17 is provided at the inlet opening 14 . The intake port 17 is preferably funnel-shaped and can be connected to the inlet opening 14 by means of a rotatable and flexible hose 18 . On the one hand, the hose 18 is flexible in order to be able to align the intake connection piece 17 connected to it, and on the other hand it is so stable that it can hold a set position. Alternatively, the intake port 17 can also be designed as a mouthpiece, so that a person can breathe directly into the intake port 17 .

The hollow body 11 can extend within the entire wall element 10 or only in parts of the wall element 10 .

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of area C from FIG. The end of the coupling piece 23 protruding into the receptacle 21 is conically tapered. The wall element 10 has an annular seal 19 in the area of the outlet opening 15 . If the wall element 10 is pushed into the receptacle 21, the conical end of the coupling piece 23 penetrates through the seal 19 into the hollow body 11 of the wall element 10 and the ring-shaped seal 19 rests against the coupling piece 23, so that between seal 19 and coupling piece 23 no air can escape.

If the holding device 20 is cuboid as shown in Figure 1, the receptacle 21 preferably extends over the entire length of the holding device 20.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the receptacle 21 according to FIG. 5. The receptacle 21 is mounted in the holding device 20 such that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis. The rotating or swiveling movement is limited by the wall element 10 striking the holding device 20 .

If the holding device 20 is designed as a stand, column or tube, the receptacle 21 can be mounted in such a way that it can be rotated or pivoted freely in all directions.

Due to the modular composition of the set, wall elements 10 and holding devices 20 can be combined in almost any way. In the figures 7 to 10 different embodiments of combinations are shown.

Figure 7 shows a section along the line B-B, i.e. in the horizontal direction, in Figure 1. Two further wall elements 10', 10'' are arranged on the wall element 10, the wall elements 10' and 10'' being perpendicular to the front side 12 of the wall element 10 are arranged. Each wall element 10, 10', 10'' has an inlet opening 14. The wall elements 10, 10' and 10'' are connected to a plurality of holding devices 20. Such an arrangement can be used as a booth, for example for elections, on a school desk or at a control switch.

FIG. 8 shows a section along the line BB in FIG. 1 through an alternative embodiment of the device 1 with three wall elements 10, each of which has two hollow bodies 11, the two hollow bodies 11 of a wall element 10 being separated from one another by an intermediate element 16. Each wall element 10 has an inlet opening 14 on its front 12 and rear 13. The middle wall element 10 is connected laterally to one of the other two wall elements 10, so that with such a device 1 an area can be separated in a straight line. The interconnected wall elements 10 are connected to a single holding device 20 (not shown). Since the wall elements 10 have inlet openings 14 on both sides, the device 1 according to this exemplary embodiment can be used to exhale air from people who are on the front side 12 of the
Wall elements 10 are located, as well as people who are located at the back 13 are sucked.

FIG. 9 shows two wall elements 10 each with two hollow bodies 11 , the wall elements 10 each being connected to a separate holding device 20 . Each hollow body 11 is assigned an outlet opening 15 through which a coupling piece 23 protrudes into the hollow body 11 . In this embodiment, the air is sucked through the four hollow bodies by means of a single suction unit 30. The suction unit 30 and the disinfection device 40 (not shown) are located outside of the holding device 20. The suction unit 30 and the disinfection device 40 can thus be attached at a suitable location, for example under a table.

The exemplary embodiment in FIG. 10 shows a wall element 10 with a plurality of inlet openings 14. The wall element 10 is connected to the holding device 20. The wall element 10 is laterally connected to a partition element 110 by means of a profile 112 or a hinge 112 .

Several partition wall elements 110 can also be connected to one another by means of the profile/hinge 112 (not shown).

The wall element 10 should be attached where extraction is useful, for example at the height of a person's head. By the partition elements 110, which are constructed more simply than that
Wall element 10, the area for separating the two areas can be increased individually in a simple and cost-effective manner.

Rollers 25 can be attached to the holding device 20 . This allows the entire device to be moved and positioned.

FIG. 11 shows a device 1 with the holding device 20, which is designed as a telescopic stand. The height of the tripod 20 can be adjusted in order to be able to align the wall element 10 . According to this exemplary embodiment, the receptacle 21 is rotatably and pivotably mounted in the manner of a ball joint, so that the wall element 10 can be pivoted in all directions. Such a device 1 is suitable, for example, for hairdressing salons, since it is possible to get under the wall element 10 and thus the hair of a person who is on the back 13 of the wall element 10 can be cut.

Alternatively, two wall elements 10 can be connected to the stand 20, as shown in FIG. The wall elements 10 can be pivotally connected to the hinge 112 .

Claims

Comprising a set for producing a device (1) for reducing the aerosol concentration in the air

- at least one wall element (10) which is plate-shaped with a front side (12) and a rear side (13) essentially parallel to the front side (12) and with at least one inlet opening (14) and at least one outlet opening (15), the at least a wall element (10) has at least one hollow body (11) and the at least one inlet opening (14) is located in the front (12) or the rear (13),

- at least one holding device (20),

- a suction unit (30) which can be connected to the at least one outlet opening (15) and by means of which air can be sucked out of the at least one hollow body (11) and

- a disinfection device (40) which serves to filter the extracted air and/or to inactivate pathogens in the air,

- The at least one wall element (10) and the at least one holding device (20) being detachably connectable to one another.
Set according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one wall element (10) has two hollow bodies (11) which are separated from one another in an essentially airtight manner by an intermediate element (16).
Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one wall element (10) is transparent.
Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the area of the at least one wall element (10) is between 0.5 m 2 and 10 m 2 , preferably between 1 m 2 and 3 m 2 and/or the wall element is square or rectangular .
Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the set further comprises at least one partition element (110) which can be detachably connected to the at least one wall element (10).
Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one holding device (20) has a receptacle (21) into which the at least one wall element (10) can be pushed, latched, plugged in, clamped or screwed.
Set according to Claim 6, characterized in that the receptacle (21) is rotatably mounted in the at least one holding device (20).
Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one holding device (20) is adjustable in height.
Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two or more wall elements (10) can be accommodated in the at least one holding device (20) and/or the two or more wall elements (10) can be connected to one another laterally.
Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the set further comprises an intake port (17) which can be connected to the at least one inlet opening (14).
Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air sucked out of the hollow body (11) is guided in a meandering manner through the disinfection device (40).
Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one component of the set, in particular the at least one wall element (10) and/or partition element (110), has a soundproofing device and/or a germicidal and/or antiviral and/or antibacterial coating .
Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the set has at least two, preferably at least three, wall elements (10), optionally with one or more additional partition wall elements (110).
Use of a set according to one of the preceding claims for modular and simple assembly and disassembly.