Device for sanitizing air-conditioners

Abstract

A device for sanitizing a unit of an air conditioning system having a source of sanitizing fluid, means for the controlled delivery of a jet of sanitizing fluid, suctioning means to generate suction flow is provided. The device has suction opening shaped to direct the suction flow towards a determined direction with respect to the direction of the jet of sanitizing fluid. The suction opening is smaller than the unit of the air conditioning to be sanitized in order to be alternately moved from a first portion of the unit towards a second portion of the same unit.

Claims

1. A sanitation device for a unit of an air conditioning system, the sanitation device comprising: a delivering head; an aspirator configured to generate a suction flow; a suction opening connected to the aspirator, the suction opening being configured to direct the suction flow along a suction flow direction, the aspirator being configured to suction liquid and solid materials through the suction opening and to convey the liquid and solid materials into a storage tank, the suction opening being so dimensioned as to be smaller than the unit of the air conditioning system and configured to engage the unit of the air conditioning system along a suction opening section; a source of sanitizing fluid; and at least one nozzle connected to the source of sanitizing fluid, for controllable delivery of the sanitizing fluid, the at least one nozzle being positioned inside the suction opening, wherein the at least one nozzle comprises two nozzles positioned to deliver two steam jets tilted with respect to a longitudinal axis of the delivering head and incident at an intersection point, the longitudinal axis being perpendicular to a plane formed by the suction opening section.

2. The sanitation device of claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle further comprises an additional nozzle for delivering a biocidal fluid jet along a biocidal fluid jet direction.

3. The sanitation device of claim 2, wherein the source of sanitizing fluid comprises a steam generator to produce the two steam jets and a pump to produce the biocidal fluid jet.

4. The sanitation device of claim 2, wherein the suction opening and the additional nozzle are configured so that the biocidal fluid direction is predetermined with respect to the suction flow direction.

5. The sanitation device of claim 4, wherein the suction opening and the additional nozzle are configured so that the biocidal fluid direction is parallel to the suction flow direction.

6. The sanitation device of claim 1, wherein the delivering head comprises combs or brushes for removal of solid or liquid particles.

7. The sanitation device of claim 1, further comprising a stem connected to the aspirator and the source of sanitizing fluid on one side, and connected to the delivering head on the other side.

8. The sanitation device of claim 7, wherein the stem is aligned with the delivering head along the longitudinal axis of the delivering head.

9. The sanitation device of claim 1, wherein the suction opening comprises a central suction opening inside which the two nozzles are positioned and two auxiliary suction openings configured to direct auxiliary suction flows symmetrically tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the delivering head.

10. The sanitation device of claim 9, further comprising a stem connected to the aspirator and the source of sanitizing fluid on one side, and connected to the delivering head on the other side, the stem being aligned with the delivering head along the longitudinal axis of the delivering head.

11. The sanitation device of claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting a flow rate of the suction flow.

12. The sanitation device of claim 1, wherein each of the two nozzles is embedded in a tube contacting an internal surface of the suction opening.

13. The sanitation device of claim 1, wherein each of the two nozzles is embedded in a tube contacting an internal surface of the suction opening, on opposite sides of the internal surface.

14. The sanitation device of claim 1, wherein the suction opening is larger than the at least one nozzle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the following description, made for illustration purposes and without limitation, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

(3) FIGS. 2A-2C are perspective views of some particular embodiments of the delivering head of the device according to the present invention;

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B are front and sectional views, respectively, of a particular embodiment of the delivering head of the device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for sanitizing at least one indoor and/or outdoor unit of an air conditioning system comprising a source 2, 3 of sanitizing fluid. The sanitizing fluid can be a biocidal fluid (preferably liquid and/or biodegradable) and/or saturated steam. In the shown embodiment, the source of sanitizing fluid comprises a steam generator 2, able to produce saturated steam at about 160° C. at a pressure of about 9 bar, and a pump 3 for producing a jet of biocidal fluid, possibly nebulized.

(6) The device 1 comprises means for the controlled delivery of at least one jet of sanitizing fluid. Preferably, both the steam generator 2 and the pump 3 are hydraulically connected to means for the controlled delivery of the sanitizing fluid which, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, comprise a first nozzle 6 for delivering a steam jet and a second nozzle 7 for delivering a jet of biocidal fluid. In FIG. 1, the connection between the source of sanitizing fluid and means for the controlled delivery is symbolically denoted by the ducts 4, 5 respectively connecting the steam generator 2 to the nozzle 6 and the pump 3 to the nozzle 7. By means known in the art (for example, mechanically or electrically operated valves) it is therefore possible to enable or disable the delivery of steam and/or biocidal fluid through the respective nozzles 6 and/or 7. Preferably, it is possible to adjust the steam pressure between 5 and 10 bar and/or adjust the flow of biocidal liquid by changing the pump speed. Preferably, the pump flow rate can be of about 461/s, mostly of about 22 kPa.

(7) In a preferred embodiment, the connection between the source of sanitizing fluid and the means for the controlled delivery is provided through a single duct which hydraulically connects a pump to one or more nozzles for delivering the sanitizing fluid. By means of additional ducts, the pump draws steam and biocidal liquid respectively from the steam generator and from one or more tanks of germicidal products. Such a solution allows different germicidal products to be mixed with steam and the sanitizing fluid to be delivered in the form of one or more jets of boiling liquid.

(8) In a further embodiment it is possible to provide a heating circuit in order to raise the temperature of the biocidal liquid without having to mix the biocidal liquid with steam and possibly without providing a steam generator.

(9) Referring to FIG. 1, the device 1 further comprises suctioning means 8 fluidically connected to at least one suction opening 9.

(10) In FIG. 1, a duct 10 symbolically indicates the connection between the suctioning means 8 and the suction opening 9. The suctioning means 8 are known per se in the art and preferably comprise an aspirator able to suction liquid and/or solid materials drawing them through the suction opening and conveying them into a storage tank 8a. The storage tank can be provided with a discharge duct 8b to empty the tank 8a of the materials suctioned during sanitization without having to disconnect the tank 8a from the device 1 and, possibly, without having to suspend the sanitization of the conditioning system.

(11) The suction opening 9 is shaped so as to direct a suction flow towards a determined direction with respect to the direction of the jet of sanitizing fluid delivered by the nozzles 6, 7. Furthermore, advantageously, the suction opening 9 is sized so as to be smaller than the unit of the conditioning system to be sanitized, so that this suction opening 9 can be moved from a first portion (or area) of said unit towards at least one second portion (or area) of the same unit, separated from the afore said first portion. As clear to the person skilled in the art, the small size of the suction opening 9 not only allows to limit the bulk of the sanitizing device 1 making it extremely easy to be handled, but also allows the operator to position, in an extremely precise way and in total safety, this suction opening 9 of the device 1 on various portions of the unit of the conditioning system depending on the need detected by the operator to more or less strongly exert the suctioning action of the sanitizing fluid.

(12) Preferably, the device 1 comprises a delivering head 11 constituted by a body 12 in which the nozzles 6, 7 and the suction opening 9 are housed.

(13) Also the delivering head 11, preferably substantially delimiting the above said suction opening, is sized so as to be smaller than the unit of the conditioning system to be sanitized, so that it can be moved, for example in an alternate way, from a first portion (or area) of said unit towards at least one second portion (or area) of the same unit of the conditioning system, separate from the first portion (area) of the latter.

(14) In other words, the delivering opening 9 and preferably the respective delivering head 11 are sized so that they can not be overlapped on the entire indoor and/or outdoor unit of a conditioning system to be sanitized, so they engage only separate areas of the same indoor and/or outdoor unit, thereby allowing the operator to direct, in a completely safe, easy and precise way, the suction flow, and preferably also the flow of sanitizing fluid, where it is most needed on the unit being sanitized, only with the help of the view.

(15) The operator can move the delivering head and direct the jet of sanitizing fluid towards a specific portion of the indoor and/or outdoor unit, the split and/or condensing unit to be sanitized, by means of a stem 13 the delivering head 11 can be removably constrained to. During the delivery of the sanitizing fluid (steam and/or biocidal liquid), the suction flow coming from the suction opening 9 is directed in parallel to the jet of sanitizing fluid. As the sanitizing fluid hits the portion of the split unit, due to the condensation of the delivered steam and/or biocidal liquid, it generates drops which are removed by the suction flow, thus keeping dry and sanitized the portion of the split unit.

(16) Even not-skilled labor can carry out a precise sanitization of the split units in complete safety, without using drop clothes and/or housings for collecting condensation. In fact, during the delivery of saturated steam, also dust particles, mold, bacterial colonies, viruses and other contaminants trapped inside the split and/or condensing unit will be suctioned without the danger of being shot out of the suction flow.

(17) As previously explained, the delivering head 11 can be disconnected from the device 1 and replaced by other delivering heads generally comprising at least one nozzle for delivering a jet of sanitizing fluid and one or more suction openings, each shaped so as to direct a suction flow towards a determined direction with respect to the jet of sanitizing fluid.

(18) In particular, FIGS. 2A-2C show some possible shapes of the delivering head 11 of the device 1.

(19) FIG. 2A shows a delivering head 11 constituted by a body 12 in which two nozzles 6 for delivering steam and a suction opening 9 are housed. In particular, both the nozzles 6 are positioned inside the suction opening. In this embodiment, the suction opening 9 is shaped so that the direction of the suction flow is parallel to both the steam jets delivered by the nozzles 6.

(20) The delivering head 11 further comprises means 14 to confine a portion of a unit of a conditioning system and/or to remove mechanically liquid and/or solid particles from the portion of a unit of a conditioning system. The means 14 allow the contaminants to be removed from the portion of the conditioning system by coupling with mechanical wiping and/or bearing, thereby reducing the time and energy to carry out the sanitization.

(21) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the delivering head 11 shown in FIG. 2A comprises a comb having bristles arranged around the suction opening 9 and around the nozzles 6.

(22) Further embodiments may provide the means 14 comprising one or more combs (or brushes) equipped with bristles and/or hairs and/or lints, in general rigid or flexible bodies made, for example, of fabric and/or nonwoven fabric and/or rubber, to mechanically remove solid and/or liquid particles from the portion of the unit of conditioning system to be sanitized.

(23) Thanks to the particular geometrical arrangement of the means 14 shown in FIG. 2A, two actions can be simultaneously carried out: mechanically remove liquid and/or solid particles from a portion of the unit of the conditioning system (for example a portion of split and/or condensing unit) and confine the portion of the unit of conditioning system during the sanitization. The confinement is carried out by leaning the means 14 against the unit portion to be sanitized. In this way the suction flow is improved, being concentrated on a unit portion confined by the means 14, thereby further reducing the probability that sanitizing fluid, condensate or contaminants can escape the suction flow.

(24) Further embodiments may provide a delivering head 11 comprising means 14 only adapted to confine a portion of a split unit, for example by means of at least one body or at least one substantially cylindrical wall, for example funnel-shaped (made of rigid or flexible material) and arranged so as to surround at least one suction opening and/or the nozzles for delivering the sanitizing fluid.

(25) Otherwise, further embodiments may provide a delivering head 11 comprising means 14 only adapted to mechanically remove solid or liquid particles from a portion of a unit of the conditioning system. In the latter case the means 14 are made similarly to those shown in FIG. 2A, i.e. with one or more combs (or brushes) provided with bristles and/or hairs and/or lints, in general rigid or flexible bodies made for example of fabric, nonwoven fabric, rubber, but with a different geometrical arrangement, for example with the bristles arranged on the delivering head in one or more rows parallel to each other.

(26) FIG. 2B shows a delivering head 11 constituted by a body 12 having a substantially cylindrical shape. The delivering head comprises a suction opening 9, a nozzle 6 for delivering steam and a nozzle 7 for delivering a jet of biocidal liquid. Also in this embodiment, the suction opening 9 is shaped so that the direction of the suction flow is parallel to both the jets of sanitizing fluid delivered by the nozzles 6 and 7.

(27) FIG. 2C shows a further embodiment of the delivering head 11 in which four auxiliary suction openings 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, positioned around a central suction opening 9, are provided. The delivering head 11 comprises two nozzles 6a, 6b for delivering steam and positioned inside the central suction opening 9.

(28) As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the nozzles 6a, 6b are positioned so as to deliver two steam jets tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis R-R of the delivering head 11 and incident at an intersection point P. The central suction opening 9 is shaped so as to direct a suction flow parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dispensing head, whereas the auxiliary openings 9a and 9b are shaped so as to direct a suction flow parallel to the respective steam jets delivered by the nozzles 6a and 6b.

(29) Similarly, also the suction openings 9c, 9d can be shaped so as to direct the suction flows to be symmetrically tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis R-R. This solution is very advantageous when the steam delivery takes place at high pressures, in fact, the suction flows from the auxiliary suction openings allow creating a substantially funnel-shaped suction wall and able to suction the condensed sanitizing fluid even when the latter is delivered at high pressures, for example higher than 9 bars.

(30) Thanks to the device 1 it is therefore possible to carry out a method for sanitizing a conditioning system comprising the following steps. The operator places the delivering head 11 and the respective suction opening 9 next to a first portion of the split unit to be sanitized. Then, the suctioning means 8 can be activated by the operator in order to generate at least one suction flow. Right at the suction time, or immediately after, the operator activates the means for the controlled delivery of at least one jet of sanitizing fluid and directs the sanitizing fluid towards the portion to be sanitized. During this last step, the operator can activate the steam generator and/or the pump to deliver the biocidal liquid. When the portion of the split and/or the condensing unit is properly sanitized, the operator moves the dispensing head to a second portion to be sanitized and separate from the first, already sanitized, portion. During the movement, the delivery of sanitizing fluid and the suction of the condensation can be advantageously continued, so that no portion of the split unit is left not completely sanitized.