AMBULANCE HAVING INFECTIOUS DISEASE BLOCKING FUNCTION, AND INTERIOR PRESSURE CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ambulance having an infectious disease blocking function and an interior pressure control method therefor, the ambulance having a driver seat, a vehicle body and an emergency care compartment which is mounted on the vehicle body and which has a space in which a patient can be placed, and comprising an air pressure regulation part for setting the inside of the emergency care compartment to have a positive pressure or a negative pressure, and a control part for selectively controlling a positive pressure or a negative pressure of the air pressure regulation part.

Claims

1. An ambulance with infectious disease blocking function, comprising: an emergency care compartment with a space in which a patient can be placed; an air pressure regulation part that selects and sets an interior of the emergency care compartment from among positive pressure, negative pressure, and natural atmospheric conditions; a control part that selectively controls a pressure inside the emergency care compartment through the air pressure regulation part; a heating, ventilation, air conditioning system including an air conditioner and a heater; and a pressure sensor operated in response to the control part to detect the pressure inside the emergency care compartment, wherein the air pressure regulation part includes a suction part that supplies an external air into the emergency care compartment, and a discharge part that discharges an air in the emergency care compartment to an outside, and a duct of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning system including the air conditioner and the heater provided in the vehicle is connected to the suction part, and a cooling or heating air supplied from the heating, ventilation, air conditioning system flows into the emergency care compartment through the suction part.

2. The ambulance according to claim 1, wherein the control part is connected to a pressure sensor that senses a pressure inside the emergency care compartment, and controls an on-off or an air movement speed of the suction part and the discharge part, the suction part increases the suction air movement speed faster than the discharge part so as to form a negative pressure, and the discharge part increases the discharge air movement speed faster than the suction part so as to form a positive pressure.

3. The ambulance according to claim 2, wherein the suction part or discharge part each comprises: a container having openings formed in front and rear sides and having a passage therein; a drive part including a fan and a motor, the drive part mounted inside the container to exert suction power; a cover hinged to the front opening of the container to control an opening rate; and a HEPA filter hinged to the rear opening of the container and purifying moving air.

4. The ambulance according to claim 3, further comprising: a ventilation part formed on a side of the container, and a cover hinged to the suction part to control an opening rate of the ventilation part.

5. The ambulance according to claim 1, wherein the suction part is formed on one upper side of a wall surface of the emergency care compartment, the discharge part is formed at a position opposite to the suction part and is formed on a lower part of the wall surface of the emergency care compartment, the suction part is connected to a duct of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning system including the air conditioner and the heater provided in the vehicle, and the cooling or heating air supplied from the heating, ventilation, air conditioning system is introduced into the emergency care compartment through the suction part.

6. The ambulance according to claim 1, wherein the control part increases a suction fan speed of the suction part faster than the discharge part or increases an opening rate of a side ventilation part so as to form a positive pressure inside the emergency care compartment, thereby controlling the interior pressure for the emergency care compartment.

7. The ambulance according to claim 1, wherein the control part increases a discharge fan speed of the discharge part faster than the suction part or increases an opening rate of a ventilation part formed on a side of the discharge part so as to form a negative pressure inside the emergency care compartment, thereby controlling the interior pressure for the emergency care compartment.

8. The ambulance according to claim 1, wherein the control part causes ventilation to be performed by maintaining the same amount of suction and discharge of the suction part and the discharge part, thereby controlling the interior pressure for the emergency care compartment.

9. The ambulance according to claim 1, wherein the control part maintains the suction part and the discharge part in an open state and stops a fan to maintain a natural atmospheric condition, thereby controlling the interior pressure for the emergency care compartment.

10. A method for controlling an interior pressure of an ambulance having an infectious disease blocking function, the method using the ambulance with infectious disease blocking function according to claim 1 and comprising: controlling an operation of the air pressure regulation part to compensate for a change in pressure inside the emergency care compartment according to the change in vehicle speed.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the operation of the air pressure regulation part comprises receiving a signal from a pressure sensor that senses the pressure inside the emergency care compartment and transmitting the received signal to the control part, and driving according to a signal from the control part.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising: when the pressure inside the emergency care compartment is set at the positive pressure and the speed of the vehicle is low, opening the suction part to increase the pressure inside the emergency care compartment; and when the pressure sensor detects that the pressure reached a set pressure, closing the suction part and maintaining the pressure in a stable state.

13. The method according to claim 11, comprising: when the pressure inside the emergency care compartment is set at the negative pressure and the speed of the vehicle is high, opening the discharge part to decrease the pressure inside the emergency care compartment; and when the pressure sensor detects that the pressure reached a set pressure, closing the discharge part and maintaining the pressure in a stable state.

14. A method for controlling an interior pressure of an ambulance having an infectious disease blocking function, the method using the ambulance with infectious disease blocking function according to claim 2 and comprising: controlling an operation of the air pressure regulation part to compensate for a change in pressure inside the emergency care compartment according to the change in vehicle speed.

15. A method for controlling an interior pressure of an ambulance having an infectious disease blocking function, the method using the ambulance with infectious disease blocking function according to claim 3 and comprising: controlling an operation of the air pressure regulation part to compensate for a change in pressure inside the emergency care compartment according to the change in vehicle speed.

16. A method for controlling an interior pressure of an ambulance having an infectious disease blocking function, the method using the ambulance with infectious disease blocking function according to claim 4 and comprising: controlling an operation of the air pressure regulation part to compensate for a change in pressure inside the emergency care compartment according to the change in vehicle speed.

17. A method for controlling an interior pressure of an ambulance having an infectious disease blocking function, the method using the ambulance with infectious disease blocking function according to claim 5 and comprising: controlling an operation of the air pressure regulation part to compensate for a change in pressure inside the emergency care compartment according to the change in vehicle speed.

18. A method for controlling an interior pressure of an ambulance having an infectious disease blocking function, the method using the ambulance with infectious disease blocking function according to claim 6 and comprising: controlling an operation of the air pressure regulation part to compensate for a change in pressure inside the emergency care compartment according to the change in vehicle speed.

19. A method for controlling an interior pressure of an ambulance having an infectious disease blocking function, the method using the ambulance with infectious disease blocking function according to claim 7 and comprising: controlling an operation of the air pressure regulation part to compensate for a change in pressure inside the emergency care compartment according to the change in vehicle speed.

20. A method for controlling an interior pressure of an ambulance having an infectious disease blocking function, the method using the ambulance with infectious disease blocking function according to claim 8 and comprising: controlling an operation of the air pressure regulation part to compensate for a change in pressure inside the emergency care compartment according to the change in vehicle speed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ‘emergency care compartment’ of an ambulance according to the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing the ‘emergency care compartment’ of the ambulance according to the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an ‘air pressure regulation part’ of an ambulance according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the ‘air pressure regulation part’ of the ambulance viewed from another direction, according to the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a control method of an air pressure regulation part in response to sensing a vehicle speed of the ambulance according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR EMBODYING INVENTION

[0027] An ambulance having an infectious disease blocking function according to the present invention includes: an emergency care compartment with a space in which a patient can be placed; an air pressure regulation part that selects and sets an interior of the emergency care compartment from among positive pressure, negative pressure, and natural atmospheric conditions; a control part that selectively controls a pressure inside the emergency care compartment through the air pressure regulation part; a heating, ventilation, air conditioning system including an air conditioner and a heater; and a pressure sensor operated in response to the control part to detect the pressure inside the emergency care compartment, in which the air pressure regulation part includes a suction part that supplies an external air into the emergency care compartment, and a discharge part that discharges an air in the emergency care compartment to an outside, and the suction part is connected to the heating, ventilation, air conditioning system, and a cooling or heating air supplied from the heating, ventilation, air conditioning system flows into the emergency care compartment through the suction part.

MODE FOR EMBODYING INVENTION

[0028] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] The terms to be described below are defined in consideration of functions in the present disclosure, and it is noted that they should be interpreted as a concept consistent with the technical idea of the present disclosure and a meaning commonly or generally recognized in the art.

[0030] Further, in the following description of the present disclosure, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present disclosure rather unclear.

[0031] Here, the accompanying drawings are partially exaggerated or simplified for convenience and clarity of explanation and understanding of the configuration and operation of the technology, and each component does not exactly match the actual size.

[0032] In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ‘emergency care compartment’ of an ambulance according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing the ‘emergency care compartment’ of the ambulance according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an ‘air pressure regulation part’ of an ambulance according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the ‘air pressure regulation part’ of the ambulance viewed from another direction, according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart chart showing a control method of an air pressure regulation part in response to sensing a vehicle speed of the ambulance according to the present invention.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the ambulance according to the present invention is provided with a driver seat, a vehicle body, and an emergency care compartment 100 mounted on the vehicle body and having a space in which a patient can be placed, and includes an air pressure regulation part for setting the inside of the emergency care compartment 100 to a positive pressure or a negative pressure, and a control part for selectively controlling the positive pressure or the negative pressure of the air pressure regulation part.

[0034] The air pressure regulation part includes: a suction part 200 that directly intakes outside air, or that is connected to a heating, ventilation, air conditioning system 400 including an air conditioner and a heater provided in the vehicle so as to supply cooling and heating air, and a discharge part 300 that discharges the air in the emergency care compartment 100 to the outside.

[0035] The control part controls the on/off and air movement speed of the suction part 200 or the discharge part 300. A pressure sensor 180 is provided, which is operated in response to the control [36] part so as to detect the pressure inside the emergency care compartment 100. That is, the suction part 200 may form a negative pressure inside the emergency care compartment 100 when the suction air movement speed is increased faster than the discharge part 300, and reversely, the discharge part 300 may form a positive pressure inside the emergency care compartment 100 when the discharge air movement speed is increased faster than the suction part 200.

[0036] The suction part 200 or the discharge part 300 each includes: a container 210 and 310 having openings formed in front and rear sides and having a passage therein; a drive part 220 and 320 including a fan and a motor, the drive part 220 and 320 being mounted inside the container 210 and 310 to exert suction power; a cover 230 and 330 hinged to the front opening of the container 210 and 310 to control an opening rate; and a HEPA filter 240 and 340 hinged to the rear opening of the container 210 and 310 and purifying moving air.

[0037] The container 210 and 310 have a substantially rectangular box shape, and includes, mounted therein, the drive part 220 and 320 including the fan and the motor, a mesh net 211 attached to the front opening to block inflow of foreign substances, and the HEPA filter 240 and 340 mounted to the rear opening.

[0038] Of course, a filter may also be mounted on the front opening of the container 210 and 310, and a shield cover 315, which is openable, may be hinged to the rear opening.

[0039] The opening rate of the shield cover 315 may be controlled by the control part to adjust an amount of air transfer. Alternatively, the opening rate of the shield cover 315 may also be adjusted manually.

[0040] Further, it includes a ventilation part 212 and 312 formed on a side of the container 210 and 310 and a suction hinged cover 213 and 313 that controls the opening rate of the ventilation part 212 and 312.

[0041] At the ventilation part 212 and 312, the cover 213 and 313 may be opened to allow outside air to flow in, or the cover 213 and 313 may be closed to block outside air from flowing in.

[0042] Preferably, a duct 420 of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning system 400 provided in the emergency care compartment or vehicle is connected to a side of the container 210 of the suction part 200, and the cooling or heating air supplied from the heating, ventilation, air conditioning system may flow into the emergency care compartment through the suction part.

[0043] The heating, ventilation, air conditioning system 400 of patients and paramedics operates a blower motor through an evaporator and a heater core.

[0044] The evaporator and the heater core are components with dense gaps similar to those of honeycombs, and cause the air in the room to be repeatedly circulated.

[0045] In this case, it is very likely that, depending on the flow of air, the indoor contaminants are gathered in the core or dust and foreign substances are continuously attached, serving as a hiding place for contaminants, and contaminated bacteria from patients with infectious diseases can continuously cause cross infection.

[0046] Accordingly, in the present invention, the duct 420 of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning system 400 is connected to the suction part 200 such that hot air or cold air passed through the heating, ventilation, air conditioning system 400 can be introduced into the container 210 of the suction part 200, mixed with external air, and then regulated to an appropriate temperature and supplied into the emergency care compartment 100 to cool or heat the same, in which the air introduced through the heating, ventilation, air conditioning system 400 is also passed through the HEPA filter, such that sterilized clean air can be supplied.

[0047] Meanwhile, the suction part 200 is formed on one side of an upper wall surface of the emergency care compartment 100, and the discharge part 300 is formed at a position opposite to the suction part 200, and on a lower part of the wall surface of the emergency care compartment 100.

[0048] Therefore, after the clean air is introduced from the suction part 200 mounted on the upper part of the front wall, the air filled in the emergency care compartment 100 is discharged through the discharge part 300 mounted on the lower part of the side wall.

[0049] That is, since the old air remaining in the emergency care compartment 100 often sinks to the floor, the discharge part 300 is formed at the lower part to facilitate discharging the old air.

[0050] The control method of the ambulance configured as described above according to the present invention will be described as follows.

[0051] First, in order to control the interior pressure of the emergency care compartment 100 of the ambulance in the positive pressure, the suction part 200 increases the speed of the suction fan faster than the discharge part 300 or increases the opening rate of the side ventilation part 212 and 312 so as to form the positive pressure inside the emergency care compartment.

[0052] Next, in order to control the interior pressure of the emergency care compartment 100 of the ambulance in the negative pressure, the exhaust fan speed of the discharge part 300 is increased faster than the suction part 200 or the opening rate of the side ventilation part 212 and 312 is increased so as to form the emergency care compartment 100 in the negative pressure.

[0053] In order to control the emergency care compartment 100 of the ambulance in an interior ventilation condition, ventilation is performed by maintaining the same amount of suction and discharge of the suction part 200 and the discharge part 300. Therefore, by maintaining intensive disinfection with an interior disinfectant without allowing external leakage, and after disinfection is completed, by driving the suction part 200 and the discharge part 300 with the full suction and exhaust powers, fast ventilation is enabled, so that vehicle operation rate and cross infection prevention can be improved.

[0054] In order to control the interior of the emergency care compartment 100 of the ambulance in the natural atmospheric condition, the suction part 200 and the discharge part 300 may be kept open and the fan may be stopped so as to maintain the natural atmospheric condition.

[0055] The increase or decrease of the air conveying speed of the suction part 200 or the discharge part 300 may be regulated by controlling the respective fan speed.

[0056] Meanwhile, FIG. 5 is a flowchart chart showing a control method of the air pressure control part in response to sensing a vehicle speed of the ambulance according to the present invention.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 5, the present invention controls the operation of the air pressure regulation part to correct the change in the pressure inside the emergency care compartment in response to a change in the speed of the vehicle.

[0058] The operation of the air pressure regulation part includes receiving a signal from the pressure sensor 180 detecting the pressure inside the emergency care compartment 100 and transmitting the received signal to the control part, and driving according to a signal from the control part.

[0059] The speed of the vehicle is transmitted from an electronic control part (ECU) to the control part, and is also programmed to be operated in response to the pressure sensor 180.

[0060] A signal from the speed sensor is received and a signal from the pressure sensor 180 is received (S100).

[0061] When the pressure inside the emergency care compartment 100 is set at the positive pressure and the speed of the vehicle is low, the suction part 200 is opened to increase the pressure inside the emergency care compartment 100 (S200).

[0062] When the pressure sensor 180 detects that the pressure inside the emergency care compartment 100 reached the set pressure, the suction part 200 is closed and the pressure is maintained in a stable state (S300).

[0063] On the other hand, when the pressure inside the emergency care compartment is set at the negative pressure and the speed of the vehicle is high, the discharge part 300 is opened to decrease the pressure inside the emergency care compartment 100 (A100).

[0064] When the pressure sensor 180 detects that the pressure inside the emergency care compartment 100 reached the set pressure, the discharge part 300 is closed and the pressure is maintained in a stable state (A300).

[0065] The present disclosure is not limited by the embodiments described above and the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and applications not illustrated within the scope not departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure are possible, as well as substitution of components and change to other equivalent embodiments are possible, and accordingly, contents related to modifications and applications of the features of the present disclosure should be construed to be included in a scope of the present disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0066] The present invention relates to an ambulance having an infectious disease blocking function and an interior pressure control method therefor, and can be used for an ambulance that is an equipped vehicle provided to transport the sick and injured people to hospitals and to provide emergency care.