Abstract
Device for disinfecting an interior space with a cart, which is configured to travel along a path through the interior space, and a germicidal light source, characterized by a drone, which has at least one electric drive for generating lift, wherein the germicidal light source is fastened to the drone and the drone is connected to the cart via an electrical line for supplying energy to the germicidal light source and the electric drive.
Claims
1. A device (10) for disinfecting an interior space comprising a cart, which is configured to travel along a path through the interior space, and a germicidal light source (36), characterized by a drone (24), which has at least one electric drive for generating lift, wherein the germicidal light source (36) is fastened to the drone (24) and the drone (24) is connected to the cart via an electrical line (22) for supplying energy to the germicidal light source (36) and the electric drive.
2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the interior space is an aircraft cabin and the path is an aisle of the aircraft cabin.
3. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the germicidal light source (36) is a UVC light source, in particular with a maximum intensity in the wavelength range from 240 nm to 100 nm.
4. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the UVC light source is an excimer lamp, in particular a krypton chloride excimer lamp.
5. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the germicidal light source (36) has two tubular illuminants (56) arranged parallel next to each other.
6. The device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that two rotors (54) of the drone (24) are arranged on each of two opposing ends of the arrangement of the illuminants (56).
7. The device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that a plane (62) defined by the two parallel, tubular illuminants (56) is arranged tilted at an angle in the range of 5° to 45° relative to a rotor plane (60).
8. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one row of seats (46) is arranged in the interior space and the drone (24) has an electronic control, which is configured to control the drone (24) automatically such that the drone (24) moves at a specified flight speed along the at least one row of seats (46).
9. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cart has an extendable mast (20), which in a retracted position is accommodated inside the cart and in an extended position projects upwards out of the cart, wherein the electrical line (22) is connected to the mast (20).
10. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (10) has an electric travel drive and an electronic control for the cart, wherein the control is configured to control the cart autonomously along the path.
11. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (10) comprises a power cable (30) that is connected to the cart and has a plug for connecting to a supply network, in particular an on-board electrical system of an aircraft.
12. The device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the device (10) has a coiling device (28) for the power cable (30), which is designed to pull the cart along a specified travel path by coiling the power cable (30).
13. The device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the device (10) has a coiling device (10) for the power cable (30), wherein the electronic control for the cart is designed to coil and uncoil the power cable (30) automatically during travel depending on a travel speed and/or travel direction.
14. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (10) has a travel drive module (18), on which the cart can be arranged and fastened, wherein the travel drive module (18) has in particular a crawler track.
15. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cart has an accommodation compartment (26) for the drone (24) and/or an accommodation compartment (16) for the travel drive module (18), so that the drone (24) including the electrical supply line (22) or, respectively, the travel drive module (18) can be stowed inside the cart.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in figures. In the drawings:
[0040] FIG. 1: shows a device for disinfecting an interior space, the elements of which are stowed inside its cart,
[0041] FIGS. 2 to 7: show the device from FIG. 1 in different states of assembly,
[0042] FIG. 8: shows the device from FIG. 1 during disinfection of rows of seats of an aircraft cabin,
[0043] FIG. 9: shows a drone of the device from FIG. 1 in a view from above,
[0044] FIG. 10: shows the drone from FIG. 9 in a view from the side,
[0045] FIG. 11: shows the drone from FIG. 9 in a perspective representation,
[0046] FIG. 12: shows another device for disinfecting an interior space during disinfection of rows of seats of an aircraft cabin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0047] All figures are schematic and refer by way of example to an application of the device in an aircraft cabin.
[0048] FIG. 1 shows a device 10 for disinfecting an aircraft cabin, which as a cart has an aviation-approved cabin trolley 12 with a cuboid, upright body and four wheels 14 arranged on its underside. Such cabin trolleys 12 are often used to supply passengers with snacks and drinks and are pushed or pulled by hand through an aisle of the aircraft cabin for this purpose. In the state of the device 10 shown in FIG. 1, all elements required for disinfection are located within the body so that the entire device 10 can be stored like a usual cabin trolley 12 in a stowage space provided for this purpose on board the aircraft.
[0049] An accommodation compartment 16 in which a travel drive module 18 is stored is located in a lower area of the body of the cabin trolley 12. For this purpose, the accommodation compartment 16 is adapted such that the travel drive module 18 is held securely therein, for example, by means of an exact fit and/or a special fastening apparatus for the travel drive module 18.
[0050] An upwardly extendable mast 20, only an indication of which can be seen, from which two electrical lines 22 (only partially visible in FIG. 1) extend, is located in an upper area of the body of the cabin trolley 12. These two electrical lines 22 each lead to a drone 24. The two drones 24 are stored in an additional accommodation compartment 26 in the body of the cabin trolley 12. The additional accommodation compartment 26 is also adapted such that the drones 24 are held securely therein, for example, by means of an exact fit and/or a special fastening apparatus for the two drones 24.
[0051] A coiling device 28, on which the power cable 30 is coiled, is located laterally of the additional accommodation compartment 26. The device 10 can be connected to an on-board electrical system of an aircraft via the power cable 30, which has a plug on its free end (not shown).
[0052] Inside the cabin trolley 12, the device 10 also has two transformers 32, through which the individual elements of the device 10 are supplied with electrical energy from the on-board electrical system of the aircraft. In this regard, additional electrical lines 34 are indicated in FIG. 1, which lead from the coiling device 28 for the power cable 30 to the transformers 32 or, respectively, from there to the travel drive module 18.
[0053] As FIG. 1 also shows, the device 10 has a number of germicidal light sources: Each of the two drones 24 has two germicidal light sources 36. Another germicidal light source 38 is assigned to the extendable mast 20. Five additional germicidal light sources 40 are assigned to the travel drive module 18. All germicidal light sources 36, 38, 40 are securely stowed inside the cabin trolley 12. In the device 10 shown by way of example, each of the germicidal light sources 36, 38, 40 has a krypton chloride excimer lamp that emits UVC light with a wavelength of approximately 222 nm.
[0054] Additional details of the device 10, in particular how it can be transferred from the state shown in FIG. 1, in which all elements are stowed within the cabin trolley 12, to an operating state, are explained using FIGS. 2 to 7. FIG. 2 shows the cabin trolley 12 in a view from the side, wherein the elements arranged inside the cart are not shown. However, the two accommodation compartments 16 and 26 are clearly visible.
[0055] FIG. 3 shows the travel drive module 18, which has been removed from the accommodation compartment 16 together with the five additional germicidal light sources 40 and placed on the floor. A ramp 42 of the travel drive module 18, which has already been folded down, is clearly visible. The travel drive module 18 has a crawler track with two crawlers 44 arranged laterally next to each other.
[0056] FIG. 4 shows that in the next assembly step, three of the five additional germicidal light sources 40 have been arranged in their respectively provided positions on the travel drive module 18. This is done by a suitable folding apparatus or, for example, by simply plugging the additional germicidal light sources 40 into the holders provided for this on the travel drive module 18. As shown in FIG. 4, another germicidal light source 40 is then located at a low height above the floor at a front end of the travel drive module 18, so that, during travel, in particular the floor located below and in front of the travel drive module 18 is irradiated. Two of the additional germicidal light sources 40 have been arranged laterally on the travel drive module 18, also at a low height above the floor. They irradiate in particular floor areas laterally of the path along which the device 10 travels.
[0057] After the travel drive module 18 has been brought into the position shown in FIG. 4, the cabin trolley 12 can travel easily onto the travel drive module 18 via the ramp 42. Then the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 results, in which the cabin trolley 12 is located with its wheels 14 on the travel drive module 18. In this position, the cabin trolley 12 is fixed on the travel drive module 18. As indicated in FIG. 5, this can be done partially by folding up the ramp 42. In the simplest case, the wheels 14 of the cabin trolley 12 can be placed into precisely worked indentations on the upper side of the travel drive module 18. Alternatively or additionally, fixing the cabin trolley 12 to the travel drive module 18 with, for example, belts or clamping levers is possible.
[0058] FIG. 5 also shows that the travel drive module 18 is connected to the cabin trolley 12 or, respectively, the transformers 32 arranged therein via one of the additional lines 34 and thus can be supplied with electrical energy via the power cable 30.
[0059] In FIG. 6, the arrangement from FIG. 5 is shown in a view from behind, wherein, in addition to the three additional germicidal light sources 40 already described, two additional germicidal light sources 40 have been fastened in an upright arrangement laterally of a lower portion of the cabin trolley 12. In this position, they irradiate in particular the lateral surfaces, facing the aisle, of the adjacent seats when the device 10 travels along an aisle of an aircraft cabin.
[0060] FIG. 7 shows the arrangement from FIG. 6 in a view from the front, in which the view is aimed at the front side of the travel drive module 18 with the additional germicidal light source 40 fastened transversely there. The additional electrical line 34 that connects the travel drive module 18 to the cabin trolley 12 can also be seen.
[0061] In FIG. 8, the device 10 can finally be seen in use, during the disinfection of two rows of seats 46 arranged on both sides of an aisle in an aircraft cabin. The lower part of the device 10 is located in the state explained in FIG. 7, with the cabin trolley 12 on the travel drive module 18 and the described arrangement of the additional germicidal light sources 40. In contrast to FIG. 7, the two drones 24 are now hovering on both sides of the cabin trolley 12. Moreover, the extendable mast 20 has been extended so that it projects upwards out of the cabin trolley 12.
[0062] It can be seen in FIG. 8 that the mast 20 is a telescopic mast, wherein the two electrical lines 22 are guided out of the mast 20 at the upper end of an outer telescopic portion 48. Starting from small, approximately horizontally arranged spacers 50 that protrude laterally out of the telescopic mast portion 48, the electrical lines 22 hang down freely and each lead to one of the two drones 24, forming a loop.
[0063] An inner telescopic mast portion 52 of the extendable mast 20 projects upwards out of the outer telescopic mast portion 48 and supports on its free end the additional germicidal light source 38, which faces vertically upwards. In this position, the additional germicidal light source 38 serves in particular to disinfect luggage compartments not shown in FIG. 8, which are located in the upper area of the aircraft cabin on both sides of the aisle.
[0064] With the aid of a control (not shown), the two drones 24 can each be moved in a targeted manner at a specified distance along the rows of seats 46 so that they irradiate each of the sitting surfaces and each of the backrests of the seats of the rows of seats 46 one after another until the desired disinfection effect has been achieved. For this purpose, the control executes the flight movement with a suitable, specifiable flight speed and a suitable, specifiable distance from the surfaces to be irradiated. It can be seen in FIG. 8 that the dimensions of the drones 24, in particular the length of the germicidal light sources 36 used, are adapted to the width of the individual seats: The illuminants have a length that is the same size or somewhat larger than a width of the seats. As a result, during a linear flight of the drone 24, one sitting surface and one backrest can be disinfected over their entire width.
[0065] Additional details of the drones 24 can be seen more easily in FIGS. 9 to 11. In FIG. 9, a view from above, it can be seen that the drones 24 are quadrocopters with four rotors 54. The two germicidal light sources 36 have tubular illuminants 56 arranged parallel next to each other. Two of the rotors 54 of the drone 24 are arranged on each of the two opposing ends of this arrangement of the illuminants 56. Multiple sensors 58, with which an environment of the drone 24 can be detected during flight for the purpose of controlling the drone 24, can also be seen. The electrical line 22 is fastened to an end of the drone 24 between two rotors 54. It supplies both electric drives of the rotors 54 and the germicidal light sources 36 with electrical energy.
[0066] FIG. 10 shows the drone 24 from FIG. 9 in a view from the side. It can be seen that the rotors 54 each have a rotor plane 60 that is oriented approximately horizontally when hovering. The two tubular illuminants 56 that are arranged parallel define another plane 62, which is arranged tilted at an angle of approximately 15° relative to the rotor planes 60. The two rotor planes 60 are correspondingly offset in the vertical direction.
[0067] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view that once again illustrates the explained design of the drones 24. It can be seen that the germicidal light sources 36 each have one of the illuminants 56 along their longitudinal axis and a support structure around it, which in the example shown has two rectangular end plates 64 and four rods 66 connecting them to each other. This support structure protects the illuminant 56 from damage. At the same time, the germicidal light sources 36 form an essential element of a support structure of the drone 24.
[0068] FIG. 12 shows another device 10 for disinfecting an aircraft cabin that also has a cabin trolley 12 as a cart and two drones 24. However, no travel drive module 18 creates the movement of the cabin trolley 12 along the aisle as in the previously described exemplary embodiment, but rather the cabin trolley 12 is arranged lying on a rear side on a transport belt 68 running along the aisle. The transport belt 68 is part of what is known as an in-cabin belt system, with which luggage can be transported along the aisle. In connection with the device according to the invention, the coiling device 28 and the power cable 30 of the cabin trolley 12 that is coiled with it is used to pull the device 10 along the transport belt 68. The connection of the drones 24 via electrical lines 22 takes place, as in the previous exemplary embodiment, via an extendable mast 20, which, however, is arranged on the cabin trolley 12 so that it projects from the cabin trolley 12 from a side located upwards in the lying position.
