LANCE FOR CLEANING, DISINFECTING AND SANITISING ALL TYPES OF OBJECTS, INCORPORATING A STEAM GENERATOR, AND ASSOCIATED OPERATING METHODS

Abstract

A cleaning lance for performing cleaning using both steam and the suction or blowing of air. The cleaning lance includes: a first fluidic circuit, referred to as the air-suction or air-blowing circuit, including an air connection end piece designed to be connected to a suction and/or blowing device, an air-suction or air-blowing nozzle, a duct connecting the air connection end piece to the air-suction or air-blowing nozzle; and a second fluidic circuit, referred to as the steam generating circuit, including a connection end piece for connection to a pressurized liquid supply, a steam ejection nozzle, a duct connecting the connection end piece to the steam ejection nozzle. The duct housing, from upstream to downstream, includes: a pressurized-liquid spray nozzle designed to spray the pressurized liquid in the form of droplets, configuration for generating droplets of steam from the droplets of spray, and a nozzle for atomizing the generated steam.

Claims

1. A cleaning lance intended to perform cleaning using both steam and the suction or blowing of air, comprising within it: a first fluidic circuit, referred to as the air-suction or air-blowing circuit, comprising an air connection end piece designed to be connected to a suction and/or blowing device, an air-suction or air-blowing nozzle, a duct connecting the air connection end piece to the air-suction or air-blowing nozzle; a second fluidic circuit, referred to as the steam generating circuit, comprising a connection end piece for connection to a pressurized liquid supply, a steam ejection nozzle, a duct connecting the connection end piece to the steam ejection nozzle, the duct housing, from upstream to downstream: a pressurized-liquid spray nozzle designed to spray the pressurized liquid in the form of droplets, means for generating droplets of steam from the droplets of spray, a nozzle for atomizing the generated steam.

2. The cleaning lance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air-suction or air-blowing nozzle is fixed, whereas the steam ejection nozzle is mounted with the ability to slide between a distant extreme position corresponding to blowing operation of the air-blowing circuit, into the closed-up extreme position corresponding to suction operation of the air-suction circuit.

3. The cleaning lance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for generating water vapor (steam) comprise a heating blade arranged across the duct, designed to heat the droplets of water spray circulating in its vicinity and turn them into droplets of steam.

4. The cleaning lance as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heating blade is arranged such that it divides the duct into two passages of substantially equal cross section.

5. The cleaning lance as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heating blade is held by at least one its ends in the wall of the duct by a seal that is both thermally and electrically insulating, such as one made of neoprene.

6. The cleaning lance as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heating blade is electrically powered by an electric pulse generator the amplitude and frequency of the pulse of which are suited to ionizing the droplets at the same time as same are being turned into steam.

7. The cleaning lance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct of the steam generating circuit further houses, between the spray nozzle and the means for generating droplets of steam, a venturi-effect device suited to decreasing the pressure in order to increase the suction on the droplets of spray.

8. The cleaning lance as claimed in claim 1, of which the body is in two parts, one of them referred to as a stock incorporating the air-connection and pressurized-water-connection end pieces and the other referred to as a guide incorporating the air-suction or air-blowing nozzle and the steam ejection nozzle, the stock and the guide being mounted with the ability to pivot one with respect to the other about an axis (X) orthogonal to the directions of sucking/blowing with air and of ejection of steam, the ducts being flexible or comprising an extension-forming element that absorbs their variation in length when pivoting is performed, at least in the region (Z2) of pivoting of the stock with respect to the guide.

9. The cleaning lance as claimed in claim 1, comprising a wheel mounted with the freedom to rotate on the steam ejection nozzle and equipped with spikes on its periphery, these being suited to lifting the pile of coverings made of fabric, carpet or other coverings of pile type, when the wheel is moved over them.

10. The cleaning lance as claimed in claim 1, comprising a shutter able to move into various positions of closure in which it partially closes off the ejection nozzle to a greater or lesser extent.

11. A method of operation of a cleaning lance as claimed in claim 1 with a view to cleaning the outside of an object, comprising the following steps: a/blowing air into the first circuit and at the same time supplying water o the second circuit, b/spraying the steam generated in the second circuit through the steam ejection nozzle, and at the same time blowing air through the blowing nozzle, parallel to and some distance away from the sprayed steam.

12. A method of operation of a cleaning lance as claimed in claim 1 with a view to cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing the inside of an object, comprising the following steps: a/sucking air into the first circuit and at the same time supplying water to the second circuit, b/spraying the steam generated in the second circuit through the steam ejection nozzle, and at the same time sucking air through the blowing nozzle, parallel to and some distance away from the sprayed steam.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] Further advantages and features of the invention will become better apparent from reading the detailed description of the invention given by way of nonlimiting illustration with reference to the following figures among which:

[0053] FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal section view of a steam cleaning lance according to one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 showing the two fluidic circuits according to the invention;

[0054] FIG. 2 is a view of the lance of FIG. 1 from beneath, FIG. 2 showing the fluidic circuit for generating steam from the pressurized-water arrival;

[0055] FIG. 3 is a view in cross section of the duct of the fluidic steam generating circuit, the cross section being taken in the region Z3 in which a steam generator according to one embodiment of the invention is arranged;

[0056] FIG. 4 schematically depicts the free end of the fluidic steam generating circuit, FIG. 4 showing an alternative form of the embodiment of the droplet atomizing nozzle extended by the nozzle for ejecting the atomized droplets;

[0057] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an alternative form of the embodiment of the steam ejection nozzle of the cleaning lance according to the invention.

[0058] Throughout the present application, the terms inlet, outlet, downstream and upstream are to be understood with reference to the direction of circulation of the fluid (water, steam, air, or dust-laden air) within a cleaning lance according to the invention.

[0059] The elements depicted are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0060] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the arrows indicate the direction of circulation of fluids, namely respectively A for the sucking of air, S for the blowing of air and E for the direction in which water converted into steam circulates within the lance.

[0061] FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a lance 1 for steam cleaning objects according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0062] The lance 1 incorporates within it two independent fluidic circuits 2, 3.

[0063] The first fluidic circuit 2 is the one dedicated to sucking or blowing air. It comprises first of all, at one end of the lance, an air connection end piece 20 designed to be connected to a distinct sucking and/or blowing device of the lance. At the other end, there is an air-sucking or air-blowing nozzle 21. A duct 22 connects the air connection end piece 20 to the air-sucking or air-blowing nozzle 21.

[0064] The second fluidic circuit 3 is the one dedicated to the generation of steam. It comprises at one end, an end piece 30 for connection to a pressurized water supply. For preference, the water supplied to this circuit 3 is collected rainwater. However, it may also be water taken from a potable water network. For preference also, the water arrives at the inlet 30 under a pressure of between 2 and 15 bar. A higher pressure is entirely conceivable, according to the specific requirements for use.

[0065] A nonreturn valve 4, operated electrically by pulses from a selection button commanding whether or not steam is produced, situated in the top of the left-hand part of the hand grip 5 of the lance may advantageously be designed to instantly cut off the arrival of pressurized water into the lance.

[0066] At the other end of the circuit 3 there is a steam ejection nozzle 31.

[0067] A duct 32, within which the steam is generated, connects the water connection end piece 30 to the steam ejection nozzle 31.

[0068] As symbolized in FIG. 1, the duct 32 is divided into four distinct zones Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4 from upstream to downstream, between the electrically operated valve 4 and the steam ejection nozzle 31.

[0069] In the first zone Z1, the duct 32 houses a pressurized-water spray nozzle 33 designed to spray the pressurized water in the form of droplets. The size of the droplets of spray is predetermined according to the steam generation to be achieved thereafter. The nozzle 33 may be a nozzle already in use in numerous other applications.

[0070] In the second zone Z2, a venturi-effect device 34 may be installed in the duct 32 to increase the phenomenon whereby the droplets of spray are sucked towards the ejection nozzle 31.

[0071] In the third zone Z3, the duct 32 houses means 35 for generating droplets of steam from the droplets of spray.

[0072] FIG. 3 depicts one advantageous embodiment of these means: it is a heating blade 6 arranged across the duct, suited to heating the droplets of water spray which circulate in its vicinity and converting them into droplets of steam. The blade 6 may typically have a length of 10 to 13 cm. The blade 6 may advantageously be made of copper or any other metallic material that is a very good conductor of heat.

[0073] As illustrated, the heating blade 6 is arranged so that it divides the duct 32 into two passages of substantially equal cross section.

[0074] The duct 32 surrounding this blade 6 is made up, at least in this zone Z3, of a round metal duct, preferably made of stainless steel. The diameter of this duct 32 may thus be designed to have an additional thickness only in this zone Z3. Typically, the diameter of this duct 32 is comprised between 3 and 6 mm in this zone Z3. It may be of smaller or larger cross section, according to the type and needs of the intervention. This additional thickness of duct 32 may be achieved over the entire length of the blade 6 and extend beyond, typically over 1 to 2 cm beyond the blade 6.

[0075] The heating blade 6 is held by at least one of its ends in the wall of the duct 32 by a seal 7 that is both thermally and electrically insulating, such as one made of neoprene. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the seal 7 is forcibly inserted into an opening of the duct 32 provided for that purpose and comprises serrations 70 to maintain a perfect seal and prevent the created steam from leaving via the opening.

[0076] A wire 8 provides a supply of electricity to the blade 6. The electric current running through the wire 8 is suited to heating the blade 6 by a Joule heating effect in a very short space of time, typically in a few seconds. The blade 6 may thus attain a temperature preferably of between 200 and 800 C. The steam thus created by the heating blade 6 has a temperature of between 125 and 200 C. and a pressure of between 7 and 10 bar. The temperature and pressure may be increased depending on the type and requirement of use.

[0077] In an advantageous alternative form, the electric current with which the wire 8 is supplied may be in the form of electrical pulses designed to impart or remove electric charge to/from the generated droplets of steam. Thus, the steam generated is at the same time ionized. This is advantageous, because an ionized steam has the property opening up bacteria that have shells, and thus of killing them, through the heat of the steam to which they are subjected.

[0078] In order to best thermally insulate the duct 32, it is covered at least in the zone Z3 with a sleeve 9 made of a thermally insulating material, typically Kevlar. This covering is sensibly extended in order to prevent the phenomena generated by the production of steam over the length in question from being transmitted to the rest of the lance.

[0079] In order to keep the sleeve 9 gripped firmly on the duct 32, the latter may have striations 38 at its periphery.

[0080] In a fourth zone Z4 immediately downstream of the heating blade 6 is arranged a nozzle 36 for atomizing the generated steam. Typically, the nozzle 36 may be arranged at a distance of 1 to 2 cm from the blade 6.

[0081] The atomization nozzle 36 creates steam droplets of extremely small size, which can be ionized as explained hereinabove. Typically, the droplets may have a dimension down to one nanometer.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 4, the atomization nozzle 36 is extended by the nozzle 31 that ejects the atomized and possibly ionized steam.

[0083] The ejection nozzle 31 may have the form of a perforated flat snout. Typically, the height of the snout may be of the order of 1 to 3 mm, and its length of the order of 5 to 6 cm.

[0084] FIG. 5 illustrates an advantageous alternative form of such a flat snout 31 perforated with a multitude of holes, typically from 0.5 to 1 mm in diameter, uniformly spaced, typically from 0.8 to 1.2 cm, along the length of the snout. The steam outlet thus created is able, according to one advantageous arrangement, to pivot from the horizontal position into a vertical position, depending on the needs of its use and needs for access to certain awkwardly accessible parts of objects.

[0085] One advantageous alternative form is a wheel 37 mounted with the freedom to rotate on the ejection nozzle 31 and provided with spikes on its periphery which are designed to lift the pile of coverings made of fabric, of carpet, or other coverings of the pile type, when the wheel is moved over them.

[0086] Finally, the lance may comprise a shutter (not depicted) able to move into various positions of closure in which it partially closes off the ejection nozzle 31 to a greater or less extent when the user deems it beneficial to vary the spraying of the steam in a different cloud, having an impact on the area treated and on the pressure thus ejected and applied to the support in question.

[0087] In the embodiments illustrated, the body of the lance is made in two parts, one of them a stock 10 incorporating the air connection end piece 20 and the pressurized-water connection end piece 30 and part of the fluid circuits 2, 3. The other part forms a guide 11 incorporating the air-suction or air-blowing nozzle 21 and the steam ejection nozzle 31, as well as the other part of the fluid circuits.

[0088] In the manner illustrated, the stock 10 and the guide 11 are mounted with the ability to pivot one with respect to the other about an axis X orthogonal to the air suction/air blowing and steam-ejection directions. In order not to impede the pivoting, the ducts 22, 32 are flexible or comprise an extension-forming element absorbing their variation in length as they pivot, at least in the zone Z2 of pivoting of the stock with respect to the guide.

[0089] Other features may also be considered depending on the level of insolation of the location at which the cleaning installation is installed, on the number of customers per day, and on the desired cleaning quality.

[0090] The invention is not restricted to the examples which have just been described; features of the examples illustrated may notably be combined with one another in alternative forms which have not been illustrated.