METHOD FOR THE DECONTAMINATION AND DISINFECTION OF A TRANSPORT VEHICLE, AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING SAID DECONTAMINATION

Abstract

Method for the decontamination and disinfection of a transport vehicle, and control device for said decontamination. The method according to the invention comprises at least one heat treatment phase of the vehicle cabin, or of at least one cabin compartment, intended for transporting, by injecting a hot gas into the same at a temperature that guarantees the elimination of the pathogens, said temperature being comprised between 0 C. and 91 C. The control device for the decontamination comprises: a control unit (1); a user interface (2); a series of conveniently distributed temperature sensors (3); and a memory (5) for the storage of data relating to dates, temperatures and other variables relating to the decontaminations carried out, as well as the identification of the vehicle on which the decontamination process is carried out.

Claims

1. Method for the decontamination and disinfection of a transport vehicle, characterized in comprising at least one heat treatment phase of the vehicle cabin, or of at least one cabin compartment, intended for transporting, by injecting a hot gas into the same at a temperature that guarantees the elimination of the pathogens, said temperature being comprised between 0 C. and 91 C.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas used in the decontamination/disinfection of the load cabin, or cabin compartment, is hot air.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas used in the decontamination/disinfection of the load cabin, or cabin compartment, is at a temperature above 45 C.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the decontamination/disinfection of the load cabin, or cabin compartment, is performed by introducing hot air within its enclosure, which has been previously adequately closed.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas used in the decontamination/disinfection of the load cabin, or cabin compartment, is air which incorporates a disinfectant product.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas used in the decontamination/disinfection of the load cabin, or cabin compartment, is air which incorporates a deodorizing product.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas used in the decontamination/disinfection of the load cabin, or cabin compartment is introduced within the enclosure by means of a duct connected to an external autonomous heating equipment,.

8. Device for controlling the decontamination of a transport vehicle, which is performed by means of a thermic treatment of the vehicle cabin, or at least a compartment of the cabin, intended for transporting, by injecting in the same a hot gas at a temperature which guarantees the elimination of pathogens, characterized in comprising: a) a control unit (1) executing a software for performing the functions which define the decontamination method executed by an autonomous equipment, or installed in the vehicle to be decontaminated itself, of receiving, from sensors placed in the vehicle, a series of data relating to the decontamination process, as well as storing, processing and transmitting such data, by electronic means; b) a user interface (2), which interacts with the control unit (1) to transmit to said control unit (1) the instructions relating to the functioning of the decontamination process, as well as presenting to the user information related to at least one of: the operations performed and the data relating to the process executed, as well as at least one of: transmitting said information by electronic means and presenting said information in a printed media; c) a plurality of temperature sensors (3), distributed in different points of the load compartment to be thermally decontaminated, connected to the control unit (1), which stores and processes readings from said plurality of sensors during and at the end of the process; d) a storage memory (5) for storing data relating to: dates, temperatures, and other variables relating to the decontaminations performed, as well as the identification of the vehicle on which the decontaminating process is performed.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that it incorporates also a printer (6) for providing printed proof of the performed decontamination processes.

10. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that it incorporates an emitter/receiver (7) which permits transmitting via Internet and downloading the data of the performed decontaminations of the corresponding vehicle in a mobile terminal, or to an information center of a whole vehicle fleet.

11. Device according to claims 8 to 10, characterized in that it incorporates a USB port for connecting an external unit for data storage, or for execution of a control software of the control unit (1).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] To complement the description and with the objective of facilitating the comprehension of the features of the invention, a set of drawings is annexed to the current specification in which, with illustrative and non-limiting character, the following has been represented:

[0022] FIG. 1 represents a functional block diagram of the device of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0023] As can be appreciated from the figures, the device for controlling the decontamination of a transport vehicle is destined preferably to control the processes wherein the decontamination is performed by thermic treatment of the vehicle cabin, or at least a cabin compartment, intended for transporting, by injecting in the same a hot gas at a temperature that guarantees the elimination of the pathogens. This device is composed of the following essential elements or mechanisms: [0024] a) A control unit (1), in charge of executing a software adequate for executing the functions which define the decontamination method executed by means of an autonomous equipment, or installed in the vehicle to be decontaminated itself, of receiving, from sensors (3) placed in the vehicle, a series of data relating to the decontamination process, as well as storing, processing and transmitting such data, by electronic means. [0025] b) A user interface (2), which interacts with the control unit (1) to transmit to it the instructions relating to the functioning of the decontamination process, while concurrently being capable of presenting to the user the operations performed and, according to circumstances, the data relating to the process executed, as well as controlling the printing or transmitting by electronic means of the data relating to the performed decontamination process. [0026] c) A series of temperature, or other parameter, sensors (3), conveniently distributed in different points of the load compartment to be decontaminated, connected to the control unit (1), which stores and/or processes its readings during and at the end of the process. These sensors preferably communicate via Wifi with the control unit (1). [0027] d) A storage memory (5) for data relating to dates, temperatures, and other variables relating to the decontaminations performed, as well as the identification of the vehicle on which the decontaminating process is performed.

[0028] Additionally to these essential elements, the device optionally incorporates also a printer (6) by which the proof of the performed decontamination processes are printed.

[0029] Also optionally, this device incorporates an emitter/receiver that enables transmitting via Internet and downloading the data of the decontaminations performed on the corresponding vehicle, in a mobile terminal, or in the information centre of all of the vehicle's fleet.

[0030] Finally, and optionally, this device incorporates a USB port to connect an external unit for data storage, or for execution of control software of the control unit (1).

[0031] Once the nature of the invention has been described sufficiently, as well as a preferred embodiment, it is noted that the materials, forms, dimensions, and dispositions of the elements described may be modified, as long as the essential features of the invention described in the following are not altered: