VENTILATION DEVICE

Abstract

A ventilation device comprises a shaft with a side wall, including a first end with an air intake, a side opening in the side wall, and a second end with an air outtake and a drain opening. The side opening and the drain opening are arranged such that liquid entering the shaft through the side opening flows out of the shaft through the drain opening. The side opening is arranged in the side wall such that air entering the shaft through the air intake flows along the side opening and leaves the shaft through the air outtake. Additional embodiments referring to an apparatus with a drain, a functional facility, and a method for operating a ventilation device are disclosed.

Claims

1. A ventilation device, comprising: a shaft with a side wall, the shaft including a first end with an air intake, a side opening in the side wall, and a second end with an air outtake and a drain opening, wherein the side opening and the drain opening are arranged such that liquid entering the shaft through the side opening flows out of the shaft through the drain opening, and wherein the side opening is arranged in the side wall such that air entering the shaft through the air intake flows along the side opening and leaves the shaft through the air outtake.

2. The ventilation device of claim 1, wherein the air flowing along the side opening forms an air curtain at the side opening.

3. The ventilation device of claim 1, wherein the air flows substantially perpendicular to an orientation of the side opening, and wherein after passing the side opening, the air flows substantially in a flow direction of the liquid.

4. The ventilation device of claim 1, wherein a supply portion of the shaft including the first end, the side opening, and the drain opening forms a substantially straight section of the shaft, and wherein an exhaust portion of the shaft including the air outtake is arranged at an angle to the supply portion in a substantially U- or V-shaped manner.

5. The ventilation device of claim 1, wherein the side wall at the side opening includes one or more sloping sections that are configured to guide the liquid entering the shaft through the side opening towards the drain opening.

6. The ventilation device of claim 1, wherein at least one of: the side opening is connectable to a drain of an apparatus; the drain opening is connectable to a siphon, or the air outtake is connectable to an air exhaust system.

7. The ventilation device of claim 1, further comprising one or more of: a fan or blower configured to blow air into the shaft through the air intake; a motion detector, wherein the motion detector is configured to operate the fan or blower; a sensor at the side opening, wherein the sensor is configured to operate the fan or blower; and/or one or more air sensors configured to monitor parameters of the air leaving the shaft.

8. The ventilation device of claim 1, further comprising one or more liquid sensors configured to monitor parameters of the liquid flowing out of the shaft.

9. The ventilation device of claim 1, further comprising at least one treatment apparatus configured to treat the air leaving the shaft, wherein the at least one treatment apparatus includes at least one radiation source.

10. The ventilation device of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust air shaft connected to the air outtake.

11. The ventilation device of claim 10, wherein the exhaust air shaft has a meandering shape.

12. The ventilation device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the side wall of the shaft includes a material with a scale-like surface structure.

13. An apparatus with a drain, comprising a ventilation device connected to the drain, the ventilation device including: a shaft with a side wall, the shaft including a first end with an air intake, a side opening in the side wall connected to the drain of the apparatus, and a second end with an air outtake and a drain opening, wherein the side opening and the drain opening are arranged such that liquid entering the shaft through the side opening flows out of the shaft through the drain opening, and wherein the side opening is arranged in the side wall such that air entering the shaft through the air intake flows along the side opening and leaves the shaft through the air outtake.

14. (canceled)

15. A method for operating a ventilation device with a shaft with a side wall, the shaft including a first end with an air intake, a side opening in the side wall, and a second end with an air outtake and a drain opening, the method comprising: guiding liquid entering the shaft through the side opening out of the shaft through the drain opening; and blowing air through the air intake into the shaft and along the side opening and towards the air outtake.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the air flowing along the side opening forms an air curtain at the side opening.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the air flows substantially perpendicular to an orientation of the side opening, and wherein after passing the side opening, the air flows substantially in a flow direction of the liquid.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a supply portion of the shaft including the first end, the side opening, and the drain opening forms a substantially straight section of the shaft, and wherein an exhaust portion of the shaft including the air outtake is arranged at an angle to the supply portion in a substantially U- or V-shaped manner.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the side wall at the side opening includes one or more sloping sections that are configured to guide the liquid entering the shaft through the side opening towards the drain opening.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising one or more of: a fan or blower configured to blow air into the shaft through the air intake; a motion detector, wherein the motion detector is configured to operate the fan or blower; a sensor at the side opening, wherein the sensor is configured to operate the fan or blower; and/or one or more air sensors configured to monitor parameters of the air leaving the shaft.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising one or more liquid sensors configured to monitor parameters of the liquid flowing out of the shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The specific features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus connected to a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0046] FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate details of a side opening of a ventilation according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] In the following description, reference is made to drawings which show by way of illustration various embodiments. Also, various embodiments will be described below by referring to several examples. It is to be understood that the embodiments may include changes in design and structure without departing from the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The ventilation device 100 comprises a shaft 102 with a side wall 104. The shaft 102 may include a first end with an air intake 106, a side opening 108 in the side wall 104, and a second end with an air outtake 110 and a drain opening 112. The air intake 106 may include a fan or a blower 114 that is configured to blow the air into the shaft 102. Preferably, the fan or blower 114 may be a standard case fan, preferably having a size of 14014027 mm. Case fans are available on the market in large quantities at a low price. Yet, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by a particular case fan or a particular form factor. Rather, other fan or blower technologies are envisaged and fully covered by the present disclosure.

[0049] The fan or blower 114 may generate an air stream 116, wherein the main flow direction of the air stream 116 is exemplified in FIG. 1 by three curves. The side opening 108 is arranged in the side wall 104 such that air entering the shaft 102 through the air intake 106 flows along the side opening 108 and leaves the shaft through the air outtake 110. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the shaft may have a funnel-like form. The fan or blower 114 may generate the air stream 116 such that the air stream forms an air seal, air curtain, or air blade at the side opening 108. The air seal, air curtain, or air blade at the side opening effectively blocks any fluids within the shaft 102 from leaving the shaft through the side opening 108.

[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the side opening 108 and the drain opening 112 may be arranged such that liquid entering the shaft 102 through the side opening 108 flows out of the shaft 102 through the drain opening 112. The drain opening 112 may be connected to a siphon, such that liquid standing in the siphon may be at or reach the drain opening 112. The liquid in the siphon may be disposed liquid, such as wastewater. The liquid may also be an oil film that covers the disposed liquid. Irrespective of the type of liquid in the siphon, the siphon or the standing liquid may form a surface. This deviates the air stream 116 within the shaft 102 towards the air outtake 110. Due to physical properties of the air stream 116, the air flows along the side opening 108 and due to the form and design of the shaft 102 and the side opening 108, the air does not escape through the side opening 108. The air follows the flow direction towards the air outtake 110.

[0051] The shaft 102 may have a supply portion including the air intake 106, and an exhaust portion including the air outtake 110. The supply portion and the exhaust portion may be attached to each other in a substantially U- or V-like manner, as shown in FIG. 1. Depending on the attachment of the supply portion and the exhaust portion and their form, the air stream 116 could have a U-like form. Based on a position of the air outtake 110, the air stream 116 could take an S-like form within the ventilation device 100 before leaving the ventilation device 100 through the air outtake 110.

[0052] The exhaust portion may direct the air into a surrounding room. As an alternative, the air outtake 110 may be connected to an exhaust air system (not shown). UV-C LEDs or other treatment apparatuses can be installed in the exhaust portion or at the air outtake 110 to disinfect the exhausted air. Yet, it is to be understood that UV-C LEDs are one type of radiation source and any other source for a different type of electromagnetic waves can be used to treat the exhausted air. In addition, sensors for measuring pollution or contamination of the exhausted air, such as a germ/virus load can be arranged in the exhaust portion or at the air outtake 110.

[0053] At least a portion of the side wall 104 of the shaft 102 may include a material with a scale-like surface structure, preferably like a shark skin. This means that hardly any bacteria can adhere to the side wall 104 or other inner walls of the shaft 102.

[0054] The ventilation device 100 enables a controlled disposal of liquid via the side opinion 108 and the drain opening 112 and prevents any fluids that may be formed within the shaft 102, such as gases, gas mixtures, or gas dispersion that may be formed by biofilms on the inner surface of the shaft 102 or that may enter the shaft through the drain opening 112, from leaving the shaft 102 via the side opening 108. This one-way seal increases the hygienic level in the surrounding environment since it effectively controls the flow of potentially pathogenic or contaminated fluids. If the ventilation device 100 is connected via the side opening 108 to an outlet or drain of an apparatus and via the drain opening 112 to a sewage system, liquid from the apparatus is disposed to the sewage system. Yet, the air stream 116 formed in the ventilation device 100 prevents fluids within the shaft or from the sewage system from escaping into the apparatus via the side opening 108. This effectively blocks fluids from escaping into the apparatus.

[0055] A configuration of the ventilation device 100 connected to the apparatus is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus 200 includes a drain 202. The ventilation device 100 may be a ventilation device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, such as the ventilation device 100 of FIG. 1. Accordingly, same numerals have been used for denoting the same or corresponding parts in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0056] The apparatus 200 may be a sanitary equipment, such as a shower, toilet, washbasin, or sink, and the like. The apparatus 200 may enable disposal of liquid via the drain. As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus 200 may be a washbasin or sink with a water tap 204. However, it is to be understood that the apparatus 200 is not restricted to a particular kind of sanitary equipment. The drain 202 may be located in a side wall at the lowest point of the washbasin or sink. Thus, the wastewater from the washbasin or sink flows from all sides to a central drain, and is collected at the drain 202 in one place.

[0057] The drain 202 of the apparatus may be connected to a side opening 108 of the ventilation device 112. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, water from the water tap 204 may be used, for example, for hand washing or other sanitary or hygienic tasks. Wastewater leaves the washbasin or sink via the drain 202 and the connected side opening 108 into the ventilation device 100, which guides the wastewater to a drain opening 112. The drain opening 112 may be connected to a sewage system (not shown). Preferably, the drain opening 112 may be connected to a siphon and wastewater 206 standing in the drain opening 112 may enter the siphon. Thus, the ventilation device 100 interfaces the drain 202 with the siphon of the sewage system and leads wastewater from the apparatus to the sewage system.

[0058] As detailed in FIG. 1, the ventilation device 100 generates an air stream the seals the side opening 108 and the drain 202 from fluids that may be formed within the ventilation device 100 or the sewage system. Thus, the apparatus is not contaminated with potential pathogens or dangerous fluids.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The ventilation device 100 may correspond to the ventilation devices of FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the same numerals have been used to denote corresponding parts. The ventilation device 100 may be connected to an apparatus 200, which may correspond to the apparatus as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, liquids or wastewater from the apparatus 200 may be disposed through the ventilation device 100 towards a sewage system or siphon 301.

[0060] The ventilation device 100 may include a supply portion 302 with a fan 304. The fan 304 may correspond to the fan or blower 114 in FIG. 1. The ventilation device 100 may further include an exhaust portion 306 connected to an exhaust air shaft 308. The fan 304 may blow air into the supply portion 302. Due to standing wastewater in the siphon 301, the air is guided towards the exhaust portion 306 and into the exhaust air shaft 308 that may allow a controlled exhaust of the air. The air may be guided, for example, towards a vent system or air treatment system 309, and the like. As shown in FIG. 3, the exhaust air shaft 308 may have a meandering shape.

[0061] The exhaust air shaft 308 may include a plurality of radiation sources 310, such as a plurality of UV-C LEDs, that may disinfect the exhaust air. The disinfection of the exhaust air may depend on the power (watt) and number of the radiation sources 310, a distance to the radiation sources, and a duration of exposure to the radiation sources 310. The meandering shape of the exhaust air shaft 308 allows for an increased number of radiation sources 310, thereby improving the disinfection effect. Whether, or to what extent, the use of radiation sources 310 is necessary, depends primarily on the requirements of use for the apparatus. The requirements may be higher in medical environments or care facilities or scientific environments.

[0062] The ventilation device 100 may further include one or more sensors 312 for measuring characteristics of the exhaust air, such as pollution, contamination or microorganism analysis.

[0063] The ventilation device 100 may be operated in a continuous manner or may be trigger by one or more sensors, such as motion sensors that may indicate approaching users.

[0064] The ventilation device 100 may include at least one processor or a controller configured to control operation of the ventilation device 100, including controlling the fan 304, 114, to generate an air stream with desired characteristics.

[0065] FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate details of a side opening of a ventilation according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The side opening in FIGS. 4A to 4C may correspond to the side opening 108 in the side wall 104 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. FIGS. 4A to 4C further show the air stream 116 formed by the ventilation device 100 that passes the side opening 108 at an angle, preferably at a right angle, thereby in a substantially perpendicular direction.

[0066] FIG. 4A shows a direct flow of liquid from a drain of a connected apparatus. The liquid enters the ventilation device and flows down the side wall 104 towards the drain.

[0067] FIG. 4B further provides a wedge-like portion 402 that guides the liquid from the apparatus. The wedge-like portion 402 may further include a formed lower side 404 that improves flow characteristics of the air stream 116. The wedge-like portion 402 may ensure that the liquid enters the shaft in a controlled manner. Further, the wedge-like portion 402 cases the liquid to be pushed by the air stream 116 against the surface of the wedge-like portion 402. The air stream 116 follows the lower side 404. Both reduce potential leaks.

[0068] FIG. 4C further provides a sloping section 406 in the side wall 104 at the side opening 108 that guides the liquid entering the ventilation device 100 through the side opening 108 towards the drain. The sloping section 406 ensures that the liquid enters the shaft in a controlled manner. In operation, the liquid is pushed by the air stream 116 against the sloping section 406 and the side wall 104, thereby reducing potential leaks.

[0069] While some embodiments have been described in detail it is to be understood that the aspect of the disclosure can take many forms. In particular, the claimed subject matter may be practiced or implemented differently from the examples described and the described features and characteristics may be practiced or implemented in any combination. The embodiments shown herein are intended to illustrate rather than to limit the invention as defined by the claims.

[0070] The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.