METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DISPERSING DECONTAMINATION PRODUCTS

• US 20110171065A1
• Filed: 01/11/2010
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Park, Shawn Hyunsoo, Sheahan, James J. JR., Morris, Charles E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,715,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/15 Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/03 characterised by the use of gas , e.g. electrostatically assisted pneumatic spraying B05B5/04, B05B5/043, B05B5/047 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/1608 the liquid or other fluent material being electrically conductive

Abstract

An electrostatic spraying system for decontamination of a vehicle is described. The system includes a wheeled platform sized to fit inside the vehicle, at least one tank operable to contain one or more decontaminant agents, the tanks supported by said wheeled platform, a plurality of nozzles affixed to the wheeled platform, wherein each nozzle is positioned for distribution of the decontaminant agents in at least one pre-determined direction, an electrostatic charging system connected to each of the nozzles for applying an electrostatic charge to the decontaminant agents as the agents are dispersed, and at least one compressor in communication with the tanks for pressurizing the decontaminant agents. The one or more compressors are capable of providing a pressure sufficient to provide a constant distribution of the decontaminant agents through the electrostatic nozzles.

Claims

1. An electrostatic spraying system for decontamination of a vehicle, said system comprising:

a wheeled platform sized to fit inside the vehicle;

at least one tank operable to contain one or more decontaminant agents, said at least one tank supported by said wheeled platform;

a plurality of electrostatic nozzles affixed to said wheeled platform, wherein each said nozzle is positioned for distribution of the decontaminant agents in at least one pre-determined direction;

an electrostatic charging system connected to said nozzles for applying an electrostatic charge to the decontaminant agents as the agents are dispersed; and

at least one compressor in communication with said at least one tank for pressurizing the decontaminant agents, said at least one compressor capable of providing a pressure sufficient to provide a constant distribution of the decontaminant agents through said electrostatic nozzles.

2. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one manually operated sprayer in communication with at least one of said tanks.

3. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 2 wherein said at least one manually operated sprayer comprises at least one manually operated electrostatic sprayer.

4. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of electrostatic nozzles is configured to cycle through a range of motion when dispersing the decontamination agents.

5. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 further comprising a flowmeter in communication with at least one of said tanks, said flowmeter providing data indicative of the rate of flow from at least one of said tanks.

6. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 further comprising a gauge in communication with at least one of said tanks, said gauge providing data indicative of the remaining decontamination agents within at least one of said tanks.

7. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 further comprising a power supply operable to supply power to at least one of said electrostatic charging system and said at least one compressor.

8. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 further comprising a pressure regulator in the communications path between said tank and said compressor, said pressure regulator configured to regulate the pressure within said tank generated by said compressor.

9. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1, said system configured to utilize aircraft generated power to operate said electrostatic charging system and said at least one compressor.

10. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 wherein said wheeled platform is sized such that it is capable of being placed within a storage area operable for storing an aircraft galley cart.

11. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 wherein said electrostatic nozzles are configured to disperse electrostatically charged droplets that range from about two microns in diameter to about forty microns in diameter.

12. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 further comprising a drive system operably connected to said wheeled platform and configured to impart a motion upon said wheeled platform.

13. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 12 wherein said drive system is configured to control a rate of motion of the wheeled platform.

14. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 12 wherein said drive system is configured to utilize aircraft generated power.

15. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 12 further comprising a sensor system attached to said wheeled platform and communicatively coupled to said drive system, said drive system programmed to utilize signals received from said sensor system to guide said wheeled platform along a defined path.

16. A method for dispersing a decontamination agent within an aircraft cabin, said method comprising:

manually dispersing the decontamination agent from a tank positioned within a rolling cart to one or more defined areas within the aircraft cabin;

moving the rolling cart along a defined path within the aircraft; and

dispersing the decontamination agent from the tank to additional areas of the cabin via a plurality of electrostatically charged nozzles attached to the rolling cart, the dispersing occurring, at least in part, as the rolling cart moves along the defined path within the aircraft.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising pressurizing the tank utilizing a compressor positioned within the rolling cart.

18. The method according to claim 16 further comprising cycling at least one of the electrostatically charged nozzles through a range of motion when dispersing the decontamination agent.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein moving the rolling cart along a defined path within the aircraft comprises operating a drive system connected to the rolling cart configured to impart a controlled rate of motion upon the rolling cart.

20. An aircraft decontamination system comprising:

a wheeled platform sized to fit within a galley cart storage area of an aircraft;

a canister mounted within said wheeled platform operable to contain a decontaminant agent;

a compressor mounted within said wheeled platform operable to apply a pressure to the decontamination agent within said canister;

a plurality of nozzles affixed to said wheeled platform and fluidly coupled to said canister, wherein each said nozzle is positioned for distribution of the decontaminant agents in at least one pre-determined direction;

an electrostatic charging system operatively attached to said nozzles for applying an electrostatic charge to droplets of the decontaminant agent as the decontamination agent is dispersed; and

a manually operated nozzle attached to said canister.

21. The aircraft decontamination system according to claim 20 wherein said manually operated nozzle is operatively attached to said electrostatic charging system.

22. The aircraft decontamination system according to claim 20 further comprising a drive system attached to said wheeled platform and configured to impart a motion upon said wheeled platform.

23. The aircraft decontamination system according to claim 20 wherein said plurality of nozzles are configured cycle through a range of motion when dispersing a decontamination agent.