Method and apparatus for disinfecting enclosed spaces

• US 8,529,833 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OMPECO srl
• Original Assignee: Officine Meccaniche Pejrani S.r.l.
• Inventors: Morgantini, Gianpiero, Maletti, Maurizio
• Primary Examiner(s): CONLEY, SEAN EVERETT
• Application Number:
  US12/680,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20100316530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,028 Days
• Field of Search: 422/29, 239/690, 239/700, 239/704
• US Class Current: 422/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/22 Ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/004 by alternating the polarity of the spray
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/0407 with a spraying edge, e.g. like a cup or a bell
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/0415 Driving means; Parts thereof, e.g. turbine, shaft, bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/0426 Means for supplying shaping gas
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/053 Arrangements for supplying power, e.g. charging power

Abstract

A method and apparatus disinfects enclosed spaces by the dispersal of aerosols ionized alternately with negative and positive electrostatic polarity.

Claims

1. A method of disinfecting an enclosed space comprising emission of liquid disinfectant in aerosol form having ultra-fine droplets, wherein said aerosol is produced by a rotary atomizer adapted to generate droplets with a maximum size no greater than 5 μ

m;

charging the aerosol in alternate stages, with negative electrostatic charge or with positive electrostatic charge by an electric field;

the electric field have a polarity which is reversed based on measurement of intensity of an electrostatic field present in the enclosed space being treated.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the polarity of the electrostatic field is reversed on the basis of the measurement of the intensity of the electrostatic field present in the enclosed space under treatment, or after predetermined and programmed periods of time.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein time of the reversal of the polarity of the electrostatic field is selected to cause controlled growth of the size of the particles that are already present or are admitted in suspension in the air.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the controlled growth of the particle size causes a dimensional increase of the droplets of disinfectant admitted to the enclosed space, which grow from the initial size of less than 5 μ

m to a larger size capable of wetting surfaces.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the controlled growth of the particles causes fall-out of the particles with consequent rapid elimination of the micronized disinfectant previously admitted to the enclosed space, after use.