Ultraviolet autonomous trolley for sanitizing aircraft

• US 8,907,304 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dimer, LLC
• Original Assignee: Arthur Kreitenberg
• Inventors: Kreitenberg, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): CONLEY, SEAN EVERETT
• Application Number:
  US13/779,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20140241941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 422/24, 422/292, 422/186.3, 250/455.11, 250/492.1
• US Class Current: 250/492.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• 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: B25J 11/0085 Cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/007 mounted on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0007 Devices specially adapted for food or beverage distribution services

Abstract

A mobile body is configured to travel over a surface inside an aircraft cabin. A source of UV radiation is mounted to the mobile body and configured to direct UV radiation to the surface at a predetermined dosage. At least two articulated arms are mounted to the mobile body, and UV lamps mounted respectively on the arms. The mobile body is a trolley or cart for negotiating an aircraft aisle.

Claims

1. A sanitization device for sanitizing a surface inside an aircraft cabin comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface; and

a source of UV radiation mounted to the mobile body and configured to direct UV radiation to the surface at a predetermined dosage;

at least two articulated arms mounted to the mobile body, UV lamps mounted respectively on the arms, the mobile body being a trolley or cart for negotiating an aircraft aisle, and a power source for activating the UV radiation as the trolley or cart moves along the aircraft aisle, and wherein the two articulated arms are mounted with the mobile body and extendable from the mobile body at a position movable over the seats and the UV lamps are directed to the seat surface, are when extended from the mobile body and back into mobile body are above seat level, wherein the multiple UV lamps are set up in end to end relationship, and wherein the arms for the lamps are foldable inwardly relative to each other and towards the trolley and outwardly from each other and from the trolley to extend over the seats, the folding being through a hinge located with each of the arms.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein each arm being for independent operation.

4. The device of claim 1 including means for controlling motion of the arms over and about the aircraft surfaces, such surfaces including seats of the aircraft.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the arms are mounted with the mobile body and extendable from the mobile body at a position above the back rest of seats, and is movable over the seats and the UV lamps are directed to the seat surface.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the arms are mounted with the mobile body and extendable from the mobile body at a position essentially solely above seats of an aircraft, and is movable over the seats and the UV lamps are directed to the seat surface.

9. The device of claim 1 including a surface cleaning component mounted to the mobile body and configured to engage the surface on which the mobile body travels.

10. The device of claim 1, including a self-contained powering unit for powering the UV source.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein each arm is independently extendible and operational over and around the seat surfaces.

12. The device of claim 1, including a sensor for measuring the distance and or power the UV lamps relative to the surface and controlling the amount of and distance of the lamps from the surface and/or UV energy transmitted to the surface.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the arms are mounted on the mobile body and extend from the mobile body at least at a height above the seat level of the seat, and preferably between the seat level and the top of the backrest of the seat, or preferably above the top of the back rest of the seat and below overhead bins of the aircraft, and including hinges between the trolley and arms whereby during storage the arms are folded into the trolley such that the arms are entirely at a position above the seat level.

18. The device as claimed in claim 1 including a motor for the mobile body and wherein the mobile body is steerable for negotiating an aircraft aisle.

2. A sanitization device for sanitizing a surface inside an aircraft cabin comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface; and

a source of UV radiation mounted to the mobile body and configured to direct UV radiation to the surface at a predetermined dosage;

at least one arm mounted to the mobile body, a UV lamp mounted on the arm, and the mobile body being a trolley or cart for negotiating an aircraft aisle, wherein the arm is movable from a position of storage with the mobile body to a position to extended from the mobile body wherein in the extended position the arm is operational to effect sanitization, a power source for activating the UV radiation as the trolley or cart moves along the aircraft aisle, and the arm being mounted on the side of the trolley or cart, and the arm includes multiple UV lamps mounted on the arm in spaced relationship with each other thereby in the extended position to cover an increased area to effect sanitation, and wherein the arm is mounted with the mobile body and extendable from the mobile body at a position movable over the seats and the UV lamps are directed to the seat surface, and when extended from the mobile body and back into mobile body are above the seat level, wherein the multiple UV lamps are set up in end to end relationship, and wherein the arm for the lamps is foldable inwardly and towards the trolley and outwardly from the trolley to extend over the seats, the folding being through a hinge located with the arm.

6. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the arm is mounted with the mobile body and extendable from the mobile body at a position above the back rest of seats, and is movable over the seats and the UV lamps are directed to the seat surface.

8. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the arm is mounted with the mobile body and extendable from the mobile body at a position essentially solely above seats of the aircraft, and is movable over the seats and the UV lamps are directed to the seat surface.

14. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the arm is mounted with the mobile body and extendable from the mobile body at a position essentially solely above seats of an aircraft, and is movable over the seats and the UV lamps are directed to the seat surface, and when extended from the mobile body and back into mobile body are maintained solely above the seat level, such that the UV lamps are located entirely in an upper portion of the mobile body, and removed from a lower portion of the mobile body.

15. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the arm is mounted with the mobile body and extendable from the mobile body at a position above seats of an aircraft, and is movable over the seats and the UV lamps are directed to the seat surface, and when extended from the mobile body and back into mobile body are maintained above the seat level, such that the UV lamps are located in a relatively upper portion of the mobile body;

and including a hinge between the arm and the mobile body, the hinge permitting the upward movement of the arm between an extended position, selectively horizontal position, and an upward position essentially over a body of the mobile body.

16. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the arm is mounted with the mobile body and extendable from the mobile body at a position movable over the seats and the UV lamps are directed to the seat surface, and when extended from the mobile body and back into mobile body are above the seat level, such that the UV lamps are located in an upper portion of the mobile body, and wherein the multiple UV lamps are set up in end to end or array relationship.

17. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the arm is mounted with the mobile body and extendable from the mobile body at a position movable over the seats and the UV lamps are directed to the seat surface, and when extended from the mobile body and back into mobile body are above the seat level, such that the UV lamps are located in an upper portion of the mobile body, and wherein the multiple UV lamps are set up in an end to end or array relationship.

19. The device as claimed in claim 2 including a motor for the mobile body and wherein the mobile body is steerable for negotiating an aircraft aisle.

20. A sanitization device for sanitizing a surface inside an aircraft cabin comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface; and

a source of UV radiation and configured to direct UV radiation to the surface at a predetermined dosage;

at least two articulated arms mounted to the mobile body, UV lamps mounted respectively on the arms, the mobile body being a trolley or cart for negotiating an aircraft aisle, and a power source for activating the UV radiation as the trolley or cart moves along the aircraft aisle wherein the arms are mounted on the mobile body and extend from the mobile body at least at a height above the seat level of the seat, and hinges located in a position with the trolley and with the arms for the UV radiation sources such that the arms are foldable towards the trolley during storage action, and when the arms are folded into the trolley, the arms are entirely at a position above the seat level, and the trolley further including multiple spaced UV radiation lamps located in relatively spaced fixed positions in and around the trolley body for projecting UV radiation from the trolley body, and wherein the two arms are mounted with the mobile body and extendable from the mobile body at a position movable over the seats and the UV lamps are directed to the seat surface, and when extended from the mobile body and back into mobile body are above the seat level, wherein the multiple UV lamps are set up in end to end relationship, and wherein the arms for the lamps are foldable inwardly relative to each other and towards the trolley and outwardly from each other and from the trolley to extend over the seats, the folding being through hinge located with each arm.