Atomizing sterilization of a plurality of cleaning agents

• US 9,238,239 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pure Maintenance
• Original Assignee: Pure Maintenance
• Inventors: Adams, Michael B., Evans, Jeffrey S., Gillies, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US13/492,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20130140374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 239/1, 239/8, 239/14.1, 239/69, 239/104, 239/106, 239/112, 239/172, 239/290, 239/296, 239303-305, 239/311, 239/419, 239/422, 239/433, 239/428, 422/28, 422/33, 422/128, 422/305, 422/306, 68/5.C, 169/5, 169/11, 169/15, 169/16
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/09 Watering arrangements making use of movable installations on wheels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 13/00 Fumigators; Apparatus for distributing gases poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide A01M1/2022
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 21/043 by chemicals
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0003 Atomisers or mist blowers single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use B05B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0089 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/15 Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/04 for sequential operation or multiple outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/14 for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials or several in selected proportions to a spray apparatus, e.g. to a single spray outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/04 with arrangements for mixing liquids or other fluent materials before discharge mixing in general B01F, e.g. B01F25/00; mixing valves F16K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0408 with arrangements for mixing two or more liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0416 with arrangements for mixing one gas and one liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/08 with separate outlet orifices, e.g. to form parallel jets , i.e. the axis of the jets being parallel, to form intersecting jets , i.e. the axis of the jets converging but not necessarily intersecting at a point
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0815 with at least one gas jet intersecting a jet constituted by a liquid or a mixture containing a liquid for controlling the shape of the latter
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2472 comprising several containers
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 13/00 Dispersing or preventing fog in general, e.g. on roads, on airfields condensing atmospheric humidity in general A01G15/00; obtaining drinking water from atmospheric humidity E03B3/28; heating or blowing devices for keeping roads or the like free from snow or ice E01C11/26

Abstract

A method for multi-agent fogging. The method includes pressurizing a first agent to a first range of pressure. The method also includes pressurizing a second agent to a second range of pressure. The method also includes pressurizing a gas to a gas range of pressure. The method also includes atomizing at least one of the first and second agents at a nozzle to mix with the pressurized gas. The method also includes applying the atomized mixture to fog a space.

Claims

1. A method for multi-agent dry fogging, the method comprising:

pressurizing a first agent to a first range of pressure;

pressurizing a second agent to a second range of pressure;

pressurizing a gas to a gas range of pressure;

atomizing at least one of the first and second agents at a nozzle to mix with the pressurized gas;

applying the atomized mixture to fog a space, wherein the first agent is applied for a first application duration and the second agent is applied for a second application duration;

rinsing out a remnant of at least one of the first and second agents; and

switching to select a function of atomizing the first agent, atomizing the second agent, atomizing both the first and second agents, or rinsing out the remnant of at least one of the first and second agents.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first agent is atomized with the gas in a first application stage and the second agent is atomized with the gas in a second application stage.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising delaying for a time between the first application stage and the second application stage.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the atomized mixture comprises calculating a volume of the atomized mixture based on a dimension of the space.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first agent, second agent, or a rinsing agent is maintained between approximately 50°

F. and 80°

F.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplying 3-3.5 ft³/minute to each of a plurality of atomization nozzles, the plurality of atomization nozzles to facilitate multiple application points.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring at least one of a plurality of qualities, the plurality of qualities comprising agent concentration, application duration, temperature, pressure, flow rate, humidity, and reservoir fill level, and initiating an auto-shut-off in response to a determination that at least one of the plurality of qualities is insufficient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first agent comprises a sterilant; and

the second agent comprises a non-depleting solution for protection against microorganism growth.

9. A mobile sterilization system comprising:

an automotive trailer to facilitate mobility of the mobile sterilization system;

an atomizing sterilizer apparatus coupled to the automotive trailer, wherein the atomizing sterilizer apparatus comprises;

a first reservoir to store a short-term cleaning agent;

a second reservoir to store a long-term cleaning agent;

a third reservoir to store a rinsing agent;

a controller to control an agent quality;

a manifold comprising at least one connection point for connection of a supply end of a delivery hose; and

at least one nozzle coupled to a delivery end of the delivery hose, the at least one nozzle comprising;

a first inlet to receive a gas at a first range of pressure;

a second inlet to receive one or more of the cleaning agents at a second range of pressure; and

a discharge point to combine the gas and the one or more leaning agents and atomize the one or more cleaning agents to produce a dry fog;

at least one compressor coupled to the automotive trailer, the at least one compressor to pressurize the gas and provide pressure to the atomizing sterilizer apparatus; and

a power source coupled to the automotive trailer to provide power to the at least one compressor and to the atomizing sterilizer apparatus.

10. The mobile sterilization system of claim 9, wherein the at least one nozzle is further configured to atomize the one or more cleaning agents to a mean particle diameter between 1 micron and 10 microns.

11. The mobile sterilization system of claim 9, wherein the at least one nozzle is further configured to atomize the one or more cleaning agents to a mean particle diameter between 1 micron and 15 microns.

12. The mobile sterilization system of claim 9, wherein the one or more cleaning agents is an antimicrobial agent.

13. The mobile sterilization system of claim 9, wherein:

the first range of pressure is between about 40 pounds per square inch (PSI) and about 60 PSI; and

the second range of pressure is between about 5 pounds per square inch (PSI) and about 15 PSI.

14. The mobile sterilization system of claim 9, wherein:

the first range of pressure is about 50 PSI; and

the second range of pressure is about 10 PSI.

15. A method for multi-agent dry fogging, the method comprising:

pressurizing a first agent to a first range of pressure;

pressurizing a second agent to a second range of pressure;

pressurizing a gas to a gas range of pressure;

atomizing at least one of the first and second agents at a nozzle to mix with the pressurized gas;

applying the atomized mixture to fog a space;

rinsing out a remnant of at least one of the first and second agents; and

switching to select a function of atomizing the first agent, atomizing the second agent, atomizing both the first and second agents, or rinsing out the remnant of at least one of the first and second agents.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first agent is atomized with the gas in a first application stage and the second agent is atomized with the gas in a second application stage, wherein the method further comprises delaying for a time between the first application stage and the second application stage.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first agent, second agent, or a rinsing agent is maintained between approximately 50°

F. and 80°

F.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising monitoring at least one of a plurality of qualities, the plurality of qualities comprising agent concentration, application duration, temperature, pressure, flow rate, humidity, and reservoir fill level, and initiating an auto-shut-off in response to a determination that at least one of the plurality of qualities is insufficient.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the first agent comprises a sterilant; and

the second agent comprises a non-depleting solution for protection against microorganism growth.