Sanitisation apparatus for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, and method for sanitizing a vehicle

Abstract

A sanitisation apparatus (1) for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, comprising at least one radiating body (2) and activation means (3) associable with the radiating body (2) to allow and / or prohibit a radiation emission. Furthermore, the apparatus (1) comprises detection means (4) adapted to detect at least one operating parameter of the sanitisation apparatus (1) and / or of the vehicle and generate at least one detection signal (SR) representative of the at least one operating parameter. In particular, the apparatus (1) comprises a control unit (5) configured to receive the detection signal (SR), generate a command signal (SC) as a function of the contents of the detection signal (SR) and / or as a function of at least one preset operating parameter and to send the command signal (SC) to the activation means (3) to perform sanitisation at least as a function of the contents of the detection signal (SR) and / or of the at least one preset operating parameter.

Description

[0001] “SANITISATION APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES, IN PARTICULAR BUSES OR COACHES, AND METHOD FOR SANITISING A VEHICLE”

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] * * * * *

[0004] Technical field

[0005] The present invention relates to a sanitisation apparatus for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, and a vehicle, in particular a bus or a coach.

[0006] The present invention finds a wide field of application in the field of means for public - and possible also private - transport that guarantee an effective service to the community by allowing the simultaneous transport of a plurality of passengers, for example buses, coaches, trains, metro, trolleybuses, trams and the like.

[0007] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a bus or coach, comprising the aforementioned sanitisation apparatus.

[0008] The invention also refers to a method for sanitising a vehicle, in particular for sanitising a bus or coach. Preferably, said method is implemented with the aforesaid sanitisation apparatus on the aforesaid vehicles.

[0009] * * * * *

[0010] Prior art

[0011] The large influx of people, together with the narrowness of the shared spaces, makes the environments inside the vehicles particularly thriving for the proliferation of microorganisms and the spread of viruses and bacteria.

[0012] Aerating the environments of the vehicles is generally carried out at the end of the service in order to limit this diffusion.

[0013] However, this procedure is not able to guarantee the complete sanitisation of the vehicle's internal environments, turning out as essentially ineffective.

[0014] To this end, sanitisation apparatuses have been developed with the aim of guaranteeing a more efficient sanitisation and, therefore, an increased level of safety for the passengers.

[0015] Some of these apparatuses use ozone generators that make it possible to neutralise microorganisms thanks to the oxidising properties of ozone, a molecule found in nature and artificially reproduced by these machines.

[0016] However, ozone sanitisation has several disadvantages. In fact, exposure to ozone can damage some materials (fabrics, tires, plastics...) causing rapid wear of the objects (seats, seals, handles and the like) present within the environment to be sanitised.

[0017] It should also be pointed out that ozone is a carcinogenic gas according to the directives of the Ministry of Health and an irritant for the respiratory tract that can cause lung problems and irritation to the eyes if inhaled in high concentrations. Therefore, ozone sanitisation procedures must ensure the absence of people within the environment to be sanitised during ozone delivery.

[0018] Disadvantageously, moreover, ozone tends to accumulate in indoor environments and, therefore, additional aeration procedures may be necessary in order to ensure complete safety for people's health.

[0019] An alternative to the use of ozone is represented by the sanitisation apparatuses that exploit ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

[0020] However, the use of ultraviolet rays for sanitisation also has several drawbacks.

[0021] In fact, the efficacy of sanitisation by UV radiation is closely linked to the exposure time, the distance from the UV radiation source, the material with which the surface is made, the roughness of the latter, the presence of any shadow cones or suspended dusts that reduce the quantity of energy transferred to the body to be sanitised. Inevitably, moreover, the distance is strictly dependent on the geometry and arrangement of the objects within the environment to be sanitised. Furthermore, the exposure time may vary depending on the material of which the objects are composed and the energy absorbed or deflected by the airborne fine dust. It should be pointed out that inadequate exposure to UV radiation can cause damage to materials such as plastic, rubber, fabrics and electronic components, therefore, the emitted radiation must be properly calibrated in such a way as to avoid damage to the environment, but, at the same time, to ensure effective sanitisation.

[0022] In essence, the apparatuses currently on the market are not able to guarantee an effective and homogeneous sanitisation of the surfaces and objects arranged within the environment to be sanitised, nor to adapt to the conformation, nature or distance of the surfaces with respect to the source of emission of UV rays or to the presence of airborne fine dust that reduces their efficacy.

[0023] * * * * *

[0024] Summary

[0025] In this context, the task of the present invention is to make available a sanitisation apparatus for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, and a vehicle, in particular a bus or a coach, capable of overcoming the drawbacks shown by the prior art.

[0026] In particular, an object of the present invention is to propose a sanitisation apparatus for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, and a vehicle, in particular a bus or a coach, having an increased sanitising efficacy compared to the apparatuses of the prior art.

[0027] A further object of the present invention is to propose a sanitisation apparatus for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, and a vehicle, in particular a bus or a coach, which involve a limited space within the environment to be sanitised.

[0028] Another object of the present invention is to make available a sanitisation apparatus for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, and a vehicle, in particular a bus or a coach, which guarantee a limited degrading impact on the objects arranged within the environment to be sanitised.

[0029] A further object of the present invention is to propose a sanitisation apparatus for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, and a vehicle, in particular a bus or a coach, having a marked operational flexibility.

[0030] The specified purposes are substantially achieved by a sanitisation apparatus for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, and a vehicle, in particular a bus or a coach, which comprise the technical characteristics set forth in one or more of the claims. The dependent claims correspond to possible embodiments of the invention. * * * * *

[0031] Brief description of the drawings

[0032] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the approximate and thus non-limiting description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a sanitisation apparatus for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, and a vehicle, in particular a bus or a coach, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 is a schematic representation of a sanitisation apparatus for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, in accordance with a possible embodiment of the present invention; figures 2-4 illustrate, according to different points of view, a preferred embodiment of the radiating body included in the sanitisation apparatus for vehicles; figure 5 illustrates, according to a perspective view, a further embodiment of the radiating body; figures 6 and 7 illustrate, according to a schematic side view and a perspective view, a possible step of sanitisations on the seats of a means of transport.

[0033] With reference to the figures, they serve solely to illustrate embodiments of the invention with the aim of better clarifying, in combination with the description, the inventive principles on which the invention is based.

[0034] * * * * *

[0035] Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0036] Figure 1 illustrates, according to a schematic view, an apparatus 1 comprising at least one radiating body 2 adapted to emit at least one radiation to perform an at least partial sanitisation of an environment of a vehicle.

[0037] Two possible embodiments of radiating bodies 2 are illustrated, according to different points of view, in the attached figures 2-5.

[0038] Advantageously, the apparatus 1 may comprise a plurality of radiating bodies 2 operatively connected to perform an at least partial sanitisation of the environment to be sanitised.

[0039] In this way, the plurality of radiating bodies 2 can cooperate to ensure a high level of sanitisation resulting in an increase in safety for the passengers.

[0040] Preferably, at least one radiating body 2 may comprise at least one UV ray source.

[0041] Purely by way of non-limiting example, the UV source may be a UV-C source.

[0042] Furthermore, the at least one radiating body 2 may comprise at least one LED 20 adapted to emit the at least one radiation to perform at least partial sanitisation of the environment.

[0043] Advantageously, the at least one radiating body 2 may comprise a plurality of LEDs 20 adapted to emit the at least one radiation to perform at least partial sanitisation of the environment.

[0044] In this way, the at least one radiating body 2 gives the apparatus 1 a particularly high energy efficiency ensuring limited costs related to the sanitising operations.

[0045] Purely by way of non-limiting example, the at least one radiating body 2 may be an LED lamp adapted to generate UV-C rays.

[0046] Preferably, the at least one radiating body 2 may comprise appendages 21 that can be directed and / or moved in such a way as to optimise irradiation within the environment of the vehicle (as illustrated in figure 6). According to a preferred embodiment better illustrated in figures 2-5, each radiating body 2 comprises a main body 22, in which each LED lamp 20, and appendages 21 rotatably connected to each other are arranged. In other words, the main body 22 and the appendages 21 are configured to mutually rotate about a longitudinal axis L. In detail, the appendages 21 are advantageously shaped to be constrained to a portion of the frame of a means of transport. Figure 5 illustrates a possible embodiment of these appendages 21 in which there is a bracket hinged to the main body 22 and to which, in turn, a coupling element 23 is removably connected that can be inserted by sliding along the lanes already present in a bus-type vehicle for public transport (similar to the hooking system of the safety bars passengers can grasp).

[0047] The main body 22, therefore, is configured to be moved in different operating positions around the longitudinal axis L so as to vary the inclination of the radiating beam emitted by each LED lamp 20 towards the object to be sanitised.

[0048] Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an example of sanitisation by two radiating bodies 2 on two different seats (as figures 6 and 7 show, by way of example, only two radiating bodies 2 and two seats of a means for public transport, such as a bus). In particular, in figure 6 the sanitising cone C emitted by each radiating body 20 is visible and, moreover, as such sanitising cone 20 is able to intercept the seats 100.

[0049] The apparatus 1 comprises activation means 3 associable with the at least one radiating body 2 to allow and / or prohibit an emission of radiation from the at least one radiating body 2 itself.

[0050] Furthermore, the apparatus 1 comprises detection means 4 adapted to detect at least one operating parameter of the sanitisation apparatus 1 and / or of the vehicle. In particular, the detection means 4 are configured to generate at least one detection signal “SR” representative of the at least one operating parameter.

[0051] Purely by way of non-limiting example, the detection means 4 can be configured to detect the temperature and / or humidity of the air, the geometry of the environment to be sanitised, the physical properties of the objects arranged within the environment to be sanitised and the like, and / or the time of use of the environment to be sanitised or of one or more specific objects present in said environment. For example, the detection means 4 is configured to generate at least one detection signal “SR” representative of the interval of total time of use of a bus seat during two successive sanitisation steps, i.e. the accumulation of the individual intervals of time of use by different people over the time span.

[0052] Advantageously, the apparatus 1 comprises a control unit 5 configured to receive at least the aforementioned detection signal “SR” and generate a command signal “SC” as a function of the contents of the at least one detection signal “SR” and / or as a function of at least one preset operating parameter.

[0053] In addition, the control unit 5 is configured to send the command signal “SC” to the activation means 3 to perform sanitisation at least as a function of the contents of the detection signal and / or of the aforesaid at least one preset operating parameter.

[0054] Advantageously, the control unit 5 can be configured to regulate at least the power of the radiation emitted by the at least one radiating body 2 and / or the duration of the period of emission of the radiation by the at least one radiating body 2.

[0055] Preferably, the control unit 5 can be configured to regulate at least the power of the radiation emitted by each radiating body 2 and / or the duration of the period of emission of the radiation by each radiating body 2 in a mutually independent manner.

[0056] Advantageously, for example, the control unit 5 can be configured to also regulate the duration of the sanitisation process, as well as the sanitisation power, as a function of the interval of use detected in relation to the environment to be sanitised (or of one or more objects used and present in that environment).

[0057] In this way, the control unit 5 guarantees particular operational flexibility to the apparatus 1 .

[0058] Furthermore, the apparatus 1 may comprise movement means 6 (partially illustrated in figure 5) configured to move the at least one radiating body 2 between a plurality of operating positions.

[0059] Advantageously, in this way, it is possible to regulate the orientation of the sanitising beam in order to optimize the sanitising operations as a function of the detected conformation of the surface that must be sanitised (for example, in the event that there are different objects, of different materials and / or used for different time intervals between two subsequent sanitising operations).

[0060] In accordance with a possible aspect of the invention not illustrated, the movement means 6 comprises a piston and / or an electric motor interposed between the appendages 21 and the main body 22 and configured to impart a rotation by a predefined angle about the longitudinal axis L. The extension of the piston will result in the rotation in a first direction of rotation of the main body 22 with respect to the appendages 21 , while a contraction of the piston will result in the movement in a second direction of rotation opposite to the aforementioned first direction.

[0061] In particular, the control unit 5 can be configured to generate a movement signal “SM” as a function of the contents in the at least one detection signal “SR” and to send the movement signal “SM” to the movement means 6.

[0062] In other words, the control unit 5 and the movement means 6 can be operatively connected to move the at least one radiating body 2 at least as a function of the contents of the at least one detection signal “SR”.

[0063] In particular, the movement means 6 and the control unit 5 can be operatively connected to move each radiating body 2 between a plurality of respective operating positions in a mutually independent manner.

[0064] In this way, the movement means 6 can move the radiating bodies 2 in such a way as to guarantee a complete and thorough sanitisation of the environment of the vehicle.

[0065] For example, the movement means 6 can allow an approach and / or a distancing and / or a different angle of emission of the radiating bodies 2 with respect to the surfaces to be sanitised in such a way as to optimize the exposure to radiations of each object arranged within the environment to be sanitised and / or to minimize energy expenditure.

[0066] Preferably, the detection means 4 may comprise at least one distance detector, and / or a video camera 7 and / or a camera and / or an infrared video camera adapted to detect at least one physical and / or geometric parameter of the environment.

[0067] For example, the aforesaid detection means 4 can provide at least one physical and / or geometric parameter that can comprise the relative distance between source and surface to be sanitised, the presence and / or quantity of airborne dust, exposure to light, the material of the objects constituting the environment to be sanitised or arranged therein and / or roughness of such surfaces.

[0068] In this way, the at least one detection signal “SR” can be representative of the at least one physical and / or geometric parameter of the environment to be sanitised.

[0069] Furthermore, the detection means 4 may comprise at least one distance sensor 8 adapted to detect a distance between the at least one radiating body 2 and at least one object to be sanitised arranged in the environment of the vehicle.

[0070] Therefore, the control unit 5 can be configured to manage the emitted power and / or the duration of exposure to radiations optimising the sanitisation process as a function of the aforesaid physical and / or geometric parameters and / or as a function of the relative positioning between the radiating body 2 and the surface to be irradiated.

[0071] Advantageously, the detection means 4 may comprise at least one opening sensor 9 for the doors and / or the windows of the vehicle in such a way as to detect the possibility of part of the radiations escaping from the environment to be sanitised.

[0072] Furthermore, the detection means 4 may comprise at least one presence sensor 10 configured to detect the presence of people and / or animals within the environment to be sanitised.

[0073] For example, the at least one presence sensor 10 may be an infrared sensor.

[0074] In particular, the detection signal “SR” can be at least partially indicative of the presence of people and / or animals within the environment to be sanitised and / or of the opening of doors and / or windows in such a way as to increase the level of safety for the passengers and / or vehicle maintenance personnel.

[0075] Purely by way of non-limiting example, the control unit 5 can be configured to allow and / or prohibit the emission of the at least one radiation by the at least one radiating body 2 as a function of the detection carried out by the presence sensor.

[0076] Preferably, the control unit 5 may comprise at least one memory module configured to store at least one operating parameter and / or at least one preset operating parameter. For example, the at least one preset operating parameter may comprise at least the power of the radiation emitted by the at least one radiating body 2 and / or the duration of the period of emission of the radiation by the at least one radiating body 2.

[0077] In this way, the control unit 5 can be configured, for example, to perform an automatic shutdown of the radiating body 2 at the end of the preset emission period.

[0078] Furthermore, the apparatus 1 may comprise a user interface module 11 operatively connected to the control unit 5 to allow the entry, removal and / or modification of the at least one preset operating parameter.

[0079] Advantageously, the apparatus 1 may further comprise safety means 12 active on the activation means 3 for reversibly switching it between an active configuration, in which it is activatable on the at least one radiating body 2 to allow and / or prohibit a radiation emission, and an inactive configuration, in which it is not active on the at least one radiating body 2.

[0080] In accordance with a possible purely exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the safety means 12 may comprise at least one switch 13, preferably arranged inside the environment to be sanitised, and / or a push-button 14, preferably arranged outside the environment to be sanitised.

[0081] Preferably, the safety means 12 may comprise lock means, for example activatable by means of a key, adapted to activate the at least one switch and / or the at least one push-button.

[0082] In accordance with a possible purely illustrative and non-limiting configuration of use, the driver of the vehicle, after having checked the absence of people within the environment to be sanitised, can act on the safety means 12 through a switch 13 arranged inside the cabin and, subsequently, on the push-button 14 arranged outside the environment to be sanitised in such a way as to switch the activation means 3 from the inactive position to the active position.

[0083] In this way, the safety means guarantees a high level of safety to the apparatus 1 allowing to the radiating bodies 2 to be switched on only following a double action on the safety means 12.

[0084] Furthermore, the apparatus 1 may comprise emergency shutdown means 15 active on the at least one radiating body 2 to terminate the radiation emission.

[0085] For example, such emergency shutdown means 15 may comprise at least one pushbutton.

[0086] In accordance with a further aspect the present invention refers to a vehicle, in particular a bus or a coach, comprising an environment adapted to contain at least one person to be transported and a sanitisation apparatus 1 in accordance with what has been previously described. In particular, the apparatus 1 is configured to perform a sanitisation of the aforesaid environment.

[0087] Preferably, the doors and / or the windows of the vehicle are made at least partially of a material adapted to prevent a radiation, even more preferably an ultraviolet radiation, from escaping from the environment.

[0088] Purely by way of non-limiting example, the at least one radiating body 2 can be slidably coupled to the internal ceiling of the room and reversibly movable between a plurality of operating positions.

[0089] In accordance with a further aspect the present invention refers to a method for sanitising a vehicle, in particular a bus or a coach, comprising the step of providing at least one radiating body at least partially within an environment of a vehicle. In particular, the at least one radiating body is configured to emit at least one radiation to perform an at least partial sanitisation of the vehicle environment.

[0090] Preferably, the method comprises the step of providing at least one sanitisation apparatus 1 in accordance with what has been previously described.

[0091] Furthermore, the method comprises the steps of obtaining at least one detection of at least one operating parameter of the vehicle and actuating the radiating body as a function of said at least one detection.

[0092] In particular, the at least one operating parameter may comprise one or more of the aforementioned operating parameters.

[0093] Advantageously, the method may comprise the step of moving at least one radiating body as a function of the at least one detection in such a way as to guarantee a complete and thorough sanitisation of the vehicle environment.

[0094] Advantageously, moreover, the step of obtaining at least one detection of at least one operating parameter of the vehicle may comprise the sub-steps of checking the absence of people and / or animals within the vehicle and / or checking the closing of the doors and / or windows of the vehicle guaranteeing a high level of safety for the passengers and operators.

[0095] Preferably, one or more of the above steps is carried out by the aforementioned sanitisation apparatus 1 .

[0096] Purely by way of non-limiting example, the method may provide for a variable radiation emission duration as a function of the operational needs. For example, the method may provide for an emission duration of less than 50 minutes and preferably equal to or less than 30 minutes. In accordance with some particular operational needs, the method may provide for a complete sanitisation of the environment of the vehicle with an exposure duration equal to or less than 10 minutes.

[0097] It can therefore be noted that the present invention achieves the proposed objectives by realizing a sanitisation apparatus for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, and a vehicle, in particular a bus or a coach, having an increased sanitising efficacy compared to the apparatuses of the prior art thanks to the presence of detection means and of a control unit configured to command the at least one radiating body as a function of the contents of at least one detection signal and / or of at least one preset operating parameter.

[0098] Advantageously, the at least one radiating body involves a limited space within the environment allowing an optimization of the internal volumes of the vehicle. In addition, regulating the positioning of the radiating bodies and the power emitted makes it possible to optimize the exposure of the environment to be sanitised to radiations and, therefore, to minimize the degradation due to them.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sanitisation apparatus (1 ) for vehicles, in particular buses or coaches, comprising:- at least one radiating body (2) adapted to emit at least one radiation to perform an at least partial sanitisation of an environment of a vehicle;- activation means (3) associable with said at least one radiating body (2) to allow and / or prohibit an emission of radiation from said at least one radiating body (2);- detection means (4) adapted to detect at least one operating parameter of said sanitisation apparatus and / or of the vehicle and generate at least one detection signal (SR) representative of said at least one operating parameter;- a control unit (5) configured to:• receive said at least one detection signal (SR) representative of the at least one operating parameter, including the temperature and / or humidity of the air, the geometry of the environment to be sanitised, the physical properties of the objects arranged within the environment to be sanitised, and / or the time of use of the environment to be sanitised or of one or more specific objects present in said environment;• generate a command signal (SC) as a function of the contents of said at least one detection signal (SR) and / or as a function of at least one preset operating parameter;• send said command signal (SC) to said activation means (3) to perform said sanitisation at least as a function of the contents in said detection signal (SR) and / or of said at least one preset operating parameter.

2. The sanitisation apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of radiating bodies (2) operatively connected to perform an at least partial sanitisation of an environment of the vehicle.

3. The sanitisation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least one radiating body (2) comprises at least one UV ray source, preferably a IIV-C ray source.

4. The sanitisation apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one radiating body (2) comprises at least one directable and / ormovable appendage.

5. The sanitisation apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising movement means (6) configured to move said at least one radiating body (2) between a plurality of operating positions; and wherein said control unit (5) is configured to generate a movement signal (SM) as a function of the contents of said at least one detection signal (SR) and to send said movement signal (SM) to said movement means (6) to move said at least one radiating body (2) at least as a function of the contents in said detection signal (SR).

6. The sanitisation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said movement means (6) and said control unit (5) are operatively connected to move each of said at least one radiating body (2) between a plurality of respective operating positions in a mutually independent manner.

7. The sanitisation apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said detection means (4) comprises at least one telecamera (7) and / or a camera and / or a video camera adapted to detect at least one physical and / or geometric parameter of the environment, said at least one detection signal (SR) being representative of said at least one physical and / or geometric parameter of the environment to be sanitised.

8. The sanitisation apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said detection means (4) comprises:- at least one distance sensor (8) adapted to detect a distance between said at least one radiating body (2) and at least one object to be sanitised arranged in the environment of the vehicle; and / or- at least one opening sensor (9) for the doors and / or the windows of the vehicle; and / or- at least one presence sensor (10) configured to detect the presence of people and / or animals within the environment to be sanitised.

9. The sanitisation apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said control unit (5) is configured to regulate at least the power of the radiationemitted by said at least one radiating body (2) and / or the duration of the period of emission of the radiation by said at least one radiating body (2).

10. The sanitisation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said control unit (5) is configured to regulate the power of the emitted radiation and / or the duration of the emission period as a function of said detection signal (SR).

11. The sanitisation apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising safety means (12) active on said activation means (3) for reversibly switching it between an active configuration, in which it is activatable on said at least one radiating body (2) to allow and / or prohibit a radiation emission, and an inactive configuration, in which it is not active on said at least one radiating body (2).

12. A vehicle, in particular a bus or coach, comprising:- an environment adapted to contain at least one person to be transported;- a sanitisation apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims; wherein said at least one radiating body (2) is arranged at least partially within said environment; and wherein said sanitisation apparatus is configured to perform a sanitisation of said environment.

13. A method for sanitising a vehicle, in particular a bus or coach, comprising the steps of:- providing at least one radiating body (2) at least partially within an environment of a vehicle, said at least one radiating body (2) being adapted to emit at least one radiation to perform an at least partial sanitisation of the environment of the vehicle;- obtaining at least one detection of at least one operating parameter of the vehicle including, preferably, the source-surface distance to be sanitised, quantity of suspended dusts, type of material and / or roughness of the surface to be sanitised;- actuating said radiating body (2) as a function of said at least one detection.

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