Abstract:
A device for conditioning air by controllably delivering liquid products in a room, a mall, a hospital, a factory, a cinema, an office, a theatre or any building, facility or the similar. The device includes at least a motor driven electromechanical liquid sprayer and a motor connected to at least a device-operation programming circuit. This programming circuit includes several timers for driving the motor according to programmed data as start time, end time, sequential activation frequency, length of each sequential activation, etc. The device may be used both for aromatizing and disinfecting and for any procedure requiring spraying liquid products in any room or facility.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a device for controllably delivering liquid products in rooms by means of atomization, vaporization, pulverization, spraying or the similar, and more particularly relates to a device preferably able to aromatize, among another implementations, both large rooms that has previously installed forced ventilation systems, as fan blowers, air extractors, air conditioning systems or any other device intended for circulating air, and rooms where is intended to simultaneously install said circulating air systems and the device of the present invention.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Referring to the prior art, it is possible to mention that most of the room aromatizing devices that are known nowadays are hand-operated, for instance room deodorants or perfumes in atomizing containers. Thus, it is the user who personally has to manually operate said aromatizing devices; by pressing or acting valves or others mechanisms in order to those aromatizing devices disperse the odoriferous content in the room.  
         [0005]     Other-devices intended for atomizing liquid products in large rooms, characterized by the new features of the device of the present invention, are not known until now. These features will be disclosed in this document.  
         [0006]     Indeed, among the most outstanding advantages of the present invention it is possible to cite that, manufacturing it is easy and cheap, its trouble-free use, and the fact of being highly effective for aromatizing large rooms in a manner that was impossible to achieve until now.  
         [0007]     Even though, as it has been mentioned above, the device of the present invention has been especially aimed for atomizing aromatic liquids in large rooms, as supermarkets, shopping centers, galleries, etc., this can be used in any place where a forced ventilation system is installed, for instance shops, offices, homes, ships, planes, buses, trains, subways, etc. Additionally, this device can be used with diverse featured liquid products, without regard of its fragrance, intensity of aroma, kind of fragrance, trademark, etc., everything according to what the user desires and the aimed environmental conditions that are desired to achieve.  
         [0008]     Even when the preferred use of the device is for aromatizing, this device can also be for atomizing other kind of liquid products, as such insecticides, bactericides, fungicides, etc., obviously being its application according to the salubrity norms corresponding to each specific case.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for atomizing liquid products in rooms, particularly for aromatizing large rooms, wherein using the device combining mechanical and electronic parts, it is possible to spray an aromatic substance in the room, which will be spread onto the whole room by means of the forced ventilation systems, no matter the size of the room nor the number of devices, since said forced ventilation systems&#39; extractors will take the aromatized air and spread it everywhere in the room.  
         [0010]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a room-aromatizing device able to dose the amount of aromatic substance spread in the room, controlling by means of electronics the aromatizing schedule and time, as well as the quantity and type of aromatic products used in the process.  
         [0011]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide device for controllably delivering liquid products in rooms by means of atomization, vaporization, pulverization or the similar, of the type that includes an electric-motor driven sprayer, having a pulverizable liquid input and a pulverized liquid output, having a liquid substances container connected to said sprayer, wherein the sprayer comprises at least an electromechanical liquids sprayer and said motor is connected to at least a device-operation programming circuit, which comprises a programmable electronic controller including a first timing circuit (timer) which defines the start time and the operation time of the electromechanical sprayer&#39;s driving motor, a second timer that defines the sequential activation frequency of said motor, and a third timer that defines the length of each sequential activation cycle of said motor by means of the second timer.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The present invention is illustrated by way of example in the following drawings wherein:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a basic diagram corresponding to the device of the invention installed in a central air conditioning system.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a simplified diagram of the parts integrating the device of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a diagram of a first embodiment of a control and programming electronic circuit of the device of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a diagram of a second embodiment of the electronic circuit of device of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     In the description below the term “spraying” will be generically used and has to be understood as referring to any way and/or method for obtaining in-suspension particles in the air.  
         [0018]     The device of the invention can be installed in several kinds of forced ventilation systems. In case of being installed in central air conditioners, the device is placed inside it, with the sprayed liquid mist aimed in the direction of the air conditioner filter. Thus, as a result of the direction of the airflow, the sprayed liquid is impelled towards the air conditioner outlets. In an equal manner, the device of the invention might be installed anywhere in the air flow generated by any forced ventilation system, no matter if it is inside or outside said system. Moreover;, the device could operate leaned on the floor.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a central air conditioning device that includes a compressor  2 , an air outlet filter grid  3  and two air distribution conduits  4  and  5  wherein the liquid products will be sprayed. A liquids sprayer  6  is shown behind the grid  3 . This sprayer  6  is driven by an electric motor, which generally comprises an electromagnet operating a plate that drives a piston that aspirates liquid products from a container and compress them in order to spraying said liquid products. The liquid or fluid is held into a container or jerrycan  7  that is connected with the sprayer  6  by means of conduits. This conduits include a first conduit  8  whereby liquid flows from the container  7  to the sprayer  6 , and a second conduit  9  whereby excess liquid flows back from the sprayer  6  to the container  7 .  
         [0020]     A programming panel commands the sprayer  6  and particularly its electric motor. This panel  6  is connected with said motor by means of cables  11 , and contains inside the required components to make it programmable, as it will be explained later.  
         [0021]     The air-forcing fan has not been illustrated in  FIG. 1  for better understanding.  
         [0022]     In order to contain the liquid that will be sprayed may be used any kind of suitable container without regarding it size or material. For instance it can be used a plastic or metallic jerrycan  7 , a bottle, etc.  
         [0023]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2  of the drawings schematically showing a the sprayer  6 , which comprises a driving motor  12 , which presents a liquid spraying; average rate of 0.2 liters per minute. This sprayer  6  includes an electromagnet  13  and a plate  13 ′ for driving a valve  14 , wherein an output chamber  14 ′ and an excess liquid return chamber  14 ″ (liquid flows towards container  7 ) are defined. A piston  15  that is functionally linked with a spring  16  is placed inside said valve  14 . As a result of the movement back of the piston  15 , the liquid contained inside jerrycan  7  is aspirated and introduced through opening  17  into valve  14 . Eventually, and according to other possible embodiments carried out by any person known in the art, said excess liquid return chamber  14 ″ and consequently said return valve may be not included. This could be taken in practice, for instance, in case the liquid&#39;s returning being no necessary as a result of a very accurate liquid spraying system.  
         [0024]     The piston  15  is a solid cylinder made of stainless steel, which is connected through its rear with plate  13 ′ of motor  12 . The pushing spring  16 , lets the piston  15  to come back to the resting position once plate  13 ′ is released. This disposition causes the piston  15  to displace continuously across the valve  14 . The piston  15  may be made of bronze or suitable material for that function. Additionally, valve  14  is made of bronze; nevertheless it can be made of another material according to its mechanical solicitations.  
         [0025]     The conduit  9  is connected to the return chamber  14 ″ of the valve  14 . This makes possible that, in case of the pressure in chamber  14 ′ being too high for reaching a correct spraying operation, the excess liquid can flow through small holes  15 ′. Thus, when the piston  15  is moves back, the excess liquid is lead back to the container  7 .  
         [0026]     The air sprayed by means of a nozzle  18  is -aimed towards a sprayed air outlet. This is aligned with the air outlet of said forced ventilation device  1 . The liquid is expelled from valve  15  when piston moves forward and when passing through nozzle  18  this liquid, immediately or after passing through conduits  4  and  5  ( FIG. 1 ), contacts the environment and produces a mist  19 . This mist  19  is easily spread out as a result of the forced air ventilation system of the device  1 .  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , nozzle  18 , valve  14  and motor  12  can be altogether installed into device  1 , or if being necessary, they can be installed apart each other. It is to say that, if as a result of the features (shape, size, etc.) of the device  1 , installing the motor  12  and the valve  14  inside it is not possible; they can be installed outside it. Even though nozzle  18  has to be installed inside the device  1 , this is not a problems since nozzle  18  is very small and can be connected with valve  18  (installed outside device  1 ) by means of extensions as plastic hoses, metallic tubes, etc., achieving this way the same spraying effect. As it can be seen, both jerrycan  7  and the programming panel  10  are placed outside the device  1 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a circuit for controlling and programming the sprayer  6 . This circuit comprises a programmable electronic controller  20  that in the preferred embodiment includes a programmable interrupt controller PIC16C84. This controller  20  is connected through a low voltage power supply  21  to the electric power. Additionally, the controller  20  controls forced ventilation systems of any device that is connected to its terminals or connected to the power key. The controller  20  includes three timing circuits (timers) that switch a transistor Q 1 , which energizes a cool  23  of a relay  22 , thus actuating said relay  22 . This way, contacts  24  of said relay  22  can be opened and closed alternatively, thus actuating motor  12  during a period of time previously programmed on the programming panel  10 . This programming panel  10  includes a visual indicator or 3 digits display, indicated  25 ,  26  and  27 . This display allows the operator to visualize the operating periods of time programmed for the device.  
         [0029]     Said timers operate as described below:  
         [0030]     A first timer allows to set up the duration of the first pulse or connection of motor  12  by means of the relay  22 , in order to start spraying liquid. This first pulse is programmed for being triggered just two minutes after the forced air ventilation device has been switched on.  
         [0031]     A second timer allows to set up how long after the very moment the air ventilation system was switched on, the relay  22  has to be actuated again. So, this timer defines the frequency of the sequential activations of said motor  12 .  
         [0032]     A third timer allows to program how long (in seconds) will be each activation cycle of the motor  12 . Is to say that it defines the duration of each sequential activation of the motor  12 .  
         [0033]     Although the triggering time of the first timer can be modified voluntarily by programming the controller  20 , in conditioned air devices this time is preferably set to two minutes, because it is considered this is the average time necessary to reach the full operation of these devices (since they have been powered on), when pressure and speed of the airflow generated into the conduits reach their maximum predicted levels. This time will be adjusted in each case in particular according to the most convenient value.  
         [0034]     Frequency and activation time of motor  12  are according to the size of the place that is intended to aromatize. This is because the larger the room is the more quantity of product has to be sprayed.  
         [0035]     The first timer (the two-minutes-set timer) starts when the circuit is supplied energy through the power supply  21 . During this time it is possible to access to the programming menu by pressing simultaneously a labeled “ENTER” button  28  and a labeled “ESCAPE” button  29 . Then, it is possible to set the second timer by means of buttons  30  and  31 , which respectively increase or decrease the time. The time set is displayed on displayers  25 ,  26  and  27 . Afterward, pressing simultaneously buttons  28  and  29  the third timer may be set. Finally, pressing button  28 , or “ENTER”, within 3 seconds, saves entered data.  
         [0036]     After the programming process has been finished, timer one restarts the two-minutes countdown. After these two minutes time, this first timer, which has been previously set, is triggered. The relay  22  keeps closed for a T 2  time (set in seconds), thus feeding motor  12 .  
         [0037]     When T 2  time has gone by, the third timer (T 3 ), which has been set in seconds, is triggered (and displayed in displays  25 ,  26  and  27 . During this time, motor  12  remains off. The second timer (programmed in seconds) triggers when T 3  time has gone by. Motor  12  remains active during time T 2 .  
         [0038]     Then, the cycle is indefinitely repeated: T 3  is triggered, then T 2  is triggered, then is triggered T 3  again, and so on. These timers respond to their corresponding active cycles previously set.  
         [0039]     Light emission devices (LED) D 1 , D 2  and D 3 , are arranged in order to allow the user to visualize the moment and time of activation of each timer, both when programming the device and when it is operative. These LEDs indicate the triggering of the first timer, the second one and the third one respectively. These LEDs flash once a second indicating which timer is working in that moment.  
         [0040]     Being this a device whose spraying mechanisms are activated when the relay  22 , which connects the power supply to the motor  12 , is energized, so the device may also work according to configurations. This configurations or embodiments may include, for example, movement sensors that turn on the controller when detecting something moving in the room or turn it off when detecting no movement; odor sensors that turn on the relay  22  when detecting that the sprayed liquid in-room concentration is less than a previously set minimum level, or that turn off the system when detecting that this sprayed liquid in-room concentration is greater than a previously set maximum level, or that turn on the device again as a result of detecting some not nice smell, for instance the smell resulted of something burning, broken pipes, high temperature, etc. Additionally, a system that turn on, turn off, or increase the power of the device of the invention according to any schedule, according to the people in the room, etc. can be implemented. This can be done, for instance, by means of schedule timers.  
         [0041]     The spraying device of the present invention may be preferably connected to the electric connectors of the device  1 , in order to turn it on and off according to the operating state of the device  1 . In case of this connection being no possible, the device of the present invention can be connected directly to the electrical power line of the facility wherein it is installed, adding a main on-off schedule timer.  FIG. 4  shows an exemplary connection that includes a schedule timer  34 . This timer can be a conventional one as those used for commanding shop-windows lights, which is connected to the input of the power supply  21 . This embodiment allows the schedule timer to determinate, according to its set up data, the start time and the end time of the operative sequences of the three timers that are included in the controller  20 .  
         [0042]     Furthermore, the embodiment of  FIG. 4  shows a sensor (detector)  35 , which is connected to the controller  20 . This sensor generically represent an environmental conditions sensor, for instance, a temperature sensor, a movement detector, a smell detector, etc., or the combination of several sensor. When sensor  20  is activated as a result of some environmental condition, this sends an electrical signal to controller  20 , which energizes relay  22 . Consequently, relay  22  turns sprayers&#39; motor  12  during the period of time the sensor is sending said electrical signal.  
         [0043]     The controller  20  setting up is easy. However, qualified and authorized personnel may only be set up said controller  20 . In order to bring the system security properties, a security procedure has been designed. This procedure makes possible to avoid no authorized personnel to modify the device setup. The security procedure is defined as a result that programming the device can only be done during the first two minutes the first timer is on, being impossible to do any change after this time period. In order to set up the device this has to be turned off and then turned on, in a word, it has to be reset. Moreover, buttons  28  and  29  has to be simultaneously pushed for 3 second for programming the device.  
         [0044]     A pushing button  32  is included in the device of the invention in order to reset the timers. This button  32  allows the user to modify the device setup. Additionally a pushing button  33  defines a control that send a Vcc signal to the controller  20 , which forces the energizing of the relay  22 , thus immediately turning on the motor  12 . This is useful when changing the container  7  in order to fill with liquid product conduits  8  and  9  and the valve  14 . Pushing button  32  is concealed from behind the box wherein the electronic circuit is placed, so as acceding to it is only possible by means of a special tool. Furthermore, button  33  has no identification label, as the other buttons, in order to prevent their being identified and prevent any unauthorized person to erroneously program the device.  
         [0045]     Several spraying devices including respective timers  34  can be installed in the same room in order to combine the spraying of several liquid products at different moments, thus achieving a particular effect in each case. This may produce a more pleasant place according to a schedule, and additionally could be used as a commercial aim, for instance producing the environmental smell distinctive of some goods.  
         [0046]     As an example, in case of aromatizing a factory, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM a product whose smell stimulate people activity, then, from 12:01 PM to 02:00 PM it could be sprayed a smell that relax the personnel at their lunching time, for instance a sweet fragrance could be used, and finally, from 02:01 PM to 06:00 PM it could be sprayed other smell that stimulate again people activity. In order to do that, three identical spraying devices, each one including its single schedule timer and connected to its own container, has to be used. Additionally, it could be used only one container that includes three different compartments, each one containing a different liquid product.  
         [0047]     The device of the invention is intended to be not only an aromatizing device; this may be used, for instance, as a disinfecting device. As a result of its spraying properties, the device could be used for spraying fragrances, germicides, bactericides, insecticides or the similar. As an example, it could be used for spraying a bactericide liquid on the filter of a central air conditioner, thus disinfecting the while airflow passing thorough this filter. This could be a very good improvement for hospitals, medical clinics, operating theaters or the similar, wherein air has to be decontaminated, dust free, bacteria free, smoke free, etc. Logically, the implementation of the device of the invention is according to the facility wherein this is installed and type of liquid to be sprayed.  
         [0048]     Additionally, as it has been mentioned above, the spraying device may be used for commercial aims, for instance, for spraying some smell representative of any goods, in order to stimulate people in the room to consume or purchase those goods. Furthermore, it may be used in cinemas or theaters for creating an environment for giving the audience an additional sensation by means of the smelling sense. For example, if a beach movie is being screened, a beach fragrance liquid may be sprayed.  
         [0049]     In the described preferred embodiment all pushing buttons are tact sensitive.  
         [0050]     If motor  12  is properly operated, this does not need maintenance or cleaning. The only thing to take care of is the container has always to have liquid product in it. However, this could be corrected adding a liquid level sensor in the container, being this capable of sending an electrical signal to the controlling reporting that the container has no more liquid in it, thus turning off the motor  12  in order to protect it.  
         [0051]     Even though examples and preferred embodiments have been used to better understand the invention and its features, these examples are not limitative or restrictive of the scope of protection. On the contrary, it must be clearly understood that many other embodiments, modifications and alterations equivalent to the elements of the invention may be suggested by persons skilled in the art after reading the present description, without departing from the spirit of the present invention and/or the scope of the appended claims.