阅读说明：本技术 洁净室消毒的方法和装置 (Method and device for disinfecting clean room ) 是由 西蒙·迪茨 于 2020-04-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于施用消毒剂对洁净室进行消毒的方法,所述消毒剂通过无人驾驶飞行器从空气中喷洒到待消毒表面上；所述消毒剂储存在飞行器上的至少一个箱内。本发明还涉及一种用于执行该方法的装置,包括相应适配的无人驾驶飞行器。(The invention relates to a method for disinfecting a clean room by applying a disinfectant, which is sprayed from the air by means of an unmanned aerial vehicle onto the surface to be disinfected; the disinfectant is stored in at least one tank on the aircraft. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method, comprising a correspondingly adapted unmanned aerial vehicle.)

1. A method for disinfecting a clean room by applying a disinfectant, characterized in that the disinfectant is sprayed from the air by an unmanned aerial vehicle (10) onto the surface to be disinfected, the disinfectant being stored in at least one tank on the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the aircraft comprises at least one device for detecting proper application of the disinfectant.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least one means for detecting the proper application uses an imaging method preferably selected from the group consisting of photography, thermal imaging, Ultraviolet (UV) photography, reflectance measurements.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least one device for detecting the proper application detects at least one of the following spraying parameters:

a) the spraying time is long;

b) spraying amount;

c) spraying strength;

d) spraying angle;

e) and (4) spraying the surface.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one tank is a pressure tank containing a propellant gas or being connected to a separate pressure source.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aircraft has at least one spraying device selected from the group consisting of: spray nozzles, valves, single-substance pressure nozzles such as circular-vane nozzles, turbulent nozzles or jet-forming nozzles, two-substance nozzles with external mixing, two-substance nozzles with internal mixing, and rotary sprinklers.

7. Device for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one unmanned aerial vehicle by means of which the disinfectant can be sprayed from the air onto the surface to be disinfected, characterized in that the vehicle contains at least one tank for storing the disinfectant.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a camera unit for detecting the proper application of the disinfectant, said camera unit allowing to perform one or more of the following imaging methods: photography, thermal imaging, Ultraviolet (UV) photography, reflectance measurements.

9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises at least one unit for controlling one or more of the following spraying parameters: duration of spraying, amount of spraying, intensity of spraying, angle of spraying, surface of spraying.

10. The apparatus according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the aircraft has at least one spraying device selected from the group consisting of: spray nozzles, valves, single-substance pressure nozzles such as circular-vane nozzles, turbulent nozzles or jet-forming nozzles, two-substance nozzles with external mixing, two-substance nozzles with internal mixing, and rotary sprinklers.

11. Device according to one of claims 7-10, characterized in that for the unmanned aerial vehicle, it comprises according to DINISO 14644-14 a material that is suitable for a clean room in terms of material type and its surface structure.

12. The apparatus of one of claims 7-11, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to avoid areas with still air.

13. The device according to one of claims 7-12, characterized in that said unmanned aerial vehicle for achieving a sufficient degree of dust removal according to DINISO 14644-14 has one or more of the following constructional features:

a) the low-joint surface is a surface with a high bonding strength,

b) uniformity, absence of cracks and impermeability of the surface according to VDI 2083, volume 9.1,

c) the degree of dusting of the surface specified in VDI 2083 at book 4.1,

d) discharge capacity according to the specification on VDI 2083, volume 4.1 or the degassing behaviour specified for the test specimens.

14. Device according to one of claims 7-13, characterized in that the device comprises means for detecting the presence of a person in a clean room to be cleaned.

15. The apparatus according to one of claims 7-14, characterized in that the apparatus has a base station for receiving the unmanned aerial vehicle, the base station preferably comprising one or more of the following means:

a) a charging device for charging the electric power of the electric vehicle,

b) a device for filling a tank of disinfectant,

c) a device for replacing a disinfectant tank,

d) a device for filling a propellant gas tank,

e) a device for replacing the propellant gas tank,

f) a data transmission device for transmitting data to a data transmission device,

g) a device for cleaning the aircraft, the device comprising a cleaning device,

h) means for emergency shutdown.

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for disinfecting a clean room by applying a disinfectant which is sprayed from the air by an unmanned aerial vehicle onto the surface to be disinfected; the disinfectant is stored in at least one tank on the aircraft.

The method according to the invention combines several decisive advantages with respect to the methods known from the prior art.

The modern unmanned aerial vehicle can be accurately controlled and positioned in hovering flight. Disinfection can be precisely controlled by the unmanned aerial vehicle. This not only relates to the directed approach of the surface, but also to maintaining a defined distance from the surface, which is particularly important for effective spraying.

In this way, the use of disinfectants and the operating costs can be reduced.

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles can help reduce personnel. It must be considered that spray disinfection is an activity that presents health hazards to workers. The method according to the invention is therefore a measure for enhancing the safety of work.

Furthermore, humans are the source of particles which have the greatest influence on the contamination of the clean room, which is therefore decisively reduced by the method according to the invention.

To date, unmanned aerial vehicles have been miniaturized to be stored (e.g., in a base station) in unused parking spaces (e.g., on top of cabinets) in a clean room and then fly directly through the room and disinfect it.

Unmanned aerial vehicles can specifically reach and treat surfaces (ceilings, cabinet surfaces) that were hitherto difficult to reach. By pre-storing the coordinates of the clean room in which the object is contained, a flight path with a spraying program can be established. In addition, the aircraft may be equipped with a distance sensor capable of detecting objects that are not in place, thereby changing the flight path.

This control may already take place during the disinfection process (e.g. by imaging with a camera).

By using an integrated sensor system, other parameters indicating correct disinfection can be measured and used for controlling the disinfection process, such as filling-level measurements in the disinfectant tank, detection of the spraying process by sensors or detection of the current flight path.

Thus, a data set can be recorded for each disinfection process, which not only allows online control, but also allows subsequent assessment of correct disinfection.

Deviations of the relevant parameters may be recorded and displayed visually and/or audibly as a warning.

The existing sensor systems together with imaging can additionally be used to detect critical deviations in the clean room (contaminants, rust, water spots, etc. that have not yet been eliminated) and the aircraft can therefore also be used as a "control drone".

By using a marking liquid, the flying and spraying procedure can be tested in advance and optimally adapted to the surface to be treated. This allows for the first time a thorough, clean process-related control of the disinfection process, which was not provided by the previous simple signature of the hygiene program.

Thus, novel verification of the cleaning process is also possible. In a first step, an optimized flight and spray program will be established in a controlled manner. And secondly, only the program needs to be ensured to be executed correctly.

Unmanned aircraft do not require any "personal protective equipment" and can be used during marginal periods or "down time".

The aircraft, which preferably has been pre-parked in a clean room, reduces the penetration and release of contaminants.

For the method according to the invention, all disinfectants already established can be used. Furthermore, disinfectants that are too toxic/incompatible to humans may also be used for the first time.

In addition, completely different sterilization methods can be used according to the invention, such as the release of pure gases, the release of smoke or the treatment with Ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Furthermore, the method also allows for a combination of spray disinfection with other disinfection methods, such as Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, through upgrades to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

In summary, the sterilization method according to the invention allows a reliable, cheap and fast and fully controllable sterilization of clean rooms.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an unmanned aerial vehicle according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments

Various embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of an unmanned aerial vehicle 10 according to the present invention. The aircraft has a housing made of a material suitable for clean rooms, has a surface 5 suitable for clean rooms, and is embodied as a two-rotor with two rotors 4 suitable for clean rooms. It also has a spray nozzle 1, a lateral attachment box 2 for disinfectant, a sensor 3 for indoor navigation, a digital camera 6 as an imaging unit and means for transmitting data. Cooling is performed by a heat exchanger 9 attached to the surface. In addition, the aircraft has a connection device 8 for the base station at the bottom, which connection device 8 is used for charging and filling.

The embodiments shown herein are merely examples of the present invention and therefore should not be construed as limiting. Alternative embodiments considered by the person skilled in the art are likewise included within the scope of protection of the invention.

List of reference numerals:

10 unmanned aerial vehicle

1 spray nozzle

2 disinfectant box

3 sensor for indoor navigation

4 rotor suitable for clean room according to DIN ISO 14644-15

5 housing with a surface suitable for a clean room

6 digital camera as imaging unit

Device for transmitting data

8 connecting device for charging and tank filling for a base station

9 Heat exchanger for cooling an aircraft

Detailed Description

The invention relates to a method for disinfecting a clean room by spraying it onto the surface to be disinfected by means of an unmanned aerial vehicle. By storing the disinfectant in the aircraft tank, no external supply (e.g. via pipes) can be used and the aircraft can move freely indoors.

In a preferred embodiment, the disinfectant is stored in undiluted form in the tank. Thus, the aircraft is lighter in weight and consumes less energy.

In one embodiment of the invention, the aircraft comprises at least one device for recording the appropriate application of disinfectant. The device advantageously records the application online, i.e. during disinfection that has occurred during flight, and collects and/or transmits the recorded data to the control unit. The at least one recording device is capable of detecting proper application at a plurality of levels: by lowering the filling level in the tank; in terms of spray application, by checking the correct spray course and on the surface, by checking the correctly sprayed surface.

Advantageously, in order to detect a suitable application, the device uses an imaging method preferably selected from the group consisting of photography, thermal imaging, UV photography and reflectance measurement.

In photographic imaging, a wet surface may be detected as a light emitting surface. Thermal imaging can take advantage of the fact that disinfectants often contain volatile organic solvents. The enthalpy of evaporation required for evaporation is taken from the environment ("evaporative cooling") and thus cools the sprayed surface, which can thus be detected by thermography. The applied Ultraviolet (UV) -active disinfectant can be directly detected by Ultraviolet (UV) photography. Since wet surfaces have increased reflection, reflectance measurements may be used herein.

The aircraft preferably comprises one or more spray nozzles. Through these nozzles, the disinfectant can be dispersed into fine droplets. Furthermore, a spray image, in particular a spray angle at which the disinfectant is applied, can be determined. Alternatively or additionally, it is suggested to apply disinfectant via a valve to allow precise amount control. A valve may be provided before the spray nozzle to regulate the flow to the nozzle.

In another embodiment, the at least one means for detecting correct application is adapted to detect at least one of the following spray parameters:

a) the spraying time is long, and the spraying time is long,

b) the amount of the water to be sprayed is controlled,

c) the strength of the spraying is improved,

d) the spraying angle is the angle of the spraying nozzle,

e) and (4) spraying the surface.

Advantageously, one or more sensors are used for this purpose, which are attached to the spraying device and can therefore directly detect the spraying process with respect to one or more of the above-mentioned spraying parameters.

The unmanned aerial vehicle according to the invention comprises at least one container for storing a disinfectant. The container is advantageously a pressure tank containing a propellant gas. This has the advantage that it can be done without pumping means and that the disinfectant can be supplied directly from the tank to the spraying device.

Alternatively, the storage tank may be connected to a separate pressure source. As pressure source, any means known to the person skilled in the art may be used, such as a pressure pump or a separate pressure tank filled with propellant gas.

The aircraft used in the method has at least one spraying device adapted to spray the disinfectant onto the surface to be treated.

In a preferred embodiment, the spraying device is selected from the following: spray nozzles, valves, single-substance pressure nozzles such as circular-vane nozzles, turbulent nozzles or jet-forming nozzles, two-substance nozzles with external mixing, two-substance nozzles with internal mixing, and rotary sprinklers.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the disinfection method described above, which device comprises at least one unmanned aerial vehicle by means of which a disinfectant can be sprayed from the air onto a surface to be disinfected, which vehicle comprises at least one tank for storing the disinfectant.

The disinfectant tank, preferably a pressure tank, is preferably releasably connected to the unmanned aerial vehicle so as to be easily replaced by a new full (pressure) tank after the disinfectant has been consumed. On board the aircraft, supports for carrying the spray can be formed so that replacement can be carried out quickly and easily.

The unmanned aerial vehicle is the central unit of the device and may be supplemented by one or more additional units. Some examples are: a base unit (synonymous with "base station"), a control unit, a GPS unit, a data exchange unit, a filling unit, a cleaning unit, a used-up bin processing unit, and a charging unit. These units may be provided as separate devices. Preferably, several units are integrated in the device. Accordingly, the base station may include a charging unit, a padding unit, and a control unit.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a mobile GPS unit and a GPS receiver. The area to be disinfected can be marked by means of a mobile GPS unit, and the GPS receiver receives corresponding GPS data, which can be used to formulate a disinfection plan. Alternatively, the chamber to be disinfected and its objects can be measured by ultrasonic, bluetooth or laser based distance meters.

The aircraft according to the invention advantageously has at least one distance meter for precise flight control. The rangefinder may operate using ultrasound or laser.

Those skilled in the art are familiar with many embodiments for accurately navigating an unmanned aerial vehicle. Examples of basic construction types are: two rotors, three rotors, four rotors, six rotors or eight rotors. These multi-rotor aircraft have several rotors or propellers which are preferably arranged on one plane and act vertically downwards in order to generate lift and also generate thrust by tilting of the rotor plane. Like a helicopter, a multi-rotor aircraft can take off and land vertically.

In one embodiment, the unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a camera unit for detecting the correct application of disinfectant, said camera unit allowing to perform one or more of the following imaging methods: photography, thermal imaging, Ultraviolet (UV) photography, and reflectance measurements.

In another embodiment of the invention, the unmanned aerial vehicle has at least one unit for controlling one or more of the following spraying parameters: duration of spraying, amount of spraying, intensity of spraying, angle of spraying, surface of spraying.

In another embodiment, the aircraft has an automatic shut-down system that terminates the spraying process and/or the flight when a dangerous event such as the presence of a person or the proximity of a person is detected.

For the application of disinfectant, the unmanned aerial vehicle has at least one spraying unit selected from the group consisting of: spray nozzles, valves, single-substance pressure nozzles such as circular-vane nozzles, turbulent nozzles, jet-forming nozzles, two-substance nozzles with external mixing, two-substance nozzles with internal mixing, and rotary sprinklers.

In another embodiment, the at least one spraying device is equipped with a valve which is electronically controlled or opens when a defined fluid pressure is exceeded.

According to one embodiment, the at least one spraying device is oriented during the process such that the at least one spraying device is not obstructed by the air flow of the rotor during spraying. This may be achieved by attaching the spraying device to the opposite side of the aircraft to the rotor. It is therefore advantageous to position the sprinkler below the housing of the aircraft with the rotor positioned on top. Optionally, the aircraft may have one or more screening devices (screening devices) for screening the sprinklers against the air flow generated by the rotor.

In an alternative embodiment, the spraying devices are attached such that the spraying process is supported by the air flow of the rotor. Since in flight mode the rotor generates a downwardly directed air flow, this air flow can support the spraying process and provide accelerated drying of the disinfectant. In a preferred embodiment, the spraying device is attached centrally below the centre of the rotor (i.e. for example below the rotor hub).

In a preferred embodiment, the unmanned aerial vehicle has a weight of up to 20kg ("small UAV"), and particularly preferably up to 5kg ("micro UAV"). The smaller the aircraft, the easier it is to operate and the less energy is consumed.

The unmanned aerial vehicle is advantageously adapted for indoor use and preferably use in a clean room.

According to the use in a clean room, the unmanned aerial vehicle advantageously comprises materials suitable for the clean room in terms of type and surface structure according to DIN ISO 14644-14.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to avoid areas with static air. Here, it must be taken into account that unmanned aerial vehicles generally operate with rotors. Therefore, the outer shape of the chassis must be adapted to the air flow generated by the rotor, while avoiding static air.

In another embodiment of the invention, the unmanned aerial vehicle is designed such that the air flow of the rotor contacts the surface with a low turbulence unidirectional air flow.

In one embodiment of the invention, the unmanned aerial vehicle for achieving sufficient cleanliness according to DIN ISO 14644-14 has one or more of the following constructional features:

a) the low-joint surface is a surface with a high bonding strength,

b) uniformity according to DIN 18202 or better, absence of cracks and impermeability of the surface according to VDI 2083, book 9.1,

c) the degree of surface dusting specified in VDI 2083 at book 4.1,

d) discharge capacity according to the specification on VDI 2083, volume 4.1 or the degassing behaviour specified for the test specimens.

It is noted that the particle emissions, which have a strong influence on the contamination of the clean room, are closely related to the surface quality of the materials used.

In a preferred embodiment, the unmanned aerial vehicle has a housing that is closed on all sides. In this way, particle release is reduced. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the drone has a heat exchanger as a cooling device. Air coolers will have the disadvantage of increasing particle emissions.

In a preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger is adjacent to the propellant gas containment box; in this case, the cooling effect caused by the adiabatic expansion of the gas can be used to cool the device via the heat exchanger.

In a particular embodiment, materials suitable for clean rooms located in the area of movable parts of an aircraft are of particular relevance. These movements lead to friction between the two materials, which in turn is the most frequent cause of particle emissions. By means of the classification measurements and evaluations according to VDI 2083, book 8, the person skilled in the art can determine the cleanroom suitability of the material combination and the respective material pair of the respective aircraft. The measurement of friction in material testing is typically performed by "ball-disk testing", "disk-disk testing" or "roller-disk testing".

In terms of electrostatics, in a further embodiment the surface of the aircraft has an electric field (e-field) with a sensitivity level of 4, preferably 3, in particular 2 and particularly preferably 1. The sensitivity levels are defined by the electric field strength on the surface according to the following table:

sensitivity class	Electric field strength on a product
		1	1 coulomb
2	10 coulombs
		3	50 coulombs
4	100 nano coulombs

In another embodiment, the surface of the aircraft has a surface area of 7.5x10⁵Ohm and 10⁹Contact resistance between ohms and from 10⁴Ohmic/reference surface to 10¹⁰The sheet resistance of the ohmic reference surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the device has means for detecting the presence of a person in a clean room to be cleaned. This may ensure that the aircraft does not collide with the persons present and that the persons are not in contact with the disinfectant. The detection device may be part of the unmanned aerial vehicle or may be present in the base station or in a separate control device. The detection device may preferably detect the presence of a person via an imaging unit or a motion sensor.

In another embodiment of the invention, the device has a base station for receiving the unmanned aerial vehicle, the base station preferably being equipped to perform one or more of the following tasks:

a) the charging is carried out on the electric power,

b) the disinfectant tank is refilled with a new quantity of disinfectant,

b) the propellant tank is refilled with a propellant gas,

c) the disinfectant tank is replaced by a new disinfectant tank,

c) the propellant tank is replaced with a new one,

d) the unmanned aerial vehicle is cleaned and then is put into a clean state,

e) data transmission;

f) and (4) emergency shutdown.

According to the task, the base station comprises one or more of the following means:

a) a charging device for charging the electric power of the electric vehicle,

b) a device for filling a tank of disinfectant,

c) a device for replacing a disinfectant tank,

d) a device for filling a propellant gas tank,

e) a device for replacing the propellant gas tank,

f) a data transmission device for transmitting data to a data transmission device,

g) a device for cleaning an aircraft, comprising a cleaning device,

h) means for emergency shutdown.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of disinfecting an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein after landing (preferably in a base station) the vehicle performs thrust reversal of the rotor, the disinfectant dispensed by the spraying device being directed upwards above the housing of the vehicle. In this way, the aircraft can be easily sterilized.

The method is not only used for disinfection but also for cleaning unmanned aircraft by spraying a cleaning liquid. The cleaning fluid may also be dispensed by the base station.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing comprises, or at least has a surface consisting essentially or entirely of, a plastic suitable for clean rooms. The plastic is preferably selected from the group comprising: polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate-PET) -, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene propylene diene (monomer) rubber-EPDM-and polyamide.

Advantageously, in this aircraft, the material/coating exposed on the surface is inert with respect to the disinfectant used.

The unmanned aerial vehicle preferably has a connecting element for connecting to an external filling device. The connecting element allows a reversible connection with the supply unit and is preferably a plug-in connector, a bayonet connector, a threaded connector or a bayonet connector.

Defining:

an "unmanned aerial vehicle" (also referred to as a UAV, an unmanned aerial system, AUS, or in colloquial terms an unmanned aircraft) within the framework of the present invention is an aircraft that can operate and navigate on its own from the ground adequately without the need to carry flight personnel, either through a computer or remote control. Within the framework of the invention-unlike the definition of ICAO (international civil aviation organization) -this includes flight models, i.e. flight devices operating in reduced or miniaturized dimensions.

Within the framework of the present application, a "clean room" is understood as a room in which the concentration of airborne and other contaminants is kept below a defined threshold.

Disinfection within the framework of the present application is defined as a hygiene measure designed to kill or inactivate pathogens, significantly reducing their number on an object or biological surface. The aim is to achieve a state in which infection becomes impossible. The term "sanitization" is synonymous with the term "sanitization".

Within the framework of the present application, "clean" is understood to be the state of a product, surface, device, gas or liquid with a defined degree of contamination. A contaminant is defined as any particulate, molecular, non-particulate, or biological unit that can negatively affect a product being processed within the chamber or a process occurring within the chamber.

A "low turbulence unidirectional air flow (TAV)" according to the present application is defined as a controlled air flow having a uniform velocity and nearly parallel streamlines over the entire cross-section of the entire area (according to VDI guideline 2083, book 4.1, item 3.4.2).

The term "qualification" according to the invention is defined as a working process of sterilization according to the defined method for determining and/or checking the sterilization performance in a clean room or a part thereof.

According to the invention, the surface of the particles has a cleanliness grade, surface purity class-ORK-from 1cm²Is defined as the number of individual particles on the reference surface, referred to in volume 9.1 of VDI guideline 2083, month 12 2006, fig. 4, with a reference particle diameter of 1 μm in the decimal evaluation system.

In the context of the present invention, surface resistance is defined as the resistance measured between two electrodes on the surface.

Further advantages, features and useful further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments with the aid of the drawings.