US5368651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of steam-treating sanitary systems and/or for disinfecting the pipelines of sanitary systems and whirlpool system for implementing the method
Assignee: Hoesch Metall and Kunststoffwerk GmbH and Co
•
Filing: 1992-03-12
•
Granted: 1994-11-29
•
Expires: 2012-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A whirlpool system includes a basin defined by basin walls; a pipe system including a central conduit and nozzles coupled to the central conduit and situated in the basin walls and having nozzle outlets directed to the basin; a pressure generator coupled to the central conduit for supplying the nozzles with water and/or air; a mist generator for generating a fluid mist under influence of temperature at normal atmospheric pressure; and an intake conduit coupling the mist generator to the central conduit in a zone of the pressure generator for disinfecting the pipe system and the basin.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans-Peter Esser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/16; A61L2/22; A61H; A61H33/00; A61H33/02; A61H33/027; A61L2/02; A61L2/04; A61L2/06; A61L2/07; A61H2033/0008; A61H2033/0016; A61H33/0087; A61H33/60; A61H33/601
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
38 words
A method of disinfecting sanitary systems, comprising the steps of generating a heated fluid mist by vaporizing a liquid under influence of temperature at normal atmospheric pressure and applying the fluid mist to a surface to be disinfected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
38 words
A method of disinfecting sanitary systems, comprising the steps of generating a heated fluid mist by vaporizing a liquid under influence of temperature at normal atmospheric pressure and applying the fluid mist to a surface to be disinfected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the sanitary system includes a pipe system and further wherein the step of applying the fluid mist comprises the step of passing the fluid mist through the pipe system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the sanitary system includes a whirlpool system and further wherein the step of applying the fluid mist comprises the step of exposing whirlpool system components to the fluid mist.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of generating the fluid mist comprises the step of introducing a liquid in ultra-fine dispersion into a carrier gas for forming an aerosol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 4, further comprising the step of heating the carrier gas prior to the step of introducing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as defined in claim 4, further comprising the step of heating the carrier gas during the step of introducing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as defined in claim 4, further comprising the step of heating the aerosol prior to applying the aerosol to a surface to be disinfected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as defined in claim 4, further comprising the step of regulating the quantity of the liquid prior to the introduction thereof into the carrier gas as a function of the temperature of the fluid mist.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of generating the fluid mist comprises the step of spraying the liquid onto a vaporizer surface and exposing the vaporizer surface to a carrier gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of heating the carrier gas prior to the step of spraying.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of heating the carrier gas during the step of spraying.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the liquid is germ-free water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
A whirlpool system comprising (a) a basin defined by basin walls; (b) a pipe system including a central conduit and nozzles coupled to the central conduit and situated in the basin walls; the nozzles having outlets directed to the basin; (c) a pressure generator coupled to said central conduit for supplying the nozzles with at least one of water and air; (d) mist generating means for generating a fluid mist under influence of temperature at normal atmospheric pressure; and (e) an intake conduit coupling said mist generating means to said central conduit in a zone of said pressure generator for disinfecting the pipe system and the basin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
A whirlpool system comprising (a) a basin defined by basin walls; (b) a pipe system including a central conduit and nozzles coupled to the central conduit and situated in the basin walls; the nozzles having outlets directed to the basin; (c) a pressure generator coupled to said central conduit for supplying the nozzles with at least one of water and air; (d) mist generating means for generating a fluid mist under influence of temperature at normal atmospheric pressure; and (e) an intake conduit coupling said mist generating means to said central conduit in a zone of said pressure generator for disinfecting the pipe system and the basin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The whirlpool system as defined in claim 13, wherein said mist generating means comprises a vapor generator operating at normal atmospheric pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
The whirlpool system as defined in claim 13, wherein said mist generating means comprises (a) a housing coupled to said intake conduit; (b) a blower communicating with said housing for generating an air stream passing through said housing; (c) a heating device communicating with said housing for heating said air stream; and (d) a spraying device for generating a jet of fine liquid droplets; said spraying device opening into said housing in a zone of said heating device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The whirlpool system as defined in claim 15, wherein said heating device comprises a vaporizer surface and further comprising means for directing the jet of fine liquid droplets against said vaporizer surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The whirlpool system as defined in claim 15, wherein said spraying device comprises a pressure-less mechanical atomizer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The whirlpool system as defined in claim 17, wherein said atomizer is an oscillating atomizer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
79 words
The whirlpool system as defined in claim 15, wherein said mist generating means further comprises a regulating means for varying one of the temperature of the heating device and quantities of the liquid from which the fine liquid droplets are generated; said regulating means comprising a first temperature sensor situated at said heating device for sensing a temperature thereof and a second temperature sensor situated in said intake conduit for sensing a temperature of said fluid mist flowing therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3297481A
Cited
DE3420714A1
Cited
DE3722281A1
Cited
US4954179A
Cited
FR2603976A1
Cited
EP0297246A1
Cited
US4944919A
Cited
US4922937A
Cited
DE3928464A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-28 | 1998-05-30 | 1998-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-28 | 2002-05-30 | 2002-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-28 | 2006-05-30 | 2006-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |