Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVICE FOR DRYING, WASHING AND/OR DISINFECTING
PROTECTIVE SUITS
The invention relates to a device for drying protective suits, for which
the suit is put over a supporting framework, which consists of tubes and
reaches into
all extremities of the protective suit, the tubes having outlet openings at
their ends for
warm air that has been blown in.
In the case of an embodiment of this type, known from the EP 0468212,
a supporting framework is provided, which can be assembled from several
lengths of
tube. Starting out from a central tube and extending over lateral connecting
pieces,
lengths of tube extend into the arms and legs of the protective suit. At their
free ends,
these lengths of tube are open, so that warm air, blown into the tubes,
emerges at these
ends and passes through the protective suit. 'This embodiment has the
disadvantage
that, particularly in the region of the feet, the inside of the protective
suit lies against
the openings, so that only a limited amount of drying air can emerge
particularly there,
since the boot insoles act like a butterfly valve and close off these outlet
openings.
The bulk of the air will then enter through the arms into the protective suit,
as a result
of which the foot and leg regions of the protective suit are not dried or not
dried
adequately. In addition, because of the large air outlet opening in the region
of the
arms and the hands, it is not possible to control the amounts of air in such a
manner,
that the required amount of drying air is also brought into the foot region of
the
protective suit.
The DE 3912835 A1 discloses a device for drying protective suits, for which
the
protective suit is suspended by the heels on a frame-like support. A manifold
device
for the drying air, assembled from individual tube sections, is introduced
into the
interior of the protective suit and, over bent end regions of the pipe
sections inserted
into the legs of 'the protective suit, suspended in the foot parts of the
boots of the
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protective suit. The impacting of the manifold device is accomplished over an
air
hose, introduced into the protective suit through the entry opening.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device of the type mentioned
above, with which uniform drying of the whole of the protective suit becomes
possible.
Pursuant to the invention, this objective is accomplished owing to the
fact that the supporting framework is formed by tubular hoops which, in the
region of
the feet and hands of the protective suit, have bends, in the bends of which
the outlet
openings for the drying air are disposed. Because of this construction, the
leg and arm
regions of the protective suit are held open in such a manner and, with that,
the outlet
openings are kept free, so that a proper drying effect occurs at all times.
For protective
suits, it is important that the tubular hoops hold the protective suits in
such a manner,
that bends, etc. are avoided in order to make an appropriate flow of drying
air possible
and to prevent a closing of the air outlets.
Advantageously, the outlet openings for the drying air can be directed in
the curves of the bends towards the foot or finger tips of the protective
suits, as a result
of which it is ensured that the protective suit, put over the tubular hoops,
is dried
properly in all regions. Finally, the tubular hoops, in the region of the legs
or arms,
can have shanks, which run parallel to one another and are at a distance from
one
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the other shanks of similar hoops being connected in a conducting manner with
one
another. The hoops, protruding into the legs, are thus combined with one
another into
one piece, as are the hoops protruding into the arms, so that, on the one
hand, very
stable carrying frameworks are achieved and, on the other, the drying air can
be blown
out well, since drying air is blown in through both ends and prevented from
flowing
back.
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For a further, advantageous embodiment, with which the protective suit can
also be
washed and disinfected, an additional connecting piece, which can optionally
be
closed off and is intended for supplying a detergent and/or a disinfectant,
can be
provided at the common manifold. Preferably, the pipeline for the drying air
can also
optionally be closed off before the connecting piece. With that, either only
washing
liquor, disinfecting liquor, etc. alone or drying air alone or both together
can be
introduced, by means of which the inside of the suit can be washed and dried.
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MODIFIED PAGE
After the two closing valves are switched over, the blower can be switched on
and
drying air can be passed through the same framework into the protective suit.
Furthermore, the outlet openings can also be used for introducing the
detergent and/or the disinfectant. By these means, it is achieved that the
detergent
and/or the disinfectant reaches into the very outermost tips of the
extremities, so that
appropriate cleaning and disinfecting also takes place there. Finally, further
outlet
openings, directed into the interior of the headgear of the protective suit,
can be
provided at the common manifold or at the outlet regions of the tubular hoops
of the
supporting frame. On the one hand, these outlet openings serve for washing,
disinfecting and drying the protective suit and, moreover, of the hood, which
is to be
pulled over the head. On the other, when the supply of detergent and/or
disinfectant is
switched off, they enable these materials in the tube to flow out without
flowing into
the blower after the valve, which is provided in the drying-air line, is
opened.
Examples of the object of the invention are given in the drawings, in
which
Figure 1 diagrammatically shows a first variation of an embodiment,
Figure 2 also diagrammatically reproduces a second variation,
Figure 3 diagrammatically shows a third variation of an embodiment and
Figure 4 also diagrammatically reproduces a fourth variation.
For the example of Figure 1, a supporting framework 1 is formed by
tubular hoops 2, 3, 4 and 5. The tubular hoops 2, 3 are provided for
introduction into
the leg regions and the tubular hoops 4, 5 for introduction into the arm
regions of the
protective suit, which is to be dried. At their ends, the tubular hoops have
bends 6, 7,
8, 9, which combine shanks 10, 11 and 12, 13 and 14, 15, and 16, 17 with one
another.
These shanks run parallel to one another and are spaced at such a distance
from one
another that, on the one hand, the introduction into the protective suit can
proceed
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without any difficulties and, on the other, the walls of the protective suits
are
prevented from lying against one another, thus permitting the passage of
drying air.
In each case, one shank of the hoops starts out from a common manifold
18. In the present case, these are the shanks 10, 12, 14 and 16, the other
shanks, in the
present case the shanks 1 l, 13 and 15, 17 of, in each case, similar hoops 2,
3 and 4, 5,
being connected to one another over tube sections 19, 20. Warm air is thus
blown
from both sides into all of the tubular hoops, so that the whole of the warm
air blown
in can emerge over air outlet openings 21, provided at the bends 6, 7, 8, 9
into the
protective suit that is to be dried. The air outlet openings 21 are disposed
in such a
matter in the bends 6, 7, 8, 9, that they are directed towards the tips of the
feet and the
fingers, in order to achieve in this manner a selective drying also of these
extreme
regions.
The manifold 18 is acted upon with drying air by means of a blower 22,
which is designed so that it blows warm air, the temperature of which does not
exceed
certain limits, into the manifold and introduces it by way of the air outlet
openings 21
into the protective suit.
The example of Figure 2 shows a different variation, which is suitable
particularly for lighter suits. The tubular hoops 2', 3', 4' and 5', forming
the supporting
framework 1', have closed ends 2", 3", 4" and 5", which are disposed at the
ends of the
bends 6', T, 8' and 9'. The air outlet openings 21' are disposed at the
appropriate
positions of the bends 6', T, 8' and 9'. The tubular hoops 2', 3', 4' and 5'
start out
individually from the manifold 18', which is acted upon with drying air from
the
blower 22' .
In the example of Figure 3, a supporting framework 101 is formed by
tubular hoops 102, 103, 104 and 105. The tubular hoops 102, 103 are intended
for
introduction into the leg areas and the tubular hoops 104, 105 are intended
for
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introduction into the arm areas of the protective suit, which is to be dried.
At their
ends, the tubular hoops have bends 106, 107, 108, 109, which connect the
shanks 110,
111 and 112, 113 and 114, 115 and 116, 117 with one another. These shanks run
parallel to one another and are spaced at such a distance from one another
that, on the
one hand, the introduction into the protective suit can take place without
difficulties
and, on the other, the walls of the protective suits are prevented from lying
against one
another, thus permitting the passage of drying air.
In each case, one shank of the hoops starts out from a common manifold
18. In the present case, these are the shanks 110, 112, 114 and 116, the other
shanks,
in the present case the shanks 111, 113 and 115, 117 of, in each case, similar
hoops
102, 103 and 104, 105 being connected to one another over tube sections 119,
120.
Warm air is thus blown from both sides into all of the tubular hoops, so that
the whole
of the warm air blown in can emerge over air outlet openings 121, provided at
the
bends 106, 107, 108, 109, into the protective suit, which is to be dried. The
air outlet
openings 121 are disposed in such a matter in the bends 106, 107, 108, 109,
that they
are directed towards the tips of the feet and the fingers, in order to achieve
in this
manner a selective drying also of these extreme regions.
The manifold 118 is acted upon with drying air by means of a blower
122, which is designed so that it blows warm air, the temperature of which
does not
exceed certain limits, into the manifold and introduces it by way of the air
outlet
openings 21 into the protective suit.
The example of Figure 4 shows a different variation, which is suitable
particularly for lighter suits. The tubular hoops 102', 103', 104' and 105',
forming the
supporting framework 111', have closed ends 102", 103", 104" and 105", which
are
disposed at the ends of the bends 106', 107', 108' and 109'. The air outlet
openings
121' are disposed at the appropriate positions of the bends 106', 107', 108'
and 109'.
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The tubular hoops 102', 103', 104' and 105' start out individually from the
manifold
118', which is acted upon with drying air from the blower 122' .
In both variations, a branch 123, 123' is provided in the manifold 118,
118'. Through this branch 123, 123', either a disinfecting liquid andlor a
washing
liquid or a different medium is introduced over valve 124, 124' or air is
supplied over
valve 125, 125'. Of course, both valves can also be open, for example, when a
gaseous disinfectant is introduced over valve 124, 124'.
In the regions of the branches for the supporting tubes, the manifold 118
and 118' has downwardly directed outlet openings 126, 126', which are intended
to
introduce drying air or disinfectant and/or detergent into the interior of the
hoods of
the protective suit. At the end of the introduction phase over the connecting
pieces
124, 124', the detergent and/or the disinfectant in the tubes can then also be
ejected
through these openings, so that washing liquid and/or disinfecting liquid
is/are
prevented from flowing back out of the tubes into the blower 122, 122'.
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