GB2433878A

GB2433878A - Magnetically coupled door handle cleaning device

Info

Publication number: GB2433878A
Application number: GB0600312A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry James Freeman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-07
Filing date: 2006-01-07
Publication date: 2007-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-07
Also published as: GB0600312D0; GB2433878B

Abstract

A mechanism for moving a handle cleaning device remotely along a handle wherein the handle is fashioned as a hollow tube inside which is placed a magnetic bobbin D which has the same profile as the inside of the tube and is able to move freely inside it. The bobbin is then moved along the inside of the handle by pneumatic means and the handle cleaning device H made of or containing some suitable material that can be magnetically attracted to the bobbin inside the handle is fastened around the outer circumference of the handle. As the bobbin moves along the handle tube the cleaning device is therefore magnetically coupled to it and is moved along the outer surface of the handle thereby effecting the cleaning process remotely.

Description

Magnetically Coupled Automated Handle Cleaning Device

Description

There are a number of devices for cleaning/disinfecting linear handles. These devices effect this cleaning/disinfecting by virtue of being moved along the handle from one end to the other. One such device uses an absorbent pad impregnated with a cleaning/disinfecting fluid, where the absorbent pad is held in contact with the whole circumference of the handle tube. This device can then be moved along the handle tube in a linear direction to effect the cleaning/disinfecting of the handle. To date, the method of moving the device has been manual, the user gripping it with his hand in order to slide it along. This manual contact can result in transfer of infection via the device, even though the handle itself has been cleaned and disinfected.

In this invention the cleaning device is moved along the length of the handle without the user having manual contact with it. The handle is tubular in construction, and a magnetic bobbin is free to move inside the tube, and is propelled along the length of it by some means. A cleaning device as described above with magnetic metal embedded in it is placed on the outside of the tube. As the magnetic bobbin travels along the inside of the handle it picks up' the cleaning device by means of magnetic attraction, carrying it along the outside of the handle. When the magnetic bobbin reverses back along the handle it carries the cleaning device in the reverse direction, thereby effecting the cleaning/disinfecting of the handle.

Described below is one representation of the invention.

The magnetic bobbin (D) is propelled by air, either from a pneumatic cylinder or atmospheric air pressure, along the inside of the tube (A) (Fig 1). A cleaning device (H) is fixed to the outside of the handle tube (A) and is free to move along the handle tube (A). Within the cleaning device (H) are magnetic washers (J) (see Fig 3) which, when aligned with the magnets attached to the bobbin (D) are attracted magnetically.

Therefore as the bobbin (D) is driven along the inside of the handle tube (A) the cleaning device (H) is also moved along the outside of the handle tube (A), thereby drawing the absorbent cleaning pad over the surface of the handle tube and applying the cleaning/disinfecting agent.

The cleaning device in this example is constructed in two equal halves and attached to the handle tube (A) by fixing the two halves around the handle tube (A) and securing with fixings (L) (see fig 3). Fig 2 shows the cleaning device (H) fixed into position on the outside of the handle tube (A). The handle tube (A) is sealed at one end by a plug (B) whilst the opposite end is closed with a plug which has a hole through its centre. The hole allows air to escape when the bobbin (D) is driven towards (C) by air being pushed back into the handle tube (A) through the feed pipe (E) from air cylinder (M). (see fig 4). In this example the handle tube (A) is attached to a door (G) by brackets (F).

The air cylinder (M) is attached to the door (G) in such a manner that by opening or closing the door (G). The piston rod (Q) is drawn out against the spring (P) reducing the air pressure in the top section of the cylinder whilst at the same time allowing the air within the bottom section of the cylinder (M) to escape through the vent hole (R).

The cylinder (M) is connected to the handle tube (A) by feed pipe (E), and as the air pressure is reduced in the top section of the cylinder, the air pressure is also reduced in the section of the handle (A) above the bobbin (D). As the air pressure above the bobbin (D) is now lower than the atmospheric pressure beneath the bobbin (D) the bobbin (D) rises inside the handle, and as it does so the cleaning/disinfecting device is drawn up the outside of the handle.

When the door (G) is moved in the opposite direction, the volume of air within the cylinder (M) is reduced, thereby increasing the air pressure between the cylinder (M) and the handle (A) via the feed tube (E). As the air pressure rises in the handle tube (A) the bobbin (D) moves down the handle towards the plug (C) which allows the air from the handle (A) to vent as the bobbin (D) pushes the air ahead of it as it travels down the inside of the handle tube (A).(see fig 4). As the bobbin moves down the inside of the handle tube (A) the cleaning/disinfecting device is drawn down the outside of the handle tube (A), thereby cleaning/disinlecting the outside surface of the handle.

Fig 5 shows the genera! layout of the air operated self cleaning disinfecting handle and the air cylinder (M), in its extended and retracted positions.

Because the cleaning device (H) and the magnetic bobbin are coupled only by magnetic attraction any restriction of the cleaning device (H) means that this coupling is easily broken and re-established once the magnetic bobbin (D) moves into close proximity to the cleaning device (H) again.

Claims

Claims 1. A mechanism for moving a handle cleaning device remotely

along a door handle wherein the handle is fashioned as a hollow tube made from a non magnetic material inside which is placed a magnetic bobbin which has the same profile as the inside of the tube and is able move freely along inside the tube.

2. A device as described in claim 1 where the bobbin is moved along inside the tube either mechanically, electromechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically or some other suitable means.

3. A device as described in claims 1 & 2 where the hollow tube has a plug at one end with an inlet tube protruding through an aperture and a plug at the other end with a small hole through its centre to allow air to pass through it.

4. A device as described in Claims 1 -3 where air is pushed through the inlet tube by some means causing the air pressure on the inlet side of the tube to increase and as air can escape through the hole in the centre of the plug at the: .:* other end of the tube in order to maintain atmospheric pressure a differential in * pressure is created either side of the bobbin and the bobbin is moved along the S..

length of the tube.

5. A device as in claims I -4 where the means of pushing air into the inlet side: of the tube holding the bobbin is by use of an air cylinder attached to a door * mechanism such that when the door is moved from a first position to a second position the air in the cylinder is pushed out along a connecting tube and into the inlet side of the handle tube and where the door is moved from the second position to the first position air is sucked back into the cylinder along the inlet tube thereby reducing the air pressure on the inlet side of the bobbin and as air is drawn in through the aperture in the plug at the opposite end of the handle tube the bobbin is drawn back towards the inlet end.

6. A device as in claims 1 -5 whereby a cleaning device incorporating some material or means to enable the cleaning device to be magnetically attracted to the magnetic bobbin is placed around the tubular handle such that as the magnetic bobbin is moved along the inside of the handle tube, the cleaning device is attracted magnetically to it and is moved along the handle with it. L4-

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows I. A mechanism for moving a handle cleaning device remotely along a door handle wherein the handle is fashioned as a hollow tube inside which is placed a magnetic bobbin which has the same profile as the inside of the tube and is able move freely along inside the tube.

2. A device as described in claim 1 where the bobbin is moved along inside the tube pneumatically.

3. A device as described in claims 1 & 2 where the hollow tube has a plug at one end with an inlet tube protruding through an aperture and a plug at the other end with a hole through its centre to allow air to pass through it.

4. A device as described in Claims 1 -3 where air is pushed through the inlet tube by some means causing the air pressure on the inlet side of the tube to increase and as air can escape through the hole in the centre of the plug at the * other end of the tube in order to maintain atmospheric pressure a differential in:.* . pressure is created either side of the bobbin and the bobbin is moved along the length of the tube.

5. A device as in claims 1 -4 where the means of pushing air into the inlet side * of the tube holding the bobbin is by use of an air cylinder attached to a door mechanism such that when the door is moved from an open position to a:: : : closed position the air in the cylinder is pushed out along a connecting tube and into the inlet side of the handle tube and when the door is moved from the closed position to the open position air is sucked back into the cylinder along the inlet tube thereby reducing the air pressure on the inlet side of the bobbin and as air is drawn in through the aperture in the plug at the opposite end of the handle tube the bobbin is drawn back towards the inlet end.

6. A device as in claims 1 -5 whereby a cleaning device incorporating some material or means to enable the cleaning device to be magnetically attracted to the magnetic bobbin is placed around the tubular handle such that as the magnetic bobbin is moved along the inside of the handle tube, the cleaning device is attracted magnetically to it and is moved along the handle with it.