Sanitary Facility

This Application claims priority under 35 USC § 119 and the Paris Convention to French Patent Application No. 2405762 filed on Jun. 3, 2024.

The present description relates to sanitary facilities and in particular sanitary facilities for public use.

The document FR 3,129,416 A1 describes an example of a sanitary facility with a system for detection of waste left on the floor of the facility and also cleaning nozzles with which to selectively clean these wastes from the floor.

The present specification serves to improve the existing system.

For that purpose, the present description deals with a sanitary facility comprising a structure delimiting a receiving space for users, where the receiving space comprises a floor and a toilet device, and where the sanitary facility further comprises: a waste detection device able to detect and locate waste present on the floor; a central unit able to receive information from the waste detection device, and to determine in which preset zone(s) the waste is located; and a washing device able to wash the floor, where the washing device comprises: at least one nozzle able to spray a fluid; means for rotating the at least one nozzle; and means for detection of at least some angular positions of a nozzle, means of detection which send the central unit position information for the at least one nozzle, where the rotating means are driven by the central unit for selectively washing the preset zones of the floor on which the waste is present.

The use of rotating nozzles serves both to adequately cover the entire floor surface, but also to target the cleaning in the zones containing waste. It is thus possible to supply the facility with nozzles which spray a “linear” jet instead of a “spray”, thus reducing the consumption of cleaning fluid. Reduction of the washing-fluid consumption is advantageous in itself, but also enhances the hygiene of the sanitary facility because limiting the volume of water used reduces the need to recycle water and therefore reduces the risks of viral or other contamination. The proposed device is also advantageous because it is mechanically simple and robust.

In various embodiments of the sanitary facility, use could further be made of one and/or another of the following provisions (alone or in all mutual combinations thereof):

The present description is also directed to a process for washing a sanitary installation according to one of the embodiments described above, where the process comprises the steps consisting of: detecting the presence of waste; determining a specific zone among the preset zones (A-A) in which the waste is located; determining a specific nozzle from the at least one nozzle which is associated with the specific zone; rotating this specific nozzle; and supplying this specific nozzle with fluid when this specific nozzle is oriented towards the specific zone.

According to an embodiment, the facility comprises a waste collection zone and the specific nozzle is supplied with fluid only when it is directed towards the specific zone and when it has a movement tending to bring the orientation of the specific nozzle closer to the collection zone.

The figures show the elements schematically. In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar items.

shows an overall, outside view of a sanitary facility, in particular a public sanitary facility which may be installed in an urban area S. The sanitary facilitygenerally comprises a structureforming an outside enclosure provided with a doorcontrolled by the user interface(for example a button for opening).

shows a horizontal section view of the sanitary facility. In particular, the structureenclosing a receiving spacefor users and a technical areaseparated from the receiving spaceby a partitioncan be seen in it. The receiving spaceis delimited by the floor, the partition, a peripheral walland the ceiling (not visible).

The receiving spacecomprises a floorand is provided with a toilet device, for example a toilet bowl. The term “floor” is used here in the most general accepted meaning and includes for example ground in concrete, for example painted or tiled concrete. The receiving spacemay further receive various equipment, for example a sink.

The sanitary facilitycomprises a washing devicesuited for washing the floor, and in particular eliminating waste which may be on the floor. The washing device comprises one or more nozzles for spraying liquids under pressure, independently drivable by a central unit described later, and able to selectively wash some zones of the floor. The sprayed liquid may be water or a detergent. The wallmay have openings near the floorto allow the washing deviceto empty the waste through a free spaceof the wallunder the impulse of the waterjet produced by the nozzles. The collection of waste in the technical area may conform to what is presented in the document FR 3,129,416 A1.

shows a possible configuration of the washing devicein top view. The flooris subdivided in some number of preset zones A-A. The washing nozzles,,,are distributed on the periphery of the floor. Thus every area of the floor may be reached by a liquid jet coming from at least one of the nozzles-. The nozzles-can be nearly even with the floor.

The nozzles may comprise one or more fixed nozzle(s), and one or more rotationally mobile nozzles. In this example, there are three rotating nozzles,andand one fixed nozzle. The person from the art will understand that the number, position and type of nozzles (fixed or rotating) may be adapted according to the geometry of the floor.

The rotating nozzles,,may have a back-and-forth movement, meaning oscillatory or pendular pivoting between two end positions, where the two end positions define the (angular) range of the nozzle. The movement is a rotation around a vertical axis. Alternatively, the axis of rotation may be inclined relative to the vertical, for example at an angle less than 30°, preferably less than 10°.

In a variant, the rotation of the nozzles is complete (in contrast to oscillatory rotation).

The preset zones Ato Aaccessible by the rotating nozzles may be made up of angular sectors which are subdivisions of the angular ranges of each nozzle,,. Thus, on, the zones Aand Aare both adjacent angular sectors with respective angles αand α. These angles together form the angular range of the nozzle. Similarly, the zones Aand Aare angular sectors coming from the nozzle, with angles αand αand the zones Aand Aare angular sectors coming from the nozzlewith angles αand α. The angular range of each nozzle may be cut in two angular sectors with substantially equal angles (α=α, α=α, α=α).

The angles αand αmay for example be included between 20 and 30°, and more precisely be near 24°. The angles αand αmay for example be included between 20 and 30°, and more precisely be near 23°. The angles αand αmay for example be included between 20 and 30°, and more precisely be near 27°.

In a variant, an angle of an angular sector may be substantially larger than an angle of an adjacent angular sector.

While the angular range of the nozzles is shown here as divided into preset zones (for example, Aand Afor the nozzle), it is understood that the angular range of each nozzle could be subdivided in more than two zones, in particular when the floor has a larger size.

The nozzlewhich is closest to the doormay be a fixed nozzle. It sprays the cleaning liquid over zone Awith a spray forming an angle included between 60° and 80°, preferentially 70°. The sanitary facility may be equipped with other fixed nozzles, in particular for areas where rotating nozzles cannot be placed, since they are bulkier because of the rotational drive mechanism.

The sanitary facilityfurther comprises at least one waste detection deviceable to detect and locate waste present on the floor.

The waste detection devicemay comprise an optical sensor, for example an electronic camera. In the example shown, the sanitary facility comprises a single waste detection devicewhich may be placed, for example, under the sink, the sinkhelping to protect this waste detection device. Two waste detection devices(or more) could be provided, for example fixed to the partition.

When the detection deviceis a camera, said camera is preferably located at a height above the floorless than 75 cm. More generally, said camera may advantageously be oriented on a bias downward and have a field-of-view (obtained by physical and/or software means) covering a volume having some maximum height above the floor where said maximum height is less than 75 cm. Preferably, said field-of-view does not cover the upper part of the toilet bowlto guarantee respect for the privacy of the users.

schematically shows the nozzle. An identical configuration may be provided for the nozzlesand.

The nozzlemay be connected to a tubeoriented substantially vertically along an axis Z. As shown in, the nozzlemay be screwed onto the tubeusing lateral flat surfaces. In a variant, the nozzleis formed integrally with the tube. When it is supplied with water, the nozzlesprays a waterjet J through an outlet orifice.. The waterjet J may be substantially linear, meaning extending over less than a 10° angle, preferably less than 5° angle, in contrast to a spray which sprays a jet over at least a 20° angle.

The nozzlepivots around the axis Zfrom a first end position materialized by the line Lto a second end position materialized by the line L. These two end positions L, Ldefine the angular range of the nozzle. The range may be subdivided, for example, in two zones A, A. The line Lmaterializes the boundary between these two zones A, A. The angles between Land L, and Land Lrespectively are noted αand α.

The wallhas openwork for in large part hiding the mechanism for supplying and moving the nozzle while allowing the nozzle to spray a jet on the floor.

shows an isometric view of means for rotatingthe nozzle. The rotating meansmay comprise an electric motorwhose output shaft turns around a vertical axis Z. The motormay be a stepper motor. The motormay rotate an eccentric. The connecting rodconnects the eccentricto a tabwhich is kinematically secured to the tubeand the nozzle (not shown). Thus, although the motorturns around the axis Z, the tubeand the nozzle turn around the axis Z. The axes Zand Zare substantially parallel to each other. The motormay turn through 360° in which case the connecting rod-crank leads to oscillations of the nozzle. Alternatively, the motormay turn through less than one turn and therefore have a range delimited by two end angular positions, in which case the two end positions of the motor correspond respectively to two end positions of the nozzle.

The diameter of the eccentricand the length of the connecting rodmay be selected appropriately and independently for each nozzle, such that the nozzles may have a respective angular range allowing them, together, to substantially cover all of the surface of the floor.

In order to mechanically verify the angular position of the nozzle, cams,are fixed on the output shaft of the motor. One or more detectorscomprising a follower cam may detect certain critical positions of the cams (and therefore certain angular positions of the nozzle). The detectorscomprise, for example, an elastic blade (springy steel) in contact with the cam, elastic blade opening and closing an electrical contact.

The cams,have a respective profile designed to detect predefined angular positions of the nozzle. For example, one of the cams,may have a profile allowing detection of end positions (L, Lon) of the nozzle and the other of the cams,may have a profile allowing detection of the boundary (Lin) between the two zones Aand A. The detectorssend the position information from the cams,to a central unit.

In a variant not shown, detection of the angular position of the nozzle may be done by means other than cams. For example, the nozzle may have an angular range delimited by two physical stops and the position of the nozzle may be determined by measuring the time past between a given moment and the moment at which the nozzle left a stop position. By knowing the rotational velocity and angular acceleration of the nozzle (by design or by learning), it is possible to establish a law relating the time and angular position of the nozzle. Such a means of detection of the angular position of the nozzle could make it possible to subdivide the angular range of the nozzle into an infinite number of zones, or even to redefine the zones during use of the system.

The central unitcommunicates: with the waste detectorfrom which it receives position information for the waste; with the motorwhich it drives for directing the nozzle into the zone occupied by the waste; and with a solenoid valvewhich does or does not allow the supply of the nozzle. The nozzle is supplied by a flexible hoseconnected to the tube. The solenoid valvemay be arranged between the flexible hoseand a water source (not shown).

It is thus possible with this simple and robust design to (1) detect ends of range of the nozzle; (2) control the motorfor stopping or acting on the direction of rotation thereof when the nozzlecomes to an end of range; (3) detecting whether the nozzle is located in the zone Aor A(or when the nozzle passes from one zone to another) and therefore verifying the supply of water from the nozzle so that it only sprays a waterjet into the zone occupied by waste.

The means of rotating each nozzle are controlled independently by the central unitaccording to the presence and location of the waste. Similarly, the water supply (by solenoid valve or other) is regulated by the central unitindependently for each of the nozzles, according to the presence and location of the waste.

The set of drive meansand detection means,,may be arranged in a substantially hermetic housing (not shown). Openings provided for seal joints may allow the connecting rod and possibly electrical connectors (supplying the motors and sensors) to pass through the housing. The housing may be accessible from the technical area, from the spaceor from the outside, potentially by removing a protection panel, limiting access to the housing to a maintenance technician.

The reader will understand thatis only an illustrative example of the present description and that other devices for rotating or verifying the angular position of the nozzle are conceivable, in particular a contactless detection (optical, Hall effect, etc.) or rotating with a geared motor.

While the present description prefers an oscillatory pivoting movement for the nozzles, in a variant, the rotation of the nozzles is complete, for example by means of a motor and a reduction gear, with the nozzle turning through 360°. It is only supplied with water when it faces a preset zone which is occupied by waste.

shows a processfor washing the floor of a sanitary facilitydescribed above. In step, the waste detection meansestablish the presence of waste and the location(s) thereof on the floor. In step, the central unitreceives information about the presence of waste and the location thereof and the central unitdetermines in which specific zone(s) among the presets zones A-Athe waste is located. The central unitdetermines in stepone or more specific nozzles associated with this or these specific zones. For example, in connection with, an object may be located both in zone Aand in zone A. It is thus possible to select one and/or the other of nozzlesandfor clearing such waste. The central unitcould select one and/or the other of the nozzles according to preset parameters or according to statistical learning allowing it to select the strategy which has the greatest likelihood of effectively clearing the detected waste.

In step, the central unit drives rotating means for rotating the one or more specific nozzles.

In step, the central unit drives the water supply so that each specific nozzle sprays a waterjet when it is oriented towards the associated specific zone. For example, in connection with, if the waste is located in zone A, the nozzlewill only be supplied with water once it has passed the boundary Land it is oriented towards the zone A.

The reader will understand that although these steps are presented sequentially, they may be done continuously for several nozzles depending on the waste detection. It may also be done at least partially simultaneously. For example, when the activation of the nozzle (for example nozzle) is able to move waste into a zone (for example A) which is no longer accessible to this nozzle, another nozzle (for example nozzle) takes up the relay until the evacuation of the waste through the free spaceof the wall.

The processmay be iterative as shown inby the arrow connecting stepwith step. For example, so long as the floor is not completely free of waste, the process may be repeated. In another example, a predefined number of cycles may be performed. In a variant, the process stops when a user wishes to access the receiving space, even if waste remains on the floor.

In some examples, the objective of activation of the nozzles is to collect waste in a defined area of the sanitary facility. It may therefore be advantageous in step, not only to limit the supply to the nozzles when they are oriented towards waste, but also when the speed of movement thereof tends to bring the waste close to the collection zone. In other words, the specific nozzle (selected because it is associated with the zone occupied by waste) is supplied with fluid only when it is directed towards the specific zone and when it has a movement tending to bring the orientation of the specific nozzle closer to the collection zone.

To drive this process, the central unit(for example a microcontroller or other) may communicate with the user interface, with the waste detection device, with the washing device, with the respective position detectors,,for each nozzle, with the respective motorfor each nozzle, and as applicable with a presence sensor, and also with a communication device suited for communicating by any known means (wired, radio or other connection) with a remote server.

Note that the central unitmay be provided with at least one artificial intelligence module and/or communicate with an artificial intelligence module of a remote server in particular for detection of the type of waste and/or for determining which nozzles,,, to actuate and in what order in order to optimally clear the waste into the collection zone.

According to alternative or complementary embodiments (considered alone or in combination of each of the variants disclosed above):