PUMP ASSEMBLY FOR AN EMERGENCY EYEWASH STATION

• US 20070089235A1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Safety Products USA, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fendall, Inc.
• Inventors: Pereira, Michael, Devinat, Benoit, Copeland, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,205,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/620
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1238 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/02 for the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/02 Units comprising pumps and their driving means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49238 Repairing, converting, servicing or salvaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

A pump assembly for an emergency eyewash station and method of retrofitting a plumbed emergency eyewash station is disclosed. The pump is configured into two parts, an impeller assembly and a drive assembly, that are configured to couple together. The impeller assembly is isolated from the drive assembly and can be easily replaced to ensure a sterile fluid path is maintained for the eyewash fluid. The drive assembly can be fluid powered or an electric motor as desired. The present invention allows a plumbed eyewash station to be retrofitted to use a sterile eyewash fluid. The present invention can also be used in portable eyewash station units too.

Claims

1. A pump assembly for an emergency eyewash station, comprising:

an impeller housing having a pumping chamber with an input port and an output port;

an impeller pump wheel rotatably mounted within said pumping chamber and configured and arranged to draw eyewash fluid through said input port and force it out said output port;

a first drive shaft connected to the impeller pump wheel; and

an impeller drive interface driving said first drive shaft.

2. The pump assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for driving said impeller drive interface.

3. The pump assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a drive housing having a drive chamber with an intake port and an exhaust port,

an impeller drive wheel rotatably mounted within said drive chamber and configured and arranged to be rotated as a fluid is forced through said intake port and out said exhaust port;

a second drive shaft being driven by said impeller drive wheel; and

a drive coupler being driven by said second drive shaft, said drive coupler configured and arranged to drive said impeller drive interface.

4. The pump assembly of claim 3, wherein said fluid source is plumbed tap water.

5. The pump assembly of claim 3, wherein said fluid source is a compressed gas.

6. The pump assembly of claim 3, wherein said drive housing and said pump housing are selectively coupled to each other.

7. An emergency eyewash station, comprising:

a sterile eyewash fluid source;

a dispensing structure;

a fluid-powered pump assembly in fluid connection between said sterile eyewash fluid source and said dispensing structure and configured and arranged to draw sterile eyewash fluid from said sterile eyewash fluid source and pump it to said dispensing structure;

said fluid-powered pump assembly being driven by a fluid power source; and

means for activating said emergency eyewash station to commence dispensing of sterile eyewash fluid from said sterile eyewash fluid source and out said dispensing structure.

8. The emergency eyewash station of claim 7, wherein said fluid power source is plumbed tap water.

9. The emergency eyewash station of claim 7, wherein said fluid power source is a compressed gas.

10. The emergency eyewash station of claim 7, wherein said fluid powered pump-assembly further comprises a pump assembly, comprising:

an impeller housing having a pumping chamber with an input port and an output port;

an impeller pump wheel rotatably mounted within said pumping chamber and configured and arranged to draw eyewash fluid through said input port and force it out said output port;

a first drive shaft connected to the impeller pump wheel; and

an impeller drive interface driving said first drive shaft.

11. The emergency eyewash station of claim 10, wherein said impeller assembly further comprises:

a drive housing having a drive chamber with an intake port and an exhaust port,

an impeller drive wheel rotatably mounted within said drive chamber and configured and arranged to be rotated as a fluid is forced through said intake port and out said exhaust port;

a second drive shaft being driven by said impeller drive wheel; and

a drive coupler being driven by said drive shaft, said drive coupler configured and arranged to drive said impeller drive interface.

12. The emergency eyewash station of claim 10, wherein said fluid source is plumbed tap water.

13. The emergency eyewash station of claim 10, wherein said fluid source is a compressed gas.

14. A kit for retrofitting a plumbed eyewash station to use a sterile eyewash fluid source, comprising:

a pump assembly; and

a sterile eyewash fluid container receiver assembly.

15. A method of retrofitting a plumbed eyewash station to use a sterile eyewash fluid source, comprising the steps of:

providing a plumbed eyewash station that is connected to plumbing and has a source connection and a drain connection;

providing a pump assembly having an input port and an output port;

providing a sterile eyewash fluid delivery container receiver assembly having a dispensing spout;

disconnecting the source connection of said plumbed eyewash station from said plumbing;

connecting the source connection of the plumbed eyewash station to the output port of said pump assembly; and

connecting the input connection of said pump assembly to said dispensing spout of sterile eyewash fluid delivery container receiver assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

providing said pump assembly also includes an intake connection and an exhaust connection;

connecting said intake connection to said plumbing; and

connecting said exhaust connection to said drain connection.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

providing said pump assembly also includes an intake connection and an exhaust connection;

providing a regulator and compressed gas cylinder; and

connecting said regulator and compressed gas cylinder to said intake connection.