WASH CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATED APPENDAGE-WASHING APPARATUS
First Claim
1. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person using at least one fluid, comprising:
- a body;
a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including an inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation;
an appendage receiving cavity located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one appendage through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber;
an annular cavity located between the inner member and the outer member, the inner member including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity;
a first set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a ring configuration, the first set of nozzles located proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the first set nozzles is adapted to produce a spray that is projected at a pitch angle of between 15 and 35 degrees and at a roll angle of substantially 0 degrees;
a second set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a helical pattern along a length of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the second set of nozzles including a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the second set of nozzles is adapted to produce a spray pattern that is projected at a pitch angle of substantially 0 degrees, wherein a first spray pattern associated with the first nozzle is projected at a first roll angle, wherein a second spray pattern associated with a second nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a second roll angle, the second roll angle steeper than the first roll angle, and wherein a remainder of the second set of nozzles each have a corresponding spray pattern oriented at progressively steeper roll angles;
at least one off-helix nozzle disposed on the inner member;
a third set of nozzles disposed on a frusto-conical portion of the inner member;
a guard comprising an annular recess located on the inner member proximate to the opening in the wash chamber and a cylindrical portion disposed on the body, wherein the cylindrical guard is received in the annular recess, and wherein an inner surface of the cylindrical portion is flush with the first surface of the inner member;
a seal between the inner member and the outer member, the seal comprising an annular ring operatively associated with a circular flange disposed on the outer member;
a drain disposed on the inner member including a drain surface having a plurality of perforations;
a seating mechanism associated with the body, the seating mechanism adapted to receive a fluid inlet disposed on the wash chamber, the fluid inlet comprising an opening in the outer member and a tubular portion extending from the opening, the fluid inlet providing an entrance for the at least one fluid into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet being radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation, wherein the seating mechanism includes an o-ring, the o-ring providing a seal between an interior of the seating mechanism and a receiving basin, the receiving basin adapted to receive fluid exiting the appendage receiving cavity through the drain;
whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from the fluid inlet, into the annular cavity and through the first, second and third set of nozzles, and the off-helix nozzle into the appendage receiving cavity.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wash cylinder or chamber for an automated cleaning station to clean an object or a person'"'"'s body part includes nozzles on the interior of the cylinder, the nozzles of one embodiment comprising an increasing roll angle providing a novel spray pattern. Additionally, embodiments of the invention include fluid guidance and conveyance structures, angled nozzles, sealing structures, finger guards, nozzle ribs, wash chamber seating mechanisms and drains, and nozzle inlays having a plurality of nozzles. Also disclosed are methods of washing an object or body part using a wash cylinder or chamber and methods of assembling a wash cylinder or chamber.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person using at least one fluid, comprising:
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a body; a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including an inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation; an appendage receiving cavity located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one appendage through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; an annular cavity located between the inner member and the outer member, the inner member including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; a first set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a ring configuration, the first set of nozzles located proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the first set nozzles is adapted to produce a spray that is projected at a pitch angle of between 15 and 35 degrees and at a roll angle of substantially 0 degrees; a second set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a helical pattern along a length of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the second set of nozzles including a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the second set of nozzles is adapted to produce a spray pattern that is projected at a pitch angle of substantially 0 degrees, wherein a first spray pattern associated with the first nozzle is projected at a first roll angle, wherein a second spray pattern associated with a second nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a second roll angle, the second roll angle steeper than the first roll angle, and wherein a remainder of the second set of nozzles each have a corresponding spray pattern oriented at progressively steeper roll angles; at least one off-helix nozzle disposed on the inner member; a third set of nozzles disposed on a frusto-conical portion of the inner member; a guard comprising an annular recess located on the inner member proximate to the opening in the wash chamber and a cylindrical portion disposed on the body, wherein the cylindrical guard is received in the annular recess, and wherein an inner surface of the cylindrical portion is flush with the first surface of the inner member; a seal between the inner member and the outer member, the seal comprising an annular ring operatively associated with a circular flange disposed on the outer member; a drain disposed on the inner member including a drain surface having a plurality of perforations; a seating mechanism associated with the body, the seating mechanism adapted to receive a fluid inlet disposed on the wash chamber, the fluid inlet comprising an opening in the outer member and a tubular portion extending from the opening, the fluid inlet providing an entrance for the at least one fluid into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet being radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation, wherein the seating mechanism includes an o-ring, the o-ring providing a seal between an interior of the seating mechanism and a receiving basin, the receiving basin adapted to receive fluid exiting the appendage receiving cavity through the drain; whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from the fluid inlet, into the annular cavity and through the first, second and third set of nozzles, and the off-helix nozzle into the appendage receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person using at least one fluid, comprising:
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a body; a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including an inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation, the outer member and inner member each including a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, each frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface; an appendage receiving cavity located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one appendage through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; an annular cavity located between the inner member and the outer member, the inner member including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; a first set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a ring configuration, the first set of nozzles located proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the first set nozzles is adapted to produce a spray that is projected at a pitch angle of between 15 and 35 degrees and at a roll angle of substantially 0 degrees; a second set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a helical pattern along a length of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the second set of nozzles including a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the second set of nozzles is adapted to produce a spray pattern that is projected at a pitch angle of substantially 0 degrees, wherein a first spray pattern associated with the first nozzle is projected at a first roll angle, wherein a second spray pattern associated with a second nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a second roll angle, the second roll angle steeper than the first roll angle, and wherein a remainder of the second set of nozzles each have a corresponding spray pattern oriented at progressively steeper roll angles; at least one off-helix nozzle disposed on the inner member; a third set of nozzles disposed on the frusto-conical portion of the inner member; whereby the first, second and third sets of nozzles, and the at least one off-helix nozzle are operable to receive the at least one fluid from the annular cavity and to project the fluid into the appendage receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of at least partially cleaning at least a portion of at least one appendage using an automated cleaning station, comprising:
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initiating a flow of a first fluid through a fluid inlet disposed on a wash chamber of the automated cleaning station, the wash chamber including an inner member and an outer member, the outer member and inner member each including a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, each frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, at least one of the first end and the second end connected to the automated cleaning station, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation, the wash chamber including an appendage receiving cavity and an annular cavity, the appendage receiving cavity being located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity being accessible through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber and being adapted to receive the at least a portion of the appendage for washing, the annular cavity being located between the inner member and the outer member, the inner member including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity, wherein the fluid flows into the annular cavity prior to the appendage receiving cavity; establishing a fluid pressure within the annular cavity; and projecting the first fluid from the annular cavity through a plurality of nozzles and into the appendage receiving cavity, the plurality of nozzles being disposed on the inner member portion and the first fluid being projected as a result of the fluid pressure established within the annular cavity, wherein the nozzles comprise a first, a second and a third set of nozzles; wherein the first set of nozzles is disposed on the inner member in a ring proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the first set nozzles produces a spray that is projected at a pitch angle of between 15 and 35 degrees and at a roll angle of substantially 0 degrees; wherein the second set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a helical pattern along a length of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the second set of nozzles including a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the second set of nozzles is adapted to produce a spray pattern that is projected at a pitch angle of substantially 0 degrees, wherein a first spray pattern associated with the first nozzle is projected at a first roll angle, wherein a second spray pattern associated with a second nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a second roll angle, the second roll angle steeper than the first roll angle, and wherein a remainder of the second set of nozzles each have a corresponding spray pattern oriented at progressively steeper roll angles; wherein the third set of nozzles is disposed on the frusto-conical portion of the inner member; and wherein the wash chamber is rotated about the axis of rotation at least during the step of projecting the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person using at least one fluid, comprising:
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a body; a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation; an appendage receiving cavity located within the wash chamber, the appendage receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one appendage through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; a first set of nozzles disposed on the wash chamber in a ring configuration, the first set of nozzles located proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the first set nozzles is adapted to produce a spray that is projected at a pitch angle of between 15 and 35 degrees and at a roll angle of substantially 0 degrees; a second set of nozzles disposed on the wash chamber in a helical pattern along a length of the wash chamber, the second set of nozzles including a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the second set of nozzles is adapted to produce a spray pattern that is projected at a pitch angle of substantially 0 degrees, wherein a first spray pattern associated with the first nozzle is projected at a first roll angle, wherein a second spray pattern associated with a second nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a second roll angle, the second roll angle steeper than the first roll angle, and wherein a remainder of the second set of nozzles each have a corresponding spray pattern oriented at progressively steeper roll angles; at least one off-helix nozzle disposed on the wash chamber; whereby the first and second sets of nozzles, and the at least one off-helix nozzle are operable to receive the at least one fluid and to project the fluid into the appendage receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of at least partially cleaning at least a portion of at least one object using an automated cleaning station, comprising:
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initiating a flow of a first fluid through a fluid inlet disposed on a wash chamber of the automated cleaning station, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, at least one of the first end and the second end connected to the automated cleaning station, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation, the wash chamber including an object receiving cavity, the object receiving cavity being accessible through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber and being adapted to receive the at least a portion of the object for washing; projecting the first fluid through a plurality of nozzles and into the object receiving cavity, the plurality of nozzles being disposed on the wash chamber, wherein the nozzles comprise a first and a second set of nozzles; wherein the first set of nozzles is disposed on the wash chamber in a ring proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the first set nozzles produces a spray that is projected at a pitch angle of between 15 and 35 degrees and at a roll angle of substantially 0 degrees; wherein the second set of nozzles disposed along a length of the wash chamber, the second set of nozzles including a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the second set of nozzles is adapted to produce a spray pattern that is projected at a pitch angle of substantially 0 degrees, wherein a first spray pattern associated with the first nozzle is projected at a first roll angle, wherein a second spray pattern associated with a second nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a second roll angle, the second roll angle steeper than the first roll angle, and wherein a remainder of the second set of nozzles each have a corresponding spray pattern oriented at progressively steeper roll angles; and wherein the wash chamber is rotated about the axis of rotation at least during the step of projecting the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification