WASH CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATED APPENDAGE-WASHING APPARATUS

• US 20080099050A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meritech Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Iconn Systems LLC
• Inventors: Barnhill, Paul R., Johannsen, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,757,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/04 Mechanical washing or cleaning devices, hand or mechanically, i.e. power operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/80 Implements for cleaning or washing the skin of surgeons or patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/065 Hands
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/00 Baths for specific parts of the body electric circuits therefor A61H33/005; specific components therefor A61H33/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

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.

Claims

1. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage 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;

an object receiving cavity located within the inner member, the object receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one object 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 object receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; and

at least one angled nozzle having a rounded inlet slot and a rounded outlet slot, the inlet slot beginning at an inlet opening disposed on an inlet side of the angled nozzle and continuing through a portion of a width of the angled nozzle, the outlet slot beginning at an outlet opening disposed on an outlet side of the angled nozzle and continuing through a portion of the width of the angled nozzle, the outlet side of the angled nozzle substantially flush with a wall of the object receiving cavity, wherein the inlet slot and the outlet slot intersect to form a passageway for the at least one fluid to travel from the annular cavity to the object receiving cavity, wherein the outlet opening is substantially perpendicular to the inlet opening, and wherein the outlet slot is disposed at angle of between about 5 and 35 degrees with respect to a central axis of the angled nozzle;

whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows into the annular cavity, through at least the angled nozzle, and into the object receiving cavity.

2. The automated cleaning station of claim 1, wherein:

the outer member includes a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, the frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface;

the inner member includes a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, the frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface; and

wherein the outer member and the inner member are separate components that interconnect with each other to form the wash chamber.

3. The automated cleaning station of claim 2, wherein the angled nozzle is connectable to a recessed portion of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the recessed portion including a first substantially circular portion and a second substantially circular portion, the first circular portion having a smaller diameter than the second circular portion, the angled nozzle having a first substantially circular section adapted to be received in the first substantially circular portion of the recessed portion, and the angled nozzle having a second substantially circular section adapted to be received in the second substantially circular portion of the recessed portion.

4. The automated cleaning station of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of angled nozzles disposed in a ring located proximate to the first end of the washing chamber.

5. The automated cleaning station of claim 2, wherein a spray pattern associated with the angled nozzle is at least one of:

a substantially planar spray;

a spherical spray;

a conical spray;

a pulsed spray; and

a jetted spray.

6. The automated cleaning station of claim 2, wherein the inlet side of the angled nozzle is flush with a wall of the annular cavity.

7. The automated cleaning station of claim 1, further comprising:

a nozzle inlay including a plurality of interconnected angled nozzles, the plurality of angled nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid from the annular cavity and to project the at least one fluid into the appendage receiving cavity.

8. The automated cleaning station of claim 7, wherein the nozzle inlay is connectable to a recessed portion of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the recessed portion including a first substantially rectangular portion and a second substantially rectangular portion, the first rectangular portion having a shorter width than the second rectangular portion, the nozzle inlay having a first substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the first substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion, and the nozzle inlay having a second substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the second substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion.

9. A method of assembling a rotatable portion of an automated cleaning station used to clean at least a portion of an object using at least one fluid, comprising:

interconnecting an inner member and an outer member to from a wash chamber, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, the second end being rotatably connectable to the automated cleaning station, the wash chamber having an axis of rotation, the wash chamber having an appendage receiving cavity and an annular cavity, the appendage receiving cavity located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity being accessible through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber, the appendage receiving cavity adapted to receive at least a portion of an appendage for washing, the annular cavity located between the inner member and the outer member, the annular cavity being radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation, the inner member having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the cylindrical cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; and

connecting a nozzle inlay to the inner member, the nozzle inlay including a plurality of interconnected nozzles, the plurality of nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid from the annular cavity and to project the at least one fluid into the appendage receiving cavity.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the nozzle inlay is connectable to a recessed portion of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the recessed portion including a first substantially rectangular portion and a second substantially rectangular portion, the first rectangular portion having a shorter width than the second rectangular portion, the nozzle inlay having a first substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the first substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion, and the nozzle inlay having a second substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the second substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the nozzle inlay includes an inlet side and an outlet side, wherein the outlet side is flush with the first surface of the inner member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the recessed portion is oriented parallel to the opening of the first end of the wash chamber and is disposed proximate to the first end of the wash chamber.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of nozzles associated with the nozzle inlay project fluid at an angle between 10 and 30 degrees with respect to a normal to the first surface of the inner member.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the recessed portion is oriented in a helix along a length of the inner member, and wherein the nozzles associated with the nozzle inlay project fluid at progressively steeper roll angles.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one nozzle of the nozzle inlay is an angled nozzle having a rounded inlet slot and a rounded outlet slot, the inlet slot beginning at an inlet opening disposed on an inlet side of the angled nozzle and continuing through a portion of a width of the angled nozzle, the outlet slot beginning at an outlet opening disposed on an outlet side of the angled nozzle and continuing through a portion of the width of the angled nozzle, the outlet side of the angled nozzle substantially flush with a wall of the object receiving cavity, wherein the inlet slot and the outlet slot intersect to form a passageway for the at least one fluid to travel from the annular cavity to the object receiving cavity, wherein the outlet opening is substantially perpendicular to the inlet opening, and wherein the outlet slot is disposed at angle of between about 5 and 35 degrees with respect to a central axis of the angled nozzle.

16. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one object using at least one fluid, comprising:

a body;

a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end;

an object receiving cavity located within the wash chamber, the object receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one object through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; and

at least one angled nozzle having a rounded inlet slot and a rounded outlet slot, the inlet slot beginning at an inlet opening disposed on an inlet side of the angled nozzle and continuing through a portion of a width of the angled nozzle, the outlet slot beginning at an outlet opening disposed on an outlet side of the angled nozzle and continuing through a portion of the width of the angled nozzle, the outlet side of the angled nozzle substantially flush with a wall of the object receiving cavity, wherein the inlet slot and the outlet slot intersect to form a passageway for the at least one fluid to travel to the object receiving cavity, wherein the outlet opening is substantially perpendicular to the inlet opening, and wherein the outlet slot is disposed at angle of between about 5 and 35 degrees with respect to a central axis of the angled nozzle;

whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows through at least the angled nozzle and into the object receiving cavity.

17. The automated cleaning station of claim 16, wherein the angled nozzle is connectable to a recessed portion of the wash chamber, the recessed portion including a first substantially circular portion and a second substantially circular portion, the first circular portion having a smaller diameter than the second circular portion, the angled nozzle having a first substantially circular section adapted to be received in the first substantially circular portion of the recessed portion, and the angled nozzle having a second substantially circular section adapted to be received in the second substantially circular portion of the recessed portion.

18. The automated cleaning station of claim 16, further comprising:

a nozzle inlay including a plurality of interconnected angled nozzles, the plurality of angled nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid and to project the at least one fluid into the object receiving cavity, wherein the nozzle inlay is connectable to a recessed portion of the wash chamber, the recessed portion including a first substantially rectangular portion and a second substantially rectangular portion, the first rectangular portion having a shorter width than the second rectangular portion, the nozzle inlay having a first substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the first substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion, and the nozzle inlay having a second substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the second substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion.

19. The automated cleaning station of claim 16, wherein the wash chamber includes an inner member and an outer member.

20. The automated cleaning station of claim 16, wherein the object includes at least one of:

an appendage of a person; and

an inanimate object.