WASH CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATED APPENDAGE-WASHING APPARATUS

• US 20090084417A1
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meritech Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Resurgent Health & Medical LLC
• Inventors: Barnhill, Paul R., Johannsen, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/114
• 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 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.

2. The automated cleaning station of claim 1, wherein the second set of nozzles include:

the first nozzle, wherein the first roll angle is between 0 and 15 degrees;

the second nozzle, wherein the second roll angle is between 15 and 30 degrees, wherein the second nozzle is adjacent to the first nozzle;

the remainder of the second set of nozzles including;

a third nozzle for producing a third spray pattern projected at a third roll angle of between 30 and 45 degrees, wherein the third nozzle is adjacent to the second nozzle;

a fourth nozzle for producing a fourth spray pattern projected at a fourth roll angle of between 45 and 60 degrees, wherein the fourth nozzle is adjacent to the third nozzle;

a fifth nozzle for producing a fifth spray pattern projected at a fifth roll angle of between 60 and 75 degrees, wherein the fifth nozzle is adjacent to the fourth nozzle; and

a sixth nozzle for producing a sixth spray pattern projected at a sixth roll angle of between 75 and 90 degrees, wherein the sixth nozzle is adjacent to the fifth nozzle.

3. The automated cleaning station of claim 1, wherein, each perforation associated with the drain is approximately ⅛

to ⅜

inch in diameter.

4. The automated cleaning station of claim 1, wherein the spray pattern associated each nozzle of the first set of nozzles is at least one of:

a substantially planar spray;

a spherical spray;

a conical spray;

a pulsed spray; and

a jetted spray.

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:

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.

6. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, wherein the second set of nozzles include:

the first nozzle, wherein the first roll angle is between 0 and 15 degrees;

the second nozzle, wherein the second roll angle is between 15 and 30 degrees, wherein the second nozzle is adjacent to the first nozzle;

the remainder of the second set of nozzles including;

a third nozzle for producing a third spray pattern projected at a third roll angle of between 30 and 45 degrees, wherein the third nozzle is adjacent to the second nozzle;

a fourth nozzle for producing a fourth spray pattern projected at a fourth roll angle of between 45 and 60 degrees, wherein the fourth nozzle is adjacent to the third nozzle;

a fifth nozzle for producing a fifth spray pattern projected at a fifth roll angle of between 60 and 75 degrees, wherein the fifth nozzle is adjacent to the fourth nozzle; and

a sixth nozzle for producing a sixth spray pattern projected at a sixth roll angle of between 75 and 90 degrees, wherein the sixth nozzle is adjacent to the fifth nozzle.

7. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, further comprising:

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;

8. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, further comprising:

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; and

a plurality of screws interconnecting the inner member and the outer member, the screws presenting no protrusions into the appendage receiving cavity.

9. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, further comprising:

a drain disposed on the inner member including a drain surface having a plurality of perforations, each perforation being approximately ⅛

to ⅜

inch in diameter.

10. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, further comprising:

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.

11. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, wherein the spray pattern associated each nozzle of the first set of nozzles is at least one of:

a substantially planar spray;

a spherical spray;

a conical spray;

a pulsed spray; and

a jetted spray.

12-29. -29. (canceled)