AUTOMATIC WASHING DEVICE WITH FLUIDIC OSCILLATOR

• US 20110203047A1
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluidic Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fluidic Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Jewett, Warren R., Plowman, Thomas E., Khare, Matthew D., Dupree, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,191,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/621
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/80 Implements for cleaning or washing the skin of surgeons or patients
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/08 of pulsating nature, e.g. delivering liquid in successive separate quantities ; Fluidic oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2093 Plural vortex generators

Abstract

An automatic washing device includes a plurality of fluidic oscillators arranged on the periphery of a rotating drum. The fluidic oscillators emit a pulsatile stream of fluid at a predetermined angle through a slit that is perpendicular or at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the oscillator. The automatic washing device can remove microorganisms from the pliant epidermal surface of a human hand that comprises brushlessly scrubbing the pliant epidermal surface of the human hand with a plurality of cleansing fluids.

Claims

1. A hand washing device utilizing a fluidic oscillator, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical washing drum open at a first end and rotatable about an axis of the washing drum;

at least one of fluidic oscillator arranged on a periphery of the washing drum, each oscillator having an exit slit through a bottom surface of the oscillator, the exit slit being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the oscillator; and

a fluid delivery channel coupled to an entry port of each fluidic oscillator,

wherein, when in operation, fluid that enters the fluidic oscillator exits through the exit slit in a sweeping arc of pulsed fluid droplets.

2. The hand washer of claim 1, wherein the fluidic oscillator comprises:

a first chamber coupled to the entry port to receive an entry fluid stream, the first chamber shaped to cause the entry fluid stream to form two swirling vortices that alternate in strength;

a second chamber fluidically coupled to the first chamber by two fluid paths, the exit slit disposed in the second chamber,

wherein, when in operation, the two swirling vortices direct fluid to flow out of the first chamber to the second chamber along the two fluid paths, the flow in the fluid paths varying in strength according to the alternating forces of the swirling vortices, the variation in forces causing a fluid vortex to form in the output chamber and cause the vortex to spin in alternating directions.

3. The hand washer of claim 2, comprising a fixed array of fluidic oscillators at the open end of the washing drum arranged to provide a water barrier to reduce splash-out of fluid from the washing chamber when in operation.

4. The hand washer of claim 3, comprising:

a user identifier to identify a particular user of the hand washer; and

a communicator to communicate the particular user identification and hand washer information to a user information storage device.

5. A hand washing method, comprising:

arranging a plurality of fluidic oscillators on a periphery of a washing drum, each oscillator having an exit slit through a bottom surface of the oscillator, the exit slit being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the oscillator;

providing an input fluid stream to an entry port of each fluidic oscillator; and

rotating the washing drum,

wherein, when in operation, fluid that enters the fluidic oscillator exits through the exit slit in a sweeping arc of pulsed fluid droplets.

6. The hand washing method of claim 5, wherein the fluidic oscillator comprises:

forming in a first chamber two swirling vortices that alternate in strength from the input fluid stream;

fluidically coupling the first chamber to a second chamber by two fluid paths, the exit slit disposed in the second chamber,

wherein the two swirling vortices direct fluid to flow out of the first chamber to the second chamber along the two fluid paths, the flow in the fluid paths varying in strength according to the alternating forces of the swirling vortices,

using the fluid flow in the two fluid paths to form a fluid vortex in the second chamber that spins in alternating directions based on the varying strength in the fluid paths.

7. The hand washing method of claim 6, comprising:

creating a water shield at the open end of the washing drum using a fixed array of fluidic oscillators, the water shield reducing splash-out of fluid from the washing chamber when in operation.

8. The hand washing method of claim 7, comprising:

identifying a particular user of the hand washer; and

communicating the particular user identification and associated hand washer information to a user information storage device.

9. A fluidic oscillator, comprising:

a fluid entry port to received an entry fluid stream;

a first chamber coupled to the fluid entry port to receive the entry fluid stream, the first chamber having a shape to cause the entry fluid stream to form two swirling vortices that alternate in strength when the entry fluid stream enters the first chamber;

a second chamber fluidically coupled to the first chamber by two fluid paths, when in operation, the two swirling vortices direct fluid to flow out of the first chamber to the second chamber along the two fluid paths, the flow in the fluid paths varying in strength according to the alternating forces of the swirling vortices, the variation in forces causing a fluid vortex to form in the output chamber and cause the vortex to spin in alternating directions; and

an exit slit through a bottom surface of the second chamber, the exit slit being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the oscillator,

wherein, when in operation, fluid in the second chamber exits through the exit slit in a pattern dependent on the dimensions and location of the exit slit.

11. The fluidic oscillator of claim 9, wherein

a width of the exit slit is in the range of 0.03 inches to 0.064 inches,

a length of the exit slit is in the range of 0.25 inches to 0.46 inches;

and

a centerline of the exit slit is in the range of 0.3 inches to 0.43 inches from a distal end of the fluidic oscillator, said distal end located where the longitudinal axis intersects a periphery of the second chamber.

12. The fluidic oscillator of claim 11, wherein

the length of the exit slit is approximately 0.4 inches;

the width of the exit slit is approximately 0.05 inches; and

the centerline of the exit slit is approximately 0.425 inches from the distal end.

13. The fluidic oscillator of claim 9, wherein a centerline of the exit slit is at an oblique angle to a perpendicular to the bottom surface of the second chamber.

14. The fluidic oscillator of claim 13, wherein the oblique angle is in the range of 30 to 45 degrees.

15. The fluidic oscillator of claim 14, wherein the oblique angle is 30 degrees.

10. The fluidic oscillator of claim 10, wherein sidewalls of the exit slit are perpendicular to the bottom surface of the second chamber.