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Wash chamber for appendage-washing apparatus

  • US 7,754,021 B2
  • Filed: 12/30/2008
  • Issued: 07/13/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:

  • initiating a flow of a first fluid into a rotatable wash chamber of a cleaning station, the rotatable wash chamber including a first end and a second end, at least one of the first end and the second end connected to the cleaning station, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation, the wash chamber including an appendage receiving cavity located within and defined by the wash chamber, the appendage receiving cavity being accessible through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber and being adapted to receive at least a portion of the appendage for washing, wherein the wash chamber comprises a housing enclosing substantially the appendage receiving cavity, the appendage receiving cavity being accessible by the at least one appendage through an opening in the housing;

    rotating the wash chamber;

    conveying the first fluid directly to at least one nozzle of a plurality of nozzles disposed on the housing, the conveying including routing the first fluid through a fluid conveyance structure that delivers the first fluid to the at least one nozzle, the fluid conveyance structure located adjacent to a void space, wherein the fluid conveyance structure is offset from a center of the wash chamber at least a first radial distance, the center being substantially collocated along the axis of rotation of the wash chamber, wherein the void space is located at a second radial distance from the center of the wash chamber, wherein the first radial distance is substantially equal to the second radial distance for a given longitudinal position along a longitudinal length of the wash chamber, and wherein, when the fluid conveyance structure is filled with the first fluid, the void space is not filled with the first fluid; and

    projecting the first fluid through a fluid inlet, through the fluid conveyance structure, and the at least one nozzle, and into the appendage receiving cavity;

    wherein the wash chamber is rotated about the axis of rotation at least during the step of projecting the fluid.

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