Wash chamber for appendage-washing apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
3 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.
255 Citations
20 Claims
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method, comprising:
-
providing a cleaning station, comprising a rotatable wash chamber; an appendage receiving cavity located within and enclosed substantially by a housing member, the appendage receiving cavity being accessible, by at least a portion of an appendage of a user, through an opening in the wash chamber; a plurality of nozzles disposed on the wash chamber; and at least one fluid conveyance structure positioned in the annular space and in communication with at least one nozzle, the at least one fluid conveyance structure dividing the annular space into fluid carrying and non-fluid carrying portions, whereby, when the fluid carrying portion comprises the at least one cleaning fluid, the non-fluid carrying portion is free of the at least one cleaning fluid; rotating the rotatable wash chamber; conveying at least one cleaning fluid to at least one nozzle of the plurality of nozzles, the conveying including routing the at least one cleaning fluid through the fluid conveyance structure that delivers the at least one cleaning fluid to the at least one nozzle; and projecting the at least one cleaning fluid through the plurality of nozzles and into the appendage receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method, comprising:
-
providing a cleaning station, comprising; a rotatable wash chamber, the wash chamber comprising a housing; an appendage receiving cavity located within and substantially enclosed by the housing, the appendage receiving cavity being accessible, by at least a portion of an appendage of a user, through an opening in the housing; a plurality of nozzles disposed on the housing; and a plurality of fluid conveyance structures positioned at discrete intervals on an exterior of the housing and in communication with the plurality of nozzles, wherein a substantial portion of the housing exterior is free of fluid conveyance structures; conveying at least one cleaning fluid to the plurality of nozzles, the conveying including routing the at least one cleaning fluid through the plurality of fluid conveyance structures that delivers the at least one cleaning fluid to the plurality of nozzles; and projecting the at least one cleaning fluid through the plurality of nozzles and into the appendage receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification