Automatic washing device with fluidic oscillator

• US 8,191,803 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fluidic Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fluidic Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Jewett, Warren R., Plowman, Thomas E., Dupree, Craig A., Khare, Matthew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman, Darren W
• Application Number:
  US12/709,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 239/589.1, 239596-599, 239/601, 137/808, 137/809, 137/811, 137/833
• US Class Current: 239/589.1
• 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 fluidic oscillator, comprising:

a fluid entry port to receive 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 second chamber and cause the vortex to spin in alternating directions; and

an exit slit, having a length dimension greater than a width dimension thereof, through a bottom surface of the second chamber, the length of 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 the bottom surface perpendicular to the path of fluid flow into the second chamber, and the fluid exits in a pattern dependent on the dimensions and location of the exit slit.

2. The fluidic oscillator of claim 1, wherein sidewalls of the exit slit are perpendicular to the bottom surface of the second chamber.

3. The fluidic oscillator of claim 1, wherein

a width of the exit slit is in the range of 0.03 inches to 0.06 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.

4. The fluidic oscillator of claim 3, 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.

5. The fluidic oscillator of claim 1, wherein a centerline of the exit slit is at an oblique angle to a perpendicular to the bottom surface of the second chamber.

6. The fluidic oscillator of claim 5, wherein the oblique angle is in the range of 30 to 45 degrees.

7. The fluidic oscillator of claim 6, wherein the oblique angle is 30 degrees.