GB1390018A - Cleaning bed-pans and like utensils - Google Patents

Abstract

1390018 Apparatus for washing and sterilizing bed-pans &c DENT & HELLYER Ltd 24 July 1972 [22 July 1971] 34352/71 Heading A4N [Also in Division F4] Apparatus for the washing, and sterilizing with steam, of bed-pans, urine bottles or the like utensils, comprises: a hopper 1 having an outlet 15 connectible to a trap leading to a sewer, the hopper having an opening closable by a pivotallymounted door 11; a frame 10 secured to the door for supporting a bed-pan 2; means for supplying washing fluid to the interior of the hopper; a steam-generating vessel 3 provided with steam lines 8; a water-supply line leading to the vessel; a valve 5 in the water-supply line; and a heater 6 in the vessel. As shown, the hopper is provided with a vent pipe 14. A water supply tank 4 having a thermostat 12, a ball-float valve 13, and a heater 7 may be provided. The valve 5 may be solenoidoperated or cam-operated and may be controlled by a timer or a water level sensor. An overflow line 9 is provided. The steam-generating vessel may take the form of an electrode boiler or the water heater may include electrical resistance heating elements, either incorporated in the walls of the vessel or formed, as shown, into an immersion heater 6. In use, the bed-pan may be washed with water, sterilized with steam, and then rinsed with hot or cold water. The duration of the sterilizing operation may be controlled by a timer and/or a temperature sensitive device. The apparatus may take the form of a modification of the apparatus described in U.K. Specification 803817.