GB2116031A - Industrial safety washing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

Outdoor washing equipment comprising an insulated standpipe (10) having one or more washing units (1,2,3,4) branching therefrom. In order to enable the washing units to be replaced or serviced more quickly when required, a releasable connection (22) is disposed adjacent to the standpipe in the branch pipe (8) leading to the washing unit, and a separate releasable housing (5), enclosing insulation, is disposed therearound. This avoids the need to damage the rigid insulating material and jacket normally employed in such installations. Frost protection is provided for the washing equipment by placing an immersion heater (14) within the standpipe. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Industrial safety washing equipment The present invention relates to industrial safety washing equipment and in particular to outdoor decontamination showers and eyebaths.

Heretofore outdoor washing equipment has taken the form of a stand pipe having branches leading to respective washing units. The stand pipe and branches have been surrounded by a rigid insulating material which is protected against mechanical damage by an outer jacket. The known construction does not permit removal of the washing units without irreparable damage to the insulation and jacket. Frost protection has been provided on the known washing equipment by wrapping an electric trace tape around the stand pipe and branched passageways. The presence of the insulation surrounding the stand pipe and hence the trace tape precludes replacement of the trace tape without removal of the jacket and insulation. Such an operation is both time consuming and costly.

One aspect of the present invention seeks to provide outdoor washing equipment in which the washing units may be replaced easily and rapidly for example to change damaged or worn washing units.

In this aspect of the invention there is provided equipment comprising a stand pipe for the delivery of water to one or more washing units, insulation surrounding the stand pipe and contained within an outer jacket, and for each washing unit a passageway branching from the stand pipe and leading to the washing unit, the washing unit incorporating valve means, and a releasable connection between the branch passageway and the associated washing unit permitting removal of the latter, and insulation contained within housing means and surrounding the branch passageway, the releasable connection and the washing unit at least as far as the valve means, the jacket being attached releasably in the vicinity of the releasable connection so as to permit access to the connection.

The insulation surrounding the stand pipe is preferably a rigid expanded polyurethane foam and the outer jacket is a U.P.V.C. sleeve. The insulation surrounding the branch passageway and washing unit is preferably of the same type as that surrounding the stand pipe whilst the insulation surrounding the releasable connection is loose insulation such as glass fibre. That part of the housing means containing the loose insulation is preferably a split sleeve and separate from the housing means containing the expanded polyurethane foam surrounding the branch passageway and washing unit.

Preferably four passageways branch from the stand pipe and lead to two shower units, an eyebath and a face wash. One or more of the releasable connections may be a union ofthe associated washing unit valve means or more preferably a separate union.

Another aspect of the present invention seeks to provide outdoor washing equipment which is protected against frost damage in which the frost protection means may be serviced without removal of the insulation from the stand pipe.

In this aspect of the invention there is provided equipment comprising a stand pipe for delivering water to one or more washing units, and, for each washing unit, a passageway branching from the stand pipe and leading to the washing unit, insulation means surrounding the stand pipe, the or the respective branch passageways and contained within an outer jacket, and frost protection means for the equipment comprising an immersion heater extending within the stand pipe.

The immersion heater is secured to an upper end wall of the stand pipe and that portion which projects outside the stand pipe is surrounded by a removable housing. Any defect in the frost protection means may thus be readily rectified without damage to the insulation and jacket.

Preferably the washing units, or at least the valve means thereof, are disposed in close proximity to the frost protected stand pipe, thus traversing the need for these to have their own frost protection means in the form of a trace tape element. However, where the washing unit cannot be placed in close proximity to the stand pipe such a trace tape may be provided.

The present invention will now be described further by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 115 a vertical section through washing equipment in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a view of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrow A with the face washing unit in cross-section; Figure 3 is a view of the face washing unit looking in the direction of arrow B, Figure 4 is a section on line IV-IV of Figure land Figure 5 is a vertical section similar to Figure 1 through washing equipment according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is illustrated industrial safety washing equipment incorporating shower, eyebath and facewash units.

The equipment is intended for location outdoors for personnel decontamination.

The equipment comprises a stand pipe 10 secured to a mounting plate 11 by welding, which plate constitutes a lower end wall of the stand pipe 10.

Passageways 8 branch from the stand pipe and lead to washing units in the form of a body shower 1, overhead shower 2, eyebath 3 and facewash 4. A main water supply connection 50 is provided at the lowermost end of the stand pipe. Each washing unit is provided with valve means 20 for controlling the flow of water from the stand pipe to the washing unit.

The stand pipe is surrounded by an insulating material 13 which preferably takes the form of a rigid expanded polyurethane foam. The insulation is contained within an outer jacket 12 which is a U.P.V.C. material and serves to protect the insulation from damage. Each of the washing units 1,2,3,4, or more correctly the water carrying pipe work of the units is surrounded by insulation 13' contained within a jacket or housing 12'.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 each washing unit is connected to its respective branch passageway 8 by a releasable connection 22 by means of which the washing units may be simply disconnected from the stand pipe for replacement or repair.

The releasable connection 22 is surrounded by loose insulation 23 for example mineral wool or glass fibre or the like, or by sectional pieces of rigid polyurethane foam. The insulation 23 is contained within a housing 5 formed by a split sleeve prefer- ably of a plastics material. The sleeve may be in two parts which slip together or a jubilee clip may be used to clamp the two parts around the adjoining housing 12' of the washing unit and branch passage.

Alternatively the housing 5 may be tube-like and displaceable axially on the adjoining jacket/housing 12'.

Frost protection means are provided to prevent water in the stand pipe from freezing when the ambient temperature drops below 0 C. The frost protection means comprises an immersion heater 14, the element of which extends preferably the entire length of the stand pipe. Athermostat 15 is disposed within the stand pipe and forms part of the heater 14which is secured atone end in an aperture in the upper end of the stand pipe. The terminal box and temperature regulator 16 of the heater projects outside the stand pipe and is surrounded by a housing 6. The housing has a removable cover by way of which access may be had to the heater for servicing or removal thereof.The washing units of the body shower 1, eyebath 3 and facewash 4 are mounted in close proximity to the stand pipe and it is not expected that additional frost protection will be necessary. In the case of the overhead shower 2 residual water contained in the pipe between the valve 20 and the spray nozzle 21 may be prone to freezing since it is some distance from the frost protected stand pipe. As illustrated an electric trace tape 19 is wrapped around the pipe for frost protection. The washing unit is provided with a flexible armoured conduit 18 which contains the electrical wiresforthetrace element and the conduit connects with a junction box 17. The wires and conduits may be disconnected when it is required to release the connection 22 for removal of the shower unit 2.

A lamp 7 is illustrated, this being an optional feature. The eye bath 3 and face wash 4 are provided downstream of the valve 20 with a fine mesh strainer. The eyebath unit 3 has a flexible hose 30 with insulating jacket which carries at its free end an eyebath diffuser 31. A flow regulator 28 is provided in the line. The valve 20 of the eyebath is operated by a lever 26. The facewash unit 4 comprises a bowl 33 with drain and has a pair of nozzles 32 fitted with diffusers. The valve 20 of the eyebath may be operated by a foot treadle 41 by way of a connecting chain 39. A bracket 35 connected with the valve actuation lever carries a pair of plates 34 which shield the nozzles 32 when not in use. The face bath unit 3 may also be provided with an eye bath unit comprising regulator 28, flexible hose 30 and eyebath diffuser 31.

The body shower 1 and overhead shower 2 are actuated by way of a common lever 26' which interconnects the respective valve mechanisms 20. A foot plate treadle 37 may be provided for actuating the lever 26' and a connecting chain 39' being provided for this purpose.

A modification of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4 is illustrated in Figure 5. Corresponding reference numerals have been employed to denote corresponding parts. In this modification the releasable connection 22 in the form of a separate union is dispensed with for the overhead shower 2 and eyebath 3. It may also be dispensed with for the washing units 1 and 4. In this embodiment each of the valves 20 for the overhead shower and eyebath are provided with a flange or union 22' which enables the washing unit to be released from the associated branch pipe 8. It will be seen that bolts 52 secure the valve body 20 between the flange 22' and a flange 53. This assembly is surrounded by a releasable jacket 5 which accommodates insulation material 23 surrounding the valve means. By virtue of this modified construction the valve means 20 can be placed closer to the heated standpipe 10 and so freezing of the valve means is less likely. To accommodate the shaft leading to the valve means, the housing is split on the axis of the shaft and each part of the housing provided with a semi-circular cut-out to fit around the shaft.

Claims (14)

1. Washing equipment comprising a standpipe for the delivery of water one or more washing units, insulation surrounding the standpipe and contained within an outer jacket, and for each washing unit a passageway branching from the standpipe and leading to the washing unit, the washing unit incorporating valve means, and a releasable connection between the branch passageway and the associated washing unit permitting removal of the latter, and insulation contained within housing means and surrounding the branch passageway, the releasable connection and the washing unit at least as far as the valve means, the jacket being attached releasably in the vicinity of the releasable cnnection so as to permit access to the connection.

2. Washing equipment as claimed in claim 1, in which the insulation surrounding the standpipe and/or the branch passage and washing unit is a rigid expanded polyurethane foam and the outer jacket is a U.P.V.C. sleeve.

3. Washing equipment as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the insulation surrounding the releasable connection is a loose or fibre insulation.

4. Washing means as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, in which that part of the housing means containing the loose insulation is a split sleeve and separate from the housing means containing the expanded polyurethane foam surrounding the branch passageway and washing unit.

5. Washing means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which four passageways branch from the standpipe and lead to two shower units, an eyebath and a face wash.

6. Washing means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which one or more of the releasable connections is formed by a union of the associated washing unit valve means.

7. Washing means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the releasable connection is a separate union disposed between the valve means and standpipe.

8. Washing equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, in which an immersion heater is disposed in the standpipe.

9. Washing equipment comprising a standpipe for delivering water to one or more washing units, and, for each washing unit, a passageway branching from the standpipe and leading to the washing unit, insulation means surrounding the standpipe, the or the respective branch passageways and contained within an outer jacket, and frost protection means for the equipment comprising an immersion heater extending within the standpipe.

10. Washing equipment as claimed in claim 9, in which the immersion heater is secured to an upper end wall of the standpipe and that portion which projects outside the standpipe is surrounded by a removable housing.

11. Washing equipment as claimed in claims 9 or 10, in which the or each washing unit or at least the valve means thereof are disposed in close proximity to the frost protected standpipe.

12. Washing equipment as claimed in claims 9, 10, or 11, in which the washing unit valve means is connected to the standpipe by means of a releasable connection which is surrounded by insulation material encapsulated in a releasable housing.

13. Washing equipment as claimed in claim 12, in which the housing comprises two parts which clip together to surround the releasable connection and insulation material.

14. Washing equipment constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings of Figures 1 to 4, or Figures 1 to 4 as modified by FigureS.