GB2176100A - Bed-pan washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A bed-pan washing machine has a sealable washing chamber and at least one, and preferably two, spray means 54 mounted therein. The or each spray means 54 delivers an oscillating curtain of washing liquid to at least one bed-pan positioned so that at least its interior and surrounding seating face are completely swept by the curtain during its oscillation. The bed pans are supported in brackets on the door of the machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bed-pan washing machine This invention relates to bed-pan washing machines.

Washing machines are known which dispose of the contents of a bed-pan, and also wash, disinfect by means of a steam generatorandthencoolthe cleansed bed-pan ready for removal from the machine for re-use. Generally such a machine is in the form of a closable cabinet having a substantiallyvertical door, hinged at its lower edge to the cabinet. The door is provided on its innermost face with a means for holding a bed-pan to be cleansed and is sealed around its edge when closed. Within the cabinet is a jet nozzle as part of a water spraying system, and water is sprayed into the central part of the bed-pan to sluice away the waste, or soil. The flow cycle is so arranged that after a certain time has elapsed the water jet is replaced by a disinfecting steam jet for a specified period, followed by a cooling water jet.The door is automatically locked when the machine is in use and is released only on completion of the cycle.

Such machines are in extensive use in hospital wards, but have certain shortcomings.

Because the jet is sprayed only into the central area of the base of the bed-pan it is not always possible to ensure that the outer surfaces, e.g. the seating face and the sides, are cleansed, and removal by the attendant or nurse is an even more unpleasant and un hygienic duty.

Further, without making the cabinet of the machine much largerthan acceptable, it is only possible to wash one bed-pan at a time, and when several bed pans are due for cleansing during one period, e.g. if one machine has broken down or is undergoing maintenance, then a bottleneck tends to arise and the uncleansed pans accumulate, which isatotallyun- acceptable situation.

The present invention seeks to provide a bed-pan washing machinewhich has an improved washing efficiency. Preferably the invention also seeks to provide a bed-pan washing machine capable of accom modating more than one bed-pan atatime.

According to this invention we provide a bed-pan washing machine comprising a sealablewashing chamber having mounted therein at least one spray meansfordeliveringacurtainofwashing liquidtothe interior ofthe chamber, the spray means being mounted for oscillation of said curtain transversely of the curtain width and mounting means for at least one bed-pan positioned so that at least its interior and surrounding seating face are completely swept by said curtain during its oscillation.

Preferably the chamber is fitted with two spray means, each delivering a curtain ofwashing liquid and mounting means are provided for two bed-pans each positioned for sweeping by one ofthe curtains.

This may suitably be effected by providing afirst spray means in a rearwall ofthe chamber and a second spray means in a sloping chamberwall extending between the rear wall and the top ofthe chamber. Preferably the or each mounting means are arranged on the interior of a doorforthewashing chamber.

The or each spray means may conveniently comprise a length oftubing with an elongated slot, ora plurality of slots, the tubing being rotatably mounted in a housing in the wall of the chamber and attached to a source of pressurised washing liquid, one end of thetubing having oscillating means, suitably provided by an electrically or hydraulically operated crankshaft.

One form of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa side elevation, partly in section and with parts broken away, Figure2 is a scrap view of parts of the machine; Figure 3 is a view of those parts seen in Figure 2, but viewed at rightanglesthereto; and Figure 4 is a section ofthe line IV-IV of Figure 3.

As seen in Figure 1 a bed-pan washing machine 2 comprises a frame 4 having side walls 6, a rearwall8, top 10, base 12 and a front 14, the whole forming a cabinet-like structure.

An internal washing chamber 16 is secured within the cabinet and a door 18 is hingedly mounted on a pivot pin 20 within an opening 22 formed in the front of the cabinet. An arm 24 extends from the door and is connected to a piston and cylinder unit 26 mounted on one side panel 6. A resilient seal 28 surrounds an opening defined by a flange 30 in the front of the chamber 16 and is engaged in sealing relationship by the door 18 when in its closed position as shown in full lines in Figure 1. The lower portion ofthe chamber 16 connects via duct 31 with any conventional fluid and waste outlet.

The innerface of the door 18 has mounted thereon a pair of brackets 32,34, the latter bracket projecting further into the chamber 16when the door 18 is closed. Brackets 32 and 34 are each shaped to retain a bed-pan P during the washing operation with its interior and seating face facing the back of chamber 16.

The chamber 16 has a rearwall 33 surmounded by an angled wall 35 which slopesto meet the chamber roof 37. Walls 35 and 33 are formed with two openings 36,38 respectively over which are respectively mounted support members 40,42, one of which is illustrated clearly in Figures 2 and 3. Each support member is defined by a pairofsloping sidewalls44, 46, a flat backing portion 48 and end walls 50,52. A spray nozzle 54 is provided for each of the support members 40,42, and is formed from a curved length oftubing 56 which is provided with an elongate slot 58.Each end of the tubing has a short spigot 60,62 which is rotatably mounted in fittings 64,66 on the walls 50,52, the spigot 62 being solid to seal offthe end of the tube 56, and the spigot 60 being bored to allowwaterunderpressuretoflowfroma hose68 through the fitting 64 into the tube 56 and outthrough the slot 58. The resultantjet is in the form of afanshaped water curtain 70. It will be appreciated that slot 58 may be intheform of a plurality of slots rather than a single slot.

The spigot 62 passes through fitting 66 and has mounted on its outer end face an arm 72. One end of that arm is pivotally connected at 74 at one end of a link 76 which is at its other end pivotally connected at 78 to a crank 80 driven bye small electricmotor82 mounted on the side wall 44 ofthe supportmem ber 42.

As the motor is driven it rotates the crank 80 which, through the link76, causes the arm 72 to rock abut its axis. This in turn oscillates the tubular nozzle between a position Aand a position B indicated in Figure 2, causing the water curtain 70 to oscillate in a similar path. It will be appreciatedthat motor 82 may be replaced by suitable hydraulic means,forexample by a turbine driven bythewatersupply.

As seen clearly in Figure 1 the extent of the paths of the water curtains 70 during their oscillation is such asto ensurethatthe insides and surrounding outer faces ofthe pans Pare thoroughly cleansed bythe impingement of the curtain on those surfaces as they oscillate. The narrow width of the slot 58 also creates a very high pressure in the jet.

In use, the door 18 ofthe cabinet is opened by pressing on a foot pedal 84 which operates a valve (notshown)to actuate the piston and cylinder unit 26 and used bed-pans are placed within the brackets 32, 34. Release ofthe pedal then causes the piston cyiinder unitto be actuated in the reverse direction to close the door 18 againstthe seal 28. This action also sets in motion a cycle of automatically controlled operations which first cause cold waterto issue through nozzles 54 as high pressure water curtains, the electric motors 82 being driven to cause, as described earlier, the water curtains to pass overthe surfaces ofthe pans P. This first action flushes away the waste from the pans through duct 31 to the waste outlet.

After a predetermined time a valve connects with a supplyofhotwaterto provide for disinfection, for example at C. for one minute, after which the cold water supply is re-connected to ensure thatthe pans are sufficiently cool to be handled or re-used. After the required cycle of operations is completed the watersupply is shut off and the electric motorstopped and an indicator is illuminated. An interlock arrangement, which prohibited opening ofthe door 18 during the cycle, is released and the door maythen by opened to allow the cleaned and cooled pans to be removed.

It will be seen from theforegoing,that by providing an oscillating water curtain it is possible to position the bed-pans so thatthe interior and surrounding surfaces are efficiently and completely swept by a comparatively high pressure washing liquid. By suitable design ofthe cabinet it is possible to treattwo pans in a normal sized cabinet, which doubles the throughputofa single machine.

Claims (9)

1. A bed-pan washing machinecomprisesaseal- able washing chamber having mounted therein at least one spray meansfordelivering a curtain of washing liquid to the interior ofthe chamber, the spray means being mounted for oscillation ofsaid curtain transversely of the curtain width and mounting means for at least one bed-pan positioned so that atleast its interior and surrounding seating face are completelyswept by said curtain during its oscilla- tion.

2. A bed-pan washing machine according to claim 1 wherein the washing chamber is fitted with two spray means, each delivering a curtain of washing liquid and mounting means are provided for two bedpans each positionedforsweeping by one of the curtains.

3. A bed-pan washing machine according to claim 2comprising first spray means mounted in a rearwall ofthe chamber and second spray means in a sloping chamberwall extending between the rearwall and the top ofthe chamber.

4. A bed-pan washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the or each mounting means is arranged on the interior of a doorforthe washing chamber.

5. A bed-pan washing machine according to claim 4wherein the door is hingedly connected at the bottom to the washing chamber, the or each mounting means being arranged to allow the or each bed-pan, when mounted,to swing as the door is closed from a substantially flat position to a tipped up position with its interiorfacing the spray means.

6. A bed-pan washing machine according to any one ofthe preceding claims wherein the or each spray means comprises a length oftubing with an elongated slot, or a plurality of slots, thetubing being rotatably mounted in a housing in a wall ofthe washing chamber and attached to a source of pressu rised washing liquid, the tubing being provided with oscillating means.

7. A bed-pan washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the oscillating means are provided by an electrically or hydraulically operated crankshaft link- ed to one end of the length oftubing.

8. A bed-pan washing machine according to any oneoftheprecedingclaimscomprising meansfor actuating a washing cycle by closing a door to seal the washing chamber.

9. A bed-pan washing machine substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings and described herein with reference thereto.