GB2179549A

GB2179549A - A decontamination shower

Info

Publication number: GB2179549A
Application number: GB08521566A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Douglas Hughes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-08-30
Filing date: 1985-08-30
Publication date: 1987-03-11
Also published as: GB2179549B; GB8521566D0

Abstract

A decontamination shower comprising a base (1) and at least one passageway (19) having outlet nozzles therein, said at least one passageway (19) being located on the base (1) and being fed from an inlet connection (9), and wherein the passageways are formed from flexible hose (19). The water pressure supports the passageways (19) which are held in position by a hook (25). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A decontamination shower The present invention relates to a decontamination shower, and in particular to one which is adapted to be portable.

Accidents involving dangerous chemicals call for the emergency services to use protective clothing. It is important that such clothing is decontaminated so as to reduce the concentration of any contaminant (chemical or otherwise) to an acceptable level.

Accordingly, there is a need for a decontamination shower which is readily portable and which occupies minimal space when not in use, and which can be assembled for use at the site of any accident simply and quickly.

The shower of the present invention aims to meet these requirements.

According to the present invention then there is provided decontamination apparatus comprising a base and a plurality of passageways having outlet nozzles therein, said passageways being located on the base and being fed from an inlet connection, and wherein the passageways are formed from flexible hose.

Preferably the base has ports leading from the inlet connection to said passageways.

By using flexible hose for the passageways, especially "fold flat" flexible hose, and by incorporating the ports for feeding water from the inlet to the passageways in the base, a particularly compact and simplified construction is achieved.

Conveniently, the base is fabricated from tubing, preferably stainless steel tube, and is generally Ushaped, having two spaced apart arms branching from a connecting leg. The inlet connection is formed at one end of the connecting leg end preferably comprises a fitting for a standard 22 inch (63.5 mm) quick release coupling.

In the preferred embodiment, four outlet connections are provided from the base which lead to the passageways. The connections preferably take the form of 1l inch (38.1 mm) quick release couplings. The outlet connections are disposed in spaced apart relation and arranged so that, in use, the passageways extend upwardly from the base.

Conveniently, the passageways are formed by two lengths of old flat flexible hose and each of the four ends is provided with a coupling to mate with a respective one of the four outlet connections in the base. Preferably, the two lengths of hose are secured together midway between the ends of a clamping plate. The two hoses are clamped so as to intersect one another at right angles and form two intersecting hoops when subject to water pressure.

The space within the hoops defines the shower area.

The clamping plate serves to block the two hoses at the mid-point thus forming in effect four passageways. The clamping plate preferably carries a supporting eye which, in use, engages a hook of a supporting hook which extends upwardly from the base. Conveniently, the supporting hook is formed from a straight piece and an L-shaped piece which are adapted to be coupled together and located in a collar formed on the base, so that the supporting hook stands upright from the base when the shower is in its position ready for use. When the shower is not being used, the supporting hook is received in locating brackets formed on the base. The base is conveniently provided with supporting feet.

Alternative configurations of base may be employed and the number of passageways may be varied. In a less preferred embodiment the flexible hoses are located on the base and separated feed lines are provided to supply water to the hoses rather than using passageways in the base itself.

On erecting the apparatus, a fire hose is connected to the inlet connection and the supporting hook parts are fitted together and located on the base. The eye of the clamping plate is then positioned on the supporting hook. This causes the flexible hose to unfold. When the water is turned on, the pressure within the hoses causes them to adopt a curved shape and the nozzles direct water into the area within the flexible hoses.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a decontamination apparatus in accordance with the present invention shown in the configuration adopted when in use, Figure 2 is a plan view of the base of the decontamination apparatus, Figure 3 is an elevation looking in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a side view of part of the base illustrating the hose support in its erected position, Figures 5 and 6 show a plan and eievation of the hose clamp support, and Figure 7 is an exploded view of the nozzle construction for the hoses.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown decontamination apparatus according to the present invention. The apparatus comprises a base 1, which is formed from tubular material, preferably stainless steel pipe. A 2 inch (50 mm) diameter pipe has been found satisfactory. The illustrated configuration comprises two arms 3, 5 and a connecting leg 7. These define a substantially Ushaped configuration. An inlet connection 9 is formed at one end of the connecting leg 7. This conveniently comprises a 212 inch (63.5 mm) quick release coupling as used on standard fire hoses. The socket 11 of the inlet connection 9 is connected to the connecting leg 7 by way of an eccentric reducing sleeve 13. The arms 3 and 5 are spaced apart and are closed off at their free ends.The configuration of the base defines a generally square area which is open at one side so that a person can enter safely. The base is provided with supporting feet 15 which conveniently comprise short lengths of angle bracket welded to the tubular base. Three or four such feet are provided. In the illustration four feet are provided, two on each arm (see figures 2 and 3).

An alternative is to have three fee, one on each of the arms 3,5 and connecting leg 7.

The tubular base is provided with four outlet connections 17, two on each arm 3 and 5. These take the form of 12 inch (38.1 mm) quick release couplings and are positioned so as to have their outlets disposed upwardly when the base is standing on its feet. Coupled to the outlet connections 17 are the ends of passageways 19 which are formed by flexible hose. More especially the hose is of the fold flat type which is widely used by the fire service A hose diameter of 12 inches (38.1 mm) has been found suitable.

In the illustrated embodiment, two lengths of flexible fold flat hose are employed. The two hoses 21, 23 are secured together at their mid-points and arranged to intersect one with the other at 90" (see Figures 5 and 6). A clamping plate 25 is provided to secure the hoses together and comprises two crossshaped plates 27 secured together by nuts and bolts 29. The clamping plate 25 blocks the two hoses at the mid-point so effectively forming four passageways which extend towards one another at the clamping plate from their free ends which are coupled to the outlet connections 17. One of the cross-shaped plates 27 is provided with a hook eye 33.

Nozzles 31 are provided at spaced intervals along the length of the hoses. In the illustration each hose has six nozzles therein, i.e. three in each of the four passageways.

The nozzles 31 are mounted to the hose by means of a back plate 35, and a saddle 37 (see Figure 7)..

The back plate 35 is made from stainless steel plate and curved to correspond to the diameter of the flexible hose. It has a nipple 39 welded thereto which has an external thread for mating with an internal thread of the nozzle 31. The back plate 35 fits within the hose with the nipple projecting from a hole formed therein. The saddle 37 which is conveniently made from a plastics material, such as P.V.C. fits over the nipple and is curved to correspond in shape to that of the back plate 35. The nozzle 31 when threaded onto the nipple 39 holds the saddle in place and forms a seal with the hose.

The orifice in the nozzle 31 is dimensioned to give the desired spray pattern.

A supporting hook 41 is provided which comprises a first part 43 which is straight and a second part 45 which is L-shaped. One end of the part 41 has a slot 47 therein and is adapted to be received in a tubular sleeve 49 secured to the base.

The sleeve 49 has a transverse pin 51 therein with which the slot 47 co-operates. This locates the part 43 for non-rotation relative to the base. The other end of the part 43 is provided with a sleeve 53 which is also provided with a transverse pin 55. This sleeve receives the slotted end 57 of the port 45 so that it is likewise located to prevent rotation. A hook 59 is formed on the other end of the part 45. This hook 59 serves to locate the hook eye 33 of the clamping plate 27 when the apparatus is in its assembled position ready for use (see Figure 4). When not in use, the supporting hook parts are carried in locating brackets on the base (see Figure 2).These comprise two sleeve members 61 disposed one above the other and of a diameter to receive the ports 43 and 45 which are conveniently circular in cross-section, and an L-shaped bracket 63 which locates one limb of the L-shaped part 45.

In order to assemble the apparatus for use, the inlet connection 9 is connected to a fire hose and the base 1 placed on the ground resting on its feet 15, the two parts of the supporting hook 41 are removed from the locating brackets on the base and fitted together so that the hook extends upwardly from the base with the hook end 59 disposed substantially above the centre of the base, the clamping plate 25 is then located on the hook 59 by means of the hook eye 33. The flexible hoses forming the passageways 19 9 thus hang down from beneath the hook 59. The free ends of the hoses 21, 23 are connected to the outlet connections 17. For storage purposes the hoses may be disconnected from the outlet connections to enable them to be individually folded flat and rolled up.However, it will be appreciated that the hoses can be left connected to the outlet connections, so that assembly only requires the clamping plate to be lifted and fitted onto the hook 59.

When water is admitted to the apparatus it is distributed to each of the passageways 19. The pressure of water within the flexible hoses causes them to fill up and to adopt a curved configuration, substantially as illustrated in Figure 1. The hoses become rigid under the water pressure such that they can even serve as hand holds. Aflow rate exceeding 1000 litres per minute can be achieved with the described apparatus.

Personnel to be decontaminated simply walk into the shower by way of the open side so that their protective suits can be cleaned and any chemicals radioactivity contained thereon is diluted to an acceptable level quickly and efficiently.

After use, the apparatus can be quickly dismantled and stowed awayforfuture use. The use of flexible fold flat fire hose is particularly advantageous in achieving a shower unit which is of lightweight, occupies minimal space when not in use, and which can be erected quickly and simply.

By using the base as the means of distributing the water to the passageways of the shower, the apparatus is further simplified and the weight kept to the minimum.

It will be apparent that the present apparatus has a particular application in situations involving the fire services in treating accidents and emergencies involving chemicals and other toxic materials.

Such emergencies call for equipment which is portable, of lightweight and easily assembled.

The apparatus of the present invention has been described by way of example with reference to the preferred construction. Alternative configurations are envisaged in which the shape of the base is revised for example to a generally Y-shaped arrangement with the passageways to the shower nozzles branching off from the two legs of the Y shape. Alternatively, the base can be arcuate forming either a part circle or, exceptionally, a full circle. The number of passageways may be increased or reduced as dictated by requirements.

Individual hoses may be employed for each passageway ratherthan using one hose for two passageways by clamping the hose in the mdidle.

Similarly the clamping is not essential but is preferred.

The provision of a supporting hook is preferable since this prevents the upper end of the hoses from waving about uncontroilably; it will be noted that this hook can be of lightweight construction because the weight it has to support is only small, and when water is introduced into the hoses it takes virtually no load. The number of nozzles in each passageway may be varied.

It will be noted that the curved shape adopted by the hoses corresponds substantially to the profile of the personnel to be contaminated i.e. it narrows towards the head and broadens out in the region of the torso and then narrows again towards the ground. This is particularly advantageous since it means that substantially ali the suit to be decontaminated is subject to water spray at the same pressure.

An alternative to using the base as the means of delivering water to the passageways is envisaged but is less preferred. Nevertheless, the base may serve only to locate the passageways of the shower, whilst water is introduced thereto by separate ports.

These ports may be fed from an inlet coupling by way of a distribution manifold and the ports may be flexible hoses or rigid pipes.

Claims

1. A decontamination shower comprising a base and at least one passageway having outlet nozzles therein, said at least one passageway being located on the base and being fed from an inlet connection, and wherein the passageways are formed from flexible hose.

2. A decontamination shower according to claim 1, wherein the base has ports leading from the inlet connection to each passageway.

3. A decontamination shower according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base is fabricated from stainless steel tubing.

4. A decontamination shower according to any preceding claim, wherein the base is U-shaped, having two spaced apart arms branching from a connecting leg.

5. A decontamination shower according to claim 4, wherein the inlet connection is formed at one end of the connecting leg end and comprises a fitting for a standard quick release coupling.

6. A decontamination shower according to any preceding claim, wherein connections are provided from the base which lead to each passageway and the connections take the form of quick release couplings.

7. A decontamination shower according to claim 6, wherein the outlet connections are disposed in spaced apart relation and arranged so that, in use, the passageways extend upwardly from the base.

8. A decontamination shower according to any preceding claim, wherein the flexible hose comprises fold flat flexible hose.

9. A decontamination shower according to the preceding claims, wherein the passagewys are formed by two lengths of fold flat flexible hose and each of the four ends is provided with coupling to mate with a respective one of four outlet connectiQns in the base.

10. A decontamination shower according to claim 9, wherein the two lengths of hose are secured together midway between their ends by means of a clamping plate, such that the two hoses are clamped so as to intersect one another at right angles and form two intersecting hoops when subject to water pressure.

11. A decontamination shower according to claim 10, wherein the clamping plate carries a supporting eye which, in use, engages a hook of a supporting hook which extends upwardly from the base.

12. A decontamination shower according to claim 11, wherein the supporting hook is formed from a straight piece and an L-shaped piece which are adapted to be coupled together and located in a collar formed on the base, so that the supporting hook stands upright from the base when the shower is in its position ready for use.

13. A decontamination shower according to claim 1, wherein the flexible hoses are located on the base and separate feed lines are provided to supply water to the hoses rather than using passageways in the base itself.

14. A decontamination shower substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.