GB608448A - Improvements relating to removal of excrement from bedpans - Google Patents

Abstract

608,448. Sanitary closets; bed-pans. FAULKNER, A. W. March 7, 1945, No. 5721. [Class 26] [Also in Group XXXII] An apparatus for removing excrement from bed-pans comprises a bed-pan 5 having fine flushing orifices 19 distributed around its upper part and a soil outlet 23 at the bottom, a closed excrement collecting vessel 8 communicating with said soil outlet through a flexible soil pipe 7, a liquid reservoir 17, liquid delivery means such as a blower or air pump 15 connected to said reservoir and communicating through a flexible tube 18 with the flushing orifices 19, and suction means, such as an exhaust fan 11 connected to the upper part of the collecting vessel 8 to withdraw air thereform so producing suction in the soil pipe and transferring excrement from the bed-pan to the vessel 8. The air withdrawn may be passed through an air purifier 9 containing deodorising liquid; the electric motor 12 may drive both fan 11 and blower 15, and may be controlled by a switch 21 or by switch 22 manipulated by the patient himself, whilst a plurality of bed-pans may be connected through their soil pipes to a common suction device. The apparatus may be arranged as a transportable unit (see Fig. 1) with a receptacle 6 for the bed-pan when not in use. In operation, on starting the motor 12 by closing switch 21 or 22, suction set up by the fan 11 exhausts excrement from the bed-pan along the soil pipe and into the collecting vessel 8; at the same time the pressure set up by the blower 15 forces water from the reservoir 17 along pipe 18 and through orifices 19 to flush the pan and so return by suction to the collecting vessel 8. Means are provided at 28 for filling the ieservoir 17. at 26 for hot liquid for cleansing the vessel 8, and at 24 for draining off foul liquid, whilst a false bottom 25 is arranged above the opening 24 to retain solid matter and may be removed through the top of the vessel on lifting off the purifier chamber 9.