US1501826A - Bedpan cleanser and sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

July 15 ,'1924. 1,501,826

` L. L. WATTERS BEDPAN CLENSER AND STERILIZER Filed June 29 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 15 1924. 1,501,826

L.. L WATTERS BEDPAN CLEANSER AND STERILIZER Filed June 29 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s 7aV Patented July 15, 1924.

UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

LEON L. WATTERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR- TO HOSPITAL SUPPLY COLIPANY AND WATTERS LABORATORIES CONSOLIDATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.v

BEDPAN CLEANSER AND STERILIZER.

Application led June 29, 1921. Serial No. 481,263.

To all lwhom it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, LEON L. WATTERS, al citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bedpan Cleansers and Sterilizers, of which the following is a specification. f

One of the purposes of this invention is to produce an apparatus for thoroughly cleansing and sterilizing articles used in hospitals, particularly with reference to bedpans, in which it is desirable to disposeof the contents quickly and in a sanitaryl manner.

Another object is to provide an apparatus with means for the linlet of water sprays under an adequate pressure, rotate the article to be cleansed so that all parts are subjected to the spray and finally to introduce steam for sterilization purposes to such eX- tent as is necessary.

A further aim is in the provision of means for hermetically sealing the apparatus during the processes of cleansing and sterilizing so that no odor or emanations may issue and to so mount the apparatus that all dbris and liquids used in cleansing are conducted directly to the drain which forms a support or pedestal of unique character.`

These and other analogous objects, which will become apparent as the description progresses, are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts,

. hereinafter described and shown in the ac- `companyingf drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an apparatus embodying the invention, parts being broken away .to disclose the construction. Figure 2 isa side elevational view thereof the cover being shown in raised position. igure 3 is a transverse sectional view ,taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure t is'a side view of the bed-pan, showing in detail the clamp and its revolvin means.

igure 5 is a. plan view thereof.

Figure 6 is a side view of the same, the parts being shown reversed from that shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modification of construction.

Figure 8 is an enlargedl fragmentary sectional view of the lower steam inlet. y

Stated briefly in general terms, the apparatus comprises a cylindrical tank having a concave bottom, the top being open and provided with a band to which is hingedly engaged a cover and means for clamping the same thereover when in operation.

In place of legs or supports, as commonly used, the tank is permanently engaged upon a special type of drain trap fitting which communicates'directly with sewer connections so that no effluvia may escape during operation, and because of the peculiar mounting employed, the ioor is easily kept clean. A

Intermediate the trap fitting and tank is a valve independently operated in flushing the tank, which is provided with means for the separate inlet of water and steam under complete control of the operator. 'f

The tank band is furnished with a gasket making air tight connection with the cover and is provided with pedally operated means for opening and closing, thus leavino' the hands free for other purposes.

ounted to rotate cna horizontal axis in the tank is a cradle to which the bed-pan may be securely clamped and a crank extends into position to be conveniently manip ulated for this purpose.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral designates the flanged base of a water sealed trap body 16, provided with a removable plug-17 at the front and an outlet branch 18 at the rear in which isengaged a sewer pipe connection 19.

. The vertical branch 20 of the trap engages the lower end ofa valve body 21, its

rotatable plug 22 beingv provided with a stem 23 having an operating hand lever 24 and the upper end of the valve body engages the base flange of the tank 25.

The pedestal thus provided is pgpferably finished in smooth white enamel while the tank body is of copper, plated if preferred and formed without seams, the concave lower portion having united to it a base flange 26.

At the upper edge of the tank is secured a circumjacent band or ring 27 containing an annular recess in which is disposed a gasket or pliable packing 28, against which the edge of the ring portion 29 of the cover or lid 30 makes contact.

This cover is formed concavo-convexly from sheet metal, like that of the tank, and is provided with a rigid loop 31 at the center, in which is engaged a lever 32, curved in conformity with the cover and held in the loop by a transverse pivot pin 33.

The rear extending. end 34 is pivoted by a pin 35 passing through .a fork 36, formed with the band 27, and its front end 37 is adapted to be engaged by a loop or catch 38 pivoted to lugs 39 extending from the band diametrically opposite the fork 36, the clamp loop 38 having an ,operating handle 40.

A rearward extension 41 of the lever 32 is pivoted to one end of a link 42 and the p opposite end of the link is pivotally engaged ywith a yoke 43 in turn 'pivoted at its ends to brackets 44 fixed on the wall of the tank.

A spindle 45, connecting the link 42 to the yoke, has attached to its ends, a pair of rods 46 which extend downwardly and to the front, on yopposite sides, of the pedestal and pivotally engage levers 47, in turn pivoted on a rod 48 fixed in the rear portion of the trap 16, the front ends of the levers being fixed to a pedal 49.

Due to the pivotal connection of the cover to the lever 32, the cover is self-adjustable and may be clamped to form an impervious joint on the edge of the tank. When the clamp 38 is released and the pedal 49 depressed it is evident that the cover will be raised, affording a clear opening to the tank.

A stud 50 is xed in the tank at the rear, midway its length, the stud acting as a pivot for a bar 5l, having its ends 52 and 53 bent at right angles, the front end 53 having fixed in it a spindle 54 extending through the wall ofthe tank and engaged with a manually operable crank handle 55.

Cross arms 56 are secured at the center of che bar 51, the bar and arms having near their ends lugs 57 in which are secured a seat or guide ring 58 formed of a wire bent to engage the article to be cleansed, and which is thus suspended so that its weight is below the axis of the supporting pivots and hangs pendantly thereby facilitating the entrance or removal of the article to be cleansed..

'A post 59 is raised from the bar 51, near the angle en d 52 and pivoted in the post merece is a trap 60 forked at its front end to engage a projection 61 raised from the bar 51 near its front end and having a sna catch 62 engageable with the strap at the ottoni of the prongs 63 forming the hook.

Fixed to the strap, near the fork, is a forked lug 64 in which is pivotally mounted a hand lever 65, its curved point 66 being positioned to engage and release the catch 62 when the lever is depressed and thereby free the strap permitting the article clamped by it to be removed.

Engaged centrally of the strap 60 is a fixed stud 81 to which is attached upper and lower leaf springs, respectively 82 and 83, adapted to make resilient contact with the upper surface of the pan, holding it firmly in engagement with the seat ring 58, when the strap is clamped thereover.

At a point opposite one side of the work holder or cradle just described, a plate 67 is secured by its flanged edge interiorly the tank, the spaced portion of theV plate containing a plurality of perforations 68. This plate covers the opening of a flange 69 fixed on the outside of the tank and en gaginga pipe 70 controlled by an angle valve 71, the outer inlet of which is connected with a water supply pipe 72.

Below the water inlet is a steam inlet pipe 73 entering the tank 25 at a point above its curved lower portion, this pipe being a branchof another steam pipe 74 entering the lower portion of the tank 25, the inlet of steam being controlled by a valve 75, the pipe 7 6 beyond the valve leading to a boiler from where a supply of steam can be obtained.

The purpose of the double steam inlets is to prevent noise caused by a single inlet, particularly if water be present in the tank, the water passing down in the pipe to the T 97 where steam enters through the passage in the valve 75 and is directed centrally of the pipe 74 by the conical element 98, acting as a-type of injector, preheating the water which is mingled with the steam, and entering the tank without noise, thus affording means for thoroughly sterilizing thepan and contents of the tank as will be understood.

A combined over-flow and vent pipe 77 communicates with the tank at its rear, directly behind the looped bracket 96 which carries the pivot pin 50, the pipe leading to a T fitting 78 having a removable plug 79 in its upper through end and another pipe 8O in its lower end, entering the drain connectionv 16, thereby limiting the accumu lation of water in the tank and alsoy acting as a vent to the same.

In the modication, shown in Figure 7,

the tank and its interior parts remain the same as previously described, as is also the direct with the chamber 86, which is provided with an outlet 92 returning tothe source of steam supply.

This arrangement provides means for merely heating the tank, by opening the valve 91, or for entering steam by the valve 89 as may be desired.

As changes of-construction could be made within the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, it being obvious that changes, not involving the exercise of invention, may be made without conflicting with the scope of the appended claims.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. An apparatus comprising a tank having a hinged cover, agasket carried by the rim of said tank, means for clamping 'the cover to form an impervious joint with said tank, a work holder revolubly mounted in the tank, means fon manually actuating said holder, means for spraying the work carried in the holder, a hollow pedestal on which said tank is vmounted, a drainage means connected with said pedestal, and pedally operated means for raising said cover.

2. An apparatus comprising a vertical cylindrical tank having a cover adapted to form an impervious joint thereover, `a foot lever for raising said cover, a hollow pedestal on which said tank is mounted, said pedestal havingan expanded base above the ioor and containing a passage leading fromD the tank to a drain, means for positively controlling the mentioned passage, a work Vholdwer mounted on a transverse axis in said tank, means for completely rotating said holder, controlled means for the admission of water directed against work in said holder, other controlled means for the admission of steam to said tank at a point below the water-inlet, and a combined vent and overflow for vsaid tank, entering said hollow pedestal. 3. lAn apparatus comprising a vertical cylindrical tank having an impervious cover removably engaged, separate means independently controllable'for the admission of water and of steam to said tank, a Work holder disposed transversely inthe tank, a pivoted spring clamp bar on'said holder for positively clamping work therein, a crank by which said holder may be completely and continuously rotated in either dlrection on a transverse axis, means for draining said tank into a sewer, a rotary valve controlling said draining means, and a combined vent and overiow from said tank entering said draining means.

4:. An apparatus composed of a vertical cylindrical tank, a domed cover therefor, a

curved bar hinged near one end to said tank, a clevis xed axially on said cover engaging said bar by a transverse pivot, brackets on said tank,` a yoke pivoted in the brackets, a spindle fixed in the end of said yoke, a link connecting said spindle with the extending end of said bar, rods at the ends of said spindle, a trap in communication with said tank, levers pivoted to said trap, said levers being pivotally engaged by said rods, a pedal connecting said levers, and a loop pivoted to said tank engageable with the free end of said bar whereby said cover may be held in firm engagement with the edge of said tank.

5. An apparatus comprising a stationary tank connected with an axial drain, an intercepting valve in the passage therebetween, means for the inlet of water to the tank, a heating chamber below said tank, means for the inlet of steam to the tank, and to said chamber, a combined overflow and vent pipe communicating between the upper` portion of said tank and the drain, and a drain for said chamber.

6. In an apparatus ofthe class described, the combination with a stationary tank, a work holder pivoted to rotate on a horizontal axis therein, said support comprising a lurality of arms disposed in a plane below lts pivotal supports, a ring carried by said arms adapted toreceive a bed pan, a strap hinged over said arms, means for detachably divergent arms, two of v ient strap for clamping a pan on said ring,

a spring hook engaging said strap, a lever releasing means for said hook, and means for rotating said frame on its pivots.

8. A bed pan support comprising a plurality of radial arms, ivots in the ends of one pair of diametrica 1y opposite arms, said pivots being mounted above the plane of the arms, a seat ring carried by the arms, a post 5 on one of said arms, a strap hinged to said post, a resilient catch opposite said post adapted to engage the free end of said strap,

Alaminas@ means' on said strap for disenga ing said catch, and means for rotating sai support upon its pivots.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciicatiom LEN L. WATTERS

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