US2864166A

US2864166A - Evacuator for dental use

Info

Publication number: US2864166A
Application number: US509285A
Authority: US
Inventors: John S Shaw
Original assignee: TORIT Manufacturing CO
Current assignee: TORIT Manufacturing CO
Priority date: 1955-05-18
Filing date: 1955-05-18
Publication date: 1958-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 1975-12-16

Description

Dec. 16, 1958 2,864,166

J. S. SHAW EVACUATOR FOR DENTAL USE Filed May 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./ 2 4 Fig.2 88 l as John 5. Show 48 IN VEN TOR.

Q 80 ,2, BY m 76 WWW Z5. M0517 EVACUATOR FOR DENTAL USE John S. Shaw, Concord, Caiif, 'assignor to Torit Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application May 18, 1955, Serial No. 509,285

Claims. (or. 32-33 This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in dental equipment, and more specifically to an improved Vacuum attachment for dental equipment.

In a dental operative procedure, it is highly desirable to retain a patients mouth clean at all times by the removing of blood and bone and tooth fragments not only for the patients convenience, but also in order that the dentist may readily ascertain the progress being made during the operative procedure at all times.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a vacuum attachment for dental equipment which will facilitate the removal of blood and foreign matter from a patients mouth during a dental operative procedure.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method of retaining clean a patients mouth during a dental operative procedure, the method including the steps of spraying that part of a patients mouth being treated with a cleansing liquid, preferably water, to retain the immediate area being treated clean, and the step of removing from the patients mouth the cleansing liquid and the foreign matter, such as blood and bone and tooth fragments.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved vacuum attachment for dental equipment which includes a cabinet having a pleasing appearance, there being mounted in the cabinet a vacuum producing mechanism for producing in a vacuum line a desired vacuum, and also for removing from such vacuum line excess moisture and foreign matter, the cabinet being portable to facilitate desired positioning thereof, and the mechanism. thereof being connectable to a conventionalv electrical outlet in order to facilitate operation of the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide an atent improved accessory for dental equipment, the accessory including a water supply tube having a spray pipe for the spraying of water to that part of a patients mouth being treated for the purpose of cleaning the same, there being provided means on the spray pipe for attachment to a dental hand piece, the equipment also including a vacuum head intended to be placed in a patients mouth for removing the cleaning water and foreign matter, there being connected to the vacuum head vacuum producing means.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of the aspirator and shows the arrangement of air screens formed in the rear wall thereof;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the aspirator of Figure 1 and shows the arrangement of a control switch and entrance door, also being illustrated are the connections, both electrical and vacuum, of thc spir ice Figure 3 is a top plan view of the aspirator with a portion of the cabinet thereof broken away and shown in section in order to clearly illustrate the details of the wall construction thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the cabinet substantially upon a plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure 2 and shows the details of the cabinet construction and the manner in which the vacuum producing means of the aspirator is mounted therein, the vacuum producing means having portions thereof broken away and shown in section in order to clearly illustrate the details thereof; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which the present invention operates in conjunction with a dental hand piece during a dental operative procedure.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that there is illustrated an improved evacuator, which is a primary part of the present invention, the evacuator being referred to in general by the reference numeral it). The evacuator 10 includes a cabinet which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12. The cabinet 12 includes a rear wall 14, a front wall 16, and side walls 13 and 29, the

Walls

14, 16 and 18 being connected together in rectangular arrangement. The cabinet 12 also includes a removable top wall 24 and a recessed bottom wall 26. All of the walls of the cabinet 12 are insulated to reduce the noise of the machinery disposed therein.

Disposed within the cabinet 12 intermediate the bottom wall 26 and the top wall 24 is a partition wall 26. The partition'wall 28 is provided with a central opening 30. Mounted on the partition wall 28 and extending downwardly through the opening 319 therein is a housing 32. The housing 32 has mounted therein an electric motor 34. Connected to the electric motor 34 and driven thereby is a vacuum producing mechanism in the form of a plurality of blades 36. The blades 36 are disposed within a closely confining chamber 38 mounted within the housing 32.

Removably secured to the lower part of the housing 32 by a plurality of clips 40 is a collector pan 42. The collector pan 42 communicates with the housing 32 and is provided with an upwardly projecting inlet fitting 44. Connected to the fitting 44 and communicating with the interior of the collector pan 42 is a vacuum pipe 4-6. The vacuum pipe 46 extends through the side wall 20 and is connected thereto by a fitting 48. It is intended that air carrying moisture and foreign matter will enter into the vacuum pipe 46 and down into the collector pan 42. This air will then be drawn up into the compartment 38 by the effect of the blades 36. Connected to the motor 34 below the blades 36 and in alignment with an entrance opening (not shown) in the bottom of the compartment 33 is a centrifuge 50. The centrifuge 5i removes all moisture and foreign matter from the incoming air and deposits the same in the bottom of the collector pan 42. Such combined moisture and foreign matter is referred to by the reference numeral 52 in Figure 4. In order that this moisture and foreign matter 52 may be periodically removed from the collector pan .2 without removing the collector pan, there is provided on the bottom of the collector pan 42 a suitable drain valve 54.

The housing 32 is provided at the upper end thereof with an exhaust opening 56 which exhausts into the upper part of the cabinet 12. In order that this exhaust air may pass out of the cabinet 12, there is provided in the upper part of the rear wall 14 an air escape opening 58. The air escape opening 58 is provided w ith a suitable filter 60. Further, secured to the inner Side opening 58 is a baflle system 62.

Inasmuch as the lower part of the cabinet 12 is substantially sealed with respect to the upper partthereof, it is desired that there be provided suitable ventilation for the lower part of the cabinet 12. This is accomplished by providing a ventilating opening-64 in the lower part of the rear wall 14. A filter 66 is disposed in the opening 64. Also, access to the lower part of the cabinet 12 to permit the draining of the collector pan 42 is provided by means of a door 68 seated in an access open-- ing 70 formed in the front wall 16.

The motor 34 is connected to a switch mechanism 72 carried by the housing 32 by means of a conductor 74. The switch mechanism 72 is normally in an on position, and has connected thereto an externally disposed conductor 76. The conductor 76 is in turn connected to a toggle switch 78 carried by the upper part of the front wall 16. The toggle switch 78 is turned on and off as is deemed necessary. Connected to the switch 78 is a leadin conductor 80 which passes out through the side wall 18 and is provided at its opposite end with a plug 82 which may be plugged into a conventional electrical outlet (not shown).

In order that the evacuator 10 may be portable and positioned as desired, the cabinet 12 is made portable by providing suitable casters 84. The casters 84 are secured to the underside of the bottom wall 26 and are substantially obscured by the

walls

14, 16, 18 and 20.

Connected to the free end of the vacuum pipe 46 is a flexible vacuum tube 86. The vacuum tube 86 terminates in a mouth piece 88 which may be conveniently positioned in a patients mouth, as is best illustrated in Figure 5. When the mouth piece 88 is not in use, the vacuum tube 86 may be conveniently hung on the cabinet 12 by means of a hook mechanism 90 carried by the side wall 20.

The evacuator 10 will operate to remove blood and other foreign matter, such as bone and tooth fragments, from a patients mouth. However, it is highly desirable that there be provided a suitable cleaning fluid for the purpose of cleaning that part of the patients mouth being treated. In order to accomplish this, there is provided a water supply line 92. The water supply line 92 will be provided with a suitable valve mechanism (not shown) which may be operated either by the patient, or an attending nurse, as desired. Connected to the water supply line 92 is a spray head or pipe 94. Carried by the spray head 94 are suitable clamps 96 for attachment to a dental hand piece 93. Further, the spray head 94 is bent, as at 160, to direct spray Water onto a tooth being drilled in alignment with a head of a dental burr 102.

From the foregoing description of the dental equipment, it will be readily apparent that by simultaneously operating the spray head 94 and utilizing the mouth piece 88, that portion of a patients mouth being treated may be cleaned and the cleaning liquid and other foreign matter may be continuously removed from the patients mouth for both the benefit of the attending dentist and the comfort of the patient.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

'1. An evacuator for use in conjunction with a dental operative procedure, said evacuator comprising a cabinet, a horizontal partition wall in said cabinet, a housing mounted on said partition and projecting downwardly therethrough, anair inlet on one side of said partition and an air outlet on the other side thereof, a motor til) mounted in said housing, a vacuum producing mechanism mounted in said housing, a collector pan carried by said housing in communication with said vacuum producing mechanism, a vacuum line connected to and communicating with said collector pan, a mouth piece on the end of said vacuum line remote from said collector pan, means in said collector pan and connected to said motor for removing moisture and foreign matter from air passing into said housing from said collector pan, and a drain on said collector pan.

2. An evacuator for use in conjunction with a dental operative procedure, said evacuator comprising a cabinet, a horizontal partition wall in said cabinet, a housing mounted on said partition and projecting downwardly therethrough, a motor mounted in said housing, a vacuum producing mechanism mounted in said housing, an air inlet one one side of said partition and an air outlet on the other side thereof, a collector pan carried by said housing in communication with said vacuum producing mechanism, a vacuum line connected to and communicating with said collector pan, a mouth piece on the end of said vacuum line remote from said collector pan, means in said collector pan and connected to said motor for removing moisture and foreign matter from air passing into said housing from said collector pan, and a drain on said collector pan, an access door on a lower part of said cabinet providing access to said collector pan and said drain.

3. An evacuator for use in conjunction with a dental operative procedure, said evacuator comprising a cabinet, a horizontal partition wall in said cabinet, a housing mounted on said partition'and projecting downwardly therethrough, a motor mounted in said housing, a vacuum producing mechanism mounted in said housing, a collector pan carried by said housing in communication with said vacuum producing mechanism, a vacuum line connected to and communicating with said collector pan, a

mouth piece on the end of said vacuum line remote from said collector pan, means in said collector pan and connected to said motor for removing moisture and foreign matter from air passing into said housing from said collector pan, and a drain on said collector pan, said cabinet being insulated, an air escape opening in an upper part of said cabinet permitting escape of exhaust air from said cabinet, a filter over said air escape opening.

4. An evacuator for use in conjunction with a dental operative procedure, said evacuator comprising a cabinet, a partition wall in said cabinet, a housing mounted on said partition and projecting therethrough, a motor mounted in said housing, a vacuum producing mechanism mounted in said housing, a collector pan carried by said housing in communication with said vacuum producing mechanism, a vacuum line connected to and communicating with said collector pan, a mouth piece on the end of said vacuum line remote from said collector pan, means in said collector pan and connected to said motor for removing moisture and foreign matter from air passing into said housing from said collector pan, and a drain on said collector pan, an air escape on one side of said partition in said cabinet permitting the escape of exhaust air from said cabinet, and a filter over said air escape opening.

5. An evacuator for use in conjunction with a dental operative procedure, said evacuator including a cabinet, a partition wall in said cabinet, a housing mounted on said partition wall and forming a communication between opposite sides of said partition wall, a vacuum producing mechanism mounted in said housing, a motor connected to said vacuum producing mechanism for actuating the same, a collector pan in communication with said housing within said cabinet, a vacuum line connected to and communicating with said collector pan, a mouth piece on the end of said vacuum line remote from said collector pan, means in said collector pan and connected to said motorc for removing moisture and foreign mattcr jrom air passing into said housing trom said collector pan, and FOREIGN PATENTS a removable portion in said housing providing access to 258 134 Switzerland Apr- 16 1949 said collector pan, and an air escape on one side of said n partition permitting the escape of exhaust air from said OTHER REFERENCES cabinet. 5 Sorensen Folder (reprinted from Catalog of Sorensen Co., 444 Jackson Ave., Long Island City, New York),

References Cited in the file of this patent Item; 25.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,511,973 De La Sierra June 20, 1950 10