US3855639A

US3855639A - Bedpan rinser apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3855639A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Billeter
Original assignee: Sloan Valve Co
Current assignee: Sloan Valve Co
Priority date: 1973-10-23
Filing date: 1973-10-23
Publication date: 1974-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-24
Also published as: DE2420953B2; AU6629774A; FR2248018A1; CA1004404A; BE812091A; FR2248018B1; AR198909A1; JPS5114820B2; NL154662B; JPS5072433A; ZA741147B; DE2420953A1; GB1448769A; IT1004145B; NL7406832A; SE391212B; SE7402185L

Abstract

The bedpan apparatus is connected in the flush pipe between the flush valve and the toilet bowl, and all three parts are arranged in vertical alignment with the center line of the toilet bowl. The bedpan rinser includes a cylinder type valve member mounted directly on the front side of the flush pipe with a spray arm attached thereto. The spray arm is movable vertically and horizontally from the direct front side of the flush pipe to control the cylindrical valve member to open and close a diverter flow passage between the flush pipe and spray arm.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 3,855,639

Billeter Dec. 24, 1974 [54] BEDPAN RINSER APPARATUS 3,206,769 9/1965 Gidner 4/7 1 1 Inventor Henry Billet, Deerfield, 3233;; 15/533? 313E515;11111111:11:11::11111131:1111111113? [73] Assignee: Sloan Valve Company, Franklin Park, 111. Primary Examiner-Henry Artis [22] Filed: Oct. 23 1973 Attorney, Agent, or F1rm-K1nzer, Plyer, Dorn &

McEachran [21] Appl. No.: 408,375

" [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 4/7, 4/l, 137/615, The hedpan apparatus is Connected in the flush pipe 137/616], 251/352 between the flush valve and the toilet bowl, and all [51] Int. Cl. A47k 3/22, A47k 11/08 three parts are arranged in vertical alignment with the Fleld Of Search 6, 7, 10, enter line of the toilet bowl The bedpan ringer in- 4/145; 137/615-6167; 251/352 cludes a cylinder type valve member mounted directly on the front side of the flush pipe with a spray arm at- [56] References C'ted tached thereto. The spray arm is movable vertically UNITED STATES PATENTS and horizontally from the direct from side of the flush 1,165,705 12/1915 Perkins 251/352 p p to Control the Cylindrical valve member to p 1,564,535 12/1925 Davis 251/352 x and close a diverter flow passage between the flush 2,703,408 3/1955 Gray 4/7 pipe and spray arm. 2,730,128 l/l956 136m 137/6167 2,956,285 10/1960 Jewell 4 7 18 Clalms, 6 Drawmg Flgllres BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bedpan rinsers for hospitals customarily comprise a diverter valve casing extending from the right hand side of the flush pipe so that an offset elbow was necessary in the flush pipe so the spray arm on the right hand side of the flush pipe could be moved vertically and horizontally directly above the center line of the toilet bowl without being interfered with by the toilet seat. This flush pipe offset arrangement presented an unsightly appearance to the installation and also introduced a restriction to the free flow of water because the diverter valve mechanism was located in the direct path of the water flow between the flush valve and toilet bowl.

This former diverter apparatus was also somewhat bulky and costly to produce since it consisted of many parts which had to be precisely machined to properly fit without leakage, and rugged enough to withstand hard usage in a hospital. The spray arm after extended use and wear often tended to drop down and would not remain set in the position in which it was adjusted by the nurse rinsing the bedpan.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a novel bedpan rinsing apparatus which is streamlined in appearance, less conspicuous and easier to keep clean and therefore more sanitary. The apparatus can be installed in existing flush valve and toilet bowl combinations utilizing the standard roughing-in measurements. The spray arm is arranged on the direct front side of the flush pipe above the toilet bowl and therefore somewhat shorter in length and is more readily accessible for the nurse to grasp and operate. The complete installation comprises fewer plumbing connections and parts and is more rigid and therefore less liable to leakage from rough usage.

The diverter valve apparatus consists of a cylindrical shaped valve member to which the spray arm is attached. The spray arm is movable both vertically and horizontally in a slot formed in the valve casing. In the vertical position the spray arm closes a diverter flow passage from the flush tube to the spray arm and in a horizontal position opens the passage. The cylindrical valve member and casing are supported directly on the front side of the flush tube or pipe with practically no restriction to the free flow of water into the toilet bowl.

A novel feature consists in a counterbalancing spring in the diverter casing for balancing the spray arm to insure that it will remain in its adjusted position and not droop. The spray arm is supported axially off center in the cylindrical valve member thereby enabling the spray arm to be positioned closer to the flush tube in its vertical position so as to make the installation more streamlined and compact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring specifically to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and in which like parts are referred to by like numerals:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the apparatus shown in combination with a conventional toilet bowl and flush valve;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 shown in the rinsing position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional front view of the diverter valve apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is partial cross-sectional view of the diverter mechanism taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; while FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view of the diverter apparatus and spray arm and its spout shown in the bedpan rinsing position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional flush type toilet 5 which is provided with a flush valve 6, such as a Sloan flush valve connected by the flush pipe 7 to the toilet bowl 5 for flushing the same whenever the handle 8 on the flush valve 6 is actuated. The inlet water supply line is connected to the control stop 9 and an open front seat toilet seat 10 is hinged to the top of the toilet bowl 5. A vacuum breaker 11 is connected in the flush pipe 7 below the flush valve 6 to prevent back siphonage. The parts enumerated so far are of common and well known construction.

The bedpan rinsing apparatus is indicated generally at 12 and is interposed in the Hush pipe 7 between the flush valve 6 and the toilet bowl 5. The apparatus 12 includes a spray arm 13 having a spout 14 at its end and when used for bedpan rinsing purposes, the toilet seat 10 is lifted as shown in FIG. 2, and the spray arm 13 swung downward from its vertical position to the horizontal position above the bedpan 15 as indicated in FIG. 2. In this rinsing position whenever the flush valve handle 8 is actuated to flush the toilet bowl, a portion of the water flow through the flush pipe 7 is diverted by the apparatus 12 through the spray arm 13 and spout 14 into bedpan 15. This bedpan rinsing action takes place desirably at the same time the toilet bowl is being flushed.

It is to be particularly noted, according to the present invention, that the flush valve 6, the flush pipe 7 and the spray arm 13, as well as the diverter apparatus 12, are all arranged and supported in direct vertical alignment with the center line of the toilet bowl 5, and that the spray arm in its vertical position is parallel with the front side of the flush pipe 7 and in its horizontal position projects directly from the front side of the flush pipe 7 over the center of the toilet bowl. This compact arrangement of the parts makes the installation streamlined in appearance and comprises fewer parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, these show the detailed construction of the diverter apparatus 12 as a unitary structure. A casing 20, preferably a casting, is coupled at its upper inlet end 21 to the flush tube 7 and at its lower outlet end 22 to the flush tube leading into the top spud connection 23 of the toilet bowl 5. At its bottom end casing 20 is provided with a slight restriction 24 in the path of the water flow through casing 20. This restriction insures that a slight amount of back pressure will be generated to force a portion of the flow through the casing 20 into the diverter apparatus, without appreciably affecting the water flow into the toilet bowl 5. This action occurs whenever the spray arm is in its down position over the bedpan 15 as shown in FIG. 2. The casing is also provided with an internal boss 25 for attachment of a supporting bracket 26 upon the rear wall to better secure the diverter apparatus and prevent swivelling and loosening of the plumbing connection when subjected to rough usage.

Supported on the front side of casing 20 and arranged horizontally on the front side of flush pipe 7 is a hollow cylindrical shaped valve member 30 which is adapted to revolve axially and is in slidable snug engagement with the semi-circular or curved front wall 31 of the casing 20. The rear side 32 of the curved wall 31 projects only slightly into the flow passage through the diverter casing 20 and therefore does not restrict the free flow of water through the casing to any appreciable extent. The rear curved wall 32 has a diverter passage 33 extending from the flow passage in the casing to the surface of the cylindrical valve member 30. The spray arm 13 is supported in and projects from the side of the cylindrical valve member 30 midway between the ends of the cylinder valve. It is connected to a thicker walled tube 35 at its lower end which is inserted in a projecting portion 36 formed in the hollow interior of the valve member 30. The tube 35 is held in place in the valve member by a set screw 36a riding in annular groove 37 formed in tube 35. An O-ring 38 on the end of tube 35 prevents leakage outward along the side of the spray arm 13. The purpose of providing the set screw 36a and groove 37 is to enable the spray arm 13 to be axially rotated if desired when in the rinsing position so as to spray all around the inside surfaces of the bedpan.

It is to be noted that the spray arm 13 projects from the cylindrical valve member in an off center position rather than radially. This is in order to position the spray arm 13 closer to the flush pipe 7 in the vertical position of the spray arm and improve the streamlined appearance of the apparatus.

The hollow cylindrical valve member 30 has a diverter passage 40 extending through its end wall adjacent the left hand side of the valve member as viewed from the front of the valve. This diverter passage 40 is surrounded by and O-ring 41 which is adapted to slide around the inside surface of curved wall 32. A pair of O-

rings

42 and 43 are arranged around the outer surface of the cylindrical valve member 30 on opposite sides of the diverter passage 40 and O-ring 411. The rings prevent leakage outward between the valve member 30 and its front and rear supporting

walls

31 and 32. In order to assemble the cylindrical valve member 30 within its supporting casing and

cylindrical walls

31 and 32, the valve member is first inserted endways into the casing 20 and then the spray arm 13 is pushed into the projection 36 after which the set screw 36a may or may not be tightened in groove 37 depending upon whether it is desired to axially revolve the spray arm or to have it remain fixed. This arrangement simplifies assembly and requires less securing parts. The valve member is thus held in place by the spray arm. The lower end 45 of the spray arm 13 is open to the hollow interior of the cylindrical valve member 30 and when the valve member has been rotated into the spray diverter position as shown in FlG. 4, the water flow passes from the main flush tube 7 and casing 20 into

diverter passages

33 and 40, to the interior of valve member 30, into passage 45 and out through the spray arm 13 to the spout 14. In the vertical position of the spray arm the diverter passages are not in alignment and therefore closed as shown in FIG. 3.

The spray arm 13 is movable from a vertical position to a horizontal position in a slot 50 formed in the front side 31 of the casing 20. The upper movement is limited by a stop 51 constituting the upper end of the slot 50 and the lower movement is limited by the stop 52, the lower end of slot 50. The slot 50 is wide enough so the spray arm slides easily along the sides without bind- A former problem in bedpan rinsers was that at times the nurse had difficulty in moving the spray arm up or down due to the friction of the parts comprising the diverter valve member. This was often due to the necessity of tightening the various parts to prevent leakage. Other times the spray arm was so loose it drooped and did not remain in the position in which it was put. This problem was overcome by providing a counterbalance spring 60 arranged in the right hand side of casing 20 and wrapped around the end 61 of the cylindrical valve 30. One end of balance spring 60 engages a recess 62 in the outer wall of the cylinder valve and the other end engages a lug 63 formed in the end wall of casing 20. The spray arm is therefore easily operated since its weight is counterbalanced by the spring 60 in any position and the O-

rings

42 and 43 on one side of the valve member 30 and the counterbalance spring 60 on the opposite side with the spray arm in between, makes for a very compact and efficient arrangement of the parts. This all contributes to the object of providing a streamlined appearance.

In the operation of the diverter apparatus the nurse first raises the toilet seat 10, places the bedpan 15 in position in the toilet bowl 5 and then grasps the spout 14 and lowers the spray arm 13 to its horizontal position above the bedpan as depicted in FIG. 2. She then trips the handle 8 of the flush valve 6 to cause the flushing water to flow through the flush pipe 7 into the toilet bowl 5. Due to the fact that the spray arm 13 has now been lowered and rotated in slot 50 until stopped by stop 52, a portion of the water flow is diverted through the cylindrical valve member 30 into the spray arm 13. The path of the diverted flow extends from the main passage in casing 20 through

diverter passages

33, 40, the interior of valve 30, the end 45 of the spray arm and through the same to the spout 14. The flow through the diverter passages is sufficient to provide a thorough cleansing of the bedpan, without however detracting from the full flow of water into the toilet bowl. The slight restriction 24 in the outlet end of casing 20 insures that sufficient back pressure is generated to cause the portion of the flow to be diverted. When the nurse has finished rinsing the bedpan she raises the spray arm 13 to its vertical position alongside the flush pipe 7, which action rotates the cylindrical valve member to the position shown in FIG. 3, resulting in the diverter passage 33 being blocked by the blank wall surface of the valve member.

It will be observed that the spray arm 13 is located directly on the front side of the flush pipe 7 which makes it more convenient and accessible for the nurse to grasp. The spray arm is also shorter in length. The cylindrical valve member and its supporting casing renders the unit desirably streamlined in appearance and by slightly offsetting the spray arm in the cylindrical valve member, enables the spray arm to be moved closer to the flush pipe in the upper position.

A further advantage of the arrangement described is that the installation can be made to an existing flush valve and toilet bowl combination without change because the standard roughing-in measurements of the water supply piping and flush valve remain the same, and the diverter apparatus may be readily inserted in the flush piping with no offsets required. Fewer plumbing connections are mode and the smooth, clean lines of the arrangement add to the sanitary aspect as well as the improved streamlined appearance of the entire installation.

A cause of concern in prior bedpan rinser apparatus is that after the spray arm was moved into its vertical position and the flush valve 6 shut off, an unwanted dribble and residual expulsion of water occurred from the spout 14 of the spray arm. Since the spray arm is in its vertical position, the dribble would run down and fall upon the toilet seat 10 and the back of the toilet bowl 5, creating an unsanitary condition and necessitating a clean-up. In order to combat this undesirable, messy problem the spray spout shown in FIG. 6 has been designed. The spout 14 comprises an annular clamping ring 65 threaded into the spout casing 14, and this ring 65 holds a spray disc 66 in position. The disc 66 has spray holes therein for the water to pass through. On the rear side of spray disc 66 there is press fitted a screen 67 made of close mesh corrosion-proof wire. This screen effectively prevents residual dribble from issuing from the spout and retains it in the spray arm 13.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for rinsing bedpans, the combination of a toilet bowl, a flush valve, and a flush tube connecting the flush valve with the toilet bowl, together with a diverter valve apparatus interposed in said flush tube, said diverter valve apparatus including a casing having an inlet and an outlet connected in said flush tube, and said flush valve, said casing, and said flush tube all being arranged in vertical alignment with the center line of said toilet bowl, said diverter valve apparatus supported on said casing on the front side of said flush tube, said casing having a horizontal cylinder portion on the front side thereof and a cylindrical valve member rotatable in said casing cylinder, a spray arm for rotating said valve member attached at one end to said valve member and projecting outward through a slot in said casing cylinder, said spray arm movable from a vertical position from the front side of said flush tube to a horizontal position over said toilet bowl for flushing a bedpan therein, said casing cylinder and said valve member having diverter passages therein which are closed in the vertical position of said spray arm and aligned in the horizontal position of said spray arm, whereby a portion of the water flow through said flush tube is diverted into said spray arm when the flush valve is operated.

2. In an apparatus for rinsing bedpans, the combination of a toilet bowl, a flush valve, and a flush tube connecting the flush valve with the toilet bowl, together with a diverter valve apparatus connected in said flush tube including a casing having an inlet and outlet passage in said flush tube, said flush valve, said flush tube, and said casing all being arranged in vertical alignment with the center line of said toilet bowl, said diverter apparatus having a horizontal cylindrical portion arranged on the front side of said casing, a rotatable valve member in said casing cylinder, a spray arm for rotating said valve member attached at one end to said valve member and projecting outward through a slot in said casing cylinder, said spray arm operable from a vertical position on the front side of said flush tube to a horizontal position directly over said toilet bowl, said casing cylinder and said valve member having diverter passages therein which are placed in alignment only in the horizontal position of said spray arm whereby a portion of the water flow through said flush tube is diverted into said spray arm when the flush valve is operated.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the upper and lower ends of said casing slot serves as stops to limit the vertical and horizontal movements of the spray arm.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the valve member is provided with seals between the cylinder casing and valve member and on each side of the diverter passages therein.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the spray arm is attached to the center portion of said valve member and the diverter passages through the valve member and the cylinder casing are located on one side of the center position of the spray arm in the valve member.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the valve member is held in position in the casing cylinder by the spray arm being attached to the valve member and extending through the slot in the cylinder casing.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the diverter passage between the casing cylinder and the valve member is surrounded by a sealing ring supported on the valve member.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the spray arm is attached offset from the axial center diameter of the valve member.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the flush tube is provided with a slight restriction below the diverter apparatus to force a portion of the water flow into said diverter passages and into said spray arm.

10. In an apparatus for rinsing bedpans, the combination of a flush valve, a toilet bowl and a flush tube, together with a diverter valve apparatus connected in said flush tube between said flush valve and said toilet bowl, said diverter valve apparatus including a casing having a vertical inlet and an outlet passage in said flush tube, a cylindrical body portion formed horizontally in the front side of said casing, a cylindrical shaped valve member extending within said cylindrical body portion and rotatable therein, a spray arm attached at one end to said valve member and having a spout at the other end of said spray arm movable from a vertical position parallel to said flush tube to a horizontal position above said toilet bowl, diverter passages in said valve member and in said casing body leading into said flush tube which are aligned when said spray arm is moved horizontally and closed when the spray arm is moved to a vertical position, and cooperating means in said diverter valve apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of said spray arm to maintain it in any of its positions.

11. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as specified in claim 10 in which the counterbalancing means comprises a spring member arranged between the cylindrical valve member and the casing body.

12. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as specified in claim 10 in which the counterbalancing means is arranged at one end of the cylindrical valve member and the diverter passages at the opposite end while the spray arm is attached to the center portion of the valve member.

13. The bedpan rinser combination as specified in claim 10 in which the flush valve, flush tube, and diverter apparatus are all arranged in vertical alignment with each other and the center line of the toilet bowl, and the spray arm in its vertical position is positioned parallel with the front side of the flush tube.

14. The bedpan rinser combination as specified in claim 10 in which the cylindrical casing has a slot formed therein in which the spray arm is movable to rotate the valve member and in which the ends of the slot serve as stops to limit the vertical and horizontal positions of the spray arm.

15. The bedpan rinser apparatus as specified in claim 14 in which the spray arm attached to the valve member through the casing slot serves to support and lock the valve member in its position within the cylindrical casing.

16. The bedpan rinser apparatus as specified in claim 10 in which the cylindrical body portion of the casing is located outside the path of free water flow through the flush tube between the flush valve and toilet bowl, and only a portion of the water flow is passed through said diverter passages into said spray arm when the spray arm is moved to its horizontal position.

17. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the spray arm has a spout on its outer end while the other end is supported in the valve member by a set screw riding in a slot formed around the supported end of the spray arm so that the spray arm can be rotated axially and thereby swivel and the spout to better rinse the bedpan.

18. The bedpan rinsing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the casing is provided with means on its rear side and opposite the diverter valve member for rigidly supporting the apparatus from a wall surface.