Eye wash station

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an eye wash station in which a basin housing (12) has an eye wash feed tank (14) above it and a liquid collection tank (16) below it all formed in polyethylene and mounted on runners (18). The basin is supported on a vertical base member (22) on said runners to pivot between an un-activated upright position and a horizontal operative position and spray nozzles (28a) on the basin connected to the feed tank to provide an upwardly directed eye wash spray when the basin is horizontal. Eye wash collecting in the basin is delivered through an outlet (40) to an aligned inlet (16a) in the collection tank. The arrangement is particularly suitable for use as an emergency eye wash station for use by workers in flushing harmful material from their eyes.

Description: The invention relates to an emergency eye wash station in use for flushing harmful material from the eyes of workers. A variety of such emergency eye wash stations are known. For example, a portable eye wash station is disclosed in US-A-4,363,146. It includes an L-shaped basin housing with an inverted vertical eye wash cartridge connected through a fluid line to a nozzle in a horizontal basin. A sealing membrane is placed over the spout of the cartridge which is pierced when placed into the basing housing. The station is rigid and so it takes up a substantial amount of space. Also, since the liquid is continuously above the spray nozzle, plugs must be used which are removed manually at the time of use. Furthermore, there is no provision for storing the used liquid which is sprayed when the nozzles are activated, resulting in a potential spill. A similar eye wash station is disclosed in US-A-4,012,798. Another known gravity fed eye wash station is manufactured by Encon Safety Products under the model designation 01-1040-50. This system includes a vertical tank and a connecting basin which pivots from a vertical to a horizontal position. A surgical tube between the basin and tank is stressed while the basin is vertical to prevent liquid flow prior to actuation. However, the stressed mechanism can lead to fatigue and failure of the tube. Also, the system has no means for automatic clean-up of the sprayed liquid. This invention provides an eye wash station comprising basin housing means including an upright base member and a basin adapted for pivoting from a pivot point at a lower region of said base member between a normal upright position and a generally horizontal operable position, said basin including a liquid outlet port, an independent eye wash feed tank spray nozzle means mounted to said basin to spray upwardly when said basin is in an operable position, and conduit means providing a communication between said feed tank and said spray nozzle means; wherein an eye wash feed tank is mounted with its bottom wall above the top of said basin when in said upright position; wherein said basin housing means is substantially enclosed when said basin is upright; wherein an eye wash collection tank is mounted below said basin and has an inlet opening aligned with said basin outlet port when said basin liquid outlet port is in an operable position; and wherein bracing means are provided for connecting said feed tank, basin housing means, and collection tank to an underlying floor. Preferably said basin pivots from a pivot point at a lower region of said upright base member. According to a further feature of the invention said nozzle means includes at least one nozzle and a movable nozzle cap engageable with said nozzle to form a liquid seal when said basin is upright. More specifically linking means may be provided interconnecting said nozzle cap and base member to release said cap from said nozzle when said basin is pivoted to said operable position. The following is a description of some specific embodiments of the invention reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are front and side views, respectively, of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the basin housing section of the device of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top view of the basin of the device of Figures 1-3 as shown in an operable position. One preferred embodiment of the eye wash station, designated generally by the number 10, is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. It includes basin housing means 12 with eye wash feed tank 14 above it and liquid collection tank 16 below it, all suitably formed of a moldable plastic such as polyethylene. In a preferred embodiment, all three units are mounted to the wall by conventional bracing in the form of runners 18 which extend to the floor 20 for support. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, basin means 12, in a normal unactivated position, includes an upright vertical base member 22 which is mounted by conventional means to bracing 18 and basin 24 pivotally mounted to base member 22. In this position, base member 22 and basin 24 form a sealed enclosure. A fluid conduit in the form of a flexible tubing 26, suitably surgical tubing, interconnects the outlet opening from feed tank 14 to nozzle means 28, including spray nozzles 28(a), in the basin as described with respect to Figures 3 and 6. Referring to Figure 3, a cross-sectional view of the basin housing means 12 is illustrated in its normal and operable positions. A channel 30, split in a T-shaped configuration, provides liquid communication between the mounted portion of spray nozzle 28 and tubing 26. Nozzle mount 32 retains spray nozzles 28 in a fixed position. Basin 24 is pivotally mounted to base member 22 by coupling inserts 34 which are seated in registered openings in base member 22. Basin 24 includes generally upright side walls 36, sloping end walls 38 and bottom wall 39 defining a collection basin. An outlet opening 40 is defined toward the top of end wall 38. In this manner, when the liquid fills the basin interior, it flows through outlet opening 40 into an aligned inlet opening 16(a) in a collection tank 16 for the collection of liquid. Collection tank 16 is hollow and includes the aforementioned inlet opening 16(a) and outlet opening 16(b) which is normally sealed. If desired, after the system is activated, the collection tank may be unloaded by removing the tank and discharging water through 16(a). Alternatively, collection tank 16 may be mounted for ready dismounting and the entire tank removed so that the liquid is discharged through tank outlet 16(a). Feed tank 14 may be formed of an identical character to collection tank 16 including an inlet opening 14(a) and an outlet opening 14(b). In normal operation, the preserved eye wash solution may be filled through inlet opening 14(a) which is closed off and virtually sealed from the atmosphere, as with a cap, to prevent contamination. Referring again to Figure 3, the walls of base member 22 mate with the facing portions of the side walls and end walls of the basin 24 when it is pivoted to a closed position. The interior of base member 22 is hollow providing a passage for tubing 26. In this embodiment, the space between feed tank 14 and spray nozzles 28 in a operable position may be adjusted by correspondingly adjusting the spacing between the top of basin housing means 12 and the bottom of feed tank 14. Suitably, this distance may be from 48.26 cms(19 inches) to 53.34 cms (21 inches). The substantial head pressure created by separating the feed tank from the basin housing means results in a uniform high pressure regardless of the amount of water remaining in the feed tank. Another advantage is that all of the contents of the tank are released during operation. Preferably, means is provided for removably mounting nozzle caps 42 over spray nozzle means 28 to form a liquid seal on the basin when it is upright. Linking means 44,46 is provided interconnecting the nozzle caps 42 and base member 22 serving to release the caps from the nozzles when the basin is pivoted to an operable position. As illustated, such linking means includes a mounting bracket 44, suitably formed of metal, to which is attached a flexible strap 46 which is connected to cap 42. In operation, when basin 24 is pivoted to an operable position, the cap is released from nozzle means 28 to permit liquid to flow from feed tank 14 through tubing 26 into channel 30 to be sprayed out of nozzle openings 28(a).

Claims: An eye wash station comprising basin housing means (12) including an upright base member (22) and a basin (24) adapted for pivoting from a pivot point at a lower region of said base member between a normal upright position and a generally horizontal operable position, said basin including a liquid outlet port (40), an independent eye wash feed tank (14) spray nozzle means (28) mounted to said basin to spray upwardly when said basin is in an operable position, and conduit means (26) providing a communication between said feed tank and said spray nozzle means; characterised in that an eye wash feed tank (14) is mounted with its bottom wall above the top of said basin (24) when in said upright position; in that said basin housing means (12) is substantially enclosed when said basin (24) is upright; in that an eye wash collection tank (16) is mounted below said basin and has an inlet opening (16a) aligned with said basin outlet port when said basin liquid outlet port is in an operable position; and in that bracing means (18) are provided for connecting said feed tank (14), basin housing means (12), and collection tank (16) to an underlying floor. An eye wash station as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said basin (24) pivots from a pivot point at a lower region of said upright base member. An eye wash station as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that said nozzle means (28) includes at least one nozzle (28a) and a movable nozzle cap (42) engageable with said nozzle to form a liquid seal when said basin is upright. An eye wash station as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that linking means (44, 46) is provided interconnecting said nozzle cap (42) and base member (22) to release said cap from said nozzle (28a) when said basin (24) is pivoted to said operable position.

Inventors: FIORENTINO FRANK S, PATTON DOUGLAS M, FIORENTINO, FRANK S., PATTON, DOUGLAS M.
Applicants: MCKESSON CORP, MCKESSON CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A61H33
IPC codes: A61H35, A61H33