SYSTEM FOR COUPLING OPERATING EQUIPMENT TO A WASHER

Abstract: An operating system (20) for a washer (1) is mounted on a moveable trolley (52). The trolley carries all of the failure prone elements such as pumps (24, 28, 40), solenoid valves (80), electrical heaters (48), an electrical control circuit (50) and the like. Quick-release couplings (58, 59, 60, 62), between the operating system and plumbing associated with a washing chamber (10), allow the operating system to be quickly disconnected from and reconnected with the chamber. The trolley is then wheeled a distance away from the chamber, providing ready access to all the operating equipment for maintenance and repair.

Description: SYSTEM FOR COUPLING OPERATING EQUIPMENT TO A WASHER Background of the Invention The present invention relates to the system control arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with washing and disinfecting equipment and will be described with particular reference thereto. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is also applicable to the control systems for other large scale pieces of equipment, particularly when a number of pieces of mechanical and electrical operating equipment located outside a housing are to be connected to the housing. Animal cages and associated racks are generally cleaned at frequent intervals to remove biological waste, such as urine, feces, and uneaten food. Similarly, large pieces of health care and scientific equipment, such as hospital beds, wheelchairs and carts are cleaned periodically. Thorough cleaning aids in preventing the spread of disease and reduces the development of unpleasant odors. Washers have been developed to handle the large scale cleaning and disinfecting of animal cages and racks and large pieces of scientific and health care equipment. Typically, these are large enough for a load of the cages or equipment to be wheeled manually into a washing chamber. Cleaning fluids are sprayed onto the load, usually under pressure and at elevated temperatures. Because the environment of the washing chamber is harmful to operating equipment, such as pumps, electrical controls and heaters, the equipment is usually mounted on an outside wall of the chamber, with connections to the chamber being made through the chamber walls. For the typical washer, numerous such connections are made. Installing a new washer is a time consuming process, taking a week or more for the operating equipment to be mounted on the washing chamber and the connections made. Periodically, pieces of the operating equipment are repaired or replaced. Access to the pieces is often difficult because of the arrangement and number of pieces surrounding the washing chamber. Sometimes several pieces are removed in order to gain access to the piece needing repair. Further, repairs are sometimes best carried out in a workshop, away from the washer, where suitable analysis and repair equipment is available. The piece of operating equipment to be repaired is therefore unmounted from the washing chamber and transported to the workshop. The present system overcomes these problems and others. Summary of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a washer is provided. The washer includes a stationary washing chamber and operating equipment for the washer. The washer includes a moveable trolley which supports the operating equipment for the washer. The trolley is disposed adjacent an exterior wall of the washing chamber. Releasable couplings connect the operating equipment to the washing chamber and release the operating equipment for removing the operating equipment on the trolley to a repair area. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for coupling operating equipment to a washing chamber is provided. The method includes mounting the operating equipment to a moveable trolley and moving the trolley until it is adjacent an exterior wall of the washing chamber. The method further includes connecting the operating equipment to the washing chamber with releasable couplings. One advantage of the present invention is that it enables the operating system to be connected to a washer or other controlled system in a short period of time. Another advantage of the present invention is that the operating equipment is easily uncoupled from the washing or other controlled system for repair or replacement of pieces of the operating equipment. Another advantage is that the operating system is readily transported to testing equipment and comprehensive repair facilities. Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. FIGURE 1 is a schematic of a preferred embodiment of a washer according to the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a side view of the washer of FIGURE 1, with a coupled equipment trolley. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments With reference to FIGURE 1 a washer 1 includes an interior washing chamber 10. An exterior wall 12 encloses the chamber 10. Spray nozzles 14, disposed within the chamber spray cleaning fluid over a load to be processed. A sump 16 is located beneath the washing chamber 10 and collects the used fluid as it drips down from the washing chamber. Operating equipment 20, disposed exterior to the washing chamber 10, supplies the cleaning fluid to the chamber, removes used fluid from the sump 16, and controls the operation of the spray nozzles 14 and other parts of the washer, such as doors, lights, and the like. The operating equipment is described with reference to a preferred embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that the operating equipment may comprise any combination of pieces of equipment, supply vessels and the like, which for ease of access, or for other reasons, such as incompatibility with the washing chamber environment during a cleaning cycle, are disposed exterior to the chamber. The operating equipment 20 includes cleaning fluid tanks or vessels 22, which supply cleaning and disinfecting fluid to a first pump 24, through a fluid line or conduit 26. The pump 24 pumps the cleaning fluid to the spray nozzles 14. A sump pump 28 directs the used cleaning fluid from a sump outlet 29, extending from adjacent the bottom of the sump, to a filtration device 30 and the tanks 22 or to a drain 32, through a drain line 33. Before disposal, the fluid passes through a cool down vessel 34 where the temperature and pH of the fluid are adjusted to meet environmental standards. A detergent injection system 38, including metering pumps, such as peristaltic pumps 40, periodically supplies fresh concentrated cleaning and disinfecting fluids to the tanks 22 from supply containers 42 to maintain cleaning fluid concentration levels. A water inlet 46 supplies water to the tanks 22 to dilute the incoming concentrated fluid. In a typical cycle, the cleaning fluid is replenished at intervals by discarding a selected portion of the cleaning fluid that has circulated through the washing chamber 10. The tank is refilled with water and a supplemental charge of fresh detergent is added. A temperature booster 48 heats the cleaning fluid prior to reaching the nozzles. An electrical or electronic control circuit 50 regulates the operation of the operating equipment 20 and other parts of the washer, such as doors, a drier, and the like, according to the type of cleaning cycle selected. With continued reference to FIGURE 1 and reference also to FIGURE 2, a moveable trolley 52 is located adjacent the exterior wall 12. The trolley includes a mounting frame assembly 54 for mounting the operating equipment 20 and wheels, castors or rollers 55 for wheeling the trolley around a facility in which the washing chamber is located. Preferably, castor locks are provided on the wheels. A trolley outlet 56 in fluid line 26 supplies fluid from the first pump 24 to the nozzles and a trolley inlet 57 receives used cleaning fluid from the sump 16. First and second releasable couplings, 58, 59, connected to the trolley outlet and inlet, respectively, and disposed exterior to the washing chamber 10, provide fluid connections between the operating equipment and the spray nozzles 14, and sump 16, respectively. A similar releasable coupling 60 also connects the water inlet 46 to a water supply, and another releasable coupling 62 connects the cooldown tank 34 with the drain 32. Each of the releasable couplings 58, 60, 62 includes first and second fittings, denoted A and B respectively. The first fitting 58A, 60A, 62A, in each case, is disposed further from to the operating equipment 20 and releasably couples with the second fitting 58B, 60B, 62B, respectively. Preferably the trolley 52 when loaded with the operating equipment 20 is about one meter or less in width and about two meters or less in height so that the trolley passes easily through doors (not shown) of standard height and width in the facility. When installing a new washer, the operating equipment is preferably mounted to the trolley before leaving the factory, thereby reducing installation time. When access to pieces of the operating equipment is required, such as when repairs are to be made, the operating equipment 20 is uncoupled from the washing chamber 10 by releasing the couplings 58. Preferably, the couplings are of a quick-connecting type, allowing the couplings to be uncoupled or coupled in a short period of time. The trolley 52 is then wheeled a distance away from the washing chamber to provide access to the operating equipment 20 for repairs. If the trolley is to be moved to another site, electrical power is unplugged and the water inlet and drain are disconnected, by releasing releasable couplings 60 and 62. For more complex repairs, the trolley and mounted operating equipment is wheeled to a repair shop. In addition, some pieces of the operating equipment, such as the control circuit 50, are mounted to the trolley frame 54 with hinges 64, which allow the pieces of operating equipment to swing away from the trolley, thereby providing access to other pieces of the operating equipment without uncoupling from the operating equipment. For cosmetic and safety purposes, a removable access panel 70 optionally extends from a front wall 72 of the washer. The panel 70 shields the trolley and the operating equipment from view. The access panel includes a switch panel 74 which includes switches for operating the washer, such as for opening and closing doors, commencing a wash cycle, and the like. Electrical connections connect the switch panel with the control circuit 50. The switch panel is preferably removable from the access panel so that it can be transported with the trolley for repairs. Alternatively, the electrical connections are of a quick release type. Optionally, the washer includes a cosmetic shell 76, which surrounds the trolley. The access panel provides a wall of the cosmetic shell. Other access openings are included in the shell as desired. Optionally, electrically operated solenoid valves 80 control the flow of fluid into and out of the cleaning fluid vessel and to a drain, respectively. The solenoid valves are mounted on the trolley and electrically connected with the electrical control circuit to be controlled thereby. While the preferred embodiment has been described with respect to a washer 1, it should be appreciated that other large, stationary fluid systems which receives fluid under pressure and returns spent fluid under reduced pressure may alternatively replace the washer.

Claims: Having thus described the preferred embodiment, the invention is now claimed to be: 1. A washer (1) comprising a stationary washing chamber (10) and operating equipment (20) for the washer, the washer characterized by: a moveable trolley (52) which supports the operating equipment (20) for the washer, the trolley being disposed adjacent an exterior wall (12) of the washing chamber; releasable couplings (58, 59, 60, 62) for connecting the operating equipment to the washing chamber and for releasing the operating equipment for removing the operating equipment on the trolley to a repair area. 2. The washer of claim 1, further characterized by the trolley including wheels (55) for moving the trolley. 3. The washer of either one of claims 1 and 2, further characterized by the trolley, when loaded with operating equipment, being about one meter wide or less and about two meters in height or less so that it passes easily through standard sized doors. 4. The washer of any one of preceding claims 1, 2, and 3, wherein the washing chamber includes: a plurality of walls (12) which define the washing chamber (10) ; a plurality of nozzles (14) mounted to the walls for spraying liquid into the washing chamber; a fluid conduit extending from the nozzles to a first fitting (58A) of a nozzle releasable coupling (58) ; a sump (16) disposed below the washing chamber for receiving fluid sprayed from the nozzles; a sump outlet (29) extending from adjacent the bottom of the sump to a first fitting (59B) of a second releasable coupling (59) ; and further characterized by: the trolley (52) including: a frame assembly (54) mounted on wheels or rollers (55) ; at least one cleaning fluid vessel (22) mounted to the trolley frame assembly; a first pump (24) mounted to the trolley frame assembly and connected with the cleaning fluid vessel and a second fitting (58B) of the first releasable coupling (58) which is selectively connectable with and disconnectable from the first fitting (58A) of the first releasable coupling, the pump pumping cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid vessel (22) to the nozzles (14); and, a sump pump (28) connected with the cleaning fluid vessel (22) and a second fitting (59A) of the second releasable coupling (59) , the second fitting of the second releasable coupling being selectively connected with and disconnected from the first fitting (59B) of the second releasable coupling (59) , the sump pump pumping cleaning fluid from the sump to the cleaning fluid vessel. The washer of claim 4, further characterized by: a cool down tank (34) mounted to the trolley frame, the cool down tank being fluidly connected with one of the sump pump (28) and the cleaning fluid vessel (22) for receiving spent cleaning fluid therefrom; and, a drain line (33) extending from the cool down tank for directing spent cleaning fluid from the cool down tank to a drain (32) for disposal. 6. The washer of either one of claims 4 and 5, further characterized by: a supply container (42) of concentrated cleaner fluid mounted to the trolley frame assembly (54) ; a metering pump (40) connected with the supply container and the cleaning fluid vessel for selectively pumping metered quantities of concentrated cleaning fluid into the cleaning fluid vessel (22); a water inlet (46) for selectively suppling water to the cleaning fluid vessel (22) ; and, a temperature booster (48) mounted to the trolley frame and connected between the first pump (24) and the second fitting (58B) of the first releasable coupling (58) for heating cleaning fluid in transit to the nozzles (14) . 7. The washer of claim 6, further characterized by: an electrical control circuit (50) mounted to the trolley frame assembly (54), the electrical control circuit being connected with the first pump (24) , the sump pump (28) , the metering pump (42), and the in-line temperature booster (48) for controlling the operation thereof in accordance with a selected washing cycle. 8. A method for coupling operating equipment (20) to a washing chamber (10) , the method characterized by: mounting the operating equipment to a moveable trolley (52); moving the trolley until it is adjacent an exterior wall (12) of the washing chamber; and connecting the operating equipment to the washing chamber with releasable couplings (58, 59, 60, 62) . 9. The method of claim 8, further characterized by: disconnecting the operating equipment from the washing chamber (12) by releasing the couplings (58, 59, 60, 62); and, moving the trolley a distance away from the washing chamber for making repairs to the operating equipment. 10. The method of either one of claims 8 and 9, further characterized by: the trolley being configured for being received in a cosmetic housing (76) of the washer.

Inventors: DUCHAINE MARIO, EDMOND MICHEL, LEMAY MICHEL, PARENT GHISLAIN, ROCHETTE DANIEL, THERIAULT YVES-ANDRE, THIBAULT NATHALIE, DUCHAINE, MARIO, EDMOND, MICHEL, LEMAY, MICHEL, PARENT, GHISLAIN, ROCHETTE, DANIEL, THERIAULT, YVES-ANDRE, THIBAULT, NATHALIE
Applicants: STERIS CORP, STERIS CORPORATION
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B08B3
IPC codes: B08B3