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US 10,287,759 B2Granted
Hospital sink and faucet
AssigneeFranke Technology and Trademark Ltd
InventorCory Macey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hospital sink and faucet assembly includes a sink with a sink body having an angled faucet deck, a bowl adapted to receive water, and a rim. A laminar flow faucet is connected to the faucet deck and includes an outlet adapted to direct a laminar flow water stream into the bowl. The faucet includes a chamber with a preferably tangential water inlet at the bottom and at least one mesh layer that extends across a cross-section of the chamber to creates a generally constant velocity profile for the water flow across the cross-section of the chamber. The water flow progresses upwardly in the chamber to the outlet where a laminar flow nozzle cuts the water and discharges a circular stream of water out an angle generally perpendicular to the deck and toward the sink bowl. An ozone generator is preferably also in the chamber.
Claims17
A hospital sink and faucet assembly, comprising:
- a sink (12) with a sink body having an angled faucet deck (16), a bowl (18) adapted to receive water, and a rim (21);
- a laminar flow faucet (30) connected to the faucet deck (16) having an outlet (40) adapted to direct a laminar flow water stream (20) into the bowl (18), the laminar flow faucet (30) comprising:
- an elongate chamber (32) having a top (34) and a bottom (36), a water inlet (38) located at the bottom (36) and the outlet (40) being located at the top (34), a first mesh (42) extending across a transverse cross-section of the chamber (32) at a medial position between the top (34) and the bottom (36) to define a first chamber portion (44) between the bottom (36) and the first mesh (42), the first mesh (42) having a first open area, wherein the first mesh (42) creates a laminar velocity profile for the water flow across the transverse cross-section of the chamber (30);
- a flow control valve (70) connected to the water inlet (38);
- wherein the deck (16) is set at an angle downwardly from horizontal toward the bowl (18), and the outlet (40) is located on the deck (16);
- an ozone generator (72) located in the chamber (32);
- a sensor (76) that detects a user's presence, and a controller (78) configured to open the flow control valve (70) upon receiving a signal from the sensor (76) of the user's presence and configured to also activate the ozone generator for a predetermined time period upon receiving a signal from the sensor of the user's presence.
4 more elements
A hospital sink and faucet assembly, comprising:
- a sink (12) with a sink body having an angled faucet deck (16), a bowl (18) adapted to receive water, and a rim (21);
- a laminar flow faucet (30) connected to the faucet deck (16) having an outlet (40) adapted to direct a laminar flow water stream (20) into the bowl (18), the laminar flow faucet (30) comprising:
- an elongate chamber (32) having a top (34) and a bottom (36), a water inlet (38) located at the bottom (36) and the outlet (40) being located at the top (34), a first mesh (42) extending across a transverse cross-section of the chamber (32) at a medial position between the top (34) and the bottom (36) to define a first chamber portion (44) between the bottom (36) and the first mesh (42), the first mesh (42) having a first open area, wherein the first mesh (42) creates a laminar velocity profile for the water flow across the transverse cross-section of the chamber (30);
- a flow control valve (70) connected to the water inlet (38);
- wherein the deck (16) is set at an angle downwardly from horizontal toward the bowl (18), and the outlet (40) is located on the deck (16);
- a second mesh (46) extending across the cross-section of the chamber (32) at a location between the first mesh (42) and the top (34), defining a second chamber portion (48) between the first and second meshes (42, 46) and a third chamber portion (50) between the second mesh (46) and the top (34), and the second mesh (46) has a second open area that is equal or less than the first open area.
3 more elements
A method of using a sink (12) and touchless faucet assembly (30), comprising:
- providing sink (12) having:
- a sink body with an angled faucet deck (16), a bowl (18) adapted to receive water, and a rim (21), and
- a laminar flow faucet (30) connected to the faucet deck (16) having an outlet (40) adapted to direct a laminar flow water stream (20) into the bowl (18), the laminar flow faucet (30) including:
- a chamber (32) having a top (34) and a bottom (36), a tangentially arranged water (38) inlet located at the bottom (36) and the outlet (40) being located at the top (34),
- a first mesh (42) extending across a transverse cross-section of the chamber (32) at a medial position between the top (34) and the bottom (36) to define a first chamber portion (44) between the bottom (36) and the first mesh (42), the first mesh (42) having a first open area,
- a second mesh (46) extending across the transverse cross-section of the chamber (32) at a location between the first mesh (42) and the top (34), defining a medial chamber (48) portion between the first and second meshes (42, 46) and an upper chamber portion (50) between the second mesh (46) and the top (34), the second mesh (46) having a second open area that is equal or less than the first open area, the first and second meshes (42, 46) creating a laminar water flow to the outlet (40), and
- a flow control valve (70) connected to the water inlet (38),
- the deck (16) is set at an angle downwardly from horizontal toward the bowl (18), and the outlet (40) is located on the deck (18),
- an ozone generator (72) located in the chamber (32),
- a sensor (76) that detects a user's presence, and
- a controller (78) configured to activate the ozone generator (72) for a predetermined time period upon receiving a signal from the sensor (76) of the user's presence, and configured to open the flow control valve (70);
- a user placing their hands in the bowl (18);
- the sensor (76) detecting the user's hands and signaling the controller (78), and the controller (78) activating the ozone generator (72) and opening the flow control valve (70);
- water entering the chamber (32) from the flow control valve (70), rising through the chamber (32), and converting into a laminar flow as it passes through the first and second meshes (42, 46), and discharging the laminar water stream (20) from the outlet (40) into the bowl (18);
- the user withdrawing the user's hands from a range of the sensor (76);
- the sensor (76) signaling the controller (78), and the controller (78) closing the flow control valve (70) and continuing to operate the ozone generator (72) to increase a concentration of ozone in the water in the chamber (32);
- the user reinserting the user's hands within a range of the sensor (76);
- and
- the sensor (76) signaling the controller (78) to open the flow control valve (70) and continuing to operate the ozone generator (72) so that a laminar water stream (20) with the increased ozone concentration is discharged through the outlet (40).
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.