# US 7,240,853 B2 · Emergency shower with automatic stagnant water flushing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,240,853 B2 - Document ID: US7240853B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/864,725 - Filed: 2004-06-09 - Published: 2005-12-15 - Granted: 2007-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2004-06-09 - Inventors: Thomas M. Taylor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7240853B2 ## CPC - A61H 33/00: Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes (A61H35/00 takes precedence; {sprays acting on a body or body part not immersed in water A61H9/00; means for washing bed-ridden persons A61G7/0005;} for sub aquatic intestinal cleaning A61M9/00; {isolation chambers A61M21/0094; } electric or magnetic baths, applying ionised fluids A61N1/44 {; heater for bath tubs F24H1/54}) - A61H 33/005: {Electrical circuits therefor} - A61H 2033/0012: {by rinsing} - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract Emergency showers can go through extended periods of disuse, allowing for the growth of bacteria and other substances in the stagnant water in the supply passages. Water dispensed from such the shower head can come into contact with or be consumed by a user. Embodiments of the invention provide a system that can automatically flush stagnant water from emergency showers on a timed basis to minimize the possibility that contaminated water is delivered to a user. In addition, the automatic stagnant water flushing system according to embodiments of the invention can provide temperature-based flushing systems to avoid the dangers or discomfort associated with the delivery of excessively hot or cold water to a user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water flushing system comprising: a shower head; a flow controlled passage having an inlet adapted for fluid connection to a pressurized water distribution system and an outlet adapted for fluid connection to the shower head; a shower head valve disposed along the flow controlled passage for selectively permitting and prohibiting the flow of pressurized water through the flow controlled passage and into the shower head; a discharge passage branching from the flow controlled passage upstream of the shower head valve; a discharge valve disposed along the discharge passage for selectively permitting and prohibiting the flow of pressurized water through the discharge passage; and a programmable controller for regulating the flow of pressurized water through the discharge passage by activating and deactivating the discharge valve on a predetermined timed basis, whereby stagnant water can be flushed from the flow controlled passage to maintain water quality in the flow controlled passage as delivered to the shower head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the shower head valve is located proximate to the water dispenser. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is powered by a battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the discharge passage connects to the flow controlled passage substantially adjacently upstream of the shower head valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the controller includes electronic control circuitry having a microprocessor system for storing instructions for activating and deactivating the discharge valve, wherein the microprocessor system is operatively connected to a programming interface for inputting electronic information to be stored and processed in the microprocessor system for activating and deactivating the discharge valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the discharge passage has an outlet adapted for fluid communication with a drain system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the outlet of the discharge passage is spaced from the drain system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the outlet of the discharge passage is directly connected to the drain system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the drain system is one of a floor drain, a sink, a drain pipe; or the ground. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further including: a temperature discharge passage branching from the discharge passage substantially at the discharge valve; and a temperature control valve provided along the discharge passage for selectively permitting and prohibiting the flow of pressurized water through the temperature discharge passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the temperature control valve is responsive to the temperature of the water in the temperature discharge passage such that when the water temperature reaches a first predetermined temperature, the temperature control valve at least partially opens whereby pressurized water passes through the temperature discharge passage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the predetermined temperature is from about 30 degrees Fahrenheit to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined temperature is from about 90 degrees Fahrenheit to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the temperature discharge passage has an outlet adapted for fluid connection to the discharge passage downstream of the discharge valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further including: a programmable temperature responsive controller for regulating the flow of pressurized water through the temperature discharge passage by activating and deactivating the temperature control valve; a temperature sensor disposed along the flow controlled passage; the temperature sensor generating a signal when the water in the flow control passage reaches a predetermined temperature level, wherein the temperature sensor is operatively associated with the temperature responsive controller such that the temperature responsive controller is responsive to signals received from the sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein the temperature sensor is operatively associated with the temperature responsive controller by a sensor wire. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein the temperature responsive controller is programmed with a predetermined temperature limit such that, when the temperature of die pressurized water in the flow controlled passage reaches the predetermined temperature limit, the temperature responsive controller activates the temperature control valve to permit the flow of pressurized water through the temperature discharge passage, whereby the dangers associated with water temperatures beyond the predetermined temperature limit are avoided. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein the predetermined temperature is from about 30 degrees Fahrenheit to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein the predetermined temperature is from about 90 degrees Fahrenheit to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further including: a passage branching from the discharge passage substantially at the discharge valve, wherein the supply passage splits into a first temperature discharge passage and a second temperature discharge passage; a first temperature control valve disposed along the first temperature discharge passage; a programmable temperature responsive controller for regulating the flow of pressurized water through the first temperature discharge passage by activating and deactivating the temperature control valve; a temperature sensor disposed along the flow controlled passage, the temperature sensor generating a signal when the water in the flow control passage reaches a predetermined temperature level, wherein the sensor is operatively associated with the temperature responsive controller such tat the temperature responsive controller is responsive to signals received from the sensor; and a second temperature control valve disposed along the second temperature discharge passage, wherein the second temperature control valve is responsive to the temperature of the water in the second temperature discharge passage such that when the water in the second temperature discharge passage reaches a predetermined temperature limit, the second temperature control valve opens. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20 wherein the first and second temperature discharge passages have outlets adapted for fluid connection to the discharge passage. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20 wherein the first and second temperature discharge passages merged downstream of their respective temperature control valves. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20 wherein the predetermined temperature limit of the first temperature control valve is from about 90 degrees Fahrenheit to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20 wherein the predetermined temperature limit of the second temperature control valve is from about 30 degrees Fahrenheit to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. ### Claim 25 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further including: a passage branching from the discharge passage at the discharge valve, wherein the supply passage splits into a first temperature discharge passage and a second temperature discharge passage; a first temperature control valve disposed along the first temperature discharge passage, wherein the first temperature control valve is responsive to the temperature of the water in the first temperature discharge passage such that when the water in the first temperature discharge passage reaches a predetermined temperature limit, the first temperature control valve opens; and a second temperature control valve disposed along the second temperature discharge passage, wherein the second temperature control valve is responsive to the temperature of the water in the second temperature discharge passage such that when the water in the second temperature discharge passage reaches a predetermined temperature limit, the second temperature control valve opens, wherein the first predetermined temperature is substantially higher than the second predetermined temperature. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein the first and second temperature discharge passages have outlets adapted for fluid connection to the discharge passage. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein the first and second temperature discharge passages merged downstream of their respective temperature control valves. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein the predetermined temperature limit of the first temperature control valve is from about 90 degrees Fahrenheit to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein the predetermined temperature limit of the second temperature control valve is from about 30 degrees Fahrenheit to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further including: an eyewash station, wherein the flow controlled passage includes a second outlet adapted for fluid connection to the eye wash station; an eyewash valve disposed along the along the flow controlled passage for selectively permitting and prohibiting the flow of pressurized water through the flow controlled passage and into the eyewash station; a second discharge passage branching from the flow controlled passage upstream of the eyewash valve, wherein the second discharge passage merges with the discharge passage to form a common discharge passage, wherein the discharge valve is disposed along the common discharge passage, whereby stagnant water can be flushed from the flow controlled passage to maintain water quality in the flow controlled passage as delivered to the shower head and eyewash station.