GB2135184A - Emergency shower - Google Patents

Abstract

An emergency shower comprises a cabinet 1, a pipe 2 with spray nozzles 3, and a pivotally mounted platform and which is connected to water inlet valve 6. Water passes from the inlet valve 6 into a calorifier 8, which comprises a chamber containing pipes (not shown) connected to steam inlet 9, to be heated by passage over said steam filled pipes before emerging as a spray through nozzles 3. The calorifier may be permanently heated by steam so that water passed to the shower is immediately heated. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Emergency shower This invention relates to an emergency shower of the kind installed in environments where dangerous chemicals are used to enable persons to wash themselves or their clothing in the event of an accidental spillage. These showers commonly drench a user with a high volume of water in order to minimize corrosive or toxic damage to the user.

Previously known emergency showers deliver cold water and it has been found that shock may be caused to a user. In fact the effect of such shock may be worse than those of the accidental spillage.

According to the present invention there is provided a steam heated emergency shower.

Electrical heating of water for an emergency shower is inpractical due to the high flow of water involved and the poor economy of storing heated water. It has been estimated that 100 KW would be required. Steam heating has the advantage that a large amount of heat may be rapidly and economically applied to the shower water.

An emergency shower in accordance with this invention preferably incorporates a non-storage calorifier.

The calorifier may be permanently heated by steam so that water passed to the shower is immediately heated.

The calorifier may take the form of a chamber in which tubes are arranged to conduct steam through the chamber. The chamber may be empty when the shower is not in use so that a small flow of steam is sufficient to maintain the tubes at 1 00x . When water is admitted to the chamber, it is heated by passage over the tubes but an increased flow of steam is necessary to heat a continued flow of water. The shower may therefore incorporate a valve arranged to open when the shower is turned on so that a full flow of steam is admitted to the calorifier.

The chamber may be lagged to minimise thermal losses when the shower is not in use.

Preferably the shower is actuated by a person stepping upon a plate in the base of the shower. The shower may thereby operate automatically when a person enters it.

An injector may be provided for adding an antidote to the shower water. This may be particularly useful in environments where there is a single chemical hazard for which the antidote may be prepared.

The invention will now be further described by way of an example with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the shower; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the showers; Figure 3 is a section along line A-A of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a rear elevation showing the piping arrangement of the shower.

The same numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts of each of the Figures.

The shower is shown in the Figures comprises a cabinet 1 composed of brightly coloured heavy duty fibre-glass or plastics material. A pipe 2 composed of 2.5cm diameter polypropylene carries 12 spraynozzles e.g. 3. A pivotally mounted grid platform 4 is located near the floor of the cabinet. A linkage system 5 is connected to the platform 4 and is arranged to open the water inlet valve 6. The water inlet valve 6 is fitted with a return spring 7 to close the valve when the platform 4 is released. Water passes from the inlet valve into the calorifier 8. The calorifier comprises a cylindrical chamber containing a number of pipes (not shown) which are each connected to a steam inlet 9 via a temperature control safety valve 10. The safety valve 10 is actuated by a thermometer probe 11 located in the inlet to the pipe 2.The outlets from the calorifier pipes lead to a float chamber 12 containing a float 13. The float chamber acts to permit drainage of condensed water from the calorifier but does not permit passage of steam. When the shower is not in use there is a small flow of condensate through the chamber 12 as the temperature in the calorifier is maintained. The safety valve 10 serves to shut off the supply of steam in the event that the water supply is cut off during use of the shower.

An automatic liquid antidote injector 14 enables the shower to provide an aqeous solution of an antidote to an anticipated chemical or other hazard.

The antidote is admitted to the water supply through an orifice 15 which operates on the venturi principle.

Different orifice plates can be used to provide dilutions of antidote ranging from 1:1 to 1:100. A two gallon container of antidote may yield a dosed spraying time of 5 minutes.

CLAIMS (Filed on 12/1/84) 1. A steam heated emergency shower.

2. A steam heated emergency shower comprising a non-storage calorifier.

3. A steam heated emergency shower as claimed in claim 2, wherein the calorifier is permanently heated by steam.

4. A steam heated emergency shower as claimed in claim 3, wherein the calorifier comprises a chamber through which tubes are arranged to conduct steam.

5. A steam heated emergency shower, as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged to be actuated in use by a person stepping upon a plate in the shower.

6. A steam heated emergency shower as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an injector adapted to add an antidote to the shower water.

7. A steam heated emergancy shower substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Emergency shower This invention relates to an emergency shower of the kind installed in environments where dangerous chemicals are used to enable persons to wash themselves or their clothing in the event of an accidental spillage. These showers commonly drench a user with a high volume of water in order to minimize corrosive or toxic damage to the user. Previously known emergency showers deliver cold water and it has been found that shock may be caused to a user. In fact the effect of such shock may be worse than those of the accidental spillage. According to the present invention there is provided a steam heated emergency shower. Electrical heating of water for an emergency shower is inpractical due to the high flow of water involved and the poor economy of storing heated water. It has been estimated that 100 KW would be required. Steam heating has the advantage that a large amount of heat may be rapidly and economically applied to the shower water. An emergency shower in accordance with this invention preferably incorporates a non-storage calorifier. The calorifier may be permanently heated by steam so that water passed to the shower is immediately heated. The calorifier may take the form of a chamber in which tubes are arranged to conduct steam through the chamber. The chamber may be empty when the shower is not in use so that a small flow of steam is sufficient to maintain the tubes at 1 00x . When water is admitted to the chamber, it is heated by passage over the tubes but an increased flow of steam is necessary to heat a continued flow of water. The shower may therefore incorporate a valve arranged to open when the shower is turned on so that a full flow of steam is admitted to the calorifier. The chamber may be lagged to minimise thermal losses when the shower is not in use. Preferably the shower is actuated by a person stepping upon a plate in the base of the shower. The shower may thereby operate automatically when a person enters it. An injector may be provided for adding an antidote to the shower water. This may be particularly useful in environments where there is a single chemical hazard for which the antidote may be prepared. The invention will now be further described by way of an example with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the shower; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the showers; Figure 3 is a section along line A-A of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a rear elevation showing the piping arrangement of the shower. The same numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts of each of the Figures. The shower is shown in the Figures comprises a cabinet 1 composed of brightly coloured heavy duty fibre-glass or plastics material. A pipe 2 composed of 2.5cm diameter polypropylene carries 12 spraynozzles e.g. 3. A pivotally mounted grid platform 4 is located near the floor of the cabinet. A linkage system 5 is connected to the platform 4 and is arranged to open the water inlet valve 6. The water inlet valve 6 is fitted with a return spring 7 to close the valve when the platform 4 is released. Water passes from the inlet valve into the calorifier 8. The calorifier comprises a cylindrical chamber containing a number of pipes (not shown) which are each connected to a steam inlet 9 via a temperature control safety valve 10. The safety valve 10 is actuated by a thermometer probe 11 located in the inlet to the pipe 2.The outlets from the calorifier pipes lead to a float chamber 12 containing a float 13. The float chamber acts to permit drainage of condensed water from the calorifier but does not permit passage of steam. When the shower is not in use there is a small flow of condensate through the chamber 12 as the temperature in the calorifier is maintained. The safety valve 10 serves to shut off the supply of steam in the event that the water supply is cut off during use of the shower. An automatic liquid antidote injector 14 enables the shower to provide an aqeous solution of an antidote to an anticipated chemical or other hazard. The antidote is admitted to the water supply through an orifice 15 which operates on the venturi principle. Different orifice plates can be used to provide dilutions of antidote ranging from 1:1 to 1:100. A two gallon container of antidote may yield a dosed spraying time of 5 minutes. CLAIMS (Filed on 12/1/84)

1. A steam heated emergency shower.

2. A steam heated emergency shower comprising a non-storage calorifier.

3. A steam heated emergency shower as claimed in claim 2, wherein the calorifier is permanently heated by steam.

4. A steam heated emergency shower as claimed in claim 3, wherein the calorifier comprises a chamber through which tubes are arranged to conduct steam.

5. A steam heated emergency shower, as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged to be actuated in use by a person stepping upon a plate in the shower.

6. A steam heated emergency shower as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an injector adapted to add an antidote to the shower water.

7. A steam heated emergancy shower substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.