Spray System

Abstract

A rotatable spray head is disclosed wherein the spray head is received in a housing designed for mounting flush with a floor or other surface. A fluid supply line passes into the housing and is associated with the spray head in a telescoping fashion. The spray head is provided with a plurality of radially, outwardly extending fluid passageways, the outer ends of which are angularly varied so as to permit fluid to pass therethrough, cause the head to rotate and permit fluid to exit at different angles for complete coverage of an area being sprayed. The spray plate also serves as a cover for the receptacle and moves upwardly therefrom to a spray position when fluid pressure is applied to the underside thereof. In this regard, once the fluid pressure ceases, the spray head automatically returns to an inoperative position where it serves as a cover for the housing. Plate return to the inoperative position may be by gravity, by bias of a spring provided therefor or the like. A preferred embodiment of the present invention finds the housing also serving as a fluid drain and adapted to be connected to a drain line. In this embodiment, the spray plate is provided with a plurality of openings therein in direct communication with the drain so as to permit fluid that has been sprayed or otherwise deposited in the area to flow through the openings in the spray plate into the drain line.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Spray heads for various uses have heretofore been devised. These general types of spray heads, upon receiving a fluid pressure thereon, force a cover plate upwardly along with the one or more spray nozzles disposed thereunder. The fluid is then dispensed through the spray nozzle which may be a rotating nozzle, an oscillating nozzle or the like. This type apparatus has been normally used for sprinkling lawns, irrigation, the dispensing of liquid fertilizer and the like. Likewise, floor drains having perforated covers that prevent the passage of debris into a drain line while permitting the passage of water or other fluids therethrough are well known and are generally mounted flush with a floor or other surface in which the drain is used.

A problem exists today in the area of maintenance and cleaning of restrooms, industrial areas, squeegee, station bays and the like. The main sources of the problem are a lack of available labor to perform the cleaning function and also the ineffectiveness of the available labor in properly cleaning. Moreover, according to the teachings of the prior art, the application of cleaning solutions onto these areas has been separate from the removal of the cleaning solutions after their purpose has been accomplished. Hence, it has been the custom to spray, mop, etc., water and other cleaning solutions onto the area to be cleaned after which the solutions are removed by further mopping, by a sueegee, by drain lines or the like. This old method of cleaning requires excessive time and effort and generally the walls, etc., remain virtually untouched. In fact, a health problem exists in many instances, due to improper or poor cleaning.

The present invention provides a definite advance over the prior art from the standpoint of equipment as well as the standpoint of utilization of the equipment. The provision of a self-cleaning system wherein a combined cover and spray head is provided simplifies the cleaning operation. Additionally, the combination of a spray head and drain pipe reduces the equipment required for the cleaning and removal operations while permitting simplification thereof. Much less labor is thus required when the apparatus of the present invention is utilized while improving the cleanliness and/or sanitation of the area being cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved rotating spray head for the dispensing of fluids.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique system for the cleaning of an enclosed area such as a bathroom, or the like.

Still further, another object of the present invention is to provide a combined fluid spray unit with a fluid removal unit.

Generally speaking, the present invention relates to an improved fluid spray device comprising a housing, a fluid supply line extending into said housing, and a rotatable, dispensing plate operatively associated with said fluid supply line and said housing, said plate having a plurality of fluid passageways incorporated therewith, said plate further being movable to an operable position by a fluid force thereon and automatically returnable to an inoperative position upon cessation of said fluid force thereon.

More specifically, the present invention teaches a fluid spray device wherein a cover plate for a housing therefor is both a cover plate and a rotatable spray head. The cover plate has a conduit depending therefrom that telescopes within a fluid supply line and upon receipt of fluid pressure thereon, moves axially along said fluid supply line to an operative position. Thereafter, fluid passing through said line extends into said cover plate and through a plurality of fluid passageways provided therefor. The fluid passageways extend radially outwardly in a tortuous manner so as to rotate said plate by the force of fluid passing therethrough. Furthermore, the individual fluid passageways terminate at various angles to horizontal at the periphery of the plate so as to dispense fluid at varying angles and thus assure proper coverage of an area being sprayed.

The housing in which the present system is provided may ideally be a drain receptacle that is adapted for connection to a drain line. In the environment where the housing is a drain receptacle, the cover plate may have a plurality of openings therethrough to permit direct communication between the waste fluid and the drain receptacle. Such fluid openings are dispersed about the plate, between the radially extending fluid passageways.

The present invention further embodies the incorporation of a regular spray head disposed under a cover plate for a drain facility wherein the drain plate is not the spray head, but is a plate that permits the passage of water or other fluid therethrough after spraying is completed or thereunder during spraying.

The present invention is quite suited for varied useage. For example, the cemented area around a service station, animal barn, kennel and the like may be sufficiently washed down by merely turning on a water valve that permits a flow of water to a series of spray heads. The spray heads will then rise from within their respective housings and dispense water etc. onto the area to be washed down. Likewise, numerous enclosures such as industrial restrooms, commercial restrooms, and even residential bathrooms could be automatically washed down with the system of the present invention. In other words, by merely turning on a valve, a particular area can be cleaned and the cleaning solution removed from the area by use of the present invention.

Furthermore, it is a feature of the present invention to optionally include cleansing, disinfecting, sanitizing, and other agents into the wash water which are to be sprayed into the area simultaneously with the water whereupon once the ingredients are used, they could be left in place or removed with a rinse depending upon the particular requirements of the environment.

In certain situations, because of a local plumbing code or inconvenience, it may not be permissible or desirable to connect the spray system of the present invention to an available water supply line. Such installations may be suitably equipped with an inlet connection at some point remote from the area to be cleaned. A hose or mobile apparatus may then be united with the inlet connection whereby water, cleaning agents, disinfectents, solvents, hot air or the like can be fed into the supply lines and dispensed by the appropriate spray heads. Such a mobile unit may thus be transported to a restroom, connected to the supply line and during operation, pump the desired materials to the spray heads. Thereafter, if desired, warm air may be provided to assist in drying the area. The mobile unit may then be disconnected, transported to the next location to be cleaned and the procedure repeated.

Depending upon the particular environment in which the present invention is utilized, it may be desirable to additionally provide manual touch up cleaning after spraying. Generally the manual cleaning should be required only where the area is subject to receive excessive dirt, etc. or it is quite necessary to ensure that all the area is completely clean. A tremendous labor saving will still result, however, and the subject area will receive a much superior cleaning than is now being realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of an embodiment of a spray head assembly according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of a further embodiment of a spray head assembly according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a rotating spray head according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of a portion of a spray head according to the teachings of the present invention showing in particular the fluid passageways therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, specific preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail. In FIG. 1, there is shown a housing generally indicated as 10 having a bottom 11, side walls 12, and a shoulder 13 defined at the upper end of side walls 12. Shoulder 13 has an outer surface 13' that is flush with a surface 5, such as a floor or the like, when housing 10 is mounted therein. Surface 5 would generally be a concrete floor, a concrete drive around a service station, a tile covered floor or the like. Housing 10 would thus generally be set in place with the appropriate apparatus to be hereinafter defined on the inside thereof. The area around housing 10 would then be filled in as desired to provide surface 5.

A fluid supply line 20 is shown integral with housing 10 and extending through a side wall 12 thereof. Fluid supply line 20 thus extends inside housing 10 and turns upwardly to define a spray head support 21, terminating below an upper, open end of housing 10. A spray head 30 is shown to be telescopingly received in spray head support 21. Spray head 30 comprises a plate 32 and a stem 34 threadedly secured thereto at 35 which passes down into the support end 21 of fluid line 20, passing through a removable cap 22. Plate 32 of spray head 30 is shown as a disc which resides in the opening of housing 10, resting against shoulder 13 thereof. An upper surface 32' of plate 32 is thus flush with the contour of surface 5 which surrounds same. Stem 34 of spray head 30 terminates at its lower end as a flange 36, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. A spring 40 is positioned around stem 34 between a washer 39 resting on flange 36 and the underside of cap 22 and biases spray head 30 toward the closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1. Plate 31 has a plurality of radially extending, fluid passageways 38 therein, said passageways being in direct communication with an axial opening 36' in stem 34 which leads to fluid supply line 20.

Once housing 10 is in position, fluid supply line 20 is then connected to a water line or other fluid source and surface 5 is installed. When spray is desired, water from the source produces pressure in supply line 20 which is applied against spray head 30 and forces spray head 30 out of housing 10. As spray head 30 moves upwardly, flange 36 forces washer 39 against spring 40 and compresses same against cap 22. Water or other fluid thus passes through axial opening 34' of stem 34, through fluid passageways 38 to rotate spray head 30 and pass outwardly therefrom into the area being sprayed. During spraying, the upward position of spray head 30 is maintained by fluid pressure thereon and spring 40 remains compressed. Once the water or other fluid flow is ceased, however, pressure on spray head 30 dissipates and spring 40 biases against flange 36 to return spray head 30 to its resting position within housing 10.

In FIG. 2, a further embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein a housing 110 is represented as a drain pot. Drain pot 110 is thus shown to have a bottom portion 111 which is adapted to be connected to a drain line not shown such as by threads 112 internally thereof and side walls 113, shoulder 114 and upper surface 114'. A fluid supply line 120 is also shown integral with a side wall 113 of drain pot 110 and having a spray plate 130 telescopingly received in an upper support end 121 thereof. Spray head 130 functions in the same manner as described with respect to FIG. 1 with the exception that a spring is not included. Also, spray head 130 is illustrated in FIG. 2 in the operative position with the closed or inoperative position being shown in phantom. Upon cessation of fluid pressure against spray head 130, spray head 130 unassistedly returns by gravity to its resting position.

A preferred embodiment of spray head 130 is provided with the assembly shown in FIG. 2 (See also FIGS. 3 and 4). Spray head 130 thus comprises a plate 132 having a stem 134 threadedly attached thereto and depending downwardly therefrom, terminating at a flange 136 extending therearound. Stem 134 of spray head 130 thus passes down through a removable cap 122 of a support end 121 of fluid supply line 120 and telescopes within support 121. An axial opening 134' of stem 134 is thus in direct communication with fluid passing from line 120 to spray head 130. Plate 132 is provided with a plurality of radially extending, curved fluid passageways 138. Furthermore a plurality of openings 139 are defined by plate 132, said openings being positioned between the fluid passageways 138 across the surface of plate 132. Hence when spray head 130 is in the closed position, water or other fluid may pass from surface 5, through openings 139, through drain pot 110 and into a drain line (not shown).

It is further quite desirable to provide a uniform coverage of an area being sprayed. In FIGS. 2 and 4, the spray head 130 is shown to have fluid passageways 138 that terminate at the periphery of plate 132 at deflection plates 138' which have varying angles, with respect to horizontal. Hence the deflection plates 138' of fluid passageways 138 permit the passage of fluid into the surrounding area at different angles. In so doing, the entire area is well covered. Also, in an enclosure, where it may be desirable to apply fluid to the walls as well as the floor, the correct angle on one or more deflection plates 138' of fluid passageways 138 will direct fluid for a predetermined height up a wall during rotation of spray head 130 while other fluid passageways will direct fluid onto varying sections of surface 5.

Though not shown in the drawings, a conventional sprinkler head system could be employed in the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 to thus provide a spray capability for an area and while simultaneously providing fluid removal capability. In other words, upon receiving water pressure from line 120, the spray heads (not shown) and a cover plate without spray heads would move upwardly to permit the fluid to be sprayed out of the housing 110. Thereafter, upon cessation of spraying, the spray head and cover plate combination would return to its seated position at shoulder 113 of drain pot 111 whereby the water or other fluid could drain through openings 139 to the drain line (not shown).

Insofar as materials of construction are concerned for the present spray system, conventional materials may be employed. In other words, the housing could be manufactured of cast iron, plastic or the like for proper connection to water lines, pumps, drain lines or the like. Moreover, while it is preferred that the fluid supply line of the housing be integral with the housing, it is certainly within the scope of the present invention that the fluid supply line could be separate from the housing and merely pass through a bottom or side wall thereof. With respect to the cover and the combined cover and spray head, when used in an area where weight on the cover might be a problem, it obviously should be constructed of a material to withstand any pressure thereon without breaking.

Having described the present invention in detail, it is obvious that one skilled in the art will be able to make variations and modifications thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention should be determined only by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

I claim:

1. An improved fluid dispensing system comprising:

a. a housing, said housing being adapted for connection to a fluid drain line;

b. a fluid supply line associated with said housing and extending inwardly thereof; and

c. a rotatable spray head received in said housing, said spray head comprising a stem and a spray plate secured thereto, said stem having an axial opening therethrough and in communication with said fluid line, said plate having a plurality of tortuous fluid passageways extending radially outwardly with respect thereto, said passageways being in communication with said axial opening, said spray head being movable to an operative position by a fluid force thereon and returnable to an inoperative position upon cessation of said fluid force, said spray plate further defining a plurality of drain openings dispersed between the fluid passageways.

2. An improved fluid dispensing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid supply line is integral with said housing.

3. An improved fluid dispensing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid supply line and said stem are telescopingly associated for rotational and limited axial movement of said spray head with respect to said fluid supply line.

4. An improved fluid dispensing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotatable plate nests within said housing in an inoperative position.

5. An improved fluid dispensing system as defined in claim 4 wherein spring means are received around said stem to bias said spray head in the inoperative position.

6. An improved fluid dispensing system as defined in claim 1 wherein certain of said fluid passageways are dissimilar at their outer ends.

7. An improved fluid dispensing system as defined in claim 6 wherein deflection plates are provided at the outer ends of said fluid passageways to deflect fluid being dispensed in a predetermined direction.

8. An improved fluid dispensing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid passageways terminate as deflection plates and wherein said deflection plates are varied to deflect fluid at predetermined angles.

9. An improved fluid dispensing system comprising:

a. a housing, said housing having means thereon for connection to a drain line;

b. a fluid supply line extending inwardly of said housing through a portion thereof;

c. a spray nozzle received within said housing and in communication with said fluid supply line; and

d. a cover received in said housing and completely enclosing same, said cover being attached to said nozzle whereby said cover and said nozzle move upwardly upon receipt of fluid pressure thereon and return to an inoperative position upon cessation of fluid pressure thereon, said cover further defining a plurality of drain openings disposed thereabout, whereby fluid may pass therethrough when said cover is in the inoperative position.

10. An improved fluid dispensing system comprising:

a. a housing, said housing having means thereon for connection to a fluid drain line;

b. a fluid supply line associated with said housing and extending inwardly thereof; and

c. a rotatable fluid dispensing plate operatively associated with said fluid supply line and said housing, said plate having a plurality of fluid passageways disposed thereabout and in communication with said fluid supply line, said spray plate further having a plurality of drain openings disposed between the fluid passageways, said spray plate being movable to an operative position by a fluid force thereon and returnable to an inoperative position upon cessation of said fluid force.

11. An improved fluid dispensing system as defined in claim 10 wherein the fluid supply line is integral with the housing, the housing is adapted for connection with a drain line, and the rotatable dispensing plate is telescopingly associated with the fluid supply line.

12. An improved fluid dispensing system as defined in claim 10 wherein said fluid passageways terminate at deflection plates and wherein said deflection plates are varied to deflect fluid at predetermined angles.