Safety Shower Testing Tool with Funnel and Drain to Prevent Splashing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency safety showers and eyewash stations often have improper installations, inadequate water supply, or drainage, making them difficult to use and maintain, and current testing methods are inconvenient, leading to inadequate performance and non-compliance with regulations.
Innovation Solution
A modular, lightweight tool with a funnel, drain system, and height adjustment mechanism that allows for controlled fluid flow testing and certification of safety showers and eyewash stations, preventing splashing and enabling single-person operation without the need for ladders or additional equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current testing methods are used to test safety showers, then testing can be performed, but technicians are doused with water and surroundings are splashed, creating safety hazards and inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (funnel with collection container) between the safety shower and the technician/environment. This funnel captures the water flow from the showerhead and directs it into a collection container, preventing water from splashing onto technicians or surrounding areas while still allowing testing to proceed effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful water spray from the testing process by using the funnel to separate and contain the water flow. The water is taken out from the direct path between the shower and the technician, placing it into a controlled collection system instead
2Adaptability or versatility
If safety stations are added as afterthoughts in repurposed buildings, then facility requirements can be met, but installations are improper and drainage is inadequate, making stations difficult to use and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The testing device is designed to be self-contained and portable, requiring no complex installation or modification of existing infrastructure. The unit can be independently positioned and operated at any safety shower location, allowing maintenance and testing without requiring professional plumbers or specialized equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The testing system is divided into separate functional modules: a funnel for water collection, a collection container for storage, and a drain system for water removal. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easy assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of the overall system
3Reliability
If frequent testing is conducted to ensure compliance with regulations, then performance requirements can be verified, but current testing systems are inconvenient and inhibit full and frequent testing
Solution Approach 1:
The testing device enables technicians to independently perform compliance testing without requiring specialized equipment or extensive preparation. The portable, self-contained design allows any authorized person to conduct tests frequently and conveniently, removing barriers that previously limited testing frequency
Solution Approach 2:
The funnel and collection container act as intermediaries that simplify the testing process by containing and managing water flow automatically. This eliminates the need for complex water management systems or multiple personnel, making frequent testing practical and convenient
4Loss of energy
If safety stations are neglected or unmaintained for months or years, then operational costs are reduced, but stations fail to adequately perform in emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The testing device enables regular monitoring and assessment of safety shower performance by allowing frequent, easy testing. This creates a feedback loop where technicians can verify proper operation, identify issues early, and perform maintenance as needed, ensuring continued reliability without excessive costs
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures safe and effective testing and maintenance of safety stations, reducing the risk of technician exposure and environmental contamination, while allowing for compliance with regulatory standards through controlled water flow measurement and documentation.
Implementation Method 1
The funnel has an interior with a width wider than a showerhead of the safety shower, so that the perimeter of a showerhead may fit within and press or seal against the interior of the funnel. The drain system conducts a flow from the funnel.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool for use on safety showers may include a funnel, a drain system, a base, and a height adjustment mechanism. The funnel has an interior with a width wider than a showerhead of the safety shower, so that a showerhead may fit within or seal against the interior of the funnel. The drain system connected to conduct a flow from the funnel. The base supports the drain system and the funnel and may be placed on a floor beneath the showerhead, and the height adjustment mechanism may be coupled to control a height of the funnel and control sealing pressure that the funnel applies to a showerhead.