Abstract: A hand washing and drying apparatus comprising a washing and drying chamber including at least one access port providing access for inserting at least one hand to be washed, a wash liquid dispenser in fluid communication with the interior of the washing and drying chamber for dispensing wash liquid within the washing and drying chamber, a blow dryer in fluid communication with the interior of the washing and drying chamber for providing a directed supply of drying air within the washing and drying chamber, a towel dispenser in communication with the interior of the washing and drying chamber for dispensing a towel, e.g., a disposable paper towel, within the chamber, and a waste disposal for disintegrating a spent towel dispensed from the towel dispenser and exhausting disintegrated waste through a drain. The apparatus further may include a control device for controlling the operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A dishwasher pump and automatic purge system which includes a wash impeller supported for rotation within a pump chamber wherein the pump chamber has a main outlet and a sample outlet port. Wash liquid pumped out through the main outlet is recirculated throughout the dishwasher interior wash chamber. A soil collector receives wash liquid through the sample outlet port. The soil collector includes a filter screen for returning filtered wash liquid back into the sump such that soils are retained in the soil collector. Pressure within the soil collector is sensed by a pressure sensor. The soil collector is purged by a drain pump when the pressure within the soil accumulator exceeds a predetermined limit level such that soils are cleared from the collector and the filter screen. When the pressure within the soil accumulator is reduced to below the predetermined limit level, the drain pump is deenergized.

Abstract: A centrifugal soil separator for a dishwasher having a rotating centrifuge connected for rotation with a centrifugal impeller, the centrifugal impeller providing a majority of recirculating wash water for the dishwasher while the centrifuge accepts a second portion of flow and spins that portion of flow for soil separation and to achieve a pumping action to move that quantity of water to the wash water delivery system with the quantity of water moved by the centrifugal impeller. By a coordinated stopping, reversing and starting action of the centrifuge, soil collected therein can be disposed to a soil sizing and drain apparatus for flushing and draining the centrifuge.

Abstract: A washer for washing objects with liquid. The washer includes a wash chamber adapted for holding objects to be washed. The sump has a pump chamber and a collection chamber, both of which are adapted to hold liquid from the wash chamber. A recirculation pump is operable to move liquid from the pump chamber to the wash chamber. A drain pump is operable to move liquid from the pump chamber and the collection chamber to a drain. A rotatable blade is disposed in the collection chamber and is adapted to mince particles therein. A controller is provided for controlling the operation of the recirculation pump and the drain pump. The controller is operable to turn the drain pump on and off during a wash phase in order to move particles from the collection chamber to the drain. The controller is also operable to turn the drain pump on at the end of the wash phase in order to initiate a drain phase wherein the drain pump drains the sump of liquid.

Abstract: A dishwasher sump is divided into a collection chamber and a pump chamber by a filter. Food particles collect in the collection chamber while filtered wash liquid collects in the pump chamber. A pump has an inlet located in the pump chamber. The filtered wash liquid is recycled and sprayed on objects in the dishwasher by the pump. The impeller is driven by a shaft extending through the collection chamber and a wall separates the pump chamber from the collection chamber. Food particles in the collection chamber are minced by a rotating blade on the pump shaft. Balancing vanes on a rear face of the impeller prevent food particles and dirty water from flowing into the filtered liquid from the collection chamber. At the end of a wash cycle, the minced food particles are pumped to a drain with the wash liquid.

Abstract: The portable countertop dishwasher of the invention employs a housing, such that the pump and fluid handling assembly of the structure is positioned within the dishwasher in a compact manner between the dishwasher floor and bottom wall, with a drying assembly directed into the rear wall of the dishwasher in operative communication with the dishwasher cavity.

Abstract: A pipe and tube cleaning system, particularly useful for cleaning scale from pipes and tubes used in oil and gas production operations and containing naturally occurring radioactive materials in the scale, includes an elongated closable tub for supporting a section of pipe or tube for combined hydraulic jet blast and mechanical cutting and cleaning action by a lance insertable within the pipe to remove scale from the interior of the pipe. A slurry of particulate material removed from the pipe and the cleaning liquid (water) is collected in the tub and discharged to a particle size reduction and filtering system which reduces the particle size of the material to form a slurry of very fine particles which may be disposed of through an injection well. Some of the slurry may be returned to the system for use as cleaning liquid. Pipe is loaded into and removed from the tub by a pipe handling mechanism including retractable supports with ramp surfaces which position the pipe for movement into and out of the tub.

Abstract: A reversibly operated dual impeller pump which simultaneously pumps and filters wash liquid. The pump includes upper and lower assemblies. The upper assembly defines a recirculation impeller chamber and a filter chamber which are separated by a cylindrical wall. A recirculation impeller housed within the recirculation impeller chamber pumps wash liquid, a majority of the pumped wash liquid being directed toward one or more wash rotatably mounted arms while a portion of the pumped wash liquid is supplied to the filtration chamber via a hole in the cylindrical wall. A novel vane structure is provided to direct the pumped wash liquid from the recirculation impeller to the wash arm. The lower assembly includes a lower pump housing, a separator plate, and a macerator assembly. The macerator assembly includes a vertical cylindrical wall which spaces the macerator blade from a bottom of the lower pump housing to prevent damaging contact between heavy or settled material and the blade.

Abstract: A reversibly operated dual impeller pump which simultaneously pumps and filters wash liquid. The pump includes upper and lower assemblies. The upper assembly defines a recirculation impeller chamber and a filter chamber which are separated by a cylindrical wall. A recirculation impeller housed within the recirculation impeller chamber pumps wash liquid, a majority of the pumped wash liquid being directed toward one or more wash rotatably mounted arms while a portion of the pumped wash liquid is supplied to the filtration chamber via a hole in the cylindrical wall. A novel vane structure is provided to direct the pumped wash liquid from the recirculation impeller to the wash arm. The lower assembly includes a lower pump housing, a separator plate, and a macerator assembly. The macerator assembly includes a vertical cylindrical wall which spaces the macerator blade from a bottom of the lower pump housing to prevent damaging contact between heavy or settled material and the blade.

Abstract: A self-cleaning garbage disposal utilizes a spray ring which is located below the splash guard. A control valve is connected to the cold water pipe and controls the flow of water from the cold water line into the spray ring. The control valve is engaged simultaneously with the disposal when the disposal is activated, which also initiates a timer control circuit on the control valve. The spray ring, using standard water pressure, forces the food debris directly into the disposal blades in a counterclockwise direction for faster and more efficient grinding of the food debris. When the disposal is switched off, water continues to flow through the spray ring for approximately fifteen seconds, thoroughly flushing any remaining debris down the drain.

Abstract: A dishwasher is provided with a fluid handling system that utilizes two separate sumps and two separate pumps. A first sump receives a portion of the wash liquid from the wash chamber and recirculates the wash liquid by use of a relatively high capacity pump in the first sump. The second sump receives the remainder of the wash liquid and removes both heavier-than-water and lighter-than-water soils before directing this remainder of the wash liquid to the first sump. A relatively low capacity pump in the second sump directs wash liquid and collected soils to an exterior drain.

Abstract: A cleaning station for storing, cleaning and replacing ostomy equipment. The station is mountable on a wall and is further adapted to be positioned over or in close proximity to a toilet. The cleaning station includes a cabinet, a countertop and sink, and a support adapted to support the cabinet on a wall. The sink is fitted with a drain conduit adapted for discharging waste from the sink to a disposal site. The support is adapted to extend laterally whereby the cabinet may be displaced outwardly from its position adjacent a wall to a location above a waste disposal site such as a conventional toilet.

Abstract: A bidirectional dishwasher pump includes a particle cutter adjacent the ingress to the drain pump cavity. The particle cutter is associated with the pump drive shaft and includes a primary edge portion and a secondary edge portion. Rotation in a first direction effects cutting of particles by the primary edge portion and rotation in a second direction effects relatively reduced particle cutting and radial outward movement of particles by the secondary edge portion.

Abstract: A combination drain pump/disposer is used with a vessel such as a dishwasher and includes a housing defining an impeller cavity, an inlet above the housing which communicates with the vessel, a pump outlet extending through a side wall of the cavity and communicating with the drain line, and a waste impeller positioned within the cavity. The impeller includes a disc-shaped base substantially parallel to and spaced slightly above the floor of the cavity, a plurality of soil-sizing orifices, an upstanding rim extending about a periphery of the base and including an inner wall defining a plurality of radially-extending, substantially vertical cutting edges and an outer wall defining a plurality of radially-extending, substantially vertical pumping vanes, and at least one breaker tooth extending upwardly from the base and positioned inwardly of the rim.

Abstract: A dishwasher structure having a centrifugal pump for providing dishwashing liquid to a spray arm thereof. The swirling motion of the dishwashing liquid effected by operation of the pump is utilized to divert a portion of the liquid to an accumulator wherein soil material is collected from the liquid. The cleansed liquid is returned to the pump chamber to be repumped with additional dishwashing liquid. The soil accumulating chamber is arranged concentrically about a guide chamber, in turn arranged concentrically about the pump chamber to provide a compact coaxial liquid cleansing structure. A drain is provided for draining the dishwashing liquid and collected soil at the end of the dishwashing cycle. A filter screen is provided at the inlet to the pump and an improved chopper is provided for comminuting solid soil matter at the upstream side of the filter screen.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically processing carrying trays having used culinary items and refuse thereon whereby desired operations, such as collection and cleaning of reusable culinary items (e.g. knives, forks and spoons), separation and disposal of waste, and cleaning of the trays can be effected without need for operating personnel. In preferred systems the apparatus automatically stacks the cleaned trays and sorts and collects the cleaned reusable culinary items by type so that the trays and the culinary items are readily available for reuse.

Abstract: An electrical switch in a modular unit between a single fused 15 amp power source and two electrical appliances, such as a garbage disposer and a dishwasher in a kitchen unit, is connected so that only one appliance can be connected to the power source at any one time.