DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY
Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG
Doornfontein Campus
Foot-operated water mechanism/touchless hand
washing and sanitizing arrangement
by M.Jele Student No: 220155593
M.Mjoli Student No: 220111405
B.R.T. Tlhogane Student No: 220044950
A. Rashula Student No: 220083824
S.M. Moitsi Student No: 220048901
Supervisor: Prof. Tartibu
Subject: MDSMIA2
Date: 22 August 2021
i
DECLARATION
We swear that this is the original work of the authors. All information obtained directly or indirectly from other
sources has been fully acknowledged. Furthermore, it represents our own opinions and not necessarily those of
the University of Johannesburg.
Signed Date
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION AND/OR BACKGROUND
1.1. Introduction.
Thousands of people around the world die every day from bacterial infections. This is
because the hands are the main channel for infecting most objects with germs. Therefore,
hands disinfection is the most important way to prevent further bacterial transmission and
prevent health-hazardous infections. To prevent the spread of germs, everyone around the
world needs to wash their hands multiple times indoors, at work, at school, and at any local
activity[ CITATION WHO20 \l 7177 ].Due to these life threatening situations challenged the need
for engineers to come up with designs to make life of people to wash their hands only using
washing stations. Mostly required stations are touchless to prevents contamination of more
germs. The coronavirus outbreak, which was discovered on the 31st of December 2019, has
introduced a feel of worry and tension worldwide, as a result it has seen the world adapt to
the new conditions because of it[ CITATION HeF20 \l 7177 ].
This outbreak is the same as other smaller scale incidents such as in 2018, reported was the
news of the Tuberculosis outbreak in Limpopo which affected scored of residents. This was
mainly due to the insufficient hygiene in the residents.
1.2. Background research.
As a result, humans started altering their way of life. For example, the need for hand hygiene
has become of high priority as there is a risk when an infected person and noninfected people
touch the same object. Thus, good hand hygiene reduces infections and washing hands
regularly can help you stay healthy[ CITATION NKG21 \l 7177 ]. The most common way of
doing this involves the use of soap and water (hand washing), also alcohol-based hand
sanitizers[ CITATION Sin20 \l 7177 ][ CITATION UNI20 \l 7177 ]. When the hands are very dirty or
greasy, such as after playing outdoor games, gardening, fishing, traveling, campaigning, and
other outreach activities, hand sanitizer may be ineffective in these cases. In this case, it is the
best way to wash is with hands with soap and water. Sanitizers cannot effectively remove dirt
and lubricants, but instead makes the hands sticky, attracting more dirt, hence the need of a
more convenient foot operated method by means of soap and water. The structural design
approach will be like that of hand sanitizing stands with significant alterations while being
inexpensive to make, durable and aesthetically appealing[CITATION Moh20 \l 7177 ]. The foot-
operated method of sanitation prevents infection by providing minimal contact to a
mechanism that is used by many individuals in a certain period as the only contact made with
the mechanism is with the underside of an individual’s foot, taking into consideration that the
individual has on footwear, consequentially minimizing infections. This design is completely
hands-free, so it can prevent bacteria/viruses from spreading through touch[ CITATION HeF20 \l
7177 ]. This can also help prevent disease caused by the lack of sanitation.
1.3. Examples of existing touchless hand wash stations
1.3.1. Public wheeled touchless hand wash station (one pedal) arrangement.
The Pedal operate water from a supply tank on order to supply water to the user. This design
has two tanks one for clean water and other for dirty water collection. There is an
arrangement for liquid soap dispenser that also operate without the need of using hands. The
stand is design using DIY stand, and steel materials. It has wheels for easy transportation, it is
portable in terms of packaging.
Fig 1: Example of hand washing station with touchless water dispensing mechanism.
([ CITATION Cal20 \l 1033 ]
1.3.2. Twin foot pedal hand wash touchless station arrangement.
The existing pedal operated handwashing station helps in washing hands without physically
touching the water tap and soapy, thereby making it least potential for contamination at
public and common places usage. The station is mechanically operated by foot. This system
has two pedals where the user must step on the left pedal for dispensing soap and must step
on the right pedal to dispense water. The total pedal system will push downward for getting
soapy water and water supply.
The design has following specifications:
• Individual usage (one person is permitted to use at a time)
• Portable
• Connection type: this system uses running water supply.
• Water supply can be added if no source of running water
Fig2: Example of elastration Pedal operational arrangement (Pedal stick, L shape rod,
Vertical guide, extension spring)[ CITATION Ban20 \l 1033 ]
1.3.3. Automated hand washing dispenser.
Automatic hand washing method uses infra-red autosensing method which are ultra violet
disinfection, it can sense a hand from range of 0 to 12CM in 25milliseconds time.It uses
battries for power supply to trigger senses in the infrared.The amount of water it can carry is
1000millilitres.Whith spray volume of 1.2millilitres when being operated by the user.
Fig3: Example of elastration for automated hand sanitizer. ([ CITATION she17 \l 1033 ]
Fig4:Example of illustration showing the process of automated touchless hand
washing/sanitizing procees.([ CITATION Arn21 \l 1033 ]
DEFINITION OF PROBLEM
2.1 Problem statement
In the past few years, poor hygiene was a factor contributing to untidy environments in
spreading germs ,bacteria’s and viruses, however now it is one of the factors that contribute
to the rapid spreading of Covid-19, it is imperative to protect and reduce the spread of the
virus, with these researches being done it showed a significant need for people to improve
hygiene in order to prevent further spreading of the virus Numerous interventions were
applied to loosen the contamination and that includes the technique of hand washing which
was assisting in fighting away germs, however those techniques function with the help of
your hands, so they do not wash hands thoroughly because they result in you absorbing the
germs left by another person on the containers, containers like the hand sanitizing bottle as
you have to touch to sanitize your hands and a tap still needs a touch to operate, and that does
not solve the problem or helps to reduce the spread of the virus. . Other methods were use of
hand sanitising which were alcohol based, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers causes
skin damages left on hands of the user. As it is mandatory to sanitize your hands before
entering a store the builder up of residue from other sanitisers used can become an
inconvenience. The hand sanitising stands currently used allow for very fast hand sanitation
but cause this residue inconvenience.
So, since these mechanisms bring about no contribution in regards with Covid-19, we will
solve the problem by introducing a touchless mechanism that will not result in one absorbing
germs from the containers, on doing that we would be introducing a good hygiene, we design
this foot-operated water mechanism to achieve the main aim of reducing the spread of the
virus. Our Design arrangement will allow user to access both water and soap with the need of
using hands.
2.2 Requirements
The mechanism should be able to wash a person’s hands without being handily
touched.
It should be able to operate by a foot on its pedal.
The mechanism should operate at any time.
The design should be able to withstand frequent use.
2.3 Constraints
The hand washing mechanism should not exceed 20Kg.
It should have an average height of 1m.
2.4 Specifications
Easy maintenance
Easy affordability
References
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