GB1088953A - An improved sterilising autoclave - Google Patents

Abstract

1,088,953. Sterilising autoclave. DENT & HELLYER Ltd. Aug. 24, 1964 [May 23, 1963], No. 20581/63. Heading A5G. A sterilising autoclave comprises a sterilisation compartment provided with a charging opening to which a closure device may be fitted in a pressure-tight manner, a water tank, a water chamber arranged to receive water from said tank, thermostatically-conttrolled means for connecting the water chamber alternately to a water-heating compartment, to enable a predetermined quantity of water to be delivered to the water-heating compartment from the chamber, and to the tank, to enable water to flow from the tank for the purpose of replenishing the water chamber, a heater for heating the water delivered to the waterheating compartment and converting it. into steam, and a condenser for condensing the generated steam and returning it to said tank. The sterilisation compartment and the waterheating compartment may be one and the same compartment. As shown in the Figures 1 and 2, articles 27 to be sterilised are placed in sterilisation compartment 1, on shelf 28. Door 5 is locked (thus closing switch 24), switch 8 is opened and three-way cock 13 is positioned such that it connects pipe 14 to pipe 16 (i.e. water chamber 11 is connected to water tank 10). Switch 7 is opened and switch 19 is closed. On connecting the autoclave to the voltage supply source V by closing switch 8, the solenoid coil 18 is energised and moves the three-way cock 13 such that it connects pipe 14 to pipe 15. The contents of water-chamber 11 drain by gravity into compartment 2. On closing switch 7, immersion heater 6 is energised and the water in compartment 2 is converted into steam and passes into compartment 1 via pipe 3. Steam passes out of compartment 1 via pipe 20 to condenser 21 and the condensate is forced from outlet 22 into tank 10 by the steam pressure in compartment 1. Non-return valve 17 prevents water or steam flowing back along pipe 15 from compartment 2 to chamber 11. Switch 7 opens thermostatically at die -end of the sterilising cycle, i.e. when all the water in compartment 2 has been converted to steam. Switch 19 may be set to open before the end of the sterilising cycle so that solenoid coil 18 is de-energised and the three-way cock 13 returns to the position in which it connects pipe 14 to pipe 16, so that water can flow from tank 10 into chamber 11. The above cycle may then be repeated.