GB2306328A - An autoclave - Google Patents

Abstract

An autoclave (1) has two sterilising chambers (2,3), one placed above the other. A control unit (6) controls the two sterilising chambers independently from one another, or in combination, as desired.

Description

An Autoclave The maximum diameter or length of a sterilising chamber of a conventional autoclave, and therefore the capacity of the autoclave, is effectively limited by the dimensions of a standard doorway. It might appear that the cross-sectional area of the chamber could be increased by giving the chamber a square cross-section instead of a circular cross-section. However, the corners of a chamber with a square cross-section are inherently weak and the chamber on its own is unable to withstand the internal pressures generated in use. It is therefore necessary to provide strong external re-inforcement, and this necessitates a reduction in the width of the chamber because the overall width of the autoclave is limited.

This problem can be overcome by using two separate autoclaves. This is not an ideal solution as many users have a limited area in which to work and do not have space for two autoclaves.

The present invention provides an autoclave having two sterilising chambers. In a preferred embodiment one of the chambers is mounted above the other chamber.

This allows the sterilising capacity of the autoclave to be doubled, without increasing the width or depth of the autoclave. Furthermore, many users are required to have a "clean" autoclave (for example, for sterilising re-usable bottles) and a "dirty" autoclave (for example for sterilising contaminated material before disposal). It is possible to use one chamber of an autoclave of this invention as a "clean" chamber and to use the other chamber as a "dirty" chamber, thus avoiding the need for two separate autoclaves.

In a preferred embodiment the autoclave comprises a control means for controlling the sterilising chambers independently.

A person with a conventional, large capacity autoclave would have to heat up the entire chamber regardless of the size of the load to be sterilised. A user of an autoclave of this invention would be able to heat up only one chamber if the load was small, thereby saving energy.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an illustrated example with reference to the accompanying Figure in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an autoclave of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows an autoclave (1) which has two sterilising chambers (2, 3), mounted in a steel framework with one chamber disposed vertically above the other. Each chamber has a volume of 125 litres. The framework is covered with removable panels, and is mounted on castors (7).

The two chambers are entirely separate in operation from each other. Each chamber is provided with its own conventional internal steam generator with three 3kW elements. Each chamber is also provided with one or more thermocouples for monitoring the temperature and with a steam outlet.

Each chamber is provided with an inner door (not shown) and an outer door (4, 5) of any suitable conventional type. The chambers and the inner doors are made from stainless steel, and the outer doors are made from GRP to provide thermal insulation.

A control unit (6) is able to control each chamber independently from the other; apart from this it is a conventional control unit fitted with a micro-processor.

The control unit will not start a sterilising cycle in a chamber until the inner and outer doors of that chamber are shut and locked. The control unit provides a range of cycles within the temperature range 100-137 and within the time range 0-9999 minutes. The control unit can also operate the two chambers together, if there is a large load.

A drip tray (not shown) is fitted to the front of the autoclave to prevent spill ages. The lower chamber is provided with a shelf (8) which can be slid out of the chamber to make loading and unloading the chamber easier.

The upper chamber could also be provided with a sliding shelf, but this is less important since the upper chamber is at a more convenient working height.

The diameter of each chamber is 46cm, and the overall height to the top of the control unit is 180cm. The loading height of the lower chamber is 60cm above the floor level, and the loading height of the upper chamber is 117cm.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been described by way of example the invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the autoclave could have external steam generators mounted on the framework. The two chambers could have different capacities. The dimensions of the autoclave or the materials used could be varied from those given above.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. An autoclave having two sterilising chambers.

2. An autoclave as claimed in claim 1 wherein one sterilising chamber is mounted, in use, above the other sterilising chamber.

3. An autoclave as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein at least one of the sterilising chambers is provided with a shelf for receiving an object to be sterilised, the shelf being movable between a first position in which the shelf is wholly contained within the lower chamber and a second position in which the shelf projects from the sterilising chamber.

4. An autoclave as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 and comprising means for controlling the sterilising chambers independently.

5. An autoclave substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1.