GB2338417A

GB2338417A - Autoclave

Info

Publication number: GB2338417A
Application number: GB9911216A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Hannant
Original assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Current assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Priority date: 1998-06-16
Filing date: 1999-05-17
Publication date: 1999-12-22
Also published as: GB9911216D0

Abstract

An autoclave has a water reservoir 30, moulded in plastics as a panel shape, which forms the rear wall (32, see Fig. 2) of the autoclave housing (12, see Figs. 1,2). Air vent slots 34 through the reservoir 30 allow air into and out of the housing. The reservoir 30 has stand-off pillars (33, see Fig. 2) on its rear face and a box formation 37 on its front projecting alongside the autoclave chamber 1. A filling tube 40 integral with reservoir 30 extends to the front of the housing. This reservoir permits a more compact design of autoclave and helps dissipate heat from water returned to the reservoir post-treatment.

Description

2338417 1 AUTOCLAVES This invention relates to autoclaves.

Autoclaves are used to treat articles with steam at elevated t'e"'mperature and pressure, such as to effect sterilization. Water is supplied to the autoclave chamber at the start if each treatment cycle from a reservoir enclosed within the autoclave housing, the water being heated in the chamber to produce the steam. At the end of the cycle, water may be returned to the reservoir. A certain amount of water is lost each treatment cycle and it is necessary periodically to top up the reservoir. Larger chambers require larger water reservoirs, thereby increasing the overall size of the autoclave. Where the size of the autoclave must be kept to a minimum, this can mean that the reservoir is smaller than desirable, requiring frequent refilling. This problem is made worse by the need for the reservoir to fit around the other components in the autoclave housing.

It is an object of the present invention to provided an improved autoclave.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an autoclave having an autoclave chamber, a water reservoir arranged to supply water to the chamber and an outer housing, the water reservoir providing a wall of the outer housing.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an autoclave Z> having an autoclave chamber, a water reservoir arranged to supply water to the chamber and -" -P, 2 an outer housing, the water reservoir having a wall exposed on an outer surface of the housing.

The water reservoir preferably has a panel-shape compartrnent extending across the width of the housing. The autoclave chamber preferably opens at the' front of the autoclave, the reservoir providing a rear wall of the housing.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an autoclave having an autoclave chamber, a water reservoir arranged to supply water to the chamber and an outer housing, the water reservoir having a panel-shape compartment extending across the 0 entire width and height of the autoclave to the rear of the autoclave chamber.

An outer wall of the reservoir may have a plurality of stand-off pillars adapted to space the wall of the autoclave from external objects. The reservoir may have at least one air vent aperture extending through the reservoir to allow air to flow into or out of the housing. The reservoir preferably includes a filling tube extending from the reservoir to the front of the autoclave. The reservoir may have a front face with a concave recess, the rear end of the autoclave chamber being received in the recess. The reservoir may have a box formation projecting from a front face and projecting alongside the autoclave chamber. The reservoir is preferably a single-piece moulding of a plastics material.

An autoclave according to the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

I" - 3 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front of the autoclave; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the autoclave; Figure 3 is a perspective, simPlified view of the front'o-f the autoclave with a part of its housing removed; and 1 Figure 4 is a perspective, simplified view of the floor of the autoclave with the autoclave chamber removed.

The autoclave has a pressure chamber 1 of cylindrical shape with a door 2 at one end and a convex, domed end wall (not shown) at its rear end 3. The chamber 1 is supported on a bracket 10 attached with a floor panel 11. The floor panel 11 provides a part of the autoclave housing 12, the panel being a pressed metal sheet with air vents 13 and with turned-up edges 14 to 17 around all four sides. The housing 12 contains the conventional components of an autoclave, not shown here, for clarity.

The housing 12 also includes a U-shape bent metal cover 18 forming the top 19 and two sides 20 and 2 1. The cover 18 is secured to the floor panel 11 by screws 22 engaging the edges 15 and 16 of the floor panel. A flat, metal sheet front panel 23 is secured at the front of the housing 12.

T The autoclave includes a water reservoir 30 made as a single-piece rotational moulding of a plastics material, such as polythene or polypropylene, although it could be 4 formed in several parts. Ile reservoir 30 includes a square, hollow panel- shape compartment 3 1, which provides the rear wall of the housing 12 and extends across the entire width and height of the autoclave. The rear wall 32 of the compartment 31 is exposed at the rear of the autoclave and has several stand-off pillars 33 so as to ensure that the rear of the autoclave is W7- not placed too close to external objects, which might otherwise restrict air flow around the unit. The compartment 31 has several air vent apertures in the form of slots 34 formed through it to allow air to flow through the compartment, into or out of the interior of the housing 12. On its front face 3 5, the compartment 3 1 has a concave, domed recess 3 6 towards its left-hand side, which is located to receive the rear end 3 of the autoclave chamber 1. The reservoir 30 also includes a hollow box formation 37 of generally rectangular shape projecting from the front face 35 of the compartment 3 1, the box being shaped to fit around other components of the autoclave within the housing. In particular, the box 37 extends alongside the autoclave chamber 1, the box. having a foot 3 8 that sits on the upper surface of the floor panel 11. The water reservoir 3 0 further includes an integral filling spout 3 9 in the form of a substantially horizontal hollow tube 40 that extends forwardly and is terminated at its forward end by a filling cup 41 positioned on the front panel 23. The interior of the spout 39, the compartment 31 and the box 37 form a common, intercommunicating cavity so that water poured in the cup 41 will flow to fill the entire reservoir 30. The moulding of the reservoir 30 is formed with various screw holes 42 or other fixings so that it can be attached to the floor panel 11 and the cover 18. The interior of the reservoir 30 also communicates with the interior of the autoclave chamber via a pipe 43 and valve 44.

The water reservoir 30, therefore, serves an additional purpose of providing one of the walls of the autoclave housing 12. This enables a relatively large volume reservoir to be used whilst allowing a simple layout of the interior of the autoclave. Because a wall 32 of the reservoir 30 is exposed on the outside of the autoclave, it helps dissipate heat from water returned to the reservoir from the chamber 1 after a treatment cycle. Dissipation of heat is improved by the large surface area of the panel-shape compartment 3 1, which is further increased by the air vents 34 through the compartment.

6

Claims

An autoclave having an autoclave chamber, a water reservoir arranged to supply water to the chamber and an outer housing, wherein the water reservoif provides a wall of the outer housing.
2.

An autoclave having an autoclave' chamber, a water reservoir arranged to supply water to the chamber and an outer housing, wherein the water reservoir has a wall exposed on an outer surface of the housing.
An autoclave according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the water reservoir has a panel-shape compartment extending across the width of the housing.
4. An autoclave according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the autoclave chamber opens at the front of the autoclave and the reservoir provides a rear wall of the housing.
5. An autoclave having an autoclave chamber, a water reservoir arranged to supply water to the chamber and an outer housing, wherein the water reservoir has a panelshape compartment extending across the entire width and height of the autoclave to the rear of the autoclave chamber.

1' 7
6. An autoclave according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an outer wall of the reservoir has a plurality of stand-off pillars adapted to space the wall of the autoclave from external objects.
7. An autoclave according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir has at least one air vent aperture extending through the reservoir to allow air to flow into or out of the housing.
8. An autoclave according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir includes a filling tube extending from the reservoir to the front of the autoclave.

0
9.

An autoclave according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir has a front face with a concave recess, and wherein the rear end of the autoclave chamber is received in the recess.
10. An autoclave according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir has a box formation projecting from a front face and projecting alongside the autoclave chamber.
11. An autoclave according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir is a single-piece moulding of a plastics material.
12. An autoclave substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8
13. Any novel and inventive feature or combination of-features as hereinbefore described.