GB730781A - Improvements in and relating to sterilising machines and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

730,781. Sterilizing-apparatus. WEBSTER & CO., Ltd., R. W. July 21, 1953 [July. 23, 1952], No. 18682/52. Class 49. In setting into operation a sterilizing-apparatus of the kind comprising a heated pressure chamber sealed by one or more water containing U-shaped conduits, the temperature and pressure within the chamber are raised by direct injection thereinto of a gas at suitable temperature, e.g. wet or superheated steam, independently of production of steam from the sealing water. The apparatus includes a heated chamber 1 sealed by water-containing, U- shaped inlet and outler conduits 2 and 3, heaters 9 for raising the temperature of the water in the sealing conduits, a steam-supplying nozzle 12 for heating the upper layer of water in the inner limb of the conduit 2, and a nozzle 11 to direct steam into the chamber 1 for maintenance therein of temperature and pressure at the values desired, the bottles or containers under treatment being carried by an endless conveyer 4 from a loading station 7 to an unloading station 8, and being cooled, if desired, by conveyance through a U-shaped, water-filled tank 5 and a water-filled trough 6. In setting the apparatus into operation, a valve 13 is open to allow steam from a source 10 to pass into the heaters 9 and so raise the temperature of the water in the sealing conduits 2 and 3 to a value, e.g. 190‹F., at which a thermostat 15 actuates a controller 14 to close the valve 13, and at the same time, to open a valve 16 to allow steam, also from the source 10, to pass by way'of a valve 17 to the nozzle 11 and so into the chamber 1. The increase of pressure within the chamber 1 causes depression of level of water in the inner limbs of the sealing conduits 2 and 3, and, when the pressure reaches a prearranged value, e.g. 61b./sq. in., a pressure-sensitive capsule 19 in the chamber 1 operates through a controller 18 to close the valve 17. At this stage the capsule 19 causes the opening, through a controller 24, of a valve 21 to admit steam to the nozzle 12 to heat the upper layer of the water in the inner limb of the sealing conduit 2, but when the temperature of this upper layer reaches a desired final value, e.g. 215 ‹F., a temperature-sensitive device 23 in this upper layer operates through a controller 22 to close a valve 20 and prevent further admission of steam to the nozzle 12, When the desired operating conditions have thus been reached, steam supplies to the nozzles 11 and 12 are adjusted by operation of the valve 17 by the controller 18, and of the valve 21 by the controller 24, under the influence of the pressuresensitive capsule 19, and by operation of the valve 20 by the controller 22 under the influence of the temperature-sensitive device 23. Specifications 377,890 and 648,345 are referred to.