GB913946A - Improvements in autoclaves - Google Patents

Abstract

913,946. Autoclaves. VESTA A.S. Jan. 18, 1961, No. 2088/61. Class 81 (1). [Also in Group XVIII] In a quick-acting autoclave for steam heating with a sterilizing chamber A for a number of cylindrical chambers K having perforated bottoms and being filled with the material to be sterilized, and with a steam jacket B surrounding the chamber and with a door D which closes steam-tight and pressure-tight and steam inlet O and discharge pipes R for the chamber, the sterilizing chamber A consist of a horizontal metal cylinder on the uppermost part of which the steam inlet pipe O is mounted, steam discharge pipe R being mounted on the lower part of the cylinder having an antechamber located at one end of the cylinder, the lowermost part of the antechamber having another discharge pipe S for the steam, the adjoining end walls of the sterilizing chamber and the antechamber being constituted by an end bottom of such container as is nearest the antechamber. In use, steam is admitted to the steam jacket so as to preheat the sterilizing chamber A, and the containers K filled with material to be sterilized are inserted. The door D is closed and vacuum applied to pipes R and S. When the pressure in the sterilizing chamber has decreased to about 6 cm. Hg, the vacuum pump is stopped and steam is admitted to the sterilizing chamber through the pipe O, heats the containers K on the outer side, flowing in the direction of the arrows and subsequently through the perforated lid of the innermost container and further through the material in the containers and through the bottoms of same, passing finally through the ring Z, after which the steam flow is passed away through the pipes S. Sterilization in this manner takes place for about 5 minutes after which the steam supply to the sterilizing chamber is cut-off and the vacuum pump is started and connected with the sterilizing chamber through the pipes R and S for afterdrying of the materials sterilized in the containers K.