JP4844845B2 - Pressure device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressure device using high-temperature and / or high-pressure steam such as a steam sterilizer, and more particularly, a drain valve for discharging a liquid inside and a drain valve operation for operating the drain valve. The present invention relates to a pressure device provided with a member.

  Conventionally, various pressure devices such as a steam sterilizer have been used. In the steam sterilizer, steam having a high temperature of about 121 ° C. to 135 ° C. is used to reliably sterilize surgical instruments and the like. In order to generate such high-temperature steam, the pressure in the chamber is usually as high as about 0.1 to 0.2 MPa.

  An example of a steam sterilizer is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. In this type of steam sterilizer, a pressure chamber for inserting a surgical instrument and performing sterilization is formed in the apparatus main body. A lid is connected to the apparatus main body so as to hermetically seal the pressure chamber.

  In sterilization, a surgical instrument or the like is inserted from the opening of the pressure chamber, and the opening of the pressure chamber is closed with a lid. In this state, high-temperature water vapor is generated in the pressure chamber to sterilize.

  After completion of sterilization, first, the pressure in the chamber is lowered, and then the lid is moved to expose the opening of the pressure chamber, and the sterilized surgical instrument and the like are taken out from the pressure chamber. Further, after the surgical instrument is taken out or before the surgical instrument is taken out, the drainage valve is opened to drain the water in the chamber.

  Usually, a hose having a certain length is connected to the drain valve. The end of the hose is extended to a drainage facility such as a sink. As a result, high temperature hot water and steam are prevented from being scattered.

As the device for opening and closing the drain valve, an electronic control device using an electromagnetic valve, a manually operable drain valve operating member connected to the drain valve, and the like are used. By these control devices and drainage valve operating members, the drainage valve is opened when necessary. That is, water is discharged after sterilization.
JP 2006-149789 A

  If the drain valve is accidentally opened during sterilization, high-temperature and high-pressure steam or hot water may be ejected. Therefore, the drainage valve needs to be surely closed during sterilization. When the control device is used, it is possible to reliably prevent the electromagnetic valve from being opened during sterilization by electronic control. However, such an apparatus requires an electrical connection structure and has to be expensive.

  On the other hand, when a drain valve operating member that can be manually operated is used, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  However, if the drainage valve operating member is accidentally moved during sterilization and the drainage valve is opened, high-temperature and high-pressure steam or hot water may be ejected to the outside.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure device using a drain valve operating member that has a relatively simple structure and can reduce costs in view of the current state of the prior art described above. Another object of the present invention is to provide a pressure device that can reliably prevent operation.

  The present invention includes an apparatus main body in which a pressure chamber having a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure is generated and having a pressure chamber having an opening, a lid capable of opening and closing the opening of the pressure chamber, and the pressure chamber. A pipe connected to the pressure chamber for discharging the liquid to the outside, attached to a part of the pipe, a drain valve for opening and closing the pipe, and attached to the apparatus main body, and In a pressure device comprising a drain valve operating member connected to the drain valve so as to enable an operation to switch between the drain valve and the closed state, an opening of the pressure chamber is provided. The drain valve operating member is attached to the apparatus main body at the outer surface portion of the apparatus main body covered with the cover when closed by the cover.

  In the pressure device according to the present invention, preferably, the lid body is rotatable at one end side with respect to the device body so as to cover a surface of the device body on the side where the opening of the pressure chamber is open. A lid cover connected to the pressure chamber; and a lid member that closes the opening of the pressure chamber. The lid member is covered with the lid cover with the lid member closing the opening of the pressure chamber. Thus, the lid member is attached to the inside of the lid cover. By rotating one end side of the lid cover as a fulcrum, the lid body can be moved and the opening of the pressure chamber can be closed by the lid member.

  In the pressure device according to the present invention, preferably, when the opening of the pressure chamber is closed by the lid body, the area is covered by the lid cover, and the portion where the lid member is disposed The drainage valve operating member is attached to the apparatus main body in a region outside the. In this case, the drain valve operating member is reliably covered with the lid cover when the pressure device is driven.

  In the pressure device according to the present invention, preferably, steam is used as the steam, thereby forming a steam sterilizer. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a steam sterilizer that is less likely to be scattered outside during driving, such as steam and hot water, and that is excellent in safety.

  According to the pressure device according to the present invention, the drain valve operating member is covered with the lid body while the pressure device is driven by increasing the pressure in the pressure chamber. The drain valve operating member is not operated by mistake until it opens. Therefore, since the drain valve is not opened while the pressure device is being driven, the safety of the pressure device can be improved.

  The present invention will be clarified by describing specific embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

  Fig.1 (a) is a front view of the steam sterilizer as a pressure apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (b) is a top view.

  The steam sterilizer 1 has an apparatus body 2. A plurality of support legs 3 are provided so as to protrude downward from the lower surface 2 a of the apparatus body 2.

  The apparatus main body 2 is entirely formed of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing. The casing is made of a rigid material such as metal.

  A pressure chamber 4 is formed in the apparatus main body 2. The pressure chamber 4 has a bottom and is formed of a cylindrical body having an opening 4a opened upward.

  A top plate 2 b is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2. The center of the top plate 2 b is opened, and the opening corresponds to the opening 4 a of the pressure chamber 4. In other words, the cylindrical body forming the pressure chamber 4 is attached to the top plate 2b so that the opening 4a matches the opening of the top plate 2b.

  As will be described later, an object to be sterilized such as a surgical instrument is inserted into the pressure chamber 4 and sterilized by high-temperature and high-pressure steam. A lid 5 is connected to the apparatus main body 2 in order to close the opening 4a of the pressure chamber 4 and keep the pressure chamber at a high pressure.

  The lid 5 includes a lid cover 6 and a lid member 7. The lid cover 6 corresponds to the planar shape of the apparatus main body 2, and has a top plate 6 a having a rectangular planar shape, and four side surface portions 6 b connected to the top plate 6 a so as to extend downward from the top plate 6 a. Have The lid cover 6 has an opening that opens downward.

  The lid member 7 is smaller than the lid cover 6 and is attached to the inside of the lid cover 6.

  The planar shape of the lid member 7 is substantially circular, and has the same planar shape as the opening 4 a of the pressure chamber 4 so as to close the opening 4 a of the pressure chamber 4. If the opening 4a of the pressure chamber 4 is rectangular, the planar shape of the lid member 7, particularly the portion that closes the opening 4a, has the same rectangular plate shape as the opening 4a. That is, the portion of the lid member 7 that closes the opening 4a is appropriately deformed so as to match the planar shape of the opening 4a.

  In order to hermetically seal the opening 4 a of the pressure chamber 4, an annular packing 8 made of a material having rubber elasticity is attached to the lower surface of the lid member 7. The packing 8 is brought into pressure contact with the periphery of the opening 4 a and the inside of the pressure chamber 4 is hermetically sealed by the lid member 7.

  The lid member 7 is connected to the lower surface of the lid cover 6 by a bolt 9. The bolt 9 extends from the top plate 6 a side of the lid cover 6 toward the lid member 7 side. However, the fixing of the lid member 7 to the inside of the lid cover 6 may be performed at other members and at other positions.

  The lid cover 6 is rotatably connected to the apparatus main body 2 at one end side, in this embodiment, at the right end side at the connecting portion X. Accordingly, the lid cover 6 and the lid member 7 fixed to the lid cover 6 are configured so that the opening 4a of the pressure chamber 4 is closed as shown in FIG. It is comprised so that it can rotate centering | focusing on the connection part X between the states which opened 5.

  The connecting portion X can be formed by using an appropriate structure that can be rotatably connected at one end side in the apparatus main body 2 at one end of the lid 5. For this structure, a known connecting structure is used. it can.

  In the steam sterilizer 1, an operation panel 10 and a pressure gauge 11 are attached to the front plate 2 c of the apparatus main body 2. By disposing the operation panel 10 and the pressure gauge 11 on the front, it is possible to easily visually recognize the operation from the outside and the pressure in the pressure chamber 4.

  A drain valve 12 and an exhaust valve 13 are attached to the left side surface 2d of the apparatus main body 2. The drainage valve 12 is attached to the lower part of the left side surface 2 d and communicates with the pressure chamber 4. The drain valve 12 is usually connected with a hose 14 indicated by an imaginary line. The drainage valve 12 is provided to discharge the waste water generated by the above condensation after sterilization. The drain valve 12 is formed by an appropriate valve such as a ball valve or a gate valve that can be switched between an open state and a closed state by a manual operation. The drainage valve 12 is connected to the drainage valve operating member 16 by a connecting mechanism 15 schematically shown in FIG. The drain valve operating member 16 is on the top plate 2b of the apparatus main body 2, and when the opening 4a of the pressure chamber 4 is closed by the lid 5, the outside of the apparatus main body 2 covered with the lid 5. It is attached at the surface part.

  The drain valve operating member 16 has a gripping portion 16b that is rotated about a central axis 16a. By rotating the gripping part 16b around the central axis 16a in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, the drain valve 12 can be switched between the open state and the closed state via the coupling mechanism 15. it can. The connection mechanism 15 is not particularly limited. For example, one end is connected to the drain valve operating member 16 and is connected to a driven part for switching the open / close state of the drain valve 12. A rod can be used. In this case, a structure in which the driven part of the drainage valve 12 is rotated and the drainage valve 12 is switched between an open state and a closed state may be used. In that case, the rod is rotated by rotating the drain valve operating member 16 around the central axis 16a, and consequently the driven portion of the drain valve 12 is rotated. Thereby, it is possible to switch from the open state to the closed state, or from the closed state to the open state.

  In addition, about the driven part of the said connection mechanism 15, the drain valve operating member 16, and the drain valve 12, the drain valve operating member 16 is manually operated so that the drain valve 12 may be switched between an open state and a closed state. As long as it can be operated, it is not particularly limited.

  The end of the drain valve 12 opposite to the side to which the hose 14 is connected is connected to the pressure chamber by the first pipe 17.

  The exhaust valve 13 is connected to the exhaust valve operating member 20 by a connection mechanism 21 schematically shown. The exhaust valve operating member 20 is attached to the outer surface portion, that is, the side surface of the apparatus main body 2 that is not covered by the lid 5.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the exhaust valve operating member 20, the coupling mechanism 21, and the exhaust valve 13 are the same as in the case of the drain valve operating member 16, the coupling mechanism 15, and the drain valve 12. When 20 is rotated around its central axis by manual operation, an appropriate structure can be used in which the exhaust valve 13 is switched between an open state and a closed state by the rotational driving force. As the coupling mechanism, for example, a rod-shaped member can be used. In this case, as the exhaust valve 13, the driven portion coupled to the rod is rotationally driven to open the closed state or the closed state. A valve that can be switched to a state may be used.

  The exhaust valve 13 is connected to the second pipe 18, and by opening the exhaust valve 13, the vapor in the pressure chamber 4 can escape after the sterilization process and the pressure can be reduced.

  When using the steam sterilizer 1, first, as shown in FIG. 2, the lid 5 is opened to expose the opening 4 a of the pressure chamber 4. In this state, an object to be sterilized such as a surgical instrument is stored in the pressure chamber 4. Thereafter, the lid 5 is closed. That is, the lid member 7 is rotated about the connecting portion X so that the opening 4a is closed by the lid member 7, and the opening 4a is closed. In this case, the drain valve operating member 16 is operated in advance, and the drain valve 12 is closed. Similarly, the exhaust valve 13 is also closed.

  Thereafter, the steam sterilizer 1 is driven to generate sterilization by generating high-temperature and high-pressure steam in the pressure chamber 4. As in a normal steam sterilizer, high temperature steam of about 121 ° C. to 135 ° C. is generated during sterilization, and the pressure in the pressure chamber 4 which is a sterilization chamber is usually about 0.1 to 0.2 MPa. The

  Under the above conditions, the time is maintained for about 5 minutes to 60 minutes to complete the sterilization. Thereafter, the exhaust valve operating member 20 is operated, the exhaust valve 13 is opened, and the internal pressure is reduced.

  Next, the lid 5 is opened, that is, the lid cover 6 is rotated around the connecting portion X, the lid cover 6 and the lid member 7 fixed to the lid cover 6 are moved, and the opening 4a of the pressure chamber 4 is opened. To do. Then, an object to be sterilized such as a surgical instrument in the pressure chamber 4 is taken out.

  After completion of sterilization, when it is necessary to drain the water accumulated below by the hose 14, the drain valve operating member 16 is rotated about the central axis 16a, and the drain valve 12 is opened from the closed state. Switch to. As a result, internal hot water or water is discharged from the hose 14 to the outside via the drain valve 12.

  In the steam sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment, since the drain valve operating member 16 is located in the region covered with the lid 5, before the opening 4 a of the pressure chamber 4 by the lid member 7 is opened after the sterilization is completed. In addition, the user cannot contact the drain valve operating member 16. That is, during sterilization, the drain valve operating member 16 is covered with the lid 5, and thus the user cannot operate the drain valve operating member 16. Therefore, there is no possibility that high-temperature and high-pressure steam or liquid is accidentally ejected from the drain valve 12 during sterilization.

  Moreover, hot water and water can be quickly and safely discharged by extending the tip of the hose 14 to other parts such as a sink.

(A) And (b) is the front view and top view which show the steam sterilizer as a pressure apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a left side view showing a state in which the lid is opened in the steam sterilizer shown in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steam sterilizer 2 ... Apparatus main body 2a ... Lower surface 2b ... Top plate 2c ... Front plate 2d ... Left side surface 3 ... Support leg 4 ... Pressure chamber 4a ... Opening 5 ... Lid body 6 ... Lid cover 6a ... Top plate 6b ... Side surface Part 7 ... Lid member 8 ... Packing 9 ... Bolt 10 ... Operation panel 11 ... Pressure gauge 12 ... Drain valve 13 ... Exhaust valve 14 ... Hose 15 ... Connection mechanism 16 ... Drain valve operating member 16a ... Central shaft 16b ... Gripping part 17 ... 1st piping 18 ... 2nd piping 20 ... Exhaust valve operation member 21 ... Connection mechanism

Claims (4)

An apparatus main body in which a vapor having a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure is generated and a pressure chamber having an opening is formed;
A lid that can open and close the opening of the pressure chamber;
A pipe connected to the pressure chamber for discharging the liquid in the pressure chamber to the outside;
A drainage valve attached to a part of the pipe and opening and closing the pipe;
A drain valve operating member attached to the apparatus main body and connected to the drain valve so as to enable an operation of switching the drain valve between an open state and a closed state; In the pressure device,
When the opening of the pressure chamber is closed by the lid body, the drain valve operating member is attached to the apparatus body at the outer surface portion of the apparatus body covered with the lid body. And pressure device.   A lid cover rotatably connected to the apparatus main body at one end side so as to cover the surface of the apparatus main body where the opening of the pressure chamber is open; A lid member that closes the opening, and the lid member is inside the lid cover so that the lid member is covered with the lid cover in a state where the lid member closes the opening of the pressure chamber. The pressure device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure device is attached to the pressure device.   When the opening of the pressure chamber is closed by the lid, the device main body has a region covered by the lid cover and outside the portion where the lid member is disposed. The pressure device according to claim 2, wherein a drain valve operating member is attached.   The pressure device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steam is steam and a steam sterilizer is configured.

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