JP5063525B2 - High pressure steam sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a high-pressure steam sterilizer that is mainly installed in a hospital or the like and sterilizes an object to be sterilized such as a medical instrument under high-temperature high-pressure steam.

As one of the high-pressure steam sterilizers, a horizontal chamber with a front opening is provided in a box-shaped case of the sterilizer, a sterilization heater is disposed at the inner bottom of the horizontal chamber, and a vacuum pump for evacuating the chamber, and a chamber A lid that opens and closes the front opening of the chamber, and is equipped with a water tank for pouring water into the chamber and draining water in the chamber so that it can be pulled out and stored in a box-type case. There are high-pressure steam sterilizers that sterilize under steam. (
Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-340430 A

In this Patent Document 1, in order to sterilize an object to be sterilized stored in a chamber under high-pressure steam, water in a pouring / draining tank is poured into the chamber from a pouring / draining pipe, and evaporated by energizing a sterilization heater, When the sterilization process is completed, the water in the chamber is drained from the pouring pipe into the pouring tank. Further, a vacuum pump for exhausting the inside of the chamber is provided, and this vacuum pump is a water-sealed vacuum pump in which an impeller portion is sealed with water sucked from a water-sealing water supply tank.

In such a high-pressure steam sterilizer, the water-sealed vacuum pump is configured to evacuate the chamber, and the impeller portion is sealed with water sucked from the water-sealing water supply tank, and is housed in the pump chamber. In this configuration, the impeller is rotated at high speed by an electric motor provided outside the pump chamber. During operation of such a water ring vacuum pump, the impeller rotates at a high speed, so that a sound in a specific frequency band is generated from the pump chamber, which propagates around the high-pressure steam sterilizer and becomes noise. It's in the way.

In the present invention, the sound of a specific frequency band generated during operation of such a water ring vacuum pump is
This sound is attenuated so that it does not get in the way around the high-pressure steam sterilizer. In this case, the electric motor that is the drive source of the water-sealed vacuum pump also generates heat during operation. Therefore, to prevent the electric motor from burning out, the heat generated from the pump chamber is maintained at a specific frequency while maintaining good heat dissipation. The present invention provides a high-pressure steam sterilizer with reduced noise by absorbing and attenuating the sound of the band.

The high-pressure steam sterilizer according to the present invention includes a chamber for sterilizing an object to be sterilized, and an impeller accommodated in the pump chamber that is rotated by an electric motor provided outside the pump chamber to exhaust the chamber and supply water for water sealing A water-sealed vacuum pump in which the impeller portion is sealed with water sucked from a tank is supplied with steam or generated in the chamber, and the sterilized material in the chamber is subjected to high-temperature and high-pressure steam. In the high-pressure steam sterilizer to be sterilized, the water-sealed vacuum pump has an electric motor chamber in which the electric motor is accommodated side by side in the pump chamber, and the outer periphery of the pump chamber is disposed in the pump chamber within a range not hindering heat radiation of the electric motor It is coated with a sound-absorbing member for attenuating the propagation of the external noise from the sound-absorbing member forms a heat dissipation space between the outer surface of the pump chamber A foaming member of soft that, outer protection covering the outer surface of the foam member
And an opening is formed on the motor chamber side, and the periphery of the opening is in close contact with the motor chamber .

According to the present invention, the dissipation of heat generated from the electric motor that is the drive source of the water-sealed vacuum pump is not hindered, and the sound in the frequency band that is the noise generated from the pump chamber is absorbed while the electric motor is prevented from being burned out. A high-pressure steam sterilizer that can be attenuated and reduced in noise can be provided. Moreover, since the foaming member which exhibits a sound absorption function covers the outer surface of a pump chamber as a structure of a sound absorption member, the sound which generate | occur | produces from a pump chamber is absorbed favorably. Also, if the foamed member is damaged during transportation of a water-sealed vacuum pump or attachment to a high-pressure steam sterilizer, the desired sound absorption effect cannot be obtained, but the outer surface of the foamed member is covered with a protective outer shell. Therefore, there is no such concern. In addition, since the water for sealing is circulated to the pump chamber, the pump chamber is cooled. The sound absorbing member includes a soft foam member and a soft foam member so as to form a heat radiation space with the outer surface of the pump chamber. Since the outer surface of the foamed member is covered with the protective shell, in addition to the sound absorbing effect of the soft foamed member, there is no concern that the seizure of the pump will occur due to the water sealing water and this heat radiation space.

The high-pressure steam sterilizer according to the present invention includes a chamber for sterilizing an object to be sterilized, and an impeller accommodated in the pump chamber that is rotated by an electric motor provided outside the pump chamber to exhaust the chamber and supply water for water sealing A water-sealed vacuum pump in which the impeller portion is sealed with water sucked from a tank is supplied with steam or generated in the chamber, and the sterilized material in the chamber is subjected to high-temperature and high-pressure steam. In the high-pressure steam sterilizer to be sterilized, the water-sealed vacuum pump has an electric motor chamber in which the electric motor is accommodated side by side in the pump chamber, and the outer periphery of the pump chamber is disposed in the pump chamber within a range not hindering heat radiation of the electric motor An embodiment of the present invention will be described below, which is coated with a sound absorbing member that attenuates the propagation of noise generated from the outside to the outside.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a general piping diagram of a high-pressure steam sterilizer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a state in which the outer periphery of a pump chamber of a water-sealed vacuum pump according to the present invention is covered with a sound absorbing member, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the pump chamber of the water-sealed vacuum pump according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is the water according to the present invention. It is a perspective view of the sound absorption member which coat | covers the outer periphery of the pump chamber of a sealed vacuum pump.

First, a description will be given based on FIG. 1 is a high-pressure steam sterilizer, 4 is a horizontal chamber disposed in the high-pressure steam sterilizer 1 and opened on the front side, 5 is a sterilization heater disposed and fixed on the inner bottom of the chamber 4, and 6 is a sterilization heater in the chamber 4. 5 is a pallet for placing a basket 7 containing a sterilized material placed above 5, 8 is a lid of the chamber 4, 9 is a coupling fixed to the wall material of the chamber 4, and 10 is an end of a pipe 11 connected to the coupling 9. Pressure gauge attached to the part, 1
A safety valve 2 is attached to a part of the pipe 11 and is opened before the inside of the chamber 4 becomes abnormal pressure to prevent a pressure rise.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a later-described tray serving as a base provided in a lower space of the high-pressure steam sterilizer. 14 is a water-sealed vacuum pump fixed to a bottom plate S1 which is fixed to the bottom of the high-pressure steam sterilizer 1 adjacent to the tray 13, and includes an intake portion 16 communicating with the inside of the chamber 4 through a pipe 15, and a water supply portion 17 And a drainage section 18.

19 and 20 are leak valves and vacuum valves for adjusting the degree of vacuum of the water-sealed vacuum pump 14 provided in a part of the pipe 15, 21 is an intake filter that communicates with the chamber 4 through the pipe 22, and 23 is the pipe 22. A check valve provided in a part prevents the air in the chamber 4 from being exhausted into the atmosphere. 24 is a water supply filter attached to the bottom wall of the chamber 4, 25 is a water supply / drainage pipe having one end connected to the water supply filter 24 and a part of the water supply / drainage valve 26 attached thereto, 27
The one end is connected to the chamber 4, and the other end of each of the exhaust pipe 25, the drainage pipe 25 and the exhaust pipe 27 is connected to the cheese 30.

31 is a water injection pipe, 33 is a water supply pipe having one end connected to the water supply unit 17 and the other end opened.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a drainage pipe having one end connected to the drainage section 18 and the other end opened. 35 is made of polypropylene in which a predetermined amount of heating water used for sterilization in the chamber 4 is stored, and has an internal volume of about 20
It is an approximately 10 liter pouring / draining tank, and the tip opening 31A portion of the pouring / draining pipe 31 is introduced. 36 is a water-sealing water supply tank for storing water for cooling and water-sealing vacuum pump 14;
The internal capacity of the other end of the water supply pipe 33 connected to the water supply unit 17 and the other end of the drainage pipe 34 connected to the drainage unit 18 is about 20 liters.

The drainage tank 35 and the water-sealing water supply tank 36 are placed on the tray 13. Tray 13
Is configured so that it can be pulled out from the lower space of the high-pressure steam sterilizer by a slide by rollers mounted on the rail or mounted on the lower surface of the left and right ends,
By making the water supply pipe 33 and the drainage pipe 34 flexible pipes, the drainage tank 35 and the water-sealing water supply are provided in accordance with the drawer storage of the tray 13 with the pipes removed from the corresponding tanks 35 and 36. The tank 36 can be pulled out and stored at the same time, and water supply, drainage, cleaning, and the like of the tanks 35 and 36 are facilitated.

Next, a series of sterilization process operations will be described. A basket 7 containing a sterilized material (gauze or the like) is placed in the chamber 4 and placed on the pallet 6.

When the start button (not shown) is operated after the lid 8 is closed, the vacuum valve 20 opens and the water-sealed vacuum pump 14 starts to operate, and the air supply filter 21 and the air supply valve are evacuated. Air is introduced into the chamber 4 through 40. At this time, the sterilization heater 5 and the drying heater 38 generate heat intermittently to heat the sterilized product, thereby preventing condensation of the sterilized product during the subsequent sterilization and improving the drying performance.

Eventually, after about 10 minutes have elapsed from the start of the preheating step, the air supply valve 40 is closed and the water supply / drainage valve 26 is opened, and the water in the water supply / drainage tank 35 is supplied from the muffler 32 to the water supply / drainage pipe 3.
1. It is sucked into the chamber 4 through the cheese 30 and the water absorption filter 24 and poured.
When a predetermined amount of water is stored in the chamber 4, the pouring / draining valve 26 is closed, and a pre-vacuum process is performed in which evacuation is performed by the water ring vacuum pump 14 and exhausted from the water ring vacuum pump 14.

After about 3 minutes from the start of the preliminary vacuum process, the operation of the water ring vacuum pump 14 is stopped,
The vacuum valve 20 is closed, and the sterilization heater 5 proceeds to a heating process in which heat is generated with the total amount of heat. At this time, residual air that has not been exhausted during the preliminary vacuum process is exhausted from the exhaust valve 29 for several minutes after the temperature in the chamber 4 reaches 99 ° C. After that, when the sterilization heater 5 continues to generate heat and the inside of the chamber reaches 132 ° C., the heating process ends, and the process proceeds to the sterilization process under saturated vapor pressure.

When a predetermined sterilization time elapses, the pouring / draining valve 26 is opened, the heat generation of the sterilization heater 5 is stopped, and the process proceeds to the exhaust process. In this way, the drain / pump valve 26 is moved to the exhaust process.
Is opened, and the high temperature water in the chamber 4 passes through the pipes 25 and 31 and enters the pipe 35
Flows in. When the process goes to the exhaust process and the temperature in the chamber 4 decreases to 105 ° C., the drain / drain valve 26 is closed and the exhaust valve 29 is opened. In this way, the water in the chamber is drained and returned to the pouring / draining tank 35.

When the temperature in the chamber drops to 100 ° C., the vacuum valve 20 is opened again, the operation of the water-sealed vacuum pump 14 is started and the drying process is started, and the air supply valve is heated while heating the sterilization heater 5 and the drying heater. With the opening of 40, air is introduced into the chamber 4 to dry the sterilized product.

When the determined drying time has elapsed, the vacuum valve 20 is closed, the operation of the water ring vacuum pump 14 is also stopped, and the drying process is completed. When the pressure in the chamber 4 returns to atmospheric pressure after the drying process is completed, the lid 8 is opened and the sterilized material is taken out.

As described above, the water-sealed vacuum pump 14 is operated to evacuate the chamber 4 during the preheating step, the prevacuum step, and the drying step. The water supplied from 36 enters the vacuum pump 14 from the water supply unit 17 and functions as a water seal, and then rises in temperature and is discharged from the drain unit 18 into the water seal water supply tank 36.

A configuration for evacuating the chamber 4 by the operation of the water ring vacuum pump 14 as described above will be described. The water ring vacuum pump 14 is a mechanism in which the pump 14P is rotationally driven by an electric motor 14M. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a stator 14M2 having a coil 14MC and a rotor 14M1 in an electric motor room MR formed in a motor case MK.
The electric motor 14M which consists of these is accommodated. The left and right side openings of the motor case MK are closed by a cover MKB attached to the motor case MK with a bolt screw NJ1. The rotation shaft MC attached to the rotor 14M1 is supported by a bearing MJ provided on the cover MKB and extends rightward in FIG. The electric motor 14M is a capacitor motor.
CS is the capacitor, and is attached to the motor case MK via the holding member 14CSH.

A pump case PK is attached to one side of the motor 14M by a bolt screw NJ2. The pump case PK forms a pump chamber PR that rotatably accommodates an impeller PP having a base attached to a rotating shaft MC extending from the electric motor 14M. The side opening of the pump case PK is the pump cover PKB attached to the pump case PK with a bolt screw NJ3.
Closed by. Since the rotation axis MC, which is the rotation center of the impeller PP, is eccentric with respect to the center of the inner peripheral wall of the pump chamber PR, the rotation of the impeller PP causes the inner peripheral wall of the pump chamber PR to be connected to the air suction side. An air discharge side is formed. In the pump chamber PR, an intake portion 16 and a water supply portion 17 are provided on the suction side, and a drainage portion 18 is provided on the discharge side. MS is a mechanical seal part.

In this state where the electric motor 14M and the pump 14P are integrated, the mounting leg 14MK extending from the motor case MK is fixed to the support base 14MB with the screw 14MJ. The support base 14MB is provided with a cushion rubber KG on the lower surface, and has a mounting screw NJ4 that penetrates the cushion rubber KG and extends downward from the support base 14MB. For this reason,
The water-sealed vacuum pump 14 is fixed by placing the cushion rubber KG in contact with the upper surface of the bottom plate S1 and screwing a nut NT into an attachment screw NJ4 that penetrates the bottom plate S1.

With the above configuration, the motor chamber MR that houses the motor 14M is provided in parallel with the pump chamber PR, and the impeller PP in the pump chamber PR is rotated at a high speed by the motor 14M. Due to the rotation of the impeller PP, the air in the chamber 4 flows from the intake section 16 through the pipe 15 to the pump chamber PR.
The water sealing water in the water sealing water supply tank 36 is sucked into the pump chamber PR from the water supply unit 17 through the water supply pipe 33. With the sealing water sucked into the pump chamber PR,
While sealing the gap between the impeller PP and the inner wall of the pump chamber PR, the air in the chamber 4 sucked into the pump chamber PR is discharged together with the water sealing water from the drainage portion 18 as the impeller PP rotates. The exhausted water and the water sealing water return to the water sealing water supply tank 36 through the drain pipe 34. In this way, when the water-sealed vacuum pump 14 is operated, water is supplied from the water-sealing water supply tank 36 to be in a water-sealed state, drained from the drainage unit 18, and continuously circulated in the water-sealed vacuum pump 14. The exhaust operation in 4 is performed.

Further, by fixing the support base 14MB to the bottom plate S1 via the cushion rubber KG, the vibration due to the rotation of the electric motor 14M and the pump 14P is absorbed by the cushion rubber KG, and the generation of vibration noise due to the transmission of vibration is reduced. It is something that can be done.

When the water-sealed vacuum pump 14 performs such an operation, the impeller PP rotates at a high speed, so that a sound in a frequency band such as a metallic sound is generated from the pump chamber PR, and this is generated around the high-pressure steam sterilizer 1. Propagates to noise. In the noise prevention technology of the present invention, the outer periphery of the pump chamber PR is covered with a sound absorbing member KB that attenuates the propagation of noise generated from the pump chamber PR to the outside as long as the heat dissipation of the electric motor 14M is not hindered. In this way, the pump chamber PR is connected to the sound absorbing member KB.
Even if it is coated with, the water for sealing is circulated to the pump chamber PR, so that there is little concern that the pump chamber PR is cooled and seizure occurs.

An annoying sound such as a metallic sound generated from the pump chamber PR by the rotation of the impeller PP is 1
In the frequency band of 000 Hz to 4000 Hz, in order to attenuate this, the sound absorbing member KB
In this configuration, a soft foam member KB1 that exhibits a sound absorbing function is covered with a metallic protective shell HG. With this configuration, the protective outer shell HG prevents damage to the foamed member KB1 during transportation of the water-sealed vacuum pump 14, attachment to the high-pressure steam sterilizer 1, and the like.
There is no concern that the desired sound absorption effect cannot be obtained due to damage to the foam member KB1.

As the structure of the sound absorbing member KB, the foam member KB1 may be configured to be in close contact with the outer surface of the pump chamber PR and cover the entire outer surface of the pump chamber PR, but in consideration of heat dissipation from the outer surface of the pump chamber PR. A plate-shaped synthetic resin foam member KB1 having a predetermined thickness is attached to the inner surface of the cubic box-shaped protective outer shell HG, and a heat radiation space is provided between the outer surface of the pump chamber PR and the synthetic resin foam member KB1. It is the structure which formed HK. The sound absorbing member KB is combined on the support base 14MB so that the opening KB2 on the electric motor 14M side is in close contact with the outer surface on the pump 14P side of the electric motor 14M. Specifically, the foam member KB1 facing the periphery of the opening KB2 is combined in close contact with the outer surface of the cover MKB, and the lower end of the protective shell HG is screwed to the support base 14MB or the bottom plate S1, whereby the sound absorbing member KB. Is in a state where the sound absorbing member KB keeps the heat radiation space HK and covers the entire pump 14P.

The sound absorbing member KB has a configuration in which the softness of a plate-like synthetic resin having a thickness T2 of approximately 20 mm is formed on the inner surface of a cubic box-shaped protective outer shell HG made of a metal steel plate having a thickness T1 of approximately 0.8 mm. It is the structure which affixed the foaming member KB1. This foam member KB1 is a plate-like foam of melamine resin having elasticity, and has a sponge shape that can be easily crushed by the thumb and forefinger. In consideration of heat dissipation from the outer surface of the pump chamber PR, a heat radiation space HK is formed between the outer surface of the pump chamber PR and the synthetic resin foam member KB1.

As a result of the experiment, a plate-like foam made of melamine resin having a thickness T2 of approximately 20 mm is used as the foam member KB1 and the heat radiation space HK is formed, so that the sound perpendicularly incident on the foam member KB1 is 1000 Hz. Is attenuated by approximately 30%, and is attenuated by approximately 50% at 1600 Hz. 2500H
The effect is that the sound of z is attenuated by about 75% and the sound of 4000 Hz is attenuated by about 90%. In addition,
When the thickness T2 is approximately 25 mm or 30 mm, the above% value is 100.
Approximately 45% at 0Hz sound, approximately 60-80% at 1600Hz sound, approximately 90 at 2500Hz sound
The attenuation was approximately 90% at a sound of ˜95% and 4000 Hz.

In addition, as a structure of the sound absorbing member KB, the foam member KB1 can also be composed of foamed urethane. Further, the protective outer shell HG may be formed of a synthetic resin material. Also, foam member KB
1 can also be formed by a foam metal in which bubbles formed therein are in an open-cell state.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in the above embodiment, and may be either a horizontal chamber system or a vertical chamber system, and can be applied to various forms of high-pressure steam sterilizers. The form is included.

1 is an overall piping diagram of a high-pressure steam sterilizer according to the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state which coat | covered the outer periphery of the pump chamber of the water ring type vacuum pump which concerns on this invention with the sound-absorbing member. It is a perspective view of the state which coat | covered the outer periphery of the pump chamber of the water-seal type vacuum pump which concerns on this invention with the sound-absorbing member. It is a side view of the pump chamber of the water ring vacuum pump concerning the present invention. It is a perspective view of the sound absorption member which coat | covers the outer periphery of the pump chamber of the water ring type vacuum pump which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... High-pressure steam sterilizer 4 ... Horizontal chamber 5 ... Heater for sterilization 14 ... Water-sealed vacuum pump 14M ... Electric motor 14P ... Pump 15 ... ··· Pipe 16 ··· Air intake portion 17 ··· Water supply portion 18 ··· Drainage portion 24 · · · Water supply filter 25 · · · Water injection pipe 25 · · · Water injection pipe 31 ···・ Drain pipe 33 ・ ・ ・ ・ Water seal water is water supply pipe 34 ・ ・ ・ ・ Drain pipe 35 ・ ・ ・ ・ Drain tank 36 ・ ・ ・ ・ Water seal water tank HG ・ ・ ・ ・ Protective shell KB・ Sound absorbing member KB1 ... Foam member MR ... Electric motor chamber PR ... Pump chamber PP ... Impeller

Claims (1)

A chamber for sterilizing the objects to be sterilized,
A water-sealed vacuum pump in which an impeller housed in a pump chamber is rotated by an electric motor provided outside the pump chamber to evacuate the chamber and the impeller portion is sealed with water sucked from a water-sealing water supply tank. ,
In a high-pressure steam sterilizer for supplying steam in the chamber or generating steam in the chamber and sterilizing an object to be sterilized in the chamber under high-temperature high-pressure steam,
In the water-sealed vacuum pump, an electric motor chamber that houses the electric motor is arranged in parallel with the pump chamber, and the outer periphery of the pump chamber is outside the noise generated from the pump chamber within a range that does not hinder heat dissipation of the electric motor. Covered with a sound absorbing member that attenuates propagation ,
The sound absorbing member is composed of a soft foam member that forms a heat radiation space with the outer surface of the pump chamber and a protective outer shell that covers the outer surface of the foam member, and an opening is formed on the motor chamber side. A high-pressure steam sterilizer, wherein the periphery of the opening is in close contact with the electric motor chamber .

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