US1159659A - Machine for sterilizing organic materials. - Google Patents

Description

W. B. FENN. MACHINE FOR STERILIZING ORGANIC MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZ. l9|2 v 1,159,659. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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W. B. FENN. MACHINE FOR STERILIZING ORGANIC MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZ, I9I2.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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MACHINE FOR STERILIZING ORGANIC MATERIALS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 2 I9IZ.

1,159,659. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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APPLICATION LED MAY 2, 1912. 1,159,659. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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W. B. FENN. MACHINE FOR STERILIZING ORGANIC MATERIALS.

APPUCATJON FILED MAY 2, 1912. 1,159,659. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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WILLIAM B. FENN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE WEDOIT' COMPANY, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Application led May 2, 1912. Serial No. 694,716.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. FENN, a citizen of the United States, iesiding at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Sterilizing Organic Materials, of which the following is a specification.

The object generally of this invention is an improved machine and process for the rapid sterilization of organic materials such for example as meats, fruits and vegetables for domestic consumption such as are put up in tinned cans.

In the course of my experiments I have discovered that where the matters to be sterilized are put up in such cans it is especially important that the sterilizing treatment should be thorough and to carefully include such material as is lodged near the corners of the can.

It is therefore one of the important features of my present invention to provide means for insuring the sterilization of the material in such corners.

A second important feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby the injected steam or treating agent can be reused, that is after having served in one receiver it is passed to another receiver where it may be supplemented with a fresh injection or injections with the eifect that where .a series or plurality of such receivers is employed, the heat is conserved and augmented in each receiver as it advances or the injections into itare multiplied and further that the flavors of the material are conserved.

A third important feature of the invention resides in various details of construction of the machine whereby its operation is rendered edective.

The invention is embodied in the construction and the process carried out by the construction herein shown and set forth, it being endeavored to point out the features of novelty in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, Figure 1 is mainly a central vertical section with parts in full lines of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a double vertical section on a larger scale of the receiver and its appurtenances. The sections of this view are taken ninety degrees apart, one vertical half being taken on one plane and the other half on a plane at right angles thereto or as illustrated by the line Fig. 4 for the purpose of illustrating the relations of the chambers and passages to each other. Fig. 3 is a detail to show a device for urgingthe exhaust valve off its seat. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line y-y Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing three receivers, with parts omitted, arranged in a plane. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic development in a plane of the outer side of the central valve or plug member. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the upper end of the central valve or plug member. Figs. 8 and 9 are several vertical sections in different planes of the said valve member. Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the valve casing. Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on the line a-z Fig. 1.

In the views 20 designates the receiver which in the instance shown, consists of` a vertically arranged shell having a cylindrical chamber that is open at its lower end and closed at its upper end by a cap 20a suitably secured to the chamber. Arranged to fit and move vertically in the receiver is a treating head, the main frame or body of which is comprised of two parts, to wit: an upper part 21 and a lower part 22 that is tightly screwed at 22b or otherwise secured to the lower end of the part 21. The upper portion of the upper part 21 is provided on its exterior with suitable annular packings 21a and the lower portion of the upper part is extensively annularly recessed at 21b to form an annular steam receiving chamber. The cap 20a also has connected with it a pipe 46 to lconduct pressure into the chamber 46a above the head portion 21. The pipe 46 contains a check valve 46" provided with a small opening 46c and said valve is arranged to permit a free intake and a slow exhaust, the latter to prevent violent action of the treating head upon exhaustion. The lower portion of the part 22 is of hollow cylindrical form and is provided with suitable annular packings 22". The lower portion of the upper part 21 has a necked. central outlet 21'3 to which is connected the tube of a treating nozzle 23 by means of a threaded union 24. The annular steam receiving chamber 21b communicates with vthe nozzle 23 b means of one or more ducts like that shown at 21d and the chamber within the head part 22 communicates with an axial passage 2lB in the head part 2l by means of one or more ports like that Shown at 21g.

Telescopically connected with the head part 22 is another cylindrical party 25 that is provided with an annular row of perforations 25a, said perforations being closed when said part 25 is shoved up in the part 22 and opened when said part has dropped down and protrudes somewhat below the lower end of the part 22 as hereinafter set forth. The part 25 is kept from dropping entirely out of the part 22 by means of ring 26, angular iii-cross section, threaded onto the lower end of the head part 22, the part 25 being provided at its upper end with lugs 25b that project into and travel in verwardly flared slrt 29 Yis to center the portable can or vessel marked 30 for containing the material to be treated., The lower end of the treating nozzle 23 is internally beveled, and in the lower end of said nozzle is secured a distributing device cooperating with the beveled lower end of the nozzle.

`Said distributing device has a head 31 with conical sides and a shank that is secured within the nozzle so that an outwardly ilaring opening is formed for the exit of steam into the lower end of the can. The head 31 also has a central opening in its lower end connected by small. radial ducts opening at the conical sides of the head. When therefore, steam under pressure is admitted to the nozzle it issues therefrom at the lower end in a conical sheet that tends to spread over the bottom of the can and toward and into the lower corners thereof. Steam also passes into the lateral ducts of the distributing head and is emitted through the Central duct in the lower end thereof at and over the middle of the bottom of the can. Toward its upper portion the nozzle or tube 23 has secured to it a button or annular projection 32 having a horizontal diameter nearly equaling that of the opening of the ring 28. This button or projection 32 is tapered on its upper and lower sides toward its rim and it is provided with numerous vertical perforations -32a, and also with radial horizontal perforations 32b that are communicatingly connected with the interior of the nozzle by corresponding perforations in the latter. The button 32 constitutes a strainer to prevent coarse particles from being driven up into the chamber above the ring 28 where it might choke the treating head. Some of the steam under pressure sent to the nozzle therefore discharges through the radial ducts 32h, and said button member 32 is located on the nozzle so that the discharge ends of said radial ducts are slightly below the opening at the top of the can. Therefore when stealu under pressure is emitted through said radial ducts it is projected toward the upper corners of the can .and tends to Search the material lodged at those corners. Such of the steam as is projected through the lower end of the nozzle and is not condensed as well as any excess of such steam as is projected through the aforesaid radial ducts, tends to rise out of the can and material therein and pass up through the vertical perforations 32' and the ports 21f into the central passage of the head part 21.

As before indicated the main frame of the treating head has a slight piston like movement in the receiver. The purpose of this movement is to insure a iirm contact of the treating head (or more particularly the innermost ring of the telescoping member) on the upper end of the can. Suitable fluid pressure is admitted through a pipe 46 to the upper end of the treating head to force said head down on the can but the downward movement of the head and its pressure on the vessel can be restrained and regulated by one or more rods like that indicated at 34 secured to the head and extending upward through a stuffing box 35 in the cap 20a of the receiver, said bolt being provided at its upper or outer end with a thread on which is an adjustable nut 37. Before undue downward movement of the treating head occurs the nut 37 will abut against the said stulfing box and therefore prevent further descent of the treating head.

Secured centrally in the cap 20%1 by means of nuts 3S and 39 is a tube 40 the lower portion of which extends into the central passage of the head portion 21. Because the head portion 21. works on vthe tube 40 the lower end of said tube is provided externally with annular packings 40a. Threaded into the upper end of the tube 40 is a valve structure for finally exhausting the treating agent. Said structure includes a cylindrical casing 41 tapered at its lower end and extended as a tubular shank 411l by which the connection with the tube 40 is efected as before stated, and in said casing is a reciprocable valve member of special construction. The upper end of the casing 41 is provided with a cap 43. The valve proper, designated 42, is carried by spider` arms 42a spaced apart and extended from an axially open piston-like part 42h.

The piston-like part 42b works in the cylindrical casing 41 and has suitable annular packings 42c to prevent leakage of steam between the parts 4l and 42h. The axially open piston-like part 42h has a contracted tubular extension 42d that extends with a steam tight iit through a suitable opening in the cap and discharges into the atmosphere. Between the cap 43 and the end of the piston-like part around the tubular ex-` tension 42d is left a chamber 44 into which fluid pressure is admitted by means of a pipe 45 to depress the piston-like part 42b and seat the yalve 42 on its seat to close the upper end of the tubular shank 4la and prevent the escape of steam from below. But by exhausting the fluid pressure from the chamber 44 through the pipe 45 or otherwise the valve is or can be elevated and the steam in the receiver exhausted to atmosphere through the expanded valve part` 42. 'Io elevate, or aid in elevating, the part 42b and the valve 42 when the chamber 44 has been relieved of fluid pressure there are provided several lifter pins 47 each extended through the valve casing against the piston-like part 42b and actuated by a coil spring 47a seated in aV suitable pocket 48 adjustably threaded in a fixed shelf 49 on the side of the tubular shank 41a. The enlarged cavity of the piston-like part 42b serves as an expanding chamber and muffler, retaining much condensate when the exhaust steam expands therein, said condensate being returned to the product in the vessel.

The chamber 2lb is supplied with treating steam through a pipe 50; and the lower end of the receiver in the region where the can is confined has connected with it a pipe 51. The pipe 5l is provided With a check valve 5lb closing toward the receiver and permitting free exhaust from the can chamber. In operation the can chamber externally of the can is supplied with pressure to prevent bursting or straining of the can by leakage of pressure between the ring 28 and the top of the can, and the function of the pressure in the pipe 51 against the check valve 51b is to balance or overbalance and retain the pressure in the can chamber during. the time treating pressure is injected into the contents of the can. The lower end of the receiver is also provided with a pipe 52 containing an ordinary check Valve 53 which closes when pressure is admitted to the can chamber and opens by gravity when such pressure is relieved.

55 designates the can support. Said support, in the instance shown, is mounted on the upper end of a piston rod 55a, the piston head being designated 56. The piston head reciprocally fits in a vertically stationary cylinder 57 closed at both ends and arranged axially in lline with the receiver and below the open end thereof. A fluid pressure pipe 58 leads into the upper end of the cylinder 57 to supply pressure to the' corresponding side of the piston and to move and hold the piston down, and a similar pipe 59 leads into the lower end of said cylinder 57 to supply pressure to the lower side of the piston to move and hold the piston up; When pressure is admitted to the lower side of the piston the can support is carried up and closed against the lower end of the receiver as seen in Fig. 2 and at the right hand side of Fig. l, the support being provided with a suitable packing ring 55b to promote steam tightness' at the junction of the two.

The receiver and its appurtenances and the can support and its appurtenances can be viewed as a unit of sterihzing mechanism and I propose to employ a plurality of these units arranged preferably in a circular series around a vertical axis so that vessels containing material to be treated can be placed successively either automatically or by hand onto the supports as each passes a given point. In the present construction I propose that the material, according to its particular requirement, shall receive a series of applications of steam and that the treating steam after use in one receiver shall pass to the succeeding receiver or receivers and be utilized therein for the augmentation of heat, the conservation of flavors and other advantages accruing therefrom.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a scheme according to which the receivers can be connected for 'the purpose just stated. According to said scheme a pipe 60 having suitable elbows and couplings connects the tubular shank 41a of one receiver apparatus with the chamber 21b of theA next receiver such connections to be made in succession around the entire series. In each of said pipes 60, is an ordinary steam check valve 61, said check valve closing by pressure in the same direction as that in which the receiver moves or toward the receiver at the left. If therefore a portion of the whole number of receivers receive through the pipe 50 each in succession an injection of steam at a uniform pressure (and assuming the receivers to be moving from right to left) each receiver will become gradually warmer and the steam pressure gradually greater hence in such a series the flow of pressure through the pipes 60 would be from left to right. In said Fig. 5 let the arrow below the view indicate the direction of motion of a series subjected to the steam injections stated then the How of pres.- sure in the pipes 60 would be in the contrary direction or generally toward the right. In connection with this operation it should be borne in mind that the comparatively cold cans with their cold contents are put into the open and cooled receiver at the right.

The heat of the rst injection of steam is largely absorbed in the work of heating such receiver, the can and contents and the appurtenances thereabout. The second injection (being assumed to be of the same initial pressure and temperature) into the receiver therefore spends fewer of its units in heating up said parts and contents and the pressure and temperature of the steam are therefore greater in such receiver than in one which has received but one injection and so on around to the last receiver in the series to receive an injection. The effect ot such succeeding injection is therefore cumulative. lV hen the treating units are arranged in a circular series as indicated and to rotate about a vertical axis that axis can include suitable valve devices with pipes or conductors for distributing from a common source or from several suitable sources or exhaustings as may be desired the treating and operating agents and pressures.

In the instance shown the main supporting structure comprises a suitably constructed stationary base from which is supported or erected a hollow column or frame 71. Supported on the base is a drum 72 to the exterior of which the treating members or units are secured. To reduce friction the drum can rest and travel on ball bearings 73 located in a suitable race on the base as indicated at 74. The lower edge of the drum is provided circumferentially with a crown gear 75 engaged by a pinion 76 fixed on one end of a shaft 77 horizontally journaled in suitable stationary bearings at the base of the frame. The shaft 77 can be driven by suitable power as for example from a power shaft 78 having a bevel gear 7 8a engagin a pinion 79 on the other end of the shaft 7.

The receivers 21 with the parts belonging thereto are supported equally spaced apart around the upper portion of the drum by suitably bolting, as seen at 72a, each receiver body to the drum. The cylinders containing the piston for elevating and depressing the vessel support and receiver closer are each secured by suitably bolting it, as seen at 7 2b to the drum vertically below the receiver with which it coperaties.

The steam or treating and operating agents are supplied and distributed through centrally located devices of the nature of a valve. 8O designates the casing of such valve. Said casing is a hollow structure with a downwardly tapering inner face constituting a seat for the valve plug or internal member 81. The valve casing is secured by screws 8Oh to a crown piece 80a placed down over the upper end of the column 71 and said valve casing and crown rotate with the vdrum 72. To relieve strain on the pipe connections the crown piece 80a can be connected with the drum 7 2 by connector pieces7 one of which is shown at 99 bolted or screwed to each. The wall of said casing 80 is perforated annularly horizontally in .four zones to provide suitable ports and said perforations are threaded at their outer ends to receive the threaded ends of the several pipes employed to conduct the treating and operating luids to or from, as the case may be7 the places where it is to be operative.

The scheme of piping between the valve casing and the parts' to which the pipes lead is best depicted in Figs. 1 and Q and is typical of that employed in each corresponding unit of the machine. In said view the pipe 45 designates the uppermost pipe which leads to the chamber 44 in the valve casing 41; the pipe next below has the three branches 46, 50 and 51 leading respectively to the chamber above the head part Q1, the chamber 2lb and the can chamber; the third pipe from the upper end leads into the cylinder 57 to supply pressure to the upper side of the piston 56 and the fourth pipe leads to the same cylinder to supply pressure to the lower side of said piston. These several pipes are also used to exhaust the pressure from the chambers which they severally supply or the parts they operate. These pipes are shown as formed of two or more sections for convenience in directing them to, or for connecting them with or disconnecting them from the parts described, suitable unions, elbows or couplings being used as the conditions may render expedient. At 51a is a cock for regulating the quantity or pressure of the treating steam.. Such a cock can be employed in any or all of the pipes if desired.

The Valve member 81 is of truste-conical form and is downwardly tapering to fit or seat within the casing 80; and it is open through its center to receive a spool-like member 82 having an axial thread to receive the threaded end oit a vertical rod 83. The spool-like member 82 is constructed at both its ends to engage the valve member and the rod 83 extends through a cross member of the base and is held longitudinally immovable by a collar and set screw at 83L at the lower side of said cross member so that if the rod be turned the valve member is raised or lowered to secure a satisfactoryT slipping steam tight iit between the plug 81 and its seat in the casing 80. The lower end of the rod 83 is furnished with a miter gear 84 engaged by a corresponding gear 85 on the inner end of a suitably journaled horizontal shaft 86, the outer end of which extends to a convenient point at the exterior of the machine where it is provided with a hand wheel 87 for turning it. By turning the said hand wheel 87.in the proper direction the plug can be raised or lowered and therefore moved toward or from its seat as may be wanted to improve the it. member 81 is kept from turning by the engagement of a projection 88a on a collar 88 The plug.

with a vertical groove 81a in the plug member, said collar being screwed at 89 to the central column.

The plug member 81 is provided with passages ported around its periphery in zones corresponding to the port zones in the casing, and for convenience in connecting the supply and exhaust pipes these passages are made angular so that the supply connecting terminals, and exhaust pipe terminals also, if desired, maybe located in the upper or exposed endv of the plug.

90 are pipes leading from a header 9i to ports of steam passages in the upper end of the plug member, and 92 are pipes leading to the atmosphere or to a suitable point of exhaust. A few only of these pipes are shown becausel to'multiply them would confuse the drawing at that point.

The number and arrangement of the steam passages and ports are subject to some variations according to the number of treating units employed in the machine and according to the intervals desired between applications of the pressures. From a comparison of the diagram shown in Fig. 6 with the view shown in Fig. lit will be clear that the top row of ports a supplies or exhausts the chamber 44;v that the next row b supplies or exhausts the chamber 46a, chamber 2lb and the pipe to the can chamber, and that third row c supplies or exhausts the chamber at the upper side of the piston 56 and the fourth row d supplies or exhausts the lower side of said piston. Where it is desired that the pressure be continuous through a given port while the pressure through other ports is intermittent, as for example to hold the can support against the receiver, the port should be horizontally elongated as shown at c and d, Fig. 6.

From the construction shown it is obvious atmosphere as can also `t-he corresponding port that holds up the can support during the treating operation.

The operation is this: Motion .is imparted to the drum 72, say fro-m right to left, th'us carrying the sleeve 80 around the central stationary valve. When passing the region of the vertical line f-f Fig. 6 the steam chambers of the receiver and below the piston of the can support are exhausted and the can support'is in depressed or lowered position. At this time a can or vessel containing thel material to be ,treated -is placed on the can support. Continued revolution causes the admission of pressure to raise the can into the receiver and closes the latter with the treating nozzle penetrating the material in the vessel. The elevation of the vessel also shoves up the part 25 and closes the perforations 25". Further suiiicient rotation admits steam to the chambers 44, 46, 2lb and around the exterior of the vessel in the receiver. The steam from the chamber 2lb passes through the passage 21d, tube 23 and the distributing ducts described thereby causing the steam to penetrate all parts of the material in the vessel and particularly the corners of the Vessel where germs are especially diiiicult to reach. The steam rises from the can through the port 21f and passes through the port 41a into the chamber 21b of the next receiver. At or before the arrival of the treating unit to the line o-f the last pair of ports the steam or pressure is exhausted from the chambers 44, 46, 2lb and around the can and from below the piston 56 and pressure admitted tothe cylinder above said piston 56. These operations cause the vessel to descend and upon such descent the telescoping ring 25 follows the vessel down thereby opening to the atmosphere through the ports 25a the interior of the treating head and above the vessel relieving any remaining pressure and permitting the contents to settle quietly in the vessel. The check valve 53 is made of sufficient Weight to open by gravity even. under light pressure and it aids in releasing the pressure around the vessel before it is fu'lly exposed to the atmosphere upon the depression of the can support. i

The machine can be equipped with any suitable means for automatically placing the lilled cans, one by one, onto `the can support, andlikewise removing the treated can from the supports as they arrive at the proper predetermined points in `the cycle. Such means, however, do not constitute a feature of the present invention and therefore need not be particularly set forth, but generally they can include a traveling belt 95 to convey the can to the point of introduction into'the machine and from the point of removal from the machine, and rotating Wheels 96 and 97 coperating with a stationary guiding member 98 for guiding the cans from the belt onto the supports in the machine and for guiding the cans from such supports onto the belt.

As herein generally indicated I prefer to use steam under pressure as the treating,` agent, but other sterilizing agents under pressure might be used. The pressure of the treating steam and the number of in- .jections will be varied according to the texture of the material treated. But where a cycle of receivers is employed each receiving a plurality of inJections under uniform pressure as herein described, the temperature of the receiver gradually increases as it progresses around the circle. For an average treatment the pressure in the first receiver after the first injection may be quite small owing to condensation and from this:

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the pressure would gradually increase, to say, fifty pounds or more at the seventh or eighth injection.

After treatment in the machine the cans are, of course, tightly closed while hot so as to exclude contamination by means external to the can.

The forms of the parts can be varied without departing from the gist of' the in vention.

What I claim is:

l. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver for a vessel containing the material to be treated, and a nozzle within the receiver f'or supplying the sterilizing agent to the vessel provided with an exit constructed to direct the treating agent toward the lower corners of the vessel.

2. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver for a vessel containing the material to be treated, and a nozzle within the receiver for supplying the sterilizing agent to the vessel provided with an exit constructed to direct the treating agent in a cone-shaped body toward the lower corners of the vessel.

3. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver' for a vessel containing the material to be treated, and a nozzle within the receiver for supplying the sterilizing agent to the vessel provided with an exit constructed to direct the agent toward the lower corners of the vessel and also with an exit directing the treating agent toward the middle of the bottom of the vessel.

4. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver for a Vessel containing the materials to be treated, and a nozzle within the receiver for supplying the sterilizing agent to the vessel provided with means for delivering the treating agent toward the upper corners of the vessel.

In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver f'or a vessel containing the material to be treated, and a nozzle within the receiver for supplying the sterilizing agent to the vessel provided with means for delivering the treating agent toward the upper corners of the vessel, said delivering means having its exits extended toward said corners.

G. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing ren ceiver for a vessel for containing the material to be treated, and a nozzle within the receiver f'or supplying the sterilizing agent to the vessel, said nozzle provided with an exit constructed to direct the treating agent toward the lower corners of the vessel and with means for delivering the treating agent toward the upper corners of the vessel.

7. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver for a vessel for containing the materialto be treated, and a nozzle within the receiver for supplying the sterilizing agent to the vessel, said nozzle provided with a strainer having a conical side.

8. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver for a vessel for containing the material to be treated, and a nozzle within the receiver for supplying the sterilizing agent to the vessel, said nozzle provided with a strainer having conical upper and lower sides.

9. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver f'or a vessel for containing the material to be treated, and a nozzle within the receiver for supplying the sterilizing agent to the vessel, said nozzle provided with a strainer body, said body also provided with passages for conducting the treating agent into the material to be sterilized.

l0. In a machine for sterilizing organic material with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing ree ceiver for a vessel for containing the material to be treated, a treating head in said receiver, and a telescoping section in connection with said treating head adapted to engage the vessel.

11. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver f'or a vessel for containing the material to be treated, a treating head in said receiver and a telescoping section in connection with said treating head adapted to enL gage the vessel, said telescoping section provided with a passage in its wall adapted to be opened when the telescoping section is extended with reference to the treating head.

12. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver for a vessel for containing the material to be treated, a treating head in said receiver and a telescoping section in connection with said treating head adapted to engage the vessel, said telescoping section pro vided with means for centering the vessel with reference to the treating head.

13. In a machine for lsterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver for a vessel for containing the material to be treated, a treating head in said receiver, ducts connected with said receiver at the region of the vessel, said ducts provided one with a check valve to prevent discharge of pressure from the said region and the other with a check valve to permit such discharge and means for applying yielding pressure to said last named valve to hold the same closed.

14. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver for a vessel for containing the material to be treated, a treating head in said receiver, a telescoping section connected with said head provided with a vent adapted to be exposed when the section is extended, fluid conductors connected with Said receiver at the region of the vessel, said conductors l provided one with a check valve to prevent discharge of pressure from said region and the other with a check valve to permit such discharge and means for applying pressure to said last named valve to vhold the same yieldingly closed.

15. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver for a vessel for containing the material to be treated, a treating head in said vessel, said receiver provided with a duct through which fluid pressure isv applied t0 said head, said duct also provided with a check valve opening away from the treating head and having a relatively small exhausting opening.

16. In a machine for sterilizing' organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, lan inclosing receiver for a vessel containing the material to be treated, a treating head in said` receiver provided with an exhaust passage therefrom, a valve in said passage, an expanded chamber beyond saldvalve, and means for yieldingly holding said valve in position to close said exhaust passage.

17. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, an inclosing receiver for a vessel containing the material to be treated, a treating head in said receiver provided with an exhaust passage therefrom, a valve in Said passage, an expanded chamber beyond saidvalve, an `expanded piston-like member in said chamber and by which said valve is actuated, and means for admitting pressure to said chamber to hold said valve on its seat.

18. In a machine for sterilizingorganic materials with a fluid treating agent under` 19. In a machine for sterilizing organicV materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, 1n comblnation, a plurality of inclosing rece1vers for vessels containing the material to be treated, means for admitting a treating agent to each of said receivers, and means for conducting the treating agent directly from one receiver to another.

20. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure, in combination, a series of inclosing receivers for vessels containing material to be treated, means for admitting a treating agent to one of the receivers, and means for permitting said agent to be directly conducted successively to the others of the series.

21. In a machine for sterilizing organic materials with a fluid treatingagent under pressure, in combination, a series of inclosing receivers for vessels containing material to be treated, means for admitting a treating agent to each of said receivers in succession, and means for permitting the treating agent admitted in each receiver to be directly conducted to the one standing next to it at the corresponding side.

22. In a machine for sterilizingorganic materials with a fluid treating agent under pressure', in combination, a series of inclosing receivers for vessels containing material to be treated, means for admitting a plurality of injections of a treating agent to each of said receivers in succession and means for permitting the treating agent admitted to each receiver to be conducted directly to the one standing next to it at the corresponding side.

23. In a machine tfor sterilizing organic material with steam under pressure, in combination, a series of inclosing receivers for vessels for containingwmaterial to be treated, a treating head in each of said receivers, means for supplying fresh steam to Said treating head, conductors communicatingly connecting adjacent receivers, valves in said conductors whereby the treating steam is conducted from o ne treating head to another through the series of receivers in one direction but not in the reverse direction, and means whereby fresh steam is applied intermittently to said treating heads.v

WILLIAM B. FENN.

Witnesses:

J. M. BEATTY, M. Louisa MAJEWSKI.

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