US505967A

US505967A - Sterilizing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US505967A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1910-10-03

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet ,2.

Patented Oct. 3, 1893.

A. V. M. SPRAGUE. STERILIZING APPARATUS.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN V. M. SPRAGUE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPRAGUE-SOHUYLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

STERILIZING 'APPARATQS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,967, dated October 3, 1893. A

Application filed August 15,1892. Serial No. 443.171. (NomodeL) new and useful Improvement in sterilizing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip: tion of the same, reference being had to the drawings accompanying this application.

This lmprovement relates to sterilizing apparatus for surgeons uses, and is designed, more partlcularly, for treating fibrous dress-.

ings by means of steamjand heat.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and definitely claimed.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking from the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view looking from the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the cylinder in lineococof Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section in line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the locking devices of the cover or door.

In this apparatus a receptacle A is employed, consisting of three cylinders a, b, 0, located one inside of another with dead air spaces between them. These cylinders are closed at one end by a solid back d, and at the other by a cover or door f, hinged at g so as to be turned down. The door is locked in its closed position by a set of thumb nuts h 71. attached to screws 71 t' (Fig. 6). These screws rest in open slots jj formed in the edge of the door and. end of the cylinder, and are arranged to turn up and down,the inner ends being provided with journals la it for the purpose. When turned down horizontally, as in Fig. 6, the end of the nut bears against the door and looks it in place. When turned up it frees from the slot and frees the door. This is a simple and convenient fastening, as thereby the door can be tightened in place and can be readily opened. Theinner cylinder, a, is entire and contains the water pan Z, and the trays m m on which the materials to be treated are placed. The other two cylinders, b 0, have an opening at in the bottom in which is located the burner B. The edges of this opening are closed between the two cylinders 19 0, thus forming a dead air space between them, and the outside of the middle tion pass upward at the top and escape through a chimney 0. The heat thus surrounds the whole of cylinder aand heats the chamber to a high degree.

The water receptacle Z is at the bottom of cylinder at, and is, very shallow, by which means the water is readily converted into steam, and this steam rising in the chamber becomes highly heated and to such a degree that it is practically superheated and becomes dry.

The trays m m-one or more-consist preferably of thin metal sheets perforated to allow ready passage of the steam and heat, and they are supported above the water by any suitable means'that shown in the drawings consisting of a removable skeleton frame of hoop or band iron p, provided with lugs which rest under the trays.

r (Figs. 1 and indicates a nozzle which enters the cylinder at the rear end and opens to the interior. To this is attached a T connection outside, provided on one side with a blow 01$ 3, and on the other with an air inlet valve 25, and in the center with a thermometer o.

In use the fibrous material to be treated is placed ,on the trays, water is placed in the chamber and heat is applied outside. Wet steam is generated under the first action of the heat. This wet steam saturates the bandages, causing them to open and expand, and thoroughly filling them with water. As the heat increases the steam grows hotter and drier, and coming in contact with the dry heated sides of the chamber it becomes practically superheated. This results from the direct contact of the flame with the inner cylinder a, and the passage of the heat up through the flue and around the whole top of the cylinder, thus making the top as hot as the bottom and equalizing the temperature throughout. This hot and dry steam coming in contact with the bandages dries them out and leaves them in soft and pliable condition best for use.

The water pan is made integral with the cylinder, and is provided at its outer end with a vertical flange to which holds the Water and prevents escape through the door. Preferably the water is inserted in charges through the open door, but if desired feed and discharge pipes may be carried through the cylinder for the purpose of supplying and discharging the water. The cylinder is supported by suitable legs to to.

It is obvious that the receptacle A might be made effective with the use of two cylinders instead of three. The same flue space for the upward passage of the heat around the inner cylinder would be made and the result would be the same. Three, however, are more effective than two, as the third cylinder excludes the contact of cold air.

It is of special importance in my improved construction that excess of air be excluded from circulation about theinner cylinder and that exterior radiation be prevented. Otherwise a sterilizing temperature and a proper dryness of the steam cannot be secured. Radiation is preferably prevented by the double wall inclosing a dead air space though a single wall protected thoroughly by a non-conducting cover of asbestus or the like would operate to secure a like result. The burner is situated in the openingin this outer cylinder in manner to exclude air from passing outside of it and so that the amount required for thorough combustion is introduced in the midst of the gas supply, previously mixed by preference with a small portion of air. The burner in the present instance is shown as made larger than half the length of the cylinders and should in practice be longer rather than shorter. The air inlets may be in the form of nipples and have their upper openings in close proximity to the burner opening whereby the commingling of the mixed air and gas with the requisite additional amount of air is made very thorough, and all necessity for the admission of air in excess is effectually precluded. The gas thus twice mixed with air is forced through fine burner perforations and burned in immediate contact with the water pan in the inner cylinder. The products of combustion are kept in close contact with said cylinder by the enveloping cylinder and are spread out and around the inner cylinder in a thin sheet of uniform thickness and in manner to thoroughly heat said cylinder. The escape pipe is by preference centrally located as shown. The steam generated by these means will be uniformly exposed to heat conducted through the major part of the cylindrical surface of receptacle 0. and will be hot and dry and suitable for sterilizing articles placed on the supporting trays.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a sterilizing apparatus the receptacle comprising the inner cylinder and an inclosing cylinder arranged to leave a narrow circumferential space between said cylinders said latter cylinder being provided with a covering to prevent radiation and with an exit 0, in combination with an air mixing burner seated in and substantially filling an opening in the outer cylinder immediately below the inner one and adapted to exclude the passage of air in excess, substantially as set forth.

2. In a sterilizing apparatus the receptacle comprising the inner cylinder and an inclos ing cylinder arranged to leave a narrow circumferential space between said cylinders said latter cylinder being provided with a covering to prevent radiation and with an exit 0, in combination with an air mixing burner seated in and substantially filling an opening in the outer cylinder immediately below the inner one and adapted to exclude the passage of air in excess, said burner having a chamber for mingled air and gas, air inlet nipples and burner perforations, substantially as set forth.

3. In a sterilizing apparatus the inner cylinder provided with a water pan 1 formed by a partition M, the surrounding cylinder having a non'radiating cover, and an exit pipe, a burner fitting an opening in the bottom of the latter cylinder, a door hinged to the bottom of said cylinder, and means for tightly clamping said door to the same, substantially as set forth.

4.. A sterilizer consisting of a cylinder having means for permitting access thereto and for the retention of a limited quantity of water, a non-condnctingjacket with the chamher, a narrowliue provided with an outlet, and a relatively large air and gas mixing burner situated at the lower portion of the said flue, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. V. M. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses:

R. F. Osooon, CHAS. A. WIDENER.

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