US1610859A - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 14 1926. 1,610,859

, cs. M. HOLLENBACK v STERILIZER Filed August 31 192.2 2 Sneets-She. l

A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 14,1926. 1,610,859

G. M. HOLLENBAC ZK STERILI ZBR Filed Au ust 31, 1922 2"sneens-snee1 2 v INVENTOR, [7 I Gang/ $22621 lacl;

Eatented Dec. 14, 1926.

itll lli @FICEL GEORGE M. HQLLENBAOK, OF L08 AHGELES, CALIFURNIA, ASSEGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID "W. MC'LEAN, ()1 LOS ANGELES, GALIFORNIA.

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Application filed August 31, 1922. Serial lilo. 585,503.

This invention relates to sterilizers, and more particularly to sterilizers for dental and surgical instrumentsas well as razors and other barber's tools and implements, and instruments used in manicuring and chiropody, without corrosion and without subjecting them to sufiicient heat to cause injury thereto.

A further object is the provision of a sterilizer which may be used for the sterilization of surgical dressings and disinfecting of clothing.

The invention has for its objects the pro vision of improvements of the general char-- acter stated, which will be superior in point of relative simplicity and inexpensiveness in construction, taken in conjunction with positiveness and eifectiveness and conven ience in operation, economy in use and service, increased protection against infection and septic transmission, all further in con junction with sightliness in appearance and compactness in form.

The invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, combination, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly sectioncd and broken away for clearness of illustration, of a sterilizer construct-ed and organized in accordance with the invention;

Figure 9 is an end view of the same taken in the direction of the large arrow at the right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar view taken in the direction of the large arrow at the left of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken centrally through the construction shown in Figure 1, parts being broken away;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken upon the line 5-5, Figure 1, and. looking in the direction of the appended arrows;

Figure 6 is a detail longitudinal vertical sectional view taken upon the line '66, Figure 2, and looking in the direction oi the appended arrows; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary View of a feature of the construction shown in Figure at, in detached position, and illustrating the mode of withdrawal of the work holder from the sterilizing chamber.

Figures 4-, 5, 6 and 7 are upon enlarged scales.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters,

Referring with particularity to the drawings, A designates a liquid reservoir, B a sterilizing agent reservoir, C a sterilizing compartment, D a work holder, E a sterilizing agent chamber member adapted to act as a heating chamber for volatilizing the sterilizing agent drawn from the reservoir B, and F a heating chamber to contain liquid drawn from the reservoir A, which liquid, water or other suitable fluid, is heated by a burner G; such heating chamber transmitting its heat by conduction and radiation to the heating chamber E, and to the sterilizing chamber G:a11 such members jointly operating and performing in the 7 practice of the invention.

H designates means controlling the supply and conduction of sterilizing medium from the reservoir 13 to the chamber E where such medium is heated and its vapors are passed through a passage 0 to the sterilizing chamber C. V

A pipe 9 establishes communication between the upper portion of the water reservoir A and a zone of the heating chamber or reservoir F at a predetermined level in each, preferably adjacent the top of such chamber A; and h designates a pipe adapted to establish communication between the lower portion of the reservoir A and a zone in the chamber F, preferably somewhat lower than the lower end of the pipe 9; a valve 70 being provided in the pipe h for controlling the passage of liquid through the same, all for purposes hereinafter set forth, such pipes being provided at one end of the casing of the reservoir A and the casing of the chamber F.

K designates end closure means of the sterilizing chamber C, whereby such chamber may be tightly closed for the sterilizing operation and readily open to access for in.- sertion or withdrawal of objects to be sterilized. A gauge L is provided at one end of the reservoir A for permitting determination. of the level of fluid therein, such reservoir being provided at the other end with -which in turn surrounded h exhaust steam therefrom. O designates a valve controlled blow-off for the sterilizing chamber C, whereby gaseous pressure therein may be dissipated therefrom prior to removing the closure K.

The sterilizer reservoir B is provided with a detachable check valve 6. A pet cock 7' is provided for drawing oti water from the communicating water reservoir A and heat ing chamber l The valve 22, controlling the supply pipe 7 for the burner G is provided with a pointer 8 to be read in connection with a graduated sector or dial 9 which permits opening the valve to just the proper extent to properly supply the burner with fuel, such as gas, when such dial and pointer have been properly calibrated.

R designates an implement tor withdrawing the work holder D from the sterilizing chamber C. p

The sterilizing chamber Within a preferably C is confined annular casing 10,

a casing 11,

which provides the heating chan'ibor a between such casings l and ii, the chamber B being contined within a casing 12 set" into a tubular casing 13, ranging longitudinally through the lower portion of the chamber The reservoir A comprises an annular cas ing 1.3 above the casing 11, and ti reservoir B is provided in a tubular casing 14!: above the casing 13, the casings 10, ll, 13, 13 and i l all being supported by end walls or upright plates 15 and 1-, respectively, such plates serving to close the opposite ends of such casings excepting where pen as herein set forth. The lower ends of the plates 15 and 16 are tormed into feet 17 tor supporting the standards or end plates 15 and 16, and the entire assemblage o't features mounted in connection therewith;

The closure means K comprises a circular disc or plate 18, which fits inf) one open end of the casing 10, the same being pro vided with outwardly ranging threaded stud 19; and compressible isc or washer of rubber, cork or other suit Die mat. ial, 19, is borne against the plate by a turlo ther metallic washer or centrally perforated plate 20, having peripheral ears 2i, adapted to enter into notches in a segmental extension 22 at the open end of the casing 10, being brought into such positions or released from such positions by hand pieces or knobs 22 upon such plate 20. A hand piece or knob 23 is cored in its axis and provided with a fixed bushing 24, threaded to cooperate with the threads upon the stud 19..

the casing 10, thus scaling up the sterilizing chamber and the work in the holder l) therein.

The holder 1) comprises a perforated trough within which the implement or other work is placed, the perforations permitting the vapors from the chamber E to have access to all surfaces oi the work and effectively sterilize it.

The means H for controlling conduction of the stez'-lzi11g medium from the reservoir B to the chamber E where such medium is heated and vaporized, comprises a pipe 25 ranging downwardly from one end of the casing is and connnunicating with a passage 26 in a fitting 27 mounted upon the adjacent end of the casin 13, which passage communicates with the lower end of a vertical cylinder 28 from the lower end of which extends a passage 29 in the fitting 27, such passage being provided with a plug cool: valve 30 and communicating in turn with a pipe "*1 ranging downwardly through the end plate 16 and within the easing 11 to the casing 1 ot' the chamber F. A plunger or piston is mounted in the cylinder 28. The check valve F) provided in the casing is detachable so that the chamber B may be tilled when such check valve is detached, and wnen the piston elevated the check valve opens, displacing fluid which drawn down the pipe and into the cylinder 2. i lhen the piston 32 is lowered th choc valve closes, and, the valve 30 having bee properly adjusted, such huid is discharged from the cylinder 26 into the chamber E through the pipe 31. Thus definite charges oi? sterilizing'mcdium may be supplied to such chamber E as requii The operation, method of use and advantages oi? the improvements heretofore dcscribed and disclosec. in the drawings will be readily understood from the foregoing statement, t ken in conju -tion with such other disclo. The scrvoir A having been materiall tilled with water sufiiciently to till the chamber F substantially to the top with possibly a surplus supply in the reservoir A, the burner (r? is lighted and the heat thereof is in'iparted to the water in the heating chamber F, the heat oil which in turn is imparted to the sterilizing medium in the chamber E anc also to the sterilizing chamber C. v

It will be observed upon reference to ure 5 that the water maintained within the chamber F at certain levels and that the water in the reservoir A will supply water to the chamber F under certain conditions. It will be observed that the pipes g and h are in communication with the reservoir A and the chamber F. The particular arrangement and relation that exists between the chamber F and the reservoir A through tie medium the pipes g and h terns a ltll) vacuum system, whereby when the water or other liquid within the chamber F'reaches a low point, more water will be admitted from the reservoir A into the chamber F through the pipe h. In other words, the flowing of water from the reservoir to the chamber F depends upon gravity and this gravity carries water from the reservoir A. to the chamber F when the surface of the water within the chamber F drops below the port opening of the pipe it within the chamber F. This will tend to stabilize the entire system of heating the device and the water within the chamber F may be maintained at a constant temperature which is very desirable for a device of this character.

The sterilizing fluid which may be an alcoholic solution of formaldehyde, or at least some solution which vaporizes below the boiling point of water, is drawn from the reservoir B through the action of the pump H and from such pump forced through the tube 31 to the heated vaporizing chamber where it is vaporized and emitted into the drum producing a pressure in the drum. Reference to Figure 2 will show that the cylinder portion of the pump H is provided with graduations, and it is therefore possible to force a given amount of the sterlizing fluid into the vaporizing chamber, and thus by this method permit a definite amount of sterlizing fluid to be drawn within the pump and produce a proportionate pres sure in the chamber 0. When the plunger of the pump is raised to draw a definite charge of sterilizing fluid therein, the valve in the tube leading to the vaporizing cham ber is opened, the plunger then depressed forcing the sterilizing fluid through the tube and into the vaporizing chamber. The vapor by being discharged into the sterilizing chamber produces a pressure in proportion tothe size of the charge. Vapor when under pressure is much more penetratingand efiective as a sterilizing agent than when used otherwise. Mydevice is .eflicient, for the reason that the sterilization is produced by the combination of applied heat and the application of chemical vapor under pressure, with the result that the time of sterilization is reduced to a minimum.

The volatilized medium from the chamber E rises into the chamber 0, where it passes into the holder D and acts upon the implement or other object therein. The closure means K are manipulated as required for obtaining access to the sterilizing chamber.

Before obtaining access to the sterilizing chamber it is preferable to open the valve 0 and in Figure 1 it will be observed that a suitable tube 33 may be joined with said valve and lead to a reservoir 34, within which reservoir is a neutralizing, deodorizing fluid, said tube having its end extending within said chamber and immersed in the fluid just mentioned. Thus, when the valve 0 is open the sterilizingfiuid which has expanded into a gas, is allowed to bubble through said fluid and prevent obnoxious odors being directed into the surrounding atmosphere. It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be, made in the practice of the invention, in departure from the foregoing description and the disclosure of the.

surrounding the sterilizing chamber and a liquid reservoir in communication therewith, said liquid reservoir being plurally in communication with said liquid'chamber at different levels of said reservoir. 7

2. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a sterilizing chamber, and means for heating the same, comprising a liquid chamber surrounding the sterilizing chamber and a liquid reservoir in communication therewith,'said liquid reservoir being plurally in communication with said liquid chamber at different levels of said reservoir, and at different levels of said liquid chamber.

3. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a sterilizing chamber, and means for heat ing the same, comprising a liquid chamber surrounding the sterilizing chamber, and a liquid reservoir in communication therewith, said liquid reservoir being plurally in communication with said liquid chamber at different levels of said reservoir; and means for controlling liquid passage through one of said means of communication.

4. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a volatilizing chamber for sterilizing ma terial, and means for heating the same, comprising a liquid chamber and a liquid reservoir in communication therewith, said liquid reservoir being plurally in communication with said liquid chamber at different levels of said reservoir.

5. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a volatizing chamber for sterilizing material, and means for heating the same, comprising a liquid chamber and a liquid reservoir in communication therewith, said liquid reservoir being plurally in communication with said liquid chamber at different levels of said reservoir and at different levels of said liquid chamber.

6. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a volatilizing chamber for sterilizing material, and means for heating the same, comprising a liquid chamber and a liquid reservoir in communication therewith, said liquid reservoir being plurally in communication with said liquid chamber at different levels of said reservoir; and means for controlling liquid passage through one of said means 01. communication.

7. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a sterilizing chamber, a chamber for volatilizing sterilizing material in communication therewith, and means for heating said last named chamber; and means for conduction of sterilizing material to said last named chamber; said last named means comprising a reservoir, and means of communication between said reservoir and said volatilizing chamber, a pump being provided in conjunction with said means of communication.

8. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a sterilizing agent chamber member, a sterilizing agent reservoir, means in operative connection between said chamber and reservoir for drawing a definite charge of sterilizing fluid from the reservoir and forcing it into the sterilizing agent chamber member, a sterilizing compartmenthaving a connection with the sterilizing agent chamber member, and means automatically controlling the heating of said sterilizing compartmentand sterilizing agent chamber member to volatilize sterilizing agent in the sterilizing agent chamber member and to regulate the pressure of such volatilized sterilizing agent.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE M. HOLLENBACK.

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