Patent GB-817687-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for cleaning tubular articles
Inventor: LAMPS WILLIAM
IPC: A61M5/00
Filed: 1956-02-06
Abstract: 817,687. Cleaning tubular articles, LAMPS, W. Feb. 6, 1956, No. 3674/56. Class 138(1). Apparatus for cleaning tubular articles such as hyopdermic syringe needles 13, Fig. 1 and the like includes a manifold 14 having a single duct therein and with a plurality of outlet or discharge adaptors 11<SP>1</SP> extending therefrom for detachable liquid and air-tight coupling connection with the ends of the tubular articles, the manifold 14 also having a plurality of inlet connections 38, 43, 46, Fig. 2, communicating separately by pipes 36 with the bottom portions of air-tight containers 33, 41, 44 for cleaning and rinsing liquids, the upper portions of the containers being provided with air inlet pipes 27, 28, 29 from a source 19, Fig. 3, of compressed air, a series of manually-operable valves 27a 28a, 29a all being connected on the one side with the source 19 and each being connected on the other side with a related one of the air inlet pipes 27, 28, 29, whereby a selected liquid under pressure may be discharged through the articles 13 attached to the manifold 14. The compressed air supply pipe 19 is connected by a coupling 20 with a pressure reducing valve 21 provided with a guage 30, the valve 21 being connected by a pipe 22 with a manifold 18 connected between the pipes 27, 28, 29 and the valves 27a, 28a, 29a. A pipe 26 controlled by a manually operated valve 26a also extends from the manifold 18, direct to the manifold 14. Push bnttons 26<SP>1</SP> ... 29<SP>1</SP>, (29<SP>1</SP> Fig. 8, not shown) are provided for the valves 26a ...29a<SP>1</SP> and the pipes 26, 38, 43, 46 are connected to the manifold 14 through non-return ball valves C1 ... C4. The containers 33, 41, 44 are glass jars screwed to heads 31, 42, 45 and the heads are mounted behind a shield 47 hinged along its top edge at 48. Supported below the adapters 11<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 1 is a drain pan 39. In use, the heads 12 of the needles 13 are screwed onto the adaptors 111 which correspond with the normal syringe adaptor 11, Fig. 1. By depressing the button 26<SP>1</SP> air is passed through the valve C1 to the manifold and thus through the needles, the other non-return valves preventing air from entering the liquid containers. Next the button 271 is depressed and cleansing liquid in the jar 33 is passed through the valve C2 through the needle 13 to the pan 39. Similarly when buttons 281, 29<SP>1</SP> are depressed in turn, a second cleansing liquid and the distilled rinsing water are passed through their associated non-return valves and the needles into the pan 39. Finally compressed air is passed through the manifold 14 and the needles to effect drying, by repressing the button 26<SP>1</SP>. The apparatus also includes a further manifold 15, Figs. 1 and 2, connected to an adaptor 121, similar to the normal heads 12 of the syringes. The manifold is supplied with compressed air through a pipe 191, Fig. 2, and reducing valve 21<SP>1</SP>. A syringe barrel 9 and its piston plunger 10 are mounted on the adaptor 12 by the syringe socket 11. By applying air to the interior of the barrel 9 the plunger 10 may be released to fall onto a rubber pad on an adjustable stop 51 having a stem 52 slidable in a bearing 53 under the control of a knob 54. The stop and syringe are surrounded by a telescopic two-part guard 56. The upper part 57 of the guard is carried by the manifold whilst the lower part 58 has a frictional sliding fit with the stop 51.