Patent GB-731550-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to sterilizers
Inventor: WEBSTER ALEXANDER HYDE
IPC: A23L3/04
Filed: 1952-10-14
Abstract: 731,550. Sterilizing-apparatus. WEBSTER & CO., Ltd., R. W. Aug. 11, 1953 [Oct. 14, 1952], No. 25774/52. Class 49. In an apparatus comprising a steam chamber through which cans, bottles or the like are passed for sterilizing, an inlet conduit for the cans or the like comprises a plurality of liquid-containing, U-shaped, sealing conduits in series, in order to permit operation at higher temperatures without structural disadvantages or operational complications. Cans or the like loaded at A are carried by an endless conveyer 4 through a steam-filled chamber 3 and are unloaded at B. The inlet for the conveyer comprises two closed chambers 1 and 2 formed by a series 5, 6 and 7 of waterfilled, U-shaped conduits. The outlet for the conveyer also comprises two closed chambers 8 and 9 formed by a series 10, 11 and 12 of water-filled, U-shaped conduits. When the apparatus is operating, the limb of each U-shaped conduit in which the water is at low level communicates with the limb. of an adjacent conduit in which the water is at high level, and thus each conduit provides a head of liquid imposing part of the full pressure desired in the chamber 3, this pressure being the sum of the pressures provided by the conduits in series. Steam supplied by a pipe 14 is injected into the chamber 3 centrally at a point 15 and at points 16 in the inner limbs of conduits 7 and 10. An outlet pipe 17 near the top of the chamber 3 communicates by a pipe 18 to allow steam to enter the chamber 2 at 20 and, by a pipe 19 from the chamber 2, to enter the chamber 8 at 21. An outlet pipe 23 near the top of the chamber 2 similarly communicates at 24 with the chamber 1 and, by a pipe 26 from the chamber 1, with the chamber 9. An outlet 27 from the chamber 1 and an outlet 28 from the chamber 9 communicate with a pipe vent 29 to the atmosphere. The liquid seals in the conduits 5, 6 and 7 are heated by'steam supplied at 33, 34 and 35. The ratio of the pressure P3 in the chamber 3 to the pressure P2 in the chambers 2 and 8 is controlled through a pressure-sensitive bellows 36 which actuates a valve 37 in the pipe 18 ; the ratio of the pressure P2 in the chambers 2 and 8 to the pressure P1 in the chambers 1 and 9 is controlled through a pressure-sensitive bellows 38 which actuates a valve 39 in the pipe 23. A temperature-sensitive device 40 near the top of the chamber 1 actuates a controller 41 to operate a valve 42 in the pipe 29 to allow venting of chambers 1 and 9 to the atmosphere. Steam supply from 14 to the apparatus at points 15 and 16 is controlled by a valve 44 actuated by a pressure-sensitive controller 43 under the influence of pressure at a point 45 within the chamber 3. Supply of steam to heat the water in the lower.limb of the conduit 5 is controlled by a controller 46 which is influenced by a temperature-sensitive device 47 in this water and also by the pressure P1. Supplies of steam to water in the lower limbs of conduits 6 and 7 are controlled by controllers 49 and 51 which are influenced respectively by both the water temperatures in the conduits 6 and 7 and the pressures P2 and P3. Specifications 648,345 and 730,781 are referred to.