Improvements in and relating to Sterilizing Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Loft 24th Dec 1897-Accented 19th Mar. 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Sterilizing Apparatus.
I. HUBERT HIGGINS, of 4, Trinity Street, Cambridge, in the County of Cambridge,
Demonstrator of Anatomy to Cambridge University, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple and economical sterilizing-
apparatus, which can be made portable in form if desired, and is chiefly intended
for the use of surgeons and dentists.
In carrying out the invention I employ superheated steam at substantially
atmospheric pressure in apparatus consisting of a sterilizing chamber, a tubular
steam generator and superheater. These may be arranged to form two different
types of apparatus. -
One form of apparatus consists of a sterilizing chamber surrounded by a casing:
the heat may be supplied from a spirit lamp, gas jet, or any convenient form,
being placed beneath the chamber within the casing.
The steam generator consists of a tank placed outside the casing. A pipe is
carried from its lower part into the casing and formed into a coil, which winds
spirally found the sterilizing chamber, first ascending from its lower part to the
top where it may be connected with an enclosed space formed round the chamber.
From the upper part of this space a tube descends in a coil and is finally connected
to the bottom of the chamber; the ascending coil and the enclosed space forming
a tubular boiler and the descending one the superheater.
The space above mentioned may be formed by simply enlarging the coil at that
part, so that the tube forms a continuous tubular boiler and superheater. After
passing through the chamber the steam is carried by a pipe into the generator
tank so as to heat the water, before it enters the coil:
In the alternative form of apparatus, the chamber with the exception of an
opening on the top provided with a lid, is surrounded by a casing, which forms the
steam generator, and which is partly filled with water, its upper part acting as a
steam space.
A tube is carried from this steam space, formed into two or more
coils under the bottom of the boiler and then connected with the lower part of the
chamber.
A suitable outlet may be provided in the lid for the escape of the steam, or the
steam may be wholly or partly returned into the casing of the chamber.
Suitable means are provided for feeding the casing with water, and for heating
the apparatus.
In each form of apparatus the sterilizing chamber is provided with a lid,
preferably lagged, and suitable provision is made for carrying away the products
of combustion; any suitable valves, cocks, &c., being provided.
Dated this 24th day of March 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Sterilizing Apparatus.
I. HUBERT HIGGINS, of 4, Trinity Street, Cambridge, in the County, of Cambridge,
Demonstrator of Anatomy to Cambridge University; do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple and economical, sterilizing
apparatus which can be made portable in form if desired, and is chiefly intended for
the use of surgeons and dentists.
: f
In carrying out the invention superheated steam is employed at substantially
atinospheric pressure in apparatus consisting of a sterilizing chamber, a tubular
steam generator and a superheater. These may be arranged to form two different
types of apparatus, one in which the sterilizing chamber is entirely separate from
the steam generator and the other in which the chamber is built within the
latter.
The accompanying drawings show diagrammatic perspective views of convenient
forms of portable apparatus constructed according to this invention;
Figures 1 and 2 show two forms of the type of apparatus in which the chamber
is constructed separate from the steam generator, and
Figure 3 shows a desirable form of the alternative type.'
Like letters indicate like parts in all the drawings.
Referring first to Fig. 1 A is an outside casing preferably of metal and covered
with lagging A, and conveniently provided with casters A. Within the top of
the casing A is fitted the sterilizing chamber B of any convenient shape preferably
cylindrical and having a cover or lid B. The cover may be lagged, and is pro-
vided with a tube 132 closed at the bottom, to hold a thermometer and with an escape
pipe B3 preferably fitted with a valve B. The cover B need not be fastened down,
but should form a close joint with the chamber.
At a convenient joint on the outside of the casing A is fixed a water tank C,
having a cover C for filling purposes and within the upper part of the casing, is
placed an annular receptacle 1) which forms the steam space of the steam generator,
and is connected with the water tank C by the pipe C in which the steam is
generated. The pipe C may be arranged in various ways the essential point being
that sufficient length is allowed for the complete or substantially complete
vapourization of the water entering it through gravity from the tank C. Con-
.veniently as shown in the figure it consists of an ascending straight portion C
running across the centre of the apparatus imanediately over the source of heat to
the bottom of the sterilizing chamber, around which it winds as a spiral coil and
enters the bottom of the steam space D at D. A flat coil of pipe E placed over
the source of heat and beneath the chamber B forms the superheater. It is con-
nected with the chamber B by the pipe B5 and with the steam space D by the spiral
coil E which enters the steam space at D2 being preferably continued as shown in
the figure to the upper portion of the same. Or this second coil may be dispensed
with and the superheater connected with the water space by a vertical pipe. The
source of heat may consist of a spirit oil or other lamp, or a gas burner F may be
employed as shown, the supply pipe being carried through the casing, and connected
with the supply by a rubber or other tube.
The casing is furnished with a door and in this holes, regulated if desired by

page_text: a damper, may be placed for the supply of air, or these may be placed in the floor
of the casing.
If desired a piece of metal gauze may be placed between the superheater E and
the bottom of the chamber to protect the latter from the direct action of the flame,
and the pipe C¹ may be furnished with a flap valve where it enters the tank C to
prevent the possibility of back action of the water. Openings are provided as
at A³ for the escape of the gases of combustion from the casing. The tank C
may be supplied with water in any convenient manner, as necessary. Preferably
it could he connected by flexible hose, with a pressure supply regulated by a ball
cock within the tank. The steam escape pipe B may also, if desired, be flexibly
connected with the water tank C, this will both help to heat the water and by
condensing or partly condensing the steam prevent or lessen diffusion of the latter
in the laboratory or other place in which the apparatus is working.
Instead of the lid or cover on the top of the chamber B for obtaining access to
its interior, an opening may be provided through the side of the casing and a side
door formed to the chamber-the casing in this case being continued over the top
of the chamber.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The tank C being filled with water, to say the level the pipe C fills to the same
level. On direct heat being applied to this portion of Ct the water partially
vapourises and ascends through the coiled portion of into the steam space D
at D, being meanwhile completely vapourized by the combustion gases. From the
steam space the steam escapes by the pipe at D2 travels through the coils E¹ and E
and enters the sterilizing chamber B at B being superheated to any desired degree
by regulating the lamp or other source of heat. Owing to the position of the
chamber B within the casing A, and the lagging of the cover, all condensation is
prevented within the chamber and the steam finally escapes at B3 either directly
into the atmosphere or alternatively into the tank C.
In the alternative form of apparatus shown in Figure 2, the annular steam
space D is modified forming merely a small water trap D. In this figure the
pipe C¹ is shown without a coil.
In Figure 3 the water tank C, tube C¹ and separate steam space D are dispensed
with, the chamber B being built or fixed within the boiler which consists simply
of a tank C. The superheater E is connected with the steam space of the boiler
by the pipe El carried up inside the boiler through the water space, as shown in
the figure or this pipe may issue directly from the upper part of the boiler and be
carried down to E through the side flue.
The boiler C is provided with a pipe C preferably funnel shaped, and having
a stop valve or screwed stopper, for filling the boiler with water.
When used for sterilizing purposes it may be desirable to be able to employ
saturated steam in the chamber. For this purpose a pipe may be provided form
ing direct communication between the steam space of the generator and the
chamber: both this pipe and the superheater being under control by stop valves.
Or the superheater coil instead of being placed in the centre of the casing may be
situated to one side and two lamps or burners provided one for heating the super-
heater and one the boiler.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
+
1. A drying or sterilizing apparatus, comprising a chamber B, boiler C, C, D,
superheater E, E, a source of heat, and a containing-casing substantially as
described.
2. A drying or sterilizing apparatus comprising a chamber B forming part of
or enclosed in a boiler C, a superheater and a source of heat substantially as
decoribed

page_text: 3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the drying or steriliz-
ing apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 1 or in Figure 2
or in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dal
Oul 1
J
71
1007
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.