Improvements in Method and Apparatus for Disinfecting by Means of Saturated Steam of a High Temperature.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1889
COME LEED DI BUITIATION.
Improvements in Method and Apparatus for Disinfecting by Means
of Saturated Steam of a High Temperature.
I, BERMANN ROBRDECK, of 55 Elsasserstrasse, Berlin, in the German Empire,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of this invention is disinfection and destroying of bacteriae and their
germs by means of saturated steam and specially suitable apparatus for effecting
the same.
The disinfection is effected in a quicker and more secure manner the higher the
temperature of the saturated steam obtained, whilst as is well known dry or super-
heated steam has no better disinfecting properties than hot air.
My apparatus is constructed on the following principles :-
1st. The production of steam in the disinfecting room, thoroughly saturated
throughout with moisture.
2nd. The removal of air quickly and thoroughly from the disinfector by steam
streaming through the same.
3rd. The obtaining of a proper utilization of the heat of the flame as far as possible,
without superheating the steam.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I now proceed to describe
the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being had to the
letters and figures shown thereon, like letters referring to like parts in the various
figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of my apparatus.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a simple modification of my apparatus.
Figure 3 is a further modification of my apparatus.
The apparatus represented in Figure 1 has double walls and consists firstly of the
evaporator B arranged in the lower part and secondly of the disinfector C contained
in the upper space. The latter is equally applicable for wet or saturated steam of 100°
as for steam over 100° i.e. also for saturated steam under atmospheric pressure and
up to atmosphere.
K is the heating apparatus. F is the water gauge whilst the feed water enters
through the three-way cock G.
The various parts of the apparatus may be connected together by setting the plug
of the cock in any convenient position necessary by this means, as well as by a suitable.
setting of the cocks D. D and E the apparatus can be worked with a little
overpressure.
This is obtained by the ascending tube d reaching to the bottom of the apparatus
which tube is open above and brings the steam under a pressure corresponding to the
water column raised in the tube. The steain developed reaches by means of the
valves A and A' from above into the disinfecting space c through the openings a
and a¹ and escapes then into the atmosphere through the tube b and cock E.
A manometer allows of the controlling of the steam pressure and a thermometer 9
of the temperature in order that it may always be seen that really saturated steam
exists in the disinfector as by observing the manometer and thermometer at the
same time.
To secure working always with saturated steam when the temperature is higher
than 100°, a third space is made over the cover of the apparatus, which space is
furnished with two tubes for filling and one cock for draining the water. This hollow
snace is used for the cooling so that an overheating of the steam in the disinfecting

page_text: apparatus if by accident the pressure should fall too low, to prevent a collapsing of
the sitme:
The working of the apparatus is as follows:--
After having furnished the disinfector with the objects to be disinfected, the
valves A and A are screwed up, so that the steam can enter into the disinfecting
space, whilst the air contained therein escapes by tube and valve E. After having
removed the air out of the interior, the cock E is closed and the pressure. can
then be increased.
For removing the rest of the air from the objects above mentioned with certain
success, the steam is sliut off by screwing downwards the valves A and A', cock E is
closed, the heating flame is extinguished, and cold water is allowed to pass through the
cooling chamber over the cover of the apparatus for condensing the steam.
If now steam is again allowed to enter into the disinfector, the rest of the air is
removed with the escaping steam the cock E being open after which disinfection. is
continued for some time with higher pressure the cock E being closed.
When the disinfection is finished, tlie objects need to be dried. The valves A and A'
are closed by screwing them downwards, the steam escapes through e, el direct into
the atmosphere and the apparatus works now as a drying chest as upon opening the
cocks D and D the entering air is heated by the steam surrounding the tube and
passes through the disinfecting space and dries the objects within a short time.
Suitable insertions of tinned iron wire netting are arranged for receiving the
objects to be disinfected and are specially designed for the disinfector and manu-
facture in different sizes.
Fig. 2 represents a simplified apparatus with double cover furnished with cooling
mantle or chamber, the cover being put into a water-lock m..
The cocling chamber on the top of the apparatus allows of the steam being kept wet
or saturated when the temperature is over 100°.
The level of the water may be kept at any convenient height through the
continuous admission of water through the pipe and an adjustable exit pipe.
The steam passes through the disinfecting chamber in the direction of the arrows.
The whole apparatus may be covered with asbestos or any other non conducting
material.
Fig. 3 shows an apparatus for disinfecting by wet steam which while keeping the
steam at an even temperature produces saturated steam of 100° and also the
evaporation being most rapid.
In this case the evaporator is supplied with a water reservoir situated above the
evaporator and fitted with an adjusting screw which admits only sufficient water as is
required for a continuous and rapid developement of steam, whilst maintaining the
same level in the evaporator, the water in the reservoir being at the same time. heated
by the flames and products of combustion before entering the evaporator..
The steam thus developed passes through the double cover fitted with water joints
and cooling chamber into the disinfector in the direction of the arrows and acts as
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed; I declare that what I
claim is
--
1. A process for disinfecting by means of saturated steam of any convenient high
temperature characterized by the following features;-
a, by cooling the steam on the top or at the sides of the disinfector.
b, by cooling the steam before entering the disinfector, so that; if the evaporator
is separated from the disinfector, a cooling chamber exists between the
evaporator and the disinfector.
c, by the hot steam being allowed to pass through water which becomes heated and
evaporates and so prevents the superheating of the steam.
2. In such a disinfecting process as described in claim 1, the application of an
apparatus, characterized by a double walled cylinder, in the lower part of which is

page_text: the evaporator B and in the upper part of which the vessel C for receiving the objects
to be disinfected is arranged, the steam rising between the double sides of the
cylinder and entors the disinfecting chamber through the openings a a¹ which may
be closed by valves, while the steam can be removed through tube and valve E and
further by the ascending tube d open above and entering the water chamber of the
evaporator at its lower part for raising the pressure of the steam.
Dated this 26th day of September 1889.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.