Improvements in or relating to Sterilizing Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Sterilizing Apparatus.
I, HUBERT HIGGINS, of 4, Trinity Street, Cambridge, in the County of Cambridge,
Demonstrator of Anatomy to the Cambridge University, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an efficient and economical sterilizing
apparatus substantially continuous in its action. It 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 steam generator, a superheater,
a condenser and a sterilizing chamber.
The steam generator is an upright boiler surrounded by a casing and heated
at the bottom by a spirit lamp, gas jet or other suitable means. The steam pipe
is carried in the form of a coil around the outside of the boiler, but within the
casing the steam being thus superheated by the combustion gases. If desired
the coil may be continued beneath the boiler, so that a portion of it is exposed
to the direct flame of the heating apparatus. The steam pipe is then carried into
the sterilizing chamber, which is placed above the boiler and has its sides sur-
rounded by a continuation of the boiler casing, which thus forms a jacket heated
by the combustion gases, in order to prevent any tendency to condensation within
the sterilizing chamber suitable provision being made in the upper part of the
jacket for the escape of the products of combustion.
The boiler casing is covered with a nonducting lagging.
The steam after passing through the sterilizing chamber is condensed and
returned to the boiler. For this purpose the steam exhaust pipe from the sterilizing
chamber is carried in the form of a coil around the outside of the boiler casing
being this exposed to the external air, and is finally connected with the boiler
by means of an extension which enters the boiler below the water-level. This
extension is preferably made partly or wholly of transparent material so as to
serve as a water gauge. An orifice is provided in the lower portion of the con-
densing coil, through which water may be introduced should the boiler need
replenishing.
The top of the sterilizing chamber is provided with a suitable lid, through which
the articles to be sterilized are introduced and removed. This may preferably
be covered with non-conducting material.
As a modification, instead of being placed above the boiler the sterilizing cham-
ber may be fitted into the top of the boiler.
Dated this 24th day of March 1897
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, HUBERT HIGGINS, of 4, Trinity Street, Cambridge, in the County of Cambridge,
Demonstrator of Anatomy to the Cambridge University, 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 to provide an efficient and economical sterilizing
apparatus substantially continuous in its action. It can be made portable in form,
if desired, and is chiefly intended for the use of surgeons and dentists.
In carrying out the invention superheated steam is employed at substantially
atmospheric pressure in apparatus comprising a sterilizing chamber, a steam
generator, a superheater and a condenser, forming a closed system.
The accompanying drawings show perspective views with some parts cut away
of two convenient form of portable apparatus constructed according to this inven-
tion.
Like letters indicate like parts in both figures.
Referring specially to Fig. 1, the sterilizing chamber A, formed with or fixed
in a casing E, is provided with a cover A', secured to it so as to form an air-tight
joint, preferably by means of flanges A2, and screws A as shown, or a cross bar
or clamps or other convenient fastenings may be employed. The lid should be
lagged and provided with a tube A closed at the bottom to hold a thermometer.
A pressure gauge A5 and a safety valve A8 may also conveniently be fixed in the.
cover. The chamber is likewise provided with holes A6 A7 for steam connections
hereinafter described.
Below the chamber, within the casing E, is placed the boiler B, preferably a
cylindrical tank as shown, and connected with its lower portion is one end of the
water feed tube B', which passes through the side of the casing and connects with
a small tank D² forming an extension or bottom portion of the condenser D.
From the upper portion or steam space of the boiler a pipe B2 is carried to connect
with the superheater C which preferably consists of a flat coil C, placed beneath
the bottom of the boiler between the latter and the source of heat F. The pipe B³
may be carried inside the boiler and through its bottom plate, as shown in
Fig. 1 or it may issue directly from the steam space and be carried to the super-
heater outside the boiler as shown in Fig. 2.
The superheater C is connected with the chamber A, at A by a pipe C', either in
the most direct manner practical or in the form of an ascending spiral coil as shown
in Fig. 1.
The condenser D preferably formed of a spiral coil placed around the outside
of the casing E is connected with the upper portion of the chamber A, say at A',
by a pipe D passing through the side of the casing E. The coil D ends in an
extension or enlargement preferably taking the form of a tank 12 of suitable
size from the bottom of which issues the boiler water feed pipe B₁ as before
described.
The tank D2 may be formed with a glass side, or preferably is provided with an
ordinary water glass D³ as shown in the drawings, and is fitted with a pipe D
having a screwed stopper or a valve and preferably funnel shaped mouth for
supplying the apparatus with water.
The source of heat F may be an oil or spirit lamp as shown in Fig. 1 or a
gas burner may be employed as shown in Fig. 2.
The casing E should be covered with an efficient lagging E', and may be fitted
with casters or wheels E. Openings for the escape of the products of combustion

page_text: are provided as at Es. It is fitted with a door for giving access to the lamp and
an opening desirably adjustable for admission of air is provided either in the
door or lower portions of the casing.
In operating the apparatus water is supplied through the pipe D' sufficient
to give a level about the height D in the tank D when the apparatus is working,
which will give a similar level D in the boiler. The steam generated in the
boiler passes through the pipe B2 the superheater C and pipe C¹ into the chamber A,
whence it issues by the pipe D' into the coil of the condenser D, where it is
condensed and drops into the extension or tank D2 returning through the pipe B¹
back into the boiler.
In the alternative form of apparatus shown in Fig. 2, the chamber A is formed
with or fitted into the boiler B, the pipes C₁ D' being carried through the boiler
to connect the chamber with the superheater and condenser respectively. The
arrangements of the other parts of the apparatus are similar to those in the
apparatus first described.
When gas is employed as the source of heat, mechanism may be connected with
the supply valve to automatically regulate the flame by the temperature of the
chamber in the well known manner, so that any desired temperature may be
maintained without personal supervision.
The pipe B may be fitted with a check valve to prevent the possibility of
back action of the water. Both B and D¹ may also be provided with stop valves
placed outside the casing.
Instead of the lid or cover for obtaining access to the inside of the chamber A,
being on the top, this opening may, if desired, be placed in the side of the chamber.
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
connecting directly 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 boiler and the other
the superheater.
If desired condensing water may also be used on the condensing coil, but this
is not generally necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
18:-
1. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a chamber, a steam generator, a super-
heater and a condenser operating as a closed cycle, substantially as described.
2. In sterilizing apparatus in which steam is employed as the sterilizing medium,
condensing the steam as it leaves the sterilizing chamber and returning it auto-
matically to the generator.
3. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a chamber, a steam generator a super-
heater, a condenser, and a source of heat so constructed and operating that the
steam formed in the generator is superheated, passed through the chamber, then
condensed and returned to the generator.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a sterilizing apparatus,
substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 1 or in Figure 2 of the accom-
panying drawings.