An Improved Process of Sterilizing Liquids, and Apparatus to be used therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of Sterilizing Liquids, and Apparatus to be
used therefor.
We, GEORG POPP Ph. D. and JOHANN HEINRICH BECKER Ph. D. both of
153 Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, Chemists, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :—
This invention relates to a process of sterilizing liquids and to means for
hermetically closing bottles or vessels charged with the liquid to be sterilized which
during the operation are contained in a chamber filled with steam.
Our invention has for its object to provide the bottles or other vessels with
stoppers which while capable of effectually closing the bottles in the process of
sterilizing are of such simple character and so easy of manipulation that they are
especially suitable for transmission to customers, and further to provide means
whereby the stoppers may be opened and closed while in the sterilizing chamber.
The stoppers are distinguishable from others hitherto employed in that they are
composed of two portions-ris. a body or main portion constituting the stopper
proper (usually made of an india-rubber) and a stem or plug fitting therein by
means of which the bottles are opened and closed. The mechanism for actuating
the plugs is so constructed that rotary motion may be produced at several points,
so as to act on a number of stoppers simultaneously, a great advantage of our
apparatus being the avoidance of the pressure upon the bottles which appertains to
other systems and causes breakage, while the vessels can be opened and closed by
operating the mechanism either in one or the other direction.
Apparatus has already been constructed by means of which bottles can be closed
while in the roam chamber, but so far as we are aware none exists by means of
which the closing of a number of bottles at once can be effected by actunting a
device which in one position puts the bottles in communication with the steam
chamber and in the other position cuts off communication, nor are we aware of any
such stoppering device that does not possess the disadvantage of exerting pressure
on the bottle neck tending to break the bottle, nor of any which maintains, with
certainty, communication between the interior of the bottle and the steam chamber
during the action of the steam, nor of any which can be operated in such manner
or under such circumstances that a vacuum can be produced above the cooled
liquid, and which will permit not only of closing the bottles but, under certain
circumstances, of re-opening the same while in the steam chamber as is occasionally
required. Cocks or taps, wholly or partially made of metal, have been employed
but these are suitable for the purpose, and we are unaware of any device which
can be closed within the apparatus and yet fulfils the other requirements demanded
of it.
We will describe our invention with reference to the accompanying drawings,
forming part of this Specification, wherein
Figure is a vertical longitudinal section, on line 7-7 Figure 2, of an apparatus
charged with bottles, while
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the apparatus on line - Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on line - Figure 2;
Figure 4a perspective view of the bottle-stopper, partly in section, while
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, shew a modification of the apparatus.
In Figures 1 and 2, A is the chamber into which steam is introduced by pipe B
the water of condensation passing off through pipe C. The bottles are supported
in the chamber on a frame consisting of a perforated false bottom E carried by
brackets Dattached to the inner walls of the chamber, a partition Frunning

page_text: lengthwise of the chamber, and a transverse support H hereafter referred to, and
are held in place by spring clips G.
h
The stopper consists of a centrally perforated india-rubber boily portion a and
glass rod or conical plug adapted to be rotated therein as hereafter described
and whose upper end is squared so that the plug may be readily turned. d is a
lateral aperture in the stopper a extending to its bore which in the open position
of the plug comn.unicates with a longitudinal groove therein so that the steam
can enter the bottles by the passage d, e, e, and the air can escape therefrom. By
turning the plug the bore is closed, the upper part of the plug, which fits it
snugly, sealing the bottle air tight. As the neck of the bottle is filled with steam
a vacuum is created when this condenses thus causing the plug to be sented still
more firmly in place.
The mechanism for turning the plugs may be constructed in various ways, one of
which is illustrated in Figmes 1 to 4. The heads of the plugs are squared and
received in corresponding holes of cross-levers n which are jointed to coupling
rods, m', the mechanism being held in place on the frame by transverse
supports H having studs on which the levers are mounted and preferably
arranged to act on two rows of hottles, by means of a striker K which netuates
the members through the support mounted to slide on the central partition F
and links and t. The strikers K are introduced into the steam chamber through
stuffing boxes or otherwise to ensure a tight joint and they are shown in the
drawings with a steam-tight conical plug 14, which makes a tight joint when the
strikers K are in the outward position to which they wont be brought after having
operated on the levers. One of these strikers is attached to the rear wall of the
steam chamber and the other to the door A and the mechanism is operated from
either end seconding as it i dine tepen or close the bottle. The don Mis
clamped steam-tight to the front of the steam chamber by means of a packing
ring and screws P.
In the circular sterilizing apparatus shewn in Figures 5 and 7 the bottles rest in
the base 1 of the vessel, said base having cavities in which the bottoms of the
bottles are inserted after raising the cover C. The mechanism for turning the
stoppers is fixed on the cover or otherwise, and consists of a shaft extending into
the vessel through a stuffing box and provided with a spur-wheeled, which is
keyed to its lower end, and pinions rotating on a plate D' lixed to the cover and
gearing with the wheel. The pinions are provided at their under sides with
angular holes or the like, by means of which they can seize and turn the stoppers.
c is a hand wheel for rotating the toothed wheel'e'.
The device shewn in Figure 6 consists of a disc g' fitted upon the rectangular
head of a screw-stopper screwing into the bottle neck, the disegresting
against a packing-ring which is interposed between it and the mouth of the bottle
to make a tight-joint and exclude air. The bottle may of course be screw-threaded
exteriorly, in which case the stopper would be in the form of a screw-cap fitting
thereon.
Figure 8 shews an indin-rubber stopper of with a vertical bore and glass plug
fitting so as to be turned in a transverse passage of the stopper, the plug in the
position shewn permitting the entry of steam to the bottle through its passage p
and the end and side apertures s³, 11, the communication being cut off by turning
the plug by striking its arm. The device in the steam chamber when this form
of plug is used, consists simply of a rod moved from without by a striker provided
with projections which strike the arms of the several plugs.
A ground-in glass tap with grooves may be used instead of a rubber one, similar
to those employed in dropping-bottles, in which case the bottle neck must have
channels or grooves corresponding to the transverse passage in the plug. Many
contrivances of the kind exist for medicine-bottles, which allow the liquid to run
out by drops when the plug is in one position and in another position closes them
air-tight.
The apparatus above described is actuated in the following manner. The vessels

page_text: full of milk or other liquid to be sterilized or pasteurized and furnished with the
stoppers are placed between the spring-clips in the frame so that the square heads
of the plugs or glass rods enter the cross-levers. Care should be taken that all the
horizontal bores of the stoppers or the corresponding openings for the entry of the
steam into the vessels are in the saine position. Having thus attached the open
bottles to the frame, the latter is inserted into the steam chamber which is then
closed. Steam at a temperature of about 102° C. is then admitted through the
steam pipe for a period sufficient to destroy all the micro-organisms in the milk.
The milk is then permitted to froth-up by letting out some of the steam and any
air which may still have been contained in the vessels is thereby effectually with-
drawn so that a vacuum will be created when the vessels are sealed and cooled as
hereafter described. After the above frothing up of the milk, full steam is turned
on for a moment during which the mechanism controlling the stoppers is actuated
by a blow on the strikers and all the bottles are thereby hermetically closed. In
the space above the liquid in the battles there is now only steam which subsequently
condenses, the completeness of the vacuum thus produced and the fact that the
stopper fits air tight being recognizable by the continuation of the boiling of the
liquid in the closed vessels for some time while the air pressure drives the stopper
further in and makes a still tighter closure. The completeness of the vacuum in
the cooled bottles can be ascertained by a blow against the bottom of the bottle
which the liquid should strike with a distinct shock owing to there being no cushion
of air to deaden the sound. When it is desired to repeat the sterilizing operation,
the bottles are allowed to cool down to a certain temperature and the frame is
returned to the steam chamber which is closed and steam admitted into the
chamber, and as soon as the air has been expelled from the steam chamber the
bottles are opened by a blow on the striker and the operation performed again.
The method of proceeding will be precisely the same if the turning is effected
by toothed or friction gear, the vessels being closed by turning the wheels in
one direction and opened by turning them in the other. The stoppers can be
readily loosened by the consumer and they can be cleaned and replaced without
difficulty.
If it be desired to cool the bottles rapidly this may be conveniently done before
their removal from the apparatus, by first admitting water at a temperature of
about 90° C. from a cistern through pipes Q. Q, at the side or rear so as to fill the
apparatus to the height of the necks of the bottles, cold water being admitted to
the cistern as the water runs out of it so that the temperature of the water entering
the apparatus shall be gradually reduced and thus comparatively rapidly cool the
vessels. The water runs off from the apparatus through the pipes R which are of
the same, or slightly larger, diameter than the feed pipes.
M1002
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of Sterilizing Liquids, and Apparatus to be
used therefor.
We, GEORG POPP Ph. D. and JOHANN HEINRICH BECKER Ph. D. both of
153, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, Chemists, 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 :-
This invention relates to a process of sterilizing liquids and to means for
hermetically closing bottles or vessels charged with the liquid to be sterilized,
which during the operation are contained in a chamber filled with steam.

page_text: Our invention has for its object to provide the bottles or other vessels with
stoppers which, while capable of effectually closing the bottles in the process of
sterilizing, are of such a simple character and so easy of manipulation that they
are especially suitable for transmission to customers, and, further, to provide means
whereby the stoppers may be opened and closed while in the sterilizing chamber.
The stoppers are distinguishable from others hitherto employed in that they are
composed of two portions-riz. a body or main portion constituting the stopper
proper (usually made of india-rubber) and a stem or plug fitting therein by the
rotation of which the bottles are opened and closed. The mechanism for actuating
the plugs is so constructed that rotary motion may be produced at several points,
so as to act on a number of stoppers simultaneously, while the vessels can be opened
and closed by operating the mechanism either in one or the other direction, a
great advantage of our apparatus being the avoidance of the pressure upon the
bottles which appertains to other systems and causes breakage.
Apparatus has already been constructed by means of which bottles can be closed
while in the steam chamber, but so far as we are aware none exists by means of
which the closing of a number of bottles at once can be effected, by actuating a
device which in one position puts the bottles in communication with the steam
chamber and in the other position by a positive motion ents off communication.
Neither are we aware of any such stoppering device that does not possess the
disadvantage of exerting pressure on the neck of the bottle tending to break the
the latter, nor of any which maintains with certainty, communication between
the interior of the bottle and the steam chamber during the action of the steam,
nor of any which can be operated in such manner or under such circumstances that
a vacuum can be produced above the cooled liquid, and which will ja rmit not only
of closing the battles but, under certain circumstances, of re-opening the same
while in the steam chamber as is occasionally required. Cocks or taps, wholly or
partially made of metal, have been employed, but these are muitable for the
purpose, and we are unaware of any device which can be closed within the apparatus
and yet fulfils the other requirements demanded of it.
Existing apparatus provide for a single heating of the milk only. Now it is
well-known that certain kinds of germis cannot be destroyed unle the liquid be
heated several times and cooled between the heatings to a certain degree, and our
apparatus enables us to carry out a new process of fractional sterilization based on
the above principle.
Briefly stated, we put the vessels filled with milk into the sterilizing chamber,
open the stopper, and introduce steam. After a certain lapse of tum the steam is
cut off, the vessels are closed, the milk remaining in the same vessels is removed
from the sterilizing chamber and cooled (or the milk is cooled by a lind introduced
into the chamber) and the vessels are then re-inserted in the chamlar, the stoppers
opened, and the steam re-admitted.
We will describe our invention with reference to the drawings accompanying the
Provisional Specification, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section on
line, Figure 2, of an apparatus charged with bottles, while Figure 2 is a
horizontal section of the apparatus, on line, Figure 1. Figm is a vertical
transverse section, on line, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a perspectis view of the
bottle-stopper, partly in section, while Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, Shew a modification
of the apparatus.
In Figures 1 and 2, A is the chamber into which steam is introduced by pipe B,
the water of condensation passing off through pipe C. The bottles, re supported
in the chamber on a frame consisting of a perforated false bottom carried by
brackets attached to the inner walls of the chamber, a partition F running
lengthwise of the chamber and a transverse support H, herealter rerred to, and
the bottles are held in place by spring clips G.
The stopper consists of a centrally-perforated india-rubber body portion a and a
glass rod or conical plug & adapted to be rotated therein as hereafter described and
whose upper end is square or of such angular form that the plug may be readily

page_text: turned. d is a lateral aperture in the stopper a extending to its bore c which in
the one position of the plug 6 communicates with a longitudinal groove therein, so
that the steam can enter the bottles by the passage d, e, c, and the air can escape
therefrom, while in the other position of the plug the bore is closed, the upper
part of the plug, which fits it snugly, sealing the bottle air-tight. As the neck of
the bottle is filled with steam, a vacuum is created when this condenses, thus
causing the plug to be seated still more firmly in place.
The mechanism for turning the plugs may be constructed in various ways, one of
which is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. The heads of the plugs are of square or
equivalent form and received in correspon ling holes in cross-levers which are
jointed to coupling rods m, m', the mechanism being held in place on the frame
by transverse supports I having studs on which the levers are mountel and
preferably arranged to act on two rows of bottles, by means of a striker K which
actuates the members m' through the support mounted to slide on the central
partition F and links and 1. The strikers are introduced into the strim
chamber through stuffing boxes, or other means are provided to ensure a tight
joint, and they are shewn in the drawings with a steam tight conical plug L which
makes a tight joint when the strikers K are in the outward position to which they
would be brought after having operated on the levers. One of these strikers is
attached to the rear wall of the steam chamber and the other to the door A', and
the mechanism is operated from either end according as it is desired to open or
close the bottles. The door A' is clamped steam-tight to the front of the steam
chamber, by means of a packing ring N and screws P.
In the circular sterilizing apparatus shewn in Figures 5 and 7 the bottles rest in
the base B of the vessel, said base having cavities in which the bottoms of the
bottles are inserted after raising the cover C. The mechanism for turning the
stoppers is fixed on the cover or otherwise, and consists of a shaft a' extending into
the vessel through a stuffing box and provided with a spur wheel, which is
keyed to its lower end, and pinions rotating on a plate D₁ fixed to the cover and
gearing with the wheel. The pinions are provided at their umler sides with
angular holes or the like, by means of which they can seize and turn the stoppers.
c' is a hand-wheel for rotating the wheel e'.
The device shown in Figure 6 consists of a disc g fitted upon the rectangular
head of a screw-stopper screwing into the bottle neck, the disc resting
against a packing ring which is interposed between it and the mouth of the bottle
to make a tight-joint and exclude air when the stopper is screwed home and the
ring compressed. The thread of the stopper fits sufficiently loose in the bottle
neck to permit of the entry of steam when the stopper is partially unscrewed and
the packing ring expanded. The bottle may, of course, be surew-threaded
exteriorly, in which case the stopper would be in the form of a screw cap fitting
thereon.
Figure 8 shews an india-rubber stopper o' with a vertical bore and glass plug a
fitting so as to be turned in a transverse passage of the stopper, the plug in the
position shewn permitting the entry of steam to the bottle through its passage pl
and the end and side apertures &,, the communication being cut off by turning
the plug by striking its arm . The device in the steam chamber, when this form
of plug is used, consists simply of a rod moved from without by a striker provided
with projections which strike the arms of the several plugs.
A ground-in glass tap with grooves, may be used instead of a rubber one, similar
to those employed in dropping-bottles, in which case the bottle neck must have
channels or grooves corresponding to the transverse passage in the plug. Many
contrivances of the kind exist, for medicine bottles, which allow the liquid to run
out by drops when the plug is in one position and in another position close them
air-tight.
:-The
The apparatus above described is actuated in the following manner :-
vessels, full of milk or other liquid to be sterilized or pasteurized and furnished
with the stoppers, are placed between the spring clips in the frame so that the

page_text: squire heads of the plugs or glass rods enter the cross-levers. Care should be
taken that all the horizontal bores of the stoppers and the openings for the entry
of the stean into the vessels are in the same position. Having this attached the
open bottles to the frame, the latter is inserted into the steam chamber, which is
then closed. Steam at a temperature of about 102 C. is then admitted through
the steam pipe for a period sufficient to destroy all the micro-organisms in the milk.
The milk is then permitted to froth-up by letting out some of the steam and any
air which may still have been contained in the vessels is thereby effectually with
drawn so that a vacum will be created when the vessels are sealed and cooled as
hereafter described.
After the above frothing-up of the milk, full steam is turned
on for a moment during which time the mechanism controlling the stoppers is
actuated by a blow on the strikers and all the bottles are thereby hermetically
closed. In the space above the liquid in the bottles there is now only steam, which
subsequently condenses, the completeness of the vacuum thus produced and the
fact that the stopper fits air tight, being recognizable by the continuation of the
boiling of the liquid in the closed vessels for some time, the air pressure driving
the stopper further in and making a still tighter closure. The completeness of the
vacuum in the cooled bottles can be ascertained by a blow against the bottom of
the bottle which the liquid should strike with a distinct shock, owing to there being
no cushion of air to deaden the sound.
When it desired to repeat the sterilizing operation the bottles, after their
contents have been allowed to cool down to a certain temperature, are returned on
the frame to the steam chamber which is closed. Steam is then admitted into the
chamber and as soon as the air has been expelled therefrom, the bottles are opened
by a blow on the striker and the operation performed again.
The method of proceeding will be precisely the same if the turning of the plugs
is eflected by toothed or iriction gear, the vessels being closed by turning the
wheels in one direction and opened by turning them in the other.
In any case the stoppers can he readily opened by the consumer, and they can be
cleaned and replaced without difficulty.
If it be desired to cool the bottles rapidly, this may be conveniently done before
their removal from the chamber, by first admitting water at a temperature of
about 30 C. from a cistern through pipes QQ, at the side or rear of the apparatus,
so as to fill the chamber to the height of the neeks of the bottles, and then
admitting cold water to the cistern as the water runs out, so that the temperature
of the water entering the chamber shall be gradually reduced, while the vessels
are, nevertheless, couled in a comparatively rapid manner. The water runs off
from the apparatus through the pipes R, which are of the same, or slightly larger,
diameter than the inlet pipes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In sterilizing apparatus the combination with a steam chamber having loose
frames adapted to support bottles or vessels therein, of cross levers connected with
the stoppers of the vessels at their respective axes of rotation and means for
imparting motion to the cross levers from: the outside of the steam chamber,
substantially as described.
2. A tap-stopper for the vessels of sterilizing apparatus consisting of a main or
body portion fitting in the vessel and serving as a stopper therefor, and a rotary
plug fitting in the main or body portion and serving to control the sterilizing
operation, substantially as specified.
3. A stopper for sterilizing apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, in which the plug
turns in a bore in the main part or body of the stopper.
4. A stopper for sterilizing apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 having two bores
in its body, in one of which the plug turns while the steam gains admission to the
plug through the other.

page_text: 5. A stopper for sterilizing apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 in which the main
part or body is of indiarubber and the plug of glass.
6. The special form of stopper for sterilizing apparatus claimed in Claim 3
consisting of a main part or body of indiarubber having two passages and a grooved
rod or plug of glass received in the main part or body.
7. A stopper for sterilizing apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 whereof the rotary
plug or stem provided with an angular prolongation or a prolongation of such
form as to enable it to be operated by the mechanism for rotating it.
8. The arrangement of mechanisin for operating the plugs of the stoppers
consisting of a system of levers actuated from without the steam chamber by a
blow as specihed.
9. A modification of the mechanism consisting of a toothed or friction wheel
whose axis passes out through a stuffing box engaging with corresponding toothed
or friction wheels adapted to be connected with the stoppers.
10. Constructing the rotary parts of the stopper of the sterilizing apparatus
with arms adapted to be operated by apparatus contained within the steam
chamber and acted on from without.
11. A process for the sterilization of liquids in separate vessels which consists
in heating the liquid while contained in open vessels in a steam chamber to a
sufficient degree as specified, then closing the vessels and withdrawing them from
the chamber to cool in the air, then replacing the closed vessels in the steam
chamber and opening them and again submitting their contents to the action of the
steam, then closing the vessels and withdrawing them from the chamber, and if
necessary repeating the operation, substantially as described.
12th. A process for the sterilization of liquids in separate vessels, which consists
in intreducing the vessels into a clued.teamh chamber while open and heating their
contents, then while still in the chamber closing the vessels and cooling their
contents by the introduction into the chamber of a stream of water whose initial
temperature is slightly below that of the vessels to be cooled and whose temperature
gradually decreases, so as to gradually but speedily cool the vessels, the operation
being repeated at least once, substantially as specified.
Unted This Tath day of ALAY 18NKY
Unted THIS LOHh day of
MAY INK
G. POPP,
J. H. BECKER,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.