Improved Means Applicable for Use in the Sterilisation of Liquids or Substances.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means Applicable for Use in the Sterilisation of Liquids
or Substances.
I, RICHARD GRAINGER NASII, of Finnstown House, Lucan, near Dublin, Ireland,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process of and apparatus for effecting the sterilisation
or partial sterilisation of liquids or substances, particularly those intended for
human consumption; such process being performed after the bottling or equivalent
means of packing has been effected, and being applicable for use with liquids or
substances which may have been previously treated with a view to the total or
partial destruction of bacteria.
In the process of sterilisation as heretofore practised, it has been found that
the bottles or other containing vessels are liable to burst or that the corks or
other stoppers therein are liable to expulsion, more especially when treating
aërated liquids or liquids given to fermentation, owing to the internal pressure
in the containing vessels being in excess of the external pressure, or that within
the sterilising chamber. The present invention is designed to obviate these in-
conveniences, and to this end I apply in the sterilising chamber or receptacle
such a pressure as will counteract that which exists in the containing vessel.
For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I will refer to liquids only; but
it will be understood that the means described may be applied in the sterilisa-
tion of various substances requiring such treatment. The liquid may be charged
with a suitable gas or with air, which may have been previously sterilised. The
containing vessels may be filled to the brim, according to the nature of the liquid
or substance to be treated.
In carrying out my invention, the charged vessels are placed in a suitably
constructed receptacle to which water, in a cold or partially heated condition, is
supplied or forced. Or steam, gas, hot-air or other suitable medium may be
employed: When water is employed as the sterilising medium, it preferably
enters the receptacle at the base and is allowed to fill or partially fill the same.
In order to raise the temperature of the water in the receptacle, steam or other
heating agent is circulated through a coil placed near the inner sides of the
receptacle, the said leating agent entering the coil near the top and passing down-
wards, or vice versa. Further heating may be applied, if found requisite, by means
of a steam coil near the bottom of the sterilising receptacle. Having attained
the desired temperature and maintained the same for the desired length of time,
the rapid cooling of the vessel is effected by shutting off the heating medium
and admitting cold water or other cooling medium into the coil or coils, the
supply of water under pressure being at the same time maintained and assisting
in the cooling.
Apparatus adapted for carrying out my improved process may comprise a pump
of any suitable construction for forcing water or other suitable medium into a
pressure chamber or accumulator, whence it is taken by a pipe to the bottom

page_text: and, by a branch pipe to the top of the sterilizing receptacle; the latter pipe
moving in the cooling process. This receptacle may consist of a circular casing
wherein is a spiral coil of piping. At or near the top, a steam supply pipe
is connected with the coil, the said pipe being furnished with a regulating
valve.
Into this pipe, preferably at a point between the vessel and the
regulating valve, is led a water supply pipe. At the lower part of the
steam coil is a stop-cock. The lower part of the receptacle is provided with
a supplementary coil, which may be perforated, for regulating the internal
temperature; the said coil being provided with means for draining the same. The
upper part of the receptacle is furnished with an outlet, provided with a suitable
regulator, for enabling air to escape during the process of filling the vessel and
to prevent the accumulation of any undue pressure; the regulation of the external
pressure on the containing vessels being hereby effected. The sterilising recep-
tacle and the pressure chamber may each be provided with suitable pressure
indicators and gauges and thermometers. The mouth of the receptacle is closed
by a removeable lid which may be secured by means of swing bolts. The contain-
ing vessels may be placed upon a perforated false bottom, or they may be placed
on perforated trays or in metal cages and inserted through the mouth of the recep-
tacle, the trays being disposed one above another.
In some instances, the heating and cooling above referred to may with advan-
tage be repeated at suitable intervals.
The pressure chamber may be dispensed with and the pump put in direct com-
munication with the sterilising receptacle, but the method above described is prefer-
able on account of the regulating effect obtainable on the pressure in the sterilizing
receptacle.
The coils may be placed in the pressure chamber and be connected with the
sterilising receptacle. The construction and shape of the latter may be varied,
and the containing vessels may be conveyed therein through the side upon trollies,
or other suitable means.
If a sufficient pressure be maintained in the steam generator the steam coils
may be dispensed with.
Improved Means Applicable for Use in the Sterilisation of Liquids
or Substances.
I, RICHARD GRAINGER NASHI, of Finnstown House, Lucan, near Dublin, Ireland,
Gentleman, 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 and apparatus for effecting the sterilisation
or partial sterilisation of liquids or substances, particularly those intended for
human consumption; such process being performed after the bottling or equivalent
means of packing has been effected, and being applicable for use with liquids or
substances which may have been previously treated with a view to the total or
partial destruction of bacteria.
In the process of sterilisation as heretofore practised, it has been found that

page_text: the bottles or other containing vessels are liable to burst, or that the corks or
other stoppers therein are liable to expulsion, more especially when treating
aërated liquids or liquids given to fermentation, owing to the internal pressure
in the containing vessels being in excess of the external pressure, or that within
the sterilising chamber. The present invention is designed to obviate these in-
conveniences; and to this end I apply, in the sterilising chamber or receptacle,
such a pressure as will counteract that which exists in the bottle or other contain-
ing vessel.
For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I will refer to liquids only; but
it will be understood that the means described may be applied in the sterilisa-
tion of various substances requiring such treatment. The liquid may be charged
with a suitable gas or with air, which may have been previously sterilised. The
containing vessels may be filled to the brim, according to the nature of the liquid
or substance to be treated.
In carrying out my improved process, the charged vessels are placed in a suitably
constructed receptacle to which water, in a cold or partially heated condition, is
supplied or forced. Or steam, gas, hot-air or other suitable medium may be
employed. When water is employed as the sterilising medium, it preferably
enters the receptacle at the base and is allowed to fill or partially fill the same.
In order to raise the temperature of the water in the receptacle, steam or other
heating agent is circulated through a coil placed near the inner sides of the
receptacle, the said heating agent entering the coil near the top and passing down-
wards, or rice versa. Further heating may be applied, if found requisite, by means
of a steam coil near the bottom of the sterilising receptacle. Having attained
the desired temperature and maintained the same for the desired length of time,
the rapid cooling of the vessel is effected by shutting off the heating medium
and admitting cold water or other cooling medium into the coil or coils, the
supply of water under pressure being at the same time maintained and assisting
in the cooling.
Apparatus adapted for carrying out my improved process is, illustrated diagram-
matically in the accompanying drawing and may comprise a pump a of any
suitable construction for forcing water or other suitable medium into a pressure
chamber or accumulator b, whence it is conducted by a pipe to the bottom of
the sterilising receptacle ca branch pipe on the said pipe conducting the water
to the top of the sterilising receptacle; the latter pipe having its function in the
cooling process. The sterilising receptacle e may be formed as a circular casing
wherein is a spiral coil d of piping: At or near the top of this coil, a steam supply
pipe is connected with the coil, the said pipe being furnished with a regulating
valve . Into this pipe d', preferably at a point between the vessel c and the
regulating valve d², is led a water supply pipe e furnished with a cock e. At
the lower part of the steam coil d is a stop-cock 3. The lower part of the
receptacle is provided with a supplementary coil f, which may be furnished with
perforations, the said coil serving for regulating the internal temperature, and
being provided with a water supply pipe and with means, such as the cock f²,
for draining the same. The upper part of the receptacle c is furnished with an
outlet c¹, provided with a suitable regulator for enabling air to escape during
the process of filling the vessel and to prevent the accumulation of any undue
pressure the regulation of the external pressure on the containing vessels being
hereby effected. The regulator shown in the drawings comprises a valve regulated
by means of a weight. The sterilising receptacle and the pressure chamber b
may each be provided with suitable pressure indicators and gauges and ther-
mometers. The mouth of the receptacle c is closed by a removeable lid c³ which
may be secured by means of swing bolts. The containing vessels 9 may be
placed upon a perforated false bottom, or they may be placed on perforated trays
or in metal cages g g and inserted through the mouth of the receptacle, the
trays (g) being disposed one above another. The sterilising receptacle may be
emptied by means of the branch pipe furnished with a stop-cock.

page_text: In some instances, the heating and cooling above referred to may with advan-
tage be repeated at suitable intervals.
The pressure chamber b may be dispensed with and the pump a put in direct
communication with the sterilising receptacle c, but the means above described
for carrying out the invention are preferable on account of the regulating effect
obtainable on the pressure in the sterilizing receptacle.
The coils may be placed in the pressure chamber and be connected with the
sterilizing receptacle. The construction and shape of this receptacle may be
varied; and the containing vessels may be introduced through the side upon
trollies, or by other suitable means, the opening for the admission thereof being
provided with a steam-tight door.
If a sufficient pressure be maintained in the steam generator, the coils d and f
may be dispensed with and the steam admitted directly to the receptacle c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
-
1 In the sterilisation or partial sterilisation of liquids or substances after bottling
or equivalent means of packing, subjecting the charged vessels to the requisite
temperature in a receptacle containing water and wherein a pressure adapted to
counterbalance that prevailing in the bottles or containing vessels is maintained,
substantially as herein described.
2. The herein ilescribed means for effecting the sterilisation or partial sterilisa-
tion of liquids or substances after bottling or equivalent means of packing; same
comprising a closed receptacle, such as c, furnished with coils, d, f, adapted for
circulating either a heating or a cooling fluid, an inlet for pressure water, and a
pump or other convenient means for maintaining such pressure.
3. Apparatus for use in the sterilisation or partial sterilisation of liquids or
substances after bottling or equivalent means of packing, constructed and opera-
ting substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of May 1899.