Improvements in and relating to Sterilizing-apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Sterilizing-apparatus.
I, EUGEN COHN, of 41, Mauerstrasse, Berlin, Germany, Merchant, 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 sterilization-apparatus the construction of which
enables the vessels (bottles etc.) which contain the substance to be sterilized to be
closed either synchronously with the opening of the apparatus or at different times,
according to convenience.
My invention is shown under three modified arrangements on the drawings
annexed, whereon:
Fig. 1. is a diagramatic representation showing a windlass-action.
Fig. 2. is a front view; Fig. 3. a cross-section, and Fig. 4. a longitudinal section
of an apparatus with lever-action.
Fig. 5. is a front-view and Fig. 6 a longitudinal section showing a winch or
rack and pinion-action.
Figs. 24, 28, 44, 54, 6A, 6B, 6c, are detail views of parts of the apparatuses.
In Fig. 1
a is the lid of the apparatus which is lifted by the chain f off the
lower part b, in which are placed the vessels (bottles) containing the substance to
be sterilized, which must be protected from pushing aside or dropping down and on
whose covers rest the closing-pieces e which are placed as shown in an eccentrically-
turnable position. The chain is not directly fastened to the lid a, but to the bar c
which lifts the lid by means of the moveable nut d. On the lower part of
bar c is fitted a trough piece c' or equivalent extending the whole width of the
apparatus.
The apparatus acts in the following manner. As soon as the lid a is lifted it
moves, at the same time, the bar e with the trough-piece c' upwards during which
movement the latter touches the inner ends of the closing pieces e and turns them
round on their axes. The closing-levers of the bottles are, by the action of the
pieces e, pressed down and the bottles are closed in consequence.
After this manipulation the closing-pieces e are placed in a perpendicular position
and thus permit an easy removal of the closed bottles.
When new bottles are inserted in the apparatus the closing-pieces e are again put
on the closing-levers of the bottles and the lid lowered. The result of this action is
that the trough-piece c' of the bar c, after slightly lifting up the closing-pieces e, in
passing downwards falls again into the position shown on the drawings. If now it
is desired to have a difference of time between the closing of the bottles and the
opening of the apparatus, screw the nut d up or down on the bar e the consequence
of which will be that the nut will open the lid earlier or later according as the nut
is screwed up or down than the trough-piece c' of bar c will effect the closing of
the bottles.
Another useful practical contrivance (for say 48 bottles) is shown at Figures 2
to 6. In the front view at Fig. 2;-A is the door of a coffer-shaped sterilization-
apparatus on which move the bolts a in fixed bearings. The upper as well as the

page_text: lower pair of bolts are each connected by a cross-bar a¹. Each of the cross bars a¹
has on it a projecting peg or slide-roller a" which work in eccentrically cut slots c
(Fig. 2B) in the bottom-side of the plate or disc-shaped lower end of the lever C.
B (Figs. 3 and 4) is the casing of the apparatus, in the parts or bracelets 6 of
which the bolts a of the door A lock and close the same firmly and steam tight.
The axle D of lever C goes loosely (so as to be turnable) through the lever C
and the door A. The connection with the lever C is effected by means of the oval
plate d which catches, by means of pegs dat its back, into corresponding holes c¹
(Fig. 2) made in the upper side of the disc of the lever C. The interior end of the
axle D ends in a fish-tail-piece E against which a spiral spring e presses so as to
prevent an unintended loosening of the oval catch-plate d. The fish-tail-piece E
(Fig. 4 and more particularly at 44) catches in the shaft or axle F of a waggon H; the
end of the shaft F being cut with a projecting or fish tail formation so as to corre-
spond with and grip the end E of the axle D. The waggon H moves on wheels
or rollers h¹ in the rails of the case B. The inner end of the shaft F works
in the bearing of case B. The shaft F has fitted on it in the interior of the
waggon, two toothed segments ƒ which catch into two vertical cog-bars or racks fl
which work at the inside of waggon H in fixed brackets or bearings . The
guides / prevent a sideward movement of rack or cog-bar f'. In the waggon H
stand, in boxes i, in two tiers, the bottles ; to be sterilized. The bottles are shown
as placed in two rows in each box i. In the drawing, 3 boxes i having 8 bottles
each are shown but this number may be increased up to 300 bottles or more. The
closing-levers of the bottles are turned towards the inside of each box and are
directly below closing-pieces K which latter are connected by means of the pressure-
rods k and the connections g and g¹ with the pressure-exerting bars G. In Fig. 3
the connections g, g' for the lower series of bottles are shown broken away at the
centre. The pressure bars G are on both sides fixed to the rack or cog-
bars f'. The shaft F (see Fig. 44) bears as a continuation a peg f" which catches
into a corresponding hole E' in the fish-tail piece E to prevent a side movement of
the locking cogs or teeth. The key Z which fits on the square f³ of the peg f"
leans against peg h" on front of waggon H (see Fig. 4^).
The apparatus acts in the following manner:-As soon as the sterilization-
process is so far proceeded with, that the closing of the bottles seems to be
necessary the door of the apparatus is opened to obtain a sufficient stream of
steam. This is done by pressing the lever C down towards the right hand side.
The eccentric slots draw the pegs all together and thus pull the bolts a out
of the catches b. At the same time the fish-tail piece E is turned and conveys
this motion to the axis F which converts the turning motion, by means of the
toothed-segments of and the racks or cog-bars f), into a vertical up and down
motion and thus closes the bottles in drawing down the closing pieces K in connection
with the closing-bars G. If now the door A is opened entirely the fish-tail-cogs
at E are unlocked and the waggon H is left free. A premature unlocking of
the cogs at E in the event of the waggon going backwards is, by the tight fitting
of the cogs, entirely prevented. After drawing out the waggon H the key Z is
put on the square f³ of peg ƒ" (Fig. 4ª) and by turning it the closing pieces K.
are lifted off the bottles, the peg preventing a turning backward of key Z.
After the closed bottles are changed for new ones the key Z, is taken off, the
closing-pieces K lower themselves, but without closing the bottles, and the waggon
is again pushed into the apparatus. When the door is closed and the fresh-tail-
piece E turned to the left, the spring e enables the cogs to go slightly backward for
the correct adjustment for working on the shaft or axle F. If it is desired to
have a difference in time between the closing of the bottles and the opening of the
apparatus it is sufficient to adjust the catching pegs d' of the plate d in other
holes of lever C. A turning of plate d to the left effects a later, and to the
right an earlier closing of the bottles, for, in the first case, the cogs of the
fish-tail-piece E catch the cogs of the axis F later and turns them round and in.
the second case earlier.

page_text: At the third arrangement, Figs. 5 and 6, the opening of the door A effects_a
winch C which moves a cog-bar or rack downwards by means of teeth, or a cog L,
on the axle F, this rack or cog-bar puts the bolts a in motion and draws them
out of the catches 6 of case B by means of the peg all on cross-bar a¹ being worked
by the slot on the rack l. The lower catches are in this arrangement open in
the middle so as to allow the bolt a to pass through when opening whilst they hold
fast the widened or broad lower ends of bolts a when the apparatus is closed.
The shaft or axle F is, in this arrangement, at the back of door A, lengthened so
as to extend from end to end of the apparatus and rests at its inner end in the bearing bl
of the case B. The front part of the shaft F has a screw cut on it of several
threads which catch into the screwed projection or nut of waggon H, which runs
on wheels h, and draws it along the rails by turning the shaft F. The inner
mechanism of the waggon is somewhat different from the second construction (Figs. 2
to 4) in so far that the vertical draw-bars are not clogged but are made with a
slot or opening to let axle F through and the upper closing-bar G has two rollers n
which in the forward motion of the waggon hit against two cams o which are
pivotted at s out of their centre of gravity. The lifting up of the cams o is
prevented by a latch u pivotted at t. N is a safety-valve, which can also be used
to increase the stream of steam and is for this purpose made with a push-bar a
which being acted on by cog w on the closing-bar G, lifts the valve.
bar c.
This apparatus acts in the following manner. When the sterilization of
substances contained in the bottles j is finished, turn, to effect an opening of the
apparatus, the winch C to the left so that the tooth or ridge L turns and in
consequence the rack or cog-bar l, peg a¹¹ and bolt a are drawn downwards and the
catches unlocked. At the same time the left-hand threads on the shaft or axle F
will draw the waggon H, by means of the nut h, forward. The rollers n come
under the cams o and are pressed down by them so effecting a closing of the bottles j
whilst the draw-bars f¹ on the ends of rails G go down and press down the closing
levers of the bottles by means of the closing-pieces K which are connected by the
connecting parts g and closing-rods k with said closing-rails G. After passing the
cams O the closing-pieces k are lifted up by the rising of the rollers at the lower
ends of the draw-bars as they slide over the cams r. The bars are kept by the
springs p in this upward position. If it is desired to have a stronger stream of
steam than is caused by the opening of door A the safety-valve N can be lifted,
this is done by the cam piece or cog w on the upper closing-rail G which at the
forward movement of the waggon H opens the valve by pushing up the push-
When the door A which runs on wheels or rollers M upon the rails m
(Fig. 5) is opened the waggon H runs forward with it and the bottles can be easily
removed as all closing pieces are lifted. After insertion of new bottles (to prevent
a down-pressing of the closing-pieces K when pushing in the waggon) the pegs n'
arranged in front of the rollers n raise the levers » connected to the latches u (see
Fig. 6A) undo said latches u and permit the rollers n to lift the cams o and to pass
without suffering pressure; but as soon as the rollers n have passed by the cams o
the latter as also the latches u return to their former position by the action of their
own weight. To prevent the back roller receiving a second pressure from the
front camo a third peg n is fitted on the bar G which, when pushing in the
waggon, takes with it the levere of the back cam (see Fig. 6) but gives freedom to
the latch u, at the drawing-out of the waggon, before the roller n touches the cam o
(see dotted drawing of roller n and lever v); both rollers n thus receive the
desired pressure at the same time from the cams o, but in passing the front cam the
pegundoes the latch u, by lifting lever before the back-roller touches it,
the latter being then in the position to lift the cam and to pass by without receiving
pressure. To prevent the steep end of cam piece w catching the valve-push-bar x
when the waggon is being pushed in (the cam being made as shown with a steep end
so as to secure the sudden closing of the valve) the lower part of the push-bar .c
is made turnable on the centre y¹ in such a way that at a pressure received when
"

page_text: moving the waggon into the case B the lower part y of the bar (see Fig. 6º) is
turned up sharply against the upper part ; but at the opposite or outward
movement it permits only a slight turning with a lifting movement by means of its
rounded off part. The upper part of the push-bar a serves as a guide for the valve.
Its shape is shown in section at Fig. 6B.
A difference in the time of closing the bottles and opening the apparatus is
made possible by the adjustment of screw peg all in the slotted upper part of the
rack or cog-bar . By shifting the peg and with it the cross-bar, a', connecting the
bolts a higher or lower in the slot, the bolts a have a greater or smaller lift and
in this way they may be made to unlock earlier or later than the time of closing the
bottles.
Instead of the arrangement described with reference to Fig. 1, a modification
may be made wherein a bar or other contrivance may be made to lower weights
which acting on the closing pieces e effects a self acting closing of the vessels.
I am aware of the Specification of Gronwald & Oehlmann's Patent No. 206
A.D. 1890 and make no claim to anything described and claimed therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A sterilization-apparatus, in which the closing of the vessels contained in it
occurs synchronously with the opening of the apparatus, characterised by the use
of a draw bar c fixed to that part or lid (a) of the apparatus which is moved
at opening said bar acting on the closing-pieces e and closing the vessels,
substantially as herein before described with reference to Fig. 1 of the annexed
drawings.
2. Instead of the construction described under claim 1 a contrivance in which
the moving part of the apparatus lowers weights which, by acting on the closing
pieces e, effects a self acting closing of the vessels, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. A sterilization-apparatus in which the closing of the vessels contained in it
occurs synchronously with the opening of the apparatus, characterised by the use
of a lever C which unlocks the bolts of the apparatus and gives at the same time
by means of the fish-tail-cogs E, the shaft or axle F a turning motion and
imparts, by means of the toothed-segments on the shaft F, a downward motion to
the draw bars f¹ which is transmitted by means of closing rails G and connections
and to the closing pieces K and causes the latter to close the vessels contained
in the apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2
to 4 of the drawings annexed.
4. A sterilization-apparatus in which the closing of the vessels contained in it
occurs synchronously with the opening of the apparatus wherein the shaft or axle F
of the winch C, which latter unlocks the bolts by means of the toothed-disc L
and the rack or cog-bar is lengthened so as to extend from end to end of the
apparatus and has a screw cut on it the working of which draws the waggon H by
means of the screw-nut forward and under the cams o, said cams pressing the
rollers n down and communicating a downward movement to the closing-bars G
and the connections g so that the closing-bars k are caused to close the bottles,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the
annexed drawings.
5. The arrangement of a latch u with lever vand cams o, said cams being lifted
by pegs n¹ and n" to permit the rollers n to pass freely, substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
6. The exact differential arrangement for closing the bottles by only one
appliance, characterised by an adjustable nut d on the bar c (Fig. 1) or by a catch-
disc d whose pegs catch into corresponding holes in the lever C (Figs. 2 to 4) or
by a peg a on the connecting bar a' of the bolts a which permits of a different

page_text: adjustment of the slot of the rack or cog-bar (Figs. 5 and 6) substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
7. The turnable and eccentrically pivotted closing-pieces e which, when out of
action, assume a vertical position thereby automatically releasing themselves and
allowing the bottles to be removed, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 11th day of December 1890.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.