Improvements in Apparatus for Sterilizing Milk and other Liquids and for Drawing Off or Decanting the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Appl.cation, 23rd July, 1890-1ccepted, 23rd Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Sterilizing Milk and other Liquids
and for Drawing Off or Decanting the same.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The General
Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, l'atent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from abroad
by Johann Franz Hugo Gronwald Chemist, Emil Heinrich Conrad Oehlmann,
Engineer, and Gustav Hermann Neuhauss Gentleman, all of Berlin in the Empire
of Germany) 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 apparatus for rapidly and effectually sterilizing large
quantities of milk or other liquids and for drawing it off or decanting it without
admitting atmospheric air to the apparatus.
The invention consists essentially in the employment of one or several sterilizing
chambers which may be of any suitable forin but which are arranged in a peculiar
way inside the apparatus and are connected to the vessel or vessels in which the
liquid is sold. The sterilizing chambers are so arranged to divide the liquid under
treatment into narrow columns, so that while possessing a proportionately large
heating surface they only form narrow passages or channels for holding the liquid
in order that the sterilizing of larger quantities of milk, for example, can be
conducted rapidly and effectually without risk of it becoming browned or discoloured,
and also to allow the sterilized liquid to be decanted or drawn off into the vessels in
which it is sold without having to admit air to the apparatus.
In the accompanying drawing-
Figures 1 and 2 are a vertical section and a horizontal section respectively of an
apparatus for sterilizing milk and other liquids and for drawing off the same, con-
structed according to this invention, the apparatus having circular concentric
sterilizing chambers.
Figures 3 and 4 are a horizontal section and a vertical section respectively shewing
straight parallel sterilizing chambers.
In both cases, which are especially suitable for sterilizing milk, the sterilizing
chambers are connected together inside the milk-chamber, while in the arrangements
shewn in section in figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 the connection is made outside the milk-
chamber.
Inside the heating chamber A figure 1 are the circular sterilizing chambers B, B1, B
arranged in such a manner that the whole of the sides are subjected to the action
of steam flowing from the nozzle C. The steam used for sterilizing escapes from
the heating chamber A through the outlet-valve D according to the pressure to
which the latter is adjusted. The sterilizing chambers B and B', and B1 and B are
connected by the openings a, b, figure 2.
The chamber B is provided with an inlet pipe c having a stop-cock d which is
operated from outside by means of the handle e. In the arrangement shewn the
stop-cock consists of a three-way cock, as shewn in section at figures 1, 1b, the said
cock forming means of communication between the sterilizing chamber B and the
receiving vessel E in which the milk or other liquid is to be sold through the pipe c
and also serving to pass steam through the pipes and c into the vessel E.
At the bottom of the heating chamber A is an outlet for the water of condensation.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The liquid to be sterilized, milk for
example, is poured into one of the chambers, B for example, and runs therefrom
through the openings a and b into the other chambers B1 and B. The milk must
be introduced in such a quantity that it will not boil over while being heated. *
It is advantageous to provide the milk-chambers with loose covers to prevent the
D

page_text: condensed steam which forms on the cover of the heating chamber from falling into
the milk.
After the connection between the sterilizing chamber B and the vessel E has been
cut off. the sterilizing chambers supplied with milk, and the heating chamber A closed,
steam is admitted to the heating chamber A through the nozzle C until the milk
inside is thoroughly sterilized.
Previously or at the same time steam is admitted to or preferably passed through
the receiving vessel E and air-filter F by opening the cocks g, hand until the
pipe c, the receiving vessel E and the air-filter Fare completely sterilized. After
having sterilized the receiving vessel E with its air-filter F and pipe c, the cocks a, h
and are closed. The steam inside the receiving vessel E condenses and a vacuum is
formed inside the vessel. By now turning the cock d in the proper direction con-
nection is made between the sterilizing chamber B and the receiving vessel E, and the
sterilized milk is allowed to enter the receiving vessel E without coming into contact
with the external air.
The process is the same in the arrangements shewn in figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, with
the exception that in the arrangement illustrated in figures 5 and 6, he connection
between the sterilizing chambers is effected by a pipe outside the milk-chamber proper.
In the first described arrangements the sterilizing chambers are exposed on all
sides to the action of the steam for sterilizing the liquid, but in the arrangement
shewn in figures 6 and 8 the sterilizing chambers are only partly exposed to the
action of the steam. The connection between the chambers can be effected either in
or outside the milk-chamber.
The sterilizing chambers also open at the top into the chamber o but are separated
by partitions n from the steam-chamber m. The steam surrounds the sterilizing
chambers and gives the milk the desired temperature. The gases generated by tho
milk during the process pass into the chamber o and are drawn off therefrom and are
therefore prevented from mingling with the steam used for sterilizing. The drawing
off of the sterilized milk is effected in the manner hereinbefore described. Amongst
the advantages of an apparatus constructed according to this invention may be
mentioned that, in consequence of employing narrow sterilizing chambers presenting
extensive steam-heating surfaces large quantities of liquid can be sterilized at one
time in a rapid and effectual manner as they are divided into thin columns, and in the
case of milk, for example, risk of browning or discolouring the liquid is obviate.l.
The shape of the sterilizing chambers should be such that it will easily allow of
their being cleaned.
If the liquid treated in the apparatus should be required to be cooled before being
drawn off into the receiving vessel it is only necessary to interpose a cooling apparatus
in the pipe c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An apparatus for sterilizing milk and other liquids and for drawing off the same
comprising one or several narrow chambers B, B', B", of any suitable shape, placed
insido a heating chamber A and connected with one or several receiving vessels such
as E, the said narrow chambers serving to divide the liquid to be sterilized into thin
columns thereby allowing large quantities of liquids to be rapidly heated to the desired
temperature and the liquid thus treated to be drawn off into the receiving vessels
without being brought into contact with atmospheric air.
2. The improved apparatus for sterilizing milk and other liquids and for drawing
off the same hereinbefore described with reference to the various figures of the
accompanying drawing.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.