Patent ID: 8062002

Claim:
A vacuum unit for use with a steam sterilizer comprising: an ejector having an ejector passage for a flow of water from an ejector inlet to an ejector outlet, and a steam inlet connectable to a chamber drain of the steam sterilizer, the steam inlet being connected to the ejector passage, and the ejector passage having a restriction for generating a vacuum at the steam inlet when water flows through the ejector passage from the ejector inlet to the ejector outlet; a reservoir for holding a quantity of water, the reservoir having a first reservoir outlet and a reservoir inlet; a pump, having a pump inlet and an outlet connected to the ejector inlet, for producing the flow of water through the ejector passage; a pump inlet conduit connecting the first reservoir outlet to the pump inlet; an ejector outlet conduit connecting the ejector outlet to the reservoir inlet; a second reservoir outlet; a drain conduit connectable from the second reservoir outlet to a drain; a water supply conduit connectable to a source of water; a first water supply passage connected from the water supply conduit directly to the pump inlet conduit, whereby water from the first water supply passage can be supplied from the water supply conduit to the pump without first passing through the reservoir; a first valve for controlling flow of water through the first water supply passage; a second water supply passage connected from said water supply conduit to the drain conduit for introducing water from the source of water into the drain conduit; and a second valve for controlling flow of water through the second water supply passage.