High pressure sterilizer

In a high-pressure sterilizer including a high-pressure tank capable of containing liquid under pressure to a given liquid level, when in use, said tank having an inlet for the objects to be sterilized, and transfer means passing through said inlet for continuously transferring the objects to be sterilized through said inlet and then through said tank to thereby continuously sterilize the objects, the improvement wherein said inlet comprises a horizontal linear tubular inlet passage, having an inner surface of constant predetermined shape, formed through a wall of said tank below said given liquid level in said tank, and wherein said transfer means is provided with a plurality of attachment means for preventing substantial flow of liquid therepast when in said tubular inlet passage, each of said attachment means comprising an attachment, the shape of which corresponds to but is slightly smaller than that of the inner surface of said inlet passage, thereby permitting only a small space therebetween, such that substantial flow of liquid past said attachment is prevented, and wherein each of said attachments has a respective retainer connected thereto and the length of said tubular inlet passage is sufficient to permit a plurality of said attachments and respective retainers therein simultaneously, thereby dividing said inlet passage into a plurality of sections, the pressure thereby gradually decreasing in said inlet passage from section to section, when in use, beginning with the high-pressure within said tank and decreasing to the ambient conditions outside the tank.