Steam jet cleaning and sterilizing system
OwnerMax Friedheiminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system utilizing a dry steam jet for cleaning, sterilizing and related purposes. A steam generator in the form of a flash boiler with a heat source is utilized. A reservoir containing a mixture of water and containing a cleaning agent or other chemical is provided. A motor driven reciprocating pump, pumps the liquid mixture into the flash boiler. The mixture immediately is vaporized and then is discharged through the jet nozzle. The system is coordinated to be operated electrically under manual control. The flash boiler is internally etched in a non-uniform manner to enhance the flashing of the liquid. The pump speed, water flow, etched boiler size, and applied heating temperature are coordinated to achieve the result that a steady flow at the desired pressure and temperature from the jet nozzle can be had.
Claims10
An apparatus for producing a flow of dry steam at relatively high pressure for cleaning, including in combination, a source of vaporizable liquid medium including a tank adapted to receive water and/or mixtures of water and chemicals, a flash boiler including a solid heat retaining material having a chamber having a controlled heat source embedded in the material for flash vaporizing the liquid medium forced into the vaporizing chamber under pressure, plunger pump means for pumping medium into the boiler, temperature responsive means controlling the heat source whereby the flash boiler is maintained in a superheated state at a temperature of substantially 550.degree. F., the chamber forming a space providing non-uniform internal surfaces within the solid material which space is small relative to the mass of solid material, jet nozzle means connected to said chamber, means whereby the pump means is operated at a predetermined rate to meter flow of liquid into the said chamber, check valve means between the said pump means and the chamber whereby to hold the pressure in the chamber to assure that the chamber operates in a dry condition, and means for correlating the said pump means and said rate of flow to the boiler temperature whereby to produce a flow of dry steam from the jet nozzle at a pressure of 80 to 100 psi for a predetermined number of seconds in the range of 45 to 60 seconds.
A method of cleaning and sterilizing, including pumping from a source of vaporizable liquid medium including water and/or mixtures of water and chemicals into a boiler, applying heat to the boiler and maintaining its temperature at a superheating value, metering the flow of liquid from a pump means into the boiler at a predetermined controlled rate relative to the temperature in the boiler, providing non-uniform internal boiler surfaces, discharging dry vapor from the boiler through jet nozzle means connected to it, at a pressure within a predetermined relatively high range, predetermining the size of the orifice in the jet nozzle means to limit discharge of vapor from the boiler, preventing flow of pressure from the boiler back to the pump means whereby pressure and temperature are held within the boiler so that liquid entering the boiler is flashed into steam and the boiler is maintained operating in a dry condition and discharging dry vapor within said pressure range for a predetermined number of seconds.
An apparatus including in combination, a source of vaporizable liquid medium including a tank adapted to receive water and/or mixtures of water and chemicals, a flash boiler having a chamber with non-uniform internal surfaces and having a controlled heat source for flash vaporizing the liquid medium forced into the vaporizing chamber under pressure, plunger pump means for pumping medium into the boiler, temperature responsive means controlling the heat source whereby the flash boiler is maintained in a superheated state, jet nozzle means connected to said chamber, means whereby the pump means is operated at a predetermined rate to meter flow of liquid into the said chamber, and check valve means between the said pump means and the chamber whereby to hold the pressure in the chamber to assure that the chamber operates in a dry condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.