US 5,512,249 A · Sterilizing apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for sterilizing a transfer conduit having (a) a source of steam connected to the transfer conduit, (b) a condensate conduit for draining steam condensate from the transfer conduit, (c) a valve in the condensate conduit having a valve body with an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the portions are separated by a rapidly opening flow control means, such as a diaphragm, (d) a temperature sensor in the upstream portion of the valve body, and (e) a temperature controller connected to the temperature sensor adapted to read the temperature in the upstream portion of the valve body and to open the valve when the temperature drops below a fixed set point and to close the valve when the temperature is above the fixed set point. A steam condensate drain control system and a steam condensate valve are also described and claimed.

Claims11

Dependent claims

Apparatus for sterilizing a transfer conduit comprising:

(a) a transfer conduit to be sterilized,
(b) a source of steam connected to said transfer conduit,
(c) a condensate conduit for draining steam condensate from said transfer conduit,
(d) a valve in said condensate conduit comprising a valve body having an upstream portion and a downstream portion, said portions separated by a flow control means selected from the group consisting of diaphragm, a ball, and a gate,
(e) a temperature sensor constructed and arranged to sense the temperature in said upstream portion of said valve body,
(f) a temperature controller connected to said temperature sensor constructed and arranged to read the temperature sensed by said temperature sensor in the upstream portion of the valve body and to open said valve when the temperature drops below a fixed set point and to close said valve when the temperature is above the fixed set point.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sterilizing apparatus

Life of this patent

Sterilizing apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11