US1755895A - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

April 1930.

PILLA TERILIZER Filed M 12 1926 6 Sheets-S l (/25 Z21 WVEMUR Z5 Paulppupc'ila P. P. PUPlLLA April 22, 1930.

STERILIZER Filed May 12, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet BY v I ATTORNEY i April 22, 1930. PUPILLA 1,755,895

STERILIZER Filed May 12, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTUR Pauz RPupz'lZa ATTbRNEY April 22, 1930. p 1,755,895

STERILIZER Filed May 12, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Paalffupz'lla BY f April '22, 1930. p A 1,755,895

STERILIZER Filed May 12, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 75 FFI FF! E[ a I INVENTOR Paul P Pupz'lla ATTORNEY P. P. PUPILLA April 22, 1930.

STERILIZER Filed May 12, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UNITED STATES PAUL P. PUIPILLA, OF BRADLEY BEACH, NEW JERSEY STERILIZER Application filed May 12, 1926. Serial No. 108,705.

The invention relates to sterilizer appliances in which the sterilizing fluid is preferably steam, and it has among its objects to maintain automatically the sterilizing chamher or chambers at the proper temperature for the requisite period of time. The invention relates more specifically to apparatus, for example, of the character utilized in barber shops; and has for a further object to make provision for sterilizing not only towels and similar materials, but shaving mugs, shaving brushes, and hair brushes, as well as combs.

To this end, the invention consists in a novel form of sterilizing chamber or chambers, 16 novel means for controlling the supply of heating medium thereto, novel containers for the articles to be sterilized, and means for registering the number of such articles sterilized. The novel sterilizing chambers may be associated with the usual type of sterilizer tank for towels and the like, if desired.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the novel sterilizer outfit and is shown combined with the usual type of sterilizer chamber for towels and the like.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a similar elevation but with the tray supporting frames elevated out of their respective containers or tanks and with a portion of clamp in section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan with portions broken away and illustrating the locking and registry mechanism, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of further details thereof.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 55, Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in section.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the gas controlling means.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the trays employed, and Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical section therethru taken on the line 9-9, Fig. 8, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a suitable sterilizer tank of well known type such as is used to sterilize towels and the like and which may be associated with the novel sterilizer tanks intended for shaving mugs, shaving brushes and hair brushes, also combs, and hereinafter more fully described. The tank 10 is supported upon suitable standards 11 and at its top is provided with a suitable lid or cover member 12, controlled by a handle 13 and whereby access may be had to the interior of said tank or chamber.

Associated with said tank, as by being secured to the top and outer wall thereof, are one or more vertically disposed sterilizer tanks 15 and 16 of novel design and within which are to be sterilized certain articles such as, for example, a shaving brush 17, a hair brush 18 and comb 19, Fig. 8 of the drawings. To effect this sterilization of these particular articles, trays 20 are employed which themselves are of novel design. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, these trays are of rectangular outline with a dividing wall or partition 21 of less height than the walls of the tray and separating the said trays into two compartments, one of which is of a width sufiicient to accommodate the shaving brush 17 and of a depth to serve also as a dish or mug for mixing the lather. The other compartment is designed to receive the hair brush 18 which may carry also the comb 19; and this compartment is provided with a series of holes or openings 22 in the bottom, while at its forward or outer end said compartment of each tray is notched or provided with a recess 23 extending downwardly from the upper edge. This enables not only the insertion of a finger in withdrawing the tray but also provides an opening into the interior thereof for admission of the sterilizing fluid, it being understood that in the use of these trays a plurality of the same are stacked one upon the other and a stack located in a corresponding tank 15 or 16 for sterilization of the articles. Furthermore, the under face of a tray 20 is provided with a groove 24 extending from the front thereof longitudinally of the same to a short distance from the 1 0 rear so as'to leave an abutment or shoulder at the rear end of the-groove. The purpose of this groove and shoulder will be set forth hereinafter in connection with the operation of the registry mechanism.

The two said vertical tanks 15 and 16, as stated, are designed to receive the stacked trays, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. To this end, each tank has slidably mounted therein a frame or rack which Is suitably guided by the inner walls pf a particular tank and on a vertically dis: posed guide rod 31 attached tothe pair of tanks, or rather a cross bar 32connect1ng the same at the top and to which is attached also a handle 33 by which the tray frames may be simultaneously lifted out or lowered into their respective tanks. Rod 31 passes also thru a stationary guide sleeve 34 whose lower end affords a stop for an adjustable nut 35 on the rod 31 and whereby the extent of upward movement of the frames is limited. The vertically slidable rod 31 is provided with an elongated upper hole 36 and a similar and lower hole 37 extending transversely therethru and into which the pin 38, controlled by a spring-urged handle member 39, maybe located in order that the frames 30 may be held in either the lowered or withdrawn position. When thus held in the lowered position, the lid portions of the said racks may be firmly clamped to the tops of the respective tanks by means of an ad]ustable clamping nut 37, adapted to contact with a projection 37 of 1 the lid of a tank, and whose outward move ment is limited by a stop 38 at the upper end of a guide rod 39 secured to a lidthe cross bar 32, rigidly held thru the pin engagement of its rod 31, affording a fixed abutment. To withdraw the frames from their tanks, it is, therefore, first necessary to unscrew the clamping nuts to relieve the pressure upon the pin 38 so that it may be withdrawn from the hole 36.

Provision is made for furnishing steam to the two tanks 15 and 16 from a suitable boiler 40 which is heatedby a gas heater 41, a gauge glass 42 being connected in with the boiler 40 and a thermometer 43 inserted in the con-v nection thereto. A safety valve 44 may also be provided for the said boiler to insure against excessive steam pressure developing. The foregoing heating apparatus is of more or less standard type and forms no particular part of the present invention. Arrangement is made, however, to divert steam generated in the boiler,40 into the tank 10 when the two racks 30 are withdrawn from their tanks 15 and 16. This is effected by providing a threeway valve 45 in the steam line 46, a connection 47 being provided from said valve 45 to the said tank 10; and the valve is opened or closed with respect to the tanks 15 and 16 thru a crank 48 to whose outer end is pivoted a rod 49 spring-urged upwardly by a spring. 50.

One end of the said spring presses against a collar 51 of the rod and its other end against a fixed abutment 52, while the upper end of said rod is pressed by said spring against the cross bar 32 when racks are lowered. Thus when the racks are elevated, rod 49 follows bar 32 sufficiently to cause valve 45 to shut off the supply to the tanks 15 and 16 from which the racks are being withdrawn and divert the same thru the connection 47 to the tank 10. \Vhen the racks are again lowered into their tanks, rod 49 will be forced downwardly and reopen the valve with respect to the supply thereto, cutting it ofl from the tank 10.

Moreover, the supply of gas to the heater 41 is arranged to be cut off automatically when the water in boiler 40 has attained the proper temperature, that is to say when the steam has been generated therein sufliciently long to sterilize the articles in the tanks. To this end, the gas supply valve 55 has an outwardly projecting spring-urged control pin 56 normally held in depressed position by a vertically sliding rod 57 with a disk 58 at the lower end thereof and resting normally upon the outer end of the control pin. Rod 57 has a weighted head or enlargement 59 at the upper end and may rise vertically thru engagement therewith of a lifting cam 60 which is mounted upon an oscillatory rod 61 adapted to be oscillated by an arm 62 connected thereto at the upper portion of the apparatus. This arm is spring drawn in a direction to normally allow the rod 57 to drop by gravity and to shut off thereby valve 55. However, when the rod 61 is oscillated in the proper direction, head 59 is lifted and raises with it the rod 57 and permits thereby also the pin 56 to lift in order to open valve 55 and supply the gas to the burner 41. When the arm 62 is released, however, the lifting cam 60 is moved back into position wherein it would permit the gas to be shut off, as explained; and to avoid this from taking place, a pin 64 is provided to fit under the head 59, said pin being carried by a laterally swinging member 65 urged thereto under a slight spring pressure which may be adjusted by means of a thumb screw 66. The swinging member 65 is of metal with inner end secured to and in direct contact with the boiler 40 to acquire its temperature; and is, furthermore, of a bimetallic composition to afford a thermostatic element which will respond to variations in temperature. At the desired temperature, this element bends outwardly, in manner well understood, sufiiciently to move pin 64 out of contact with the head 59 and thus cause rod 57 to drop and shut off the gas supply.

When the trays of the racks have thus been maintained for a sufficient period at the proper temperature to sterilize the articles contained therein, the racks may be lifted to the position indicated in Fig. 3, being locked in the elevated position by pin 38 engaging 4 of each of the said racks or tanks with surface substantially flush with the supporting surface for the lowermost of the trays of a stack. Sterilized trays with contents may thus be conveniently withdrawn thru the recess 23 or finger-hold provided therein. Platform 72 is provided, furthermore, with vertical sides 73 having channeled overhanging upper edges 74 designed to fit over the corresponding side edges of the trays, while the forward end of the platform is entirely open. This constrains an outgoing tray thereto and requires drawing said tray over the said platform in removing the same from the rack; and the groove 24 of a tray is designed to ride over the teeth'of a forwardly rotatable ratchet wheel 75 projecting above the surface of the platform. When the shoulder 25 at the rear end of a tray strikes a tooth of the ratchet wheel said wheel will be rotated thru the space of one toothin order to clear the shoulder and permit removal of the tray. .The number of teeth of this ratchet Wheel are equal to the number of trays designed to be retained by a rack; and as the ratchet wheel is rotated, its shaft 76 rotates therewith, the same carrying a radially projecting pin 77 designed to engage, when the last tray of a stack has been withdrawn, a corresponding pin 78 on a rotatable and parallel disposed shaft 79. This latter shaft carries at one end a stop pin 80 adapted to move upwardly thru a slot 81 of the platform, upon engagement of pins 77 and 78, to a substantially vertical position so as to prevent withdrawal of further trays should any unsterilized ones have been inserted. This not only insures against trays being withdrawn which have not been sterilized, but also provides a means for registering the successive insertions of a loaded rack into its tank. Pin 80 will remain in its upright locking position until handle 39 is moved to withdraw its pin from the rod 31 and permit the racks to be returned to their respective tanks. The pivoted handle 39 is provided with an extension arm 82 for this purpose which fits a recess 83 of a sliding block 84; and the latter is provided with a laterally extending pin 85 adapted to engage a radially directed pin 86 of the shaft 79. The said pin 86 when the pin 80 is elevated above the platform is adapted to be locked by engagement of a notch 87 thereof with a weighted pawl 88 carried by block 84 and is unlocked during the forward movement of the block thru contact of arm 89 of the pawl with a stop 90. Pin 85 then moves downwardly the pin 86 rotating thereby the shaft 79 and restores pin 80 to its non-locking posi- 4 tion.

When the racks are again elevated, it will be of course necessary to move handle 39 to release the rod 31; and this again actuates the registry mechanism 91 controlled by the sliding member 84, giving two indications and corresponding to two groups of the trays. For the two sets of trays indicated, it will be understood that the, ratchet mechanism and locking pin mechanism is duplicated and located upon opposite sides of the restoring block 84. Movement of block 84, moreover, may affect in manner well understood the registry mechanism 91 thru a pin 92 fitting into an opening 93 of the said block.

I claim:

1. Sterilizing apparatus, comprising a sterilizing tank, a rack for receiving articles to be sterilized and movable into and out of the tank, a lid member for the tank and carried by the rack, means to limit the extent of movement of the rack, a rod movable with the rack and having openings corresponding to its raised and lowered ositions, a movable arm having a pin adapte to fit into the openings of said rod, and adjustable means to force the lid member to the tank to seal the latter, the said locking pin when in the opening for lowered position of rack in tank serving as an abutment and being locked thereby against withdrawal from the opening.

2. Sterilizing apparatus, comprising a sterilizing tank, a rack for receiving articles to be sterilized and movable into and out of the tank, a lid member for the tank and carried by the rack means to limit the extent of movement of the rack, a rod movable with the rack and having openings corresponding to its raised and lowered posltions, a movable arm having a pin adapted to fit into the openings of said rod, adjustable means to force the lid member to the tank to seal the latter, the said locking pin when in the opening for lowered position of rack in tank serving as an abutment and being locked thereby against withdrawal from its 0 ening, and registry mechanism actuated by the movement of the locking pin to register the movement of the rack relatively to the tank.

3. Sterilizing apparatus, comprising a sterilizing tank, a rack movable into and out of the tank, a plurality of trays for articles to be sterilized and carried in superposed position by the rack, a removal platform located adjacently the upper end of the tank adapted to register with the lowermost tra of the rack when the latter is in raised posltion and over which a tray is constrained to move in being withdrawn from its rack, and movable means supported by the platform and engaged by a tray as the same is removed thereover.

4. Sterilizing apparatus, comprising a sterilizing tank, a rack movable into and out of the tank, a plurality of trays for articles to be sterilized and carried in superposed position by the rack, a removal platform adapted to register with the lowermost tray of the rack when the latter is in raised position and over ,which a tray is constrained to move in being withdrawn from its rack, and means associated with said platform and cooperating with a tray to prevent withdrawal from the rack of more than a predetermined num; ber of trays.

5. Sterilizing apparatus, comprising a sterilizing tank, a rack movable into and out of the tank, means to limit the extent of movement of the rack, a plurality of trays each provided with a longitudinal groove along the underside of the bottom of the tray and open at the forward end, said trays being adapted to receive articles to be sterilized and to be carried in superposed position by the rack, a removal platform adapted to register with the lowermost tray of the rack when the latter is in raised position and over which the tray is constrained to move 111 being withdrawn from its rack, a ratchet wheel projecting above the surface of the platform, registering with the groove of a tray and adapted to be engaged by a shoulder at the inner end of said groove as a tray is withdrawn over the latform, and a pin member adapted to pro ect upwardly through the platform into the ath of the trays after a predetermined num er of engagements of ratchet wheel and tray have been effected.

6. sterilizing apparatus, comprising a sterilizing tank, a rack movable into and out of the tank, means to limit the extent of movement of the rack, a plurality of trays each provided with a lon itudinal groove along the underside of the bottom of the tray and open at the forward end, said trays being adapted to receive articles to be sterilized and to be carried in superposed position by the rack, a removal platform adapted to register with the lowermost tray of the rack when the latter is in raised position and over which the tray is constrained to move in being withdrawn from its rack, a ratchet wheel projecting above the surface of the platform, registering with the groove of a tray and adapted to be engaged by a shoulder at the inner end of said groove as a tray is withdrawn from the platform, a pin member adapted to project upwardly through the platform into the path of the trays after a predetermined number of engagements of ratchet wheel and tray have been effected,

and means to restore the pin member to a position below the platform.

60 In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. PAUL P. PUPILLA.

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