JP4939617B2 - High pressure steam sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a high-pressure steam sterilizer in which, for example, a medical instrument is sterilized using high-pressure steam.
Specifically, the present invention relates to a small high-pressure steam sterilizer used on a tabletop or the like.

Conventionally, as this type of high-pressure steam sterilizer, a bottomed cylindrical sterilization chamber and a water storage tank are arranged in parallel in the main body of the apparatus, and when a sterilization start button is operated, water is supplied from the water storage tank to the sterilization chamber and is heated by a heater. When the water in the sterilization chamber is heated and the sterilization chamber is in a saturated vapor state, the pressure and temperature in the sterilization chamber rise in equilibrium, and when the temperature reaches the set value, the sterilization chamber enters the sterilization state, After that, when the sterilization process of the sterilized material is completed, there is one in which water (hot water) in the sterilization chamber is reduced into the water storage tank (for example, see Patent Document 1).
In addition, a water supply tank is installed on the base, and a steam and air exhaust port is provided at the lower end of the sterilization chamber. This steam and air exhaust port is connected to a steaming solenoid valve, and this steaming solenoid valve is near the base. After the sterilization is completed, the exhaust steam electromagnetic valve is opened and the steam in the sterilization chamber is exhausted to the drain tank after being sterilized (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 11-319038 A JP-A-8-80339

However, in such a conventional high-pressure steam sterilizer, in the case of Patent Document 1, since the residual water in the sterilization chamber is circulated and reused, the residual water contains dead bodies of bacteria. There was a problem that the water quality gradually dropped.
Therefore, as in Patent Document 2, it is conceivable to separately provide a water supply tank and a drainage tank and discharge the remaining water in the sterilization chamber to the drainage tank so that the remaining water cannot be circulated.
However, in this case, immediately after the hot water that is the remaining water in the sterilization chamber is discharged to the drainage tank, the high-temperature and high-pressure steam remaining in the sterilization chamber flows into the drainage tank all at once, and the internal pressure of the drainage tank increases rapidly. Therefore, it was necessary to discharge hot water and high-temperature high-pressure steam from the drain tank to the outside.
Such hot water and high-temperature high-pressure steam discharge passages may be closed due to mistakes in the installation of the high-pressure steam sterilizer, and it is necessary to provide pressure safety means to relieve pressure when closed. It was difficult with a limited high-pressure steam sterilizer.

  The present invention is directed to addressing such problems, and is a compact high pressure equipped with pressure safety means for avoiding closing of the discharge path for high temperature residual water and high temperature high pressure steam from the sterilization chamber. The purpose is to provide a steam sterilizer, to lower the temperature and pressure of the high-temperature and high-pressure steam discharged into the primary discharge tank, and to drain the overflow water from the water supply tank to the secondary discharge tank through a communication channel. It is what.

  In order to achieve such an object, the present invention includes a sterilization chamber for storing an object to be sterilized, a water supply tank for supplying water to the sterilization chamber, a primary discharge path for discharging residual water and high-pressure steam in the sterilization chamber, A sealed primary discharge tank connected to the primary discharge path, a secondary discharge tank communicated from the primary discharge tank via a secondary discharge path, and a bottom portion of the water supply tank and the primary discharge tank are communicated with each other. A leading end of the connecting passage is inserted into the inlet of the secondary discharge passage, and the steam in the primary discharge tank is transferred to the secondary discharge passage in accordance with a change in internal pressure of the secondary discharge passage. It is arranged so as to flow to the secondary discharge tank through the communication path or to flow into the bottom of the water supply tank through the communication path.

  In addition to the above-described characteristics, a part of the primary discharge path is disposed so as to be submerged in the water storage in the primary discharge tank.

  Further, in addition to the above-described features, the communication path is arranged below the full water level of the water supply tank.

In the present invention having the above-described features, after the sterilization process is finished, high temperature residual water in the sterilization chamber is discharged to the primary discharge tank through the primary discharge passage, and immediately after that, the high temperature and high pressure steam in the sterilization chamber passes through the primary discharge passage. In the normal state where the flow to the primary discharge tank and the secondary discharge path communicate with each other, the steam discharged from the sterilization chamber through the primary discharge path to the primary discharge tank is discharged through the secondary discharge path. In an emergency situation where the tank is discharged and the secondary discharge path is closed, the steam discharged to the primary discharge tank is discharged to the bottom of the feed water tank through the communication path. In addition, a compact high-pressure steam sterilizer equipped with pressure safety means for avoiding closing of the discharge path of the high-temperature high-pressure steam can be provided.
As a result, even if the secondary discharge path is closed, the internal pressure of the primary discharge tank does not rise abnormally, and leakage of high-temperature and high-pressure steam from the primary discharge tank and the occurrence of electric leakage due to this can be prevented.
Further, since it is not necessary to increase the pressure resistance of the primary discharge tank, the structure can be simplified correspondingly, and the entire apparatus can be reduced in size and weight.

Further, when a part of the primary discharge path is arranged so as to be submerged in the water storage in the primary discharge tank, the high-temperature high-pressure steam discharged from the sterilization chamber flows into a part of the primary discharge path. Since the high-temperature high-pressure steam is reduced in temperature and depressurized by exchanging heat with the water stored in the primary discharge tank, it is possible to reduce the temperature and release the pressure of the high-temperature high-pressure steam discharged into the primary discharge tank. it can.
As a result, the amount of steam released to the secondary discharge tank can be reduced, and the internal pressure of the primary discharge tank is hardly increased, thereby improving safety.

In addition, when the communication path is arranged below the full water level of the water supply tank, when more water than necessary is injected into the water supply tank, the overflowed water passes through the communication path to the secondary discharge path. Since it flows, the overflow water from the water supply tank can be drained to the secondary discharge tank through the communication path.
As a result, since it is not necessary to separately provide an overflow channel, the structure of the entire apparatus can be simplified correspondingly, and the cost can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is explanatory drawing (vertical side view which shows the flow of a vapor | steam) which shows the whole structure of the high pressure steam sterilizer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the external appearance perspective view of the state which opened the cover, and the one part is expanded and shown partially.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, a high-pressure steam sterilizer A according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a sterilization chamber (chamber) 1 for storing an object to be sterilized, a water supply tank 2 for supplying water to the sterilization chamber 1, and sterilization. A primary discharge path 3 for discharging residual water and high-pressure steam in the chamber 1, a sealed primary discharge tank 4 connected to the primary discharge path 3, and a primary discharge tank 4 through a secondary discharge path 5. A secondary discharge tank 6 and a communication path 7 that communicates the bottom of the water supply tank 2 and the primary discharge tank 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sterilization chamber 1 is a chamber that can be opened and closed with a lid A3 (described later), and opens a water supply port 1a that communicates with the water supply tank 2 and a discharge port 1b that communicates with the primary discharge tank 4. I wear it.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a heater 1d is provided in the sterilization chamber 1, and the water supplied from the water supply tank 2 into the sterilization chamber 1 is heated by the heater 1d, thereby allowing the inside of the sterilization chamber 1 to be heated. The items to be sterilized are sterilized with high-pressure steam.

As shown in FIG. 1, the water supply tank 2 is arranged close to the sterilization chamber 1, a water supply path 2 a communicating with the water supply port 1 a of the sterilization chamber 1 is connected near the bottom thereof, and a water injection port is provided at the upper end. 2b is opened and covered with a cap 2c so as to be freely opened and closed.
By supplying water from the water injection port 2b, a constant amount or more of water W1 is always stored in the water supply tank 2.

The primary discharge path 3 is connected to the discharge port 1b of the sterilization chamber 1 and the primary discharge tank 4 so that residual water and high-pressure steam in the sterilization chamber 1 are discharged to the primary discharge tank 4 after the sterilization process is completed. The part 3a is arranged so as to extend to near the bottom of the primary discharge tank 4.
Furthermore, the part 3 a of the primary discharge path 3 is preferably formed by bending, for example, a spiral so that the flow path becomes long near the bottom of the primary discharge tank 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the primary discharge tank 4 is disposed adjacent to the water supply tank 2, and is configured so that a predetermined amount of water W2 is always stored therein, and the primary discharge path is stored in the stored water W2. 3 is preferably disposed so as to be submerged, and the tip 3b is disposed above the water surface.
Further, if necessary, when the water storage W2 in the primary discharge tank 4 is almost full, it is preferable to notify the user to prompt the user to drain the water.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust pipe 4a is provided as means for releasing the air remaining in the sterilization chamber 1 in the initial state, and the air in the sterilization chamber 1 is exhausted from the exhaust port 1c opened in the sterilization chamber 1. It is configured to be discharged to the primary discharge tank 4 through the pipe 4a.
Similarly to the primary discharge path 3, the exhaust pipe 4a also has a part 4b submerged in the water storage W2, and the tip 4c is disposed above the water surface.

  The secondary discharge path 5 is provided across the through-hole 4d opened in the side surface of the primary discharge tank 4 and the secondary discharge tank 6, and a part or all of the secondary discharge path 5 is constituted by a tube such as a deformable hose. The secondary discharge tank 6 is arranged so that the outlet is connected.

The communication path 7 is connected by piping over the bottom of the water supply tank 2 and the primary discharge tank 4, and the tip opening 7 a is inserted into the inlet of the secondary discharge path 5 by a predetermined length so that the secondary discharge path 5 Along with the change in internal pressure, the steam in the primary discharge tank 4 flows to the secondary discharge tank 6 through the secondary discharge path 5 or flows into the bottom of the water supply tank 2 through the communication path 7. .
Moreover, it is preferable to arrange | position the connecting path 7 so that the upper end may become lower than the full water level of the water supply tank 2. FIG.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the sterilization chamber 1, the water supply tank 2, the primary discharge path 3, the primary discharge tank 4, and the communication path 7 are arranged inside the sterilizer body A 1, and the secondary discharge path 5 and the secondary discharge path. A tank 6 is disposed outside the sterilizer body A1.
Furthermore, a lid 4f is hermetically attached to the opening 4e opened on the upper surface of the primary discharge tank 4 so that the hot residual water and the high-temperature high-pressure steam flowing in from the sterilization chamber 1 are outside the primary discharge tank 4. It is configured not to leak out.
Moreover, the secondary discharge path 5 is comprised by the L-shaped socket 5a supported by the side surface upper part of sterilizer main body A1, and the hose 5b connected to it, and is distribute | circulating generally as the secondary discharge tank 6. Using a polyethylene tank (poly tank), the secondary discharge tank 6 is arranged to be lower than the mounting position of the sterilizer body A1.
When a deformable hose 5b is used as the secondary discharge path 5, the internal flow path may be closed due to the hose 5b being bent or crushed. Safety measures are required when closed.

According to such a high-pressure steam sterilizer A, after completion of the sterilization process, high temperature residual water in the sterilization chamber 1 is discharged to the primary discharge tank 4 through the primary discharge path 3, and immediately after that the high temperature in the sterilization chamber 1 is discharged. High-pressure steam flows through the primary discharge path 3 toward the primary discharge tank 4.
At this timing, the secondary discharge path 5 is in communication, and in a normal communication state in which the internal pressure is lower than the bottom of the water supply tank 2, the secondary discharge path 5 is discharged from the sterilization chamber 1 through the primary discharge path 3 to the primary discharge tank 4. The steam is discharged to the secondary discharge tank 6 through the secondary discharge path 5.
That is, in a normal communication state, the leading end opening 7a of the communication path 7 is inserted into the inlet of the secondary discharge path 5 (opening of the socket 5a) for a predetermined length. When the steam in the primary discharge tank 4 flows to the outlet side of the secondary discharge path 5 through the throttle space S formed between 7a and the inlet of the secondary discharge path 5, the tip opening 7a of the communication path 7 The air inside is also pulled in the direction of steam flow, and the base end opening 7b of the communication path 7 sinks into the stored water W1 at the bottom of the water supply tank 2 and receives the water pressure.
For these reasons, the steam that has flowed into the throttle space S does not flow into the tip opening 7a of the communication path 7 as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. It is discharged to the secondary discharge tank 6.

In an emergency state in which the middle of the secondary discharge passage 5 is closed and the internal pressure becomes higher than the bottom of the water supply tank 2, the steam discharged to the primary discharge tank 4 passes through the communication passage 7 and the water supply tank. 2 is discharged to the bottom.
That is, in the closed state, the steam that has flowed into the throttle space S fills up to the closed position on the outlet side of the secondary discharge path 5 and becomes a high pressure. Therefore, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. It flows into the tip opening 7 a of the passage 7 and is discharged to the bottom of the water supply tank 2 as it is.
Thereby, even if the middle of the secondary discharge path 5 (the hose 5b) is bent and closed due to, for example, an installation error of the high-pressure steam sterilizer A, the steam discharged to the primary discharge tank 4 passes through the communication path 7 Since it is discharged to the bottom of the water supply tank 2, the internal pressure of the primary discharge tank 4 does not rise rapidly, and these pipe lines become a pressure safety device for preventing a sudden increase in internal pressure of the primary discharge tank 4, Leakage of high temperature and high pressure steam into the atmosphere can be prevented.
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, one end of the door A2 is supported so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the front of the sterilizer body A1, and the opening 1e of the sterilization chamber 1 is provided at a substantially central position on the inner surface of the door A2. A lid A3 is provided to cover the lid A3 in a freely openable and closable manner, and an elastically deformable packing A4 is provided on the outer periphery of the lid A3 so as to be in close contact with the opening edge 1f of the sterilization chamber 1.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the sterilization chamber 1 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, a lid A3 covering the circular opening 1e is formed in a disc shape, and a circle is formed along the outer peripheral edge of the lid A3. An annular packing A4 is arranged.
Although not shown as another example, the opening 1e and the lid A3 of the sterilization chamber 1 can be formed in a rectangular shape or other shapes, or the packing A4 can be disposed on the opening edge 1f of the sterilization chamber 1. .

In the example shown in FIG. 1, a part 3 a of the primary discharge path 3 is bent, for example, in a spiral shape so that the residence time of the high-pressure steam in the stored water W <b> 2 in the primary discharge tank 4 is increased.
Furthermore, the opening of the socket 5a arranged at the upper end position of the communication path 7 and the inlet of the secondary discharge path 5 is arranged to be lower than the full water level of the water supply tank 2, that is, the water inlet 2b.

Further, the other end of the door A2 is provided with a lock means 8 over the other front side of the sterilizer body A1, and the lid A3 is held in a closed state by the lock means 8.
As a specific example of the locking means 8, as shown in FIG. 2, a handle 8a disposed outside the door A2 and a sliding projecting freely toward the sterilizer main body 1 by rotating the handle 8a. A pin 8b, a lock hole 8c provided on the other front side of the sterilizer main body A1 and through which the axial tip of the sliding pin 8b is inserted when the lid A3 is closed, and the rotational movement of the sliding pin 8b are restricted. And a locking mechanism 8d.
In addition, although not shown as another example, it is possible to adopt another known structure as the lock means 8.

  A control panel 9 is provided on the other side of the front surface of the sterilizer main body A1, and the control panel 9 displays a power switch 9a, an operation switch 9b for starting a sterilization process, and the pressure and temperature in the sterilization chamber 1. A pressure gauge 9c to be used, a digital display section 9d for displaying the sterilization temperature, sterilization time, drying time, and the like, a setting key 9e for sterilization temperature, time, and the like are arranged.

Next, the operation of the high-pressure steam sterilizer A and the operational effects thereof will be described.
First, the lid A3 is closed toward the opening 1e of the sterilization chamber 1, and the operation switch 9b is closed in a closed state in which the lid A3 is brought into close contact with the opening edge 1f of the sterilization chamber 1 through the packing A4. When is pressed, a part of the water W1 stored in the water supply tank 2 is supplied through the water supply passage 2a toward the water supply port 1a of the sterilization chamber 1 by a set amount.

  Subsequently, when this water is heated by the heater 1d and the inside of the sterilization chamber 1 reaches the boiling point temperature, the water boils and evaporates, and the residual air in the sterilization chamber 1 is discharged from the exhaust port 1b by this steam. It is discharged to the primary discharge tank 4 through 4a.

Thereafter, when the inside of the sterilization chamber 1 is in a saturated vapor state, the atmospheric pressure and temperature in the sterilization chamber 1 rise while being balanced, and when the temperature reaches a set temperature, the inside of the sterilization chamber 1 enters a sterilization state.
During sterilization, energization of the heater 1d is ON / OFF controlled by a control unit (not shown), and the temperature in the sterilization chamber 1 is maintained at a set temperature.

When the sterilization process of the object to be sterilized placed in the sterilization chamber 1 is completed, the high temperature residual water in the sterilization chamber 1 is discharged to the primary discharge tank 4 through the primary discharge path 3, and immediately after that, sterilization is performed. High-temperature high-pressure steam in the chamber 1 flows toward the bottom of the primary discharge tank 4 through the primary discharge path 3.
At this time, since a part 3a of the primary discharge path 3 is inserted into the water storage W2 in the primary discharge tank 4, the high-temperature high-pressure steam and the water storage W2 exchange heat to lower the high-temperature high-pressure steam. The pressure is reduced.
Accordingly, there is an advantage that the high-pressure high-pressure steam discharged from the sterilization chamber 1 into the primary discharge tank 4 can be decompressed while the temperature is lowered.

Thereby, a part of the steam discharged from the sterilization chamber 1 becomes water, but the other steam rises to the upper part in the primary discharge tank 4.
In particular, as in the example shown in FIG. 1, when the part 3 a of the primary discharge path 3 is bent, for example, in a spiral shape to increase the residence time of the high-pressure steam in the stored water W <b> 2 in the primary discharge tank 4. There is an advantage that the efficiency of heat exchange with the stored water W2 can be improved, and the high-temperature and high-pressure steam can be further reduced in temperature and pressure.

In such a situation, in a normal communication state in which the hose 5b of the secondary discharge path 5 connected to the downstream side of the primary discharge tank 4 is not broken or crushed, the steam rising to the upper part in the primary discharge tank 4 is It flows toward the constricted space S formed between the inlet opening of the socket 5a of the secondary discharge path 5 and the tip opening 7a of the connecting path 7 inserted therein.
At this time, since the tip opening portion 7a of the communication path 7 is inserted into the inlet opening of the socket 5a by a predetermined length, when steam flows through the throttle space S to the hose 5b, it is disposed in the throttle space S. The air in the tip opening 7a of the communication path 7 is also pulled in the steam flow direction. Furthermore, the base end opening 7b of the communication path 7 sinks into the water storage W1 at the bottom of the water supply tank 2 and receives the water pressure.
As a result, the steam flowing into the throttle space S does not flow into the tip opening 7a of the communication path 7 as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1, and all the steam passes through the hose 5b from the outlet of the socket 5a. It is discharged to the secondary discharge tank 6.
As described above, the temperature and pressure of the high-temperature and high-pressure steam are lowered by the primary discharge tank 4 and the secondary discharge tank 6 to form water droplets, and the amount of steam released into the secondary discharge tank 6 and the atmosphere can be reduced. There is also an advantage.

In an emergency state where the hose 5b of the secondary discharge path 5 is moved due to a change in the mounting position of the sterilizer main body A1 and is closed due to breakage or crushing in the middle of the hose 5b, etc. Since the flowed-in steam fills up to the closed position of the hose 5b and becomes high pressure, it flows into the tip opening 7a of the connecting path 7 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Discharged.
Therefore, even if the hose 5b of the secondary discharge path 5 is closed halfway, the internal pressure of the primary discharge tank 4 does not rise rapidly, and the hose 5b is detached from the socket 5a of the secondary discharge path 5 and high-temperature high-pressure steam blows out. In addition, it is possible to prevent high temperature and high pressure steam from leaking between the opening 4c of the primary discharge tank 4 and the lid body 4d, or an accident of leakage due to leakage of these steam.

Furthermore, since the opening of the socket 5a arranged at the upper end position of the communication path 7 and the inlet of the secondary discharge path 5 is arranged lower than the water injection port 2b which becomes the full water level of the water supply tank 2, water supply Even if more than a necessary amount of water is injected from the water injection port 1 c of the tank 2, the overflowed water is drained to the secondary discharge tank 6 through the communication path 7.
Therefore, there is an advantage that the overflow water of the water supply tank 2 is drained to the secondary discharge tank 6 through the communication path 7.

  Furthermore, the residual water discharged from the sterilization chamber 1 is stored and discharged in the primary discharge tank 4 and is not returned to the water supply tank 2 for reuse. And keep it clean all the time.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust pipe 4a is provided as means for discharging the air remaining in the sterilization chamber 1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a vacuum pump or the like may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sterilization room 2 Water supply tank 3 Primary discharge path 3a Part 4 Primary discharge tank 5 Secondary discharge path 6 Secondary discharge tank 7 Connection path 7a Tip opening W2 Water storage

Claims (3)

A sterilization chamber for storing objects to be sterilized;
A water supply tank for supplying water to the sterilization chamber;
A primary discharge path for discharging residual water and high-pressure steam in the sterilization chamber;
A sealed primary discharge tank connected to the primary discharge path;
A secondary discharge tank communicated from the primary discharge tank via a secondary discharge path;
A communication path communicating the bottom of the water supply tank and the primary discharge tank;
Inserting a leading end opening of the communication path at the inlet of the secondary discharge path, and in accordance with a change in the internal pressure of the secondary discharge path, steam in the primary discharge tank passes through the secondary discharge path to the secondary The high-pressure steam sterilizer is arranged to flow to a discharge tank or to flow into the bottom of the water supply tank through the communication path. 2. The high-pressure steam sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein a part of the primary discharge path is disposed so as to be submerged in the water stored in the primary discharge tank. The high-pressure steam sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication path is disposed below a full water level of the water supply tank.

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