American Sterilizer Company

General Electric Company

General Electric Corporation Gmbh

Thomas George Cook

Robert W Childers

David A Karle

Ronald P Krahe

James E Pander

John Howard Lovelace, Ii

Gerald L Yeaney

George E Sparber

Robert E Chamberlain

Conrad J Geibel, Jr

Vinay Bhaskar Jammu

Steven Hector Azzaro

Mark E Chiffon

Thomas Shaginaw

Thomas Timothy Booth

A method and apparatus for modifying configuration information used to control an on-board monitor located aboard a locomotive. Under the control of a remote monitoring and diagnostic center, the on-board monitor periodically collects information from the locomotive and transmits it to the remote monitoring and diagnostic center. When it is desired to change some aspect associated with the data collection process (including the period during which the data is collected, the types of data collected, etc.), it is necessary to change the configuration file that controls the on-board monitor. The configuration file is changed at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center and then transmitted to the on-board monitor.

Configuration of a remote data collection and communication system

An on-board monitor for a railroad locomotive is disclosed. The on-board monitor interfaces with the controller subsystems of the locomotive to collect parametric performance data. The specific data to be collected and the collection intervals are defined at a remote service center and transmitted to the on-board monitor. The on-board monitor also includes the capability to collect additional data or collect data more frequently in response to the results of certain triggering events.

On-board monitor for railroad locomotive

A system and method of exhausting vapor, such as steam, from a pressure chamber following the sterilization phase of a sterilization cycle under superatmospheric pressure conditions are provided. The system and method preferably employ a microprocessor and an appropriate pressure transducer to measure the chamber pressure at the conclusion of the vapor exposure period to determine an initial chamber pressure. The method includes the further steps of exhausting vapor from the chamber for a period of time, preferably up to about one minute, to lower the chamber pressure, measuring the chamber pressure at the conclusion of such first period of time to determine a second chamber pressure and calculating the difference between the initial chamber pressure and the second chamber pressure to determine an exhaust rate. The exhaust rate is used to predetermine successively lower next target chamber pressures to be reached at the conclusion of successive intervals of a predetermined second period of time, such as three seconds, until a predetermined final chamber pressure is reached. Vapor is exhausted from the chamber during each successive interval of the second period of time until the target chamber pressure for that particular second period of time is reached. After each such interval of time, the chamber pressure is measured to determine whether the calculated next target chamber pressure has been reached.

System and method for exhausting vapor from a heated pressure chamber

A self-contained, closed loop steam sterilizer has an integral external boiler. The sterilizer employs a prevacuum sterilization cycle with a dwell phase to promote steam efficiency. A single pump accomplishes all pumping functions in a prioritized manner.

Steam efficient prevacuum sterilizer cycle

An apparatus for sealing a door of a chamber, the chamber being of the type wherein the door is urged into engagement with the chamber upon rotation of a locking wheel and having a seal positioned between the door and the chamber such that upon movement of the door toward the chamber the seal is compressed, comprises a motor for providing torque to the locking wheel for urging the door toward the chamber. A current source supplies current to the motor. A circuit monitors the current supplied to the motor to determine if a desired degree of pressure between the seal and the chamber has been achieved based on the amount of current drawn by the motor. The current source is responsive to the monitoring circuit so as to end the supply of current to the motor when the desired degree of pressure is achieved.

Apparatus for sealing a door

A self-contained, closed loop steam sterilizer having an integral external boiler. The sterilizer employs a prevacuum sterilization cycle with a dwell phase. A single pump accomplishes all pumping functions in a prioritized manner.

Self-contained, closed loop steam sterilizer

Air removal is completed and ascertained, in steam sterilization systems which use steam flow through a sterilizing chamber to facilitate air removal, by methods which enable steam-table values for a dependent variable relationship of pressure and temperature, as exhibited by confined saturated steam, to be utilized under steam flow conditions. Apparatus for controlling and measuring chamber conditions are provided so that such established steam-table values for confined steam can be readily and reliably used to establish and ascertain complete air removal while steam is flowing through the chamber. In a representative embodiment, chamber pressure is held substantially constant while the remaining variable chamber temperature is measured. Venting of chamber atmosphere is continuous during such control of chamber pressure with chamber temperature being measured until a value is reached corresponding to the steam-table value at the level of the chamber pressure being held. With complete removal of the air ascertained, sterilizing exposure conditions can be established rapidly by substantially reducing venting of chamber atmosphere since any remaining portions of the cycle, whether establishing or maintaining sterilizing exposure conditions, need not be relied on for removal of air. Control apparatus, electromechanical and electronic processor, are provided for automatically completing air removal and ascertaining effective air removal.

Growing community of inventors

Fairview, PA, United States of America

Thomas George Cook