The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 22, 1992
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1991
Charles E Ellis, Jr, Phelps, NY (US);
MDT Corporation, Torrance, CA (US);
Abstract
The application is directed to methods and apparatus for venting a pressurized sterilizer chamber having a liquid load within it. A sterilizer chamber is provided with a pressure sensor for sensing the chamber pressure and a vent channel with an associated vent valve. The vent valve is opened to vent pressure from the chamber, and has an orifice providing a maximum flow coefficient substantially larger than a standard bleed valve. A microprocessor-based sterilizer controller monitors chamber pressure and opens and closes the vent valve. The venting phase is regulated by means of a series of vent cycles. An individual vent cycle is intiated by starting a software timer to time a preset interval. The controller records a starting chamber pressure and opens the vent valve. The controller monitors the chamber pressure, and when the pressure has dropped from the starting pressure by a selected maximum amount, closes the vent valve until the timer interval has elapsed. If the maximum pressure drop is not achieved in the given interval, the vent valve remains open as the next vent cycle is started.