Patents by Inventor Richard P. Thurman

Richard P. Thurman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method for pressurizing a steam sterilization chamber
    Patent number: 11007289
    Abstract: A method for pressurizing a sterilization chamber of a steam sterilizer with a controlled rate of pressure change. Pressure is increased in the sterilization chamber by opening a steam-to-chamber valve for a pulse duration during each of a plurality of time PERIODS needed to reach a target pressure value. During each time PERIOD, the steam-to-chamber valve is moved to an open state for the duration of the pulse. An error value indicative of the difference between a Theoretical Pressure and a Measured Pressure is determined at the end of each PERIOD. This error value is used to determine the duration of the pulse for the subsequent PERIOD, thereby maintaining a desired rate of pressure change in the sterilization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: American Sterilizer Company
    Inventors: David Petrak, Richard P. Thurman
  • METHOD FOR PRESSURIZING A STEAM STERILIZATION CHAMBER
    Publication number: 20200261609
    Abstract: A method for pressurizing a sterilization chamber of a steam sterilizer with a controlled rate of pressure change. Pressure is increased in the sterilization chamber by opening a steam-to-chamber valve for a pulse duration during each of a plurality of time PERIODS needed to reach a target pressure value. During each time PERIOD, the steam-to-chamber valve is moved to an open state for the duration of the pulse. An error value indicative of the difference between a Theoretical Pressure and a Measured Pressure is determined at the end of each PERIOD. This error value is used to determine the duration of the pulse for the subsequent PERIOD, thereby maintaining a desired rate of pressure change in the sterilization chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: American Sterilizer Company
    Inventors: David Petrak, Richard P. Thurman