By Sudden Release Of Pressure Patents (Class 422/39)
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Patent number: 5891505Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for pressure processing a pumpable substance are shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, a valve is coupled to a source of a pumpable food substance and a pressure vessel, the valve being movable to a first, second and third position. When the valve is in a first position, an inlet port in the valve is aligned with a passageway that is open to the pressure vessel. When the valve is in the second position, the valve body seals the passageway, and when the valve is in the third position, an outlet port provided in the valve is aligned with the passageway.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1997Date of Patent: April 6, 1999Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Bruce M. Schuman, Edmund Y. Ting
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Patent number: 5863500Abstract: Methods and containers for preserving a product such as a respiratory product having an internal vapor pressure. The product is placed into an enclosure, and the enclosure is sealed and pressured with appropriately humidified air or other suitable oxygen containing gas to a positive pressure with respect to ambient pressure to provide a vapor pressure greater than or at least equal to the internal vapor pressure of the product. The volume of the product in relation to the volume of the enclosure and the pressure are such that the enclosure has free air space sufficient to prevent the onset of an anaerobic condition for substantially the storage period of the product assuming the enclosure is maintained approximately at a predetermined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1996Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: International Manufacturing & Licensing, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Block, William J. Kommers
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Patent number: 5494585Abstract: The water remediation and purification method includes a cavitation nozzle which is operated with a throat size and pressure drop to incur cavitation in the water. The explosive and implosive bubble growth and collapse produces free radicals which interact with contaminants in the water to oxidize the contaminants. The cavitation process is enhanced by (1) a variable throat nozzle, (2) recycling the product back through the nozzle for further oxidation, and (3) programmable control feedback. Subsequent ultraviolet radiation from high energy lamps, ion exchange and/or degassifying treatment can be employed to produce water quality within acceptable levels.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1994Date of Patent: February 27, 1996Inventor: Dale W. Cox
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Patent number: 5362443Abstract: A method and an apparatus for simply disposing medical waste from a medical institution on site. The method comprises crushing medical waste in a closed container, exhausting air out of the container, sterilizing the air before releasing it into the atmosphere, and filling the container with a high-pressure steam having a temperature between 110.degree. C. and 150.degree. C. to sterilize the crushed medical waste. The apparatus is equipped with a pressure container having at least one air-tight seal, an internal waste crushing mechanism such as blades, an internal supply of steam, a valve for exhausting air from the container, and an air sterilizer for the exhausted air.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1992Date of Patent: November 8, 1994Assignees: Nippon Metal Industry Co., Ltd., Nissen CorporationInventors: Mitsuyuki Tanaka, Masahiro Michino, Yasutaka Fujihira, Takashi Nakamura, Kisaburo Kohmura, Toshiro Asaoka, Akio Ohya
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Patent number: 5344609Abstract: An apparatus and method for sterilization of water compatible products, especially food products such as sliced vegetables, chopped meats etc. A sterilization conduit through which the product passes under pressure includes steam injectors, with the pressure of the product being maintained. The steam is condensed to a liquid by the effect of product temperature and pressure within the conduit and permeates the product. The product thus raised to a sterilization temperature. The heated and pressurized product is then passed through a series of flash chambers, each allowing an incremental pressure decrease upon the product. Each pressure decrease will allow a portion of the liquid permeating the product to flash to the vapor phase, reducing the temperature and added water content of the product while preventing damage to the product caused by excessive flashing. These incremental pressure reductions continue until the product is at atmospheric pressure and a temperature below approximately 100.degree. C. (212.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1992Date of Patent: September 6, 1994Inventor: Marshall Long
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Patent number: 5316745Abstract: An ultra high pressure sterilizing apparatus and method comprising a cylinder and plunger assembly that operates on a power compression stroke where material to be sterilized is alternately pressurized and depressurized in the cylinder chamber. The cylinder and plunger assembly also moves on a discharge and intake stroke where material that has been sterilized through pressurizing and depressurizing cycles is removed from the chamber through selectively operable valve means, and a fresh quantity of material to be sterilized is moved into the cylinder chamber for another set of pressurizing and depressurizing cycles.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1993Date of Patent: May 31, 1994Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Edmund Y. Ting, Chidambaram Raghavan
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Patent number: 5288462Abstract: A sterilization apparatus has a chamber within a housing in which the materials to be sterilized are placed and the chamber is supplied with liquid under pressure. A pressure sensitive, rapid acting implosion cartridge is in communication with the chamber and acts to depressurize the chamber in milliseconds when the desired sterilization pressure is reached. The cartridge then reseals the chamber for a subsequent pressure build-up.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1992Date of Patent: February 22, 1994Assignee: Stephen D. CarterInventors: Stephen D. Carter, James W. Brazell
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Patent number: 5165325Abstract: A continuous pressurizing apparatus for liquid comprises a plurality of cylinders arranged in parallel and having liquid chambers, of which maximum effective volumes are slightly different from each other, each of the cylinders being provided with a rod and a pair of pistons which are provided at opposite ends of the rod and are slidably fitted into the cylinder to form the liquid chamber; an inlet passage connected to an inlet/outlet path which is in communication with one of the liquid chambers of each cylinder; and outlet passage connected to the inlet/outlet path which is in communication with the other liquid chamber of each cylinder; selector valves disposed at each of the inlet passage and the outlet passage, which are formed on both sides of the connecting portion of the inlet/outlet path, the rods in the cylinders being operated in accordance with procedure of selection by the selector valves such that the pressure of the liquid is increased by sequentially transferring supplied liquid through the inType: GrantFiled: March 27, 1992Date of Patent: November 24, 1992Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Makoto Akatsu
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Patent number: 5124125Abstract: A method for microwave sterilization and densification of infectious waste wherein a supply of infectious waste to be sterilized and disposed of is provided which includes at least 20% by weight of plastic materials. A selected portion of the infectious waste is placed into a pressure vessel of a microwave sterilizer and then the sterilizer is sealed. A selected amount of water is then introduced into the sealed pressure vessel to facilitate treatment of the infectious waste contained therein, and the microwave sterilizer is actuated in order to transform the water in the pressure vessel into steam to elevate the temperature within the pressure vessel to at least 150.degree. C. and the pressure to at least 54 p.s.i.g. The infectious waste within the pressure vessel is sterilized and then densified by melting the plastic materials contained therein to form a unitary mass of reduced volume wherein the melted plastic substantially encases the residual sterilized infectious waste components.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1990Date of Patent: June 23, 1992Inventor: David A. Brent
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Patent number: 5066336Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning delivery probes used for dispensing protein-containing reagents. The apparatus includes: a bath of a cleaning solution for a protein-containing reagent; a device for lowering the probe into the cleaning solution for aspirating cleaning solution into the probe and for coating the outside of the probe; a device for raising the probe from the cleaning solution; a device for forcing primer liquid through the probe for expelling aspirated cleaning solution followed by primer liquid from the probe for washing the inside of the probe; and a device for deflecting cleaning solution and primer liquid expelled from the probe onto the outside of the probe for washing the outside of the probe.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1990Date of Patent: November 19, 1991Assignee: Akzo N.V.Inventors: Julie F. Hoffman, Lionel D. Jones, II
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Patent number: 4944919Abstract: An apparatus for exposing objects to saturated steam at subatmospheric pressure is computer controlled during a conditioning phase prior to the commencement of an exposure phase to apply vacuum to a sealed chamber while steam is simultaneously being injected to that chamber. The fluid stream flowing through the chamber sweeps air and condensate from the chamber and creates a partial vacuum within the chamber. The steam flow rate is controlled to establish the desired exposure temperature within the chamber. Vacuum is controlled to establish an exposure pressure at which steam is saturated at the exposure temperature. The exposure phase commences after the exposure temperature and pressure are established within the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1987Date of Patent: July 31, 1990Assignee: MDT CorporationInventor: Anthony D. Powell
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Patent number: 4748003Abstract: A sterilization container is provided with relatively large top and bottom apertures to allow hot steam to rapidly pervade the interior of the container through the top while flushing cool air out the bottom. The apertures are provided with pressure actuated valves with large cross sections to minimize impedance to gas flow when the valves are open. The pressure-sensitive elements of the valves are set such that the valves close to seal the apertures when the external pressure is at atmospheric, and rapidly open fully when the pressure begins to rise in the autoclave as steam is admitted at the start of a sterilization cycle. When the external pressure is returned to atmospheric at the end of the cycle, the pressure-actuated valves close to provide a sealed container for removal from the autoclave.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1986Date of Patent: May 31, 1988Assignee: Riley Medical IncorporatedInventor: Edward D. Riley
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Patent number: 4361536Abstract: A method and apparatus for sterilization of contact lenses characterized in that the lenses are enclosed in the interior of a sealtight chamber having rigid and indeformable walls, the following sequence of steps being performed:(a) introducing in said chamber a carbon dioxide stream;(b) producing a vacuum in the interior of said chamber, and(c) filling said chamber with carbon dioxide until a preselected pressure is attained.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1981Date of Patent: November 30, 1982Assignee: Industrie Ottiche Riunite S.p.A.Inventor: Stefania Leopardi
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Patent number: 4263253Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for freeing solids, in particular pharmaceutical active ingredients, from germs by sterile filtration using supercritical gases.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1979Date of Patent: April 21, 1981Assignee: Bayer AktiengesellschaftInventors: Volker Pilz, Roland Rupp