Process and apparatus for cooling articles within a steam chamber

Claim 2

Process of rapidly cooling containers located in a chamber having an at least partially vaporous atmosphere, said process comprising the steps of introducing into said chamber a cooling liquid which does not come into contact with the containers and a compressed gas which maintains the pressure within the chamber substantially constant while the vapor condenses, and then spraying into the chamber, while still controlling the pressure therewithin, a cooling liquid which does come into contact with the containers and the temperature of which decreases progressively.

Claim 3

Process as claimed in claim 1 in which the liquid which does not come into contact with the containers is sprayed into the chamber.

Claim 4

Process as claimed in claim 1 in which the liquid which does not come into contact with the containers is introduced into a coil inside the chamber.

Claim 5

Process as claimed in claim 1 in which the liquid produced by condensation of the vapor in the chamber is recycled to form part of the cooling liquid.

Claim 6

Processes as claimed in claim 1 in which the atmosphere within the chamber is mixed before introducing the atomized water.

Claim 7

Device for rapidly cooling conTainers which comprises an autoclave having an internal jacket in which containers are located, said autoclave being provided with vapor inlet valve means to produce an at least partially vaporous atmosphere within the autoclave, liquid inlet valve means connected to introduce liquid to said autoclave outside of said jacket to cool the autoclave and consequently indirectly cool the containers, compressed gas inlet valve means which is controlled to maintain the pressure in the autoclave substantially constant during the cooling of the autoclave, circuit means for spraying cooling liquid into said autoclave against said containers, valve means for evacuating the mixture of condensed liquid and sprayed liquid, and valve means for connecting the autoclave to atmosphere.

Claim 8

Device for rapidly cooling conTainers which comprises an autoclave having an internal jacket in which containers are located, said autoclave being provided with vapor inlet valve means to produce an at least partially vaporous atmosphere within the autoclave, liquid inlet valve means connected to introduce liquid to said autoclave outside of said jacket to cool the autoclave and consequently indirectly cool the containers, compressed gas inlet valve means which is controlled to maintain the pressure in the autoclave substantially constant during the cooling of the autoclave, circuit means for spraying cooling liquid into said autoclave against said containers, valve means for evacuating the mixture of condensed liquid and sprayed liquid, and valve means for connecting the autoclave to atmosphere.

Claim 9

Device as claimed in claim 6 in which the liquid inlet valve is connected to means for spraying liquid within said autoclave but outside said jacket.

Claim 10

Device as claimed in claim 6 in which the liquid inlet valve is connected to a coil located within said autoclave but outside said jacket.

Claim 11

Device according to claim 6 in which the circuit for spraying cooling liquid into said autoclave comprises a recycling valve for liquid condensed within the autoclave, pressure means, a valve for admitting liquid, and spraying means.

Claim 12

Device according to claim 6 in which the circuit for spraying cooling liquid into the autoclave comprises two distinct sections, the first of which comprises a duct for evacuating condensed liquid from the autoclave, pressure means, a valve for admitting liquid into the autoclave, and spray means, while the second comprises an external source of cold liquid and a valve for admitting cold liquid into the autoclave.

Claim 13

Device according to claim 10 which comprises spray means connected to the valve for admitting cold liquid into the autoclave.

Claim 14

Device according to claim 8 in which said valve for admitting cooling liquid is connected to the coil outside the inner jacket of the autoclave.

Claim 15

Device according to claim 6 in which the circuit for admitting cooling liquid comprises a duct for evacuating liquid condensed inside the autoclave, pressure means, a valve for admitting liquid into the autoclave, spray means, an external source of cold liquid, and a valve for admitting said cold liquid into the autoclave, said external source of cold liquid being connected to a duct for evacuating condensed liquid upstream of the pressure means through a supplementary valve.

Claim 16

Device as claimed in claim 13 which comprises spray means associated with the valve for admitting cooling liquid to the autoclave.

Claim 17

Device as claimed in claim 8 in which said valve for admitting cooling liquid is connected to the coil positioned outside the inner jacket of the autoclave.

Claim 18

Device as claimed in claim 6 in which the outlet valve is of the electrical level-responsive type and maintains the level of liquid in the autoclave constant.

Claim 19

Device as claimed in claim 6 which also comprises a fan connected to stir the atmophere within the autoclave before actuation of the circuit which sprays liquid directly into the autoclave against the containers.

Claim 20

Device as claimed in claim 6 which also comprises a thermostat and a pressure control device for controlling pressure in the autoclave during the cooling of the autoclave.

Claim 21

Device as claimed in claim 18 in which said thermostat and pressure control means are program controlled.