US3977091A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tempering and sterilizing device
Assignee: Hoechst AG
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Filing: 1972-05-24
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Granted: 1976-08-31
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Expires: 1992-05-24
Abstract
Abstract A device for tempering and/or sterilizing objects which must be kept free of contamination by foreign particles, such as for example, ampules sterilized in pharmaceutical preparations, has a housing and means for supporting the objects in the housing. A pair of gas distribution plates are mounted in the housing in spaced relationship to each other, on either side of the support means, and cooperate with means for supplying conditioned air to produce a laminar flow of the conditioned air downwardly over the objects being treated. The conditioned air has a substantially different temperature than the objects being treated and can be either heated or cooled depending upon whether the device is used for sterilizing or tempering. Because of the maintenance of laminar flow in the housing, the number of contaminating particles per space unit which can come into contact with the objects being treated is decreased.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans-Peter Hortig
- 👤 Hans Pfeiffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:17
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B27/00; C03B27/04; C03B27/06; C03B27/067; A; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/02; A61L2/08; C03B25/00; C03B25/04; C03B25/06; C03B29/00; C03B29/02; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P40/00; Y02P40/50; Y02P40/57
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A device for tempering objects which are to be kept free from contamination by foreign particles which comprises, a housing, means for supporting said objects in said housing, a first gas distribution plate mounted in said housing above said supporting means and having a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, a second gas distribution plate mounted in said housing, below and in spaced relation to said supporting means and having a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, said first and second plates cooperating to define a work space in said housing about the objects to be treated on said supporting means, means for supplying conditioned air to said housing at the side of said first plate remote from said supporting means at sufficient pressure for said conditioned air to flow into said work space, said conditioned air having a substantially different temperature than said objects, and said first and second plates providing a predetermined pressure drop between their opposite faces to produce a laminar flow of conditioned air downwardly from said first plate over the objects on said supporting means through said supporting means and second plate for discharge from said housing; said supporting means having a plurality of openings therein to permit said laminar flow therethrough; said objects having a temperature of approximately 350°C. and said conditioned air being supplied at approximately 50°C. to temper and cool said objects.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
230 words
A device for tempering objects which are to be kept free from contamination by foreign particles which comprises, a housing, means for supporting said objects in said housing, a first gas distribution plate mounted in said housing above said supporting means and having a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, a second gas distribution plate mounted in said housing, below and in spaced relation to said supporting means and having a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, said first and second plates cooperating to define a work space in said housing about the objects to be treated on said supporting means, means for supplying conditioned air to said housing at the side of said first plate remote from said supporting means at sufficient pressure for said conditioned air to flow into said work space, said conditioned air having a substantially different temperature than said objects, and said first and second plates providing a predetermined pressure drop between their opposite faces to produce a laminar flow of conditioned air downwardly from said first plate over the objects on said supporting means through said supporting means and second plate for discharge from said housing; said supporting means having a plurality of openings therein to permit said laminar flow therethrough; said objects having a temperature of approximately 350°C. and said conditioned air being supplied at approximately 50°C. to temper and cool said objects.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a perforated conveyor for transporting said objects through said work space in the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supplying conditioned air supplies air to said housing at a velocity of approximately 0.3 m/sec.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the vertical distance between said first and second plates is between 0.5 m and 0.3 m.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device as defined in claim 4 wherein the apertures in said distribution plate have diameters between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm and wherein said apertures define a maximum of 10% of the total areas of their respective plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor having an upper reach for transporting objects through said work space and a lower reach outside of said work space and housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device as defined in claim 6 wherein said first distribution plate comprises a main filter for the conditioned air supplied to said work area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for supplying conditioned air includes a return line connected between said housing and said blower for returning air passing through said second distribution plate to said blower.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device as defined in claim 8 wherein said return line includes a preliminary filter for said return air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first distribution plate cooperates with said housing to define a distribution chamber on the side of said plate remote from said conveyor, said means for supplying conditioned air to said housing being connected to supply air to said chamber for even distribution over said first plate, prior to passage therethrough.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
242 words
A device for sterilizing objects which are to be kept free from contamination by foreign particles which comprises, a housing, means for supporting said objects in said housing, a first gas distribution plate mounted in said housing above said supporting means and having a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, a second gas distribution plate mounted in said housing, below and in spaced relation to said supporting means and having a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, said first and second plates cooperating to define a work space in said housing about the objects to be treated on said supporting means, means for supplying conditioned air to said housing at the side of said first plate remote from said supporting means at sufficient pressure for said conditioned air to flow into said work space, said conditioned air having a substantially different temperature than said objects, and said first and second plates providing a predetermined pressure drop between their opposite faces to produce a laminar flow of conditioned air downwardly from said first plate over the objects on said supporting means through said supporting means and second plate for discharge from said housing; said supporting means having a plurality of openings therein to permit said laminar flow therethrough; said objects being supplied to said housing at a predetermined temperature and said means for supplying conditioned air supplying said air at a temperature approximately 300°C. greater than said predetermined temperature to sterilize said objects.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
242 words
A device for sterilizing objects which are to be kept free from contamination by foreign particles which comprises, a housing, means for supporting said objects in said housing, a first gas distribution plate mounted in said housing above said supporting means and having a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, a second gas distribution plate mounted in said housing, below and in spaced relation to said supporting means and having a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, said first and second plates cooperating to define a work space in said housing about the objects to be treated on said supporting means, means for supplying conditioned air to said housing at the side of said first plate remote from said supporting means at sufficient pressure for said conditioned air to flow into said work space, said conditioned air having a substantially different temperature than said objects, and said first and second plates providing a predetermined pressure drop between their opposite faces to produce a laminar flow of conditioned air downwardly from said first plate over the objects on said supporting means through said supporting means and second plate for discharge from said housing; said supporting means having a plurality of openings therein to permit said laminar flow therethrough; said objects being supplied to said housing at a predetermined temperature and said means for supplying conditioned air supplying said air at a temperature approximately 300°C. greater than said predetermined temperature to sterilize said objects.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for supplying conditioned air supplies air to said housing at a velocity of approximately 0.3 m/sec.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device as defined in claim 11 wherein the vertical distance between said first and second plates is between 0.5 m and 0.3 m.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device as defined in claim 13 wherein the apertures in said distribution plate have diameters between 0.2mm and 0.6mm and wherein said apertures define a maximum of 10% of the total areas of their respective plates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device as defined in claim 11 wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor having an upper reach for transporting objects through said work space and a lower return reach outside of said work space and housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device as defined in claim 15 wherein said first distribution plate comprises a main filter for the conditioned air supplied to said work area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for supplying conditioned air includes a return line connected between said housing and said blower for returning air passing through said second distribution plate to said blower.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device as defined in claim 12 wherein said return line includes a preliminary filter for said return air.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
The device as defined in claim 11 wherein said first distribution plate cooperates with said housing to define a distribution chamber on the side of said plate remote from said conveyor, said means for supplying conditioned air to said housing being connected to supply air to said chamber for even distribution over said first plate, prior to passage therethrough.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device as defined in claim 11 wherein said supporting means comprises a perforated conveyor for transporting said objects through said work space in the housing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-31 | 1980-03-01 | 1980-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-31 | 1984-03-01 | 1984-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-31 | 1988-03-01 | 1988-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |