Proportional temperature control of a sterilizer
US5164161A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 1991 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/12
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for proportional control of heating of a sterilizer chamber are disclosed in the application. A sterilizer chamber has heaters mounted on the walls, a wall temperature sensor and a chamber temperature sensor. The controller is operable to adjust the heat input by turning on the heaters for a variable fraction of a selected fixed interval and off for the remainder of the interval. When on the heaters provide a substantially constant heat input per unit time. The fraction of the interval during which the heaters are on is proportional to a temperature differential which comprises a setpoint temperature minus a temperature reading from one of the sensors. The controller has two, or in an alternate embodiment three, operating modes each having a unique temperature differential.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.