초록 ▼

An unplumbed sterilizer includes a heater having an electrical heating element disposed within a thermally conductive heater body. A conformable thermally conductive heat transfer plate is mounted between a mounting surface on the heater body and a heating surface on the sterilizing chamber. The hea

An unplumbed sterilizer includes a heater having an electrical heating element disposed within a thermally conductive heater body. A conformable thermally conductive heat transfer plate is mounted between a mounting surface on the heater body and a heating surface on the sterilizing chamber. The heat transfer plate is effective to maintain a continuous mechanical contact between the heating and mounting surfaces. Further, a temperature sensor is attached to the heater body. By regulating the electrical power to the heating element as a function of the temperature of the heater body, the power applied to the heating element is maintained within specifications. Further, the heater body is mechanically attached to the sterilizing chamber by a single fastener resiliently applying a clamping force through the center of the heater body. In addition, the heater body is accessed simply by removing a cover plate from the outer body of the sterilizer.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [21.] An unplumbed sterilizer having a sterilizing chamber for receiving a load to be sterilized and a quantity of sterilizing liquid, the unplumbed sterilizer comprising:a heater operatively connected to the sterilizing chamber, the heater havinga thermally conductive heater

[ What is claimed is:] [21.] An unplumbed sterilizer having a sterilizing chamber for receiving a load to be sterilized and a quantity of sterilizing liquid, the unplumbed sterilizer comprising:a heater operatively connected to the sterilizing chamber, the heater havinga thermally conductive heater body having a mounting surface adapted to be mounted adjacent a heating surface on the sterilizing chamber;an electrical heating element disposed within the heater body;a first temperature sensor mounted in a heat transfer relationship with the sterilizing chamber for providing a sterilizing chamber temperature signal representing a temperature within the sterilizing chamber;a second temperature sensor mounted directly on the heater body for providing a heater temperature signal representing an operating temperature of the heater body below an over-temperature value of the heater body; anda third temperature sensor mounted directly on the heater body for providing an over-temperature signal representing the over-temperature value of the heater body; anda heater control connected to the temperature sensors and the heating element, the heater control energizing and de-energizing the heating element in response to both the sterilizing chamber and heater temperature signals to maintain the sterilizing chamber at a desired operating temperature and to simultaneously maintain the heater below the over-temperature, the heater control de-energizing the heating element in response to the over-temperature signal.