US3554114A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for introducing materials into or removing materials from a hermetically sealed vessel
Assignee: P AND S RICE MILLS Inc
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Filing: 1968-03-07
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1988-03-07
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for introducing materials into and removing materials from a hermetically sealed vessel without destroying the hermetic integrity of the vessel comprising; a container defining a chamber therein which chamber communicates between the vessel and an environment having a dissimilar pressure, four valve means each operatively connected to the container and communicating between the interior and exterior thereof, and means for cyclically actuating said valve means so that the pressure within the vessel before the materials are transferred between the container and the vessel, and the pressure within the chamber is equalized to said dissimilar pressure before the materials are transferred between the container and said dissimilar pressure environment.
Inventors
- 👤 Joe L Mcphail
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:13
CPC Classifications
F; F27; F27D; F27D3/00; F27D3/08; B; B01; B01J; B01J3/00; B01J3/02; F16; F16K; F16K1/00; F16K1/16; F16K1/18; F16K1/22; F16K1/221; F27D3/0033
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
481 words
An apparatus for introducing relatively fragile particulate materials into or removing said materials from a hermetically sealed vessel without damaging said materials or destroying the hermetic integrity of the vessel, said apparatus comprising: a container defining a chamber therein, which chamber communicates between said vessel and an environment having a pressure dissimilar from the pressure within the vessel; a first valve means connected to said container and communicating between said chamber and the exterior of the container for admitting said materials into the chamber, said first valve means comprising, a first valve body, a first closure member rotatably mounted within said first body, the periphery of said first member being spaced inwardly from said first body in all rotated positions of said first member, and a first resilient seal mounted within said first body and interposed between said first body and first member, said first member being frictionally engageable with said first seal and engageable solely with said first seal for closing said first valve means so that said materials will not be crushed by said first member upon closing of said first valve means; a second valve means connected to said container and communicating between said chamber and the exterior of the container for discharging materials from the container, said second valve means comprising, a second valve body, a second closure member rotatably mounted within said second body, the periphery of said second member being spaced inwardly from said second body in all rotated positions of said second member, and a second resilient seal mounted within said second body and interposed between said second body and second member, said second member being frictionally engageable with said second seal and engageable solely with said second seal for closing said second valve means so that said materials will not be crushed by said second member upon closing of said second valve means; a third valve means operatively connected to said container and adapted to communicate between said chamber and said vessel so that the pressure within the chamber may be equalized to the pressure within the vessel; a fourth valve means operatively connected to said container and adapted to communicate between said chamber and said dissimilar pressure environment so that the pressure within the chamber may be equalized to said dissimilar pressure; and means for cyclically actuating said valve means so that the pressure within the chamber will be equalized to the pressure within the vessel before said materials are transferred between the container and vessel, and the pressure within the chamber will be equalized to said dissimilar pressure before said materials are transferred between the container and said dissimilar pressure environment, said actuating means including power means positioned externally of said container and operatively connected to said first and second closure members and to said third and fourth valve means for opening and closing said valve means without contaminating said materials.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
481 words
An apparatus for introducing relatively fragile particulate materials into or removing said materials from a hermetically sealed vessel without damaging said materials or destroying the hermetic integrity of the vessel, said apparatus comprising: a container defining a chamber therein, which chamber communicates between said vessel and an environment having a pressure dissimilar from the pressure within the vessel; a first valve means connected to said container and communicating between said chamber and the exterior of the container for admitting said materials into the chamber, said first valve means comprising, a first valve body, a first closure member rotatably mounted within said first body, the periphery of said first member being spaced inwardly from said first body in all rotated positions of said first member, and a first resilient seal mounted within said first body and interposed between said first body and first member, said first member being frictionally engageable with said first seal and engageable solely with said first seal for closing said first valve means so that said materials will not be crushed by said first member upon closing of said first valve means; a second valve means connected to said container and communicating between said chamber and the exterior of the container for discharging materials from the container, said second valve means comprising, a second valve body, a second closure member rotatably mounted within said second body, the periphery of said second member being spaced inwardly from said second body in all rotated positions of said second member, and a second resilient seal mounted within said second body and interposed between said second body and second member, said second member being frictionally engageable with said second seal and engageable solely with said second seal for closing said second valve means so that said materials will not be crushed by said second member upon closing of said second valve means; a third valve means operatively connected to said container and adapted to communicate between said chamber and said vessel so that the pressure within the chamber may be equalized to the pressure within the vessel; a fourth valve means operatively connected to said container and adapted to communicate between said chamber and said dissimilar pressure environment so that the pressure within the chamber may be equalized to said dissimilar pressure; and means for cyclically actuating said valve means so that the pressure within the chamber will be equalized to the pressure within the vessel before said materials are transferred between the container and vessel, and the pressure within the chamber will be equalized to said dissimilar pressure before said materials are transferred between the container and said dissimilar pressure environment, said actuating means including power means positioned externally of said container and operatively connected to said first and second closure members and to said third and fourth valve means for opening and closing said valve means without contaminating said materials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said power means comprise at least one expansible-chamber pneumatic actuator operatively connected to each of said first and second closure members and to each of said third and fourth valve means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising an electromechanical control unit operatively connected to each said actuator for controlling the operation thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein a pair of said actuators are operatively connected to said first and second closure members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
148 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, whereIn said actuating means further includes programming means for cyclically energizing said power means so that the fourth valve means is opened while the other valve means are closed to equalize the pressure within the chamber to said dissimilar pressure, then the first valve means is opened to admit the materials from the dissimilar pressure environment into the chamber, then the fourth and first valve means are closed and the third valve means thereafter opened to equalize the pressure within the chamber to the pressure within the vessel, then the second valve means is opened to discharge the materials from the chamber into the vessel, and then the third and second valve means are closed and the operating cycle of the valve means is repeated for sequentially transferring the materials from the dissimilar pressure environment through the container into the vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
146 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes programming means for cyclically energizing said power means so that the third valve means is opened while the other valve means are closed to equalize the pressure within the chamber to the pressure within the vessel, then the first valve means is opened to admit the materials from the vessel into the chamber, then the third and first valve means are closed and the fourth valve means thereafter opened to equalize the pressure within the chamber to said dissimilar pressure, then the second valve means is opened to discharge the materials from the chamber to the dissimilar pressure environment, then the fourth and second valve means are closed and the operating cycle of the valve means is repeated for sequentially transferring the materials from the vessel through the container to the dissimilar pressure environment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said valve means comprises a butterfly valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said container comprises a cylindrical pipe section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of a hermetically sealed vessel and the apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said vessel has an opening therein for receiving said materials therethrough and said apparatus is connected to the vessel at said opening with said second valve means interposed between said chamber and the interior of the vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination as recited in claim 9, further comprising a conduit communicating between said apparatus and said vessel, and wherein said third valve means is connected to said conduit and interposed between the apparatus and vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination as recited in claim 9, further comprising a means for generating a pressurized fluid and a conduit communicating between said generating means and said vessel for delivering pressurized fluid from the generating means to the vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination as recited in claim 11, wherein said generating means comprises a steam boiler.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination as recited in claim 12, further comprising a heat exchanger for condensing water vapor makeup to provide makeup water for the boiler and a second conduit communicating between said chamber and said heat exchanger for delivering water vapor from the chamber to the heat exchanger, and wherein said fourth valve means is connected to said second conduit and interposed between the chamber and heat exchanger.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination as recited in claim 9, further comprising a means for producing a vacuum and a conduit communicating between said vacuum producing means and said vessel so that a vacuum environment will be produced within the vessel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination as recited in claim 9, wherein said vessel has a second opening therein for discharging said materials therethrough, and further comprising a second said apparatus connected to said vessel at said second opening with the first valve means of said second apparatus interposed between the chamber of said second apparatus and the interior of the vessel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination as recited in claim 15, further comprising a conduit communIcating between said second apparatus and said vessel, and wherein the third valve means of said second apparatus is connected to said conduit and interposed between the second apparatus and vessel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |