Method and apparatus for storage atmosphere control

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein said different threshold values are in a declining succession, a first value being substantially at the differential upon which saId storage structure would experience ambient air infiltration and the remaining values being successively less positive that said first value.

Claim 4

In a storage unit having a generally sealed storage structure enclosing a storage atmosphere and a gas generator for delivering a generally inert gas to said storage atmosphere; a generator starter control comprising: a first pressure sensitive switch means in communication with the ambient and said storage atmosphere, for closing a set of contacts in response to a first pressure differential being a predetermined threshold pressure differential between said storage atmosphere and the ambient; a second pressure sensitive switch means in communication with the ambient and said storage atmosphere, for closing a second set of contacts in response to a second pressure differential being a predetermined threshold pressure differential between said storage atmosphere and the ambient, said second pressure differential being more positive than said first pressure differential; and interlock network means through which said first and second sets of contacts are connected in circuit, for providing a start signal to said generator in response to closure of said first set of contacts, and for continuing to operate said generator until providing a terminating signal to said generator in response to closure of said second set of contacts.

Claim 5

In a storage unit having a generally sealed storage structure enclosing a storage atmosphere and a gas generator for delivering a generally inert gas to said storage atmosphere; a generator starter control comprising: a first pressure sensitive switch means in communication with the ambient and said storage atmosphere, for closing a set of contacts in response to a first pressure differential being a predetermined threshold pressure differential between said storage atmosphere and the ambient; a second pressure sensitive switch means in communication with the ambient and said storage atmosphere, for closing a second set of contacts in response to a second pressure differential being a predetermined threshold pressure differential between said storage atmosphere and the ambient, said second pressure differential being more positive than said first pressure differential; and interlock network means through which said first and second sets of contacts are connected in circuit, for providing a start signal to said generator in response to closure of said first set of contacts, and for continuing to operate said generator until providing a terminating signal to said generator in response to closure of said second set of contacts.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 3, and including a timer means connected in said interlock means, for delaying said response to the closure of said second set of contacts until at least after a predetermined minimum timer period, the timer means being connected for activation by closure of said first set of contacts.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 3, wherein said interlock network means comprises: a latching switch connected to energize said generator, the latching switch being controlled by said first set of contacts, such that said latching switch is latched closed in response to closure of said first set of contacts, and the latching switch being further controlled by said second set of contacts such that said latching switch is opened in response to closure of said second set of contacts.

Claim 8

In a storage unit having a generally sealed storage structure enclosing a storage atmosphere, a storage atmosphere control apparatus comprising: a gas generator means being a variable capacity generator in communication with said storage atmosphere, for delivering generally inert gas to said storage atmosphere in varied amounts; and a sequential control connected to said gas generator means and having a pressure switch means in monitoring communication with said storage atmosphere and ambient pressure and connected to said gas generator means for successively increasing the output of inert gas in response to a successively declining pressure differential between said storage atmosphere and ambient.

Claim 9

In a storage unit having a generally sealed storage structure enclosing a storage atmosphere, a storage atmosphere control apparatus comprising: a gas generator means being a variable capacity generator in communication with said storage atmosphere, for delivering generally inert gas to said storage atmosphere in varied amounts; and a sequential control connected to said gas generator means and having a pressure switch means in monitoring communication with said storage atmosphere and ambient pressure and connected to said gas generator means for successively increasing the output of inert gas in response to a successively declining pressure differential between said storage atmosphere and ambient.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 6, wherein said gas generator means is comprised of a battery of inert gas generating members; and said pressure switch means is comprised of a plurality of independent pressure sensitive switch means for successively starting the gas generating members in accordance with a successively declining set of threshold pressure differentials between the storage atmosphere and ambient.

Claim 11

In a storage unit having a generally sealed storage structure enclosing a storage atmosphere, a storage atmosphere control apparatus comprising: gas generator means for delivering inert gas to the storage structure; pressure sensitive switch means in communication with the ambient and the storage atmosphere for initiating the operation of said gas generator means in response to a predetermined threshold pressure differential between the ambient and the storage atmosphere; and interlock means having a presettable timer for maintaining said gas generator operative for a predetermined time in response to a signal from said pressure sensitive switch means.

Claim 12

In a storage unit having a generally sealed storage structure enclosing a storage atmosphere, a storage atmosphere control apparatus comprising: gas generator means for delivering inert gas to the storage structure; pressure sensitive switch means in communication with the ambient and the storage atmosphere for initiating the operation of said gas generator means in response to a predetermined threshold pressure differential between the ambient and the storage atmosphere; and interlock means having a presettable timer for maintaining said gas generator operative for a predetermined time in response to a signal from said pressure sensitive switch means.