US3694960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Door assembly and chamber combination
Assignee: American Sterilizer Co
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Filing: 1970-08-18
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1990-08-18
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a door assembly and chamber combination. The door is disposed in a door chamber at the front of the sterilizing chamber and a lifting mechanism is provided for the door. A clamping mechanism is provided for clamping the door to a seal around an opening to the chamber. The door chamber is made up of a front plate and a rear plate, each of which have an opening aligned with the other and the door slides between these openings and is forced into engagement with a rearwardly facing seal attached to the front plate. A clamping arrangement made of plungers spaced around the opening and fixed to the back plate provided with chains and sprockets driven by an electric motor which forces the plungers into engagement with the door and causes it to seal against the seal. The door is counterweighted and a lifting motor is provided to lift the door out of the space between the two openings.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Thomas Miraldi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:29
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B5/00; E06B5/10; E06B5/12; E06B5/14; E05; E05D; E05D15/00; E05D15/16; E05Y; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/10; E05Y2900/13; E05Y2900/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
337 words
A door assembly for a chamber comprising a sealed enclosure, a door supported in said enclosure, said enclosure being made of a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall and a bottom wall spaced from each other and connected together to form said sealed enclosure, an opening in said front wall and an opening in said rear wall aligned with said opening in said front wall, said door being disposed between said openings, means to move said door from its position between said openings to a position out of the space between said openings, a seal around said opening in said front wall on the side thereof adjacent said rear wall, and means to force said door into engagement with said seal when said door is in position between said openings, said rear wall being adapted to be connected to a chamber connected around said opening therein whereby the space in said chamber communicates with the space in said enclosure when said door is in closed position, said means to force said door against said seal comprises a plurality of plungers supported on said rear wall, and means for urging said plungers into engagement with said door, said means to actuate said plungers comprises actuating means attached to each said plunger, a motor on said enclosure, and connecting means connecting said motor to each of said plungers whereby said plungers are actuated, said actuating means comprises a first sprocket and a plurality of second sprockets, one said sprocket being attached to each said plunger, and means to drive said motor whereby said first plunger moves said second sprockets to actuate said plungers toward and away from said door when said door is in closed position, said spaced sprockets are connected to said plungers by means of a nut and screw arrangement whereby said plungers are moved toward said door when said sprockets are rotated in a first direction and said sprockets are moved away from said door when said sprockets are rotated in an opposite direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
337 words
A door assembly for a chamber comprising a sealed enclosure, a door supported in said enclosure, said enclosure being made of a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall and a bottom wall spaced from each other and connected together to form said sealed enclosure, an opening in said front wall and an opening in said rear wall aligned with said opening in said front wall, said door being disposed between said openings, means to move said door from its position between said openings to a position out of the space between said openings, a seal around said opening in said front wall on the side thereof adjacent said rear wall, and means to force said door into engagement with said seal when said door is in position between said openings, said rear wall being adapted to be connected to a chamber connected around said opening therein whereby the space in said chamber communicates with the space in said enclosure when said door is in closed position, said means to force said door against said seal comprises a plurality of plungers supported on said rear wall, and means for urging said plungers into engagement with said door, said means to actuate said plungers comprises actuating means attached to each said plunger, a motor on said enclosure, and connecting means connecting said motor to each of said plungers whereby said plungers are actuated, said actuating means comprises a first sprocket and a plurality of second sprockets, one said sprocket being attached to each said plunger, and means to drive said motor whereby said first plunger moves said second sprockets to actuate said plungers toward and away from said door when said door is in closed position, said spaced sprockets are connected to said plungers by means of a nut and screw arrangement whereby said plungers are moved toward said door when said sprockets are rotated in a first direction and said sprockets are moved away from said door when said sprockets are rotated in an opposite direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The door assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said means to move said door away from said space between said openings comprises a motor means above said door, a sprocket connected to said motor, and a chain over said sprocket, said chain being attached to said door.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The door assembly recited in claim 2 wherein said means to move said door comprises a flexible member attached to said door, and means on said door engaging said flexible member, and a counterweight attached tO said flexible member on the end thereof remote from said door.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
335 words
A door for a chamber comprising a sealed enclosure, a door supported in said enclosure, said enclosure being made of a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall and a bottom wall spaced from each other and connected together to form said sealed enclosure, an opening in said front wall and an opening in said rear wall aligned with said opening in said front wall, said door being disposed between said openings, means to move said door from its position between said openings to a position out of the space between said openings, a seal around said opening in said front wall on the side thereof adjacent said rear wall, and means to force said door into engagement with said seal when said door is in position between said openings, said rear wall being adapted to be connected to a chamber connected around said opening therein whereby the space in said chamber communicates with the space in said enclosure when said door is in closed position, said means to force said door against said seal comprises a plurality of plungers supported on said rear wall, and means for urging said plungers into engagement with said door, said means to actuate said plungers comprises actuating means attached to each said plunger, a motor on said enclosure, and connecting means connecting said motor to each of said plungers whereby said plungers are actuated, said actuating means comprises a first sprocket and a plurality of second sprockets, one said sprocket being attached to each said plunger, and means to drive said motor whereby said first plunger moves said second sprockets to actuate said plungers toward and away from said door when said door is in closed position, detent means are attached to said plungers, and electrical limit switch means are supported on said door, means for moving said detent means with said plungers whereby said limit switches are opened when said plungers are moved to position to clamp said door and to position to unclamp said door.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
335 words
A door for a chamber comprising a sealed enclosure, a door supported in said enclosure, said enclosure being made of a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall and a bottom wall spaced from each other and connected together to form said sealed enclosure, an opening in said front wall and an opening in said rear wall aligned with said opening in said front wall, said door being disposed between said openings, means to move said door from its position between said openings to a position out of the space between said openings, a seal around said opening in said front wall on the side thereof adjacent said rear wall, and means to force said door into engagement with said seal when said door is in position between said openings, said rear wall being adapted to be connected to a chamber connected around said opening therein whereby the space in said chamber communicates with the space in said enclosure when said door is in closed position, said means to force said door against said seal comprises a plurality of plungers supported on said rear wall, and means for urging said plungers into engagement with said door, said means to actuate said plungers comprises actuating means attached to each said plunger, a motor on said enclosure, and connecting means connecting said motor to each of said plungers whereby said plungers are actuated, said actuating means comprises a first sprocket and a plurality of second sprockets, one said sprocket being attached to each said plunger, and means to drive said motor whereby said first plunger moves said second sprockets to actuate said plungers toward and away from said door when said door is in closed position, detent means are attached to said plungers, and electrical limit switch means are supported on said door, means for moving said detent means with said plungers whereby said limit switches are opened when said plungers are moved to position to clamp said door and to position to unclamp said door.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The door assembly recited in claim 4 wherein said detent means is attached to said plunger, and electrical limit switch means is supported on said door, means for moving said detent means with said plungers whereby said detent means disconnect said motor from said power supply when said door reaches said open position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
In combination, a sterilizer chamber and a door assembly for said chamber comprising a sealed enclosure extending above said chamber, a door supported in said enclosure, said enclosure being made of a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall and a bottom wall spaced from each other and connected together to form said sealed enclosure, an opening in said front wall and an opening in said rear wall aligned with said opening in said front wall, said door being disposed between said openings, means to move said door from its position between said openings to a position out of the space between said openings, a seal around said opening in said front wall on the side thereof adjacent said rear wall, and means to force said door into engagement with said seal when said door is in position between said openings, said rear wall being connected to said chamber around said opening therein whereby the space in said chamber communicates with the space in said enclosure when said door is in closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
In combination, a sterilizer chamber and a door assembly for said chamber comprising a sealed enclosure extending above said chamber, a door supported in said enclosure, said enclosure being made of a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall and a bottom wall spaced from each other and connected together to form said sealed enclosure, an opening in said front wall and an opening in said rear wall aligned with said opening in said front wall, said door being disposed between said openings, means to move said door from its position between said openings to a position out of the space between said openings, a seal around said opening in said front wall on the side thereof adjacent said rear wall, and means to force said door into engagement with said seal when said door is in position between said openings, said rear wall being connected to said chamber around said opening therein whereby the space in said chamber communicates with the space in said enclosure when said door is in closed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination recited in claim 6 wherein said sterilizer chamber has a steam jacket around the outside thereof, said steam jacket and said chamber being welded to said rear wall around said opening, and said enclosure extending upwardly above said sterilizer chamber.
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) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |