Alarm and safeguard system for a controlled environment box

Claim 2

An alarm and safeguard system for a controlled environment box which includes, in combination: a. a main electrical power source; b. a power outlet which is electrically connected to the main power source, to a valve means for controlling inert gas flow into the environment box, to a valve means for controlling inert gas flow out of the environment box, and to an electrical system which controls an interchange chamber associated with the environment box; c. a pressure sensing means which communicates with the environment box, is electrically connected to the main power source, and is adapted to sense a pressure condition in the environment box which does not correspond to a pre-set pressure condition; d. a relay means which is electrically connected to the pressure indicating means and to the power outlet; e. an alarm system which is electrically connected to the relay and to the main power source; whereby, when the pressure in the environment box assumes a level other than the said pre-set pressure condition, the pressure sensing means will actuate the relay, thereby interrupting the circuit to the power outlet and completing a circuit through the alarm system, thus activating the said alarm system.

Claim 3

An alarm and safeguard system for a controlled environment box which includes, in combination: a. a main electrical power source; b. a power outlet which is electrically connected to the main power source, to a valve means for controlling inert gas flow into the environment box, to a valve means for controlling inert gas flow out of the environment box, and to an electrical system which controls an interchange chamber associated with the environment box; c. a pressure sensing means which communicates with the environment box, is electrically connected to the main power source, and is adapted to sense a pressure condition in the environment box which does not correspond to a pre-set pressure condition; d. a relay means which is electrically connected to the pressure indicating means and to the power outlet; e. an alarm system which is electrically connected to the relay and to the main power source; whereby, when the pressure in the environment box assumes a level other than the said pre-set pressure condition, the pressure sensing means will actuate the relay, thereby interrupting the circuit to the power outlet and completing a circuit through the alarm system, thus activating the said alarm system.

Claim 4

An alarm and safeguard system for a controlled environment box which includes, in combination: a. a main electrical power source; b. a power outlet which is electrically connected to the main power source, to a valve means for controlling inert gas flow into the environment box, to a valve means for controlling inert gas flow out of the environment box, and to an electrical system which controls an interchange chamber associated with the environment box; c. a pressure sensing means which communicates with the environment box, is electrically connected to the main power source, and is adapted to sense a pressure condition in the environment box which does not correspond to a pre-set pressure condition; d. a relay means which is electrically connected to the pressure indicating means and to the power outlet; e. an alarm system which is electrically connected to the relay and to the main power source; whereby, when the pressure in the environment box assumes a level other than the said pre-set pressure condition, the pressure sensing means will actuate the relay, thereby interrupting the circuit to the power outlet and completing a circuit through the alarm system, thus activating the said alarm system.

Claim 5

An alarm and safeguard system for a controlled environment box which includes, in combination: a. a main electrical power source and a power outlet which connects into the said main source; b. a gas inlet line in communication with the environment box and a source of inert gas; c. a gas outlet line in communication with the environment box and a vacuum pump, the pump being electrically connected to the power outlet; d. a first solenoid valve located in the gas inlet line and a second solenoid valve located in the gas outlet line; e. a first pressure switch which communicates with the environment box and Is electrically connected to the first solenoid valve and the power outlet, for controlling inert gas flow into the environment box; f. a second pressure switch which communicates with the environment box and is electrically connected to the second solenoid valve and the power outlet, for controlling inert gas flow out of the environment box; g. an interchange chamber in communication with the environment box; h. an electrical control system connected to the interchange chamber and to the power outlet, for controlling evacuation and purging of the interchange chamber; i. a manometer in communication with the environment box and which is electrically connected to the main power source; j. an electrical relay which is connected to the main power source and the power outlet; k. a first electrical sensing means, which is associated with the manometer and is connected to the relay, for indicating a pressure condition in the environment box which does not correspond to a pre-set pressure condition; l. a second electrical sensing means which is associated with the manometer and is connected to the relay, for indicating a pressure condition in the environment box which does not correspond to the said pre-set pressure condition; m. an alarm system which includes an audible signal and a visible signal, the said audible and visible signals being connected to the relay and to the main power source; whereby, when the pressure in the environment box assumes a level other than the said pre-set pressure condition, at least one of the said sensing means will actuate the relay, thereby interrupting the circuit to the power outlet and completing a circuit through the alarm system, thus activating the said audible and visible signals.

Claim 6

An alarm and safeguard system for a controlled environment box which includes, in combination: a. a main electrical power source and a power outlet which connects into the said main source; b. a gas inlet line in communication with the environment box and a source of inert gas; c. a gas outlet line in communication with the environment box and a vacuum pump, the pump being electrically connected to the power outlet; d. a first solenoid valve located in the gas inlet line and a second solenoid valve located in the gas outlet line; e. a first pressure switch which communicates with the environment box and Is electrically connected to the first solenoid valve and the power outlet, for controlling inert gas flow into the environment box; f. a second pressure switch which communicates with the environment box and is electrically connected to the second solenoid valve and the power outlet, for controlling inert gas flow out of the environment box; g. an interchange chamber in communication with the environment box; h. an electrical control system connected to the interchange chamber and to the power outlet, for controlling evacuation and purging of the interchange chamber; i. a manometer in communication with the environment box and which is electrically connected to the main power source; j. an electrical relay which is connected to the main power source and the power outlet; k. a first electrical sensing means, which is associated with the manometer and is connected to the relay, for indicating a pressure condition in the environment box which does not correspond to a pre-set pressure condition; l. a second electrical sensing means which is associated with the manometer and is connected to the relay, for indicating a pressure condition in the environment box which does not correspond to the said pre-set pressure condition; m. an alarm system which includes an audible signal and a visible signal, the said audible and visible signals being connected to the relay and to the main power source; whereby, when the pressure in the environment box assumes a level other than the said pre-set pressure condition, at least one of the said sensing means will actuate the relay, thereby interrupting the circuit to the power outlet and completing a circuit through the alarm system, thus activating the said audible and visible signals.

Claim 7

The alarm system of claim 2 in which: a. the manometer is a U-shaped manometer having one closed leg and one leg open to the outside atmosphere; b. each leg of the manometer is partially filled with mercury; c. a first sensing wire is encased in the closed leg of the manometer and positioned such that the mercury in said leg will contact the sensing wire and thus actuate the relay if the pressure in the environment box falls below the pre-set level; d. a second sensing wire is encased in the open leg of the manometer and positioned such that the mercury in said leg will contact the sensing wire and thus actuate the relay if the pressure in the environment box rises above the pre-set level.

Claim 8

The alarm system of claim 2 in which the audible signal is an electric buzzer.