Patent US4435194A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4435194A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Circuit for ventilating and filtering the medium contained in a confinement enclosure
Assignee: Getinge Life Science France SAS
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Filing: 1982-04-22
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Granted: 1984-03-06
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Expires: 2002-04-22
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a circuit for ventilating and filtering the medium contained in a confinement enclosure (10) and also a method for sterilizing such an enclosure and its supply and discharge filters. An emergency or standby circuit is associated with the circuit ensuring ventilation and filtration under normal operating conditions and which comprises a supply pipe (20) and a discharge pipe (12), equipped with a suction fan (14). The said emergency circuit comprises the same pipes used in the opposite direction under the action of a suction fan (28) located in supply pipe (20), whereby said fan (28) can be automatically controlled by a pressostat (30). Sterilization is performed chemically, using a sterilizer which is connected to the supply duct between a valve and the supply filters disposed downstream of the valve. The sterilizer delivers a sterilizing agent which passes successively through the supply filters, the enclosure and the discharge filters. Once sterilization has been performed, the ventilating circuit is started up, so as to sweep away the sterilizing agent. Application to biological or nuclear experimentation enclosures.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude Picard
- 👤 Bernard Saint Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:47
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21F; G21F7/00; G21F7/04; G21F7/041; B; B01; B01L; B01L1/00; B01L1/02; F; F24; F24F; F24F3/00; F24F3/12; F24F3/16; F24F3/167
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A process for establishing and maintaining a vacuum within a ventilated and filtered air tight enclosure, said process comprising: introducing a filtered medium into the enclosure through a supply pipe having a first filtering means in the supply pipe; establishing a vacuum in the enclosure by employing an enclosure discharge pipe which discharges the medium from the enclosure in a normal flow direction and which is connected to a means for establishing the vacuum, the discharge pipe having a second filtering means, and by regulating the flow rate in the supply pipe; and maintaining the vacuum in the enclosure in the event of a failure by sensing the pressure within the enclosure and actuating a means for maintaining the vacuum upon a predetermined rise in pressure within the enclosure; the means for maintaining the vacuum being connected to the supply pipe upstream of the first filtering means and operable to reverse the flow of the medium in the supply pipe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A process for establishing and maintaining a vacuum within a ventilated and filtered air tight enclosure, said process comprising: introducing a filtered medium into the enclosure through a supply pipe having a first filtering means in the supply pipe; establishing a vacuum in the enclosure by employing an enclosure discharge pipe which discharges the medium from the enclosure in a normal flow direction and which is connected to a means for establishing the vacuum, the discharge pipe having a second filtering means, and by regulating the flow rate in the supply pipe; and maintaining the vacuum in the enclosure in the event of a failure by sensing the pressure within the enclosure and actuating a means for maintaining the vacuum upon a predetermined rise in pressure within the enclosure; the means for maintaining the vacuum being connected to the supply pipe upstream of the first filtering means and operable to reverse the flow of the medium in the supply pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
135 words
A process in accordance with claim 1, which further comprises sterilizing the enclosure by the steps of: providing a valve means in the supply pipe upstream of the first filtering means; connecting a chemical sterilizer to the supply pipe between the valve means and the first filtering means; closing the valve means; operating the means for establishing the vacuum within the enclosure; operating the sterilizer for supplying saturating vapors of a sterilizing chemical agent successively to the supply pipe, including the first filtering means to the air tight enclosure and to the discharge pipe, including the second filtering means; stopping the sterilizer after a given period of time; opening the valve means; and pursuing operation of the means for establishing the vacuum within the enclosure to sweep the saturating vapors of the sterilizing chemical agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A process in accordance with claim 2, wherein the step of closing the valve means follows the following steps: dismounting the first and second filtering means; washing inner surfaces of the walls of said enclosure and said filtering means with a solution comprising said sterilizing chemical agent and a wetting agent; rinsing said inner surfaces and said filtering means; drying said inner surfaces and said filtering means; and assembling the first and second filtering means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process in accordance with claim 2, wherein the step of operating the sterilizer comprises the steps of: heating the sterilizing chemical agent to a given temperature in order to vaporize the chemical agent; and passing compressed air through the sterilizer to drive the vaporized chemical agent successively to the supply pipe to the air tight enclosure and the discharge pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 4, wherein the chemical agent is formol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 4, wherein the chemical agent is paracetic acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process in accordance with claim 2, wherein the step of operating the sterilizer comprises the steps of: heating the sterilizing chemical agent to a given temperature in order to vaporize the chemical agent; and passing compressed air through the sterilizer to drive the vaporized chemical agent successively to the supply pipe to the air tight enclosure and the discharge pipe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 7, wherein the chemical agent is formal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 7, wherein the chemical agent is paracetic acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
174 words
A circuit for ventilating and filtering the medium contained in an air tight enclosure and for establishing and maintaining a permanent vacuum within said enclosure, comprising a normal ventilating circuit, means for introducing the medium into the circuit including a supply pipe issuing into the enclosure to supply the enclosure with said medium, and a discharge pipe which discharges the medium from the enclosure in a normal flow direction, flow rate regulating means and first filtering means for said supply pipe, second filtering means and means for establishing the vacuum within the enclosure for said discharge pipe, said circuit further comprising means for maintaining the vacuum within the enclosure, said means for maintaining the vacuum including means for actuating said vacuum maintaining means upon a predetermined rise in pressure in the enclosure in case of failure in the normal ventilating circuit, said means for maintaining the vacuum being located in said supply pipe upstream of said first filtering means reversing the flow of the medium in the circuit from the normal direction of flow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
174 words
A circuit for ventilating and filtering the medium contained in an air tight enclosure and for establishing and maintaining a permanent vacuum within said enclosure, comprising a normal ventilating circuit, means for introducing the medium into the circuit including a supply pipe issuing into the enclosure to supply the enclosure with said medium, and a discharge pipe which discharges the medium from the enclosure in a normal flow direction, flow rate regulating means and first filtering means for said supply pipe, second filtering means and means for establishing the vacuum within the enclosure for said discharge pipe, said circuit further comprising means for maintaining the vacuum within the enclosure, said means for maintaining the vacuum including means for actuating said vacuum maintaining means upon a predetermined rise in pressure in the enclosure in case of failure in the normal ventilating circuit, said means for maintaining the vacuum being located in said supply pipe upstream of said first filtering means reversing the flow of the medium in the circuit from the normal direction of flow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A circuit according to claim 10, wherein said circuit further comprises detecting means communicating with the enclosure detecting a drop in the vacuum within the enclosure, said detecting means automatically controlling the starting of said means for maintaining the vacuum within the enclosure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A circuit according to claim 11, wherein said means for detecting a drop in the vacuum is a pressostat communicating with the enclosure by a pipe, third filtering means in said pipe and means for interrupting the connection between the enclosure and said pressostat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A ventilating and filtering circuit according to any one of claims 10, 11 and 12, wherein a sterilizer is connected to said supply pipe between said first filtering means and said means for maintaining the vacuum within the enclosure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A circuit according to claim 11 or claim 3 wherein said means for maintaining the vacuum within the enclosure is more powerful than said means for establishing the vacuum within the enclosure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ventilating and filtering circuit according to claim 14, wherein a sterilizer is connected to said supply pipe between said first filtering means and said means for maintaining the vacuum within the enclosure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
174 words
A circuit for ventilating and filtering the medium contained in an air tight enclosure and for establishing and maintaining a permanent over-pressure within said enclosure, comprising a normal ventilating circuit, means for introducing the medium into the circuit including a supply pipe issuing into the enclosure to supply the enclosure with said medium, and a discharge pipe which discharges the medium from the enclosure in a normal flow direction, flow rate regulating means and first filtering means for said discharge pipe, second filtering means and means for establishing the over-pressure within the enclosure for said supply pipe, said circuit further comprising means for maintaining the over-pressure within the enclosure, said means for maintaining the over-pressure including means for actuating said over-pressure maintaining means upon a predetermined decrease in pressure in the enclosure in case of failure in the normal ventilating circuit, said means for maintaining the over-pressure being located in said discharge pipe downstream of said first filtering means reversing the flow of the medium in the circuit from the normal direction of flow.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
174 words
A circuit for ventilating and filtering the medium contained in an air tight enclosure and for establishing and maintaining a permanent over-pressure within said enclosure, comprising a normal ventilating circuit, means for introducing the medium into the circuit including a supply pipe issuing into the enclosure to supply the enclosure with said medium, and a discharge pipe which discharges the medium from the enclosure in a normal flow direction, flow rate regulating means and first filtering means for said discharge pipe, second filtering means and means for establishing the over-pressure within the enclosure for said supply pipe, said circuit further comprising means for maintaining the over-pressure within the enclosure, said means for maintaining the over-pressure including means for actuating said over-pressure maintaining means upon a predetermined decrease in pressure in the enclosure in case of failure in the normal ventilating circuit, said means for maintaining the over-pressure being located in said discharge pipe downstream of said first filtering means reversing the flow of the medium in the circuit from the normal direction of flow.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
A circuit according to claim 16, wherein said circuit further comprises detecting means communicating with the enclosure detecting a drop in the pressure within the enclosure, said detecting means automatically controlling the starting of said means for maintaining the over-pressure within the enclosure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A circuit according to claim 17, wherein said means for detecting a drop in the pressure is a pressostat communicating with the enclosure by a pipe, third filtering means in said pipe and means for interrupting the connection between the enclosure and said pressostat.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A ventilating and filtering circuit according to any one of claims 16, 17 and 18, wherein a sterilizer is connected to said supply pipe between said first filtering means and said means for maintaining the over-pressure within the enclosure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A circuit according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein said means for maintaining the over-pressure within the enclosure is more powerful than said means for establishing the over-pressure within the enclosure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ventilating and filtering circuit according to claim 20, wherein a sterilizer is connected to said supply pipe between said first filtering means and said means for maintaining the over-pressure within the enclosure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-06 | 1987-09-05 | 1988-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-06 | 1991-09-05 | 1992-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-06 | 1995-09-05 | 1996-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |