Airtight door assembly

Claim 2

An airtight door assembly comprising: a door; an inflatable seal disposed around the perimeter of said door and including means for connecting said seal to a compressed fluid supply; a pneumatic door locking device including means for connecting said device to a compressed fluid supply; and means for simultaneously charging said compressed fluid to said seal and said locking device through said means for connecting.

Claim 3

The door assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for connecting comprise fluid lines connecting said seal and said locking device to a fitting, and wherein said fitting includes means for connecting said fitting to a fluid supply.

Claim 4

The door assembly of claim 2 in which said means for charging comprises a valve selectively movable from a closed position in which pressure is released from said seal and said locking device to an open position in which fluid is charged to both of said seal and said locking device.

Claim 5

The door assembly of claim 3 wherein said assembly includes a door frame and wherein said locking device comprises a member movable when charged with fluid under pressure to a lock position in engagement with said frame and movable in the absence of said fluid under pressure to an unlock position.

Claim 6

The door assembly of claim 4 in which said member is biased in the absence of fluid under pressure toward the unlock position.

Claim 7

The door assembly of claim 5 in which said member comprises a rod extending from a cylinder, said rod spring biased to a retracted position in the absence of fluid under pressure and forced into an extended position in engagement with said frame when subjected to fluid under pressure.

Claim 8

The door assembly of claim 6 in which a bore is provided transversely through said rod, and a pin is manually engageable through said bore whereby said rod may be maintained in said lock position in the absence of fluid under pressure.

Claim 9

The door assembly of claim 7 in which, when said pin is engaged and pressure is released, said rod partially retracts but insufficiently to unlock said door, and wherein said frame includes therein a first proximity switch adapted to be connected to a power supply, said switch positioned to be activated by said rod when in the fully extended position and connected to at least an indicating device indicating that the seal is inflated and the door locked and an indicating device indicating that the seal is deflated.

Claim 10

The door assembly of claim 5 in which said locking device includes a manually engageable safety device whereby said member is maintained in the lock position in the absence of fluid under pressure.

Claim 11

The door assembly of claim 4 in which said frame includes therein a first proximity switch adapted to be connected to a power supply and in a position to be activated by said member when said member is in the lock position with the said seal inflated.

Claim 12

The door assembly of claim 10 wherein said assembly includes indicating devices connected to said proximity switch to indicate a door locked and seal inflated condition or a seal deflated condition.

Claim 13

The door assembly of claim 4 in which said frame includes therein a second proximity switch adapted to be connected to a power supply and positioned to be activated when the door is closed.

Claim 14

The door assembly of claim 12 in which said assembly includes an indicating device connected to said second proximity switch to indicate a door closed condition.

Claim 15

The door assembly of claim 4 including a door seal integrity test device, said device comprising a panel having a second pneumatic inflatable seal around the perimeter thereof and adapted to be secured in said frame on the side thereof opposite to said door to thereby define a space between said panel and said door in the closed position; said panel including fittings and lines for connecting to a supply of fluid under pressure and for supplying fluid under pressure to said means for connecting on said door seal and said door locking device, and to the space between said panel and said door; said panel including means for reading the pressure and temperature in said space.

Claim 16

The door assembly of claim 14 in which said panel is transparent.

Claim 17

The door assembly of claim 15 in which said means for reading pressure comprises a manometer on the outer side of said panel which is connected via a line and fitting to the space between the panel and the door.

Claim 18

The door assembly of claim 15 in which said means for reading temperature comprises a thermometer secured in said space.