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US 12,607,407 B2Granted
Closure for concrete products curing kiln
AssigneeBesser Company
InventorsDonald Robert Andor, Zachary Thomas Adrian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A concrete products curing kiln and kiln closure apparatus comprising a pressure door shaped to cover an opening of the kiln, and an expandable chamber. The expandable chamber is positioned such that inflation of the chamber causes the chamber to expand and press on, and at least partially seal, the pressure door against a kiln door frame defining the kiln opening.
Claims19
A concrete products curing kiln closure apparatus comprising:
- a closure frame comprising an upper cross bar and two side rails connected at respective upper ends to opposite ends of the upper cross bar in an inverted U shape sized to position the cross bar and side rails generally parallel to and spaced from respective top and side edges of a kiln opening in a concrete products curing kiln when the closure frame is secured outside the kiln opening;
- a pressure door carried by the closure frame and shaped to cover the kiln opening and to at least partially seal against a floor supporting the kiln and the closure frame when the pressure door is in a closed position;
- and
- at least one expandable chamber carried by the closure frame in a position to press against, and at least partially seal the pressure door against one or more outer kiln surfaces adjacent the kiln opening, when the expandable chamber is inflated and when the pressure door is in its closed position covering the kiln opening.
1 more element
A concrete products curing kiln apparatus comprising:
- a kiln enclosure resting on a floor;
- a kiln opening formed in the kiln enclosure;
- a closure frame comprising:
- an upper cross bar disposed generally parallel to and spaced from an upper edge of the kiln opening, and
- two side rails connected at respective upper ends to respective outer ends of the upper cross bar in an inverted U shape, disposed generally parallel to and spaced from respective side edges of the kiln opening, and having respective lower ends resting on the floor adjacent the kiln opening;
- a pressure door carried by the closure frame and comprising an air-impermeable material and shaped and positioned to cover the kiln opening when in a closed position;
- and
- an expandable chamber carried by the closure frame and inflatable to cause the chamber to expand and press on, and at least partially seal, outer edge regions of the pressure door against the outer surfaces of the kiln enclosure adjacent the kiln opening when the pressure door is in the closed position, the pressure door, in its closed position, being positioned as a barrier between the expandable chamber and heated interior kiln air.
5 more elements
A concrete products curing kiln closure apparatus comprising:
- a pressure door shaped to cover a concrete products curing kiln opening;
- a closure frame carrying the pressure door and comprising an upper cross bar and two side rails connected in an inverted U shape, respective lower ends of the side rails being mounted outside of the kiln such that the frame is positioned generally parallel to and spaced from the kiln opening;
- at least one expandable chamber carried by the closure frame and inflatable to cause the chamber to expand, press against, and at least partially seal the pressure door against one or more outer kiln surfaces adjacent the kiln opening when the pressure door is covering the kiln opening;
- a bottom seal attached along a bottom surface of the pressure door;
- and
- a clamp mounted and movable between:
- a closed position applying force pressing the bottom seal downward against an upward-facing floor surface adjacent the kiln opening;
- and
- an open position leaving the upward-facing floor surface unimpeded for transit of concrete-products transportation vehicles in and out of the kiln.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.