Fume hood with floor access opening
AssigneeFlow Sciences, Inc.
InventorRobert Price
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fume hood is described for use in removing material from, or inserting material into, the opening of a container. The fume hood enclosure has a floor with an opening for insertion of the upper end of the container into the enclosure. The floor includes a circumferential groove around the opening, preferably in a raised shoulder. An annular flexible membrane having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the opening is placed in axial alignment over the opening and the groove. A vacuum is drawn on the groove through a vacuum port to pull the section of the membrane above the groove into the groove, holding the membrane securely in place during use. If desired, a retainer can be placed in the groove above the membrane to prevent movement of the membrane in the event of a loss of vacuum.
Claims18
A fume hood for use in accessing the upper end of a container comprising:
- a) an enclosure having a floor with an opening with a first given diameter to receive the upper end of a container, said floor including a circumferential groove with a second given diameter and a vacuum port extending around said opening;
- b) a vacuum source in communication with said groove through said port;
- c) a flexible annular membrane having an inner diameter less than said first given diameter and an outer diameter greater than said second given diameter positionable around said opening and over said groove, whereby a vacuum drawn in said groove pulls a part of said membrane into said groove to hold said membrane around said opening.
A fume hood for use in accessing the upper end of a container comprising:
- a) an enclosure having a floor with an opening with a first given diameter to receive the upper end of a container;
- b) an annular raised shoulder around said opening, said shoulder having a continuous annular groove in said upper surface between the inner and outer edges of said shoulder, said groove including a vacuum port opening;
- c) a vacuum source in communication with said groove through said port;
- and
- d) a flexible annular membrane having an inner diameter less than the diameter of said opening and an outer diameter greater than the diameter of said groove positionable around said opening and said groove, whereby a vacuum drawn in said groove pulls a part of said membrane into said groove to hold said membrane around said opening.
A method of retaining an annular flexible membrane around an opening in a fume hood floor comprising:
- a) providing a continuous groove in said floor around said opening, said groove including a vacuum port;
- b) positioning said membrane around said opening and over said groove;
- and
- c) creating a vacuum in said groove, whereby a part of said membrane is drawn into said groove and held by said vacuum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.