Interlock vessel for hyperbaric transfer system
OwnerRobert Bartlettinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interlock vessel having an air-tight body with opposing ends. A portion of the body is designed to fit into a decompression (hyperbaric) chamber, wherein a diver or a patient undergoing a decompression treatment is positioned. The opposing ends are closed by pivotally moveable doors and locking assemblies that retain the doors in a closed position until the pressure inside the decompression chamber and the exterior of the chamber can be equalized. The outer door has two locking systems: (a) an interlock system and (b) a safety/delay locking system. Both locking assemblies are manually operated.
Claims22
A decompression chamber in an environment having an interior comprising:
- an air tight transfer vessel fluidly connected to the interior of the chamber;
- the transfer vessel having an interior with first and second ends and openings at each end, wherein a peripheral ring is attached to the first end, said ring having an outer periphery;
- an outer door detachably and rotatably mounted in the peripheral ring, said outer door having one or more locking projections that must align with said recesses before said outer door can be closed;
- a lock having a locking member operatively connected to the outer door, the locking member including a pin sliding between locked and unlocked states, wherein when moving from the locked state to the unlocked state, the locking member moves from a said recess and away from a said recess,
- wherein when in a locked state, rotation of the outer door is restricted by the locking member in a first direction,
- a valve operatively connected to the lock and fluidly connected to the interior of the vessel, said valve having a valving member that is movable between opened and closed positions,
- manually operable linkage that simultaneously:
- 1) moves the locking member pin to slide between locked and unlocked states responsive to a manual movement of the linkage;
- and
- 2) moves the valving member between the closed and opened positions
- wherein when the linkage moves the locking pin from the locked to the unlocked state, the restriction to rotation of the outer door in the first direction by the locking member is removed, and the valving member is simultaneously moved to the open position, connecting the interior of the transfer vessel to the environment.
6-8. (canceled)
(canceled)
A decompression chamber apparatus, comprising:
- a) a chamber having an interior surrounded by a chamber wall;
- b) a transfer vessel attached to the chamber wall and in fluid communication with the chamber interior;
- c) the transfer vessel having an interior with first and second ends wherein a peripheral ring is attached to the vessel;
- d) an outer door rotatably mounted in the peripheral ring;
- e) cooperating recesses and projections that form an interface between said peripheral ring and said outer door wherein said outer door is not able to be opened or closed when a said projection does not align with a said recess;
- f) an inner door mounted at the second end;
- g) a lock having a sliding locking pin operatively connected to the outer door, the locking pin being movable with linkage that includes a handle between locked and unlocked positions and responsive to manual operation of the handle;
- h) wherein when in the locked position, rotation of the outer door is restricted by the locking pin occupying a said recess;
- i) a valve operatively connected to the lock and fluidly connected to the interior of the transfer vessel, said valve having a valving member that is movable between opened and closed positions,
- j) a handle mounted to the outside of the transfer vessel, said handle being rotatable between first and second positions;
- and
- k) wherein rotation of the handle from the first to the second position effects simultaneous movement of:
- 1. the locking pin between locked and unlocked positions;
- and
- 2. the valving member between the closed and opened positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.