System for effecting access into sealed enclosures
AssigneeCentral Research Laboratories Limited
InventorGerald A. Eisert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved system for effecting working access into sealed enclosures, such as glove boxes. The sytem includes an elongated arm-length sleeve, one end of which is sealed in a port fitting in the wall of the chamber and the other end of which is fitted with a replaceable glove. The elongated sleeve is preferably tapered from shoulder to wrist and of corrugated or convoluted structure for easy extension and retraction. The porthole fitting is preferably elliptical to maximize working access to the chamber. The inner end of the sleeve is fitted with a wrist bushing in which a glove supported on a deformable ring may be fit in sealed relation. The glove may be replaced with a further glove supported on a separate deformable ring without disruption of the sealed relationship.
Claims9
A system for effecting access for performing work within a sealed enclosure, said system comprising:
- (A) an elongated arm-length impermeable leak-proof flexible sleeve,
- (B) an annular flanged fitting secured in sealing relation in a port in a wall of said enclosure,
- (1) said fitting including an outwardly extending annular lip having at least one continuous groove extending around its outer periphery,
- (2) one end of said sleeve extending through said fitting and folded back aginst the outer periphery of said lip, and (3) a resilient fastening ring securing the sleeve in sealing engagement in said groove,
- (C) a wrist bushing secured in sealing relation to the opposite end of said sleeve,
- (1) said bushing comprising a ring having an outer peripheral groove,
- (2) said sleeve being rigidly clamped in sealing relation in said groove,
- (3) said bushing having a continuous sealing surface extending around its inner periphery and a continuous groove adjacent said sealing surface,
- (D) an annular support ring detachably secured in said wrist bushing,
- (1) said support ring having an outer peripheral deformable semi-rigid bead engaging the inner peripheral groove of said bushing, and
- (2) a continuous channel spaced from the bead and extending around the outer periphery of the support ring, and
- (E) a glove secured in sealing relation on said support ring,
- (1) the cuff of said glove engaging the outer periphery of the support ring, and a resilient fastening ring securing the glove in sealing engagement in said groove, and
- (2) the outer periphery of said resilient ring being in sealing engagement with the sealing surface of said bushing.
A system for effecting access for performing work within a sealed enclosure, said system comprising:
- (A) an elongated arm-length impermeable leak-proof flexible sleeve,
- (B) an elliptical annular fitting secured in sealing relation in a port in a wall of said enclosure,
- (1) the long axis of the ellipse extending horizontally,
- (2) said fitting including an outwardly extending elliptical annular lip having at least one continuous groove extending around its outer periphery,
- (3) one end of said sleeve extending through said fitting and folded back against the outer periphery of said lip,
- (4) a resilient fastening ring securing the sleeve in sealing engagement in said groove,
- (5) clamping means securely clamping said sleeve to said lip,
- (6) said fitting also including an inner radially extending flange, said flange having a continuous annular groove containing a resilient sealing ring in sealing engagement with the inner wall of said enclosure, and
- (7) locking ring means engaging the outwardly extending annular lip of said fitting and outer chamber wall to maintain said fitting in sealing relation with the chamber wall, and
- (C) a glove secured in sealing relation to the opposite end of said sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.