Apparatus and method for closing or sealing a flexible tubular conduit
AssigneeElastrator Company Limited
InventorsRobin A. Greenbank, Arthur Van Der Velde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for closing or sealing a flexible tubular conduit from within the conduit devised particularly for use in a slaughterhouse for sealing the anal passages of animal, and especially sheep carcasses to prevent their being soiled. The apparatus has an elongated member or barrel having a mouth at an operative end which is inserted into the conduit. Suction is applied to draw a flap of the conduit into the mouth and a stretched elastic ring which is carried on a ring support about the barrel is released by a ring releasing device to pass over the mouth and flap to contract about the flap and close or seal the conduit. The mouth is preferably annular and closable to clamp the flap while the ring is being released.
Claims25
An apparatus for sealing or substantially closing a flexible tubular conduit from within the conduit, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongated member having an operative end which elongated member is insertable operative end first into the conduit from an open end of the conduit;
- a mouth at the operative end of the elongated member;
- ring supporting means provided on or by the elongated member for supporting a stretched elastic ring about the elongated member;
- suction means for creating suction at the mouth to draw a flap of the conduit into the mouth;
- and
- ring releasing means for releasing the stretched elastic ring from the elongated member and over the mouth and flap drawn thereinto whereby the ring can contract about the flap to seal or substantially close the conduit.
A method of sealing or substantially closing a flexible tubular conduit from within the conduit, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting an elongated member having an operative end and a mouth at the operative end operative end first into the conduit from an open end of the conduit;
- creating suction at the mouth and using the suction to draw a flap of the conduit into the mouth;
- and releasing a stretched elastic ring from about the elongated member adjacent the mouth whereby the released ring contracts about the flap of the conduit to seal or substantially close the conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.