U.S. patent number 3,602,536 [Application Number 05/055,864] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-31 for airlock construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Air Filter Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to Edward R. Gamble.
United States Patent |
3,602,536 |
Gamble |
August 31, 1971 |
AIRLOCK CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
An airlock housing having opposed doors with a normally closed
locking device cooperable with one door, the locking device being
operable to open position through an actuating arm cooperable with
the opposite door when the opposite door is moved to closed
position.
Inventors: |
Gamble; Edward R. (Clayton,
MO) |
Assignee: |
American Air Filter Company,
Inc. (Louisville, KY)
|
Family
ID: |
22000658 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/055,864 |
Filed: |
July 17, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
292/127; 70/432;
49/68; 292/DIG.65 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05C
7/002 (20130101); Y10S 292/65 (20130101); Y10T
292/0933 (20150401); Y10T 70/8027 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05C
7/00 (20060101); E05c 019/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;292/96,100,101,126,127,DIG.18,DIG.65 ;49/68 ;109/7 ;70/432 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wolfe; Robert L.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An improved airlock construction comprising: an airlock housing
having opposed door openings at opposite extremities of said
housing; opposed doors pivotally mounted on said housing in
cooperative relation with said door openings; door latch strike
means fixed to one of said doors; door latch means pivotally
mounted to engage said strike means to lock said one door when said
one door is in closed position; actuating rod means connected at
one end to said door latch means; spring means cooperating with
said actuating rod means to urge said actuating rod means in a
first direction to pivot said door latch means into locked position
with said strike means; said actuating rod means being sized to
extend through said opposite door opening when said door latch
means is in locked position with said door strike means to be
engaged by said opposite door when said opposite door is moved to
closed position to urge said actuating rod means in an opposite
direction against said spring means to pivot said door latch means
into unlocked position with said door strike means.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, said door latch means being pivotally
mounted to said housing and guide means for said actuating rod
means, said guide means being mounted to said housing to guide said
rod means in lineal movement along its longitudinal axis.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, said spring means being in the form of
a helical coil disposed within said guide means to cooperate with
said actuating rod means.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, said guide means including an open end
tubular member fixed to said housing with its longitudinal axis
aligned with the longitudinal axis of said actuating rod member to
slidably receive an extremity thereof; one of said doors having an
aperture therein in communication with said tubular member; said
actuating rod means being sized to extend through said aperture
when said opposite door has been moved to closed position to so
indicate this fact.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, said guide means being in the form of
a U-shaped saddle with its base leg fixed to said housing and
having opposed apertures in opposed side legs through which said
actuating rod means extends; said spring means being in the form of
a helical coil disposed between said opposed side legs; said
actuating rod means having a stop extending therefrom to be engaged
by said helical coil.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an airlock construction and more
particularly to a sequential closure arrangement for opposed doors
of an airlock compartment. Airlocks are utilized in various
environmental air control situations to interconnect the interior
of a compartment or room with the exterior of such compartment or
room. Access to an airlock is usually provided by doors at either
end with an interlock system to prevent the doors from being opened
at the same time.
Various airlock constructions have been utilized in the past to
provide such a door interlock system. For the most part, these past
constructions have proven complex and expensive in erection and
maintenance, requiring a multitude of parts and a series of
operations without necessarily ensuring efficient positive
action.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a new and useful airlock
construction which is straightforward and efficient in construction
and operation, requiring a minimum of parts and providing efficient
positive action of the locking arrangement with a minimum of
effort.
Various other features of the present invention will become obvious
to one skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth
herein.
More particularly, the present invention provides an improved
airlock construction comprising: an airlock housing having opposed
door openings at opposite extremities of the housing; opposed doors
pivotally mounted on the housing in cooperative relation with the
door openings; door latch strike means fixed to one of the door;
door latch means pivotally mounted to engage the strike means to
lock the one door when the one door is in closed position;
actuating rod means connected at one end to the door latch means;
spring means cooperating with the actuating rod means to urge the
actuating rod means in a first direction to pivot the door latch
means into locked position with the strike means; the actuating rod
means being sized to extend through the opposite door opening when
the door latch means is in locked position with the door strike to
be engaged by the opposite door when the opposite door is moved to
closed position to urge the actuating rod means in an opposite
direction against the spring means to pivot the door latch means
into unlocked position with the door strike means. In addition, the
present invention provides an arrangement wherein the actuating rod
means is sized to extend through one of the doors to indicate the
relative position of the opposite door.
It is to be understood that various changes can be made in the
arrangement form and construction of the apparatus disclosed herein
without departing from the scope or spirit of the present
invention.
Referring to the drawing which discloses one advantageous
embodiment of the present invention:
FIG. 1 is a broken plan view of a portion of the ceiling of an
airlock housing which incorporates the improved airlock
construction of the present invention, the door latch being shown
in closed position;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the door latch portion of the
apparatus of FIG. 1; and,
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1
disclosing the door latch in open position.
As can be seen in FIG. 1 airlock housing 2 is disclosed, having
opposed door openings 3 and 4 at opposite extremities of housing 2.
Pivotally mounted on housing 2 in a suitable manner (not disclosed)
to cooperate with opposed door openings 3 and 4 respectively are
opposed doors 6 and 7.
Fixed to the one door 6 is door latch strike 8, a suitable spacer
bar 9 extending between door latch strike 8 and the inner face of
door 6. Adapted to cooperate with door latch strike 8 is a door
latch 11. Latch 11 can be in the form of an angle pivotally mounted
at its apex to arm 12 extending normally from support block 13
which in turn is fixed to housing 2. A suitable slot 14 is provided
in door latch 11, the slot 14 engaging with door latch strike 8
when the door latch 11 is pivoted to closed position.
An actuating rod member 16 which extends the length of housing 2,
is connected at one end to door latch 11. Advantageously, this
connection is accomplished by threading one end of actuating rod 16
as at 17, the threaded end of the actuating rod engaging in
internal threads of rod adjusting block 18 which in turn is mounted
on door latch 11. It is to be understood that the connection of
actuating rod 16 to door latch 11 is accomplished with sufficient
tolerance to accommodate for the swinging movement of the door
latch about pivot arm 12 without effecting any linear movement of
actuating rod 16.
In accordance with the present invention, actuating rod 16 is sized
in length so that the opposite end 19 thereof passes through the
opposite door opening 4 when the door latch 11 is in locked
position with door latch strike 8 to be engaged by opposite door 7
when opposite door 7 is moved to closed position. This causes
actuating rod 16 to be moved in an opposite direction to pivot the
door latch 11 into unlocked position relative door strike 8.
As will be noted in FIG. 1, spring 21 in the form of a helical coil
is disposed within guide member 22 to cooperate with actuating rod
16. Guide member 22 which can be in the form of a U-shaped saddle
has its base leg fixed to housing 2. Opposed apertures are provided
in the opposed side legs of guide 22, the rod member extending
therethrough. The spring member which, as aforementioned, is in the
form of a helical coil is positioned between the opposed legs of
the guide member 22. A suitable stop 24 is provided on the
actuating rod member to be engaged by an extremity of the helical
coil. Accordingly, when door 7 is in open position, spring 21 urges
actuating rod 16 in such a direction as to cause door latch 11 to
engage in locking position with door latch strike means 8 to lock
door 6.
Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of
guide 26 in the form of a tubular member fixed to housing 2 with
its longitudinal axis in alignment with the longitudinal axis of
actuating rod 16 to slidably receive an extremity thereof. An
aperture 27 is provided in door 6 of housing 2 to be in
communication with tubular member 26. The actuating rod 16 is sized
to extend through aperture 27 when opposite door 7 is moved to
closed position to indicate this fact to someone on the other side
of door 6. It is to be understood that sufficient clearance is
provided between the aperture 27 and rod 26 to permit free movement
of door 6. It also is to be understood that a suitable spring (not
shown) can be utilized in tubular member 26 is so desired.
In a typical operation an electrical interlock (not disclosed) can
be provided to permit door 7 to be opened. When open, door latch 11
engages with strike 8 to lock door 6. The entrance door 7 must be
closed before door 6 can be opened. When door 7 is so closed, the
end of actuating rod member 16 projecting through aperture 27 can
be readily visible to someone on the other side of door 6. Suitable
provisions (not shown) can be made to ensure by electrical
interlock that door 6 be closed before allowing the cycle to be
repeated.
* * * * *