CA2078362A1 - Variable configuration membrane for high capacity autoclaves and making method therefor - Google Patents
Variable configuration membrane for high capacity autoclaves and making method thereforInfo
- Publication number
- CA2078362A1 CA2078362A1 CA 2078362 CA2078362A CA2078362A1 CA 2078362 A1 CA2078362 A1 CA 2078362A1 CA 2078362 CA2078362 CA 2078362 CA 2078362 A CA2078362 A CA 2078362A CA 2078362 A1 CA2078362 A1 CA 2078362A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- membrane
- autoclave
- lugs
- high capacity
- bottom portion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A membrane for autoclaves comprises a hollow elastomeric membrane body including a bottom portion mating with the bottom of the autoclave vessel, and a top portion including upwardly extending tubular lugs, the membrane body being made by any suitable injection molding method.
A membrane for autoclaves comprises a hollow elastomeric membrane body including a bottom portion mating with the bottom of the autoclave vessel, and a top portion including upwardly extending tubular lugs, the membrane body being made by any suitable injection molding method.
Description
- 207~3~
BACgGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relate~ to a ~ariable configuration membrane,for high capacity autoclaves, and to a method for making the me~brane.
As is known,in the hydraulic system ~ield providing for the use of one or more autocla~es there are at present used,mainly,either fixed or inter-exchange-able membrane autoclaves.
In ~act,while the air-cu~hion autoclaves have a longer duration and easier maintenance characteri~tics, the membrane autoclaves allow ~ery large water amounts to be used In this connection it should be moreover point-ed out that this broadly diffused use of membrane auto-claves iB also due to the fact that,by properly design-ing the membrane,the operations of the pumps and, accordingly,the closure and opening surge currents can be greatly reduced.
Actually,as an autocla~e system is operated,the me~brane operates in a continuous way,with alter~ate e~pansion and compression cycles.
Thus~the life or time duration of ~uch an auto-207~36~
clav~ will strictly depend on that of the membrane,since the latter wlll be the first to fail.
By exploi~ing the propertie~ of ela3tomeric materials prior membranesha~e been construoted with a size much smaller than that of the ves~el containlng them.
Another a~pect to be pointed out is that the autoclave manura~urers tend to design the modern autocla~es vessel~ with increa~ing diameters ~o as to increase the operating capacity thereof.
At present the~e high capacity autoclaYe sy~tems include simple cylindric configuration auto-clave ves~el-~ and the autoclave membranes are pro~ided, at their bottcm end,with a flange therethrough water can pass and,at their top end,with a hole for engaging the membrane to the metal ~e~sel of the autoclaYe.
Moreo~er,the above membranesusually work in a vertical attitude and as they are filled by liquid as the autoclave i~ operated,the will assume,beeause of the gra~ity effect,a configuration pro~ecting a~
the bottom,like that of a pear.
Under these conditions,great stresses of dynamic nature are generated9~ince the bottom o~ the membrane is thinned 80 as to fit the autocla~e bottom.
BACgGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relate~ to a ~ariable configuration membrane,for high capacity autoclaves, and to a method for making the me~brane.
As is known,in the hydraulic system ~ield providing for the use of one or more autocla~es there are at present used,mainly,either fixed or inter-exchange-able membrane autoclaves.
In ~act,while the air-cu~hion autoclaves have a longer duration and easier maintenance characteri~tics, the membrane autoclaves allow ~ery large water amounts to be used In this connection it should be moreover point-ed out that this broadly diffused use of membrane auto-claves iB also due to the fact that,by properly design-ing the membrane,the operations of the pumps and, accordingly,the closure and opening surge currents can be greatly reduced.
Actually,as an autocla~e system is operated,the me~brane operates in a continuous way,with alter~ate e~pansion and compression cycles.
Thus~the life or time duration of ~uch an auto-207~36~
clav~ will strictly depend on that of the membrane,since the latter wlll be the first to fail.
By exploi~ing the propertie~ of ela3tomeric materials prior membranesha~e been construoted with a size much smaller than that of the ves~el containlng them.
Another a~pect to be pointed out is that the autoclave manura~urers tend to design the modern autocla~es vessel~ with increa~ing diameters ~o as to increase the operating capacity thereof.
At present the~e high capacity autoclaYe sy~tems include simple cylindric configuration auto-clave ves~el-~ and the autoclave membranes are pro~ided, at their bottcm end,with a flange therethrough water can pass and,at their top end,with a hole for engaging the membrane to the metal ~e~sel of the autoclaYe.
Moreo~er,the above membranesusually work in a vertical attitude and as they are filled by liquid as the autoclave i~ operated,the will assume,beeause of the gra~ity effect,a configuration pro~ecting a~
the bottom,like that of a pear.
Under these conditions,great stresses of dynamic nature are generated9~ince the bottom o~ the membrane is thinned 80 as to fit the autocla~e bottom.
2(~7~2 The thinned membrane portion,moreover, will rub again~t the raw metal material of the auto-clave vessel,so that the membrane can be torn.
Another portion o~ the membrane,also sub~ect-ed to a great ~tress,is the portion thereof which i~
provided for connection to the top of the autoclave ves~el,which is greatl~ stretched,since it must support the overall weight of the loaded water in addition to that of the membrane.
Another aspect to be considered,finally,i~
that the molding of great size rubber or elastomeric material articles involves the use of large size making systems and apparatus,which are con~equently very expen~ive and which usually exploit the pressure molding technique.
~ he operation and maintenance of these large size pres~ure molding ~ystems involve correspondingly high capital costs,as well a very long time for design-ing and testlng optimum operation cycles and efficiently operating maintenance devices.
Moreover,in a pressure molding system,the end result i8 always related to the manual ~nd ~ (~ 7 8 ~ t~ r~
mental skillness of the operator,and moreover such a pressure molding system generates high amounts of waste.
SUMMARY OF ~HE INVEN~IO~
Accordingly,the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks,by providing a hlgh capacity autoclave membrane which has sub~tantially the same size as the autoclave.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim,a main ob~ect of the present invention is to pro-vide such a high capacity autoclave membrane which is 80 designed a~ to reduce to a minimum the stresses which can be exerted thereon during the operation of the autoclave,~o as to provide a long duration autoclave system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a high capacity autoclave membrane which can be made by methods adapted to provide the membrane with very good and even qualitative properties as well as a very reliable operation.
According to one aspect of the present invention,the above mentioned aim and ob~ects,as well , ~ .
` 207836~
a~ yet other object~,which will become more apparent hereinafter1are achleved by a hi~h capacity autoclave membrane characterized in that ~aid membrane comprises a hollow elastomeric membrane body,provided with a bottom portion having the same size as the bottom of the autoclave vessel and with a top portion including upwardly extendi~g tubular lugs.
~ his ela~tomeric ~ody,which has a composite configuration,is advantageously made by a conventional type of injection molding method.
BRIEF D~SCRIPTION O~ THE DRAWI~GS
Further characteristics and advantages of the membrane for autoclaves according to the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed diæclosure of a preferred,though not exclusive, embodiment thereof which is illustrated,by way of an indicative but not limitative example,in the figures of the accompanying drawings,where:
~ igure 1 is a schematio view of the subject membrane assembled in its respectiYe holding ~essel;
figure~ 2 and ~ are respectively a top plan view and an elevation view showing the sub~ect membrane in lts free condition;
207~3~
and figure 4 ia a further elevation view ~howing a modified membrane according to the lnvention.
DESCRIP~ION OF l~HE PREFERRED EMBODIM:EN~S
With reference to the figure~ of the accompanying drawings,the high capacit~ autoclave membrane according to the pre~ent invention,which has been ge~erally indicated at the reference number 1, comprises a bottom portion 2 so designed and arranged as to fit to the corresponding bottom portion oi the vessel 3.
A~ shown,the membrane 1 is also provided, like the conventional membranes,wlth a flange 4 there-through water can pass,as well as with a top hole 5 for connecting the membrane to the autoclave ~essel.
More specifically,the mentioned bottom por~ion of the membrane upwardly extends by concentric tubular lugs 6.
Of the above lugs,in particular,the central lug 6',if it i3 provided,(as shown in figure 4),has a cylindric cross-section,whereas the outer lug9 have correspondingly increasing annular cross-section~.
Moreover,the top portion o~ the membrane has ~7~3~ ~
a thicknesR which is suitably increased in the taper-ing direction of said top portion,a~ clearly shown in figure 1,so as to pro~ide the membrane with suitable load or weight supporti~g properties.
In this connection it ~hould be pointed out that the volume o~ the membrane according to the present invention is nearly the optimum volume,since it has been so designed that,as the autoclave operates, the membrane will receive all of the water which it can contain9while preventing the me~brane from expanding.
Thus,the membrane will operate exclusi~ely under pressure and it will be not stretched or dynamically stressed as it would occur if the membrane would be expanded so as to contact the bottom of the vessel.
From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention full~ achieves the intended aim and objects.
While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof,it should be apparent that the disclo~ed embodi-ment is susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the appended claim~.
Another portion o~ the membrane,also sub~ect-ed to a great ~tress,is the portion thereof which i~
provided for connection to the top of the autoclave ves~el,which is greatl~ stretched,since it must support the overall weight of the loaded water in addition to that of the membrane.
Another aspect to be considered,finally,i~
that the molding of great size rubber or elastomeric material articles involves the use of large size making systems and apparatus,which are con~equently very expen~ive and which usually exploit the pressure molding technique.
~ he operation and maintenance of these large size pres~ure molding ~ystems involve correspondingly high capital costs,as well a very long time for design-ing and testlng optimum operation cycles and efficiently operating maintenance devices.
Moreover,in a pressure molding system,the end result i8 always related to the manual ~nd ~ (~ 7 8 ~ t~ r~
mental skillness of the operator,and moreover such a pressure molding system generates high amounts of waste.
SUMMARY OF ~HE INVEN~IO~
Accordingly,the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks,by providing a hlgh capacity autoclave membrane which has sub~tantially the same size as the autoclave.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim,a main ob~ect of the present invention is to pro-vide such a high capacity autoclave membrane which is 80 designed a~ to reduce to a minimum the stresses which can be exerted thereon during the operation of the autoclave,~o as to provide a long duration autoclave system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a high capacity autoclave membrane which can be made by methods adapted to provide the membrane with very good and even qualitative properties as well as a very reliable operation.
According to one aspect of the present invention,the above mentioned aim and ob~ects,as well , ~ .
` 207836~
a~ yet other object~,which will become more apparent hereinafter1are achleved by a hi~h capacity autoclave membrane characterized in that ~aid membrane comprises a hollow elastomeric membrane body,provided with a bottom portion having the same size as the bottom of the autoclave vessel and with a top portion including upwardly extendi~g tubular lugs.
~ his ela~tomeric ~ody,which has a composite configuration,is advantageously made by a conventional type of injection molding method.
BRIEF D~SCRIPTION O~ THE DRAWI~GS
Further characteristics and advantages of the membrane for autoclaves according to the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed diæclosure of a preferred,though not exclusive, embodiment thereof which is illustrated,by way of an indicative but not limitative example,in the figures of the accompanying drawings,where:
~ igure 1 is a schematio view of the subject membrane assembled in its respectiYe holding ~essel;
figure~ 2 and ~ are respectively a top plan view and an elevation view showing the sub~ect membrane in lts free condition;
207~3~
and figure 4 ia a further elevation view ~howing a modified membrane according to the lnvention.
DESCRIP~ION OF l~HE PREFERRED EMBODIM:EN~S
With reference to the figure~ of the accompanying drawings,the high capacit~ autoclave membrane according to the pre~ent invention,which has been ge~erally indicated at the reference number 1, comprises a bottom portion 2 so designed and arranged as to fit to the corresponding bottom portion oi the vessel 3.
A~ shown,the membrane 1 is also provided, like the conventional membranes,wlth a flange 4 there-through water can pass,as well as with a top hole 5 for connecting the membrane to the autoclave ~essel.
More specifically,the mentioned bottom por~ion of the membrane upwardly extends by concentric tubular lugs 6.
Of the above lugs,in particular,the central lug 6',if it i3 provided,(as shown in figure 4),has a cylindric cross-section,whereas the outer lug9 have correspondingly increasing annular cross-section~.
Moreover,the top portion o~ the membrane has ~7~3~ ~
a thicknesR which is suitably increased in the taper-ing direction of said top portion,a~ clearly shown in figure 1,so as to pro~ide the membrane with suitable load or weight supporti~g properties.
In this connection it ~hould be pointed out that the volume o~ the membrane according to the present invention is nearly the optimum volume,since it has been so designed that,as the autoclave operates, the membrane will receive all of the water which it can contain9while preventing the me~brane from expanding.
Thus,the membrane will operate exclusi~ely under pressure and it will be not stretched or dynamically stressed as it would occur if the membrane would be expanded so as to contact the bottom of the vessel.
From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention full~ achieves the intended aim and objects.
While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof,it should be apparent that the disclo~ed embodi-ment is susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the appended claim~.
Claims (7)
1- A high capacity autoclave membrane,characterized in that said membrane comprises an elastomeric hollow membrane body provided with a bottom portion having substantially a same size as a bottom of an autoclave vessel and a top portion including a plurality of upwardly extending tubular lugs, said elastomeric hollow membrane body consisting of an injection molded piece.
2- A membrane according to claim 1,characterized in that said membrane comprises a plurality of concentric tubular lugs extending from said bottom portion.
3- A membrane according to claim 2,characterized in that said concentric tubular lugs have a substantially ring-like configuration with diameters which outwardly increase.
4- A membrane according to claim 1,characterized in that said membrane comprises a substantially cylindric axially extending tubular lug.
5-A membrane accordint to claim 1,characterized in that said tubular lugs have different thicknesses and the inner lugs have the greatest thickness.
6- A membrane according to claim 1, characterized in that said membrane comprises a top hole for connection to said vessel.
7- A method for making an autoclave membrane according to claim 1, characterized in that said method comprises the step of making by injection of an elastomeric material a membrane having an enlarged bottom portion,therefrom concentric tubular lugs extend.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITMI91A-02448 | 1991-09-17 | ||
| ITPD912448 | 1991-09-17 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2078362A1 true CA2078362A1 (en) | 1993-03-18 |
Family
ID=11389760
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2078362 Abandoned CA2078362A1 (en) | 1991-09-17 | 1992-09-16 | Variable configuration membrane for high capacity autoclaves and making method therefor |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2078362A1 (en) |
-
1992
- 1992-09-16 CA CA 2078362 patent/CA2078362A1/en not_active Abandoned
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1216601A (en) | Clamp for non-beaded pneumatic assemblies | |
| EP0266971B1 (en) | Pressure vessel | |
| US3447645A (en) | Column of adjustable length | |
| TW388008B (en) | Pressure-reducing valve | |
| EP0583405A1 (en) | Composite elastomeric spring and mounting apparatus | |
| DE20011317U1 (en) | Containers for liquids | |
| US2593740A (en) | Valve sealing assembly | |
| US4927397A (en) | Raft inflation valve | |
| CA2002852A1 (en) | Toilet sealing ring | |
| US4783046A (en) | Pneumatic valve actuators | |
| WO1988010392A1 (en) | Coupling sleeve for connection of a branch pipe to a main pipe | |
| US5002196A (en) | Pressure vessel with removable sealing lid | |
| CA2078362A1 (en) | Variable configuration membrane for high capacity autoclaves and making method therefor | |
| US3113592A (en) | Bladder construction for pressure vessels | |
| US5270021A (en) | Variable configuration membrane for high capacity autoclaves | |
| US2919718A (en) | Pressure accumulator | |
| CA1110952A (en) | Tie-down for accumulator bags | |
| US3794078A (en) | Pressure vessel | |
| US3430801A (en) | Closure for a high pressure vessel | |
| US3593747A (en) | Pressure accumulator | |
| US5158715A (en) | Apparatus for aerating water | |
| EP0177788A2 (en) | Pressure checking system for continuously controlling vehicle tyre pressures | |
| US3140729A (en) | Valve assembly | |
| US2959194A (en) | Bladder construction for pressure vessels | |
| US2792022A (en) | Clamping means for bladder of pressure accumulator |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |