GB2542400A

GB2542400A - Construction method for controlled atmosphere apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2542400A
Application number: GB1516548.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Taylor Garry; John Lloyd Sorenson James; Rees Huw
Original assignee: Ruskinn Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Ruskinn Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-18
Filing date: 2015-09-18
Publication date: 2017-03-22
Also published as: GB201516548D0

Abstract

A controlled atmosphere apparatus wherein the outer housing 8 of the apparatus is formed of a single membrane, invaginated so that an inner working area 9 is formed with the membrane creating a double wall around the working area. The apparatus allows the atmosphere to circulate in a channel 10 formed by the inner and outer skin and may have a circulation inlet in the inner skin. There may be more than one internal chamber linked with an airlock, the atmospheres of which can be independently or commonly set and controlled.

Description

Construction method for Controlled atmosphere apparatus

The present invention relates to controlled atmosphere apparatus, used to create and maintain a specific enclosed atmosphere in terms of gas concentrations, temperature and humidity.

The apparatus under consideration comprises a single or plurality of sealed volumes or chambers into which various gases are injected to modify the atmospheric composition for a number of varied purposes.

These include the growth and/or study of anaerobic or anoxic organisms in zero oxygen conditions, microaerophilic organisms, cell cultures and animals in reduced oxygen conditions, including stem cells and zygotes for in vitro fertilisation purposes or the effect of elevated oxygen or carbon dioxide levels on microbes, animals or cell cultures. By various means the atmosphere is typically warmed or cooled, humidified and circulated around the sealed volume to ensure homogenisation of the atmospheric composition, temperature and humidity throughout the volume.

It is apparent that the manufacture of such apparatus requires that the conditioned volume or chamber is sealed from the external atmosphere to prevent escape of the conditioned atmosphere or ingress of external atmosphere. If an effective seal is not achieved, the apparatus uses excessive supplied gas and the internal atmosphere may be difficult to maintain at the required composition. This results in elevated running costs for the user of the equipment, and may result in the loss of important, in some cases critical, experimental data or cultured cells .

Existing examples of this type of apparatus are typically assembled from a number of components, a main chamber (1), lids or covers (2), airlocks or interlocks (3) and end panels (4). Typically the main chamber is constructed through the fabrication of several elements, bonded or fixed together and sealed at the joints to prevent atmosphere leakage. The inner working volume of the apparatus is typically lined with separate elements in the ceiling, rear and floor to create a route for atmospheric circulation and as a means of concealing air movers (5), heaters (6), filters (7) and sensing apparatus from the end user.

The inherent drawback of these typical methods of construction are that the bonded or fixed joints are weak points in the system, representing potential leak points or stress raisers, increasing the chance of separation along the join. Other drawbacks are that these fabrication joints are time consuming and therefore costly to create during manufacture and are typically sharp cornered, making them more difficult to clean. There exists on the market examples of workstations, such as the Bel-art Scienceware Portable Glove Box System, which are constructed from a single skin of material, but these have only an outer skin, meaning there is nowhere to house and conceal the components used to condition and circulate the atmosphere within the cabinet.

The invention disclosed relates to an innovative method of creating the outer housing (8), inner working volume (9) and circulation channel (10) as a single skinned or monocoque chamber (1), whereby the structure of the inner work area is supported by the chamber's external portion of material skin, all of which is a single continuous & seamless invaginated or self-pocketed membrane, shell or skin of material.

In one embodiment, access ports (11) to allow the introduction of samples into and/or removal of waste from the chamber either directly or through an airlock apparatus (3) are created integrally as part of the skin geometry or added by piercing the material skin.

Relief of excess pressure and venting of unwanted atmosphere from the sealed chamber is achieved via an exhaust valve and/or liquid pressure relief system, such as a water or oil trap connected pneumatically to the sealed chamber.

To facilitate the fixing of sealed access ports to the chamber, threaded or fixing inserts (13) are incorporated into the chamber either as during or after the chamber manufacturing process .

Fluid supply into and out of the sealed chamber is achieved through proprietary and/or specially manufactured sealed pneumatic fittings.

Electrical power and electronic signal supply to and from the internal volume of the chamber is achieved via use of proprietary and/or specially manufactured sealed electrical connectors and/or sealed cable glands.

In another embodiment of the invention, air-tightness of the front of the working area is achieved by fixing and sealing a viewing screen (14) to the open face of the working volume, with further embodiments including glove access ports (15) and/or one or more small access doors (16) to facilitate transfer of small items from outside to the inner work volume.

In further embodiments, additional service access ports (17) and air circulation vents or features (12) are created in the skin through piercing, cutting or machining processes. A preferred embodiment facilitates the attachment of additional components, equipment or access panels to integral fixings on the main chamber. These can be added as part of the manufacturing process, for example; over-moulding, or added to the main chamber as a post manufacturing process.

One embodiment includes additional bridging features between the inner and outer material skin portions (18) incorporated into the construction to enhance rigidity, stability and weight bearing capability of the chamber. A Further embodiment is a number of chambers fixed sealingly together, with or without an intervening airlock apparatus (3) to create a larger working volume (19), wherein samples and work materials can be passed between the multiple chambers without having to remove them from the controlled atmosphere.

In one embodiment of a multi work chambered apparatus the separate chambers have shared atmospheric control to create a homogenous atmosphere across all work volumes.

In a further embodiment of a multi work chambered apparatus the separate chambers have independent atmospheric control to create a distinct atmospheres in each work volume.

The single skinned invaginated geometry described results in numerous benefits: Improved atmosphere holding integrity due to elimination of leak paths through bonded joints, enhanced ease of manufacture through reduced components & elimination of assembly steps, increased inherent strength & rigidity due to single piece design, enhanced ease of cleaning & decontamination by reducing the number of seams & crevices in which dirt or contaminants can gather.

Processes capable of manufacture of the disclosed invention are, but not being limited to: rotational moulding, 3D printing (FDM, SLS, SLA), vacuum casting, injection moulding, blow moulding, Reaction Injection Moulding, structural foam moulding or expanded foam moulding.

There are numerous materials suitable for manufacture of the disclosed invention, including, but not limited to: Thermoplastic polymeric materials, composite materials and thermosetting polymeric materials .

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are further elucidated in the following description with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a controlled atmosphere apparatus.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view the constituent parts of a controlled atmosphere apparatus.

Figure 3 shows multiple chambers with intervening airlock (3) apparatus jointed to create a larger working volume (19).

Figure 4 shows a chamber (1) indicating side access ports (11) and air circulation vents (12).

Figure 5 is an isometric view showing a cross section through a chamber outer housing (8), inner working volume (9) and circulation channel (10) .

Figure 6 shows a cross section through a chamber (1) showing air movers (5), heaters (6) and filter (7) with arrows indicating atmospheric circulation through the circulation channel (10), openings in the chamber skin (12) and inner working volume (9). Figure 7 shows service access port (17) cut into rear of a chamber and fixing points (13) for rear access panel.

Figures 8 & 9 shows a cross section through the chamber showing bridging feature (18) across the outer and inner material skin.

Claims

1. A controlled atmosphere apparatus the primary structure of which comprises a single membrane to form a chamber consisting of an outer housing and an invagination of a portion of said membrane to form an inner working volume.

2. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in claim 1 with an atmosphere circulation channel formed from the geometry of the inner and outer material skin.

3. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 with localised bridging features between the outer and inner skin surfaces of material.

4. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein access ports are moulded through the outer and inner skin.

5. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein access ports are cut through the outer and inner skin.

6. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein access ports are pierced through the outer and inner skin.

7. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein access openings are moulded into the outer or inner skin.

8. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein access openings are cut into the outer or inner skin.

9. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein access openings are pierced into the outer or inner skin.

10. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein atmosphere circulation inlet and outlet openings are moulded into the inner skin.

11. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein atmosphere circulation inlet and outlet openings are cut into the inner skin.

12. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein atmosphere circulation inlet and outlet openings are pierced into the inner skin.

13. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein more than one chambers are linked together to form a controlled atmosphere apparatus.

14. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein more than one chambers are linked together with an airlock apparatus intervening to form a controlled atmosphere apparatus with more than one working volumes.

15. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein materials can be passed from one chamber to another through the intervening airlock apparatus.

16. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein the atmosphere of each distinct chamber is independently set and controlled.

17. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein the atmosphere all each distinct chamber is commonly set and controlled so as to create homogenous conditions across all connected chambers.

18. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein a single or plurality of gas venting apparatus is attached pneumatically to the chamber.

19. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein a one or more pneumatic supply and removal lines is sealingly connected to the sealed main chamber .

20. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein a one or more electrical supplies is sealingly connected to the sealed main chamber.

21. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein a one or more electronic signal lines is sealingly connected to the sealed main chamber.

22. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein one or more sealable openings are incorporated to facilitate hand access to the working volume .

23. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein one or more sealable openings are incorporated to facilitate sample access to the working volume .

24. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein threaded inserts are incorporated into the chamber as part of the chamber manufacturing process .

25. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein threaded inserts are incorporated into the chamber after the chamber manufacturing process.

26. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein fixing inserts are incorporated into the chamber as part of the chamber manufacturing process .

27. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein fixing inserts are incorporated into the chamber after the chamber manufacturing process.

28. A controlled atmosphere apparatus as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein discrete fixings are incorporated into the chamber after the chamber manufacturing process.