US3601030A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for maintaining a desired vacuum within an enclosure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-08-15
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1989-08-15
Abstract
Abstract The vacuum within an enclosure from which air is exhausted for, e.g. ventilation, is maintained at a desired degree by controlling the effective size or area of an air inlet opening in one wall of the enclosure in dependence upon the degree of vacuum in a region adjacent to a different wall of the enclosure, preferably a wall opposite that having the air inlet opening. By way of example, the invention is disclosed as used for maintaining that degree of vacuum in a poultry house believed to be most conducive to feed conversion and growth of poultry.
Inventors
- 👤 Omar W Bryant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:09
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F7/00; F24F7/007; A; A01; A01K; A01K31/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for controlling the degree of vacuum within an enclosure having two spaced opposed walls and means for withdrawing air from within the enclosure, said apparatus comprising means defining an air inlet opening in one of said two walls; a closure mounted for opening and closing movements cooperatively with respect to said inlet opening; reversible drive means operatively connected to said closure for moving the latter respectively toward open and closed positions; and control means connected to said drive means and being mounted at the side of said enclosure remote from said one of said walls and being responsive to vacuum within said enclosure for causing operatioN of said drive means to move said closure toward closed position when the vacuum in said enclosure in the region of said control means is less than a predetermined vacuum, and to move said closure toward open position when the vacuum in said enclosure in the region of said control means is greater than said predetermined vacuum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for controlling the degree of vacuum within an enclosure having two spaced opposed walls and means for withdrawing air from within the enclosure, said apparatus comprising means defining an air inlet opening in one of said two walls; a closure mounted for opening and closing movements cooperatively with respect to said inlet opening; reversible drive means operatively connected to said closure for moving the latter respectively toward open and closed positions; and control means connected to said drive means and being mounted at the side of said enclosure remote from said one of said walls and being responsive to vacuum within said enclosure for causing operatioN of said drive means to move said closure toward closed position when the vacuum in said enclosure in the region of said control means is less than a predetermined vacuum, and to move said closure toward open position when the vacuum in said enclosure in the region of said control means is greater than said predetermined vacuum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said control means is mounted on the other of said two spaced opposed walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said drive means comprises a reversible electric motor and said control means comprises a switching circuit for reversing said motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said switching circuit comprises switch means movable to three positions in dependence upon the vacuum in said region, namely: a first position for causing said motor to drive said closure toward closed position when the vacuum in said region is less than said predetermined vacuum; a second position for deactivating said motor when the vacuum in said region is the desired predetermined vacuum; and a third position for causing said motor to drive said closure toward open position when the vacuum in said region is greater than said predetermined vacuum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
165 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said control means comprises means defining a control air flow passage in the other of said two spaced opposed enclosure walls; a member movably mounted in the path of air flowing through said passage from outside said enclosure to the interior thereof and being movable by said control airflow in amounts varying according to the velocity of said control airflow; electrical means for controlling the operation of said reversible drive means; and switch means operated by the aforesaid movements of said member for operating said electrical means to: (1) cause operation of said drive means to move said closure toward closed position when the vacuum in said region is less than said predetermined vacuum, (2) to deactivate said drive means when the vacuum in said region is said predetermined vacuum, and (3) to cause operation of said drive means to move said closure toward open position when the vacuum in said region is greater than said predetermined vacuum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said drive means comprises a reversible electric motor, and in which said electrical means comprises an electrical circuit including said motor and switch means movable by the movements of said member for reversing the motor electrical connections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 including a rock shaft on which said member is mounted; reversing switch means mounted on and being rockable with said rock shaft; and means connecting said switch means in circuit with said motor, whereby said motor is driven selectively in one direction or the other or is deactivated according to the position to which said member, said rock shaft and said switch means are rocked by air flowing through said control airflow passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 including a counterweight mounted on said rock shaft and being adjustable for varying the amount of movement of said member caused by the velocity air flowing through said control air flow passage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said reversing switch means comprises an assembly of mercury switches mounted on said rock shaft at such inclinations to the horizontal that when said member is in a neutral position which it occupies when the vacuum in said region is said predetermined vacuum the mercury globules in said switches do not close the respective switch contacts and said motor is thereby deactivated, the switch mercury globules being movable by gravity in response to rocking of said member, said rock shaft and said switches to one side or the other of said neutral position for causing operation of said motor in selected directions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the connections between said reversible drive means and saId closure comprise a cushioning-force-transmitting element which is yieldable in the event of continued operation of said reversible drive means when continued movement of said closure is prevented.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said cushioning-force-transmitting element comprises a telescopic link having two link components; and spring means connecting said components for transmitting normal operating force from one component to the other and vice versa according to whether closure opening or closure closing force is being transmitted, said spring means being yieldable under the influence of greater then normal operating force so as to prevent damage in the event said reversible drive means continues to operate when continued movement of said closure is prevented.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means responsive to movement of said closure toward its open and closed positions respectively for deactivating said reversible drive means when said closure attains predetermined positions respectively in its opening and closing movements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said closure is mounted to rock in its opening and closing movements, further in which said reversible drive means comprises an electric motor, said apparatus further comprising normally closed electrical switch means in circuit with said motor and being mounted and connected to said closure and being openable in response to rocking of said closure for deenergizing said circuit when said closure attains predetermined positions in its opening and closing movements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 including a rock shaft on which said closure is mounted for movements to its open and closed positions, said switch means comprising mercury switch means mounted on said rock shaft to be rockable in unison with said closure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said enclosure is a live poultry house.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which there is another air inlet opening in the other of said two walls; another closure mounted for opening and closing movements cooperatively with respect to said other air inlet opening; another reversible drive means operatively connected to said other closure for moving the latter respectively toward open and closed positions; and another control means connected to said other drive means, being mounted at the side of said enclosure remote from said other of said two walls and being responsive to vacuum within said enclosure for causing operation of said other drive means to move said other closure toward closed position when the vacuum in said enclosure in the region of said other control means is less than a predetermined vacuum, and to move said other closure toward open position when the vacuum in said enclosure in the region of said other control means is greater than said predetermined vacuum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |