Importance

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Abstract

Sealing means for maintaining a seal between a closed door of a sterilizer and a wall framing an opening into a sterilizer chamber, comprising an endless ring having elastic walls with an internal partition dividing the ring into two independently inflatable, expansible channels. A tube secured to a wall of the ring opens into each of the channels respectively, for independently inflating the channels. Elastic studs with enlarged heads are secured to one side of the ring for detachably engaging in holes in the open wall of the chamber. A pneumatic circuit including a source of compressed air may be connected to the two tubes and provided with a two-way valve for inflating either one of the two channels. A pressure responsive switch and solenoid may be operatively connected to one of the tubes and valve for closing off the source of compressed air from one channel automatically when pressure falls below a predetermined magnitude, and for supplying compressed air to the other channel to keep the seal between the door and wall of the sterilizer chamber. An alarm such as a lamp may be operatively connected to the pneumatic circuit to indicate automatically that one channel has become deflated and the other channel inflated.

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First Claim