Interchangeable Breech Lock for Glove Box Port Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glove box systems face challenges in maintaining a seal while transferring items, leading to potential contamination and damage due to the cumbersome process of displacing gloves to introduce items, which can result in multiple glove usage and unsafe handling.
Innovation Solution
An interchangeable breech lock system for glove boxes, featuring a housing with two doors that form a chamber for item transfer, allowing secure insertion and removal of items while maintaining the seal, and can be reused or replaced, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If items are transferred by displacing gloves into the glove box, then items can be introduced into the glove box, but multiple gloves are consumed and the process becomes cumbersome and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer process is segmented into distinct phases: loading items into the breech lock from the exterior, sealing the exterior door, then opening the interior door to transfer items. This segmentation eliminates the need to displace gloves entirely, as the breech lock serves as an intermediate transfer chamber that maintains seals throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The breech lock acts as an intermediary device between the exterior environment and the glove box interior. It provides a sealed transition chamber where items can be introduced from the exterior and then transferred to the interior without compromising the glove box seal or requiring glove displacement.
2Ease of operation
If items are transferred through glove displacement, then items can be introduced, but contamination risk increases due to multiple glove usages
Solution Approach 1:
Items are prepared and loaded into the breech lock from the exterior before the interior door is opened. This preliminary action ensures that all item introduction occurs while the interior door remains sealed, preventing contamination of the glove box interior atmosphere and eliminating the need for multiple glove changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed breech lock chamber serves as an intermediary that isolates the item introduction process from the glove box interior. By maintaining separate sealed doors on both sides, it prevents direct exposure between exterior contaminants and the controlled interior environment.
3Productivity
If items are dropped into the glove box during transfer, then items can be introduced, but damage or safety hazards occur
Solution Approach 1:
The breech lock provides a controlled dynamic environment for item transfer. Items can be carefully placed into the breech lock from the exterior, then the interior door is opened to allow controlled retrieval or further transfer, eliminating uncontrolled dropping and associated damage risks.
Data Source
AI summary
A breech lock for a glove box is provided that may be used to transfer one or more items into the glove box. The breech lock can be interchangeably installed in place of a plug, glove, or other device in a port or opening of a glove box. Features are provided to aid the removal of items from the breech lock by a gloved operator. The breech lock can be reused or, if needed, can be replaced with a plug, glove, or other device at the port or opening of the glove box.