초록

A door assembly providing an airtight seal for a chamber. The door assembly includes a link assembly that allows a door to move inward toward a gasket sealing an opening into the chamber.

대표청구항 ▼

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 1. A door assembly for sealing an opening surrounded by a seal member, said door assembly comprising: at least two tracks defining a linear travel path; a door movable along the linear travel path, said door having at least one stop member e

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 1. A door assembly for sealing an opening surrounded by a seal member, said door assembly comprising: at least two tracks defining a linear travel path; a door movable along the linear travel path, said door having at least one stop member extending therefrom and fixed relative to said door, the at least one stop member preventing further movement of the door along the linear travel path; at least two guides respectively movable along the at least two tracks; at least two pairs of links, each link connected to one of said guides at a first location, and connected to the door at a second location, wherein the at least two pairs of links are movable between a first position where the door is spaced from the opening, and a second position where the door is adapted to press against the seal member surrounding the opening, to form a fluid-tight seal around the opening; and means for moving said at least two guides along the at least two tracks, wherein said door is movable in a direction transverse to said linear travel path after said at least one stop member impedes movement of said door along said linear travel path, wherein said means for moving said at least two guides continues to move said at least two guides along said linear path after movement of said door along said linear path is prevented by said stop member, thereby causing said at least two pairs of links to move said door from said first position to said second position. 2. A door assembly as defined by claim 1, wherein said means for moving said at least two guides includes: a cylinder body; and a rod, said rod movable between a retracted position and an extended position. 3. A door assembly as defined by claim 1, wherein each of said links is connected to one of said guides by a first pin, and each of said links is connected to said door by a second pin. 4. A door assembly as defined by claim 1, wherein said links rotate between said first position and said second position. 5. A door assembly for sealing an opening surrounded by a seal member, said door assembly comprising: at least two frame members defining a first travel path; a door movable along the first travel path; at least one stop member extending from the door and fixed relative to said door, the at least one stop member preventing further movement of the door along the first travel path; at least two door transport means operable to move said door along the first travel path, between a first position and a second position; and at least two pair of links, each of said links connected to the door and connected to one of said door transport means, wherein said at least two pair of links are rotatable to move said door along a second travel path transverse to said first travel path, after said at least one stop member prevents movement of the door along the first travel path, said second travel path defined between the second position and a seal engagement position, where the door is adapted to engage the seal member surrounding the opening, wherein said at least two door transport means continue to move after movement of said door along the first travel path has been prevented by said stop member, thereby causing said at least two pair of links to move said door along said second travel path. 6. A door assembly as defined by claim 5, wherein each said door transport means includes a cylinder having a cylinder body, and an extendable rod having a guide mounted thereto, said guide connected to one of said links. 7. A door assembly as defined by claim 6, wherein each said rod is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. 8. A door assembly as defined by claim 5, wherein said at least two pair of links commence rotation in a first rotation direction upon engagement of said stop member, to move said door along the second travel path, from the second position to the seal engagement position. 9. A door assemlAy as defined by claim 8, wherein said at least two pair of links are in an overcenter position when said door is in the seal engagement position. 10. A door assembly as defined by daim 8, wherein said door moves from the seal engagement position to the second position, upon rotation of said at least two pair of links in a direction reverse to said first rotation direction. 11. A door assembly for sealing an opening surrounded by a seal member, said door assembly comprising: at least two tracks defining a linear travel path; a door movable along the linear travd path and induding a stop member extending therefrom and fixed relative to said door, said stop member preventing frirther movement of said door along the linear travel path; a door transport means for moving said door along the linear travel path; at least one linking member connected to the door at a first pivot location and connected to the door transport means at a second pivot location, said second pivot location restricted to said linear travel path, and said first pivot location movable to move said door along a travel path transverse to the linear travel path toward the seal member when further movement of said door is prevented along said linear travel path by the stop member, wherein said door transport means continues to move said second pivot location along said linear path after movement of said door along said linear path is prevented by said stop membew said door transport means thereby causing said at least one linking member to move said door along said travel path transverse to the linear travel path toward said seal member. 12. A door assembly as defined by claim 11, wherein said door transport means includes a cylinder having a cylinder body, and an extendable rod having a guide mounted thereto, said guide connected to one of said linking members. 13. A door assembly as defined by claim 12, wherein each said rod is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. 14. A door assembly as defined by claim 11, wherein said at least one linking member is in an overeenter position when said door engages with said seal member surrounding the opening. 15. A door assembly in combination with a chamber having an upper surface, said door assembly sealing an opening of the chamber, wherein said opening is surrounded by a seal member, said door assembly comprising: at least two tracks defining a linear travel path; a door movable along the linear travel path, said door having at least one stop member extending therefrom and fixed relative to said door, the at least one stop member engageable with the upper surface of the chamber to prevent further movement of the door along the linear travel path; at least two guides respectively movable along the at least two tracks; at least two pairs of links, each link connected to one of said guides at a first location, and connected to the door at a second location, wherein the at least two pairs of links are movable between a first position where the door is spaced from the opening, and a second position where the door is adapted to press against the seal member surrounding the opening, to form a fluid-tight seal around the opening; and means for moving said at least two guides along the at least two tracks, wherein said door is movable in a direction transverse to said linear travel path after said at least one stop member impedes movement of said door along said linear travel path. 16. A door assembly as defined by claim 15, wherein said means for moving said at least two guides includes: a cylinder body; and a rod, said rod movable between a retracted position and an extended position. 17. A door assembly as defined by claim 15, wherein each of said links is connected to one of said guides by a first pin, and each of said links is connected to said door by a second pin. 18. A door assembly as defined by claim 15, wherein said links rotate between said first position and said second position. 19. A door assembly as defined by claim 15, wherein said means for moving said at least two guides continues to move said at least two guides along said linear path after movement of said door along said linear path is prevented by said stop member, thereby causing said at least two pairs of links to move said door from said first position to said second position. 20. A door assembly in combination with a chamber having an upper surface, said door assembly sealing an opening of the chamber, wherein said opening is surrounded by a seal member, said door assembly comprising: at least two frame members defining a first travel path; a door movable along the first travel path; at least one stop member extending from the door and fixed relative to said door, the at least one stop member engageable with the upper surface of the chamber to prevent further movement of the door along the first travel path; at least two door transport means operable to move said door along the first travel path, between a first position and a second position; and at least two pair of links, each of said links connected to the door and connected to one of said door transport means, wherein said at least two pair of links are rotatable to move said door along a second travel path transverse to said first travel path, after said at least one stop member prevents movement of the door along the first travel path, said second travel path defined between the second position and a seal engagement position, where the door is adapted to engage the seal member surrounding the opening. 21. A door assembly as defined by claim 20, wherein each said door transport means includes a cylinder having a cylinder body, and an extendable rod having a guide mounted thereto, said guide connected to one of said links. 22. A door assembly as defined by claim 21, wherein each said rod is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. 23. A door assembly as defined by claim 20, wherein said at least two pair of links commence rotation in a first rotation direction upon engagement of said stop member, to move said door along the second travel path, from the second position to the seal engagement position. 24. A door assembly as defined by claim 23, wherein said at least two pair of links are in an overcenter position when said door is in the seal engagement position. 25. A door assembly as defined by claim 23, wherein said door moves from the seal engagement position to the second position, upon rotation of said at least two pair of links in a direction reverse to said first rotation direction. 26. A door assembly as defined by claim 20, wherein said at least two door transport means continue to move after movement of said door along the first travel path has been prevented by said stop member, thereby causing said at least two pair of links to move said door along said second travel path. 27. A door assembly in combination with a chamber having an upper surface, said door assembly sealing an opening of the chamber, wherein said opening is surrounded by a seal member, said door assembly comprising: at least two tracks defining a linear travel path; a door movable along the linear travel path and including a stop member extending therefrom and fixed relative to said door, said stop member engageable with the upper surface of the chamber to prevent further movement of said door along the linear travel path; a door transport means for moving said door along the linear travel path; at least one linking member connected to the door at a first pivot location and connected to the door transport means at a second pivot location, said second pivot location restricted to said linear travel path, and said first pivot location movable to move said door along a travel path transverse to the linear travel path toward the seal member when further movement of said door is prevented along said linear travel path by the stop member. 28. A door assembly as defined by claim 27, wherein said door transport means includes a cylinder having a cylinder body, and an extendable rod having a guide mounted thereto, said guide connected to one of said linking members. 29. A door assembly as defined by claim 28, wherein each said rod is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. 30. A door assembly as defined by claim 27, wherein said at least one linking member is in an overcenter position when said door engages with said seal member surrounding the opening. 31. A door assembly as defined by claim 27, wherein said door transport means continues to move said second pivot location along said linear path after movement of said door along said linear path is prevented by said stop member, said door transport means thereby causing said at least one linking member to move said door along said travel path transverse to the linear travel path toward said seal member.