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An apparatus and method for producing a solid product such as orthopedic appliances, dental splint mouthpieces, dentures, lined dentures and the like from flowable materials such as silicones, acrylics, polyurethanes and dental casting investments. The container in which an article is treated will d

An apparatus and method for producing a solid product such as orthopedic appliances, dental splint mouthpieces, dentures, lined dentures and the like from flowable materials such as silicones, acrylics, polyurethanes and dental casting investments. The container in which an article is treated will develop 80-100 psi and has opposed curved surfaces between which a seal is formed without leakage.

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What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for producing a solid product without air bubbles comprising: a pressurizing container have a top wall with a curved undersurface and a top opening, a lid inside said container for closing and sealing said top opening, said lid having a curved top surface extending

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for producing a solid product without air bubbles comprising: a pressurizing container have a top wall with a curved undersurface and a top opening, a lid inside said container for closing and sealing said top opening, said lid having a curved top surface extending inwardly from an outer peripheral edge to a notch, said top surface being opposite and complementary with said curved undersurface, said notch extending up from transverse to said top surface said notch being sized and shaped to fit into and extend through said top opening to center said lid in said top opening, a flexible seal supported by said top surface and said notch, said notch locating said seal relative to said top opening around the entire periphery of said top opening and between said curved undersurface and top surface that is compressed between said top surface and said undersurface and restrained along one side of said seal by said notch when said container is pressurized for sealing said top opening closed, a body of flowable materials with air bubbles in said container, and means for pressurizing said container to a pressure above 50 psi for a selected time interval sufficient to force said top surface toward said undersurface to compress said seal and to drive out said air bubbles from said material as said material is changed from a flowable state to a solid state. 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container has a dished bottom wall, a pair of opposed, spaced, curved end wall portions, a pair of opposed, curved, spaced side wall portions arranged in an elliptical shape, said top wall being domical and extending in and up from said end and side wall portions, and said top opening being elliptical. 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lid is of an elliptical shape, providing a domical curved top surface that is opposite and complementary in shape with said curved undersurface of said top wall, said seal being disposed between said undersurface and said top surface. 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a control valve assembly for controlling air flow into and out of said container to pressurize said container. 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said control valve assembly includes a housing attached to said top wall and in flow communication with the inside of said container, an air input valve coupling extending from said housing for coupling an air source to said control valve, a pressure relief valve at one end of said housing and an on-off valve at an opposite end of said housing to depressurize said container. 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including a pressure gauge on said container to indicate the amount of pressure in said container. 7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a lid clamping assembly having a clamping bracket with a bow shaped main body and flared end portions that rest on said top wall outside said top opening, a through hole in said main body, a threaded bolt slidable in said through hole, and a turning knob affixed to a top end of said bolt, said bolt threading into said lid to draw said lid upwardly toward said top wall. 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lid and top opening are of an elliptical shape to allow said lid to be placed in and removed from inside said container. 9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body flowable material includes silicones, acrylics, polyurethanes and dental instruments. 10. Apparatus for producing a solid product without air bubbles comprising: a pressurizing container having a bottom wall, opposed end walls and opposed side walls and a domical top wall with a curved undersurface and an elliptical top opening, a lid inside said container for closing said top opening having a curved top surface extending inwardly from an outer peripheral edge to a notch, said top surface being opposite and complementary with said undersurface, said notch extending up from and extending transverse to said top surface, said notch sized and shaped to fit into and extending through said top opening, said lid being removable from said container via said top opening, a flexible seal supported by said top surface and said notch, said notch locating from movement by said seal relative to said top opening around the periphery of said top opening and between said curved undersurface and said top surface that is compressed between said top surface and said undersurface and restrained along one side of said seal by said seal when said container is pressurized for sealing said top opening closed, a clamp assembly for drawing said lid upwardly toward said top wall, a body of flowable material with air bubbles in said container, and means for pressurizing said container to a selected pressure to 80 psi to 100 psi for a selected time interval sufficient to force said top surface toward said undersurface to compress said seal and to drive out said air bubbles from said material as said material is changed from a flowable state to a solid state.