Conveyors – chutes – skids – guides – and ways – Chutes – Switch
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-23
2001-08-07
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Conveyors, chutes, skids, guides, and ways
Chutes
Switch
C049S139000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269928
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the art of chute systems and, more particularly, to an automatic chute door integrated into a chute system.
Chute systems are commonly used to provide a convenient way of storing or disposing of various articles. Chute systems are used in medical facilities for the disposal of various types of medical products. Chute systems are also used in apartment buildings and various industries for the disposal of refuse. Chute systems are also used in homes, hotels and hospitals to store linens for later cleaning. Chute systems can further be used to separate and/or store recyclable items.
A typical chute system includes a chute and a storage bin. The articles are placed in the chute opening and the chute guides the articles to the storage bin for immediate or later processing. If the chute system is for waste insertion, the storage bin is typically a furnace and the articles placed in the chute are immediately processed upon entering the furnace. The chute opening can include a chute door to close the chute opening until just prior to an article being placed into the chute opening. The chute door enhances the safety and sanitation of the chute system. Medical products which are disposed in a chute system can pose potential health and/or safety risks if a chute door is not included on the chute opening. An unclosed chute opening could allow harmful and/or contaminated products to harm an individual who inadvertently comes in contact with the chute opening without proper protection. The incorporation of a chute in such facilities reduces such risks. Furthermore, chute systems used to dispose of waste are prone to fires and/or small explosions occurring in the storage bin. Such fires or explosions could cause damage to areas outside of the chute opening if a chute door is not used. The use of a chute door also reduces and/or prevents gases and/or fine particles in the chute and storage bin from escaping through the chute opening, especially where such gases and/or particles are noxious, harmful and/or infectious. Furthermore, chute doors are used to prevent children from injury due to climbing in and playing around a chute opening.
Although past chute systems have commonly employed chute doors, these prior chute door's designs have proven to be, in many cases, safety risks in-of-themselves. Many of the chute doors used in the disposal of refuse are not fire rated to resist exposure to a fire or made durable enough to withstand an explosion in the storage bin. As a result, damage to facilities outside the chute opening are not always avoided in the case of fire. Further, small explosions in the storage bin result in the chute door being inoperably damaged and/or destroyed. Furthermore, chute doors that have been designed to be fire resistant and/or explosion resistant have not been designed to properly seal the closure opening from releasing flames caused by a fire and/or from releasing gases various chemicals within the storage bin. In addition, prior chute doors typically do not include a latch mechanism to secure the chute door from being jarred open when an explosion occurs in the chute or storage bin. Chute doors which have included latch mechanisms have suffered from complicated designs and/or unreliable latching of the chute door. As a result, the chute door remains unsecure thus not providing the proper security the chute door was originally designed for.
In view of the past design and safety deficiencies of prior chute closures, there is a need to provide a chute door which is easily operable and ensures a secure closure to prevent the chute door from inadvertently opening due to a fire and/or explosion in the storage bin and further seal the chute opening from releasing flames and/or gases when the chute door is in the closed position.
THE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an improved chute system is provided which minimizes and/or overcomes the foregoing disadvantages of prior chute systems heretofore available while, at the same time, maintaining the advantage of simplicity of use with respect to opening and closing the chute door and insuring the chute door is properly closed.
More particularly, in accordance with the present invention, a chute system is provided which includes a chute closure for covering a chute opening. The chute closure includes a frame disposed about the chute opening, a chute door pivotally connected to the frame for moving between a closed position and an open position, a door movement mechanism for opening and closing the chute door, a switch mechanism for activating and deactivating the door movement mechanism and a latch mechanism for securing the chute door in a closed position until the switch mechanism is activated to open the chute door. The improved assembly for a chute closure allows an operator to conveniently activate a single switch to open and close the chute door. The improved assembly also ensures that when the chute door is closed, the chute door is properly secured in the closed position and will not inadvertently open until the operator activates the switch mechanism to open the chute door. The latch mechanism is preferably integrated with the door movement mechanism to insure for proper latching of the chute door when the operator activates the chute system to close the chute door. The latch mechanism is designed to insure the chute door will not inadvertently open when a fire and/or an explosion occurs in the storage bin. The chute door is preferably connected to the base of the frame to pivot about the base of the frame. The chute system is preferably made of fire resistant materials such as carbon steel and stainless steel to prevent or reduce damage to the chute system and ensure the chute system complies with safety guidelines in the event of a fire and/or explosion in the chute and/or storage bin.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the latch mechanism includes a latch bolt which is integrated into the chute door. The latch bolt engages the frame of the chute system when the chute door is in the closed position thereby preventing the chute door from inadvertently opening. The latch bolt is also designed to be easily disengaged from the frame of the chute system when the operator activates the switch mechanism to open the chute door. The latch mechanism is preferably integrated with the door movement mechanism so that the activation of the door movement mechanism also activates the latch mechanism to latch and unlatch the chute door from the door frame. The integration of the latch mechanism with the door movement mechanism insures that the latch bolt is properly retracted when the operator activates the chute door to be opened, insures that the latch bolt is properly engaged with the chute door frame when the chute door is moved to the closed position by the door movement mechanism and simplifies the locking and unlocking of the chute door.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the chute door includes a flange positioned about the peripheral edge of the chute door to cover any space between the chute door and the frame of the chute closure when the chute door is in the closed position. The flange preferably includes a sealing material to reduce or prevent flames, smoke and/or noxious gases from escaping along the side of the chute door when the chute door is in a closed position. The flange is preferably designed to also provice a barrier against flames or a rush of gases from projecting from the chute door when an explosion and/or fire has occurred in the storage bin. The flange is preferably made of materials similar to the chute door. The sealing material is preferably composed of a rubber or plastic material.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the door movement mechanism includes an electric motor which is connected to the switching mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of the chute door. The electric motor is preferably a linear motion motor. The use
Cohen Curtis
Stodola Daniel P.
Vickers Daniels & Young
Wilkinson Company, Inc.
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