Abstract: A lyophilizer system is adapted for operation in a first mode or a second mode with microwave assisted drying. The system includes a lyophilizing chamber, including shielding from microwaves. The chamber is connected to a pressure controller for controlling vacuum in the lyophilizing chamber and a device for trapping water vapor. One or more microwave generators, direct microwaves into the lyophilizing chamber. Refrigeration units lower the temperature of the lyophilizing chamber and condenser. The chamber environment maintains a temperature and a pressure that facilitates sublimation in the chamber in a first mode, and for creating a chamber environment having vacuum and temperature such that when combined with microwaves directed into the chamber, facilitates sublimation in the chamber in a second mode. The chamber has arc inhibiting surfaces and shielding and a corona discharge detection and control system, including optical, thermal and other detection systems.

Abstract: A system for automatically loading and unloading bottles, vials, or other containers into and out of a freeze dryer or other material treating apparatus includes a loading station and a conveyer for bringing bottles to the loading station. A transfer vehicle movable between the loading station and one or more freeze dryers includes a horizontally arranged platen for supporting an entire dryer shelf of bottles. When the vehicle is aligned with the loading station, a pusher bar slides bottles from the loading station onto the vehicle platen. The vehicle then moves to a dryer where the platen aligns itself with one of the dryer shelves. A guide bar at the rear end of a rectangularly shaped lasso or transfer cage moves forwardly pushing the bottles onto the shelf. The forward end of the cage is then raised above the height of the bottles and removed from the dryer. To unload a dryer shelf, the cage enters the dryer above the bottles and the forward end drops down behind them.

Abstract: A rotary disk valve has a valve body provided with an annular valve seat section defining a central opening to be removably closed by a valve disk. The valve disk is supported by a drive assembly which includes a drive shaft mounted on the valve body and supporting a drive link for rotation with the shaft. The link mounts a valve disk support shaft which extends slidably through a slot in a bracket secured to the valve disk. The bracket mounts a guide cam follower pin arranged to engage a guide cam secured to the valve body. The arrangement of drive shaft, valve disk support shaft, bracket slot and guide cam and follower is such that rotation of the drive shaft through 180.degree.

Abstract: A condenser for removing vapor from freeze dryers and other vessels includes a three-stage cyclonic or turbine-like vapor distributor mounted for rotation about the axis of an elongated horizontal delivery tube extending through the axial center of the condenser chamber. The delivery tube mounts end and radial spray nozzles for selectively spraying cleansing fluid and sterilizing steam onto the interior surfaces of all components within the condenser chamber, including a plurality of condenser members arranged in radially offset configuration about the delivery tube in an optically dense configuration which requires vapors to impact the cold surfaces of the condenser members before contacting the inner surface of the enclosing condenser chamber. Optical density is achieved by providing the condenser member as sheets of metal formed with a serpentine passageway between them for the circulation of a coolant.

Abstract: The access door of a chamber housing opening is secured releasably in closed position by a latching mechanism provided on each of the four edges of the door. Each latching mechanism includes a plurality of spaced apart wedges projecting outwardly from the edge of the door for releasable registry with a plurality of spaced apart wedges on a wedge member mounted on the chamber housing for movement by an hydraulic cylinder between a door opening position in which the wedges on the door register with spaces between the wedges on the wedge member, and a door latching position in which the wedges on the wedge member are moved by the hydraulic cylinder into sliding, wedging engagement with the wedges on the door, whereby to draw the door into sealing engagement with the chamber housing adjacent the periphery of the opening in the housing. An O-ring seal disposed about the periphery of the door is arranged to engage the chamber housing upon closure of the door, to seal the chamber for evacuation or pressurization.

Abstract: The shelf-operating piston rod of an hydraulic cylinder of a freeze dryer is prevented from possibly contaminiating the freeze dryer chamber either by isolating the piston rod from the chamber by enclosing the piston rod within the chamber with an impervious flexible sleeve capable of extending and retracting with the piston rod. The pressure within the sleeve may be adjusted to approach or match the pressure within the freeze dryer chamber. Prevention of contamination alternatively may be achieved by interposing a sterilizing container between the external hydraulic cylinder and the freeze dryer and surrounding the piston rod, and subjecting the piston rod within the sterilizing container to sterilizing fluid before the piston rod is extended into the freeze dryer chamber.

Abstract: A housing contains a plurality of vertically spaced shelves movable vertically relative to each other upon activation of a fluid pressure piston-cylinder unit mounted on the housing. Elongated suspension rods depend from the top shelf to support the next two adjacent shelves for relative vertical movement, and each subsequent lower shelf is similarly supported by a shelf above it but separated from it by one intervening shelf. The two top-most shelves also are arranged to be secured together detachably in abutting relationship. The lower end of each suspension rod mounts a rotary disc which supports a pair of upstanding spaced pins arranged in one position of rotary adjustment to abut the underside of a lug extending laterally from the adjacent shelf, and in a second position of rotary adjustment, 90.degree. from the first position, to register with openings in the lug, whereby the associated shelf is lowered from the first position of support a distance substantially equal to the length of the support pins.

Abstract: The main door of a freeze dryer is provided with a sub-opening arranged to register with the space between adjacent vertically adjustable freeze dryer shelves, for infeeding and outfeeding trays or other containers of material to and from each shelf. An entry chamber surrounds the sub-opening and has a sloping outer face provided with a resilient seal arranged to form a pressure tight seal with a sub-door movable by a fluid pressure piston-cylinder unit between positions opening and closing the entry passageway of the entry chamber. Photoelectric safety mechanism is associated with the entry passageway to prevent closing of the sub-door when any object is in the entry passageway.

Abstract: An inlet gas pressure passageway is associated with the movable mold section of a molding press and terminates at and therefore in the plane of the surface of said movable mold section which confronts the surface of the fixed mold section of the press. An outlet gas pressure passageway is associated with the fixed mold section and terminates at and therefore in the plane of the surface of said fixed mold section in alignment with the inlet passageway opening. Air or other gas under a predetermined superatmospheric is applied to the inlet passageway for delivery to the outlet passageway, and the latter is connected to a pressure switch operable at said predetermined gas pressure to effect application of high hydraulic closing pressure to the movable mold section.

Abstract: An assembly of top and bottom plates spaced apart vertically by peripheral and intermediate spacer bars forming a shelf of freeze drying or other processing equipment, is held together on a movable base support by peripheral clamps mounted removably at selected positions on the base support. A hollow framework carriage is mounted on the base support for movement above and relative to the shelf assembly and it supports a pair of elongated, laterally spaced clamp bars for retractable movement toward and away from the base support for releasably clamping therebetween interposed portions of the shelf assembly. A laser welder then is moved relative to the clamp assembly to weld the components together in the clamped areas. Upon completion of the welding operation, the clamp bars are retracted and the framework moved over the base support and assembly to the area next to be welded, whereupon the clamp bars are extended into clamping position and the welding operation is repeated.

Abstract: In a molding press having fixed and movable platens for mounting mold halves, the movable platen is connected through thrust rods and a thrust plate to the movable component of an hydraulic piston-cylinder platen drive unit the fixed component of which is attached to a fixed base. A high pressure piston-cylinder mold clamping unit of the pancake type interengages the movable platen and a pancake cylinder support plate mounted for movement along the thrust rods and arranged for abutment by the thrust plate. The pancake cylinder support plate and fixed base are joined together by toggle joints operated by a piston-cylinder locking unit supported pivotally on arms extending pivotally from the pancake cylinder support plate and fixed base. The drive unit thus is arranged in parallel with the series arrangement of the toggle joints and mold clamping unit.

Abstract: A microminiature electrical delay line utilizes an m-derived filter formed by depositing a film of permalloy or other high permeability metal on a quartz or other dielectric substrate, then depositing a layer of quartz or other dielectric over the permalloy film, after which a plurality of microminiature thin film inductance coils are deposited on the dielectric layer and joined together electrically in series, a top layer of quartz or other dielectric then is deposited over the interconnected coils and a strip of permalloy or other high permeability metal is deposited over the top dielectric layer to extend across the coils, a gap being provided in the strip of permalloy at the central axis of each coil.

Abstract: An electrical inductance coil, having a central opening therethrough, is surrounded by a spaced shield of magnetic metal, and a screw of magnetic metal is mounted in engagement with one side of the shield for adjustable extension through the central opening in the coil for varying the spacing between the inner end of the screw and the confronting, opposite side of the shield.