Abstract: A sterilizer cart for transporting a wheeled carriage, the cart having improved control and docking capabilities utilizing a docking post receptacle having a hinged tongue. The front caster wheel assemblies of the cart are provided with spring-loaded guide members which are selectively urged into and out of indentions in detent members for wheel steering. The invention also provides a method for easily directing the wheeled carriage from the cart along rails for convenient carriage insertion into and extraction from a sterilizer equipped matching rails and a centralized docking post.

Abstract: Closure apparatus and the method of operating the same is presented for an autoclave or other equipment which requires an air tight seal to be maintained. The closure apparatus includes a door which is hingedly joined to a chamber housing. Hinge members attached to the door include a cam connected to a cam shaft which is driven by an electric motor. The can includes a latch member to cause the door to pivot and laterally slide in to engagement with a channel seal surrounding the opening. A movable gasket is in the channel is fluidly urged against the inside of the door to provide an air tight seal thereto when the door is fully closed.