Universal access port
A universal access port includes a specific size opening that is formed through a wall of a conditioning enclosure and located at a specific distance from a floor or mounting surface. The opening is preferably rectangular in shape, but other shapes may also be used. When not in use, the universal access port is covered with a sealing panel. Insertable devices may be efficiently inserted and removed from the universal access port. A perimeter of the insertable device is sized to be sealable inserted into the universal access port. Each insertable device preferably seals with an exterior and interior wall of the conditioning enclosure. Some insertable devices include fixturing devices, windows, manual manipulation devices, junction devices, hinged access doors, wire access devices, temperature modifying devices or air circulation devices.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/310,358, filed Dec. 5, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. ______.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to conditioning enclosures and more specifically to a universal access port for conditioning enclosures, structured to receive numerous insertable devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere are several conditioning enclosures on the market, which disclose an opening created in a side thereof. A conditioning enclosure is defined as an oven, freezer, incubator, burn-in chamber, environmental test chamber, shaker, or any other device that stresses, modifies, or conditions an item inserted therein. Pat. No. 4,854,726 to Lesley et al. discloses a thermal stress screening system. An exposure chamber is connected to a cabinet with a pair of insulated delivery hoses. Pat. No. 4,949,031 to Szasz et al. discloses an environmental stress screening apparatus for electronic products. A product carrier pallet is inserted into an opening formed in an environmental test chamber. Pat. No. 5,147,136 to Hartley et al. discloses temperature cycling test chambers. A portion of the wall is rotable between two different test chambers.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a universal access port formed in a side of a conditioning enclosure, which has a specific size and shape to receive windows, wire access devices, bulkhead connectors, manual manipulation devices, doors, junction boxes, shelves, racks, drawers, blowers, slave test chamber, and other insertable devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a universal access port for conditioning enclosures, which receives standard sized insertable devices, thus increasing the versatility of one or more conditioning enclosures. At least one universal access port allows a first conditioning enclosure to have expanded capacity by connecting additional conditioning enclosures to the first conditioning enclosure to retain the additional parts for testing. The additional conditioning enclosure would be connected with a junction device inserted into the universal access ports of each conditioning enclosure.
The additional conditioning enclosures are used as auxiliary units and their functionality need not be the same as the first conditioning enclosure. For example, the capacity for performing some types of temperature testing is increased without the cost of additional conditioning enclosures having the same function as the first conditioning enclosure. The universal access port also provides modular assembly of a group of conditioning units each having different functions. The function of each different conditioning unit may be activated when appropriate.
Each universal access port includes a specific size opening that is formed through a wall of a conditioning enclosure and located at a specific distance from a floor or mounting surface of the conditioning enclosure. The opening preferably has a rectangular shape, but other shapes may also be used. When not in use, the universal access port is covered with a sealing panel. Insertable devices may be efficiently inserted and removed from the universal access port, including the sealing panel. A perimeter of an insertable device is sized to be sealably inserted into the universal access port. Each insertable device preferably seals with an exterior and an interior wall of the conditioning enclosure. Some insertable devices include fixture devices, windows, manual manipulation devices, junction devices, hinged access doors, wire access devices, hydraulic connection devices, temperature modifying devices, air circulation devices, gas insertion devices, blower devices, or any other appropriate insertable device.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide at least one universal access port in a conditioning enclosure, each universal access port having a specific opening size located a specified distance from a floor or mounting surface of the conditioning enclosure.
Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of insertable devices that are sized to be inserted into a universal access port formed in a conditioning enclosure.
These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
With reference now to the drawings, there is shown a perspective view of a conditioning enclosure 100 with a universal access port 10. The universal access port 10 preferably includes an opening 12 of a specific width “W” and height “H” formed through a wall 102 of the conditioning enclosure 100. The universal access port 10 is disclosed as having a rectangular shape, but other shapes may also be used. Preferably, an interior peripheral flange 14 extends from an interior wall 102. Interior peripheral flange 14 surrounds the perimeter of the opening 12. A perimeter sealing gasket 16 is attached to the interior peripheral flange 14. Preferably, a perimeter sealing ridge 20 extends from a peripheral wall 18 of opening 12. A bottom of opening 12 is located at a height “H2” from a floor or mounting surface 104 of the conditioning enclosure 100.
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Several types of insertable devices are disclosed, but a system may also include other types of insertable devices.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modification may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A modular system for stressing or modifying environmental conditions of at least one item disposed in a first conditioning enclosure, the system comprising:
- the first conditioning enclosure, having an interior portion, a wall, and an opening through the wall for accessing the interior portion;
- a second conditioning enclosure, having an interior portion, a wall, and an opening through the wall for accessing the interior portion;
- a damper disposed between the interior portion of the first conditioning enclosure and the interior portion of the second conditioning enclosure; and
- a junction device structured for joining the interior portions of the first and second conditioning enclosures to one another.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the damper is manipulatable for modulating an environment in the first conditioning enclosure.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first conditioning enclosure is structured for performing a first conditioning function and the second conditioning enclosure is structured for performing a second conditioning function different from the first conditioning function.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first conditioning function includes setting an interior temperature of the first conditioning enclosure to a first temperature, and wherein the second conditioning function includes setting an interior temperature of the second conditioning enclosure to a second temperature that is different from the first temperature.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the first and second conditioning functions are each activatable when appropriate for testing the item.
6. A method comprising:
- providing a conditioning enclosure having an interior portion and at least one opening formed through a wall thereof to access the interior portion, the first conditioning enclosure structured for stressing or modifying an item inserted into the interior portion;
- providing an auxiliary enclosure having an interior portion and at least one opening formed through a wall thereof to access the interior portion;
- providing at least one damper; and
- joining the interior portion of the conditioning enclosure with the interior portion of the auxiliary enclosure via the opening of the conditioning enclosure, the damper, and the opening of the second enclosure.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
- setting an environment within the interior portion of the conditioning enclosure according to a first conditioning function;
- setting an environment within the interior of the auxiliary enclosure according to a second conditioning function; and
- adjusting a testing of the item in the interior of the conditioning enclosure by manipulating the damper.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first conditioning function includes setting an interior temperature of the conditioning enclosure to a first temperature, and wherein the second conditioning function includes setting an interior temperature of the auxiliary enclosure to a second temperature that is different from the first temperature.
9. A method comprising:
- joining a plurality of conditioning enclosures together, at least one of the conditioning enclosures being structured for stressing or modifying an item inserted into an interior portion thereof;
- setting an environment of each of the plurality of conditioning units according to different respective conditioning functions; and
- activating ones of the plurality of conditioning units in order to increase conditioning capacity for a test being performed on the item.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of conditioning enclosures is a slave test chamber with respect to at least one other of the plurality of conditioning enclosures.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 12, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 2, 2006
Inventors: James Schulze (Plymouth, MA), Kevin Ewing (Holland, MI), Clinton Peterson (Holland, MI), Richard Walker (Hudsonville, MI), Robert Hayes (Fruitport, MI)
Application Number: 11/248,065
International Classification: F26B 25/06 (20060101); G01N 25/00 (20060101); F26B 19/00 (20060101);