Portal Apparatus and Method for Its Use
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portal apparatus in the form of an arch-shaped pipe fitting (10) for use with a fumigation chamber that in part incorporates a flexible canopy. The pipe fitting (10) can be seated on the ground (12) so as to be positioned between the canopy and the ground (12). A sealing surface (22) on the pipe fitting (10) is contactable with the flexible canopy so as to provide a gas-tight seal. An assembly for directing the flow of gas in general, the assembly being operable in various configurations, and comprising first and second gas inlets and outlets respectively. An assembly for operatively coupling gas extraction, treatment and recirculation apparatus, and comprising first and second gas inlets and outlets respectively that can be selectively coupled in first and second configurations. A method of fumigating a product in a fumigation chamber, and comprising the operative coupling of fumigant introduction, extraction, absorption and recirculation apparatus in a stepwise fashion, thus enabling fumigant to recirculate during fumigation while, at the conclusion of fumigation, allowing the gas carrying the fumigant to recirculate while fumigant is absorbed. A method of fumigating a product in a fumigation chamber, and comprising the steps of providing an inlet and outlet port, providing fumigant via the inlet port, controlling a flow of displacement gas to selected parts of the chamber and extracting the fumigant.
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Citations
90 Claims
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1-52. -52. (canceled)
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53. A method of installing a fumigant gas port in a fumigation chamber which at least in part incorporates a flexible canopy, the gas port adapted to be seated on an underlying structure and arranged to be positioned between the canopy and the underlying structure, and where the gas port comprises:
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a barrier having an enlarged central portion such that the barrier reduces in height moving from the central portion to at least one of opposite edge portions;
at least one of a fumigant gas inlet or outlet disposed in the barrier, the inlet to allow a flow of a fumigant into the fumigation chamber and the outlet to allow the removal of a flow of fumigant from the fumigation chamber; and
a sealing surface extending along an outer periphery of the barrier between said opposite edge portions, the sealing surface adapted to be contactable with the flexible canopy to provide a gas-tight seal between said apparatus and said canopy wherein the method comprises the steps of;
disposing the gas port between the flexible canopy and the underlying structure; and
retaining a lower edge margin of the flexible canopy in contact with the sealing surface of the gas port to form a gas tight-seal therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A fumigation chamber portal apparatus for use with a fumigation chamber which at least in part incorporates a flexible canopy, the portal apparatus adapted to be seated on an underlying structure and arranged to be positioned between the canopy and the underlying structure, the apparatus comprising:
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a barrier having an enlarged central portion such that the barrier reduces in height moving from the central portion to at least one of opposite edge portions;
at least one of a single gas inlet pipe and a single gas outlet pipe, the or each pipe disposed to pass entirely through the barrier whilst maintaining a gas-tight seal across the barrier such that in use the inlet pipe allows a flow of a fumigant into the fumigation chamber and the outlet pipe allows the removal of a flow of fumigant from the fumigation chamber; and
a sealing surface extending along an outer periphery of the barrier between said opposite edge portions, the sealing surface adapted to be contactable with the flexible canopy to provide a gas-tight seal between said apparatus and said canopy. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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Specification