Ventable rupture diaphragm-protected container for heating contained materials by microwave radiation
First Claim
1. A ventable container that is protected by rupture means against possible damaging effects of pressures higher than those for which the container was designed to be held at given temperatures, which comprises radiant energy transmissive container body means for holding material to be heated by radiant energy, which body means comprises an opening for addition and removal of said material, closure means for sealing said container opening, and venting means for venting gas from the container, which venting means comprises a passageway for gas being vented from the container, which passageway terminates in an outlet, rupture means, seating means for the rupture means, against which seating means the rupture means is held, to close the venting passageway, and means for controllably and releasably holding the rupture means against the seating means to seal off the venting passageway from the container body means when the rupture means is intact and is held against the seating means, and for venting the container through the venting passageway and outlet, when the intact rupture means is released from the seating means, in which occurrence and when the rupture means ruptures, vented gas exits from the container through the passageway outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ventable container for materials to be heated (preferably digested) by microwave radiation includes a movable rupture diaphragm in a venting passageway in a closure or cover for such container. Such diaphragm is tightenable into place so that the container is sealed and in such sealed state is protected by the rupture diaphragm against pressures that could develop in the container that are higher than that for which it was designed. An important feature of the invention is that the rupture diaphragm is controllably movable, when desired, to open positions to vent the container during heating and afterward, and is resealable after such venting. Because of the chemical reactivity of the reagents utilized in digestions an inner chemically resistant liner is desirably employed in conjunction with a physically stronger outer body, with the outer body giving the liner enough strength to withstand pressures developed during the heating. Also within the invention are processes for heating and digesting materials in the described containers with microwave radiation, microwave heating apparatuses including the invented containers, and lined containers wherein the liners are of improved sealing structures so that the containers are more tightly sealed when heated.
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Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A ventable container that is protected by rupture means against possible damaging effects of pressures higher than those for which the container was designed to be held at given temperatures, which comprises radiant energy transmissive container body means for holding material to be heated by radiant energy, which body means comprises an opening for addition and removal of said material, closure means for sealing said container opening, and venting means for venting gas from the container, which venting means comprises a passageway for gas being vented from the container, which passageway terminates in an outlet, rupture means, seating means for the rupture means, against which seating means the rupture means is held, to close the venting passageway, and means for controllably and releasably holding the rupture means against the seating means to seal off the venting passageway from the container body means when the rupture means is intact and is held against the seating means, and for venting the container through the venting passageway and outlet, when the intact rupture means is released from the seating means, in which occurrence and when the rupture means ruptures, vented gas exits from the container through the passageway outlet.
Specification