Patent ID: 6101698
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: D01D,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for replacing equipment in a generally closed chamber wherein the process comprises:providing a portal having a top opening and a bottom opening wherein the bottom opening opens to the chamberproviding the equipment into the top opening of the portal wherein the portal and equipment includes a sealing system which includes a cover, a skirt and a circumscribing channel arranged entirely around the portal with a liquid therein and wherein the skirt projects into the liquid in the channel so that the cover and skirt close and seal the portal and the chamber;closing the bottom opening of the portal with a gate from within the chamber isolating the equipment from the interior of the chamber; thenlifting the equipment out of the portal such that the skirt comes out of the channel; theninstalling replacement equipment into the portal such that the replacement equipment forms a substantially similar seal as the replaced equipment such that, as the replacement equipment is installed into the portal, the skirt projects into the liquid in the channel sealing the equipment into the portal; and thenopening the gate within the chamber to the portal so that the equipment is open to the interior of the chamber.