Tank with door locking mechanism

A tank with a door locking mechanism for use in bioprocessing, and methods of using the door locking mechanism, is provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tanks are used in a variety of bioprocessing applications. For example, a flexible container such as a bag can be placed in the tank, the door to the tank is closed and latched, and the bag is filled as part of the bioprocessing application.

However, there is a need for improved latches for tanks that receive flexible containers for bioprocessing applications.

The present invention provides for ameliorating at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description as set forth below.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention provides a tank with a door locking mechanism comprising: (a) a tank comprising a bottom wall, first and second opposing side walls, a rear wall, an outwardly pivoting tank door, a front wall having an opening, and a hinge mounted to the front wall and the outwardly pivoting tank door, wherein the outwardly pivoting tank door is arranged to cover at least a portion of the opening, the tank having an interior cavity for receiving an expandable bioprocessing container having flexible walls; the tank including a door locking mechanism comprising: (i) a rotatable shaft mounted to the outwardly pivoting tank door, the rotatable shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a projecting arm; and, (ii) an arm receiver, comprising a base mounted to the front wall of the tank at a distance from the outwardly pivoting tank door and the rotatable shaft, the arm receiver further comprising a receiver top extending horizontally from the base, the receiver top comprising a receiver top wall, first and second opposing receiver top side walls, a receiver top rear wall, and a receiver top front wall having a bottom end, the receiver top opposing side walls each extending toward the base a distance past the bottom end of the receiver top front wall; the bottom end of the receiver top front wall and first and second opposing receiver top side walls defining an arm receiver opening for receiving the projecting arm when the rotatable shaft is rotated to align the projecting arm with the arm receiver opening, and the outwardly pivoting tank door pivots outwardly upon being contacted by an expanded bioprocessing container.

Another aspect of the invention comprises a tank with a door locking mechanism comprising (a) a tank comprising a housing having an interior cavity for receiving an expandable bioprocessing container having flexible walls; a bottom wall; a side wall, wherein the side wall has an opening; an outwardly pivoting tank door; and a hinge mounted to the side wall and the outwardly pivoting tank door, wherein the outwardly pivoting tank door is arranged to cover at least a portion of the opening; the tank including a door locking mechanism comprising: (i) a rotatable shaft mounted to the outwardly pivoting tank door, the rotatable shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a projecting arm; and, (ii) an arm receiver, comprising a base mounted to the at least one side wall of the tank at a distance from the outwardly pivoting tank door and the rotatable shaft, the arm receiver further comprising a receiver top extending horizontally from the base, the receiver top comprising a receiver top wall, first and second opposing receiver top side walls, a receiver top rear wall, and a receiver top front wall having a bottom end, the receiver top opposing side walls each extending toward the base a distance past the bottom end of the receiver top front wall; the bottom end of the receiver top front wall and first and second opposing receiver top side walls defining an arm receiver opening for receiving the projecting arm when the rotatable shaft is rotated to align the projecting arm with the arm receiver opening, and the outwardly pivoting tank door pivots outwardly upon being contacted by an expanded bioprocessing container.

In another aspect, a method of operating the tank with the door locking mechanism is provided. In a preferred aspect, the method comprises placing a bioprocessing container with flexible walls into the interior cavity of an aspect of the tank; rotating the rotatable shaft until the projecting arm aligns with the arm receiver opening; inflating the bioprocessing container with air or gas and/or filling the bioprocessing container with fluid until the bioprocessing container expands and a flexible wall of the expanded bioprocessing container contacts the pivoting tank door and the pivoting tank door pivots outwardly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a tank with a door locking mechanism comprises: (a) a tank comprising a bottom wall, first and second opposing side walls, a rear wall, an outwardly pivoting tank door, a front wall having an opening, and a hinge mounted to the front wall and the outwardly pivoting tank door, wherein the outwardly pivoting tank door is arranged to cover at least a portion of the opening, the tank having an interior cavity for receiving an expandable bioprocessing container with flexible walls; the tank including a door locking mechanism comprising: (i) a rotatable shaft mounted to the outwardly pivoting tank door, the rotatable shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a projecting arm; and, (ii) an arm receiver, comprising a base mounted to the front wall of the tank at a distance from the outwardly pivoting tank door and the rotatable shaft, the arm receiver further comprising a receiver top extending horizontally from the base, the receiver top comprising a receiver top wall, first and second opposing receiver top side walls, a receiver top rear wall, and a receiver top front wall having a bottom end, the receiver top opposing side walls each extending toward the base a distance past the bottom end of the receiver top front wall; the bottom end of the receiver top front wall and first and second opposing receiver top side walls defining an arm receiver opening for receiving the projecting arm when the rotatable shaft is rotated to align the projecting arm with the arm receiver opening, and the outwardly pivoting tank door pivots outwardly upon being contacted by an expanded bioprocessing container.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention a tank with a door locking mechanism is provided comprising (a) a tank comprising a housing having an interior cavity for receiving an expandable bioprocessing container having flexible walls; a bottom wall; a side wall, wherein the side wall has an opening; an outwardly pivoting tank door; and a hinge mounted to the side wall and the outwardly pivoting tank door, wherein the outwardly pivoting tank door is arranged to cover at least a portion of the opening; the tank including a door locking mechanism comprising: (i) a rotatable shaft mounted to the outwardly pivoting tank door, the rotatable shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a projecting arm; and, (ii) an arm receiver, comprising a base mounted to the at least one side wall of the tank at a distance from the outwardly pivoting tank door and the rotatable shaft, the arm receiver further comprising a receiver top extending horizontally from the base, the receiver top comprising a receiver top wall, first and second opposing receiver top side walls, a receiver top rear wall, and a receiver top front wall having a bottom end, the receiver top opposing side walls each extending toward the base a distance past the bottom end of the receiver top front wall; the bottom end of the receiver top front wall and first and second opposing receiver top side walls defining an arm receiver opening for receiving the projecting arm when the rotatable shaft is rotated to align the projecting arm with the arm receiver opening, and the outwardly pivoting tank door pivots outwardly upon being contacted by an expanded bioprocessing container.

In some aspects, the tank door includes at least one extension providing a door stop preventing the tank door from entering the internal cavity of the tank.

Aspects of the door locking mechanism can be manually and/or electronically controlled. Preferably, the door locking mechanism is manually controlled without automation or electronics, thus reducing complexity and cost.

Tanks can include any number of door locking mechanisms.

In another aspect, a method of operating the tank with the door locking mechanism is provided, the method comprising placing a bioprocessing container with flexible walls into the interior cavity of an aspect of the tank; rotating the rotatable shaft until the projecting arm aligns with the arm receiver opening; and, inflating the bioprocessing container with air or gas and/or filling the bioprocessing container with fluid until the bioprocessing container expands and a flexible wall of the expanded bioprocessing container contacts the pivoting tank door and the pivoting tank door pivots outwardly. In some aspects, the bioprocessing container is inflated with air or gas followed by filling with liquid.

In a preferred aspect, method includes pivoting the pivoting door outwardly until the projecting arm contacts the bottom end of receiver top bottom wall.

Advantageously, since a user is unable to open a tank when the container inside the tank is at least partially filed, possible injury to the user is avoided. If desired, an external lock can be attached to the locked door locking mechanism to reduce the chance that the door would open during transport and/or to prevent unauthorized opening.

Door locking mechanisms can be used with a variety of tanks, including commercially available tanks. Tanks can have more than 1 door, as shown in, for example,FIG.7, and/or tanks can have any suitable shape, including rounded, with a curved door, as shown in, for example,FIG.8.

Each of the components of the invention will now be described in more detail below, wherein like components have like reference numbers.

FIG.1Ais a perspective view of a tank500(also shown inFIGS.1D-1G, and5) including a door locking mechanism300according to an aspect of the invention, wherein the tank door is closed,FIG.1Dis perspective view of the tank500including the door mechanism as shown inFIG.1A, wherein the door is partially open.

The illustrated aspect of the tank500inFIG.1Acomprises an open top501(if desired, the tank can include a top wall (not shown); a bottom wall502, first and second opposing side walls503,504, a rear wall505(having top walls503A,504A, and505A, respectively), an outwardly pivoting tank door510(having a top wall510A; in some aspects wherein the tank includes a top wall, the tank door does not provide part of the top wall of the tank), a front wall506having an opening506A, and at least one hinge600(two hinges are shown) mounted to the front wall and the outwardly pivoting tank door, wherein the outwardly pivoting tank door is arranged to cover at least a portion of the opening, the tank having an interior cavity520for receiving an expandable bioprocessing container700(see,FIGS.1F and6A-6C) with flexible walls, the interior cavity having a floor525.

Typically, as shown inFIGS.1A,1D, and5, the lower portion of the tank extends below floor525of the interior cavity520, providing a base for the tank. If desired, the opening506A can be larger than the tank door510, e.g., due to small gaps between the door and the door opening, and due to space below the bottom of the door. However, the tank door510covers a major portion (e.g., at least about 60%, and in some embodiments, at least about 80% of the area) of the opening506A.

The illustrated door locking mechanism300comprises a rotatable shaft100(rotatable between a first (unlocked) position101(see,FIG.3) and a second (locked) position102(see,FIGS.1A,1C, and3)) mounted to the outwardly pivoting tank door510, the rotatable shaft having a first end151comprising a handle161and a second end152comprising a projecting arm162; and, an arm receiver200(see,FIG.4), comprising a base250mounted to the front wall506of the tank500at a distance from the outwardly pivoting tank door510and the rotatable shaft100, the arm receiver200further comprising a receiver top275extending horizontally from the base, the receiver top comprising a receiver top wall281, inner walls287and288, first and second opposing receiver top side walls283,284, a receiver top rear wall285, and a receiver top front wall286having a bottom end286A, the receiver top opposing side walls each extending toward the base a distance “X” past the bottom end of the receiver top front wall; the bottom end of the receiver top front wall and first and second opposing receiver top side walls defining an arm receiver opening290for receiving the projecting arm when the rotatable shaft is rotated to align the projecting arm with the arm receiver opening, and the outwardly pivoting tank door pivots outwardly (see,FIGS.1B,1C, and1F) upon being contacted by an expanded bioprocessing container.

The tank door510has a top end511, bottom end512, front end513, a rear end514, an outer surface515and an inner surface516(see,FIG.5; in some aspects, the inner surface of the door does not contact the tank, e.g., as inFIGS.1A-1C, and1E-1G); and at least one hinge600mounted to the door510(two hinges are illustrated as mounted to an edge of the rear end514and on the outer surface of the front wall506of the tank). Aspects of the invention can have a plurality of hinges; typically, if there is a single hinge, it may mounted approximately half way between the top and bottom ends of the door.

FIG.7illustrates a tank500′ according to another aspect of the invention, similar to the illustrated aspect of the tank500shown inFIG.1A, however, tank500′ includes a pair of outwardly pivoting tank doors510(each covering an opening506A) and a corresponding pair of door locking mechanisms300as described above. The interior cavity and interior cavity floor are not shown.

As noted above, tanks can have any suitable shape.FIG.8illustrates a tank500″ according to another aspect of the invention, including an outwardly pivoting tank door510″, and a door locking mechanism300as described above. However, in contrast with tanks500and500′, tank500″ has a rounded shape with a continuous curved side wall509″ and the outwardly pivoting tank door510″ is curved (and covers opening509A″). With the exception of outwardly pivoting tank door510″ being curved, the tank door510″ is similar in structure to outwardly pivoting tank door510as described above. The views of the interior cavity520for receiving an expandable bioprocessing container700with flexible walls, wherein the interior cavity has a floor525, are blocked by the door510″.

Aspects of the invention can have any number of door locking mechanisms300. Typically, if there is a single door locking mechanism, the rotatable shaft may be mounted approximately half way between the top and bottom ends of the door.

As is known in the art, there are a number of arrangements and configurations for mounting the rotatable shaft to the door. As shown inFIG.2, the rotatable shaft100rotates around a collar191mounted to a flange192A which is mounted to a gasket192B mounted to the door. As shown inFIGS.2and3, the door locking mechanism300is mounted such that the arm receiver200(mounted on the outer surface515of the front wall506of the tank near the front end513of the tank door) is aligned with the rotatable shaft100, and the projecting arm162can be rotated to be received in the receiver top275and the arm receiver opening290, and in some aspects, until the projecting arm contacts the bottom end286A of the receiver top bottom wall that provides a stop for the projecting arm (see,FIGS.1C and4).

While the Figures illustrate the locking mechanism300arranged such that the arm receiver is located near the front end513of the tank door, other arrangements are within the scope of the invention, for example, the locking mechanism can be arranged such that the arm receiver is located near the top end or bottom end of the tank door.

The rotatable shaft can have a variety of configurations as long as it can be rotatably mounted to the tank door, and the projecting arm can be aligned with the receiver top once the tank door pivots outwardly as described herein. A variety of rotatable shafts are suitable, including commercially available rotatable shafts. If desired, the rotatable shaft can include a safety feature such as a lock button100A as shown inFIG.2, wherein the rotatable shaft can only be rotated when the lock button is pushed and held. Suitable rotatable shafts with lock buttons includes those available from, for example, Southco, Inc. (Concordville, Pa.).

In some aspects, the door510includes at least one extension586providing a door stop preventing the door from entering the internal cavity520of the tank. For example,FIG.5shows two extensions,586A,586B, arranged to contact the front wall506preventing the door from entering the internal cavity520.

In some aspects, the tank allows the interior to be viewed, e.g., to monitor the filling of the bioprocessing container. For example,FIGS.5and6A-6Cshow a window575in the door510, whereinFIGS.6A-6Cshow the bioprocessing container700being filled with liquid. While the bioprocessing container also includes, for example, various fluid ports on the container to allow fluid to enter and exit the container, and, for example, if desired, for sampling the contents of the container and/or venting and/or adding reagents and/or buffers (and tubing is connected to the various fluid ports), for ease of viewing, only a single tube701A connected to fluid port701is shown inFIG.1F, andFIG.5shows bioprocessing container fluid ports701and702, wherein additional tubing and fluid ports are not illustrated.

If desired, aspects of the invention can also include a bracket allowing an external lock to be attached to the locked door locking mechanism to reduce the chance that the door would open during transport and/or to prevent unauthorized opening. For example,FIG.9shows a bracket800, illustrated as having a generally “U-shaped” opening allowing the bracket to fit over the arm receiver with the projecting arm received in the arm receiver, wherein the bracket has arms810with holes810A allowing a lock850to be mounted to the bracket to prevent opening. If desired, a warning label can be included, e.g., affixed to the lock and/or the bracket.

A variety of bioprocessing containers with flexible walls are suitable for use in aspects of the invention and are commercially available. The bioprocessing containers can have, for example, any suitable shape and volume. Typically, the bioprocessing containers have at least two, and in some aspects, 3 or more, fluid ports, and connected tubing. For example,FIG.5shows bioprocessing container fluid ports701and702.

Aspects of the invention include a method of operating the tank with the door locking mechanism during a bioprocessing application. For example, an aspect of the method comprises placing a bioprocessing container with flexible walls into the interior cavity520of an aspect of the tank (e.g., including routing bioprocessing container tubing and/or arranging bioprocessing container ports in one or more cutouts such as805as shown inFIGS.1A and5, and cutout806as shown inFIG.5, and/or in one or more cutouts, e.g.,805A, in the floor525as shown inFIGS.1A,1D,1E and1G); rotating the rotatable shaft until the projecting arm until the projecting arm aligns with the arm receiver opening (see,FIGS.3and1A); filling the bioprocessing container with fluid (see,FIGS.1F and6A-6C) until the bioprocessing container expands and a flexible wall of the expanded bioprocessing container contacts the pivoting tank door and the pivoting tank door pivots outwardly (see,FIGS.1C, and1E-1G(showing the door pivoted outwardly;FIG.1Fshowing an expanded bioprocessing container700contacting the tank door causing it to pivot outwardly)).

Depending on the bioprocessing application, after filling the bioprocessing container, one option for bioprocessing includes mixing, wherein a mixer (e.g., a removable mixer drive unit (for example, inserted in an opening900in the floor525as shownFIG.1F) or a mixer fixed to the tank through the opening) is activated, powders and/or fluids are added to mix or regulate the product inside the container. Alternatively, or additionally, the tank may include jacketed walls allowing the contents of the bioprocessing container to be heated and/or cooled.

After mixing and/or heating and/or cooling, the bioprocessing container is drained through the drain port. After draining, the bioprocessing container is no longer expanded against the tank door and the rotatable shaft can be rotated upwardly and the door can be opened again and the bioprocessing container can be removed.