Patent ID: 8802023

Claim:
An autoclave for treating medical waste, comprising a pressure vessel having a sterilization chamber therein, the sterilization chamber having an interior, the pressure vessel having a forging thereon that forms an opening through which access to the interior of the sterilization chamber is obtained, a door for opening and closing the opening, the door having a center spindle assembly mounted thereon, the center spindle assembly including a center spindle hub rotatably mounted on the door and a plurality of latch bars hingedly mounted on the center spindle hub and extending radially away from the center spindle hub, the door having an alignment ring mounted thereon surrounding the center spindle hub, the alignment ring having a plurality of openings formed therein, each latch bar having a portion thereof extending through a corresponding opening from the plurality of openings formed in the alignment ring, a latch ring positioned on the forging, the latch ring surrounding the opening to the interior of the sterilization chamber, the latch ring having a plurality of openings formed therein, each latch bar having a portion thereof extending through a corresponding opening from the plurality of openings formed in the latch ring when the door is secured in a closed position, the center spindle hub being operative when rotated around its axis in a first direction to cause the latch bars to move outwardly such that their end portions extend through the corresponding openings in the latch ring when the door is in a closed position to secure the door in the closed position, and the center spindle hub being operative when rotated around its axis in a direction opposite to the first direction to cause the latch bars to move inwardly such that their end portions no longer extend through the corresponding openings in the latch ring to permit the door to be opened, a groove formed in the forging, the groove having a back wall and two side walls extending outwardly away from the back wall, a flexible sealing member positioned in the groove, the flexible sealing member contacting the two side walls of the groove when the flexible sealing member is in the groove, and at least one port positioned in the groove through which compressed gas may be introduced into the groove between the flexible sealing member and the back wall of the groove, the flexible sealing member being operative to seal between the forging and the door when compressed gas is introduced through the at least one port when the door is secured in a closed position to push the flexible sealing member partially from the groove into sealing contact with the door, thereby creating a pneumatic seal to seal between the door and the forging.