Patent ID: 6913650

Claim:
An assembly for successively impregnating multiple parts or batches of parts with liquid impregnant, the assembly including (a) impregnation apparatus for impregnating a part with liquid impregnant, the impregnation apparatus comprising an impregnation chamber having a top, a bottom and at least one side wall therebetween, the chamber defining a lower portion for receiving a liquid impregnant and an upper portion above the lower portion, a side wall of the chamber defining an opening communicating with the upper portion of the chamber, the opening being above the liquid impregnant in the chamber during impregnation, a door for sealing the opening during evacuation and subsequent pressurization of the chamber for impregnation of the part, a part holder in the chamber for receiving the part to be impregnated, and an elevator for positioning the part holder in the upper portion of the chamber so that the part is held above the liquid impregnant during evacuation of the chamber and then for positioning the part holder in the lower portion of the chamber so that the part is immersed in the liquid impregnant during subsequent pressurization of the chamber, and (b) a robot for transporting the parts to be impregnated from a supply station through the opening in the side wall of the chamber of the impregnation apparatus and into its part holder.