1. Particle filter for inlet/outlet
2. holes for the gloves in front window
3. antechamber
4. pressure regulation
5. solenoid valve or bubbler
6. vacuum pump
7. oxygen sensor
8. moisture sensor
9. three way valve on antechamber
10. solvent filter
11. reactor
12. blower
13. cooler

A glove box is usually made out of stainless steel but there also versions made of transparent polymer. There is at least one window with two holes (2) for the gloves. The inert atmosphere inside is constantly circulated through the purification system. Two particle filters (1) for the intake and outlet inside the box prevent dust from getting into the purification system and out of it. They have to be replaced on a regular basis. A system to monitor the pressure (4) inside the box uses data from pressure sensors to hold the pressure within predefined (and to a degree customizable) boundaries. If the pressure drops below the defined value, a solenoid valve is opened to increase the pressure with fresh inert gas. If the pressure rises over the threshold it needs to be relieved. This is either done by opening a solenoid / pneumatic valve (5), a bubbler (5) or via the vacuum pump (6). The excess gas is then let out into the exhaust. A proper exhaust is needed to prevent harmful substances from the released gas getting into the room and also to prevent the buildup of an oxygen deprived atmosphere inside the room. This needs to be considered when looking for a place to install a glove box! Sensors (7 and 8) monitor the purity of the atmosphere inside. Sensors for oxygen and moisture are the most common but there are also so called wet boxes which only need to be oxygen free and therefore do not need a moisture sensor. There also sensor to monitor the amount of combustibles inside the atmosphere (e. g. solvents) as well as sensors for nitrogen (needed in battery research). When the atmosphere leaves the box through the outlet particle filter (1) its passed through a solvent filter (10). The solvent filter removes solvents and other fumes from the atmosphere in order to protect the reactor filling and party of the systems. The most common variant uses activated charcoal to do so. It needs to be replaced when it is saturated. There are also models which use molecular sieves instead. The advantage here is that the loading of molecular sieves do not need to replaced and can be regenerated instead. Disadvantageous is the fact that this process needs a large amount of inert gas (around 80 bar). Next the atmosphere flows through the core of the system: the reactor (11). Inside is a loading of copper-based pellets (green) remove traces of oxygen while molecular sieves (blue) remove traces of moisture. There is also a a heating element which heats the loading during the regeneration process. After the reactor comes the blower (12) which powers the circulations through the system. The blower generates quite a lot of heat. To prevent the box from heating up a cooler is usually installed right after the blower. The purified atmosphere then reenters the box through the intake particle filter (1).