Receptacles – Wall supported container – Detachably supported container
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-28
2001-07-24
Wellington, A. L. (Department: 3722)
Receptacles
Wall supported container
Detachably supported container
C248S683000, C248S689000, C403SDIG001, C408S067000, C408S076000, C588S249000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264055
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a containment canister for capturing hazardous waste debris during modifications to gloveboxes, or other radiological or biochemical hoods (generally termed gloveboxes therein), that require drilling and welding operations. Examples of such modifications include penetrations for pipe, thermowells, etc. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved containment canister that eliminates the need for costly containment huts and additional man power while at the same time reducing the risk of radiation exposure or other biohazard exposure to workers during glovebox modifications. The present invention also provides an improved hole saw which enables a driller to remove metal shavings and replace the hole saw if there is tooth wear present on the hole saw prior to actually penetrating a glovebox during modifications.
2. THE PRIOR ART
The prior art requires the erection of a containment hut for performing glovebox modifications, such as making penetrations for piping and thermowells. Such a procedure of capturing hazardous debris during drilling in a glovebox operation requires several health protection and support personnel to provide coverage for the person performing the work as well as maintaining and cleaning up the work area. This is a very expensive and time consuming technique. Further, a dropped tool in a glove box—containment hut environment can be dangerous, as attempts to retrieve the dropped tool can result in punctures or tears in protective garments, thus exposing the worker to contamination. Additionally, unretrieved tools and uncontained metal shavings can puncture glovebox gloves used by operators who may not be aware of the hazards after the modifications have been completed.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide for a safer, less costly approach that eliminates the need for a containment hut and the extra manpower associated therewith.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,771 to Wehrmann et al. relates to a clean room tool chamber having a portable glovebox.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,158 to Devine relates to a drilling jig for holding drilling debris. The cylinder of this reference has a lid which is adhesively sealed to the cylinder.
Additionally, it would be desirable to have a containment canister which does not require a containment hut, can contain the metal shavings and drilling fragments during drilling and welding operations in glovebox modification procedures and in a radioactive or other biohazard environment, that reduces the risk of contamination, and be less costly and require less manpower than the prior art approaches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a improved containment canister which reduces the radiation and other biohazard exposure to workers, as well as eliminating the need for a containment hut and the number of personnel associated with such an approach.
It is further an object of the invention to provide magnetic means for securing and holding the top of the canister to the glovebox so that the canister is securely fitted in place during glovebox modifications such as drilling and welding operations.
It is yet another object to provide an improved hole saw which eliminates the need to replace the pilot bit which frequently breaks off after penetrating the glovebox surface, thus reducing the risk of spreading contamination outside of the glovebox to workers.
It is still another object to provide the canister with an adjustable shutter on the side of the canister to control the airflow through the canister.
It is yet another object to provide the canister with a heat resistant gasket for use on top of the canister, thus providing an air seal.
These objects are realized in part by providing a canister having an open top with magnetically attractive means that is held firmly in place inside the glovebox by an electromagnet or lode (mill) magnets mounted outside the glovebox during modifications that require drilling and welding operations. These objects are also realized in part by providing an improved hole saw and toggle bolt assembly.
Other objects will become apparent from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings as set forth below.
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Caress Virginia B.
Carter Monica
Durkis James C.
Gottlieb Paul A.
The United States of America as represented by the United States
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