Ventilation – Workstation ventilator – Covered workbench chamber
Patent
1992-02-25
1994-11-01
Joyce, Harold
Ventilation
Workstation ventilator
Covered workbench chamber
55240, 553852, B08B 1502
Patent
active
053603710
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in removal of material from an article. More particularly, though not exclusively, the invention is suitable for use in the removal of material which is fibrous or particulate in nature. One example of such material is asbestos.
In applicant's International application No. PCT/AU87/00098 there is described apparatus for removing asbestos insulation from piping. This apparatus includes a spray assembly which is arranged so as to provide a fluid barrier between the work zone in which the material is placed and the operator. The spray assembly is also arranged to wet down the material in the work zone.
Whilst this apparatus has been highly successful its applications are limited in that in some instances the apparatus cannot be used with piping which is very hot. Often pipes having asbestos on them are arranged to carry hot fluid inside them so that the pipes themselves become heated. With applicants prior art apparatus, the arrangement of the spray assembly can cause problems as a result of spray contacting the pipe causing a thermal shock effect on the pipe. As a result of this, it has often been necessary to shut down the plant during the asbestos removal procedure. It will be appreciated that the cost of such shut down can be considerable.
There are other devices which are known which confine an article being treated and use an air stream to try and control the potentially dangerous materials being treated therein. Examples of such devices are described in Australian patent specification 594,578 (17573/88) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,391. The major disadvantage of apparatus of the type described in these specifications is that they do not provide a fully comprehensive treatment system for the potentially dangerous material.
That is to say apparatus for the type described in the aforementioned patent specifications do not provide an effective arrangement for handling and subsequently treating the pieces of material such as asbestos lagging after it has been removed from the pipe.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for use in the removal of material from an article, which alleviates the aforementioned problem.
According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for handling potentially dangerous materials by an operator, comprising: a work head which includes a main body having first and second work zones therein, said first and second work zones being arranged adjacent one another with a transfer opening therebetween; at least one first access opening for providing access to said first work zone by said operator from externally thereof; at least one second access opening for providing access to said second work zone by said operator from externally thereof; an air flow generator for withdrawing air from said first work zone; liquid spray means comprising a plurality of spray heads arranged so that liquid spray therefrom forms a plurality of liquid barriers or curtains which at least partially surround said second work zone including liquid barriers or curtains across said transfer opening and said second access opening to prevent the escape of the potentially dangerous materials from said second work zone. The apparatus of the present invention enables potentially dangerous materials to be stripped from an article such as a pipe with a minimum danger to the operator and immediately transferred to a second safety zone where it can be treated in a relatively safe manner.
The transfer opening and the second access opening may be defined by a single opening to the second work zone between the first and second work zones. This arrangement is advantageous in that only one opening is provided in the second work zone thereby further reducing the danger of escape of material therefrom.
In one embodiment of the invention the main body may comprise a base wall, a peripheral side wall and a top with a cavity within the main body. The first and second work zones can be defined by different regions of the ca
REFERENCES:
patent: 1324834 (1919-12-01), Lumby
patent: 1977386 (1934-10-01), Holes
patent: 4298367 (1981-11-01), Descolas
patent: 4670062 (1987-06-01), Lester
patent: 4782844 (1988-11-01), Hughes
patent: 4809391 (1989-03-01), Soldatovic
Coffey Peter James
Joyce Harold
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