Gas separation – Combined or convertible – In environmental air enclosure
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-22
2003-09-09
Smith, Duane (Department: 1724)
Gas separation
Combined or convertible
In environmental air enclosure
C055S385100, C055S356000, C055SDIG001, C055SDIG007, C454S187000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06616720
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to overspray, errant particle and other airborne contaminant control systems and devices. More particularly the invention is directed to such a system having a main unit and a remote unit, where the remote unit is connected by an elongated duct to the main unit. Generally, the main unit creates a vacuum which is brought into communication with the remote unit by the elongated duct. The remote unit brings a negative pressure differential into the enclosed area removing the aforementioned overspray. The system's main unit and remote unit may be adapted to multiple configurations to permit them in concert to work in small inaccessible areas. The main unit may still be employed singly in areas to which it is accessible.
2. Summary of the Invention
Equipment developed to capture and filter contaminants generated in the workplace such as welding fumes, sanding and grinding residue, spraying liquids, such as paint which produce odors, toxic fumes, and volatile organic compounds is well known. The majority of this equipment consists of an enclosure, the enclosure housing a motor, blower and a cone, generating the suction necessary to pull the contaminants through a filtering system, often a series of filters, each filter having a specific function. These enclosures are generally fixed.
Capturing liquid contaminants stands separate from fumes or dust contaminants because they must control toxic fumes, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), objectionable odors and wet particles that adhere to the skin, clothing and other equipment in the workplace. For this reason, the area for containment is a booth that will accommodate a car, truck, plane or equipment which prevents aforesaid contaminants into the surrounding environment.
There is a requirement for a system which is portable, flexible, and treats a wide variety of applications and is unenclosed without presenting harm or danger to the workers or environment. The requirements for this equipment must include an approved method for capturing solid, liquid or gaseous elements including explosive elements. The use of the portable, unenclosed device of the instant invention is desired to be employed in the production, repair, replacement, overhaul, or revamping of devices such as equipment, cars, trucks, aircraft, military hardware, civilian hardware, ships, bridges and the like. The device must also have the capability to be used where welding, sanding and painting (coating) on a smaller scale is being performed, such as small on-the-spot jobs. The capability to evacuate odors and fumes away from the workpiece, no matter where that workpiece is located, is required.
Spraying of coatings, abrasives, and other atomizable substances is a highly efficient way to deliver such substances to a surface or workpiece. A problem encountered is the overspray or errant particles generated by the spraying. This causes environmental issues by placing possibly harmful material into the air. It further endangers the workers spraying the substances, who may breathe the overspray which may be harmful.
The system and devices of the invention may be employed in conjunction with spraying or coating systems which may be employed for touch-up work or small repair jobs. These jobs may be deep in the interior of a ship, aircraft or vehicle. Often it is difficult to gain access to such locations on the aforementioned work areas in order to treat, coat or paint the work pieces located there. Once access is achieved there is often no viable way to evacuate the overspray, errant particles, fumes and the like from such enclosed areas as inside an aircraft, ship or other large vehicle (bus, train, etc.). This is because the conventional overspray evacuation equipment is heavy and bulky and cannot be transported proximal such a location being sprayed. By use of the instant invention, one may afford all the benefits of an airborne pollution control device in such an inaccessible or remote location.
The invention is a portable airborne contamination control system with a main unit cabinet and a remote unit. The invention is capable of capturing solid, liquid, and gaseous elements in a single cabinetry which may be adjustable to a variety of applications including the connection to a remote unit. The main unit can stand alone and operate in a conventional mode, such as in collection of overspray from the coating or spraying of an exterior of a large aircraft for example. The main airborne contamination control unit is a cabinet including a motor in communication with an air treatment path. The motor generates a vacuum or negative pressure which communicates through the adjustable ducts, filters, treatment systems and even may be employed to exhaust undesirable air which has been entrained with the errant particles, VOCs, overspray and the like. The main unit has a variety of configurations enhancing its flexibility.
The main unit has the capacity to be connected to a lightweight remote unit. The elongated and flexible duct connecting the main unit to the remote unit may be 50 feet or longer as required, its length could be extended by using a higher horsepower motor. The term duct is intended to include devices of a similar nature such as hoses, flexible pipes, and the like. The remote unit is highly portable and of a small dimension which permits it to be employed in areas inaccessible to the main unit. The remote unit weighs and is dimensioned significantly less than the main unit which affords it greater mobility and permits the remote unit access and be used in remote locations where the main unit could not fit or be placed due to its weight. It is believed that the remote unit will weigh less than 100 pounds. The main unit is connected to the remote unit by an elongated and flexible duct. Both the main unit and remote unit have a general cabinet structure with mounting structure designed to receive dual or single articulated suction ducts thereon. The articulated suction duct(s) may be placed proximal a workpiece which is being coated, abraded or treated by spraying. The articulated suction duct(s) collect overspray, errant particles, odors and fumes and transports them to and through a filter located in the main unit. The filtered air is then exhausted through an exhaust port on the main unit. A second elongated duct, tube, pipe or the like may be connected to the exhaust port to transport the air to a distant location. The invention permits the main unit to be employed independently with easily accessible locations as well as in cooperation with the remote unit in order to enjoy the benefits in difficult to reach locations.
When using the main unit, one may place the articulated suction duct(s) precisely at the location where the contamination is being generated. When the main unit is connected to the remote unit, one may place the remote unit with single or dual articulated suction ducts attached thereto precisely at the location where the contamination is being generated.
The portable airborne contamination control device with a remote unit basically has two parts. The main unit includes a wheeled cabinet-type housing including a motor-blower, cone, filter, control panels, multiple intake and exhaust ports. The remote unit has a general cabinet-like configuration which may include multiple intake mounts, single intake mounts and an exhaust port to which the elongated duct is designed to be mounted. It may be wheeled or affixed to a mobile vehicle. It may be placed on a portable lifting device, such as scissor lift, to permit the main unit to be moved up and down while men or machines are treating the workpiece. The remote unit is in communication with the main unit's housing by an elongated duct.
The main unit includes a housing having a top side wall, a bottom side wall, a right side wall, a left side wall, a front side wall and a back side wall. The walls define a generally rectangular cabinet with an interior and an exterior.
The interior of the cabinet of the ma
Hamill Jr. Tom
Pham Minh-Chau T.
Smith Duane
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