Ventilation – Workstation ventilator – Having canopy exhaust hood
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-11
2003-11-18
Joyce, Harold (Department: 3749)
Ventilation
Workstation ventilator
Having canopy exhaust hood
C454S065000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06648748
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of vacuum systems and in particular to an airborne particulate removal apparatus having a main flexible conduit in fluid communication with a plurality of flexible secondary conduits rotatably mounted to the primary conduit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As stated by Parker in U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,292 which issued Nov. 3, 1992 for A Vacuum System for Multiple Work Areas, many industries use equipment which in operation generates atmospheric contaminants, which might be gases or airborne particles. These gases and particles are sometimes a health hazard to the operator, as well as to other employees and the environment in general. This problem is especially acute in industrial operations such as wood-working or painting, where dust and gases that are harmful if inhaled are generated in close proximity to the worker. Additionally, particulates can eventually build up and damage equipment in the work area, and often require regular cleaning of the work area. Government regulations in many instances now strictly regulate the amount of such gases and particles which can be present in or emitted from the work area.
Vacuum systems have been installed to withdraw airborne contaminants generated in such work areas. A single vacuum source is usually provided. A manifold usually communicates between the vacuum source and a number of vacuum conduits, the conduits extending to individual work areas. Vacuum openings in the vacuum conduits are provided at the work areas to permit the withdrawal of air from the work area. The gases and particles in the air are thereby removed, and subsequent filtration or other cleansing operations can be employed downstream to permit subsequent disposal of the contaminants. A hood can be provided in association with each vacuum conduit and vacuum opening to reduce the amount of particles and gases that escape from the work area.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,618 which issued Nov. 27, 2001 to Simms et al. for An Adjustable Duct Assembly for Fume and Dust Removal and Filter Cleaner, an adjustable duct assembly for the collection of fumes, dust and the like may include two duct sections connected end-to-end by a duct support system which includes two elongate arms pivotally connected, the arms attached to the adjacent ends of the ducts. Similarly, applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,505 which issued Jan. 9, 1996 to Hedlund for An Arrangement for Extraction of Harmful Gases from Workplaces in which is disclosed a carrier arm having two arms connected telescopically with each other where the carrier is swivel mounted so that it can be swivelled in a vertical direction between a downward-directed position and an outward-directed for example horizontal position. Similarly also, applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,148 which issued Apr. 14, 1998 to Coral et al. for a Universal Connector Hose for Joining an Extractor to an Element for Extracting Fumes from a Factory Workplace in which is disclosed a hose having two flexible portions connected respectively to the suction unit and to the fume-conveyor element or hood and a rectilinear portion which is articulated to the suction unit and the hood. Other articulated fume extraction arms of which applicant is aware are described in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,540,202; 5,427,569; 5,527,217; 5,536,206; 4,860,644; and 5,336,130.
What is neither taught nor suggested in the prior art, and what is one of the objects of the present invention to provide, is a constant diameter modular ducting having a cable suspension system and which is, when compared to the prior art, easy to erect, and which may be a low static compressed air driven fan system providing multiplexing capabilities of, for example, five hose airstreams to one primary hub having a single low pressure source such as a central exhaust fan. The flex hose design of the present invention provides suction outlets which may optimize fume extraction with minimal repositioning and which, at the other end of the flex hoses, are provided with hose-to-main duct fittings which minimize static pressure drop and equalize flow in multiple flex hose arms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the present invention, a main or primary flexible duct has alternating flexible sections and rigid sections, providing a duct of substantially constant sixteen inch diameter. Prefabricated hose connection pieces provide for rapid assembly using releasable hose clamps to modularly secure the modular sections of the primary ducting to each other. Advantageously, the primary duct is tubular. The ducting provides maximum versatility in conforming to a round, square or rectangular work space or may be extended in a straight line. Equal exhaust flow from each of a plurality of flexible secondary hoses, that is, the hose arms or legs, which may be four inch diameter hoses, branching from the primary duct is promoted by static pressure optimization of the flow from the secondary hoses through flow optimizing fittings, which may in a preferred embodiment be diffuser fittings having a four to six inch diameter feeding into a sixteen inch primary duct, where the diffuser fittings incline the flow from the secondary hoses in the direction of flow through the primary ducting.
A fan housing has external loops, which permit a cable attachment to the nearby first wall of a building. At the opposite end of the run of primary ducting, an end cap has a bar, which extends outwardly of the cap to allow a cable yoke to be attached. A tensioning/supporting cable is attached to the yoke, passes around pulleys attached to the opposite second end of the building and returns to an anchoring point at the first wall. A tensioning device is provided near the second wall for applying or relieving tension on the tensioning/supporting cable.
The flex sections of the primary ducting are connected to the rigid sections (so-called hard bodied sections) by flexible couplers secured by a pair of annular clamps. One end of the flexible coupler is mounted to the hard body section by a clamp having double annular bead receiving grooves or channels each tensionable by its own latch. By partially releasing one of the latches, for example the latch adjacent to the hard body section, the flexible section is still held securely by the flexible coupler, but the hard body section may be rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the flexible coupler and then re-clamped into its desired orientation.
A frusto-conical diffuser is mounted to the inclined base of the diffuser fitting and secured by a double bead receiving clamp. The inclined base is mounted over an aperture in the hard body section. A section of secondary hose is mounted to the diffuser by another flexible coupler. A vacuum head may be secured at the anterior end of the secondary hose by a connector such as another flexible connector or coupler.
The removable thirty degree base of the diffuser fitting has a rigid base flange having a resilient under-gasket in contact with the hard body section. It is secured to the hard body section by a clamp passing around the hard body section. Upstream of the aperture in the hard body section is a locking member while downstream is an upstanding gusset, which is aligned with a corresponding slot in base flange of the fitting. The gusset has an aperture, which will accept a clip to retain the fitting snugly in place. The gusset prohibits rotation of the fitting on the hard body section during closure of retaining clamp. The retaining clip also has a ground wire to eliminate static electricity build-up.
The helically wrapped wire in the large diameter flex hose of the flexible section of the primary ducting is exposed near the hard body section. Static electricity build up may be eliminated by bringing the wire in contact with the clamp on the hard body section or by clipping a ground wire to it.
A length of flexible cable joins each hard body section, and is connected between rigid connection bars secured to the inner surface near each of the ends. The
Edwards Antony C.
Joyce Harold
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