Single station hazardous material detection and neutralization system for letters and packages

• US 20040024278A1
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Megerle, Clifford A.
• Application Number:
  US10/289,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024278A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 588/200
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/00 Measures preceding sorting according to destination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/02 Devices for withdrawing samples sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2205 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2211 with cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/005 Packages for mailing or similar transport of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/025 postal items
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2223 aerosol sampling devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0088 Biological contaminants; Fouling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/019 Biological contaminants; Fouling

Abstract

A system and method for neutralizing hazardous materials in mail and the like, which includes a container having an enclosed chamber for containing mail, and an air stream in the chamber. There are air input and output ports for accepting a flow of air for distribution within the container and for directing the flow of air therefrom. There is a hazardous materials detection system for detecting the presence of one or more hazardous materials in the air flow, and a system for introducing into the chamber, a neutralizing agent that neutralizes, one or more targeted hazardous material. There is an arrangement for purging the neutralizing agent from the enclosed chamber.

Claims

1. A system for neutralizing hazardous materials in mail and the like, comprising:

a. a container having an enclosed chamber for containing mail;

b. means for providing an air stream in said chamber;

c. air input and output ports for accepting a flow of air for distribution within the container and for directing the flow of air therefrom;

d. a hazardous materials detection system for detecting the presence of one or more hazardous materials in the air flow;

e. means for filling the chamber with a neutralizing agent that neutralizes, one or more targeted hazardous material; and

g. means for purging the neutralizing agent from the enclosed chamber.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said chamber, ports and detection system are sealed so that air may not escape therefrom into the ambient atmosphere.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said hazardous materials detection system includes sensors for sensing one or more of biological pathogens including bacteria, bacterial spores, viruses, rickettsia, toxins, low-volatility chemical particles including chemical warfare agents, VX particles, explosives particles, particles of, or particles associated with, illicit drugs, and other biological particles and materials, and radioactive particles, chemical vapors including chemical warfare agents, explosives and explosives-related compounds, illicit drugs, hazardous industrial materials, other chemical vapors and materials, and other hazardous materials.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for agitating mail in the chamber to loosen particles and/or vapors therefrom so that they can be entrained in the air stream.

5. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said agitating means includes said means for providing an air stream and which provides an air flow to move the air at a sufficient velocity to agitate the mail.

6. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said container is a semi-trailer, a rail car or a mail container.

7. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising an air flow generator.

8. A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said air flow generator creates an under-pressure at the air outlet.

9. A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said air flow generator creates an over-pressure at the air inlet.

10. A system for detecting and decontaminating hazardous materials comprising:

a cargo container for containing a cargo;

air distribution means for distributing an air flow within the container;

air input and output ports for accepting a flow of air for distribution within the container and for directing the flow of air thereform;

a hazardous materials detection system for detecting the presence of one or more hazardous materials in the air flow;

means for filling the container with an agent for neutralizing one or more targeted hazardous materials; and

means for purging the neutralizing agent from the container.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said materials detection system includes sensors for sensing one or more of biological pathogens including backeria, bacterial spores, viruses, rickettsia, toxins, low-volatility chemical particles including chemical warfare agents, VX particles, explosives particles, particles of, or particles associated with, illicit drugs, and other biological particles and materials, and radioactive particles, chemical vapors including chemical warfare agents, explosives and explosives-related compounds, illicit drugs, hazardous industrial materials, other chemical vapors and materials, and other hazardous materials.

12. A system as defined in claim 10, further comprising a system controller for controlling the means for filling and means for purging the neutralizing agent from the container.

13. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein said container is sufficiently large to contain a large plurality of mail bins.

14. A method for detecting and neutralizing hazardous materials in mail, comprising the steps of:

a. placing mail into an airtight container having at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet;

b. moving air through the container and through the mail contained therein between said air inlet and said air outlet;

c. sensing the air for at least one hazardous material with a sensor;

d. directing air leaving the container to said sensor;

e. filling the chamber with a neutralizing agent that neutralizes targeted hazardous materials; and

f. purging the neutralizing agent from the container.

15. A method as defined in claim 14 wherein steps e. and f. are repeated as needed.

16. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising the step of:

providing an alert signal when the air being analyzed contains at least trace amounts of hazardous material.

17. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising the step of:

agitating the mail in the container sufficiently to dislodge at least a trace amount of any hazardous material contained therein or thereon.

18. A method as defined in claim 14 wherein the step of moving air creates an under-pressure at the air outlet.

19. A method as defined in claim 14 wherein the step of moving air creates an over-pressure at the air inlet.

20. A method as defined in claim 14 wherein the hazardous material is anthrax spores and the neutralizing agent is ClO₂.

21. A method as defined in claim 20 wherein the humidity is controlled.

22. A method of detecting and neutralizing mail containing hazardous material comprising the steps of:

a. loading mail into a confined chamber;

b. using an air stream in the chamber to entrain particulates in or on the mail;

c. sensing for hazardous materials;

d. in the event hazardous materials are sensed, partially evacuating the atmosphere in the chamber;

e. filling the chamber with an active gas that neutralizes one or more targeted bio-hazardous materials;

f. maintaining the mail and gas in the chamber for a sufficient period of time to neutralize the bio-hazardous material;

g. pumping the gas out of the chamber and allowing air to enter to reduce the active gas to a safe level;

h. examining the chamber to determine whether the bio-hazardous material has been neutralized;

i. if the bio-hazardous material has not been neutralized, repeating steps e. through i.;

j. in the event the bio-hazardous material has been neutralized, examining the chamber to determine whether the active gas has been reduced to a safe level;

k. in the event, the active gas is not at a safe level, repeating steps g. through k.; and

l. in the event the active gas is at a safe level, unloading the mail from the chamber.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein steps b. through k. are carried out under the control of a computer.