Ductless fumehood system

• US 20080072763A1
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fipak Research And Development Company
• Original Assignee: Fipak Research And Development Company
• Inventors: Hauville, Francois
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 96/397
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 15/023 Fume cabinets or cupboards, e.g. for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/163 Clean air work stations, i.e. selected areas within a space which filtered air is passed
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/108 using dry filter elements

Abstract

A ductless fumehood system comprising: at least one ductless fumehood comprising a housing; a workspace formed within the housing; a door for selectively closing off the workspace; an air inlet for introducing air into the workspace; a master module for receiving air from the workspace, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then exhausting that filtered air to the ambient room atmosphere; and a slave module for receiving air from the workspace, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then exhausting that filtered air to the ambient room atmosphere; wherein the slave module is in communication with the master module such that the master module central processing unit is capable of (i) controlling the operation of the active elements of the slave module, (ii) detecting a function failure of the slave module, and (iii) activating the master module alarm in the event of a failure within that slave module.

Claims

1. A ductless fumehood system, the system comprising:

at least one ductless fumehood, the ductless fumehood comprising;

a housing;

a workspace formed within the housing;

a door for selectively closing off the workspace;

an air inlet for introducing air into the workspace;

a master module for receiving air from the workspace, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then exhausting that filtered air to the ambient room atmosphere, wherein the master module comprises;

a master module filter;

a master module filter sensor for determining proper functioning of the master module filter;

a master module exhaust fan for moving air from the workspace, through the master module filter and out into the ambient room atmosphere;

a master module alarm for alerting an operator of a function failure within the ductless fumehood; and

a master module central processing unit for (i) controlling the operation of the active elements of the master module, (ii) detecting a function failure of the master module, and (iii) activating the master module alarm in the event of a failure within the master module; and

at least one slave module for receiving air from the workspace, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then exhausting that filtered air to the ambient room atmosphere, wherein the slave module comprises;

a slave module filter;

a slave module filter sensor for determining proper functioning of the slave module filter;

a slave module exhaust fan for moving air from the workspace, through the slave module filter and out into the ambient room atmosphere;

wherein the at least one slave module is in communication with the master module such that the master module central processing unit is capable of (i) controlling the operation of the active elements of the slave module, (ii) detecting a function failure of the slave module, and (iii) activating the master module alarm in the event of a failure within that slave module.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one ductless fumehood further comprises:

a sensor for monitoring door closure; and

a sensor monitoring ambient room air.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one ductless fumehood further comprises a communication module for enabling communication between the master module central processing unit and a remote monitor unit.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the system comprises a plurality of ductless fumehoods, wherein each of the ductless fumehoods further comprises a communication module for enabling communication between that fumehood'"'"'s master module central processing unit and a remote monitor unit.

24. A system according to claim 1,

wherein the system further comprises a remote monitor unit for receiving information from the at least one ductless fumehood and issuing a alert upon the occurrence of a pre-determined condition at the at least one ductless fumehood;

and

further wherein the at least one ductless fumehood further comprises a communication module for enabling communication between the master module central processing unit and a remote monitor unit.

5. A ductless fumehood system, the system comprising:

at least one ductless fumehood for purging hazardous substances from a workspace located within the ductless fumehood; and

a remote monitor unit for receiving information from the at least one ductless fumehood and issuing an alert upon the occurrence of a pre-determined condition at the at least one ductless fumehood.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the at least ductless fumehood communicates with the remote monitor unit via a communication link, wherein the communication link comprises one from the group consisting of:

a hard-wired connection; and

a wireless connection.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the communication link comprises one from the group consisting of:

an electrical wire;

an optical fiber;

a telephone landline;

a WIFI connection; and

a cellular telephone connection.

8. A system according to claim 5 wherein the remote monitor unit communicates with at least one of the group consisting of:

a customer safety center;

an other entity;

a manufacturer; and

an other monitoring service.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the remote monitor unit communicates with at least one of the group via a communication link, wherein the communication link comprises one from the group consisting of:

a hard-wired connection; and

a wireless connection.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the communication link comprises one from the group consisting of:

an electrical wire;

an optical fiber;

a telephone landline;

a WIFI connection; and

a cellular telephone connection.

11. A system according to claim 5 wherein the pre-determined condition comprises at least one from the group consisting of:

failure of a filter unit;

failure of an outlet fan;

failure of proper door sealing; and

detecting a dangerous substance in the ambient air.

12. A system according to claim 5 wherein the at least one ductless fumehood comprises:

a housing;

a workspace formed within the housing;

a door for selectively closing off the workspace;

an air inlet for introducing air into the workspace;

an air outlet for removing air from the workspace;

a filter system for receiving air from the air outlet, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then exhausting that filtered air to the ambient room air; and

an alarm.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein the at least one ductless fumehood further comprises:

a sensor for monitoring operation of the filter system;

a sensor for monitoring function of the air outlet;

a sensor for monitoring door closure; and

a sensor monitoring ambient room air.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein the at least one ductless fumehood further comprises a central processing unit for receiving data from the filter sensor, the air outlet sensor, the door closure sensor and the ambient room air sensor.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the at least one ductless fumehood further comprises a touchscreen display monitor for facilitating communication between the central processing unit and a user.

16. A system according to claim 5 wherein the at least one ductless fumehood further comprises a card reader, and further wherein the at least one ductless fumehood is enabled only when an appropriate access card is disposed in the card reader.

17. A system according to claim 12 wherein the filter system comprises a plurality of modular filter units.

18. A system according to claim 5 wherein the system comprises a plurality of ductless fumehoods.

19. A ductless fumehood comprising:

a housing;

a workspace formed within the housing;

a door for selectively closing off the workspace;

an air inlet for introducing air into the workspace;

an air outlet for removing air from the workspace;

a filter system for receiving air from the air outlet, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then exhausting that filtered air to the ambient room air;

an alarm;

a sensor for monitoring operation of the filter system;

a sensor for monitoring function of the air outlet;

a sensor for monitoring door closure;

a sensor monitoring ambient room air; and

a central processing unit for receiving data from the filter sensor, the air outlet sensor, the door closure sensor and the ambient room air sensor.

20. A ductless fumehood according to claim 19 wherein the ductless fumehood further comprises:

a communications interface for connecting the central processing unit to a remote monitor unit, wherein the remote monitor unit is configured so as to receive information from the at least one ductless fumehood and issue an alert upon the occurrence of a pre-determined condition at the at least one ductless fumehood.

21. A ductless fumehood according to claim 20 the communications interface utilizes one from the group consisting of:

a hard-wired connection; and

a wireless connection.

22. A ductless fumehood according to claim 20 wherein the communications interface utilizes one from the group consisting of:

an electrical wire;

an optical fiber;

a telephone landline;

a WIFI connection; and

a cellular telephone connection.

23. A ductless fumehood comprising:

a housing;

a workspace formed within the housing;

a door for selectively closing off the workspace;

an air inlet for introducing air into the workspace;

a master module for receiving air from the workspace, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then exhausting that filtered air to the ambient room atmosphere;

at least one slave module for receiving air from the workspace, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then exhausting that filtered air to the ambient room atmosphere;

wherein each of the at least one slave modules communicates with the master module so that the master module can control operation of, and detect failures within, each of the slave modules.

25. A ductless fumehood system, the system comprising:

at least one ductless fumehood, the ductless fumehood comprising;

a housing;

a workspace formed within the housing;

a door for selectively closing off the workspace;

a master module for receiving ambient room air, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then passing that filtered air to the workspace, wherein the master module comprises;

a master module filter;

a master module filter sensor for determining proper functioning of the master module filter;

a master module fan for moving air from the ambient room atmosphere, through the master module filter and into the workspace;

a master module alarm for alerting an operator of a function failure within the ductless fumehood; and

a master module central processing unit for (i) controlling the operation of the active elements of the master module, (ii) detecting a function failure of the master module, and (iii) activating the master module alarm in the event of a failure within the master module; and

at least one slave module for receiving ambient room air, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then passing that filtered air to the workspace, wherein the slave module comprises;

a slave module filter;

a slave module filter sensor for determining proper functioning of the slave module filter;

a slave module fan for moving air from the ambient room atmosphere, through the slave module filter and into the workspace;

wherein the at least one slave module is in communication with the master module such that the master module central processing unit is capable of (i) controlling the operation of the active elements of the slave module, (ii) detecting a function failure of the slave module, and (iii) activating the master module alarm in the event of a failure within that slave module.

26. A ductless fumehood system, the system comprising:

at least one ductless fumehood for isolating a workspace located within the ductless fumehood from hazardous substances in the ambient room atmosphere; and

a remote monitor unit for receiving information from the at least one ductless fumehood and issuing an alert upon the occurrence of a pre-determined condition at the at least one ductless fumehood.

27. A ductless fumehood comprising:

a housing;

a workspace formed within the housing;

a door for selectively closing off the workspace;

an air inlet for introducing air into the ductless fumehood;

an air outlet for removing air from the ductless fumehood;

a filter system for receiving air from the air inlet, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then exhausting that filtered air to the workspace;

an alarm;

a sensor for monitoring operation of the filter system;

a sensor for monitoring function of the air outlet;

a sensor for monitoring door closure;

a sensor monitoring ambient room air; and

a central processing unit for receiving data from the filter sensor, the air outlet sensor, the door closure sensor and the ambient room air sensor.

28. A ductless fumehood comprising:

a housing;

a workspace formed within the housing;

a door for selectively closing off the workspace;

an air inlet for introducing air into the ductless fumehood;

a master module for receiving air from the ambient room atmosphere, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then passing that filtered air to the workspace;

at least one slave module for receiving air from the ambient room atmosphere, purging unwanted substances from that air, and then passing that filtered air to the workspace;

wherein each of the at least one slave modules communicates with the master module so that the master module can control operation of, and detect failures within, each of the slave modules.