Vacuum cleaner for radioactively contaminated particles

• US 4,061,480 A
• Filed: 05/20/1976
• Issued: 12/06/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Runge, David A., Frye, Burton L., Souza, Lawrence C., LaVoie, Raymond V., Pittman, Max G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lutter, Frank W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lacey, David L.
• Application Number:
  US05/688,456
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 55/364, 55/366, 55/369, 55/370, 55/374, 55/376, 55/379, 55/429, 55/482, 55/485, 55/493, 55/502, 55/DIG. 2, 55/DIG. 3, 55/DIG. 9 , 55/DIG., 55/356, 55/362, 55/372, 252/301.1 W, 252/301.15, 15/347, 15/352
• US Class Current: 55/356
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/55 for cleaning appliances, e.g. suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0094 against radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 9/001 Decontamination of contaminated objects, apparatus, clothes, food; Preventing contamination thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 422/903 Radioactive material apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/02 Vacuum cleaner bags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/09 Radioactive filters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/26 Bag coupling

Abstract

An apparatus which uses suction to draw radioactive particles through a high efficiency filter and contains such filtered particles in a disposable bladder-filter unit for subsequent disposal. The bladder-filter unit prevents the escape of filtered radioactive particles to the ambient atmosphere during the operation of the apparatus and also during disposal, as well as preventing the radioactive contamination of the remainder of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner for removing radioactive particles from the surface of an object comprising:

a. an upper housing having an exhaust port;

b. a lower housing having an input port;

c. means for sealably connecting said upper housing to said lower housing in an airtight manner;

d. a suction means, having an intake opening and an exhaust opening connected to said exhaust port, for creating a local pressure differential, said suction means being fixedly contained in said upper housing;

e. a filter container having two openings and containing a material capable of filtering very fine particles, one opening of said container being removably attached to said intake opening of said suction means;

f. a retainer of a flexible material located in said lower housing, said retainer having a central opening, a fold concentric with said central opening, and a port opening, said central opening being attached annularly to the side of said filter container in an airtight manner such that the second opening of said filter container is enclosed by said retainer, said port opening being removably attached in an airtight manner peripherally to said input port of said lower housing, and said fold being peripherally held by the interface of said upper and said lower housings;

whereby ambient air containing radioactive particles enters said retainer through said port opening and is filtered by said filter container so that the radioactive particles are retained in said retainer without contaminating said vacuum cleaner.

2. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a. a frame attached to the second opening of said filter container; and

b. a filter bag having an opening attached annularly to the side of said filter container in an airtight manner which encloses said frame and said second opening;

whereby ambient air carrying radioactive particles is filtered in sequence by said filter bag and said filter container.

3. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

a. said retainer having a vent opening to said lower housing; and

b. a filter positioned within said vent opening;

whereby the pressure within said retainer is equalized to the pressure outside said retainer and inside said lower housing to prevent collapse of said retainer.

4. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 3 further comprising means for removing said upper housing from said lower housing so that said retainer with entrapped radioactive particles can be removed and replaced.

5. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 4 wherein said filter material of said container is capable of filtering smaller particles than said filter bag is capable of filtering.

6. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 5 wherein said filter material of said container is capable of filtering particles as small as 0.3 microns in diameter.

7. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 6 wherein said filter container is a cylinder with said openings at the opposing ends of said cylinder.

8. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 7 wherein said sealably connecting means comprises a heat shrinkable tubing shrunk about the exterior periphery of the interface between said upper and said lower housings.

9. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 8 wherein said removing means comprises:

a. a flange having curved ends which hook under an overhanging surface of said upper housing; and

b. means for exerting a vertical force to said flange to lift said upper housing from said lower housing after said heat shrinkable tubing is removed.