Apparatus for collecting and packaging hazardous particulate materials

• US 5,037,159 A
• Filed: 04/04/1990
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pentek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pentek, Inc.
• Inventors: Lefkowitz, Sheldon, Baker, Howard G., Nutter, Victor H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bagnell, David J.
• Application Number:
  US07/504,537
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 53/432, 53/471, 15/352, 15/353, 15/340.1, 55/429, 55/432, 55/DIG. 9, 134/21, 134/25.4, 299/37, 299/64, 299/67
• US Class Current: 299/37.4
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/00 Transportable or portable shielded containers

Abstract

A method and apparatus is described for vacuum collecting and packaging of particulate materials, such as hazardous radiation contaminated concrete dust generated by floor scabbling, which avoids release of even small quantities of the material into the surrounding air. Each drum is positioned with its open mouth rim closely adjacent to the downwardly facing material-outlet of the vacuum collecting system. In one of the embodiments, an inflatable sealing gasket seals the spacing therebetween during filling. In another embodiment, the vacuum collecting system is vertically movable, and the vacuum collecting head, with a non-inflatable gasket is moved into engagement with the drum to provide the seal during filling. When filled, deflation of the gasket or vertical movement of the vacuum head again provides the narrow spacing, and both the container lid and a cover for the material outlet are passed therethrough. The material outlet cover is held against the outlet by vacuum while the filled container is covered and replaced with an empty container. The disposable cover is then dropped into the second container after it has been similarly sealed to the vacuum system for filling.

Claims

1. A vacuum collecting and packaging system for collecting and packaging particulate material as it is generated, comprising a container having predetermined height and an upwardly facing open mouth rim for receiving and packaging said material, a mobile scabbling vehicle having a vehicle body and a scabbling head mounted thereon for generating said material, a vacuum head mounted on said vehicle body and having a downwardly facing particulate material outlet spaced above said vehicle body, a vacuum line between said scabbling head and said vacuum head for collecting said generated material, a horizontally slidable bed mounted on said vehicle body beneath said particulate material outlet for positioning said container thereunder, said slidable bed being spaced a distance below said material outlet to provide a narrow spacing between said container mouth rim and said material outlet when said container is so positioned, and an inflatable sealing gasket attached to and defining the periphery of said material outlet, said sealing gasket being inflatable into sealing engagement with said container mouth rim when so positioned.

2. A vacuum collecting and packaging system according to claim 1, which further comprises a lid for said container open mouth, and a flat and thin cover for covering said material-outlet, said narrow spacing distance between said container mouth rim and said material-outlet being greater than the combined thicknesses of said container lid and said material-outlet cover for concurrently moving both said lid and said cover into said spacing from the periphery thereof.

3. A vacuum collecting and packaging system according to claim 2 wherein said cover has an opening which is small relative to the surface area of said cover for permitting air to flow through said opening of said vacuum head.

4. Apparatus for collecting and packaging particulate material in a container having predetermined height and an upwardly facing open mouth rim, comprising means providing a supporting surface for said container, a vacuum head mounted above said container supporting surface and having a downwardly facing particulate material-outlet corresponding in size and shape to that of said container mouth rim and spaced above said container supporting surface a distance greater than said container height to provide a narrow vertical peripheral spacing between said material-outlet and said container mouth rim when said container is positioned therebelow on said container supporting surface, a vacuum line for collecting said particulate material and discharging the collected material through said material-outlet, and an inflatable sealing gasket attached to and along the periphery of said material-outlet, said sealing gasket being inflatable into sealing engagement with said container mouth rim when said container is so positioned.

5. A vacuum apparatus for collecting and packaging particulate material in a container having predetermined height and being imperforate except for an upwardly facing open mouth with a peripheral rim for receiving and packaging said material, a vacuum head having downwardly facing particulate material-outlet opening to the atmosphere and of a size engageable with said peripheral rim in vacuum-tight relationship, the space below said material-outlet being free of a vacuum tight enclosure for enclosing said container, a vacuum line connected to said vacuum head above said particulate material-outlet for collecting said particulate material and for delivering said particulate material into said vacuum head above said material-outlet, whereby particulate material received in said head drops through said outlet into said container, and vertically movable supporting means for supporting one of said vacuum head and said container with said vacuum head above said container and said outlet aligned with said mouth of said container for engaging said outlet with said mouth.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said vacuum head has a sealing gasket at said outlet engageable with said mouth of said container for providing a vacuum seal therebetween.

7. A vacuum apparatus for collecting and packaging particulate material in a container having predetermined height and an upwardly facing open mouth with a peripheral rim for receiving and packaging said material, a vacuum head having a downwardly facing particular material-outlet, said vacuum head having a sealing gasket at said outlet engageable with said mouth of said container for providing a vacuum seal therebetween, a vacuum line connected to said vacuum head for collecting said particulate material, and vertically movable supporting means secured to said vacuum head for supporting and moving said vacuum head with said vacuum head above said container and said outlet aligned with said mouth of said container for engaging said outlet with said mouth.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said vertically movable supporting means is mounted on a horizontally movable vehicle.

9. A vacuum apparatus for collecting and packaging particulate material in a container having predetermined height and an upwardly facing open mouth with a peripheral rim for receiving and packaging said material, a vacuum head having a downwardly facing particulate material-outlet, a vacuum line connected to said vacuum head for collecting said particulate material, vertically movable supporting means for supporting one of said vacuum head and said container with said vacuum head above said container and said outlet aligned with said mouth of said container for engaging said outlet with said mouth, and a cover for said material outlet, said cover having an opening which is small relative to the surface area of said cover for permitting air to flow through said opening into said vacuum head.