Portable air pollution capture apparatus with painting tray

• US 6,143,048 A
• Filed: 03/18/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Millan, Jorge, Comproni, Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US09/271,796
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 55/467, 55/471, 55/472, 55/473, 55/486, 55/356, 55/357, 55/385.1, 55/418, 55/419, 55/DIG. 18, 55/DIG. 46, 55/482, 454/54, 118/326
• US Class Current: 55/356
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/3425 Honeycomb shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/708 Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/90 Odorous compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/708
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/0258 from painting equipments or paint drying installations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4541 for portable use, e.g. gas masks
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0036 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/12 in multiple arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2418 Honeycomb filters used for filtering exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine F01N3/022; ceramic honeycomb structures per se C04B38/0006
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/30 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using loose filtering material
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 50/00 Combinations of methods or devices for separating particles from gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0415 Beds in cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/38 Removing components of undefined structure

Abstract

An air pollution control apparatus for capturing airborne pollutants present in a relatively confined environment. The apparatus includes a portable airborne-pollutant capturing device movable to a site of pollutant origin and having at least one airborne-pollutant collector member which can be non-limitedly exemplified as a collection hood positionable at the site of pollution for pollutant collection or a painting tray upon which items can be placed and painted and beneath which resultant pollutant can be collected. A vacuum system is present within the capturing device and is in communication with the one or more collector members to draw airborne pollutants into the capturing device through the pollutant collector member. Actual capture of pollutants is accomplished by a filter system within the capturing device. The filter system can include one filter or more than one identical or different filters chosen for enhanced filtration capabilities in relation to pollutants present. Preferably, more than one type of filter can be accommodated simultaneously to thereby capture multiple pollutants.

Claims

1. A portable air pollution control apparatus for capturing airborne pollutants, said apparatus comprising:

a) a wheeled, single chamber mobile housing generally air-tight when in a closed configuration and having a generally non-obstructed linear flow path for incoming pollutant-containing air upon collection until filtration thereof, said housing hand movable while in operation within a space and having a painting tray upon which an item can be placed and painted and from which pollutant from a paint spray can be collected through an intake opening of a tray pollutant collector member in air flow communication with said painting tray, said tray having a plurality of sides with one side thereof walless and with all other sides thereof having upwardly extending generally vertical walls wherein said walls are foldable upon the painting tray;

b) a vacuum system within the mobile housing in air flow communication with the pollutant collector member to draw airborne pollutants into the mobile housing through said collector member and to a filter system; and

c) a filter system comprising a plurality of removable filters within the mobile housing and to which airborne pollutants drawn into said housing from the pollutant collector member are delivered to be to trapped and retained.

2. A portable air pollution control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the painting tray comprises a mesh platform.

3. A portable air pollution control apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the intake opening of the tray pollutant collector member is disposed beneath the painting tray.

4. A portable air pollution control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tray pollutant collector member is a duct.

5. A portable air pollution control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the painting tray is four-sided.

6. A portable air pollution control apparatus for capturing airborne pollutants, said apparatus comprising:

a) a wheeled, single chamber mobile housing generally air-tight when in a closed configuration and having a generally non-obstructed linear flow path for incoming pollutant-containing air upon collection until filtration thereof, said housing hand movable while in operation within a space to a point source site within said space where pollution is originating, and having at least one flexible, extendably maneuverable pollutant collector member having at least one articulatable exterior support structure and a distal end in air flow communication with and positionable at a point source site of pollutant origin, and having a painting tray upon which an item can be placed and painted and from which pollutant from a paint spray can be collected through an intake opening of a tray pollutant collector member in air flow communication with said painting tray;

b) a vacuum system within the mobile housing in air flow communication with the at least one flexible, extendably maneuverable pollutant collector member and the tray pollutant collector member to draw airborne pollutants into the mobile housing through said collector members and to a filter system; and

c) a filter system comprising a plurality of removable filters within the mobile housing and to which airborne pollutants drawn into said housing from the pollutant collector members are delivered to be to trapped and retained.

7. A portable air pollution control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the painting tray comprises a mesh platform.

8. A portable air pollution control apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the intake opening of the tray pollutant collector member is disposed beneath the painting tray.

9. A portable air pollution control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tray pollutant collector member is a duct.

10. A portable air pollution control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the painting tray is four-sided and wherein generally vertical walls extend upwardly along three sides of the said painting tray.

11. A portable air pollution control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the vertical walls are foldable upon the painting tray.