Portable exhaust fan for removing airborne hazardous materials

• US 6,440,190 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Air Motion Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael E. Goyetche
• Inventors: Goyetche, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU THI
• Application Number:
  US09/639,869
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 552/851, 553/852, 554/73, 554/71, 554/38, 554/39, 554/95, 55D/IG.46
• US Class Current: 55/473
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2273/30 Means for generating a circulation of a fluid in a filtration system, e.g. using a pump or a fan
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/12 in multiple arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/62 connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/46 Spray booths

Abstract

A portable, light-weight exhaust fan that can be easily and quickly carried to and set up in a localized area to safely, efficiently and substantially remove airborne materials thereby overcoming the above and other drawbacks of conventional exhaust fans. Exhaust fans in accordance with aspects of the present invention may be used to ventilate a localized area such as an enclosed room and may be placed in any aperture such as a window or doorway to remove substantially all airborne material from the air passing therethrough, and to exhaust filtered air directly or indirectly to the surrounding environment. An exhaust fan constructed such that air traveling along an exhaust path through the fan is prevented from contacting components of the fan that can be damaged by exposure to the airborne materials. This enables the exhaust fan to efficiently remove airborne materials from a localized area while preventing the same materials from adversely affecting the operation of the fan. This has particular utility in application wherein the airborne material such as paint over spray adheres readily to surfaces. By preventing the accumulation of debris on internal fan components, the fan operates with greater efficiency for longer periods of time, does not require the extensive periodic cleaning that conventional exhaust fans mandate, and has a significantly longer operational life. The fan components that necessarily come into contact with the air; that is, the interior surface of the exhaust chamber and the vanes of the fan, are preferably accessible and/or removable to facilitate cleaning.

Claims

1. A portable exhaust fan for removing airborne materials from a localized area comprising:

a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge opening and configured so as to define an air passageway between said inlet and discharge openings;

a centrifugal blower unit mounted within said housing such that rotating blades of said blower unit are located within said air passageway to draw air into said inlet opening and to cause said drawn air to travel through said air passageway and to exit through said discharge opening;

an inlet filter located adjacent to said inlet opening such that the air drawing into said inlet opening travels through said inlet filter, wherein said inlet filter is constructed and arranged to remove airborne materials that can accumulate on and ultimately interfere with said blower unit,

wherein said exhaust fan is adapted to be installed manually in an aperture.

2. The exhaust fan of claim 1, wherein said exhaust fan further comprises:

an electrical box for housing electrical components mounted on said housing, said electrical box constructed and arranged to be substantially impenetrable by the airborne materials.

3. The exhaust fan of claim 2, wherein said electrical box is secured within said housing.

4. The exhaust fan of claim 2, wherein said electrical box is secured to an exterior surface of said housing.

5. The exhaust fan of claim 2, wherein said electrical box is an explosion proof electrical box.

6. The exhaust fan of claim 2, further comprising:

electrical wiring to carry power to the blower unit; and

a sealed conduit through which said electrical wiring travels within said air passageway, wherein said sealed conduit is substantially impermeable to the airborne materials.

7. The exhaust fan of claim 1, wherein said airborne materials comprise paint overspray.

8. The fan of claim 7, wherein said airborne materials comprise paint overspray.

9. The fan of claim 7, wherein said airborne materials comprise hazardous airborne materials.

10. The fan of claim 8, wherein internal components of said exhaust fan that are exposed to said air are accessible and removable.

11. The fan of claim 9, wherein said components comprise a blower fan blade.

12. The fan of claim 7, wherein said exhaust fan is constructed and arranged such that the exhaust path prevent s air from coming into contact with incendiary promoters.

13. The fan of claim 12, wherein said incendiary promoters comprise:

high temperature surfaces, and

electrical components.

14. The fan of claim 13, wherein said electrical components are further prevented from exposure to the localized environment.

15. The fan of claim 7, further comprising:

an inlet filter located adjacent to an inlet opening of the in the exhaust path, constructed and arranged to remove at least those hazardous materials that can accumulate on or otherwise damage the internal fan components.

16. The fan of claim 15, further comprising:

an exhaust filter located adjacent to a discharge opening of the in the exhaust path, constructed and arranged to remove said hazardous materials and additional airborne hazardous materials that may damage the environment.

17. The fan of claim 15, further comprising:

an flexible exhaust tube having a proximate end coupled to said inlet opening of said exhaust fan and a distal end for placement in a localized area for receiving air to be filtered exhausted.

18. A portable, light-weight exhaust fan that can be easily and quickly carried to and set up in a localized area to safely, efficiently and substantially remove from the localized area airborne materials including flammable airborne materials,

wherein said exhaust fan is constructed such that air traveling along an exhaust path through the fan is prevented from contacting components of the fan that can be damaged by exposure to the debris and components that can ignite flammable debris in the air, thereby preventing the airborne materials from accumulating appreciably on the exhaust fan components.

19. An exhaust fan for removing airborne materials from a localized environment comprising:

a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge opening;

an air passageway between said inlet and discharge openings;

a centrifugal blower unit including an enclosed motor and a fan blade removably mounted on a shaft extending therefrom, said blower unit mounted within said air passageway to draw air into said inlet opening and to cause said drawn air to travel through said air passageway and to exit through said discharge opening;

an electrical box mounted on an exterior surface of said housing, said electrical box being substantially impenetrable by air;

an inlet filter, located in said air passageway adjacent to an inlet opening of the in the exhaust path, constructed and arranged to remove from air passing therethrough at least those airborne materials that can accumulate on and interfere with the operation of internal fan components; and

an exhaust filter located in said air passageway adjacent to a discharge opening of the in the exhaust path, constructed and arranged to remove from the air passing therethrough any airborne materials that may damage the environment.