Portable airborne contamination control system including a main and remote unit

• US 6,616,720 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William Charles Smith Revocable Trust
• Original Assignee: William C. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU THI
• Application Number:
  US10/102,809
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 553/851, 553/852, 553/56, 554/71, 55D/IG.18, 55D/IG.46, 454/187
• US Class Current: 55/385.2
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 15/002 using a central suction system, e.g. for collecting exhaust gases in workshops removing dust from textile machines D01H11/00; ventilation of mines, galleries or tunnels, e.g. traffic tunnels, E21F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 15/04 from a small area, e.g. a tool removing chips B23Q11/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/125 mounted on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/22 Cleaning ducts or apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/10 by separation, e.g. by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/108 using dry filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/18 Work bench
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/46 Spray booths

Abstract

The invention is an airborne contamination control system with a main device unit and a remote unit. The main airborne contamination control unit is a cabinet including a motor in communication with an air treatment path. The main unit has a variety of configurations. The main unit has the capability to be connected to any of a plurality of lightweight remote units, depending on the specific application. These remote units are highly portable and of a small dimension which permits them to be employed in areas inaccessible to the main unit. The main unit is connected to the remote unit by an elongated and flexible duct. Both the main unit and remote unit have a general cabinet structure with mounting structure designed to receive dual or single articulated suction ducts thereon. The articulated suction ducts may be placed proximal a work piece which is being coated, abraded or treated by spraying. The articulated suction ducts collect overspray and errant particles and transports them to and through a filter located in the main unit. The filtered air is then exhausted through an exhaust port on the main unit. An elongated duct may be connected to the exhaust port to transport the air to a distant location. The invention permits the main unit to be employed independently on easily accessible locations as well as in conjunction with the remote unit in difficult to reach locations. The remote unit may further be adapted to other configurations which would increase its utility.

Claims

1. A portable airborne contamination control system for collecting overspray, fumes, VOC, and errant particles generated whist treating, coating or blasting a workpiece, said system comprising:

a main unit, said main unit having a motor, an inlet port, and an exhaust port, said main unit adapted to create a vacuum thus creating an upstream and downstream flow between said inlet port and said exhaust port,

an elongated duct, said elongated duct having a first downstream side and a second upstream side,

a remote plenum unit, said remote plenum unit having a downstream exit port and an upstream entrance port,

said elongated duct first downstream side being connected to said main unit inlet port, and

said elongated duct second upstream side being connected to said remote plenum unit downstream exit port,

said remote plenum unit upstream entrance port is in communication with said vacuum and is further adapted to being placed close to a workpiece being treated,

whereby said remote plenum unit is placed in an area which is inaccessible to said main unit, said remote plenum unit placed proximal a workpiece being treated in such a manner where overspray and errant particles are generated, the overspray and errant particles being drawn through said remote plenum unit, further passing downstream through said elongated duct from said second upstream side to said first downstream side, further passing into said main unit inlet port and then exhausted through said main unit exhaust port.

2. A portable airborne contamination system control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote plenum unit upstream entrance port is adapted to receive a single articulatable suction duct thereon.

3. A portable airborne contamination control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote plenum unit upstream entrance port is adapted to receive a pair of individually articulatable suction ducts thereon.

4. A portable airborne contamination control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote plenum unit upstream entrance port includes a screen, said screen adapted to receive items to be sprayed thereon, wherein any overspray or excess spray will be removed downstream by said vacuum.

5. A portable airborne contamination control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote plenum unit has a top side, rear side, left side, and bottom side, and wherein said remote plenum unit downstream exit port is located on said remote plenum unit rear side, and said remote plenum unit upstream entrance port is located on said emote plenum unit front side, said upstream entrance port substantially forming said remote plenum unit front side, said upstream entrance port further adapted to retain a sieve therein, permitting large evacuation of contaminated air downstream from an area inaccessible to said main unit.

6. A portable airborne contamination control system comprising:

a main unit, said main unit having a motor, an upstream inlet port, and a downstream exhaust port,

an elongated duct, said elongated duct having a first downstream side and a second upstream side,

a remote plenum unit, said remote plenum unit having a downstream exit port and an upstream entrance port, and an articulated suction duct attached to said upstream entrance port,

said elongated duct first downstream side connected to said main unit upstream inlet port, said elongated duct second upstream side connected to said remote plenum unit downstream exit port, and

whereby said remote plenum unit is adapted to be placed in an area which is inaccessible to said main unit, and where said articulated suction duct is placed proximal to a workpiece being treated in such a manner where when overspray and errant particles are generated, the overspray and errant particles are suctioned downstream through said articulated suction duct are further suctioned downstream through said remote plenum unit, and further suctioned downstream through said elongated duct where they are suctioned into said main unit.

7. A portable airborne contamination control system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said articulated suction duct has a proximal downstream side and an upstream distal side, said articulated suction duct proximal downstream side is attached to said remote plenum unit upstream entrance port.

8. A portable airborne contamination control system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said articulated suction duct upstream distal side includes a mounting means adapted for mounting a filter thereto, whereby said filter acts a pre-filter, collecting the overspray and the errant particles thereon.

9. A portable airborne contamination control system as claimed in claim 6 wherein a filter system is located intermediate said main unit upstream inlet port and said main unit downstream outlet port.

10. A portable airborne contamination control system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said main unit downstream exhaust port is adapted to include an exhaust duct mounting means, said exhaust duct mounting means having an elongated exhaust duct mounted thereon.

11. A portable airborne contamination control system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said elongated exhaust duct has a proximal upstream end and a downstream distal end, said downstream distal end being placed at an appropriate location away from said main unit permitting the suctioned air, overspray, and errant particles to be conveyed away from main unit.

12. A portable airborne contamination control system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said remote plenum unit and said main unit are both adapted to be rolled on wheels.