Sterile laminar airflow device

• US 6,623,538 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
• Original Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
• Inventors: Sood, Anil, Thakur, Rajesh, Singh Ahuja, Paramvir
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): Greene, Jason M.
• Application Number:
  US09/884,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20020121196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 553/851, 553/852, 554/67, 554/72, 554/73, 554/82, 55D/IG.18, 55D/IG.29, 553/56, 553/57, 553/58, 555/01, 555/02, 962/24, 964/14, 964/17, 964/21, 454/57, 454/60, 454/63, 454/66, 454/187, 454/188, 454/189, 454/193
• US Class Current: 55/385.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2267/40 Different types of filters
• 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 46/62 connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 15/023 Fume cabinets or cupboards, e.g. for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2215/003 with the assistance of blowing nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/163 Clean air work stations, i.e. selected areas within a space which filtered air is passed
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/18 Work bench

Abstract

A compact, portable, lightweight, low power consuming, convenient, versatile and sterile laminar airflow device, useful in obtaining a workspace substantially devoid of airborne particulate contaminants, said device having a body (C) divided into an upper and lower chambers; the upper chamber housing one or more pre-filtration members (B), a motor (T) driving a fan (S), and one or more filters (U) located below the motor; and the lower chamber provided with a slideable front panel (M), a removable platform (X) located at the lower portion of the chamber and a perforated plane (N) placed on the removable platform.

Claims

1. A sterile laminar airflow device useful in obtaining a workspace substantially devoid of airborne particulate contaminants, said device comprising a hollow body divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated from the upper chamber by a filter;

the upper chamber having at least one pre-filtration member mounted thereon, a motor mounted inside the upper chamber between a top face and the filter, a fan driven by the motor for creating a flow of air going into the upper chamber through the pre-filtration member and out of the upper chamber into the lower chamber through the filter; and

the lower chamber provided with a selectively openable front panel having adjustment members to secure the lower front panel in a variety of positions allowing selective adjustment of a width of an aperture of the lower chamber, whereby the aperture provides access to the lower chamber, a removable platform located on a base face of the lower chamber and a perforated plane located on the removable platform inside the lower chamber, wherein the air flow exits the lower chamber through the perforated plane.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising removable legs or mounts (O) for providing clearance from any surface on which the device is placed.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan is compartmentalized by a partition which creates a closed path between the pre-filtration member and the fan whereby a suction channel is formed through the pre-filter and the filter for pushing the flow of air unidirectionally into the lower chamber.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more switches on at least one outer surface of the body for controlling operations;

a speed controller for regulating fan or motor speed;

an illuminating device; and

a UV source with germicidal properties being provided in the lower chamber.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising panels arranged on sides of the body, swingably mounted on hinge joints arranged along a rear vertical axis, a handle, attached to the front panel, positioned so that at a completely closed position the handle does not obstruct removal of a removable panel of the upper chamber;

a vertical groove, and a horizontal slot enabling movement of the front panel toward the upper chamber, and wherein the adjustment members include notches on at least one side of the front panel and a spring and screw mechanism along an inner surface of the vertical groove cooperating with said notches to hold the front panel in different positions.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a large centrally located handle is mounted on an outer top portion of the upper chamber for moving the device.

7. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the UV source is a UV tube.

8. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the illuminating device is selected from the group consisting of a tube, bulb and halogen lamp.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is formed of materials selected from the group consisting of solid wood, laminated wood, stainless steel, carbon steel, and plastic.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plastic is selected from the group consisting of Polycarbonate, fibre-glass and reinforced strengthened glass, acrylic, polymethacrylate, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene and polymethyl pentene (TPX).

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ratio defined by the distance between the top face and the base face, over the distance between opposing first and second side faces which connect with ends of the top face and extend perpendicular to the top face and the front panel, is approximately 3:

2.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan is a twin turbo fan which ensures continuous downward movement of sterile air.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan is a heavy-duty axial fan.

35. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of buckles attached to the device to secure a strap for carrying the device.

14. A portable, sterile laminar airflow device, that can be carried by a user, useful in obtaining a workspace substantially devoid of airborne particulate contaminants, said device comprising a body provided with mounts and divided into upper and lower chambers;

the upper chamber having a removable panel at a front of the body for gaining access inside the upper chamber, said upper chamber further having a pre-filtration member capable of retaining suspended particles in the air, a motor driving a twin turbo fan for creating a flow of air, the motor being compartmentalized by a partition which creates a closed path between the pre-filtration member and the fan wherein a suction channel is created for pushing the flow of air through the pre-filtration member, then unidirectionally through an exit of the partition, and through a HEPA filter separating the upper and lower chambers, the HEPA filter being mounted on a leak proof spongy rubber gasket and placed in the path of the flow of air, whereby the flow of air must pass through the HEPA filter to enter the lower chamber for further cleansing of the flow of air of any biological or a biological airborne particulate contaminants to ensure the flow of air into the lower chamber is sterile;

the lower chamber having a removable solid platform, located on a base face of the lower chamber opposite the HEPA filter, a perforated plane mounted on the platform inside the lower chamber between the platform and the HEPA filter;

the device further comprising a speed controller for regulating fan speed;

a handle centrally located at a top of the body for ease of carrying;

a UV source with germicidal properties mounted inside the lower chamber;

openable side panels arranged on two opposing sides of the lower chamber and swingably mounted about hinge joints mounted on a rear panel of the lower chamber orthogonal to the side panels, and an openable lower front panel, orthogonal to the side panels and opposite the rear panel, slideable, within a plurality of grooves in the lower chamber, toward the upper chamber, through a horizontal slot in the lower chamber, allowing access to the lower chamber, the lower front panel including a handle, for sliding the lower front panel, and a plurality of notches, located on opposing side ends of the lower front panel which cooperate with a ball, spring and screw system fixed to the body for selectively releasably securing the front panel in various different positions to adjust a dimension of an opening of the lower chamber;

the device further comprising a fibrous mat packing provided in the horizontal slot to prevent free movement of air and dust particles.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the device is provided with an illumination device.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the illumination device is selected from the group consisting of a tube, bulb and halogen lamp.

17. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the lower front and side panels may be one of transparent and opaque.

18. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the lower front and side panels are formed of shatter resistant UV stabilized material.

19. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the lower front panel is arranged for upward and downward movement.

20. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the body is provided with removable legs to provide clearance for exiting air from the lower chamber.

21. A device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising an air pressure measuring device installed in the upper chamber for monitoring an inside air pressure, the air pressure measuring device including means for regulating the inside pressure, thereby regulating the air flow through the HEPA filter.

22. A device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of switches for controlling the flow of air and light intensities.

23. A device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the switches are selected from the group consisting of an ON-OFF click switch, sliding switch, and dimmer switch with rotary motion.

24. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the device is provided with a perforated platform arranged at a base of the body.

25. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the platform is made up of materials selected from the group consisting of steel, wood, non-corrosive polyethylic material, non-corrosive polyplast material and non-corrosive metallic material.

26. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a central part of the perforated platform is made removable by a slit and groove mechanism, enabling integration of the device with other devices that may at times require sterile environment.

27. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a base of the lower chamber is perforated and with or without provision for removing a central part of the base.

28. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pre-filtration member is covered with a perforated plate.

29. A device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the perforated plate is formed of a non-corrosive material selected from the group consisting of metal, synthetic material and wood.

30. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the HEPA filter is covered with a plastic grill.

31. A device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a box for housing and carrying the device.

32. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the device can be operated on a battery.

33. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the device can be used as a workbench of an enlarging device.

34. The device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of buckles attached to the device to secure a strap for carrying the device.

36. A portable laminar air flow device for creating a workspace substantially free of airborne contaminates comprising:

an upper chamber having an upper interior space and a removable upper front panel for accessing the upper interior space;

a motor, mounted within the upper interior space on an interior wall;

a fan, mounted on the motor, to create a flow of air;

a prefiltration member sealably mounted to the upper chamber for allowing the flow of air to enter the upper chamber through the prefiltration member;

a lower chamber, having a lower interior space, connected to an open bottom face of the upper chamber;

a filter, sealably mounted to the open bottom face, for allowing the flow of air to enter the lower chamber through the filter; and

,

a lower front panel, selectively slideably mounted on a front face of the lower chamber substantially orthogonal to the open bottom face, having adjustment members to secure the lower front panel in a variety of positions allowing selective adjustment of a width of an aperture of the front face, whereby the aperture provides access to the lower interior space and allows the flow of air to exit the lower chamber therethrough.

37. The device according to claim 36, further comprising at least one side panel, hingedly mounted on at least one side face of the lower chamber substantially orthogonal to the front face to provide access to the lower interior space.

38. The device according to claim 36, further comprising a carrying handle mounted to the upper chamber for carrying the device.

39. The device according to claim 36, further comprising a plurality of buckles attached to the device to secure a strap for carrying the device.