Enclosure system for hot work within the vicinity of flammable or combustible material

• US 7,091,848 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alford Safety Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alford Safety Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Albarado, Jason P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US11/011,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/032 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/034 Observing the temperature of the workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/12 in a special atmosphere, e.g. in an enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/123 in an atmosphere of particular gases
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/127 in an enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/006 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7722 Line condition change responsive valves

Abstract

One or more enclosures constructed about one or more objects at which hot work is to be performed at a facility containing flammable and/or combustible material. Hot work includes such things as welding, torch cutting, grinding and the like that produces heat, spark, slag or flame. The one or more enclosures are capable of being simultaneously and independently controlled and monitored by a single control and monitoring system.

Claims

1. An enclosure system comprised of one or more enclosures built about at least one object to be hot worked at a facility wherein flammable or combustible materials are located within a hazardous distance from where the hot work is to be conducted, which enclosure system is comprised of:

a) at least one enclosure, each enclosure comprising;

i) enclosing walls, ceiling and floor defining a chamber in which the hot work is to be conducted;

ii) at least one door to allow workers to enter and exit;

iii) at least one air inlet port;

iv) at least one air outlet port;

v) a blower having an intake and an exhaust, which exhaust is in fluid communication with said at least one air inlet port;

vi) a blower control in communication with said blower and to a gas detection monitor located at the intake of said blower and to a shutdown controller, wherein the blower control has the capability of allowing the blower to continue to operate during an emergency shutdown that is not triggered by combustible or flammable gas detected at the gas detection monitor at the intake of the blower;

vii) a differential pressure monitor for monitoring the pressure within the enclosure relative to the pressure outside of the enclosure;

viii) at least one manual emergency shutdown switch inside of said enclosure; and

ix)at least one manual emergency shutdown switch outside of, but within the perimeter of, said enclosure;

b) a monitoring system comprised of;

i) a plurality of gas detection monitors located at predetermined locations inside and outside of each enclosure;

wherein each of said gas detection monitors having a means of communicating with a gas detection controller console; and

ii) a gas detection controller console comprised of;

a) a means capable of receiving data transmitted from the plurality of gas detection monitors;

b) an interface means capable of communicating data from said means to a central processing unit;

c) the central processing unit containing software capable of accepting, storing, computing, and displaying data received from said plurality of gas detection monitors, d) a display device in communication with said central processing unit and capable of displaying data from said plurality of gas detection monitors; and

c) an interface means capable of communicating a signal from the central processing unit to a control system;

c) the control system comprised of;

i) an operator controller console comprised of;

a) a source of electrical power for the enclosure system;

b) at least one control device;

c) a means for displaying the status of each enclosure;

d) the capability of communicating predetermined by-pass and system shutdown signals to a shut down controller;

e) a by-pass function that has the capability of overriding a shutdown signal triggered by the differential pressure monitor in any one or more of said enclosures to allow workers to enter and exit said one or more enclosures without triggering a shutdown; and

f) an audible alarm that will activate when a shutdown occurs; and

ii) the shutdown controller capable of sending shutdown signals to one or more enclosure control devices, and one or more shutdown control devices and to various equipment associated with the hot work to be conducted in said one or more enclosures.

2. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the walls, floor, door and ceiling of the enclosure are composed of fire retardant wood.

3. The enclosure system of claim 2 wherein the floor of said enclosure is further covered with a layer of fire proof refractory cloth material on top of which is a layer of sheet metal.

4. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the door of each enclosure opens outward.

5. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein each enclosure is provided with an explosion proof interior lighting system.

6. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the outlet port of at least one enclosure is provided with a spark resistant filter.

7. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the hot work to be performed is welding.

8. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the blower of each enclosure is an electrically operated blower.

9. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein at least two gas detection monitors is located in each enclosure.

10. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the various equipment associated with the hot work is selected from a) welding machines, b) generators, c) air compressors, and d) tanks for holding gases for a hot work operation.

11. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the source of electrical power is an AC to DC power converter.

12. The enclosure system of claim 1 which is located at a facility selected from a drilling platform a production platform, a jack-up rig, a pumping station, a petroleum refinery, a chemical plant, a tank farm, an ocean going tanker, and a section of pipeline.

13. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein there are at least two enclosures.

14. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the operator controller console contains a bypass function that can override a shutdown signal to one or more blowers.

15. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein each enclosure is provided with at least one additional item selected from the group consisting of:

a) an audible alarm, b) a visual alarm, c) emergency lights, d) backup batteries and e) a power control, and f) a temperature monitoring device.

16. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein each enclosure is also provided with an integral unit containing an audible alarm, a visual alarm, a differential pressure monitor, and backup batteries.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the enclosure has a viewing window.

18. An enclosure system comprised of one or more enclosures built about at least one object to be hot worked at a facility wherein flammable or combustible materials arc located within a hazardous distance from where the hot work is to be conducted, which facility is selected from a drilling platform, a production platform, a jack-up rig, a pumping station, a petroleum refinery, a chemical plant a tank farm, an ocean going tanker, and a section of pipeline, which enclosure system is comprised of:

a) at least one enclosure, each enclosure comprising;

i) enclosing wails, ceiling and floor defining a chamber in which the hot work is to be conducted;

ii) at least one door that opens outward to allow workers to enter and exit;

iii) at least one shatterproof viewing window;

iv) at least one air inlet port;

v) at least one air outlet port containing a spark resistant filter;

vi) an electrically operated blower located outside of said at least one enclosure and having an intake and an exhaust which exhaust is in fluid communication with said at least one air inlet port vii) a blower control in communication with said blower and to a shutdown controller, and to a gas detection monitor located at the intake of said blower, wherein the blower control has the capability of allowing the blower to continue to operate during an emergency shutdown that is not triggered by combustible or flammable gas detected at the gas detection monitor at the intake of the blower;

viii) a differential pressure monitor for monitoring the pressure within the enclosure relative to the pressure outside of the enclosure;

ix) at least one manual emergency shutdown switch inside of said enclosure; and

x) at least one manual emergency shutdown switch outside of said enclosure, but within the perimeter of, said enclosure;

b) a wireless monitoring system comprised of;

i) a plurality of wireless gas detection monitors located at predetermined locations;

a) at least 10 feet away and encompassing the outside of each enclosure;

b) at least two wireless gas detection monitors inside of each enclosure;

c) in the vicinity;

of hot work equipment and d) at the intake of said blower;

each of said gas detection monitors being in wireless communication with a gas detection controller console; and

ii) a gas detection controller console comprised of;

a) a transceiver capable of receiving wireless data transmitted from said plurality of gas detection monitors;

b) an interface card capable of communicating data from said transceiver to a central processing unit;

c) a central processing unit containing;

software capable of accepting, storing, computing, and displaying data received from said plurality of gas detection monitors, d) a display device in communication with said central processing unit and capable of displaying data from said plurality of gas detection monitors; and

e) an interface card capable of communicating a signal from the central processing unit to a control system;

c) a control system comprised of;

i) an operator controller console comprised of;

a) a source of electrical power for the enclosure system;

b) at least one control device;

c) a means for displaying the status of each enclosure;

d) the capability of communicating predetermined by-pass and system shutdown signals to a shut-down controller;

e) a by-pass function that has the capability of overriding a shutdown signal triggered by the differential pressure monitor in any one or more of said enclosures to allow workers to enter and exit said one or more enclosures without triggering a shutdown; and

f) an audible alarm that will activate when a shutdown occurs; and

ii) the shutdown controller capable of sending shutdown signals to one or more enclosure control devices, and one or more shutdown control devices and to various equipment associated with the hot work to be conducted in said one or more enclosures.

19. The enclosure system of claim 18 wherein the walls, floor, door and ceiling of the enclosure are composed of fire retardant wood.

20. The enclosure system of claim 19 wherein the floor is constructed of a bottom layer of fire retardant plywood on top of which is a refractory cloth material on top of which is a surface layer of sheet metal.

21. The enclosure system of claim 18 wherein each enclosure is provided with an explosion proof interior lighting system.

22. The enclosure system of claim 18 wherein the hot work to be performed is welding.

23. The enclosure system of claim 18 wherein the various equipment associated with the hot work is selected from a) welding machines, b) generators, c) air compressors, and d) tanks for holding gases for a hot work operation.

24. The enclosure system of claim 18 wherein the source of electrical power is an AC to DC power converter.

25. The enclosure system of claim 18 which is located at a facility selected from a drilling platform, a production platform, a jack-up rig, a pumping station, a petroleum refinery, a chemical plant, a tank farm, an ocean going tanker, and a section of pipeline.

26. The enclosure system of claim 18 wherein there are at least two enclosures.

27. The enclosure system of claim 18 wherein each enclosure is provided with at least one additional item selected from the group consisting of:

a) an audible alarm, b) a visual alarm, c) emergency lights, d) backup batteries and e) a power control box, and f) a temperature monitoring device.

28. The enclosure system of claim 18 wherein each enclosure is also provided with an integral unit containing an audible alarm, a visual alarm, a differential pressure monitor, and backup batteries.

29. A method for isolating the area about an item to be hot worked at a facility containing combustible or flammable material, which method comprises:

a) building an enclosure big enough about the item to be hot worked so that at least two workers can occupy it and conduct a hot work operation, which enclosure comprising;

i) enclosing walls, ceiling and floor defining an enclosed chamber in which the hot work is to be conducted;

ii) at least one door to allow workers to enter and exit;

iii) at least one viewing window;

iv) at least one air inlet port;

v) at least one air outlet port;

vi) a blower having an intake and an exhaust which exhaust is in fluid communication with said at least one air inlet port;

vii) a blower control in communication with said blower and to a shutdown controller and to a gas detection monitor located at the intake of said blower, wherein the blower control has the capability of allowing the blower to continue to operate during an emergency shutdown that is not triggered by combustible or flammable gas detected at the gas detection monitor at the intake of the blower;

viii) a differential pressure monitor for monitoring the pressure within the enclosure relative to the pressure outside of the enclosure;

ix) at least one manual emergency shutdown switch inside of said enclosure; and

x) at least one manual emergency shutdown switch outside of said enclosure, but within the immediate perimeter of, said enclosure;

b) providing the enclosure with a monitoring system comprised of;

i) a plurality of gas detection monitors located at predetermined locations;

a) inside and outside of each enclosure;

b) in the vicinity of hot work equipment; and

c) in the vicinity of the intake of said blower;

each of said gas detection monitors having a transceiver in wireless communication with a gas detection controller console; and

ii) a gas detection controller console comprised of;

a) a transceiver capable of receiving wireless data transmitted from the plurality of gas detection monitors;

b) an interface card capable of communicating data from said transceiver to a central processing unit c) the central processing unit containing software capable of accepting, storing, computing, and displaying data received from said plurality of gas detection monitors, d) a display device in communication with said central processing unit and capable of displaying data from said plurality of gas detection monitors; and

e) an interface card capable of communicating a signal from the central processing unit to a control system;

c) further providing said enclosure with a control system comprised of;

i) an operator controller console comprised of;

a) an electrical power source for the enclosure system;

b) at least one control device;

c) a means for displaying the status of each enclosure;

d) the capability of communicating predetermined by-pass and system shutdown signals to a shut down controller;

e) a bypass function that has the capability of overriding a shutdown signal triggered by the differential pressure monitor in any one or more of said enclosures to allow workers to enter and exit said one or more enclosures without triggering a shutdown; and

f) an audible alarm that will activate when a shutdown occurs; and

ii) the shutdown controller capable of sending shutdown signals to one or more enclosure control devices, and one or more shutdown control devices, and to various equipment associated with the hot work to be conducted in said one or more enclosures.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the walls, floor, door and ceiling of the enclosure are composed of fire retardant wood.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the floor of said enclosure is further covered with a layer fire proof refractory cloth material on top of which is a layer of sheet metal.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the door of each enclosure opens outward.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein each enclosure is provided with an explosion proof interior lighting system.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the outlet port of at least one enclosure is provided with a spark resistant filter.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the hot work to be performed is welding.

36. The method of claim 29 wherein the blower of each enclosure is an electrically operated blower.

37. The method of claim 29 wherein at least two gas detection monitors is located in each enclosure.

38. The method of claim 29 wherein the various equipment associated with the hot work is selected from a) welding machines, b) generators, c) air compressors, and d) tanks for holding gases for a hot work operation.

39. The method of claim 29 wherein the source of electrical power is an AC to DC power converter.

40. The method of claim 29 which is located at a facility selected from a drilling platform, a production platform, a jack-up rig, a pumping station, a petroleum refinery, a chemical plant, a tank farm, an ocean going tanker, and a section of pipeline.

41. The method of claim 29 wherein there are at least two enclosures.

42. The method of claim 29 wherein the operator controller console contains a bypass function that can override a shutdown signal to one or more blowers.

43. The method of claim 29 wherein each enclosure is provided with at least one additional item selected from the group consisting of:

a) an audible alarm, b) a visual alarm, c) emergency lights, d) backup batteries and e) a power control, and f) a temperature monitoring device.

44. The method of claim 29 wherein each enclosure is also provided with an integral unit containing an audible alarm, a visual alarm, a differential pressure monitor, and backup batteries.