Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1187-2
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CONTAINMENT OF REMOVED WASTE
ASBESTOS AND LIKE MATERIAL
This invention relates to containment devices and
particularly to devices for containment of asbestos fibre or
asbestos fibre containing materials.
The carcinogenic hazards of asbestos fibres
inhaled by workers is a well known problem. However,
buildings have been constructed of asbestos containing
materials for many years. Disturbing the asbestos ceiling
panels, for example in an older building to make repairs,
can result in scattering asbestos fibres throughout the
building so as to endanger workmen and persons using the
building.
Attempts to confine asbestos fibres during
alteration or repair of asbestos containing material have
not been entirely effective. For example, efforts have been
made to confine asbestos fibres being emitted from asbestos
carrying materials being worked upon. U.S. Patent 4,626,291
to Thomas Natale discloses a containment bag system
specifically adapted for the removal of asbestos insulation
from asbestos covered pipes and valves without contamination
of the worker or the surrounding environment. The
containment bag is formed of flexible transparent plastic
and is shaped to fit over and enclose a section of pipe
being worked upon, the pipe passing through openings near
the upper end of the containment bag. A pair of flexible
gloves are sealed to a pair of openings in the containment
bag and serve to protect the hands and arms of a worker
standing outside of the containment bag and working upon a
pipe or valve within the bag. The Natale containment bag
system is not adapted for use with a ceiling area being
worked upon.
U.S. Patent 4,765,352 discloses a sealed portable
isolation enclosure for use in removing asbestos material
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:,
from the ceiling. The worker stands within this booth, and
it is necessary to equip the worker with a filter mask and
protective clothing because he is working in an extremely
contaminated environment.
Other patents showing various containment
enclosures not adapted for use with ceilings are listed as
follows:
U.S. PATENT INVENTOR ISSUE DATE
4,067,346 G. HUSTED 01/10/78
4,108,509 M. PIET ET 0$/22/78
AL
4,335,712 P. TREXLER 06/22/82
4,505,190 C. FINK ET 03/19/85
AL
4,682,448 B. HEALEY 07/27/87
U.S. Patent 5,024,246 discloses a portable
flexible bag open at the top for placing against a
contaminated ceiling. Gloves are sealed in openings in the
bag so that the user can manipulate the asbestos material.
A lower than atmospheric pressure condition is created in
the bag by a motor driven exhaust fan.
In the drawings which illustrate preferred
embodiments of the invention;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for
containment of particulate material; and
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevational view taken
along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 of part of the apparatus.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, the
apparatus shown generally at 10 in Figure 1 includes a
container 12, in this case rectangular although other shapes
such as cylindrical are used.
The container 12 has a top wall 16, side walls 18,
20, 22, and 24 preferably constructed of rigid, transparent
plastic material, such as a polycarbonate or acrylic. A
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bottom wall 28 of the container 12 may be constructed of
opaque or transparent plastic material and is preferably
rigid. The top wall 16 has an opening 30 of sufficient
dimensions to allow access to a work surface for purposes to
be described below.
A top wall closure 32, in this case a hinged door,
is installed in the opening 30. It will be noted that the
door 32 has hinges 34 arranged to permit the door 32 to open
inwardly (as shown in broken lines in Figure 2). A suitable
resilient seal 36 is provided between the door 32 and the
top wall adjacent the opening 30.
It will be appreciated that other closure means
may be used provided the opening and closing of the
container can be accomplished while the container 12 is in
place on a work surface. The door 32 is also capable of
being mounted to slide so as to open and close the container
while it is in place. A rotary catch 38 mounted so as to
maintain the door 32 in a closed position is designed to be
operated from within the container in a manner to be
described below.
One or more gloves 40 are secured in openings 42
in the container side walls as shown. In this case the
glove 40 has a sealed cuff 44 secured to side wall 20 about
the periphery of the opening 42. the gloves 40 preferably
comprise thin plastic material impervious to asbestos
fibres.
As can be seen in Figure 1, vacuum means (not
shown) is adapted to be connected to outlet means in the
form of a tubular member 58 extending through the bottom
wall 28 of the container 12. An additional opening and
closure means shown in Figure 1 in broken line at 54 on the
side wall 18 of sufficient size to permit removal of
material from the container is also provided if desired.
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A feature of the invention as shown in Figure 1 is
the support apparatus 60 particularly suited for removal of
materials from ceilings. The support apparatus includes a
frame 62 which allows access to the tubular member 58 which
also serves as a handle.
A vertical standard, in this case a telescoping
pole, has one end secured to the frame 62. Aligned
apertures 65 and 66 to receive a pin 68 in a conventional
manner, allow sections 70 and 72 of the pole to be adjusted
to vary the length of the pole. A threaded rod 76, secured
t o an outer end of the pole section 72, is mounted in a base
78 in a conventional manner to provide a screw type jack 80
for fine adjustment of the height of the support apparatus
60.
In use, the container is placed against the
surface of the work area, the support apparatus is
positioned under the container, and the height adjusted
through use of the telescoping pole or the screw jack 80.
The user then inserts hands and arms in one or more glove
means and the door 32 is opened inwardly to access the
material to be removed.
It will be understood that suitable vacuum means
is attached to the tubular outlet 58 prior to use. It is
recommended that a vacuum provide air flow of 90 cu.ft. per
minute to remove loose fibres continually. Should the
container 12 fill up with debris before completion of the
repair, material can be removed to a sealed container
through the door 32 or a similar door 54 provided in a side
wall of the container 12.
Sources of vacuum known as HEPA type vacuum
cleaners recommended for use with this apparatus are
equipped with .3 micron filters to remove small particles of
asbestos from the air expelled from container 12. The HEPA
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vacuum is preferrably capable of changing the air in the
container 12 at least about every 5 seconds which probably
exceeds any safety requirements.
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