| US2576008A | 1951-11-20 | |||
| US3160993A | 1964-12-15 | |||
| US3694968A | 1972-10-03 | |||
| US4505077A | 1985-03-19 | |||
| US4300318A | 1981-11-17 | |||
| US3149445A | 1964-09-22 | |||
| US4047913A | 1977-09-13 | |||
| US3300902A | 1967-01-31 | |||
| DE2151782A1 | 1972-04-20 | |||
| US4432168A | 1984-02-21 |
| 1. | A self contained decontamination booth assembly for cleaning by pressurized heated liquids low level radio active contaminated equipment and tools including: a) a cabinet including a viewing window, sealed work glove ports, an eye level control panel and a work area defined by a work piece supporting grate, b) a pair of side tables providing work surfaces in horizontal alignment with said work piece supporting grate, c) a pair of side access doors for said work area separating the work surfaces of said side tables from said work piece supporting grate, d) door moving means positioned externally of said work area and connected to the exterior of said side access doors for moving the same through a vertical plane into an open or closed position, e) a vacuum created exhaust means for said work area including an air intake plenum for creating a negative pressure within said work area, and f) an exhaust filter system carried by one of said work tables for separating moisture laden contaminates from solid contaminates without exposing the same to the ambient atmosphere. |
| 2. | A decontamination booth as defined by claim 1 including means for sealing said access doors against the ambient atmosphere including a recessed door edge receiving seal stationarily positioned beneath and between adjacent 5 edges of said work supporting grate and work surfaces of said side tables. |
| 3. | A decontamination booth as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for vertically moving said side access Q doors comprises pneumatic cylinders carried exteriorly of said cabinet and having their movable pistons connected to the outer side surfaces of said doors. |
| 4. | A decontamination booth as defined by claim 3 including means for sealing said access doors against the ambient atmosphere including a recessed door edge receiving seal stationarily positioned beneath and between adjacent edges of said work supporting grate and work surfaces of said side tables. 20. |
| 5. | A decontamination booth including an atmosphere ically sealed cabinet having a source of vacuum connected thereto for creating negative pressure in a work area within the cabinet and a pressurized liquid application gun 2> within the work area comprising, a) a cabinet having a base for housing a liquid heating and pressurizing unit, b) a work area within said cabinet defined by a work piece supporting grate and a drain pan sealing it from said base, c) an inclined viewing window for said work area including work glove ports, d) an air intake plenum including means for directing a current of air over the inclined interior surface of said viewing window and into said work area, e) a pair of access doors for said work area on each side of said cabinet, f) pneumatic cylinders positioned exteriorly of said cabinet and having their movable pistons connected to the outside surface of each of said doors for moving the same through a vertical plane within the confines of said work area into an open or closed position. |
| 6. | A decontamination booth as defined by claim 5 including means for sealing said access doors against the ambient atmosphere when in a closed position including a recessed door edge receiving gasket stationed beneath the horizontal plane of said work piece supporting grate. |
This invention relates to a portable self contained sealed decontamination booth used primarily in the cleaning and restoring low level radioactive contaminated equipment and tools through the medium of high pressure steam delivered into and maintained within the cabinet. A continuous current of ambient air is induced into the cabinet collecting the dislodged radioactive debris and exhausted through a dual filter system which separates moisture laden particles of contaminates and solids for ready disposal. The air flow induced by the exhaust system produces a negative pressure within the cabinet that assures containment of any contamination to within the body and its exhaust system.
Access to the booth is through a pair of normally sealed, side doors which by suitable pneumatic means are raised vertically to an open position. The positioning of the side doors as well as the method of sealing the same prevent contaminates from escaping through the openings during the vertical movement of the side doors.
BACKGROUND ART
The present invention constitutes an improvement over such analogous apparatuses such as that disclosed in United States patent 3,300,902.
As disclosed in such patent the interior of the booth was accessible though hinged side doors, adapted to be opened exteriorly of the cabinet in such a manner that contamination, debris or moisture thereon could be dislodged outside the confines of the booth and thus contaminate the surrounding area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred construction and arrangement of parts by which the objects of this invention are achieved and in which; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of this invention, Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the decontamination booth of this invention,
Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the decontamination booth of this invention,
Fig. 4 is a side elevational sectional detailed view of one of the access doors of this invention, and Fig. 5 is a side elevational sectional view of the air intake plenum as employed in this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The decontamination booth is part of a complete work station 10 that as illustrated in Fig. 1 includes portable side tables 11 and 12 which may be removably attached to
either side of the booth 13. Each table provides a work surface 14 and 15 which lies in horizontal alignment with the interior work surface of the booth 13.
The booth 13 provides a base 16 that houses the evacuation system which is in communication with recovery containers carried within the side table 11. The top wall of the base 16 provides a work grating 17 (see Fig. 4) that permits removed debris to fall therethrough by the action of the evacuation system, with the gating 17 physically supporting the parts being decontaminated.
Above the base 16 is a work station 18 that includes an inclined transparent wall portion 19 as well as the glove ports 20 . A portion of the front wall contains the control panel 21 for the apparatus. A cabinet-like structure 22 is positioned to the rear of the control panel 21 and on its rear wall surface houses an air intake plenum assembly 23 (see Fig. 3).
Within the base 16 there is housed a liquid heater, pressure pump, as well as a vacuum creating blower, all of which are of a standard construction and readily available on the commercial market. Access to these parts are through a hinged door 25 as seen in Fig. 3.
Air regulator valves 26 as well as a steam line control valve 27 are all in communication with supply line 28 that in turn through a suitable coupling is connected to a spray gun (not shown) positioned within the work station 18. An exhaust hood 29 protrudes from the rear wall and
provides a quick connection for attachments to the filters housed in the side table 11.
An interior lighting system includes a light fixture 30 is located in the top structure 22 and positioned to illuminate the work station 18.
As shown in Fig. 4 the side door 24 is constructed from a treated sheet of transparent material 31 and provides a tapered bottom edge 32. One leg of an L-shaped bracket 33 is fixed to the door 24 on its exterior surface, with the other leg of the bracket 33 being fixedly connecte to one end 34 of a pneumatic piston 35.
As shown the work grating 17 is disposed to lie in a horizontal plane to one side of a receiving well formed by a sealing gasket 36. This gasket 36 is adapted to engage the tapered edge 32 of the door 24 when the latter is projected into the receiving well when the door in its closed position. The side walls defining the door opening are also provided with like gaskets so as to completely seal the door 24. As the door 24 is required to move through a upper sealing gasket the work station 18 carries a door gasket retainer bracket 37 which together with a frame structural member 38 of the booth, supports an upper sealing gasket 39. A raised cowling 40 supported by the top wall of the work station provides a base for the pivotal mounts 41 of a pneumatic cylinder 42 which may be enclosed within a cover 43 as shown in Fig. 3.
By this arrangement when the pneumatic cylinder 42 is actuated its movable piston 35 will raise or lower the door 24 causing the inner surface of such door 24 to be wiped by the upper sealing gasket 39 causing any moisture or debris carried thereby to be drawn inwardly of the work station through the grate 17.
It should be noted that the operation of the apparatus requires that the vacuum creating exhaust system be operative during the work process as well as when the side doors 24 are being opened so as to inhale the ambient atmosphere around the door areas into the work station of the booth thus containing any loose contamination. It being noted that the side access doors 24 are normally open only during the period of introducing an removing work from the work station.
In Fig. 5 there is shown the arrangement for the air intake plenum 23 as such the plenum 23 includes a back draft damper 44, as well as a directional vent 45 directing air over the transparent viewing window and into the work station. Mounted to the rear of plenum 23 is the light assembly 46 for the light fixture 30. This assembly provides an access door 47 and a transparent lens 48 adapted to be positioned above the work station 18.
Referring to Fig. 2 the booth 13 houses in its base 16 a liquid heater and pressure pump 50 having suitable connections to a water supply inlet 51. The heater and.
pump 50 are in turn through a conduit 52 connected to a cleaning fluid application gun 53 positioned within the work station 18. The work supporting grating 17 is positioned above a drain pan 54 which in turn is connected to a sump pump 55. The collected liquid and atmospheric laden contaminates are thus exhausted- from the work station 18 and through a conduit 56 fed into the filtering system housed in the side table 11.
From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been described a decontamination booth that is completely atmospherically sealed through the employment of a negative atmospheric pressure within the booth. There has been described pneumatically operated access doors on either side of the booth which are so designed that when they are raised into an open position any decontamination, debris or moisture that has collected thereon will by the negative pressure be drawn into the cabinet and exhausted therefrom into a filtering system. Such filtering system should include a liquid separator, such as a cyclone separator, as well as a hepa filter and demister, each arranged in successive downstream exhaust paths.