U.S. patent application number 12/258753 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-25 for portable and collapsible chem./bio. isolators.
This patent application is currently assigned to Her Majesty The Queen in Right of Canada as Represented by the Minister of Public Safety. Invention is credited to Andrew Burczyk, Pierre Caron, Marianne Heisz, Bill Kournikakis, Carl McDiarmid, Tim Patraboy, James Peeke, Daniel Perreault, Sylvain Poirier, Ian Summerell.
Application Number | 20100044372 12/258753 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40589936 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100044372 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kournikakis; Bill ; et
al. |
February 25, 2010 |
PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE CHEM./BIO. ISOLATORS
Abstract
A portable and collapsible isolator is taught for containing
radioactive, chemical or biological agents. The isolator is
comprised of a collapsible frame, movable between a collapsed
transport position and an open operational position, and a flexible
and collapsible envelope in the form of an airtight bag attached to
the frame to define a cavity. The envelope remains airtight in both
the collapsed and open positions. One or more sealable openings are
formed in the envelope for insertion and removal of the
radioactive, chemical and biological agents into and out of the
cavity. The isolator may optionally include at least one glove
extending from one or more of said sealable openings into the
cavity, for handling said radioactive, chemical and biological
agents inside the cavity.
Inventors: |
Kournikakis; Bill; (Medicine
Hat, CA) ; Patraboy; Tim; (Ottawa, CA) ;
Perreault; Daniel; (Ottawa, CA) ; Peeke; James;
(Orleans, CA) ; McDiarmid; Carl; (Orleans, CA)
; Summerell; Ian; (Ottawa, CA) ; Burczyk;
Andrew; (Redcliff, CA) ; Heisz; Marianne;
(Ottawa, CA) ; Caron; Pierre; (Limoges, CA)
; Poirier; Sylvain; (Montreal, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RISSMAN HENDRICKS & OLIVERIO, LLP
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 2101
BOSTON
MA
02114
US
|
Assignee: |
Her Majesty The Queen in Right of
Canada as Represented by the Minister of Public Safety
Ottawa
CA
|
Family ID: |
40589936 |
Appl. No.: |
12/258753 |
Filed: |
October 27, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60983717 |
Oct 30, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/9.2 ;
220/203.01; 220/371; 220/373; 220/661; 220/662; 220/676; 220/745;
220/913 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B 15/026 20130101;
B01L 1/04 20130101; B25J 21/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/9.2 ;
220/661; 220/662; 220/676; 220/745; 220/371; 220/373; 220/203.01;
220/913 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/02 20060101
B65D033/02; B65D 33/01 20060101 B65D033/01; B65D 33/04 20060101
B65D033/04; B65D 81/18 20060101 B65D081/18; B65D 51/16 20060101
B65D051/16; B65D 90/12 20060101 B65D090/12; B65D 90/28 20060101
B65D090/28; B65D 90/48 20060101 B65D090/48 |
Claims
1. A portable and collapsible isolator for containing radioactive,
chemical or biological agents, comprising: a) a collapsible frame,
movable between a collapsed transport position and an open
operational position; b) a flexible and collapsible envelope in the
form of an airtight bag attached to the frame to define a cavity,
wherein said envelope remains airtight in both collapsed and open
positions; c) one or more sealable openings formed in the envelope
for insertion and removal of the radioactive, chemical or
biological agents into and out of the cavity, and d) optionally one
or more gloves extending from one or more of said sealable openings
into the cavity, for handling said radioactive, chemical or
biological agents inside the cavity.
2. The portable and collapsible isolator according to claim 1
further comprising an inlet and an outlet air filtration system
attached to and sealed to the envelope to filter air entering and
leaving the isolator.
3. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 2 wherein at
least one of the inlet and outlet air filtration system comprises
at least one High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter.
4. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 2 wherein the
inlet air filtration system further comprises a check valve to
prevent backflow.
5. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 2 wherein the
outlet air filtration system further comprises a carbon filter to
absorb chemical vapors.
6. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 3 wherein the
HEPA filters have a minimum efficiency of 99.99% on particles of
0.3 .mu.m size or greater.
7. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 2 wherein the
inlet and outlet air filtration system further comprises a variable
speed blower motor operated in a negative pressure mode to provide
a negative pressure inside the cavity.
8. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 7 wherein the
filtration systems are operated to create a negative pressure of at
least -0.2 inches of water gauge (-0.05 kPa).
9. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 1 wherein the
glove or gloves each have two-piece cone shape sleeves.
10. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 1 wherein the
frame of the isolator comprises telescopic frame members that are
collapsible for transportation.
11. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 1 wherein the
envelope is made of a clear material that is resistant to attack by
radioactive, chemical or biological agents.
12. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 1 wherein the
envelope is made of an opaque material fitted with clear
windows.
13. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 1 wherein the
envelope material is weldable to itself to ensure air
tightness.
14. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 1 wherein the
envelope material is a multi-layer, clear, laminate barrier
material.
15. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 14 wherein the
envelope material is a lamination of nylon, ethylene-vinyl alcohol
copolymer (EVOH), and polyethylene (PE), or a lamination of
polyester, nylon, EVOH and PE.
16. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 1 wherein the
envelope is disposable.
17. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 1 further
comprising auxiliary systems, wherein the auxiliary systems include
a monitoring system comprising one or more sensors to detect and
optionally warn of low or high air pressure in the chamber, or low
battery.
18. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 1 further
comprising a base structure connected to one or more surfaces of
the envelope or the frame, the base structure being movable between
a collapsed, transportable position and an open, operational
position.
19. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 18 wherein the
base structure forms a first lockable carrying case for the
collapsible isolator.
20. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 19, wherein the
first lockable carrying case is preferably made of a rigid,
lightweight material.
21. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 20 wherein a
bottom surface of the carrying case is flat and outfitted with
no-slip pads to ensure stability of the isolator when placed on a
level surface.
22. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 21 further
comprising foldable, telescopic legs extending from the bottom
surface of the carrying case to allow the isolator to be
self-standing and optionally self-leveling.
23. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 19 wherein the
inlet and outlet air filtration systems and the auxiliary systems
are contained in a second lockable carrying case.
24. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 18 wherein the
base structure comprises a base frame of four telescopic legs that
are extendable for operation or collapsible for transportation.
25. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 24 wherein the
telescopic legs comprise hydraulic cylinders for
collapsibility.
26. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 25 wherein the
base structure is fitted with casters to allow the portable
isolator to be rolled from place to place.
27. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 26 wherein the
castors are fitted with a pivotable plate so that the isolator
rests on the pivotable plate and maintains stable contact with the
ground during use.
28. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 27 further
comprising a table top, connecting the isolator to the base
structure.
29. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 28 wherein the
table top is made of stainless steel supporting a plastic
plate.
30. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 1 wherein the
frame is made of lightweight tubing material optionally fitted with
removable end connections.
31. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 30 wherein the
frame comprises two side portions that are pivotable joined to the
table top so that the frame can pivot inwards and collapse onto the
table top for transportation.
32. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 31 wherein the
frame comprises transverse members detachably connecting the two
side portions.
33. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 32 wherein the
auxiliary systems and the inlet and outlet filtration systems are
housed in the base structure during operation.
34. The portable and collapsible isolator of claim 33 wherein the
isolator, base structure, auxiliary systems and inlet and outlet
filtration systems are all covered by a protective cover, for
transportation.
35. A portable and collapsible isolator for containing radioactive,
chemical or biological agents, comprising: a) a collapsible frame,
movable between a collapsed transport position and an open
operational position; b) a flexible and collapsible envelope in the
form of an airtight bag attached to the frame to define a cavity,
wherein said envelope remains airtight in both collapsed and open
positions; c) one or more sealable openings formed in the envelope
for insertion and removal of the radioactive, chemical or
biological agents into and out of the cavity, d) optionally one or
more gloves extending from one or more of said sealable openings
into the cavity, for handling said radioactive, chemical or
biological agents inside the cavity; and e) a base structure in the
form of a first lockable carrying case connected to one or more
surfaces of the envelope or the frame, said base structure being
movable between a collapsed, transportable position and an open,
operational position.
36. A portable and collapsible isolator for containing radioactive,
chemical and biological agents, comprising: a. a top structure
comprising: i. a collapsible frame, movable between a collapsed
transport position and an open operational position; ii. a flexible
and collapsible envelope in the form of an airtight bag attached to
the frame to define a cavity, wherein said envelope remains
airtight in both collapsed and open positions; iii. one or more
sealable openings formed in the envelope for insertion and removal
of the radioactive, chemical or biological agents into and out of
the cavity, iv. optionally one or more gloves extending from one or
more of said sealable openings into the cavity, for handling said
radioactive, chemical or biological agents inside the cavity; b. a
table top, upon which the top structure rests; and c. a base
structure upon which the table top rests, said base structure
comprising a base frame of four telescopic legs that are extendable
for operation or collapsible for transportation.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority right of prior U.S.
patent application 60/983,717 filed Oct. 30, 2007, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to isolators for use in
containing, handling and transporting potentially hazardous
radioactive, chemical or biological agents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] On-site handling and containment of suspicious packages or
known hazardous materials poses an enormous risk to both the
initial responders who must contain and transport the materials and
subsequent investigators who must handle the materials to determine
their origin, composition, risk and eventual disposal. In
particular, hazardous radioactive, chemical and biological agents
pose an increased threat. These agents may include, but are not
limited to, chemical warfare agents, toxins, Risk Group 3 and Risk
Group 4 biological pathogens and can also include radioactive
materials.
[0004] Isolators used to contain such agents are required by law to
be airtight to prevent escape of any potentially hazardous
material. Furthermore, such isolators must be fitted with negative
pressure ventilation systems and high efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filters. All ports attached to the isolator must be sealable
against leaks. They further require isolation of a researcher from
the pathogen and decontamination of air and other effluents
produced in the facility.
[0005] Traditionally, isolators used for containing such agents
have been made of glass and stainless steel, to provide the
containment requirement listed above. However, such isolators are
often heavy and cumbersome. Transportation of such isolators can be
very difficult and they cannot generally be used in any portable
capacity. Furthermore, conventional isolators require elaborate
on-site assembly and decontamination before disassembly which
detrimentally adds to response time and can increase public
exposure to the potentially harmful substances.
[0006] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,974,197, 6,715,343 and 6,428,122 all to
Henry et al., teach portable containment systems for chemical and
biological materials. However these must be assembled from numerous
pieces and then later decontaminated fully before being dismantled
for storage and transport. It is a challenge to conveniently
transport these isolators in a fully assembled condition.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,767 teaches a containment system for
chemical and biological explosive devices. This system is meant to
contain explosive blast over-pressure and blast fragmentation
particles caused by an explosive blast. However, the device is not
airtight, and in fact is taught to have an open base and therefore
can not isolate radioactive, biological or chemical agents from the
surrounding environment.
[0008] The need thus remains for a device which can contain and
isolate hazardous biological and chemical materials which is easier
to manage and transport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a collapsible and portable
chemical and biological isolator that can be deployed in a short
amount of time.
[0010] More particularly, certain exemplary embodiments provide a
portable and collapsible isolator for isolating and containing
radioactive, chemical or biological agents, comprising a
collapsible frame, movable between a collapsed transport position
and an open operational position, a flexible and collapsible
envelope in the form of an airtight bag attached to the frame to
define a cavity, wherein said envelope remains airtight in both
collapsed and open positions, one or more sealable openings formed
in the envelope for insertion and removal of the radioactive,
chemical or biological agents into and out of the cavity and
optionally one or more gloves extending from one or more of said
sealable openings, for handling said radioactive, chemical and
biological agents inside the cavity.
[0011] Further exemplary embodiments provide a portable and
collapsible isolator for containing radioactive, chemical or
biological agents comprising a collapsible frame, movable between a
collapsed transport position and an open operational position and a
flexible and collapsible envelope in the form of an airtight bag
attached to the frame to define a cavity, wherein said envelope
remains airtight in both collapsed and open positions. One or more
sealable openings are formed in the envelope for insertion and
removal of the radioactive, chemical and biological agents into and
out of the cavity and optionally one or more gloves extending from
one or more of said sealable openings into the cavity, for handling
said radioactive, chemical and biological agents inside the cavity.
A base structure in the form of a first lockable carrying case is
connected to one or more surfaces of the envelope or the frame. The
base structure is movable between a collapsed, transportable
position and an open, operational position.
[0012] Further exemplary embodiments provide a portable and
collapsible isolator for containing radioactive, chemical or
biological agents, comprising a top structure, a table top, upon
which the top structure rests and a base structure upon which the
table top rests. The top structure comprises a collapsible frame,
movable between a collapsed transport position and an open
operational position and a flexible and collapsible envelope in the
form of an airtight bag attached to the frame to define a cavity,
wherein said envelope remains airtight in both collapsed and open
positions. One or more sealable openings are formed in the envelope
for insertion and removal of the radioactive, chemical or
biological agents into and out of the cavity and optionally one or
more glove extending from one or more of said sealable openings
into the cavity, for handling said radioactive, chemical and
biological agents inside the cavity. The said base structure may
comprise a base frame of four telescopic legs that are extendable
for operation or collapsible for transportation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described
below, in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of
a portable and collapsible isolator.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of
a portable and collapsible isolator.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of
a portable and collapsible isolator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The present invention provides a portable and collapsible
isolator for containing and handling hazardous or potentially
hazardous radioactive, chemical or biological agents that may
possibly pose a threat to public health and safety. For the
purposes of the present disclosure, radioactive, chemical and
biological agents may include, but are not limited to, chemical
warfare agents, toxins, Risk Group 3 and Risk Group 4 biological
pathogens, as well as some radioactive materials. Such agents can
include, among others, hydrogen cyanide, cyanogens chloride,
phosgene, Lewisite, Mustard gas, G-series nerve agents, Ricin, VX
nerve agent and radioactive iodine. Furthermore, the present
isolator is capable, at least in selected embodiments, of
containing particles that may be Alpha or Beta emitters.
[0018] One embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 in which there is
illustrated a collapsible and portable isolator 10 comprising as
the main components a collapsible frame 2, a clear, flexible and
collapsible envelope 4 in the form of an airtight bag attached to
the frame to define a cavity 6 and one or more sealable openings 8
formed in the envelope 4 for insertion and removal of the
radioactive, chemical or biological agents into and out of the
cavity. Optionally, one or more, and preferably two, of the
sealable openings are equipped with gloves (not shown), which
extend into the cavity, for handling the agents in question. Most
preferably the gloves have two-piece cone shape sleeves to allow
for various hand sizes to uses the device, while always maintaining
containment.
[0019] The sealable openings 8 may have bag in/bag out capabilities
which are well known in the art. In particular the sealable
openings may be fitted with a long sleeve or tube (not shown)
optionally made of the same material as the envelope 4, so that
suspicious packages can be inserted into and taken out of the
isolator without jeopardizing containment. The sealable openings 8
are preferably sized to accommodate standard examination equipment
such as, for example, light microscopes, hazardous materials
HazMat.RTM. detectors and radiation detectors.
[0020] To meet containment requirements, the isolator 10 may be
outfitted with or associated with an inlet and an outlet air
filtration system (not shown) mechanically attached to and sealed
against the flexible envelope 4, to filter air entering and leaving
the isolator. Preferably, the inlet air filtration system comprises
single or double High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and
outlet air filtration system comprises single or double double High
Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. The inlet air filter is
preferably protected from backflow by use of a check-valve. The
outlet air filtration system preferably also comprises a carbon
filter such as a double-carbon filter to absorb any fugitive
chemical vapours. More preferably, the HEPA filters preferably have
a minimum efficiency of 99.99% on particles of 0.3 .mu.m size or
greater.
[0021] The air filtration systems are connected to a variable speed
blower motor which draws clean air in through the inlet filtration
system and out through the outlet filtration system and is operated
in a negative pressure mode to provide a negative pressure inside
the cavity. Negative pressure is preferred to ensure that, in the
event of a leak in the isolator system, fresh air from outside the
system will flow into the isolator, rather than potentially
contaminated air flowing out to the surrounding atmosphere.
Preferably, the filtration systems are operated to create a
negative pressure of -0.2 inches of water gauge (-0.05 kPa), more
preferably -0.5 inches of water gauge (-0.125 kPa).
[0022] The frame 2 of the isolator preferably comprises telescopic
frame members that can be collapsed for transportation. The
flexible envelope 4 can be attached to the frame in a number of
known ways in the art, including but not limited to use of
Velcro.RTM. loops, grommets and tabs. As an example, FIG. 1
illustrates the use of loops 12 made of the same material as the
envelope and welded to the envelope for attaching the envelope 4 to
the frame 2. The envelope 4 remains attached to the frame 2 in both
the collapsed and open positions. The envelope 4 provides a
completely airtight cavity 6 in which the radioactive, chemical and
biological agents are stored. The envelope 4 retains its air
tightness in both the collapsed and open positions of the isolator,
so that, size permitting, the agents in question can be stored and
transported when the isolator is collapsed. Furthermore, no
decontamination of the cavity of the envelope is required before
collapsing and transporting the isolator. The envelope has no
joints or breaks in the structure to help avoid leaks. The one or
more sealable openings 8 are also airtight and any mechanical
closures formed on the envelope are of a design commonly used in
glove-box systems, and are airtight as well.
[0023] Optionally, the envelope 4 may be disposed of after a number
of uses, and replaced with another envelope. In a further preferred
embodiment, the envelope 4 may be removed from the frame without
compromising the integrity of the envelope, so that disposal and
replacement of the envelope 4 does not expose the cavity 6 to the
surrounding environment.
[0024] The envelope 4 may be made of a clear or translucent
material, or may be an opaque membrane fitted with clear windows.
The envelope 4 is preferably at least semi-flexible and resistant
to attack by radioactive, chemical and biological agents. The
envelope material is preferably weldable to itself to ensure air
tightness. Through extensive testing and investigation, the present
inventors have found that certain multi-layer, clear, laminate
barrier materials are particularly suitable for use as envelope
material. For example, a lamination of nylon, ethylene-vinyl
alcohol copolymer (EVOH), and polyethylene (PE) has been found to
work well. Another example is a lamination of polyester, nylon,
EVOH and PE. In these laminates, the nylon and EVOH serve as
barriers to the radioactive, chemical or biological agents as well
as to humidity and oxygen and may face the inside of the isolator
cavity. The polyethylene serves to render the various layers of the
laminate weldable to each other and also forms the outside layer of
the envelope. Such a laminate also maintains high integrity over a
range of environmental temperatures and can operate in a range of
temperatures from -15.degree. C. to +40.degree. C. or beyond. As
indicated above, the envelope 4 can be disposable and replaced with
a new envelope after a number of uses. Most preferably, the
envelope is replaced after a dozen open and close cycles of the
sealable openings 8.
[0025] Auxiliary systems of the isolator, if present, may include a
monitoring system comprised of, for example, a Magnehelic.RTM. or
other differential low air pressure indicator to monitor pressure
inside the cavity, and/or audio and visual warning devices to
indicate low or high interior pressure, and/or low battery.
Furthermore, the isolator may optionally be connected to a power
source, preferably both AC and DC power sources can be used. A
battery pack may also be optionally provided as the sole power
source or as an additional power source.
[0026] Further embodiments of the present invention are disclosed
herein to serve different requirements for portability and use. One
further embodiment of the isolator is illustrated in FIG. 2.
Another embodiment of the isolator is illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0027] With reference to FIG. 2, the isolator is shown generally at
14. The frame 2 is collapsible into and containable within a first
lockable carrying case 16 for transportation or storage purposes.
In this embodiment, the isolator 14 has dimensions and a weight
such that it can be transported by a single person. For example,
the isolator may weigh about 50 pounds or less (22.6 kg) and have a
height of from 24'' to 30'' (609 to 762 mm), a length of 24'' to
40'' (609 to 1026 mm) and a depth of 24'' to 30'' (609 to 762 mm).
In this first preferred embodiment, the isolator 14 is preferably
used for onsite containment of smaller suspicious packages or
smaller amounts of materials, which can be examined on site or can
be contained in the isolator even when the first lockable carrying
case 16 is closed and carried to another location for further
investigation.
[0028] The case 16 is preferably made of a rigid, lightweight
material optionally including one or more handles (not shown) so
that it can be transported by a single person. Most preferably, the
carrying case is a hard sided case. When the isolator is in the
open, operating position, the walls of the carrying case may serve
as a rigid bottom surface 18 and a back wall 20 to the isolator.
The bottom surface 18 of the carrying case is preferably flat and
outfitted with no-slip pads to ensure stability of the isolator if
it is placed on a desk, stand or other level surface.
Alternatively, foldable, telescopic legs 22 may extend from the
bottom surface 18 of the carrying case 16 to allow the isolator to
be self-standing and self-leveling. When the telescopic legs 22 are
not used, they can be collapsed and folded into recesses (not
shown) formed in the bottom surface 18 of the carrying case or
detached and carried separately.
[0029] Since the isolator 14 of FIG. 2 and its carrying case 16
require no disassembly, the case can simply be closed after use and
transported away. No on-site decontamination is necessary since the
internal cavity of the isolator is not exposed. This avoids
dangerous exposure to personnel onsite and allows for rapid site
decommissioning once the package has been handled.
[0030] Preferably, the blower motor and the auxiliary systems are
contained in a second lockable carrying case (not shown). The
second lockable carrying case is also preferably dimensioned to be
transportable by a single person, and preferably weighs less than
50 pounds (22.6 kg).
[0031] The isolator shown at 24 in FIG. 3, is generally larger than
that shown in FIG. 2 and can be used for containment, handling and
investigation of larger suspicious packages or larger amounts of
materials. The isolator 24 shown in FIG. 3 is also designed to be
compact and transportable. The isolator 24 comprises a top
structure 26, a table top 28 and a base structure 30. The top
structure 26 comprises all of the elements listed previously for
the isolator 14 shown in FIG. 2. The frame 2 is made of a
lightweight tubing material fitted with removable end connections.
The side portions 32 of the frame 2 are jointed to the table top 28
with pivoting joints 34 so that the side portions 32 can pivot
inwards and collapse onto the table top 28 for transportation. The
transverse members 36 of the frame 2 are removable for storage in
the base structure 30. It will be noted that the envelope 4 of the
isolator remains intact during disassembly of the frame 2 and
therefore any substances contained therein are never exposed to the
outside environment even during collapsing and transporting the
isolator.
[0032] The base structure 30 may comprise a base frame of four
telescopic legs 38 that can be extended to a comfortable work
height for operation or lowered for transportation. Alternatively,
the legs 38 comprise hydraulic cylinders for collapsibility.
Casters 40 are fitted to the bottom of the base structure 30 to
allow the isolator 24 to be easily transported from place to place.
The castors 40 are preferably fitted with pivotable plates (not
shown) to permit the isolator to rest on the plates and maintain
stable contact with the ground during use.
[0033] The base structure 30 may house all auxiliary systems 42 for
the isolator, including the filtration system, blower motor,
monitoring and electrical systems.
[0034] The table top 28 supports the top structure 26 on the base
structure 30 and is preferably made of stainless steel supporting a
flat surface plate, most preferably a 1/2'' thick plastic
plate.
[0035] The isolator 24 of FIG. 3 may weigh, for example, about 500
pounds (22.6 kg) with a height of from 40'' to 65'' (1000 to 1651
mm), a length of from 65'' to 95'' (1651 to 2438 mm) and a depth of
from 24'' to 65'' (609 to 1651 mm), when deployed.
[0036] Since collapsing the isolator 24 of FIG. 3 does not require
disassembly of the envelope 4 in any way, the frame 2 and base
structure 30 can simply be collapsed after use and transported with
the envelope intact. No on-site decontamination is necessary since
the cavity 6 of the isolator is never exposed to the atmosphere.
This avoids dangerous exposure for personnel and allows for rapid
site decommissioning once the package has been handled.
[0037] The entire isolator system 24 of FIG. 3, once collapsed, can
be covered by a protective cover (not shown) which latches into
brackets (not shown) fitted near the bottom of the base structure
30. Once collapsed and covered, the isolator 24 can be rolled away
by gripping handles affixed to the cover. The collapsed and covered
isolator 24 can fit easily into a standard mini-van vehicle.
[0038] This detailed description of the apparatus and processes of
the present invention is used to illustrate the prime embodiments
of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that various modifications can be made in the present
devices and that various alternative embodiments can be utilized.
Therefore, it will be recognized that modifications can be made in
the present invention without departing from the scope of the
invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.
* * * * *