WO2006125955A1

WO2006125955A1 - Apparatus for use to create a controlled environment

Info

Publication number: WO2006125955A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/001835
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Spencer Schofield
Original assignee: Ralph Ellerker (1795) Ltd
Priority date: 2005-05-27
Filing date: 2006-05-18
Publication date: 2006-11-30
Also published as: EP1886071A1

Abstract

The invention provides apparatus which can be used to define a controlled environment within a housing (4) . The housing is provided in conjunction with air flow generating means to allow an airflow through the controlled environment. Items (30) such as mail sorting apparatus can be positioned and operated in the controlled environment. Access apertures (34, 36) can be provided to allow the controlled entry and/or exit of articles and upon the detection of contamination substances within the controlled environment the same is contained within the housing.

Description

Apparatus for Use to Create a Controlled Environment

The present invention relates to apparatus which can be used to provide a controlled environment within the same and which allows the control of the said environment to be maintained even when a potentially dangerous or hazardous substance is found to be present, thereby enabling the external environment and persons therein to be kept safe.

With the increasing prevalence of biological and/or nuclear hazard and instances where persons may become exposed such as, for example, upon the occurrence of anthrax contaminated powder having been posted to a business, unwitting employees within the company, when opening the mail, may be exposed to the same, it will be readily apparent that there is a need to provide controlled environments. By a controlled environment is meant that if a hazardous substance is identified and exposed within the controlled environment, then the effects of that hazardous substance can be limited and confined to said controlled environment and cannot escape therefrom and therefore cannot have a harmful affect in the external surrounding environment and persons therein.

Conventionally, once a hazardous substance has been identified, it is necessary for safety personnel to be called and for the personnel to be equipped to be able to contain the substance and then remove the hazardous substance from the controlled environment and transport the contained substance for safe disposal. This is costly, time consuming and hazardous.

Due to the inherent risk and the risk of long term contamination of a normally public area, when the substance is removed from the controlled environment into the external environment, the safety personnel typically require to carry with them a relatively large quantity of apparatus and the actual containment, removal and transport of the hazardous substance can be time consuming and still be hazardous.

Another problem which is experienced is being able to handle and use apparatus for specific purposes when it is located within the controlled environment as, as far as possible, it is desired to be able to perform normal day to day activities, even if they have to be performed within the controlled environment. One such activity is the use of mail opening apparatus within the controlled environment, with the controlled environment being provided within a commercial office or business premises.

The aim of the present invention is to provide apparatus for providing a controlled environment and to provide apparatus in a manner which allows the improved control of the hazardous substance in the controlled environment. A further aim is to provide an embodiment of the invention which improves the subsequent transport and removal of contaminated material.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for providing a controlled environment in which at least one item can be placed to be used within the controlled environment, said apparatus defining a housing with the controlled environment therein, a means for generating air flow through the controlled environment, and wherein if a hazardous substance is detected within the environment the hazardous substance is contained along with the at least one item within the controlled environment.

In one embodiment, the air flow which is generated is such as to create a negative pressure in the controlled environment within the apparatus. In one embodiment, the air flow is generated by an air movement means such as a pump or fan so as to draw air from the external environment, into the controlled environment through entry means and to exit the controlled environment, typically via a filter, thereby removing any contamination prior to the air entering the external environment once more.

The filter or filters used can be any or any combination of a HEPA filter, UV filter, bacteriological filter or the like. The filter type(s) chosen can depend on the perceived contamination risks in the environment where the apparatus is to be used.

The air movement means is provided with a power source and in one embodiment, the power source is or includes an option of a battery such that the air movement means can continue to operate for a period of time even after disconnection of the apparatus from mains electric supply.

In one embodiment the air movement means is provided to be moveable, along with the apparatus, and the apparatus can be moved for safe disposal, and operates during said movement of the apparatus.

In this embodiment the air movement means continues to operate and safety personnel can then remove the apparatus which is formed as an integral unit and as the air movement means are provided with its own power source, so the controlled environment can be maintained during the removal and subsequent transport of the apparatus for safe disposal. It will be appreciated that the hazardous substance need not be removed from the controlled environment at all and can disposed of as part of the package or if it is to be removed, need not be removed until after the transport of the package as a whole from the normal location to a location at which safe disposal can occur.

In one embodiment, the item for use is electrical apparatus and support means can be provided as part of the apparatus so as to provide the item at a required height for use. If support means are provided, then these can be formed as an integral part of the apparatus and within the controlled environment. In one embodiment the apparatus, upon detection of a hazardous substance in the controlled environment, can be moved or reconfigured so as to define a smaller controlled environment size, however the said item of apparatus remains within the apparatus .

In one embodiment, the item can be operated by the placing of articles into or onto the item with access being gained via at least one sealable aperture in the housing. In addition, or alternatively, the item can be operated by persons using suitably sealed gloves which are sealed to the housing and which depend inwardly of the controlled environment.

In one embodiment the said item is a manually operated mail opening apparatus. Alternatively, the item is an automatic mail opening apparatus into which sealed envelopes and/or packages can be placed to be opened. In whichever embodiment, the envelopes which have been opened are retained within the controlled environment, typically by the same passing into a collecting container connected to the item. The letters or other items which were within the envelope or package can be removed through openable sealing means in the sheet material as and when required.

In one embodiment, the item is mounted on a substantially horizontal base which can be of colour and/or form to make the presence of possibly contaminating particles more readily apparent.

Preferably, the housing of the apparatus has external walls provided to be substantially clear or is provided with viewing windows so that the controlled environment can be viewably checked.

In normal use, the housing forms a volume so as to allow the item to be operated in a normal manner.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes releasably sealed openings to allow the introduction and/or exit of articles to or from the controlled environment. The sealed means can be in the form of doors, flaps or the like. In another embodiment the sealed means comprises a container such as a drum, with an opening. The container is movable so as to allow an opening to be moved from a position externally of the controlled environment at an access point to allow the packages to be placed into the container, and to a second position in which the opening is positioned internally of the controlled environment at a second access point and the packages can be moved to and from the opening within the controlled environment. Typically when the opening of the drum is in one or other of the said positions, the remainder of the drum acts to seal the access point not in use at that time.

In one embodiment a differential in the speed and/or volume of airflow can be provided such that the air flow speed or volume, at least in the vicinity of said releasably sealed openings, is increased when said openings are in an open position to the external atmosphere. In one embodiment this is achieved by providing at least one sensor in the controlled environment which changes condition when a change in airflow is detected in the controlled environment as would be the case when a sealed opening is open. When this change is detected the fan, pump, or equivalent, which causes the air movement, can be increased in speed to bring about the increase in air flow speed and/or volume.

In one embodiment an interlock system is provided to allow only one of the releasably sealed openings to be open at any given time.

In one embodiment, detection aids can be located in the apparatus, or locatable in the apparatus, to allow the presence of contaminants to be more easily detected. In one embodiment the detection aids include any or any combination of a Tindell beam, and/or ultraviolet light to allow the visual detection of particles, means for detecting the quantity of particles present and/or apparatus for detecting the presence of particular contaminants.

In one embodiment the direction of the flow of air generated in the controlled environment is from the top of the controlled environment when the apparatus is positioned for use, towards the bottom of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, there is provided apparatus for providing a controlled environment said apparatus including a housing with a controlled environment therein and in which at least one item of apparatus is located for use, said environment having an air flow passing therethrough between an air inlet and an ait- filtration system and wherein there is provided at least one aperture into the housing, said aperture located in a position with regard to the housing such that the same can be selectively opened and an article placed into or removed from the environment in a negative pressure thereby preventing contamination present in the housing from leaving the housing through the aperture.

In one embodiment, the aperture is selectively openable by the movement of a door provided as part of the housing, between open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the aperture is located with respect to the air flow inlet so as to be upstream or substantially in line with the same, thereby ensuring that the vicinity of the aperture in the controlled environment is under negative pressure such that the air flow will continue to carry contaminants within the controlled environment away from the aperture, even when the door and hence aperture is opened.

In one embodiment, the article can be placed into the environment such as a spectrometer, in one example, a forensic spectrometer, which can be inserted into the controlled environment if a suspected hazardous substance has been alerted as being possibly present within the housing such that the spectrometer can be used to test the said substance.

In one embodiment the aperture is provided within a resilient, stretchable material such that the aperture can be enlarged in size to allow an article to be passed therethrough. The resilience of the material means that the sides of the aperture exert a sealing action on the article as it passes through and thereby minimises the open area of the aperture and minimises the effect on the negative air pressure within the protected environment. Furthermore the fact that the aperture expands, means that the aperture can be of a relatively small size when at rest which therefore means that when the door is opened to access the aperture a minimal effect is made on the negative air pressure within the controlled environment. In one embodiment the sheet material with the aperture lies to the inside of a door as an inner layer which closes an opening in the wall of the controlled environment, and the layer can be opened along with the door when the protected environment is "safe" to allow articles such as mail to be taken in and out of the controlled environment. When a potentially hazardous substance is detected, only the door is opened to allow access to the inner layer and aperture therein to allow the necessary articles to be introduced through the aperture.

In a further aspect the controlled environment is provided with a sensor or monitoring means which is provided to detect a change in condition of the protected environment which may indicate a hazardous substance being present. If detection occurs, an alarm is generated and this can act as a back up to the visual checking undertaken by the apparatus operator.

In one embodiment, more than one aperture can be provided but typically, only those apertures which are in a part of the controlled environment which, when opened, would still have negative pressure, are openable during use of the enclosure.

In one embodiment audible and/or visible warning means are provided and which are operated upon the detection of a predetermined substance in the controlled environment.

In one embodiment the apparatus includes a biological sensor device located within the controlled environment.

Preferably the air supply system for the apparatus includes negative pressure filtration and/or dust pre- filters.

Specific embodiment of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figures l a-d illustrate a first embodiment of the apparatus;

Figures 2a-b illustrate the apparatus in a second embodiment;

Figure 3 illustrates apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention in a first view;

Figure 4 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with the invention in a second view; and

Figure 5 illustrates the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 in a further operating condition.

In accordance with Figures l a-d, there is illustrated apparatus 2 and, in Figures I a and I d, only the top part of the apparatus in this embodiment is illustrated. The apparatus is for use in providing a controlled environment 4 which, in this case, is defined by a housing formed of plastics sheet material 6 forming a controlled, protective, environment cavity which has front and rear walls, 8, 10, side walls 12 and 14, a top wall 16 and a bottom wall or floor 18. Each of the panels of plastic sheet material which are used to form the walls, are mutually sealed, typically to a frame, in a manner to meet hazardous material containment requirements.

In this embodiment, formed as part of the controlled environment is a support surface 26 on which an item, in this case in the form of a mail opener machine 30, is positioned for use. The support surface 26 can be perforated to allow the flow of air therethrough.

Releasable sealing means are provided at suitable locations in the apparatus and in this case, an entry port 34 is provided to allow mail packages to be input into the controlled environment and onto the opener 30 for opening and an exit port 36 is provided for removing the internal documents received from the packages from the controlled environment. The envelopes and the like which have been opened are passed to a collection area 24 within the controlled environment which can be removed from time to time and emptied. If required, sealed gloves 28 can be provided which depend into the controlled environment and which can be worn to allow the item, which need not necessarily be a mail opener, and can be any form of article which can be usefully used in a controlled environment, to be operated while maintaining the controlled environment.

Air movement means 40 are provided in attachment with the controlled environment so as to allow air to be pumped out of the controlled environment and hence create a negative pressure within the same. The air movement means can normally be connected to a mains power supply for operation.

In Figures l a-d there is illustrated a manually fed form of apparatus. In this case the controlled environment includes at each end a container 41 , 42 in the form of a drum, each rotatable about a respective axis 44, 46. Each drum includes an aperture 48 which allows packages to be placed into the drum 40 to move packages into the controlled environment and, for drum 42, the aperture allows material from the interior of the package to be removed from the controlled environment.

With each drum the aperture 48 can be moved by rotation from a position in which the aperture is in connection with the external environment and a position in connection with the controlled environment, but not both environments at the same time thereby maintaining the integrity of the controlled environment, and seals 51 are provided between the drum and the apparatus sheet material.

The controlled environment includes the mail opening machine 30 for operation and gloves 28 extend into the controlled environment to allow operation of the same.

Figures 2a-b illustrate a further embodiment in which no drums are provided but instead sealed apertures with sealed flaps 54 are provided and a mail opener 30 of a larger scale is provided in the controlled environment. However the same operating principles and reference numerals apply.

In one embodiment, and regardless of the particular form of the apparatus, there can be provided a system whereby the flow of air generated in the apparatus can be altered. Preferably, the alteration of the flow is as a result of a detection of a change which occurs in the air flow as a result of the opening of one of the releasable sealing means to allow the entry or exit of articles into and from the controlled environment 4. Typically, when the sealing means is opened, a change in air flow will occur and at least one sensor can be provided in the controlled environment at a suitable location so as to detect said change. When the sealing means is open, the controlled environment is more susceptible to allowing material from the controlled environment to enter the external environment which is obviously undesirable and therefore, when the change in air flow is detected, the sensor causes the air movement means 40 such as a fan, to operate to generate a higher airflow and therefore discourage the possibility of any of the material from leaving the controlled environment as the same is entrained within the increased airflow. Once the sealing means is closed, a further change in airflow will be detected by the sensor which will lead the air movement means to be changed back to a reduced air flow condition.

It should also be appreciated that the particular configuration of the apparatus can be altered to suit particular uses of the same. As an example, the apparatus may include various contaminant material detection means which are provided either to aid the ability to detect contaminants by the users of the apparatus and/or can be used to check material which is detected within the controlled environment to see whether or not the same is a contaminant. In one embodiment, the devices can be mounted within the controlled environment on a permanent basis or alternatively, the apparatus can be provided with a port through which detection apparatus can be placed into the controlled environment to check for contamination and the port is provided in a manner which allows the device to be placed therethrough in an airtight manner thereby maintaining the integrity of the controlled environment.

Upon detection of a hazardous substance within the controlled environment such as, which may occur upon the opening of an envelope containing the hazardous substance, the apparatus can be contained so as to sustain the controlled environment.

In one embodiment, upon detection of the hazardous substance, the air movement means 40 is disconnected from the mains power supply but the battery source allows the operation of the air movement means to continue thereby maintaining the integrity of the controlled environment. In one embodiment, the apparatus can effectively form a self contained controlled environment package which can be transported as a single unit to a safe location for subsequent disposal of the whole package without having to access the controlled environment or alternatively to a location at which the controlled environment can be entered safely. In each case, the personnel who are required to deal with the hazardous substance or material can attend the location of normal use of the apparatus without the need for removal of the hazardous substance from the controlled environment at that said location and hence the need for specialised equipment which is required to be carried off site, may be reduced and the time taken to remove the hazardous substance from the said location of normal use, can also be reduced.

Referring now to the figures 3-5, there is illustrated apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said apparatus comprising a frame 102 having walls which define a controlled environment 104 and a waste area 106. The housing 104 is defined by end walls 108, 1 10, side walls 112, 114 and top and bottom walls 116, 118. One or more of the walls can be provided with one or more apertures which are selectively closed by doors . In the example given, there is provided an aperture 120 and door 122 therefor, which allow the articles which are to be sorted, in this case, envelopes, to be passed into the protected environment prior to and/or during operation of the apparatus. Also provided within the protected environment is the mail opening apparatus 124 which can be operated manually by persons placing their hands through the openings 126 which typically have gloves (not shown) attached thereto into which the hands can be placed and therefore allow operation of the apparatus 124 without affecting the protected environment. Opening 128, and door 130 therefor, is provided to be selectively openable to allow, for example, any jams which occur during the operation of the apparatus 124 to be cleared.

Opening 134, and door 136 therefor, are provided to allow opened envelopes which pass into the waste cavity 106, via the chute 132, to be collected from time to time. The opening 138 and door 140 therefor, are provided to allow the opened mail, such as letters, bills, invoices and the like, to be removed from the confined area. In accordance with the invention this opening can also be used to allow the introduction of analysis equipment such as a spectrometer 142 which can be selectively positioned into the controlled environment to allow the analysis of any suspected hazardous substance which may, for example, spill from the envelope when the same is opened using the apparatus 124.

Also provided as part of the door 140, is an air inlet 142 via which air can enter the confined area from the external environment and the air is entrained from that opening 142, through the same and out of the confined area at the opposed end typically underneath the apparatus 124, to a filtration unit which filters the air prior to the same re-entering the external environment.

As, at the time of needing to introduce the article, such as a spectrometer into the confined area, it may be that a hazardous substance has been detected, it is important that the introduction of the article does not in itself cause a contamination risk to the external environment. In order to overcome this, an inner layer 144 is provided at the opening 142. The inner layer has an aperture 146 and is located near the air inlet such that air is being drawn away from that aperture towards the filtration unit 148. The article is therefore introduced into the confined area through the aperture 146 under a negative pressure within the protected environment area thereby minimising flow of air back through the opened aperture 146. Thus the door 140 is opened but not the inner layer 144 such that only the aperture 146 is linked to the protected environment. The inner layer 144 is preferably formed of an elasticated expandable material such that the article which is larger than the size of the aperture 144 when at rest, can be squeezed through the expanded aperture 144 into the protected environment. The resilience of the inner layer causes the same to contact the external surfaces of the article as it does so and so causes a form of air seal which again serves to minimize the risk of contamination leaving the protected environment.

The present invention describes an improved apparatus for providing a controlled environment and these improvements can be used in conjunction with an item placed therein which can be operated within the said environment such that in use, in one example for opening mail, the unopened mail is placed into the controlled environment, and the mail sorting apparatus therein is used in a normal manner. The envelopes or other packaging can be removed as waste and the contents can also be removed. However, if contamination is detected, typically by one or more detection devices within and/or introduced into the controlled environment, then a visual and/or audible alert is generated which will cause normal operation to stop and precautionary measures to be followed and hence contamination to be avoided and retained within the controlled environment while further checking and/or containment measures are taken.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing a controlled environment in which environment at least one item can be placed to be used within the same, said apparatus defining a housing with the controlled environment therein, a means for generating air flow through the controlled environment, and wherein if a hazardous substance is detected within the environment the hazardous substance is contained along with the at least one item within the controlled environment.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the air flow is generated to create a negative pressure within the controlled environment.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the air flow is generated by an air movement means such so as to draw air from the external environment, into the controlled environment through entry means and to exit the controlled environment, via at least one filter, thereby removing any contamination prior to the air entering the external environment.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the filter or filters used can be any or any combination of a HEPA filter, UV filter, bacteriological filter.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the air movement means is provided with a power source which allows operation for a period of time after disconnection of the apparatus from the mains electric supply.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the air movement means is provided to be moveable, along with the apparatus, for safe disposal, and operates during said movement of the apparatus .

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the apparatus is formed as an integral unit and the controlled environment is maintained during the removal and subsequent transport of the apparatus for safe disposal.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the item for use is electrical apparatus and support means are provided as part of the apparatus so as to provide the item at a required height for use.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus, upon detection of a ha2ardous substance in the controlled environment, can be moved or reconfigured so as to define a smaller controlled environment size, with the said item of apparatus remaining within the apparatus.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the item can be operated by the placing of articles into or onto the item via at least one sealable aperture in the housing.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the item can be operated by persons using gloves which are sealed to the housing and which depend inwardly of the controlled environment.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said item is a mail opening apparatus into which sealed envelopes and/or packages can be placed to be opened.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the envelopes which have been opened are retained within the controlled environment.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the letters or other items which were within the envelope or package are removed through a selectively op enable aperture in the housing as required.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a base on which the item is mounted is of a colour and/ or form to make the presence of pos sibly contaminating substances more readily apparent.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the housing has substantially clear external walls and/ or is provided with viewing windows so that the interior of the housing can be viewably checked.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes at least one releasably sealed aperture to allow the introduction or exit of articles to or from the controlled environment.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the sealed means comprises a container with an opening.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the container is movable so as to allow the opening to be moved from a position extemalry of the controlled environment at an access point to allow the packages to be placed into the container and to a second position in which the opening is positioned internally of the controlled environment at an access point to allow the articles to be removed and placed into the controlled environment.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a differential in the speed and/or volume of airflow in the controlled environment is provided such that at least in the vicinity of a selectively openable aperture in the housing the speed and/or volume is increased when said aperture is open to the external atmosphere.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein at least one sensor is provided in the controlled environment which changes condition when a change in airflow is detected.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein when a change is detected by the sensor the air movement means is increased in speed to increase air flow speed and/or volume.

23. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one detection means is exposed to the controlled environment, or locatable in the controlled environment, to allow the presence of contaminants to be detected.

24. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow of air generated in the controlled environment is from the top of the controlled environment when the apparatus is positioned for use, towards the bottom of the apparatus.

25. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow of air generated in the controlled environment is from one side of the apparatus to the opposing side.

26. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said environment has an air flow passing therethrough between an air inlet and an ak filtration system and wherein there is provided at least one aperture into the housing, said aperture located in a position with regard to the housing such that the same can be selectively opened and an article placed into or removed from the controlled environment in a negative pressure through the aperture thereby restricting any contamination present in the housing from leaving the housing through the aperture.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the aperture is selectively accessible by the movement of a door between open and closed positions.

28. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the aperture is located with respect to the air flow inlet so as to be upstream or substantially in line with the same.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the vicinity of the aperture is under negative pressure such that the air flow carries contaminants within the confined area away from the aperture

30. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the article which is placed into the environment is a spectrometer, which can be introduced into the controlled environment if a suspected hazardous substance has been alerted as being present.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the aperture is provided in a resilient, stretchable material such that the aperture can be enlarged in size to allow an article to be passed therethrough.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the resilience of the material means that the sides of the aperture exert a sealing action on the item as it is passed through and thereby minimises the effect on the negative air pressure within the controlled environment.

33. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the aperture is formed in sheet material which lies to the inside of the door as an inner layer which closes an opening in the wall of the housing.

34. Apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the layer and door can be opened together when the protected environment is " safe" to allow mail to be taken in and out of the protected environment and when a potentially hazardous substance is detected, only the door is opened to access the inner layer and aperture therein to allow articles to be introduced through the aperture.

35. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the housing is provided with a sensor or monitoring means to detect a change in condition of the controlled environment which may indicate a hazardous substance being present and if detection occurs, a visual and/or audible alarm is generated.

36. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein more than one aperture can be provided and only those apertures which are in a part of the controlled environment which, when opened, would still have negative pressure, are openable during use of the apparatus.