초록 ▼

A system for decontaminating persons or objects passing between a contaminated area and a clean area or shelter has an air lock decontamination chamber and a shower of powdered adsorbent. A blower circulates and disperses the powdered adsorbent throughout the air lock and contacts the adsorbent part

A system for decontaminating persons or objects passing between a contaminated area and a clean area or shelter has an air lock decontamination chamber and a shower of powdered adsorbent. A blower circulates and disperses the powdered adsorbent throughout the air lock and contacts the adsorbent particles with the outer surfaces of persons or objects in the air lock. A control system ensures that the decontamination system is fool-proof. A network of ducts and valves or separators automatically transfers the adsorbent from the deccontamination chamber to a regeneration chamber for demand-responsive regeneration. In a first embodiment, a fluidized bed of powdered absorbent is used in the decontamination chamber and the adsorbent is periodically regenerated in a vacuum chamber by microwave heating. In a second embodiment, a gravity-fed shower of powdered adsorbent is used in the decontamination chamber and the adsorbent is continuously or periodically regenerated by moving the adsorbent through a regenerating kiln.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for decontaminating outer garments of at least one person passing between a contaminated area and a clean area comprising, in combination, a decontamination chamber of sufficient size to enclose said person, said chamber having a first door for permitting said person to pass from the contam

A system for decontaminating outer garments of at least one person passing between a contaminated area and a clean area comprising, in combination, a decontamination chamber of sufficient size to enclose said person, said chamber having a first door for permitting said person to pass from the contaminated area into the chamber and a second door for permitting said person to pass from the chamber into the clean area, both of said doors capable of being closed to seal the chamber off from the contaminated area and the clean area when said person is inside the chamber, means for causing particles of adsorbent to come into contact with the outer garments of said person inside the decontamination chamber when the doors of the chamber are closed, to thereby remove surface contamination from the outer garments of said person inside the chamber and eliminate vapor contamination inside the chamber so that said person may pass between the contaminated area and the clean area while preventing contaminants from entering the clean area, and means for regenerating the adsorbent including (a) a regeneration chamber, (b) automatic means for conveying at least a substantial portion of the adsorbent from said means for causing said adsorbent to come into contact with the outer garments of said person to the regeneration chamber, (c) means for removing contamination from the adsorbent in the regeneration chamber comprising means for sealing the regeneration chamber, a vacuum pump for removing gas from the regeneration chamber and exhausting the gas to the contaminated area, and means for generating microwave energy to thereby heat the adsorbent in the regeneration chamber so that contamination vapor is released from the adsorbent and pumped to the contaminated area by the vacuum pump, and (d) automatic means for returning at least a substantial portion of the adsorbent in the regeneration chamber to said means for causing said adsorbent to come into contact with the outer garments of said person.