JPH02187548A - Clean air area former - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To minimize contamination in the underside region of a diffuser by arranging the peripheral area at increasingly greater angles relative to the central area so that each deflects the air flow outwardly from the direction of air flow from the central area. CONSTITUTION: When the air is sucked by a fan 45 and fed through a grill and a prefilter 89 to the center of a plenum chamber P, the air is passed through an HEPA filter 52 to remove residual particulate contaminants entirely. It is then passed the holes in diffuser panels 60-64 and specific gaps 83, 79 and fed vertically downward from a central panel 60 and a punched peripheral region 71. The air is deflected by about 5 deg. at a punched peripheral region 72 and by about 15 deg. at a punched peripheral region 73. At the corner of the apparatus, the air passes downward through a gap 83 between the edges of adjacent rafter joints of peripheral panels 61-64, thence passes outward through another hole at an angle of about 30 deg. before passing over the edge of a ramp 80. This structure eliminates the effect of contaminated air on the corner perfectly in the range lower than the apparatus.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an apparatus for creating a clean air area in a surgical operating room, a clean room for manufacturing and packaging drugs, and manufacturing electronic equipment. Regarding.

[Prior Art] When air is exhausted from an orifice or unidirectional flow diffuser, the natural behavior is to create a peripheral suction of external contaminants all around the perimeter of the diffuser, where the contaminants simply mix with the expelled clean air. instead of 10″~12°
Disperses inward at an angle of To avoid this, and without the need for side panels or restrictive drapes in the airflow area, the exhaust airflow rate from the diffuser can be graded and the air can be exhausted from the central area of the diffuser at a high velocity. , a device has been proposed in which the speed is continuously reduced from the central region toward the periphery of the diffuser. Such a device was first described in British Patent Specification Nos. 1488513 and 1488514, and is a ceiling-mounted device adapted to produce a downward and outward pattern of airflow from a molded diffuser. This has been shown to minimize contamination in the lower region of the diffuser.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, the effectiveness of the graded flow differential user system of the type described above depends on three severe conditions. First, the temperature difference between the exhaust air and atmospheric air must be less than ±2°C. Next, British Patent No. 155, which is later than the above patent.
No. 5,563 and No. 1,555,564, multiple air recirculation masses are evenly distributed around the graded exhaust air diffuser to obtain a negative velocity pressure equal to the positive velocity pressure of the exhaust air. Must-have.

Finally, the amount of climate control air supplied to the graded airflow unit and mixed with the recirculated air must not exceed 25% of the total volume, and if it does, the amount of climate control air supplied to the graded airflow unit and mixed with the recirculated air must be There is insufficient negative velocity pressure created at the inlet to direct ambient air outward.

In situations where cooling and heating are required alternately, i.e., in order for such graded flow systems to operate effectively in both summer and winter, these three conditions need to be harmonized. However, such harmony is extremely difficult. If these conditions are not maintained throughout the year, outward airflow has been shown to change direction, resulting in ambient suction of pollutants. In some cases, air from the central area does not reach the floor, reducing the clean area. Of course, these problems are not obvious at the time they occur, but are detected when airflow is monitored and contamination is detected.

To make the graded flow system less susceptible to the above-mentioned effects, the rate of air supplied (and thus the total volume) can be increased. However, this increases noise, and in the operating room, the wound becomes unacceptably dry and the degree of evaporation increases to cool the wound, thereby causing hypothermia in the patient. Furthermore, in the pharmaceutical field, it is necessary to prevent powder from flying off and flame distortion, and such high air velocities cannot be used.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clean air supply system that solves the above problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, there is provided a device for forming a clean air region, which comprises a supply means capable of supplying clean air to a plenum chamber, and is formed of one or more perforated plates. a diffuser means disposed in the vicinity of said chamber so that air supplied to said chamber flows out therefrom, said diffuser means comprising a generally planar central region and a plurality of continuous peripheral regions; and the peripheral regions are arranged at progressively greater angles relative to the central region, such that each peripheral region redirects the airflow outward relative to the airflow from the central region. It is characterized by what it did.

In use, the device creates a radial pattern of airflow outwardly from the diffuser means. Multiple inlets, conventionally arranged in a distributed manner around the air exhaust diffuser means, for air recirculation are not essential in the present invention, since the airflow pattern is This is because it is determined by the angle of the surrounding areas and not by the low velocity difference of the air from those areas. Furthermore, the proportion of climate control air introduced into the air supply means does not affect the air flow pattern and the influence of temperature differences between the air supplied by the device and atmospheric air is less than in previously known structures.

Advantageously, the blades of the deflector are arranged between successive peripheral areas of the diffuser means.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device includes a plurality of separate perforated plates in a continuous peripheral area of the diffuser means, each plate having a non-perforated blade connected thereto. In this way, the angle of each plate can be adjusted individually during or after installation.

In another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the continuous peripheral region of the diffuser means and the imperforate deflector vanes interposed therebetween are each part of an integrally formed panel disposed around a central region of the diffuser means. It has been established as In practice, this structure is easy to install because the relative angles of the perforated areas are fixed and do not need to be selected during installation. The relative angle can be set by selecting in advance the angle most suitable for each location from among several different external shapes.

The present invention will now be explained with reference to illustrated embodiments.

[Example] The device according to the present invention can be installed on the ceiling of an operating room to create a clean air area around a patient during surgery, or can be installed on the ceiling of a clean room for pharmaceuticals or electronic equipment.
Suitable for installation in areas such as creating clean air areas around machinery and production equipment, and other locations where minimizing microbial contamination is essential. However, instead of being mounted on the ceiling, the device according to the invention may also be mounted on a mobile frame with wheels so that it can be moved from one location to another.

First, the general principle of the invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1, which is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of the invention.

Air supply means formed by an electric fan (not shown)
It is provided to allow air to flow into the bricum chamber 10. room 10
is provided at a higher position than the decorative ceiling 12, and
It is located directly above the area where the operating table is installed in the operating room, that is, the area where microorganisms and particle contaminants need to be substantially eliminated. In addition to the fan, an air purifier, heating means, cooling means, and dehumidifier are provided to supply sufficiently clean air to the bricum room 1o under optimal conditions. In the illustrated embodiment, a terminal air filter 14 is also provided across the lower opening of the chamber 10 and generally at the same height as the decorative ceiling 12.

Immediately below the filter 14, a plurality of perforated plates (
Diffuser means, generally designated 20), are attached to the decorative ceiling 12. These boards 2
0 effectively covers the lower surface of the opening of the bricum chamber 1o, and constitutes an outlet for the air supplied to the bricum chamber 10 by the fan. The perforated board includes a generally planar large rectangular central panel 21 aligned horizontally and parallel to the coffered ceiling 14, and further includes a first group of narrow rectangular panels 22. Panel 22 surrounds and is angled relative to central panel 21, slanting upwardly from the plane of central panel 21 at an angle of approximately 20''.

The first group of panels 22 is surrounded by a second group of rectangular panels (24). This second group 24
is the first group (22
) (approximately 40' in the illustrated embodiment). Third group of multiple rectangular panels 2
6 surrounds the second group 24, which are inclined upwardly at an angle of approximately 60'' from the plane of the central panel 21. The panels 22, 24, 26 are successively narrower;
Both have holes.

The inner edges of each panel 22, 24, 26 are respectively connected to vanes 23, 25, 27 which act as air deflectors. Panels 22.24.26 or vanes 23.
25.27 is installed with rotation adjustment possible,
Thereby, each diffuser panel 22.24.26
The angle of inclination and the proportion of air passing through it can be adjusted. Another deflector - vane 29 on each outermost panel 2
It is attached to the outer edge of 6.

In use, the fan operates to supply clean air to the pre-cum chamber 10 as indicated by arrow A.

A suitable air flow rate is 0.55 m/sec. Clean air enters the chamber through the perforated diffuser panels 21, 22, 24, 26 and is blown out in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the respective panel. That is, after passing through the large central panel 21 as shown by arrow B, the air continues to flow downward, but the air flows directly downward through the inclined panels 22 at the periphery of the diffuser device.
After passing through 24.26, the direction is shifted outward as shown by arrow C, and the angle increases.

A gap remains between the outermost deflector vane 29 and the edge of the ceiling 12 forming the lower surface of the opening of the bricum chamber 10, through which the air passing is deflected by the plate 29 and follows the direction of the arrow. As shown, the flow begins to flow approximately horizontally just below the ceiling 12.

Overall, an outward radial airflow pattern is created in all directions from the diffuser panel arrangement. This air flow has an appropriate speed (e.g. 0.55 m/sec)
, the airflow blows out to the floor of the chamber and flows outward, dissipating through air outlets and doors at the periphery of the chamber. Such an airflow pattern, as is already known, can minimize air microbial contamination in the area below the diffuser device, and can minimize airborne microbial contamination from unclean air and contaminants introduced by surgeons (naturally emitted). This has the effect of sweeping away the bacteria (including epithelial bacteria) from the area to maintain a sterile state. The advantage of the device according to the invention is that this pattern can be realized more reliably than with conventional devices which relied on air velocity differences.

The second embodiment shown in detail in FIGS. 2 to 11 is also of the ceiling type. This device is rectangular in shape (Fig. 5), actually square, and has four connected side walls 31.
．． A housing 30 including 32, 33, 34 is provided. Perforated diffuser means, generally designated 40, comprises:
It is mounted on the inside of the side wall, intersecting the exit passageway from the device.

The housing 30 is composed of four modules Δ, BSC, and D, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, and a single module among them is shown in detail in FIGS. 6 to 10. This is an indication.

Each module has a metal outer casing 35, which includes a top wall 36, adjacent side wall portions 31a, 31b, 32a-34b, and an inner wall 37.
It consists of 38. The height of the inner wall is not so high that the side wall portion engages the corresponding inner wall of two adjacent modules when the four modules are assembled together. Each side wall portion 31a, 31
b, 32a . . . 34b have air intake grilles 39, two of which are thus provided on each side wall of the assembled device. Although such air intakes are not essential to the present invention, their provision makes the device intake-backed and allows for the installation of new air vent configurations in the absence of existing suitable remote air vents at the installation location. It is beneficial because it does not need to be adopted. A pre-filter 89 is provided inside the grill to filter large particulate contaminants.

The side wall portions 31 a, 3 i b, 32 a-=34 b connect to an inward narrow lower wall 41 .
42 is connected to upwardly directed auxiliary walls 43,44. The auxiliary walls 43,44 form an outer compartment for the device. Two side walls 31a, 31b, 32a of each module
A fan 45 is housed in this outer compartment at the location where the -.-34b join, ie at each corner of the device. Each fan 45 has an outlet duct 46 that extends into the inner compartment of the device constituting the bricum chamber P. Thus, in the operating state, the fan 45 directs atmospheric air to the grill 3.
9 (and possibly through a remote population as shown in FIG. 3) into the outer compartment and supply it to the bricum chamber P.

Across each corner area, a plurality of intermediate walls 47 are provided parallel to the upper wall 36 to direct the air from each fan 45 towards the central area of the bricum chamber P.

The interior surfaces of all walls of each module casing are lined with sheets of sound attenuating material, typically formed from fire-resistant foamed plastic. Another sound attenuating panel 48 is provided in the outer compartment of each module. Of course, the purpose of all these sound attenuating materials is to muffle the operational noise of the fan 45.

At the corner of each module and between the inner walls 37, 38 (ie on the side opposite the fan 45), a partially cylindrical cutout 49 is provided in the casing. When modules A-D are assembled, these cutouts 49 form a central opening through which the mounting shaft 50 (FIGS. 2-4) of the room illuminator 51 passes.

A HEPA (ultra high performance) filter 52 is placed parallel to the top wall 36, intersecting the bricum chamber, and is mounted by fixtures 53 between the auxiliary wall 43.44 and the inner wall 37.38 of each module. There is. A diffuser means 40 is attached to this lower side.

The diffuser means comprises a planar central region consisting of four generally square perforated panels 60 and a continuous perforated peripheral region. Each of the four panels 60 is attached to a separate housing module. Each of the peripheral areas is formed by four elongated inclined panels 61-64. The panels 61-64 are mounted along the four sides of the central region, in other words extending along adjacent modules from one corner of the inner compartment to another. In this regard, four panels 61~
Each end of 64 is cut diagonally like a gassho joint, and is attached to a corner, leaving only a small gap 83 between them (see FIG. 8).

Each large planar panel 60 is provided with an upwardly directed rim 65 along its edge opposite the corresponding module's side wall portions 31a, 31b, 32A-34b and also aligned with the module's inner walls 37.38. Along the other two edges upwardly and inwardly directed flanges 66 are provided (10th
(see figure). Each panel 60 is suspended at only one edge by an elongated mounting strip 67 from the inwardly bent edge of the inner wall 37.

Strip 67 is connected to flange 66 by pin 68. The opposite edge is individually attached to the bracket 6
It is suspended by 9. For example, if it is necessary to check the filter 52, the bra.

The fixed state of the kerato 69 is released so that the panel 60 can be swung downward.

The elongated peripheral panels 61-64 are undulating, the special sloped shape of which is most clearly seen in FIGS. 7, 10 and 11. The panels include longitudinally extending perforated areas 71, 72, 73 spaced apart, of which areas 72, 73 extend by 10° and 15°, respectively, with respect to the plane of area 71. It is located at a different angle. Between the region 71.72 and the adjacent region 73 there is a vertically extending non-porous region 74,75,76. The regions 74, 75, 76 are each arranged obliquely with respect to the adjacent perforated region.

In particular, as is clear from FIG. 11, each panel 61 to 64
A hook region 77 is formed on the inner peripheral edge of the device, and in use the region 77 engages the rims 65 of two adjacent central regions 60 from above. Preferably, the rim 65 is fitted with a rubber gasket to provide a more secure connection without excessive play. A generally flat edge strip 78 is provided along the outer periphery of each panel 61-64. Each strip 78 is bolted to the underside of the lower walls 41 or 42 of two adjacent housing modules, leaving a slight gap 79 between them. In order to ensure that these gaps 79 have an appropriate width, washers are attached to the fixing bolts.

When the center panel 60 and the peripheral panels 61-64 are attached to the predetermined positions as shown, the center panel 60 is generally horizontal, the peripheral perforated area 71 is also generally horizontal,
The other two perforated areas 72, 73 are in this example located at about 10" and 15" respectively with respect to the horizontal direction. As most clearly shown, the three perforated areas 7
1.72.73 are provided with three rows, five rows, and five rows of elongated holes, respectively.

Between the outermost imperforate region 76 and the flat edge strip 78 there is further a longitudinal region 81 extending 3 to the horizontal direction.
It is provided at an angle of 0'', and on each panel 61 to 64,
A strip lamp 80 is attached to each. As shown, ramp 80 is preferably tapered to minimize disruption of the airflow pattern during operation of the device. In this regard, beyond the end of each lamp 80, the area 81 of each panel is perforated (see FIGS. 8 and 8a). Another narrow area 82 with a single row of holes is provided between the area 81 for mounting the lamp 80 and the edge strip 78 at an angle of 60° to the horizontal.

In operation, fan 45 draws atmospheric air through grille 39 and prefilter 89 (and possibly a separate inlet as shown in FIG. 3) and supplies it to the center of bricum chamber P. From there, the air passes through a HEPA filter 52, which removes any residual particulate contaminants, and then passes as sterile air through the holes and predetermined gaps 83, 79 in the diffuser panels 60-64. It flows out as shown by the various arrows in the figure.

Air flows vertically downward from the central panel 60 and the first perforated peripheral area 71. Air enters the second perforated peripheral area 7
2, the air is redirected by approximately 5°, and where it exits through the third perforated peripheral area 73, it is redirected by approximately 150°. In this regard, the non-porous area 74.75.7 provided between them
6 act as deflection vanes and assist in guiding the air outward in the pattern described above. At the corners of the device, the air passes downwardly through the slight gaps 83 between the adjacent joint cut edges of the peripheral panels 61-64, and
The lamp 80 passes outwardly through another hole at an angle of approximately 30".
beyond the edge of In this way, there is no possibility that the corners of the area below the device will be affected by contaminated air, and the sterility of this area is maintained. Furthermore, about 60＠
An outward airflow of 200 volts occurs outside the lamp 80 through another single row of holes in the history of the region 82, and that flow also passes through the gap 7.
9 and becomes approximately horizontal below the housing 30.

The airflow from regions 73.82 joins after riding over the tapered surface of ramp 80, again without any backflow or turbulence that could introduce contaminants into the sterilization region.

Of course, the above-described configuration is merely an example and does not limit the scope of the invention, and many variations and modifications can be adopted. The band lamp 80 is not essential, and the operating room lamp 51 is also only suitable if the device is used in a hospital operating room. Modular construction is also not required, but may actually be beneficial for ease of manufacturing and installation. The exact size, shape, and mounting of the peripheral panels may vary and can be easily modified by those skilled in the art to best suit the airflow pattern for the installation site. Additionally, the device does not necessarily have to be ceiling mounted, but may be attached to a wheelbarrow or other wall structure.

Intermediate structures incorporating some of the features of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and some of the features of the embodiment of FIG. A combination of several peripheral panels and several fully perforated panels or having only one such area may be used to make the orientation of each panel adjustable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the device of the first embodiment of the present invention installed on the ceiling of a room, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of the second embodiment of the invention installed on the ceiling of the room. 3 is an enlarged side view of the second embodiment, FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the second embodiment at the center line (along the mV-TV line in FIG. 5), and FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the second embodiment.
A plan view showing the module structure of the embodiment; FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one module of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 to 5;
Figure 7 is an enlarged end view of the module shown in Figure 6 when viewed in the direction of the arrow ■ in Figure 6, Figure 8 is a bottom view of the module shown in Figure 6, and the mga diagram is enclosed in a circle ■ in Figure 8. The enlarged detailed view of the panel end portion, FIG. 9, shows the module shown in FIG.
A schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in the figure, FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 6 with the strip lamp omitted, and FIG. 11 shows the embodiment shown in FIGS. , XI in Figure 8a
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the peripheral panel shown further enlarged as a cross section taken along line -XI. 10...Plinum chamber, 20...Perforated plate, 21.2
2.24.26... Diffuser panel, 23.2
5.27.29 ... Vane patent applicant Frederick Hugh Howarth (1 other person) Flg, 5 Fi9.6 Procedural amendment (voluntary) December 25, 1999 2゜3゜Name of invention Clean air region formation Relationship with the device amendment case Patent applicant address N.R. Ollerton Hall, Lancashire, England (no street address) Kohli Address 2-9-4-5 Higashitenma, Kita-ku, Osaka Date of amendment order (shipment) (1) Drawings to be amended, priority certificate and its translation 7, Contents of amendment (1) Figures 1 to 11 of the drawings will be amended as shown in the attached sheet. (2) Submit the priority certificate and its translation as attached. 8. List of attached documents

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device for forming a clean air region, comprising:
providing a housing or canopy with a plenum chamber;
A supply means capable of supplying clean air to the plenum chamber is provided, the supply means is provided with a fan and a filter means, and a diffuser means formed by one or more perforated plates is disposed in the vicinity of the chamber to supply clean air to the chamber. in which the diffuser means has a generally planar central region and a plurality of successive peripheral regions, the peripheral regions being at progressively greater angles relative to the central region; A device for forming a clean air region, characterized in that each peripheral region is arranged such that each peripheral region changes the direction of airflow outward with respect to the direction of airflow from the central region. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of imperforate deflector vanes are disposed between successive peripheral regions of the diffuser means. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a plurality of separate perforated plates are provided in a continuous peripheral area of the diffuser means, each plate being connected to a non-perforated vane. 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the continuous peripheral regions of the diffuser means and the imperforate deflector vanes interposed therebetween are each provided as part of an integrally formed panel disposed about the central region of the diffuser means. . 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein an elongated lamp is attached to said molded panel around the periphery of the diffuser means. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said lamp has a generally tapered cross-section so as to minimize disturbance of the airflow pattern from the diffuser means. 7. A gap is provided around the outer edge of the peripheral region of the diffuser means through which air can flow outwardly in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of air flow from the central region of the diffuser means. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted to the ceiling so that the central region of the diffuser means is in a generally horizontal configuration with air directed downwardly therefrom. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted on a trolley and can be moved to a desired range or position above the machine. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is comprised of four generally identical modules.