Abstrict A portable, dust collection system for collection of wood dust
generated in a wood floor sanding operation, the system comprising
a plurality of portable blower motors comprising the primary static
pressure generator positioned in series between the sanding tools
and the collection container, this system having a plurality of
collection hoses of increasing diameter between the sanding tools
and the primary static pressure generator with intermediate blower
motors positioned between the hoses where diameters increase, sanding
tools having skirts for position thereon in distal proximate contact
with the floor such that all dust is collected by the system.
Claims What is claimed:
1. A vacuum operated dust collection and removal system for hardwood
floor sanding operations comprising: a collection source for wood
dust generated by a floor sanding operation; a primary vacuum source
in communication with said collection source; a secondary vacuum
source in communication with said primary vacuum source wherein
said communication between said secondary vacuum source, said primary
vacuum source, and said collection source comprises a series of
first conduit members of a first diameter, said secondary vacuum
source having one of said series of first conduit members of said
first diameter extending therefrom and terminating in a first splitter
coupling; a plurality of second conduit members of a lesser diameter
than and said first conduit member removably secured to said first
splitter coupling and extending therefrom said second conduit members
of said lesser diameter terminating in a first reducer coupling;
a third conduit member of a lesser diameter than said second conduit
member, said third conduit member removably secured to said reducer
coupling and terminating in a second splitter coupling; and a plurality
of fourth conduit members of lesser diameter than said third conduit
member, said fourth conduit members being removably secured to a
machine performing an operation on said floor.
2. The vacuum operated dust collection and removal system in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said primary vacuum source comprises three
blower motors positioned proximate each other in series.
3. The vacuum operated dust collection and removal system in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said secondary vacuum source comprises a fourth
blower motor positioned down stream from said primary vacuum source.
4. A vacuum operated dust collection and removal system in accordance
with claim 1 wherein supplementary vacuum sources may be positioned
between said second and third and third and fourth conduit members.
5. The vacuum operated dust collection and removal system in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said collection source comprises a collection
bag having an inlet port for connection with said first conduit
member from said primary vacuum source, said collection bag being
positioned exteriorly from said floor sanding operation.
6. The vacuum operated dust collection and removal system in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said first conduit, said second conduit, said
third conduit, and said fourth conduit members decrease in diameter
from six inches, to five inches, to four inches, to three inches
respectively.
7. The vacuum operated dust collection and removal system in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said first conduit member extends from said
secondary vacuum system to said first splitter coupling, a distance
proximating 25 feet.
8. The vacuum operated dust collection and removal system in accordance
with claim 1 wherein second conduit member extends from said first
splitter coupling to said reducer coupling, a distance proximating
25 feet.
9. The vacuum operated dust collection and removal system in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said third conduit member extends from said
reducer coupling to said second splitter coupling, a distance proximating
25 feet.
10. The vacuum operated dust collection and removal system in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said fourth conduit members can each extend
a distance of from between 60 to 100 feet.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wood dust collection apparatus
and in particular, to a portable apparatus for collecting wood dust
generated as a result of wood floor sanding operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wood dust is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency
as a harmful material and inhalation can cause respiratory problems.
There exist in the market place dust collection apparatus for use
in a wood shop environment where saws, planers, sanders and the
like generate dust by virtue of their operation on a piece of wood.
In such a wood shop environment, one would expect to generate wood
dust and therefore the commercial dust collection systems are generally
stationary and the surrounding walls of the wood working shop are
devoid of decoration. U.S. Pat. No. 5 606767 to Crlenjak and 4977638
to Best.
Applicant performs commercial sanding of wooden floors such as
hardwood flooring or the like. The work is performed both in a residential
and commercial settings. The equipment utilized by Applicant may
include multiple sanders, edgers and buffers. Further, the equipment
may be used simultaneously in different rooms within a residential
setting or in different offices or different floors in a commercial
setting. The equipment is generally powered by an electric motor
and attempts at collecting the dust particulate from the sanding
operation in the past have included bags attached to the sander,
edger or buffer which would quickly fill up and require emptying
and in the process often resulted in wood dust escaping from the
bag or container.
Therefore, there was a need for a centralized collection system
for the collection of wood dust generated during the wood floor
sanding operation. The collection system must be relatively light
weight and portable, yet powerful enough to draw sufficient static
pressure to allow the sanders, edgers and buffers to operate in
the desired location. The centralized portable system would be desirable
when performing work on new construction when the residence or commercial
setting has not been decorated and you want to insure that all the
wood dust generated from the sanding operation is collected. However,
the portable centralized system would be a necessity when one was
sanding the floor of a home or office or other commercial setting
which was decorated. In those instances, the walls may be painted
and have decorative art hung thereon, window treatments may be present,
as well as certain furniture which may be incapable of being moved.
In such an instance in order to avoid costly and time consuming
prep time, (i.e. tape and plastic sheet set up), and clean up, a
centralized portable system which would vacuum the wood dust simultaneously
with its generation would be required.
Such a centralized portable system would also address safety factors.
In a conventional wood sanding operation as is presently available,
the ventilation return must be closed and sealed to prevent the
excess dust not picked up by the individual machines from being
returned through the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system
and blocking the system and affecting its efficiency. Still further,
the wood dust that is generated from a wood sanding operation is
oftentimes very fine and deleterious to the human body if inhaled.
Still further, the wood dust collected is combustible. In Applicant's
centralized system, all of the wood dust is collected and the collection
container is exterior from the work area. It would either be located
outside away from the house, or in a multi-story office dwelling,
would most likely be located in a stairwell, which is completely
concrete. In either instance, an accidental spark combusting the
wood dust would not endanger the home or the office space.
Applicant's centralized system is so efficient that it can be utilized
to sand the wood floors of bars, restaurants, banquet halls and
clothing stores without the need to remove product or go to the
expense of covering all of the product with plastic sheets and tape.
Another advantage of Applicant's centralized system is the electrical
hook up for the motors and blowers of the vacuum system and the
actual sanding and buffing machines. Because of the voltage and
amperage associated therewith, the system bypasses the normal wall
outlets and connects directly to the breaker box. This is a further
safety feature which allows the user to determine visually any problems
with the system and removes the possibility that a machine or blower
plugged into a wall outlet causes a short in the wiring which results
in a smoldering fire in the wall space.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel portable
wood dust collection system for the simultaneous collection of wood
dust generated during a wood floor sanding operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel
wood dust collection system which is modular and portable yet still
maintain high static pressure.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide for
a novel wood dust collection system from the collection of wood
dust generated by wood floor sanding operation that will generate
sufficient vacuum to permit the operation of multiple sanders, edgers
or buffers simultaneously and collect variable combinations of wood
dust encountered (i.e. oily, heavy, fine).
A still further object of the present invention is to provide for
a novel wood dust collection system for the simultaneous collection
of wood dust from a floor sanding operation which is easily assembled
and disassembled for storage and transportation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A portable dust collection system for the collection of wood dust
generated during a wood floor sanding operation, the system comprising
a plurality of portable blower motors comprising primary static
pressure generator positioned in series between the sanding tools
and collection container, the system having a plurality of collection
hoses of increasing diameter between the sanding tools, and the
primary static pressure generator with intermediate blower motors
positioned between the hoses where diameters increase, which third
hose is in communication with said collection container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects of the present invention will become evident,
particularly when taken in light o the following illustrations wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the dust collection system;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better appreciation of the dustless collection system of the
present invention will be had with reference to FIG. 1 which is
a schematic diagram of the collection system 10. The system 10 as
designed is portable and allows multiple sanding tools or associated
tools to operate at the same time in different locations with all
of the dust generated being collected in a central collection container
with no dust collecting on the furniture, walls or sills.
The dust collection system as illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a
dust collection container 12 in the form of a large bag for the
collection of the generated wood dust. This bag could be hung from
the vehicle which transports the dust collection system, or hung
in a position outside of the home or office such as in the garage
or in a stairwell. It is positioned in a location such that in the
event of a leak or tear it will not contaminate the work area. It
is located outside the building if possible to decrease the possibility
of fire since the dust is highly combustible. The dust collection
bag 12 has an opening 14 for connection with a first hose member
16. First hose member 16 is in communication with the primary vacuum
source 18 for the system. The primary vacuum source consists of
three blower motors connected in series. The three blower motors
consist of a two horse power blower motor 18A, a one and a half
horse power blower motor 18B and a one horse power blower motor
18C, the one horse power blower motor 18C being that which is positioned
and connected to hose 16.
From the primary vacuum source 18 and in particular, the two horse
power blower motor 18A, there extends a flexible second hose member
21. Second hose member 21 has a first end 26 removably securable
to the two horse power blower motor 18A of the primary vacuum source
18 and at its second end 28 it is affixed to a supplementary blower
motor 19. From supplementary blower/motor 19 there extends a third
hose member 24. The first end 23 of which connects to blower/motor
19 and the second end 25 is fitted with a quick release coupling
30 has a plurality of fittings and openings 32 to accommodate connection
of one or more fourth hose members 34 and 36 which are of a lessor
diameter than third hose member 24. Hose members 34 and 36 extend
from quick release coupling 30 and terminate with a second quick
release coupling 36 at each end 38 and 40. Second quick release
coupling 36 permits the connection of a hose member 40 and 42 to
each of hose members 34 and 36. Hose members 40 and 42 of a lesser
diameter than hose members 34 and 36. Hose members 40 and 42 terminate
in a third quick release coupling 44 and 46 which again have a plurality
of fittings and openings therethrough for the connection of a plurality
of fourth hose members 48 50 52 and 54. Hose members 48 50 52
and 54 are of a lesser diameter than hose members 40 and 42. Hose
members 48 50 52 and 54 are connected at their terminating ends
to the machines being utilized to sand the floors and buff the floors.
As shown in the schematic, these machines can include a sander 56
an edger 58 a buffer 60 and a radiator edger 62. Each of the machines
are equipped with a skirt about its peripheral edges extending downwardly
into contact with the floor and those members 48 50 52 and 54
are snap-fit or friction-fit to the upper portion of the respective
machines to draw a vacuum from the primary vacuum source 18.
It will be noted that the system allows for the simultaneous operation
of four machines. These machines could be all sanders, buffers,
or combinations of the four machines set forth herein. It is also
possible that in some instances it will not be necessary to assemble
the hose system as set forth herein for the operation of four machines
simultaneously. In that event, a cap is installed on the appropriate
fitting and opening on the quick release coupling to seal off that
opening. For example, if one wanted to operate only two machines
simultaneously, one of the fittings and openings 30 or 32 in quick
release coupling 30 would be sealed and hoses 34 40 48 and 50
would be assembled to the respective machines.
In operation, additional blower motors 70 may be interspersed within
the system depending upon the length to which the hoses are stretched
as determined by the location of the sanding job.
As an example, it has been found that utilizing the primary vacuum
source as set forth above, hose 24 can be of a length of 25 feet,
hoses 34 and 36 can be of a length of 25 feet, hoses 40 and 42 can
be of a length of 25 feet and thereafter hoses 48 50 52 and 54
can extend from 60 to 100 feet. In this configuration, the additional
blower motors can be installed in the configuration where required,
such as at the junction of hose 24 and hoses 34 and 36 or at the
juncture of hoses 34 and 36 with hoses 40 and 42 or at the juncture
of hoses 40 and 42 with hoses 48 50 52 and 54. This intermediate
supplementary blower motor would normally be of a one horse power.
In this configuration, it has been found that the hose members may
be stepped downwardly in diameter size from six inches for the first
hose member, to five inches, to four inches, and finally to three
inches for the hose member which is removably secured to the sanding
machine.
Utilizing the relatively small blower motor horse powers, the system
is extremely portable and allows for the quick assembly of the configuration
regardless of the layout of the work space. With all of the associated
machines having skirts about their periphery and the machines being
connected to the hose assembly, all dust generated by the machines
is drawn to the collection container 12. The collection container
12 being exterior to the work place, it is thus insured that all
dust and sand is collected exteriorly of the work place. This allows
for less preparation time in removing furniture and wall decorations
and window treatments prior to commencing the work and further allows
for the work place to be reset up more quickly after the sanding
operation is performed. It eliminates the necessity for plastic
throw sheets and taping and eliminates any contamination to the
heating, ventilating and air conditioning system.
In operation of the system, there is a requisite for 220 amps.
Due to the operation simultaneously of the blower motors and the
sanding equipment, it is preferable that the wall sockets not be
utilized for operation of the machines. Therefore the system should
be connected directly to the source of power for the building. This
would be the breaker box in a residential dwelling and such connection
can be made utilizing temporary power boxes as known in the trade.
This eliminates any possibility for a spark or short to occur in
the wall space, which possibility is presented if wall sockets were
utilized. Additionally, for ease of maneuverability, the power cord
to the sander, buffer, et al, may be run within the flexible conduit
attached thereto so that the operator may freely move about with
the machine.
While the present invention has been described with respect to
the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those
of ordinary skill in the art that changes and modifications can
be made without divesting from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited
only the claims and the equivalents thereof. |