Patent Publication Number: US-11649976-B1

Title: Air-wall room system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an air-wall room system, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an air-wall room system, without structural walls, for venting toxic gases, explosive gases, noxious odors, high volumes of dust, and the like, from a work room. The air-wall room system is designed to provide a safe work environment, particularly in the handling of oil extraction from a cannabis plant. 
     (b) Discussion of Prior Art 
     Heretofore, there have been a number of different types of work area rooms and enclosures used in the cannabis sector. This sector uses light organics, such as butane, propane, and ethanol to extract TCB and CBD oils from the cannabis plant. 
     Oil extraction operations can cause explosions or fires if a level of the gas released is between the lower explosive limit (LEL) and the upper explosive limit (UEL) of the combustible air-gas ratio. Currently, these exhaust operations are conducted within a Class 1 Division 1 or Class 1, Division 2 enclosure using hard walls and Underwriter Laboratory Certified spark-free, explosion proof, electrical devices, such as light systems, electrical outlets, gas and odor sensors, fans, and similar utilities. The devices used within these enclosures are installed to prevent hazards to the operators, such as fires or explosives. 
     The subject invention is designed to eliminate a physical wall structure around the oil extraction operation and similar clean room systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, it is a primary objective of the subject invention to provide an air-wall room system, without structural walls, for venting toxic gases, explosive gases, noxious odors, high volumes of dust, and the like, from a work room. 
     Another object of in the invention is for the air-wall system to provide a safe work environment for workers, particularly in the handling of oil extraction from a cannabis plant. 
     The air-wall room system is suspended from a room ceiling and includes a compressed air discharge duct. The air discharge duct is used for circulating compressed air into a hollow, four sided, upper air-wall frame with air openings. The air from the upper air-wall frame is then circulated into a work space. The hollow upper air-wall frame includes air discharge ports for creating an air-wall. The air-wall, similar to a curtain, prevents toxic gases from escaping outside the work space. Corners of the upper air-wall frame are attached to vertical frame members. A bottom of the vertical frame members is attached to corners of a hollow, four sided, lower air-wall frame. The lower air-wall frame includes vacuum ports for receiving the bottom of the air-wall. A side of the lower air-wall frame is connected to a vacuum air exhaust duct. The air exhaust duct is used for drawing a vacuum in the hollow lower air-wall frame and exhausting the air-wall out a vacuum air exhaust duct. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those familiar with different types of laboratory wall systems when reviewing the following detailed description, showing novel construction, combination, and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the claims, it being understood that changes in the embodiments to the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate complete preferred embodiments in the present invention according to the best modes presently devised for the practical application of the subject air-wall room system, and in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of the subject air-wall room system suspended from a ceiling and including a compressed air discharge duct, upper and lower air-wall frames, a raised floor with air vents, and a vacuum air exhaust duct. 
         FIGS.  2  and  3    are cut-way perspective views of a portion of the lower air-wall frame and the raised floor with air vents. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a gas sensor disposed next to an air vent in the raised floor. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In  FIG.  1   , a perspective view of the subject air-wall room system is illustrated and having general reference number  10 . The air-wall room system  10  is suspended from a room ceiling  12 . The system  10  includes a compressed air discharge duct  14  for circulating compressed air, indicated by arrows  16 , into a hollow, four sided, upper air-wall frame  18 . One side  17  of the upper air-wall frame  18  includes air openings  20  for receiving the compressed air therein. Also, the air  16  is circulated outwardly through the air openings  20  into a work space  22  and between the sides of the frame  18 . The work space  22  is used for cannabis oil extraction and other applications. 
     The hollow upper air-wall frame  18  includes air discharge ports  24  along it&#39;s length and in the bottom of the frame  18  for creating an air-wall, shown as vertical arrows  26 . The air-wall  26 , extending downwardly and similar to a curtain, eliminates the need for a hard wall structure and prevents toxic gases and the like from escaping outside the work space  22 . 
     Extending downwardly from corners of the upper air-wall frame  18  are vertical frame members  28 , typically 8 to 10 feet in length for providing a sufficient height for the workmen in the work space  22 . The bottom of the vertical frame members  28  are attached to corners of a hollow, four sided, lower air-wall frame  30 . The lower air-wall frame  30  includes vacuum ports  32  for receiving the bottom of the air-wall  26 . A side of the frame  30  is connected to a vacuum air exhaust duct  34  for drawing a vacuum in the hollow lower air-wall frame  30  and exhausting the air-wall  26  out the duct  34 . 
     The lower air-wall frame  30  surrounds an elevated floor  36  with air exhaust vents  38 . One side of the elevated floor  36  is connected to the exhaust duct  34 . The toxic air, shown as arrows  40 , is shown being drawn into the exhaust vents  38  and into the exhaust duct  34 , thus providing a safe environment for the work space  22 . A portion of the floor  36  and the lower air-wall frame  30  is cut away in this drawing. 
     In  FIGS.  2  and  3    a cut-way perspective view of a portion of the lower air-wall frame  30  is shown with the elevated floor  36  and air exhaust vents  38 . 
     In  FIG.  4   , a perspective view of a gas sensor  42  is shown disposed next to the air exhaust vents  38  in the top of the elevated floor  36 . As the toxic air  40  exits the work space  22 , the gas sensor  42  will detect the level of gas-air mixture in the workspace and alert the workman when a high level of gas has been detected during the oil extraction operation. This gas sensor will allow for increased air flow or air pressure into the air curtain to be activated at the time of sensing a toxic or flammable gas. The variable air flow will minimize the costs of the HVAC costs for heating and cooling the room and adjacent spaces. This variable air flow is incorporated by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 10,232,286 to Havelick. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown, described and illustrated in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and modifications thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as claimed except as precluded by the prior art.