AU2005202845A1

AU2005202845A1 - Dust containment apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2005202845A1
Application number: AU2005202845A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Carter
Original assignee: CARTER CORP Pty Ltd
Current assignee: CARTER Corp Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-30
Filing date: 2005-06-29
Publication date: 2006-01-19

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD

PATENT

Invention Title: Applicant: DUST CONTAINMENT

APPARATUS

CARTER CORPORATION PTY LTD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: Q DUST CONTAINMENT APPARATUS SField of the Invention The present invention relates to apparatus for containment of dust that is generated during drilling, sawing, cutting or similar operations. More 0 specifically, the invention relates to apparatus for containing and controlling the spread of asbestos dust during drilling or cutting of asbestos containing materials.

N Background of the Invention Workers carrying out electrical, plumbing, construction, insulation, asbestos removal, or other work that produces dust inside or outside of homes and other buildings have frequently sought to reduce the amount and/or spread of dust and debris produced by those operations. In some cases, such as asbestos removal, the dust must be completely contained to prevent health hazards. In other situations, the workers merely wish to avoid spreading debris throughout the work site.

In most jurisdictions there are now strict regulations relating to working with and disposal of asbestos and asbestos containing materials. For example, the removal of asbestos containing materials from buildings generally requires the worker to wear protective clothing and the asbestos containing materials that are removed need to be disposed of under strictly controlled conditions in order to minimise the spread of asbestos dust and fibres.

Generally, workers that are doing relatively small jobs are still required to carry out their work under strict dust and debris containment conditions. For instance, a tradesperson or handyperson that needs to drill a hole in an asbestos containing wall may be required to wear an asbestos approved dust mask and protective clothing. Unfortunately, the inconvenience caused by -3- Q- having to put on protective wear in order to carry out a relatively small job such

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as drilling a hole in a wall means that many tradespersons or handypersons do not use adequate precautions when carrying out jobs of this type. Even for jobs that do not generate asbestos containing dust and fibres there is still a need for a worker to minimise the spread and inhalation of dust.

0 In light of the above there is a need for an apparatus that is easy to use by a

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0 worker when doing a job such as drilling a hole in a wall, but which enables the containment of dust. More particularly, there is a need for an apparatus that S 10 can be used to contain asbestos containing dust and fibres so that the operation meets legislative requirements or other safety provisions relating to the disposal of asbestos dust. In order to promote compliance with dust containment regulations it is also preferable that the apparatus be relatively simple to use.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a dust containment apparatus for use with a tool bit, the apparatus including: a container having an open end, an aperture in the container through which the tool bit is able to pass such that a free operating end of the tool bit is able to extend from the container at the open end and into a work surface during operation of the tool bit, sealing means capable of forming a substantially dust impermeable seal between the container and the tool bit, wherein the open end of the container is able to be held against the work surface to form a seal therewith during operation of the tool bit.

The container may have a base and at least one wall extending from the base to form a container having the open end opposed to the base.

-4- QThe dust containment apparatus may also include a liquid delivery means for

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introducing a misted liquid into the container to dampen dust that is generated during or after operation of the tool bit.

The liquid delivery means may include a misting nozzle having a discharge end that extends into the interior of the container. The misting nozzle may be fitted 0 through a wall of the container. The misting nozzle is preferably connected to a

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0suitable source of liquid. A particularly suitable source of liquid is a hand spray pump pack.

Preferably, an upper edge of the at least one wall includes a compressible seal that is able to be pressed into sealing engagement with the work surface during the operation. The seal is preferably a rubber or other elastomeric strip that extends around the edge of the wall at the open end of the container.

Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment is illustrated.

However, it is to be appreciated that the following description is not to limit the generality of the above description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dust containment apparatus in accordance with the present invention as well as a standard drill and drill bit; Figure 2 is a part cross sectional side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 with the drill bit removed from the apparatus; Figure 3 is a part cross sectional side view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 2 with the drill bit extending into a work surface and creating dust; Figure 4 is a part cross sectional side view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 3 with the drill bit extending into a work surface and the liquid delivery means Cintroducing misted liquid into the container; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus with no liquid 00 delivery means; and

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Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the apparatus with no liquid delivery means.

Figures 1 to 6 show a dust containment apparatus 10 for use with a tool bit 12.

In the illustrated embodiment the tool bit 12 is a drill bit. Other suitable tool bits that could be used with the apparatus include hole saws, reciprocating saw blades and the like.

The dust containment apparatus 10 includes a base 14 having at least one wall 16 extending therefrom to form a container having an open end 18. The container has an aperture 20 through which the drill bit 12 is able to pass such that a free operating end 22 of the drill bit is able to extend from the container at the open end 18 during operation of the drill bit. In the illustrated embodiment, the aperture 20 is in the base 14. A sealing means 24 forms a substantially dust impermeable seal between the container and the drill bit 12.

As best seen in Figures 2 to 4, during operation of the drill bit on a work surface the open end 18 of the container is held against the work surface to form a seal therewith. As shown in Figure 3, dust generated during the drilling operation is contained within the container until such time as the container is removed from sealing engagement with the work surface. However, prior to the container being removed from the work surface a liquid delivery means 26 is used to introduce a misted liquid into the container to dampen dust that is generated during the drilling operation, as shown in Figure 4. Once the dust has been -6- Qdampened, the operator is able to safely remove the container from the work

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surface without the risk of free dry dust being released. The wetted dust is able to be wiped out of the container and the wipings disposed of in the usual cmanner.

The apparatus of the present invention is particularly suitable for containing 0 asbestos dust during and after drilling operations on asbestos containing work surfaces. Indeed, use of the apparatus of the present invention during such operations may comply with Government regulations concerning the handling and disposal of asbestos dust. However, the apparatus may also be used for other drilling operations where there is a need to contain dust such as preventing dust falling on a worker when drilling a hole into a ceiling.

In the illustrated embodiment the base 14 is square and there are four walls 16 extending from the base. The optimum height of the walls 16 may vary depending on the type of tool bit that is being used, but generally the height of the walls will be between 10 mm and 75 mm, and more preferably between mm and 75 mm. The base and walls are formed from a suitable plastic. Whilst plastic is particularly suitable because it is economical in terms of manufacture, other materials such as metal could also be used. In the case of a plastic container, the container is economically formed by moulding using standard manufacturing techniques.

The container may be any shape such as square, circular or rectangular in plan view. In practice it is found that square container is the most adaptable as it enables the container to be pressed into corners when drilling adjacent to a corner such as a wall-wall, wall-floor or wall-ceiling junction. The container may not necessarily have a clearly defined base and walls. For instance, the container could be dome-shaped with the aperture 20 formed at a position on the container that is generally opposed to the open end 18 of the container.

-7- QIn the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the aperture 20 is located

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centrally in the base 14. The diameter of the aperture is 10-14 mm which has been found to be suitable for drilling operations conducted by most tradespeople such as electricians, plumbers etc.

Whilst the illustrated embodiment only shows one aperture, it is possible that 0 the base may contain more than one aperture. For example, the base may contain a central aperture as in the illustrated embodiment as well as a second aperture adjacent a corner of the base. The second aperture may be particularly suitable for drilling holes close to wall junctions and the like where the distance between the walls 16 and the central aperture 20 is too great to allow drilling close to a wall junction or the like.

The sealing means 24 is in the form of a patch of resiliently flexible material that is positioned over the aperture and held in place by a suitable adhesive. The patch contains a cross cut 28 that allows the drill bit to be pushed through the patch and the aperture. However, the configuration of the cross cut means that the material of the patch bears against the sides of the drill bit to form a relatively dust impermeable seal between the container and the drill bit.

Whilst the sealing means 24 is in the form of a patch in the illustrated embodiment it is envisaged that other forms of seal could also be used. For example, the sealing means may be a sealing ring that frictionally engages the drill bit but is rotatable relative to the container. Still other possible sealing means are contemplated and it is within the realms of the person skilled in the art to determine sealing means that may be suitable.

The liquid delivery means 26 includes a misting nozzle 30 having a discharge end that extends into the interior of the container. The misting nozzle 30 is fitted through the wall 16 of the container. An upstream end of the misting nozzle 30 is connected to a hand spray pump pack 32. The pump pack 32 is of the standard type having a bottle 34, an uptake tube (not shown) extending into -8- Q- a liquid contained in the bottle and a hand actuated pump 36 for drawing liquid

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from the bottle into the uptake tube so as to deliver the liquid to the misting nozzle 30. The misting nozzle may be seperable into a nozzle tip which screws (onto a nozzle body. The nozzle body may be inserted through the wall of the container from the outside of the container and the nozzle tip screwed onto the tip from inside the container. In this way, the misting nozzle and the spray 0 pump pack can be fixed to the container. The wall 16 of the container through

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0 which the misting nozzle is fitted contains a web 37 of resilient material which serves to strengthen the side wall 16. In the embodiment that is illustrated in S 10 Figure 5 the web 37 is a stainless steel sheet that is fixed to the side wall using a suitable adhesive. In the embodiment that is illustrated in Figure 6 the web 37 is a washer that is not fixed to the wall 16 but is held in place by the misting nozzle 30 being screw tightened onto the hand spray pump pack 32.

In use, the pump 36 may be actuated at any stage in which there is dust collected in the container. At the very least it is desirable to actuate the pump after drilling operations have ceased but before the container is removed from sealing engagement with the work surface. In this way any dust that has collected in the container will have been wetted and when the container is removed the dust particles are far less likely to become airborne.

Conveniently, the pump pack 32 and/or bottle 34 can be used as a handle during operation of the drill bit to assist in holding the apparatus on the work surface and prevent rotation of the apparatus during operation of the drill bit.

Whilst a hand a hand spray pump pack is illustrated, other liquid delivery means could also be used. For example, the misting nozzle 30 may be connected via a hose to a suitable water supply.

An upper edge 38 of the wall 16 includes a compressible seal 40 that is able to be pressed into sealing engagement with the work surface during the operation.

The seal 40 is formed from a rubber strip that is fixed (for example using a -9- 0 suitable adhesive) around the upper edge of the wall at the open end of the Scontainer. The seal 40 could be formed from any material that is able to be compressed into sealing engagement with the work surface. For example, a foam material may also be suitable.

I Finally, there may be other alterations and modifications made to the 0 configurations described herein that are also within the scope of the present Ni, invention.

Claims

1. A dust containment apparatus for use with a tool bit, the apparatus including: a container having an open end, an aperture in the container through which the tool bit is able to pass 0 such that a free operating end of the tool bit is able to extend from the (N container at the open end and into a work surface during operation of the tool bit, sealing means capable of forming a substantially dust impermeable seal between the container and the tool bit, wherein the open end of the container is able to be held against the work surface to form a seal therewith during operation of the tool bit.

2. A dust containment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container has a base and at least one wall extending from the base to form the container having the open end opposed to the base.

3. A dust containment apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2, further including a liquid delivery means for introducing a misted liquid into the container to dampen dust that is generated during or after operation of the tool bit.

4. A dust containment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the liquid delivery means includes a misting nozzle having a discharge end that extends into the interior of the container. A dust containment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the misting nozzle is fitted through a wall of the container.

6. A dust containment apparatus according to either claim 4 or claim wherein the misting nozzle is connected to a suitable source of liquid. -11 S7. A dust containment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the liquid delivery means is a hand spray pump pack.

8. A dust containment apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the open end of the container is surrounded by a compressible 0seal that is able to be pressed into sealing engagement with the work surface N during the operation. c 10 9. A dust containment apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the seal is a rubber or other elastomeric strip. A dust containment apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the aperture is located centrally in the base.

11. A dust containment apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to wherein the base contains an aperture adjacent a corner of the base.

12. A dust containment apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing means is a patch of resiliently flexible material that is positioned over the aperture and contains a cross cut that allows the tool bit to be pushed through the patch and the aperture.

13. A dust containment apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures. DATED: 29 June 2005 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZP RICK Attorneys for: CARTER CORPORATION PTY. LTD