Containment assembly

Abstract

A containment assembly is disclosed having a body defining an interior cavity, in which a collapsible housing is erected in the interior cavity that encloses a processing zone. The surface of the collapsible housing is adapted or adaptable to permit an operator outside the processing zone to reach into the processing zone. The collapsible housing is robustly supported.

1 . A containment assembly comprising: 
 a body defming an interior cavity; and    a collapsible housing erected in the interior cavity so as to enclose a processing zone, wherein the surface of the collapsible housing is adapted or adaptable to permit an operator outside the processing zone to reach into the processing zone.    
     
     
         2 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the collapsible housing is faceted with one face being adapted or adaptable to permit an operator outside the processing zone to reach into the processing zone.  
     
     
         3 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the collapsible housing is multi-faceted with at least one face being adapted or adaptable to permit an operator outside the processing zone to reach into the processing zone.  
     
     
         4 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the collapsible housing erected in the interior cavity adopts a substantially cuboidal configuration having a rear wall, a front wall, a basal wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and an upper wall, wherein the front wall and/or the rear wall is adapted or adaptable to permit an operator outside the processing zone to reach into the processing zone.  
     
     
         5 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the collapsible housing is restrained in the interior cavity.  
     
     
         6 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a plurality of restraining means for coupling the collapsible housing to the body.  
 
     
     
         7 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 6  wherein each restraining means comprises a first part attached to or integral with the collapsible housing capable of engaging a second part.  
     
     
         8 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the second part is attached to or is integral with the body.  
     
     
         9 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the second part is attached to or is integral with the collapsible housing.  
     
     
         10 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the collapsible housing is releasably restrained in the interior cavity.  
     
     
         11 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a plurality of releasable restraining means for releasably coupling the collapsible housing to the body.  
 
     
     
         12 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the surface of the collapsible housing comprises one or more than one flexible portion in the shape of a glove or one or more than one flexible portion capable of being deformed into the shape of a glove which permits an operator outside the processing zone to reach into the processing zone.  
     
     
         13 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the surface of the collapsible housing is adapted to permit an operator outside the processing zone to reach into the processing zone by incorporating an aperture.  
     
     
         14 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the aperture is fitted with a barrier means adapted or adaptable to permit an operator outside the processing zone to reach into the processing zone.  
     
     
         15 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 14  wherein a first part of the barrier means is composed of flexible material.  
     
     
         16 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the flexible material is supported within a rigid framework which forms the remaining part of the barrier means.  
     
     
         17 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the first part of the barrier means comprises one or more than one flexible portion in the shape of a glove or one or more than one flexible portion capable of being deformed into the shape of a glove.  
     
     
         18 . A containment assembly as claimed in any preceding claim being a down flow containment assembly further comprising: 
 recirculating means for inducing recirculatory airflow downwardly in the processing zone,    wherein the interior cavity of the body is adapted at or near to its lower end to receive the airflow from the processing zone and at or near to its upper end to transmit the airflow to the processing zone,    wherein the collapsible housing comprises: an outlet adjacent to and in fluid communication with the lower end of the interior cavity and an inlet adjacent to and in fluid communication with the upper end of the interior cavity, said outlet being fitted with a filter element.    
     
     
         19 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the collapsible housing erected in the interior cavity adopts a substantially cuboidal configuration having a rear wall, a front wall, a basal wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and an upper wall, wherein the front wall and/or the rear wall is adapted or adaptable to permit an operator outside the processing zone to reach into the processing zone, wherein the outlet is incorporated in the basal wall and the inlet in the upper wall.  
     
     
         20 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the body further comprises: 
 one or more transfer ports to permit contained transfer from the processing zone to a remote location.  
 
     
     
         21 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the (or each) transfer port is a tubular transfer port.  
     
     
         22 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the remote location is a second containment assembly and the transfer port is fitted with a rigid transfer tube.  
     
     
         23 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the transfer tube is a linear transfer tube or an angled transfer tube.  
     
     
         24 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 4  wherein a first transfer port is incorporated into the body adjacent to the first side wall of the collapsible housing and a second transfer port is incorporated into the body adjacent to the second side wall of the collapsible housing.  
     
     
         25 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the collapsible housing is erectable from a multi-panelled polymer sheet.  
     
     
         26 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the polymer sheet comprises a pouch or pocket foldable over the rear face of the filter element.  
     
     
         27 . A modular system comprising a plurality of interconnected containment assemblies as defined in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         28 . A modular system comprising a plurality of interconnected containment assemblies as defined in claim  18 .