Assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a containment assembly (eg a down flow containment assembly) for containing powder handling equipment comprising an isolator with a pivotally mounted framework supporting part of an at least partially flexible sheet, and to the isolator itself which is particularly useful in containing large powder handling equipment such as a centrifuge (or a part thereof).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A containment assembly comprising: 
 a powder handling apparatus; and    an isolator comprising (1) a sheet at least a first part of which is composed of flexible material and (2) a pivotally mounted framework capable of pivoting into each position in a pivoting range between an innermost position and an outermost position, said isolator being positioned adjacent to the powder handling apparatus or a part thereof to define a processing zone beyond the sheet in which is located the powder handling apparatus or a part thereof, wherein the first part of the sheet is adapted (or is adaptable) to permit an operator outside the processing zone to reach into the processing zone, wherein the pivotally mounted framework is adapted to support the first part of the sheet at each position in the pivoting range.    
     
     
         2 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein substantially the whole of the sheet is composed of flexible material.  
     
     
         3 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the isolator is a framework structure comprising a plurality of frame parts.  
     
     
         4 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the plurality of frame parts are arranged into a walled framework structure of enclosed walls.  
     
     
         5 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the pivotally mounted framework is pivotally mounted to a frame part of a first enclosed wall.  
     
     
         6 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the first enclosed wall comprises a first vertical frame part to which is mounted the pivotally mounted framework and a second vertical frame part connected thereto by an upper horizontal frame part and a lower horizontal frame part.  
     
     
         7 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the lower horizontal frame part is reentrant.  
     
     
         8 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the sheet is fixed to the frame parts of at least the first enclosed wall.  
     
     
         9 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the sheet is loosely fixed to the frame parts of the first enclosed wall so that there is excess flexible material to allow for pivoting of the pivotally mounted framework between the innermost and outermost position.  
     
     
         10 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the walled framework structure comprises the first enclosed wall and any number of additional enclosed walls.  
     
     
         11 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the or each additional enclosed wall comprises a plurality of frame parts supporting flexible or non-flexible material.  
     
     
         12 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 10  wherein at least one of the one or more additional enclosed walls comprises a plurality of frame parts supporting flexible material adapted (or adaptable) to permit the operator outside the processing zone to operate inside the processing zone.  
     
     
         13 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 10  wherein at least one of the one or more additional enclosed walls comprises a plurality of frame parts bounding rigid material incorporating one or more non-flexible transfer ports.  
     
     
         14 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the sheet is fixed to the frame parts of the first enclosed wall and to the frame parts of at least one of the one or more additional enclosed walls.  
     
     
         15 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the sheet is continuous across the first and at least one of the one or more additional enclosed walls.  
     
     
         16 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the pivotally mounted framework is pivotally mounted along a substantially vertical edge.  
     
     
         17 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the pivotally mounted framework is pivotally mounted on a substantially vertical frame part of the framework structure.  
     
     
         18 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the innermost position of the pivotally mounted framework is reentrant.  
     
     
         19 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the pivotally mounted framework comprises a planar framework of frame parts which is adapted to support the first part of the sheet at each position in the pivoting range.  
     
     
         20 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the isolator comprises: 
 a first pivotally mounted framework capable of pivoting into each position in a first pivoting range between an innermost position and an outermost position; and  
 a second pivotally mounted framework capable of pivoting into each position in a second pivoting range between an innermost position and an outermost position,  
 wherein each of the first pivotally mounted framework and the second pivotally mounted framework is adapted to support the first part of the sheet at each position in the first and second pivoting range respectively.  
 
     
     
         21 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the first pivotally mounted framework and the second pivotally mounted framework are pivotal in opposite senses.  
     
     
         22 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the first pivotally mounted framework and the second pivotally mounted framework are pivotally mounted along remote substantially vertical edges.  
     
     
         23 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the innermost position of each of the first pivotally mounted framework and the second pivotally mounted framework is reentrant.  
     
     
         24 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein each of the first pivotally mounted framework and the second pivotally mounted framework is pivotally mounted on a first and second vertical frame part respectively, wherein said first and second vertical frame part are connected by an upper horizontal frame part and a lower horizontal frame part.  
     
     
         25 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the lower horizontal frame part is reentrant.  
     
     
         26 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first part of the sheet 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).  
     
     
         27 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sheet is detachably mounted.  
     
     
         28 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the powder handling apparatus is a centrifuge containing one or more operating parts, wherein the isolator is positioned adjacent to the centrifuge to define a processing zone beyond the sheet in which is located the one or more operating parts.  
     
     
         29 . A containment assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the powder handling apparatus is a powder drum or keg.  
     
     
         30 . An isolator as defined in  claim 1.