Vehicle trailer or shipping container monitoring and evacuation assembly
A vehicle or shipping-container monitoring system is provided. The system is used to sample the interior environment of the container and if needed, clear a potentially hazardous material from the interior of the container prior to conventional opening. The system includes a monitoring assembly affixed to a first through-penetration in the vehicle container, an evacuation assembly affixed to a second through-penetration in the vehicle container, and an intake penetration with a cap affixed to a third through-penetration in the vehicle container. A method is also provided to assess the interior of a vehicle or shipping container for hazardous gases or vapors prior to opening the container.
1 . A method to analytically assess an interior air environment of a vehicle trailer or shipping container for a toxic or hazardous substance prior to opening the vehicle or shipping container, the method comprising:
connecting an analysis device to a monitoring assembly affixed to a first through-penetration in the vehicle trailer or shipping container, the monitoring assembly including a first sealing valve;
opening the first sealing valve of the monitoring assembly to allow for sampling of the interior air environment of the vehicle trailer or shipping container by the analysis device;
determining of the interior air environment of the vehicle trailer or shipping container contains toxic or hazardous vapors or gases using the analysis device; and
connecting a ventilation/evacuation line to an evacuation assembly affixed to a second through-penetration in the vehicle trailer or shipping container, the evacuation assembly including a second sealing valve;
connecting a distal end of the ventilation/evacuation line to an incinerator or other means for destroying the toxic vapors or gases;
opening the second sealing valve of the evacuation assembly;
removing a cap covering an intake of a third through-penetration in the vehicle trailer or shipping container; and
drawing air out of the interior of the vehicle trailer or shipping container thereby removing the toxic or hazardous vapors or gases from the interior of the vehicle trailer or shipping container.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing valve is a quarter-turn ball valve.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising incineration the toxic or hazardous vapors or gases exiting the distal end of the ventilation/evacuation line.
4 . A method to analytically assess an interior air environment of a vehicle trailer or shipping container for a toxic or hazardous substance prior to opening the vehicle or shipping container, the method comprising:
connecting an analysis device to a monitoring assembly affixed to a first through-penetration in the vehicle trailer or shipping container, the monitoring assembly including a first sealing valve, wherein the connecting an analysis device to a monitoring assembly further comprises connecting a proximal end of a sample line to the monitoring assembly and a distal end of the sample line to the analysis device;
heating the sample line;
opening the first sealing valve of the monitoring assembly to allow for sampling of the interior air environment of the vehicle trailer or shipping container by the analysis device; and
determining of the interior air environment of the vehicle trailer or shipping container contains toxic or hazardous vapors or gases using the analysis device.