Welding enclosure with magnetic-latching doorway
A pressurized welding enclosure is disclosed that features a magnetic latching mechanism to securely seal entry doors so as to prevent the emission of flammable debris during hot work operations. The main entry door may also incorporate a spark filter that allows air pressure equalization between the main welding enclosure and the airlock chamber, while still preventing the emission of flammable debris. The welding enclosure preferably utilizes an optical flame detector to monitor the hot work station for a reflash event after hot work operations have ceased, and an automated water deluge system may be used to extinguish any fire detected by the optical flame detector.
1 . A welding enclosure comprising:
(a) a main enclosure housing including a flexible, fire-resistant fabric;
(b) an airlock chamber connected to the main enclosure housing;
(c) a main enclosure entry door assembly including: (i) a metal door frame connected to the main enclosure housing; (ii) a metal door hinged to the door frame; and (iii) door closure magnets positioned on at least one of the door and the door frame in order to magnetically hold the door to the door frame in a closed position; and
(d) an airlock entry door assembly including: (i) a metal door frame connected to the airlock chamber with a hook-and-loop connector material; (ii) a metal door hinged to the door frame; (iii) door closure magnets positioned on the door and the door frame in order to magnetically hold the door to the door frame in a closed position.
2 . The welding enclosure of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of door closure magnets are spaced around a circumference of the door frame and the door of the main enclosure entry door assembly and the airlock entry door assembly.
3 . The welding enclosure of claim 1 , wherein an elastomeric sealing strip extends around a circumference of where at least one of the door of the main enclosure entry door assembly and the door of the airlock entry door assembly engages its respective door frame.
4 . The welding enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the door closure magnets are positioned on an interior side of the door of the main enclosure entry door assembly and an interior side of the door of the airlock entry door assembly.
5 . The welding enclosure of claim 4 , wherein ferrous metal tabs are positioned on an interior side of each of the door frames of the main enclosure entry door assembly and the airlock entry door assembly approximately opposite the door closure magnets.
6 . The welding enclosure of claim 1 , wherein at least 5 lbs. of force on a door handle is required to overcome an attractive force of the door closure magnets of the main enclosure entry door assembly and the airlock entry door assembly.
7 . The welding enclosure of claim 6 , wherein the attractive force of the door closure magnets is less than 50 lbs.
8 . The welding enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the door of the main enclosure entry door assembly has a series of vent slots formed therein, and an interior surface of the door has a spark filter positioned over the vent slots.
9 . The welding enclosure of claim 1 , wherein an optical flame detector is positioned on an interior surface of the main enclosure housing and is configured to direct a flame detection signal to a control panel positioned outside the main enclosure housing.
10 . The welding enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the optical flame detector generates a detection signal upon sensing light in the UV or IR spectrum.
11 . The welding enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the optical flame detector includes a temporary connector allowing the optical flame detector to be positioned at different locations within the main enclosure housing.
12 . The welding enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the temporary connector is one of a hook, a clamp, or a section of hook-and-loop connector material.
13 . The welding enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metal door frames and the metal doors of the main enclosure entry door assembly and the airlock entry door assembly are formed primarily of aluminum or an alloy thereof.
14 . The welding enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the door frame of the main enclosure entry door assembly is connected to the main enclosure housing by the-hook-and-loop connector material.
15 . The welding enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the airlock chamber has a length allowing at least 3 feet of spacing between the door frame of the main enclosure entry door assembly and the door frame of the airlock entry door assembly.
16 . The welding enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the welding enclosure includes a frame assembly covered by the flexible, fire-resistant fabric.
17 . The welding enclosure of claim 4 , wherein an elastomeric sealing strip extends around a circumference of the door of the main enclosure entry door assembly and the door of the airlock entry door assembly and extends further away from each door than the door closure magnets by at least ⅛ th of an inch.
18 . A welding enclosure comprising:
(a) a main enclosure housing comprising a flexible, fire-resistant fabric; and
(b) a main enclosure entry door assembly including: (i) a door frame releasably connected to the main enclosure housing; (ii) a door hinged to the door frame; and (iii) door closure magnets positioned on at least one of the door and the door frame in order to magnetically hold the door to the door frame in a closed position;
(c) an airlock chamber connected to the main enclosure housing; and
(d) an airlock entry door assembly including: (i) a door frame releasably connected to the airlock chamber; (ii) a door hinged to the door frame; (iii) door closure magnets positioned on at least one of the door and the door frame in order to magnetically hold the door to the door frame in a closed position.
19 . The welding enclosure of claim 18 , wherein the door closure magnets are spaced around an edge of an interior side of at least one of the door frame and the door of the main enclosure entry door assembly.
20 . The welding enclosure of claim 19 , wherein ferrous metal tabs are positioned on an interior side of at least one of the door frame and the door of the main enclosure entry door assembly approximately opposite the door closure magnets.
21 . The welding enclosure of claim 18 , wherein an elastomeric sealing strip extends around a circumference the door of the main enclosure entry door assembly.
22 . The welding enclosure of claim 18 , wherein the door frame of the main enclosure entry door assembly is connected to the main enclosure housing by a hook-and-loop connector material.