Fume hood having a sliding door

Abstract

A fume hood includes a plurality of walls. In one embodiment, the fume hood has a ceiling substantially perpendicular to a first wall of the plurality of walls and an L-shaped sliding door having a lower portion substantially parallel to the first wall and an upper portion substantially perpendicular to the lower portion. The fume hood also has at least one actuator configured to move the L-shaped sliding door between an open position and a closed position. In other embodiments, the door may have different shapes.

1 . A fume hood configured to be connected to a work station having a plurality of walls, the fume hood comprising:
 a ceiling;   a plurality of walls, including a front wall having at least one aperture disposed therein that extends into the ceiling;   at least one guide member disposed on the fume hood;   at least one door having a first portion substantially parallel to the ceiling and a second portion substantially parallel to the front wall, the at least one door being configured to translate along the at least one guide member; and   at least one actuator configured to move the at least one door between an open position and a closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The fume hood of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall has a first aperture and a second aperture disposed therein, wherein each of the first aperture and second aperture extends into the ceiling. 
     
     
         3 . The fume hood of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one door includes a first door configured to block the first aperture and a second door configured to block the second aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The fume hood of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one actuator includes a first actuator connected to the first door and a second actuator connected to the second door. 
     
     
         5 . The fume hood of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture disposed in the front wall has a width between 4-72 inches (10-183 centimeters), a height between 4-100 inches (10-254 centimeters), and a depth between 4-100 inches (10-254 inches). 
     
     
         6 . The fume hood of  claim 1 , wherein the ceiling is substantially perpendicular to each of the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         7 . The fume hood of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of walls includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a rear wall. 
     
     
         8 . The fume hood of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide member includes an upper rod and a lower rod, and the at least one door includes an upper through hole configured to receive the upper rod and a lower through hole configured to receive the lower rod. 
     
     
         9 . A fume hood comprising:
 a plurality of walls;   a ceiling substantially perpendicular to a first wall of the plurality of walls;   an L-shaped sliding door having a lower portion substantially parallel to the first wall and an upper portion substantially perpendicular to the lower portion; and   at least one actuator configured to move the L-shaped sliding door between an open position and a closed position.   
     
     
         10 . The fume hood of  claim 9 , wherein the L-shaped sliding door blocks an opening in the fume hood when it is in the closed position, thereby blocking access to an interior of the fume hood. 
     
     
         11 . The fume hood of  claim 10 , further comprising a second L-shaped sliding door having a lower portion substantially parallel to the first wall and an upper portion substantially perpendicular to the lower portion. 
     
     
         12 . The fume hood of  claim 11 , wherein the second L-shaped sliding door blocks a second opening in the fume hood when the second L-shaped sliding door is in the closed position, thereby blocking access to an interior of the fume hood. 
     
     
         13 . The fume hood of  claim 9 , wherein the L-shaped sliding door is configured to slide on rods. 
     
     
         14 . The fume hood of  claim 9 , wherein the L-shaped sliding door is configured to slide on rails. 
     
     
         15 . The fume hood of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of walls and the ceiling are constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, other metal, a polymeric material, and a polymer-metal composite. 
     
     
         16 . A fume hood configured to be connected to a work station having a plurality of walls, the fume hood comprising:
 a ceiling;   a plurality of walls, wherein at least one of the ceiling and the plurality of walls has an opening disposed therein that corresponds to an opening in a wall of the work station;   a sliding door;   at least one guide member; and   means for moving the sliding door between a closed position and an open position, wherein the sliding door blocks the opening in the closed position, and wherein the sliding door is spaced from the opening in the open position.   
     
     
         17 . The fume hood of  claim 16 , wherein the ceiling and the plurality of walls form a tapered front. 
     
     
         18 . The fume hood of  claim 16 , wherein the ceiling and the plurality of walls form a cuboid. 
     
     
         19 . The fume hood of  claim 16 , wherein the opening is disposed in the ceiling and one of the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         20 . The fume hood of  claim 19 , wherein the opening extends to a bottom of the one of the plurality of walls.