Apparatus and Method for Conducting Hot Work

Abstract

In the specification and drawings, an apparatus for conducting hot work is described and shown with an enclosure; a hot work apparatus operable within the enclosure; and a detector located exterior of the enclosure, the detector being in detecting communication with the interior of the enclosure, such that the detector detects the presence of a condition within the enclosure. A method of conducting hot work is also described and shown.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for conducting hot work comprising:
 a. an enclosure;   b. a hot work apparatus operable within said enclosure; and   c. a detector located exterior of said enclosure, said detector being in detecting communication with an interior of said enclosure, such that said detector detects the presence of a condition within said enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said hot work apparatus is shut down in response to said detector detecting the presence of a predetermined condition within said enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a housing located adjacent to said enclosure, the interior of said housing being fluidly connected to the interior of said enclosure, said detector being fluidly connected to the interior of said housing. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a gap between said housing and said enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said housing is not in contact with said enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said housing is portable. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a stand attached to said housing. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a damper attached to said housing. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said detector comprises a first combustible gas detector. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a. an oxygen detector fluidly connected to the interior of said housing; and 
 b. a pressure detector fluidly connected to the interior of said housing. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein at least one of said first combustible gas detector, said oxygen detector and said pressure detector is located exterior of said housing. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a. a blower assembly in fluid communication with the interior of said enclosure; 
 b. a second combustible gas detector located so as to detect the presence of a combustible gas in or near to an air intake of said blower assembly; 
 c. a manual shutdown switch located within said enclosure; and 
 d. a controller in communication with said first combustible gas detector, said second combustible gas detector, said oxygen detector, said pressure detector and said manual shutdown switch, said controller being in communication with said hot work apparatus and capable of controlling the operation of said hot work apparatus in response to a signal received from at least one of said first combustible gas detector, said second combustible gas detector, said oxygen detector, said pressure detector and said manual shutdown switch. 
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said hot work apparatus comprises a welding apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an aperture extending from the interior of said enclosure to an exterior of said enclosure, said detector being fluidly connected to the interior of said enclosure through said aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a conduit between said aperture and said detector. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a blower assembly in fluid communication with the interior of said enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a positive pressure atmosphere within said enclosure. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second detector for detecting a condition exterior said enclosure. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said detector comprises a combustible gas detector. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said combustible gas detector is fluidly connected to the interior of said enclosure. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said combustible gas detector is in light communication with the interior of said enclosure. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said combustible gas detector is in infrared light communication with the interior of said enclosure. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said combustible gas detector is in light communication with air transferred from the interior of said enclosure to an exterior of said enclosure. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said combustible gas detector is in infrared light communication with air transferred from the interior of said enclosure to an exterior of said enclosure. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for conducting hot work comprising:
 a. an enclosure;   b. a blower assembly in fluid communication with an interior of said enclosure; and   c. a means for detecting the presence of combustible gas that is within said enclosure by sampling air that is not within said enclosure.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said air that is not within said enclosure has been transferred from the interior of said enclosure. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising a welding apparatus operable within said enclosure. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  further comprising a positive pressure atmosphere within said enclosure. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said means for detecting the presence of combustible gas that is within said enclosure by sampling air that is not within said enclosure comprises a combustible gas detector located exterior of said enclosure. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for conducting hot work comprising:
 a. an enclosure;   b. a first combustible gas detector for detecting combustible gas within said enclosure;   c. an oxygen detector for detecting oxygen within said enclosure; and   d. a pressure detector for detecting pressure within said enclosure, at least one of said first combustible gas detector, said oxygen detector and said pressure detector being located exterior of said enclosure.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  further comprising:
 a. a blower assembly in fluid communication with an interior of said enclosure; 
 b. a second combustible gas detector located so as to detect the presence of a combustible gas in or near to an air intake of said blower assembly; 
 c. a welding apparatus operable within said enclosure, the operation of said welding apparatus being controllable in response to a signal generated by at least one of said first combustible gas detector, said second combustible gas detector, said oxygen detector and said pressure detector. 
 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus for conducting hot work comprising:
 a. an enclosure;   b. a welding apparatus operable at least partially within said enclosure;   c. a blower assembly in fluid communication with an interior of said enclosure;   d. a manual shutdown switch in communication with said welding apparatus;   e. an oxygen detector fluidly connected to the interior of said enclosure and in communication with said welding apparatus;   f. a pressure detector fluidly connected to the interior of said enclosure and in communication with said welding apparatus; and   g. a combustible gas detector located exterior of said enclosure, said combustible gas detector being fluidly connected to the interior of said enclosure such that said combustible gas detector detects the presence of a combustible gas within said enclosure, said combustible gas detector being in communication with said welding apparatus.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein said welding apparatus is shut down in response to a signal generated by at least one of said oxygen detector, said pressure detector and said combustible gas detector. 
     
     
         34 . A method of terminating hot work within an enclosure comprising:
 a. conducting hot work within an enclosure;   b. transferring air from an interior of the enclosure to an exterior of the enclosure;   c. sampling the air transferred from the interior of the enclosure for the presence of combustible gas; and   d. terminating the hot work within the enclosure in response to detection of a level of combustible gas in the air transferred from the interior of the enclosure to the exterior of the enclosure.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising producing a positive pressure atmosphere within the enclosure. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said producing a positive pressure atmosphere within the enclosure further comprises transferring air from the exterior of the enclosure to the interior of the enclosure. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said terminating hot work within the enclosure in response to detection of a level of combustible gas in the air transferred from the interior of the enclosure further comprises terminating hot work within the enclosure in response to detection of a level of combustible gas above a predefined level. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the predefined level is at most 25% of the lower explosive limit of the combustible gas. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising forming the enclosure at a location where hot work is to be conducted on a production platform that drills for flammable materials. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising:
 a. conducting drilling operations for flammable materials on the production platform; and 
 b. terminating drilling operations in response to detection of a level of combustible gas in the air transferred from the interior of the enclosure. 
 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising sampling the air transferred from the interior of the enclosure for the presence of a level of oxygen. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said conducting hot work within an enclosure further comprises conducting welding within the enclosure.