Apparatus for biological decontamination and subsequent neutralization of a space

Claim 1

Apparatus for automatically and remotely decontaminating a space with formaldehyde and subsequently neutralizing the formaldehyde comprising, a housing containing: a formaldehyde generator which includes a totally enclosable canister for containing a formaldehyde gas generating substance and having an access opening therein, a gas tight, removable cover for said access opening, gas inlet and outlet openings, and a heater means for heating said canister to generate formaldehyde gas; a neutralizing agent generator which includes a totally enclosable canister for containing a formaldehyde neutralizing, gas generating substance and having an access opening therein, a gas tight, removable cover for said access opening, gas inlet and outlet openings, and a heater means for heating said canister to generate neutralizing gas; said formaldehyde generator and said neutralizer generator being mounted in said housing; pumping means in said housing for discharging a gas under pressure, the suction of which is adapted to be connected in fluid communication with the space to be decontaminated, and the discharge of which is adapted to be selectively connected in fluid communication through said formaldehyde generator or said neutralizer generator to the space to be decontaminated; fluid connecting means for selectively connecting said pumping means through only one of said formaldehyde generator and said neutralizer generator and connectable to the space to be decontaminated; a control means in said housing for automatically controlling the supplying of power to the components of said apparatus and the sequencing of said apparatus through a first, formaldehyde generation stage during which said formaldehyde heater means is actuated and said pumping means is energized and connected to said formaldehyde generator by said fluid connecting means; a second, formaldehyde contact stage during which said pumping means and both said heater means are de-energized; a third, neutralizer generation stage during which said neutralizer heater means is actuated and said pumping means is energized and connected to said neutralizer generator by said fluid connecting means; and a fourth, neutralizer contact stage during which said pumping means and both said heater means are de-energized; a control panel on said housing for externally indicating the particular stage in the operating sequence of said apparatus; and said control means further including a system de-energizing means for preventing the resupplying of power to said control means after the power has been interrupted and a means for detecting a high-pressure condition in said fluid connecting means, and wherein after said control means has sequenced beyond said first stage of operation, said control means automatically returns to said second stage whenever power has been interrupted or whenever a high-pressure condition is detected.