# US 12,109,596 B2 · Effluent containment devices having improved safety > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,596 B2 - Document ID: US12109596B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/733,409 - Filed: 2022-04-29 - Published: 2022-11-03 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-30 - Applicants: Danny Earp - Inventors: Danny Earp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109596B2 ## CPC - B08B 17/025: {Prevention of fouling with liquids by means of devices for containing or collecting said liquids} - B08B 9/0433: {provided exclusively with fluid jets as cleaning tools} - F28G 15/00: Details (measuring thickness of deposit G01B) - B08B 2209/04: using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - F28G: CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS (cleaning pipes or tubes in general B08B9/02; devices or arrangements for removing water, minerals, or sludge from boilers while the boiler is in operation, or which remain in position while the boiler is in operation, or are specifically adapted to boilers without any other utility F22B37/48; removal or treatment of combustion products or combustion residues F23J; removing ice from heat-exchange apparatus F28F17/00) ## Abstract Effluent containment devices are made of flame-resistant material having a Flame Spread Index of greater than zero and less than 30. The material may also have anti-static properties, such as being formed of a dissipative material or one that resists flow electrification. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An effluent containment device for handling effluent from a hydroblasting operation, comprising: an interface portion adapted for coupling with an end of an effluent source; an enclosure adapted for containing effluent from a hydroblasting operation, the enclosure having a sidewall that is flexible and formed of material comprising a flame-resistant material having Flame Spread Index (FSI) greater than zero and no more than 70; whereby the sidewall will not support self-sustaining combustion upon encountering a combustion initiation source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The effluent containment device of claim 1 wherein the flame-resistant material has an FSI of no more than 50. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The effluent containment device of claim 1 wherein the flame-resistant material has an FSI of no more than 25. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The effluent containment device of claim 1 wherein the flame-resistant material has an FSI of no more than 10. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The effluent containment device of claim 1 wherein the sidewall is formed from a material having anti-static properties. ### Claim 6 The effluent containment device of paragraph 5 wherein the effluent containment device is adapted to generate no more than 400 volts upon flow electrification during hydroblasting. ### Claim 7 The effluent containment device of paragraph 5 wherein the effluent containment device is adapted to generate no more than 200 volts upon flow electrification during hydroblasting. ### Claim 8 The effluent containment device of paragraph 5 wherein at least a portion of the sidewall has an electrical surface resistance between 1×10{circumflex over ( )}6 ohms/square and 1×10{circumflex over ( )}11 ohms/square, such that the sidewall is classified as dissipative. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The effluent containment device of claim 1 wherein the sidewall includes at least two layers, the flame-resistant material being an outermost one of the at least two layers of the sidewall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The effluent containment device of claim 1 wherein the sidewall includes at least two layers, the flame-resistant material being an innermost one of the at least two layers of the sidewall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The effluent containment device of claim 1 wherein the sidewall includes at least three layers, the flame-resistant material being an inner layer between an innermost of the sidewall and an outermost layer of the sidewall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The effluent containment device of claim 1 wherein the sidewall is formed of a single layer that is the flame-resistant material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The effluent containment device of claim 1 wherein the effluent containment device is adapted for withstanding direct impingement on an interior surface from a hydroblasting wand. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The effluent containment device of claim 1 wherein the effluent containment device is one of an effluent containment bag adapted for collecting effluent from a hydroblasting operation, an operator-side trough, and a wrap adapted for receiving leakage from a pipe flange or valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method of using the effluent containment device comprising the steps of: installing the effluent containment device of claim 1 to a source of effluent; and capturing the effluent from source in the effluent containment device. ### Claim 16 A vessel and effluent containment device combination comprising: a vessel that is a source of effluent; and an effluent containment device mounted on the vessel and adapted for containing the effluent, the effluent containment device comprising: an interface portion adapted for coupling with an end of an effluent source; an enclosure adapted for containing effluent from a hydroblasting operation, the enclosure having a sidewall that is flexible and formed of material comprising a flame-resistant material having Flame Spread Index (FSI) greater than zero and no more than 70; whereby the sidewall will not support self-sustaining combustion upon encountering a combustion initiation source. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vessel and effluent containment device combination of claim 16, wherein the vessel can be a heat exchanger in a hydroblasting cleaning operation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The vessel and effluent containment device combination of claim 16, wherein the effluent containment device includes a drain adapted for effluent to flow through. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vessel and effluent containment device combination of claim 16, wherein the effluent containment device can be a bag for capturing effluent from hydroblast cleaning, a flange wrap for capturing spilling or leakage from piping, and/or a trough for capturing misdirected or reflected spray from a vessel cleaning operation.