US 2026/0054300 A1 · System and Method for Removing Contaminated Materials from Railcars for Subsequent Recycling of the Rail Cars

Abstract

Systems, methods, and other embodiments for removing contaminated materials such as asbestos from railcars (i.e., train cars and subway cars) for subsequent recycling of the railcars. In particular, a collapsible inner containment structure having a HEPA negative air pressure is used. A door on the inner containment structure is opened at one end of the inner containment structure and a railcar is transported into a work area located within the inner containment structure. The door is then closed so that the inner containment structure can maintain the negative pressure within the inner containment structure. The contaminated materials such as asbestos are removed from the inside of the railcar using a mixture of pressurized water and media.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for removing contaminated materials from railcars for subsequent recycling of the railcars, comprising:

an outer containment structure;
and
an inner containment enclosure located within the outer containment structure, wherein the inner containment structure further comprises;
a front, roll-up door located at one end of the inner containment structure,
an asbestos removal containment area located adjacent to the front, roll-up door,
a decontamination enclosure located adjacent to the front, roll-up door,
a media/water delivery assembly, wherein the media/water delivery assembly is configured to be located adjacent to a railcar located within the inner containment structure, and wherein the media/water delivery assembly is configured to be used to remove contaminated materials from the railcar;
a sump pump located adjacent to the asbestos removal containment area and the media/water delivery assembly, and
a HEPA filter assembly located at another end of the inner containment structure, wherein the HEPA filter assembly is configured to be able to create a negative pressure within the inner containment structure.

6 more elements

A method of constructing a system for removing contaminated materials from railcars for subsequent recycling of the railcars, comprising:

providing an outer containment structure;
and
providing an inner containment enclosure located within the outer containment structure, wherein the inner containment structure further comprises;
a front, roll-up door located at one end of the inner containment structure,
an asbestos removal containment area located adjacent to the front, roll-up door,
a decontamination enclosure located adjacent to the front, roll-up door,
a media/water delivery assembly, wherein the media/water delivery assembly is configured to be located adjacent to a railcar located within the inner containment structure, and wherein the media/water delivery assembly is configured to be used to remove contaminated materials from the railcar;
a sump pump located adjacent to the asbestos removal containment area and the media/water delivery assembly, and
a HEPA filter assembly located at another end of the inner containment structure, wherein the HEPA filter assembly is configured to be able to create a negative pressure within the inner containment structure.

6 more elements

A method of using a system for removing contaminated materials from railcars for subsequent recycling of the railcars, comprising:

providing an outer containment structure;
providing an inner containment enclosure located within the outer containment structure, wherein the inner containment structure further comprises;
a front, roll-up door located at one end of the inner containment structure,
an asbestos removal containment area located adjacent to the front, roll-up door,
a decontamination enclosure located adjacent to the front, roll-up door,
a media/water delivery assembly, wherein the media/water delivery assembly is configured to be located adjacent to a railcar located within the inner containment structure, and wherein the media/water delivery assembly is configured to be used to remove contaminated materials from the railcar;
a sump pump located adjacent to the asbestos removal containment area and the media/water delivery assembly, and
a HEPA filter assembly located at another end of the inner containment structure, wherein the HEPA filter assembly is configured to be able to create a negative pressure within the inner containment structure;
and
operating the HEPA filter assembly to create a negative pressure with the inner containment enclosure;
locating the railcar within the inner containment enclosure;
utilizing the media/water delivery assembly in order to remove the contaminated materials from the railcar;
utilizing the sump pump to collect any used media, water and contaminated materials;
utilizing the HEPA filter assembly to remove airborne particles of contaminated material within the inner containment enclosure;
inspecting an inside of the railcar to determine if all of the contaminated material has been removed from the inside of the railcar;
completing a final wash of the railcar to clean the railcar;
and
removing the cleaned railcar from the inner containment structure.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and Method for Removing Contaminated Materials from Railcars for Subsequent Recycling of the Rail Cars

Life of this patent

System and Method for Removing Contaminated Materials from Railcars for Subsequent Recycling of the Rail Cars

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20