Apparatus and method for spent solvent collection

A collection system for use in the removal of coatings from airplanes, said removal requiring the application of a solvent composition to the surfaces of an airplane for dissolving a coating thereon, said solvent composition having a sufficiently high vapor pressure to be present in both a liquid phase and a gaseous vapor phase at stripping temperatures, said solvent in said vapor phase being lighter than said liquid phase and heavier than air, comprising:

• a plurality of spent solvent collection units, each unit comprising:
• a portable carriage positionable beneath said airplane;
• a receptacle having spaced side walls and carried by said carriage, said side walls extending vertically upwardly, said receptacle further defining a receptacle bottom portion, said receptacle receiving spent solvent in both said liquid and said vapor phases after application of said solvent to said airplane surfaces and dissolution of said paint therein, said side walls directing said received spent solvent in both phases to said receptacle bottom portion such that said vapor phase is trapped above said heavier liquid phase by the lighter air thereover;
• an exhaust port located above said receptacle bottom portion for removing said vapor phase;
• and
• connection means for interconnecting said spaced side walls of said receptacles thereby interconnecting said collecting units such that a continuous solvent receiving means is formed along the length and width of said interconnected units.

A collection system for use in the removal of coatings from airplanes, said removal requiring the application of a solvent composition to the surfaces of an airplane for dissolving a coating thereon, said solvent composition having a sufficiently high vapor pressure to be present in both a liquid phase and a gaseous vapor phase at stripping temperatures, said solvent in said vapor phase being lighter than said liquid phase and heavier than air, comprising:

• a plurality of spent solvent collection units, each unit comprising:
• a portable carriage positionable beneath said airplane;
• a receptacle having spaced side walls and carried by said carriage, said side walls extending vertically upwardly, said receptacle further defining a receptacle bottom portion, said receptacle receiving spent solvent in both said liquid and said vapor phases after application of said solvent to said airplane surfaces and dissolution of said paint therein, said side walls directing said received spent solvent in both phases to said receptacle bottom portion such that said vapor phase is trapped above said heavier liquid phase by the lighter air thereover;
• an exhaust port located above said receptacle bottom portion for removing said vapor phase;
• and
• drain means at said receptacle bottom portion for removing said liquid phase;
• connection means for interconnecting said spaced side walls of said receptacles thereby interconnecting said collection units such that a continuous solvent receiving means is formed along the length and width of said interconnected units.

A method for removing paint from airplanes using a solvent for dissolving said paint, said solvent having a sufficiently high vapor pressure to be present in both a liquid and a gaseous vapor phase at stripping temperatures, said solvent in said vapor phase being lighter than said liquid phase and heavier than air, comprising:

• providing a plurality of portable solvent receiving receptacles;
• positioning said receptacles beneath said airplane;
• interconnecting said receptacles at spaced side walls thereof thereby forming a continuous solvent receiving means;
• stripping said paint from the surfaces of said airplane by applying said solvent thereto;
• receiving spent solvent in both said liquid and said vapor phases in said continuous solvent receiving means;
• directing said received spent solvent in both phases to bottom portions defined in said various receptacles such that solvent in said vapor phase is trapped above said heavier liquid phase by the lighter air thereover at said various bottom portions of said interconnected receptacles;
• and
• removing said vapor phase from said receptacles through exhaust ports located above said receptacle bottom portions.

A method for removing paint from upper surfaces of airplanes using a solvent for dissolving said paint, said solvent having a sufficiently high vapor pressure to be present in both a liquid and a gaseous vapor phase at ambient temperatures, said solvent in said vapor phase being lighter than said liquid phase and heavier than air, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of solvent receiving receptacles;
• positioning said receptacles beneath said airplane;
• interconnecting said receptacles at spaced side walls thereof thereby forming a continuous solvent receiving means;
• securing a flexible sheet to the surfaces of said airplane below said upper surfaces to be stripped such that lower edges of said sheet extend downwardly into said continuous solvent receiving means formed by said interconnected receptacles;
• stripping said paint from said upper surfaces of said airplane by applying said solvent thereto;
• directing spent solvent in both said liquid and said vapor phases from said upper surfaces downwardly to said spent solvent receiving means with said downwardly extending sheet;
• receiving spent solvent in both said phases in said continuous solvent receiving means;
• directing said received spent solvent in both phases to bottom portions defined in said various receptacles forming said continuous solvent receiving means such that solvent in said vapor phase is trapped above said heavier liquid phase by the lighter air thereover at said various bottom portions of said interconnected receptacles;
• and
• removing said vapor phase from said receptacles through exhaust ports located above said receptacle bottom portions.