Environmental control system

A transport system including a frame having an interior and adapted to be connected to a modular chamber for enclosing a work piece and isolating it from the remainder of the room in which the transport system and chamber are located, comprising:

• a. means for providing filtered fluid throughout the interior of the frame;
• b. means for detachably connecting the frame to the chamber;
• c. at least one rail formed within the interior of the frame;
• and
• d. a cassette, adapted to attach to and slide along the rail, for housing the work piece during transport to and from the chamber.

A modular chamber with an upper section for enclosing a work piece and isolating it from the remainder of the room in which the chamber is located, comprising:

• a. an aperture within the upper section for permitting decontaminated first fluid to enter the chamber;
• b. means, associated with the chamber, for causing the decontaminated first fluid to flow vertically downward from the upper section;
• c. at least one wall comprising:
• i) a rear cover;
• ii) a filter;
• iii) means for channeling fluid into the wall;
• iv) means for controlling the flow of fluid through the filter to produce decontaminated second fluid;
• and
• v) means for directing the flow of decontaminated second fluid into the chamber;
• and
• d. means for merging the decontaminated first fluid with the decontaminated second fluid so as to minimize the turbulence within the chamber.

A product transport system for use in combination with a modular environmental control system, the combination comprising:

• a. the modular environmental control system including a chamber for enclosing a work piece and isolating it from a surrounding room, comprising:
• i) an aperture for permitting fluid to enter the chamber;
• ii) a filter for decontaminating the entering fluid;
• iii) means, associated with the chamber, for causing the decontaminated fluid to flow over the work piece in laminar fashion;
• (iv) means for conveying the flowing fluid from a first location within the chamber to a second location outside the chamber;
• and
• (v) an input/output section, located within the chamber, comprising means for interfacing with the product transfer system and means for receiving the work piece;
• and
• b. the product transport system including a frame having an interior and adapted to be connected to the modular environmental control system, comprising:
• i) means for providing filtered fluid throughout the interior of the frame;
• ii) means for detachably connecting the frame to the input/output section of the chamber;
• and
• iii) at least one rail formed within the interior of the frame for transferring a work piece between the product transfer system and the input/output section of the modular chamber.