Inert environment enclosure

摘要

A novel inert environment enclosure includes an object inlet where production objects enter the enclosure and an object outlet where the production objects exit. At least one of the object inlet and the object outlet includes both a top-side flow obstructer and a bottom-side flow obstructer for preventing air from entering the enclosure. In a particular embodiment, the top-side flow obstructer and the bottom-side flow obstructer each include a curtain constructed from a flexible fabric having a plurality of individual adjacent fingers. In another particular embodiment, the inert environment enclosure is a nitrogen hood that houses a wave soldering machine. An inert gas nozzle is mounted at or near the inlet and/or the outlet. The inert environment enclosure maintains a positive pressure with respect to the surrounding environment when production objects are passed through the enclosure.