JPS61206465A - Reduced pressure noxious smoke protective apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A continuing concern of the aircraft industry is devices for protecting passengers from toxic fumes resulting from in-flight depressurization or cabin fires. In the past, oxygen masks and other devices have been provided for passengers; however, these devices do not meet the need for smoke protection for 30 minutes or longer, and the available conventional devices are limited in size and size. Due to their weight, their use in aircraft has been limited. Typically, the ratio of device weight per minute of protection time is approximately 1:0.5 to 1:6 in bond units. Furthermore, many of the devices previously available for depressurization or toxic smoke protection are cumbersome to use and of limited value to airline passengers in emergency situations. Therefore, there remains a need for an uncomplicated, lightweight device that can provide widespread protection against toxic fumes within a single aircraft.

Similarly, such devices are needed in a variety of other facilities, such as hotels and hospitals.

Such facilities require escape from smoke-filled areas with equipment that provides breathable air to occupants for at least about 50 minutes.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides an improved device for depressurization and protection against toxic fumes, particularly in aircraft.

The device allows for more complete utilization of the available oxygen.

In particular, the present invention comprises an interior chamber and an inflatable exterior concentric with and surrounding the interior chamber, the interior chamber and the exterior being mounted such that the interior chamber and exterior surround the wearer's head. and externally.

A gas reservoir, a gas intake port communicating with the outside, a pulp that allows gas to flow from the outside into the gas reservoir, and a passageway through which the gas can flow between the gas reservoir and the inner chamber via a CO2 removal means. a breathing apparatus in which the exterior is inflatable until it reaches sufficient rigidity to maintain a substantially constant volume of the interior chamber while the wearer is breathing.

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention provides a breathing apparatus having a concentric interior and exterior. The exterior is inflatable until it reaches sufficient rigidity to maintain the volume of the interior substantially constant while the wearer is breathing. The device also includes a gas reservoir connected to the interior chamber by means of CO2 removal.

A wide range of materials can be used for CO2 removal. Examples include alkali metal hydroxides and oxides, and sodium carbonate. Among these, lithium and sodium salts are preferred, and particulate lithium hydroxide is particularly preferred. Additionally, liquid or gel 002 absorbents can also be used. The amount of CO2 absorbent used will vary depending on the absorbent selected and the capacity of the hood. In the present invention, generally about 50 to soo, p
? : Can be used. It is known that approximately 3-4 I of lithium hydroxide is required to remove carbon dioxide within each minute of closed-circuit breathing in a substantially pure oxygen atmosphere. In the device of the invention preferably about 75
~150I CO2 absorber is used.

The CO2 removal means can be attached to this breathing apparatus in a wide variety of ways. The CO2 removal means can be housed in a separate chamber, for example distributed as a ring around the wearer's neck. In other embodiments, the CO2 removal means may be provided outside other parts of the hood structure, such as a compartment adjacent to the intake, a canister or a hose. 7- Installation of the CO2 removal means external to the hood allows replacement or renewal of the CO2 removal means for reuse of the hood.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the breathing apparatus consists of three concentric chambers, the chambers being an inner chamber.

Designed as an inflatable exterior and gas reservoir.

The inner chamber is configured inside the inflatable exterior, and the exterior is configured inside the gas reservoir. In operation of the breathing apparatus, gas is delivered to the inflatable exterior of the breathing apparatus from an external source, such as fresh air and/or an oxygen supply on the aircraft.

The exterior is inflatable until it reaches sufficient rigidity to maintain the volume of the interior chamber 11-substantially constant while the wearer is breathing.

The pulp mechanism is adapted to deliver gas from outside to the gas reservoir, whether fresh air, oxygen-enriched air, or pure oxygen. A passage is also provided from the gas reservoir through the CO2 removal means to the interior chamber. Therefore, gas and/or air is only drawn out of the gas reservoir as the wearer breathes. In this way, the inflatable exterior is maintained at a substantially constant volume while the wearer is breathing.

During the breathing cycle, when the wearer inhales,
Air is drawn from the gas reservoir into the interior chamber through the CO2 removal means. Due to the exhalation pressure of the wearer, the exhaust air is sent back to the gas reservoir through the CO2 absorption means.

The invention can be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same numerals are used for similar elements in the drawings.

In Figure 1, gas is passed from a source of fresh air, oxygen or both (not shown)' through an intake 1 to the wearer's M! - supplied to the surrounding inflatable exterior 2;

When the inflatable exterior is substantially fully inflated, gas flows through the pulp 3 into a gas reservoir 4, here shown as another outer concentric chamber. When the wearer inhales, a flow occurs from the gas reservoir through the CO2 removal means 5 into the interior chamber 6. When the wearer exhales.

The exhaled air passes through the CO2 absorption means and flows back to the gas reservoir.

The CO2 removal means are illustrated here as an annular ring containing a CO2 absorber 7t-through which air circulates in the passage between the gas reservoir and the interior chamber. The hood is also provided with an annular neck seal 8.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. In Figure 2, CO2
Removal means are located within the chamber surrounding the wearer's head, externally and externally to the gas reservoir member. And CO2 absorber 22'! It takes the form of a canister containing i-.

The exterior is inflatable until it reaches sufficient rigidity to maintain a substantially constant interior volume while the wearer breathes and shines. A typical structure that can be used for this function is
As shown in the figure.

In Figure 3, the gas reservoir is made of two layers of thermoplastic material.

31" and 32. The two layers are heat sealed at the seam 33 and the upper and lower portions 3
It is provided with a plurality of pockets 34 having 4a and 34b t-. Alternatively, the sheets can be glued together if desired. The area between the upper and lower parts is sealed together to provide a visible band 55. The visible band is interrupted by full length air pockets 36 which increase the stiffness of the structure when inflated.

A wide variety of materials of construction can be used for the breathing apparatus of the present invention. Particularly suitable are polymeric films such as polyethylene, polypropylene.

They are nylon, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, fluoropolymers, and polyethylene tere-7-talate. Such films are particularly useful for forming inflatable exteriors. A heat resistant material such as polyimide film is preferably used for the outer wall of the breathing apparatus. E.1. d
Films of this type, commercially available as Kapton polyimide films from U Pont, are known to be particularly satisfactory. The outer surface of the breathing apparatus may also be metallized using known techniques to further improve heat reflectance.

The breathing device of the present invention has a number of advantages over conventional similar devices. The device of the present invention is capable of maintaining a constant volume through the inflatable exterior while the wearer is breathing. Furthermore, since the breathing apparatus is equipped with CO2 removal means, even when the apparatus is disconnected from the gas supply source, the oxygen in the gas contained within the hood can be utilized to the maximum. As CO2 increases in the absence of CO2 removal means, available oxygen becomes a substantially lower proportion.

The breathing apparatus of the present invention can be used in a wide range of applications, including aircraft cabin interiors, hospitals, and residential and commercial interiors. When used in conjunction with a gas supply such as those used in aircraft, the user can breathe in a toxic smoke atmosphere or under reduced pressure for a substantially unlimited period of time. Even if the connection to the gas supply is interrupted, there will be approximately 45 minutes of breathable and usable air if CO7 removal means are provided.

The 7-card of the present invention can be safely stored for long periods of time without deteriorating its operational capabilities. However, in order to isolate the device from changing environmental conditions, it is preferred to store it in a sealed container.

The device of the invention allows for more efficient use of the oxygen supply systems currently installed on commercial aircraft for vacuum protection. Oxygen masks, traditionally found on aircraft, provide the user with a mixture of oxygen and ambient air;
- The device of Rikiki's invention provides the user with substantially pure oxygen for vacuum protection as well as smoke protection. Additionally, the present invention does not require a pump or pressure source for operation of the CO2 removal means once the 197-board is installed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a breathing apparatus of the present invention having a circumferential CO2 removal means surrounding the wearer's neck;
Figures 6 and 3 are cross-sectional views of the breathing apparatus of the present invention in which the CO2 removal means is installed adjacent to the gas intake.
The figure is a plan view of a detail of a structure that can be used for the inflatable exterior of one of the devices of the invention. 1...Gas intake, 2...External, j6...Pulp. 4... Gas reservoir, 5... CO2 removal means, 6...
Inner chamber, 7.22... CO2 absorbent, 8... Neck seal, 31° 32... Thermoplastic material, 33... Seam, 34... Pocket, 35... Visible band, 36
...air pocket. Patent Applicant: E.I. Dupont de Nemoirs Ants, 2 FIG., 1 FIG. 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An inner chamber, an inflatable outer space concentric with and surrounding the inner chamber, a gas reservoir, a gas intake opening leading to the exterior, and a gas inlet from the outside flowing into the gas reservoir. a breathing apparatus having a pulp that allows the wearer to breathe and a passageway that allows gas to flow between the gas reservoir and the interior chamber through the CO_2 absorption means, the exterior being A breathing apparatus that is inflatable until sufficient stiffness is achieved such that the volume of the interior chamber remains substantially constant. 2) A breathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the CO_2 removal means are arranged in a ring around the wearer's neck. 3) The breathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the CO_2 removal means is in a container external to the main body of the breathing apparatus. 4) Equipped with approximately 50 to 500 g of CO_2 removal means, and
2. The respiratory apparatus of claim 1, wherein the O_2 removal means is selected from alkali metal hydroxides and oxides, and sodium carbonate. 5) A breathing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the CO_2 removal means consists essentially of lithium hydroxide. 6) A breathing apparatus according to claim 4, comprising approximately 75-150 g of granular CO_2 removal means. 7) A breathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas reservoir comprises a chamber concentric with and external to the inflatable exterior.