CN110087738B

CN110087738B - Filter cartridge

Info

Publication number: CN110087738B
Application number: CN201780078809.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李庚美; 姜奉协; 朴康守
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Current assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Priority date: 2016-12-19
Filing date: 2017-12-19
Publication date: 2021-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-19
Also published as: WO2018118840A1; KR20190089188A; CN110087738A; KR20180070966A; JP2020506735A; JP7101175B2

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a filter cartridge for a respirator, the filter cartridge including a filter and a housing configured to store the filter, wherein the filter comprises a corrugated filter member having a plurality of corrugated tips and a flexible frame, and at the corrugated filter member, a first valley pattern formed between each of the plurality of corrugated tips, the flexible frame coupled to an edge of the corrugated filter member and including a connector and a support protruding from the connector, the support includes a plurality of protrusions coupled to the corrugated tips, respectively, the housing includes a first surface, a second surface, and a sidewall configured to surround an edge of the first surface and an edge of the second surface, and the housing includes one or more suction ports and one or more output ports.

Description

Filter cartridge

The present disclosure relates to a filter cartridge for fluid filtration, and more particularly, to a filter cartridge for a respirator.

Background

Respirators typically include a mask body and one or more filter cartridges attached to the mask body. The mask body may be worn over the nose and mouth on a person's face, and in some cases, the mask body may include portions that cover the head, neck, or other body parts. The wearer may inhale clean air that has passed through a filter disposed at the filter cartridge. In negative pressure respiratory protection devices, air is drawn through a filter cartridge by the negative pressure generated by the wearer during inhalation. Air from the external environment passes through the filter media and flows into the interior space of the mask body, through which the wearer can inhale the air.

Various techniques have been employed in filter cartridges used in respirators. Conventional filter cartridges typically include a filter member having an air purification function within a frame made of cardboard, non-woven fabric, or plastic. However, when the frame is formed of a rigid cardboard, a non-woven fabric, or a resin, the adhesive force between the filter cartridge and the outer wall of the space in which the filter cartridge is installed is insufficient, and thus air leakage is caused, so that there is a problem in that the air purification function cannot be sufficiently performed. In addition, there is a problem in that when the filter is mounted on the rigid frame, the mounting of the filter cartridge is difficult due to friction between the filter cartridge and the rigid frame.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a filter cartridge employing a flexible frame having elasticity, capable of being easily deformed, easily attached to and detached from the flexible frame, and minimizing interference during installation at the flexible frame.

In addition, another object of the present disclosure is to provide a filter cartridge that can maintain filter performance even when a flexible frame is deformed.

Further, it is another object of the present disclosure to provide a filter cartridge that employs a corrugated filter member to increase the effective area of the filter and enable improved filter performance and have improved life.

Further, another object of the present disclosure is to provide a filter cartridge employing a housing having a suction port disposed at a sidewall to allow uniform and slow introduction of contaminants, maintain performance, and have improved life.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, there is provided a filter cartridge according to the present disclosure, which includes a filter and a housing configured to store the filter, wherein the filter comprises a corrugated filter member having a plurality of corrugated tips and a flexible frame, and at the corrugated filter member, a first valley pattern formed between each of the plurality of corrugated tips, the flexible frame coupled to an edge of the corrugated filter member and including a connector and a support protruding from the connector, the support includes a plurality of protrusions coupled to the corrugated tips, respectively, the housing includes a first surface, a second surface, and a sidewall configured to surround an edge of the first surface and an edge of the second surface, and the housing includes one or more suction ports and one or more output ports.

The plurality of suction ports may be provided at a sidewall of the housing.

The output port may be disposed at the first surface of the housing.

The output port may include a connector connectable to the mask body.

The support may include a first support and a second support, the first support may include a curved support and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the curved support and coupled to the corrugated tips, respectively, and both distal ends of the corrugated filter member are coupled to the second support.

A second valley pattern may be formed between each of the plurality of protrusions, and a depth of the first valley pattern may be greater than a depth of the second valley pattern.

The height of the second support may be equal to the sum of the height of the curved support of the first support and the height of each of the protruding portions of the first support.

The ratio of the height of the curved support to the height of each protrusion may be in the range of 1:1 to 1: 2.

The flexible frame may include a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

The flexible frame may have a shore a hardness in the range of 35 to 45.

The filter cartridge may have a radius of curvature of 40 millimeters (mm) or more.

One output port may be provided at one side of the first surface of the housing, a plurality of suction ports may be provided at a sidewall of the housing, and widths of the plurality of suction ports may be gradually reduced toward the output port.

The housing may include a holder and a cover, the holder may include a first surface and a first sidewall protruding from the first surface, and the cover may include a second surface and a second sidewall protruding from the second surface.

A plurality of suction ports may be provided at the second sidewall of the cover.

According to the filter cartridge of the present disclosure, the filtering performance thereof can be improved, the lifespan thereof can be increased, the attachment and detachment thereof can be easily performed, and the interference during the installation at the flexible frame can be minimized. In addition, filter performance can be maintained even when the filter cartridge has a curvature.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a filter cartridge according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a filter according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a flexible frame according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a filter having a curvature according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line I-I' of fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an open structure of a housing according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an enclosure structure of a housing according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating an effect of the structure of the case according to the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments. However, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be realized without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. Therefore, the details for practicing the present disclosure described below should not be considered limiting.

Unless defined otherwise, all scientific and technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly used in the art. The definitions provided herein are intended to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently in this specification and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing dimensions, quantities, and physical characteristics of features used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being defined in all instances by the term "about". Accordingly, unless indicated otherwise, the numerical parameters set forth in this specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by those skilled in the art using the teachings herein.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include embodiments having plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As used in this specification, spatially relative terms, including but not limited to, "lower," "upper," "lower," "below," "over," and "upper" are used to describe the spatial relationship of an element(s) with respect to another element for ease of description. These spatially relative terms include different alignments of the device in use or operation, in addition to the specific alignments shown in the drawings and described herein. For example, when the object shown in the drawings is turned over or upside down, a portion previously described as being under or below another element will be on the other element.

In this specification, when describing a positional relationship, for example, when the terms "upper", "above", "below" and "adjacent" are used to describe a positional relationship between two components, one or more other components may be located between the two components unless the expression "immediately" or "directly" is used.

In the present embodiment, when "having", "including", "being provided with", and the like are used, they are used as if they have an open meaning, and unless the expression "only" is used, other matters than those described may be added.

The term "respirator" refers to a device that is worn by a person and filters air before the air enters the person's respiratory system.

The term "mask body" refers to a structure that is aligned with at least the nose and mouth of a person and that helps define an interior air space that is separate from an exterior air space.

The term "filter cartridge" refers to a device that is attachable to a person's respiratory organ for the purpose of filtering air before the air enters the interior air space between the mask body and the person's face.

The term "monolith type" refers to a substance that is made at the same time or a substance from which one or more of the monolith type components cannot be separated without damage.

The term "outside air" refers to air containing other materials, such as contaminants that may be harmful to humans.

The term "filtered air" refers to air from which contaminants are removed as the outside air passes through the filter.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The features of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be partially or fully coupled or combined with each other, and may be technically interlocked and driven.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a filter cartridge according to the present disclosure. A filter cartridge according to the present disclosure includes a filter 10 and a housing 20 configured to store the filter 10. The filter cartridge may be a filter cartridge for a respirator. Here, a filter cartridge can be mounted to the mask body and used. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a filter according to the present disclosure. Fig. 3 is a side view of a flexible frame according to the present disclosure. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a filter having a curvature according to the present disclosure. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line I-I' of fig. 2.

Referring to fig. 2-5, the filter 10 includes a corrugated filter member 100 and a flexible frame 200. When the filter cartridge is a filter cartridge for a respirator, the filter 10 is a filter for a respirator.

The corrugated filter member 100 has a plurality of corrugated tips 110, and a first valley pattern 120 is formed between each of the plurality of corrugated tips 110. The external air flows toward the upper surface of the corrugated filter member 100 to pass therethrough, and the filtered air may be discharged through the lower surface of the corrugated filter member 100.

The corrugated filter member 100 has an effective area of the filter 10 that is greater than the effective area of the planar filter member so that filter performance can be improved and the life thereof can be increased. In addition, the external air flowing into the corrugated filter member 100 moves along the first valley patterns 120 to pass through the corrugated filter member 100. Accordingly, the external air may be uniformly distributed, filtered material such as contaminants may be uniformly and slowly accumulated on the upper surface of the corrugated filter member 100, and the life of the filter 10 may be increased while maintaining the performance of the filter 10.

The distance between adjacent corrugated tips 110 may vary depending on the size and application of the filter 10, and may be determined based on relational expressions between the thickness of the corrugated filter member 100, the height of the corrugated tips 110, the distance between adjacent corrugated tips 110, and a filter performance constant. For example, the distance between adjacent corrugated tips 110 in the filter 10 may be in the range of 3 millimeters (mm) to 6mm, and preferably in the range of 4.1mm to 4.3 mm.

Any material for the corrugated filter member 100 may be used without limitation as long as the material allows air to pass therethrough without blocking a specific material. As non-limiting examples, the corrugated filter member 100 includes a nonwoven fabric, a paper, and the like, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Further, there is no limitation on a method for forming corrugations at the corrugated filter member 100. For example, the corrugations may be formed by folding or forming grains over a flat shaped filter element.

A surface treated material may be employed to enhance the air purifying effect of the corrugated filter member 100. The surface treatment method is not limited, and the surface treatment method may vary depending on the application thereof. In the case of filters employed where particulate matter or dust particles are large, and in the case of filters employed when a large amount of air should be rapidly inhaled, the material and surface treatment method of the filter member adapted to each case may be different. For example, in the case of a nonwoven fabric, electrostatic treatment may be performed thereon, and the surface of the nonwoven fabric may be treated with activated carbon.

The flexible frame 200 is coupled to the edges of the corrugated filter member 100. In addition, the flexible frame 200 and the corrugated filter member 100 may be integrally formed. That is, an adhesive for separate sealing may be omitted between the flexible frame 200 and the corrugated filter member 100, and thus problems due to sealing using an adhesive may be prevented.

Further, only the upper surface of the corrugated filter member 100 may be exposed to the external air, and the filtered air may be discharged through only the lower surface of the corrugated filter member 100. That is, no external air flows into the side surfaces of the corrugated filter member 100, and thus the performance of the filter 10 can be maintained.

The flexible frame 200 may be formed of a frame material having flexibility and elasticity. The shore a durometer of the flexible frame 200 may be in the range of about 35 to about 45. Since the flexible frame 200 according to the present disclosure has excellent elasticity when compared to a conventional filter frame formed of rigid paper, non-woven fabric, or resin used as a conventional filter frame, the filter 10 is easily attached to and detached from a desired position, and sealing performance between the filter 10 and a mounting region thereof is outstanding. Further, the flexible frame 200 may be formed at the edge of the corrugated filter member 100 without a separate adhesion process.

For example, the flexible frame 200 includes a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). A TPE is a polymeric material that can be molded in the same way as a plastic that becomes flexible at high temperatures, and TPE exhibits the properties of a rubber elastomer at room temperature.

The various processes employed in typical thermoplastic processing can be applied directly to the TPE and the residual TPE produced during processing can be reused, making the TPE economical and, in some embodiments, preferably without the use of plasticizers. Further, the specific gravity of the TPE is smaller than that of the thermosetting rubber, quality control of the TPE is easy, processing equipment with high productivity can be applied to the TPE in injection molding (slush molding) or the like, and thus various products can be produced by partially changing the rigid part and the soft part of the flexible frame 200, making design thereof easy. That is, a thermoplastic elastomer is a polymeric material that can exhibit rubber elasticity under conditions of use, and can be molded into a thermoplastic under molding conditions.

However, the present disclosure is not limited by the above description, and the flexible frame 200 may be formed of a material that may be in a fluid state including a liquid, syrup, wax, or melt at a specific temperature. For example, the filter 10 including the flexible frame 200 may be manufactured by hardening or curing a material that may be in a fluid state at a particular temperature.

For example, a method for manufacturing the filter 10 may include bending the filter member to cut the filter member to a desired size; inserting the curved filter member into a mold by fitting the curved filter member to the shape of the mold; heating the framing material to a temperature above its softening or melting point and melting the framing material into a fluid state; and applying and curing the frame material in a fluid state to the edges of the curved filter member. Thus, a filter 10 including a flexible frame 200 integrally formed with a corrugated filter member 100 may be manufactured.

At this time, the fluid state refers to a state including any one of a liquid state, a syrup state, or a wax state. Further, the solidification may be performed by cooling, and for example, the frame material in a fluid state may be cooled and solidified at room temperature or lower.

More specifically, the method for manufacturing the filter 10 may include placing a curved filter member on a primary mold having a groove-shaped mounting portion at which the filter member may be mounted; disposing a secondary mold on the filter member to expose only an edge of the filter member when the filter member is fixed; additionally providing a third mold at which an opening having an area larger than that of the filter member is formed to allow the filter member to be positioned in the opening by using the third mold; injecting the frame material in a fluid state into the edge of the filter member not covered by the secondary mold; and curing the frame material in the fluid state.

Conventionally, a sealing process using a heat gun or the like is required between the filter member and the frame, and fixing of the filter member in such a sealing process is difficult, and in particular, there is a problem that it is difficult to constantly maintain a distance between corrugations in the case of a corrugated filter member.

However, when manufacturing the filter 10 including the flexible frame 200 integrally formed with the corrugated filter member 100 manufactured according to the above-described method, a sealing process using a separate adhesive for coupling the filter member to the frame may be omitted, and thus the process is simplified, and problems such as sealing failure when an adhesive is used may be prevented.

The flexible frame 200 includes a connector 210 and a support protruding from the connector 210. Such supports include a first support 220 and a second support 230. The connector 210, the first support 220, and the second support 230 may be integrally formed.

The first and

second supports

220 and 230 may define sidewalls of the flexible frame 200. The connector 210 is connected to the lower distal ends of the first and

second supports

220 and 230, and may be formed in a closed shape having an opening exposing the lower surface of the corrugated filter member 100. At this time, the connector 210 may include a laterally protruding flange for mounting or the like. The flange of the connector 210 and the housing 20 may be fastened so that the filter 10 may be accommodated inside the housing 20.

The first support 220 includes a curved support 221 and a plurality of protrusions 222. A plurality of protrusions 222 protrude from the curved support 221 and are respectively coupled to the corrugated tips 110 of the corrugated filter member 100. That is, a single protrusion 222 corresponds to a single corrugated tip 110.

When the protrusions 222 of the flexible frame 200 and the corrugated tips 110 of the corrugated filter member 100 move together, the distance between the adjacent corrugated tips 110 may be constantly maintained. Accordingly, air may be uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the corrugated filter member 100, and filter performance may be uniformly maintained.

A second valley pattern 223 is formed between each of the plurality of protrusions 222. The flexible frame 200 having such a second valley pattern 223 is easily deformed, and in particular, easily bent and deformed with a curvature. Further, when the flexible frame 200 is bent to have a radius of curvature toward the lower side of the corrugated filter member 100, deformation is easier and filtered air is discharged through the lower side of the corrugated filter member 100.

When the flexible frame 200 is bent to have a radius of curvature toward the underside of the corrugated filter member 100, filtered air is discharged through the underside of the corrugated filter member 100, which minimizes interference when the flexible frame 200 is mounted on a respirator or when the filter 10 is mounted on a respirator and then mounted on a welded hood or the like. Further, when the flexible frame 200 is mounted on a respirator, a welding mask, or the like, damage due to interference can be prevented.

In addition, the depth of the first valley patterns 120 formed between the respective corrugated tips of the plurality of corrugated tips 110 is greater than the depth of the second valley patterns 223. Accordingly, the tip portion of the first valley pattern 120 is engaged with the curved support 221 of the first support 220.

The curved support 221 has a single straight line structure. The curved support 221 prevents excessive bending of the flexible frame 200 and may maintain a constant radius of curvature that allows the distance between adjacent corrugated tips 110 to be constantly maintained.

The excessive bending of the flexible frame 200 unevenly widens the distance between the corrugated tips 110 on the air inflow surface of the corrugated filter member 100 and narrows the distance between the corrugated tips 110 of the first valley patterns 120 on the air discharge surface of the corrugated filter member 100. This may increase the pressure drop and may shorten the useful life of the filter 10.

However, even when the curvature of the filter 10 increases (even if the radius of curvature decreases), the pressure drop in the filter 10 according to the present disclosure may be maintained almost constantly. Preferably, such filters 10 may have a radius of curvature of about 40mm or greater.

Referring to fig. 4, a distance d between adjacent corrugated tips 110 may be constant, and a distance d' between corrugated tips 110 of adjacent first valley patterns 120 may be constant. When the distance d between the adjacent corrugated tips 110 and the distance d' between the tips of the adjacent first valley patterns 120 are constant, uniform filtering performance can be exhibited over the entire area of the filter 10, and the lifespan thereof can be improved.

Accordingly, the filter 10 according to the present disclosure may maintain the distance between the corrugated tips 110 on the air inflow surface of the corrugated filter member 100 and the distance between the tips of the first valley patterns 120 on the air discharge surface of the corrugated filter member 100 at regular intervals, and may maintain constant pressure drop performance up to a desired curvature.

When the ratio of the height of the protrusion 222 to the height of the bending support 221 is increased, it facilitates the deformation of the flexible frame 200, but excessive bending may occur. In contrast, when the ratio of the height of the bent support 221 to the height of the protrusion 222 is increased, it may be difficult to deform the flexible frame 200 and the corrugated filter member 100. Accordingly, the ratio of the height of the curved support 221 to the height of the protrusion 222 is preferably in the range of about 1:1 to about 1: 2.

The second supports 230 are each coupled to both distal ends 101 of the corrugated filter member 100. Preferably, the distal end 101 of the corrugated filter member 100 may extend to the upper surface side of the corrugated filter member 100, and the edge of the corrugated filter member 100 may be coupled to the second support 230.

The height of the second support 230 may be equal to the sum of the height of the bent support 221 and the height of the protrusion 222 of the first support 220. That is, the height of the second support 230 and the height of the first support 220 may be the same as each other. Therefore, there is an effect in which the second supporter 230 may prevent undesired leakage of the external air or the filtered air, and the corrugated filter member 100 is expanded to increase the effective area of the filter.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an open structure of a housing according to the present disclosure, and fig. 7 is a perspective view of a closed structure of a housing according to the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 6 and 7, the case 20 includes a first surface 311, a second surface 321, and a sidewall 350 configured to surround an edge of the first surface 311 and an edge of the second surface 321. Such sidewalls 350 include a first sidewall 351 and a second sidewall 352.

The housing 20 includes one or more output ports 330 and one or more intake ports 340. Although a single output port 330 and a plurality of suction ports 340 are shown in the figures, there may be one or more of each of the output ports 330 and the suction ports 340. Preferably, the housing 20 may include a single output port 330. In addition, preferably, the housing 20 may include a plurality of suction ports 340.

The suction port 340 is provided at a side wall 350 of the housing 20. Preferably, the plurality of suction ports 340 are provided at the sidewall 350 of the housing 20. More preferably, the plurality of suction ports 340 are provided at the second sidewall 352. The output port 330 is disposed at the first surface 311 of the housing 20. Preferably, an output port 330 may be provided at one side of the first surface 311.

The suction port 340 is an air inlet through which external air is introduced. Since the suction port 340 is formed at the sidewall 350 of the case 20, the introduced external air may be slowly and uniformly introduced along the first valley pattern 120 of the corrugated filter member 100. Accordingly, filtered material, such as contaminants, may be uniformly and slowly accumulated on the filter 10, and the life of the filter may be increased. Further, filter performance can be maintained during use even when contaminants accumulate.

Although three suction ports 340 are shown in the drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The number of suction ports 340 may vary depending on the size and application of the filter cartridge.

The plurality of suction ports 340 may have a smaller width toward the output port 330. For example, when the number of the suction ports 340 is three, the width thereof may be 1:1.5:2 from the suction port 340 adjacent to the output port 330.

The output port 330 is an air outlet through which filtered air is discharged and disposed proximate to the wearer's respiratory organs. Accordingly, as the wearer gets closer to the output port 330, the pressure change due to the wearer's breathing is greater, and in particular, air may flow rapidly during inhalation. Conversely, air may flow more slowly when the wearer is away from output port 330.

Accordingly, the suction port 340 may have a small width toward the output port 330, and the air may uniformly flow through the entire area of the filter 10. That is, the inflow amount of air may increase in a region in which air slowly flows, and the inflow amount of air may decrease in a region in which air rapidly flows, so that air uniformly flows through the entire region of the filter 10.

The output port 330 also includes a connector that is connectable to the mask body for mounting the filter cartridge at the mask body.

The housing 20 may include a holder 310 and a cover 320. One side of the holder 310 and one side of the cover 320 may be connected by a hinge 360, and the other side thereof may be fixed by a locking structure 370 formed therein.

The holder 310 includes a first surface 311 and a first sidewall 351 protruding from the first surface 311, and the cover 320 includes a second surface 321 and a second sidewall 352 protruding from the second surface 321. Here, the plurality of suction ports 340 may be disposed at the second sidewall 352, and the output port 330 may be disposed closer to the hinge 360 than the locking structure 370.

The housing 20 may be formed of a rigid material. For example, the housing may be formed of a rigid plastic. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the housing 20 may be formed of any material as long as the material can accommodate and fix the filter 10.

The housing 20 may have a curvature and the filter cartridge may have a radius of curvature of about 40mm or greater. The filter 10 having the flexible frame 200 can be installed while maintaining its filtering performance even when the housing 20 has a curvature.

When the filter cartridge has curvature, interference can be minimized when the filter cartridge is installed on the mask body or respirator or when the filter cartridge is installed on the respirator and then on a welded hood or the like. In addition, when the filter cartridge is mounted on a respirator, a welding mask, or the like, damage due to interference can be prevented.

Examples

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in more detail by way of example. The following examples are intended to further illustrate the present disclosure, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following examples.

Experimental example 1：

The pressure drop was measured by changing the radius of curvature of the filter cartridge, wherein the filters were of the same size in one plane. The results are shown in table 1 below.

The greater the pressure drop, the lower the filtration performance. Referring to table 1 below, although the increase in pressure drop is not great at a radius of curvature of about 40mm or more, the pressure drop increases significantly at a radius of curvature of less than about 40 mm. Accordingly, a filter cartridge according to the present disclosure preferably has a radius of curvature of about 40mm or greater.

TABLE 1

	Example 1	Example 2	Example 3	Example 4	Example 5	Example 6
							Radius of curvature (mm)	38	40.7	44.5	50.6	60	8
Pressure drop (mmH)₂O)	16.2	12.7	11.7	10.9	10.3	9.3

Experimental example 2：

The filter performance of the filter contained in the housing including only the holder (comparative example 1), the filter not contained in the housing (comparative example 2), and the filter contained in the housing including the cover including the plurality of suction ports provided at the side wall and the holder (comparative example 7) were measured. The results are shown in FIG. 8.

In fig. 7, the horizontal axis indicates the ratio of the particle load value of the contaminant (NaCl) to the initial particle load value, and the vertical axis indicates the ratio of the pressure drop value PD to the initial minimum pressure drop value PD _ min. Referring to fig. 8, although the pressure drop ratios showed similar low values and the filter performance was similar in all of comparative example 1, comparative example 2 and example 7 when the loading ratio of the contaminant (NaCl) was low, the pressure drop ratio of example 7 was significantly reduced as the loading ratio of the contaminant was higher.

Thus, even when contaminants accumulate in the housing structure according to the present disclosure, the reduction in filter performance may be low during use and the lifetime may be increased.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to embodiments thereof, the embodiments are illustrative only, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure should be understood to encompass not only the following claims, but also their equivalents.

Claims

1. A filter cartridge for a respirator, comprising:

a filter; and

a housing configured to store the filter,

wherein the filter comprises a corrugated filter member having a plurality of corrugated tips and at which a first valley pattern is formed between each of the plurality of corrugated tips, and a flexible frame coupled to an edge of the corrugated filter member and including a connector and a support protruding from the connector,

the support includes a plurality of protrusions respectively coupled to the corrugated tips,

the housing includes a first surface, a second surface, and a sidewall configured to surround an edge of the first surface and an edge of the second surface,

the housing includes one or more intake ports and one or more output ports,

wherein:

the support member includes a first support member and a second support member,

the first support includes a curved support and the plurality of protruding portions protruding from the curved support and coupled to the corrugated tips, respectively, and

both distal ends of the corrugated filter member are coupled to the second support,

wherein:

a second valley pattern is formed between each of the plurality of protrusions, and

the depth of the first valley pattern is greater than the depth of the second valley pattern.

2. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the plurality of suction ports are disposed at the sidewall of the housing.

3. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the output port is disposed at the first surface of the housing.

4. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the output port comprises a connector connectable to a mask body.

5. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein a height of the second support is equal to a sum of a height of the curved support of the first support and a height of a protrusion of the first support.

6. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a height of the curved support to a height of each protrusion is in a range of 1:1 to 1: 2.

7. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the flexible frame comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

8. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the flexible frame has a shore a hardness in the range of 35 to 45.

9. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the filter cartridge has a radius of curvature of 40 millimeters (mm) or greater.

10. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein:

an output port is provided at one side of the first surface of the housing,

the plurality of suction ports are provided at the side wall of the housing, and

the widths of the plurality of suction ports are gradually reduced toward the output port.

11. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein:

the housing includes a holder and a cover,

the holder includes the first surface and a first sidewall protruding from the first surface, and

the cover includes the second surface and a second sidewall protruding from the second surface.

12. The filter cartridge of claim 11, wherein the plurality of suction ports are disposed at the second sidewall of the lid.