Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B18/00—Breathing masks or helmets, e.g. affording protection against chemical agents or for use at high altitudes or incorporating a pump or compressor for reducing the inhalation effort
  • A62B18/02—Masks
  • A62B18/025—Halfmasks
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B17/00—Protective clothing affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents or for use at high altitudes
  • A62B17/04—Hoods

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a respiratory system and more particularly, is concerned with providing fresh, breathable air from contaminated air for use in aircraft and providing visibilty to escaping aircraft passengers involved in an aircraft fire as well as other vehicle use and non-vehicle use.
• the present invention When installed in an aircraft the present invention embodies the function of the present supplemental oxygen mask, common in the art and referred to as the "gold cup", providing supplemental oxygen in cases of aircraft decompression .
• the patent to Levine, 4,559,939 discloses a supplemental air tank and hood system.
• the patent to Birch, 4,116,237 discloses a supplemental air tank and hood system. These devices only provide dry filters that mainly remove particulates.
• the Wong invention, 4,554,683 provides a barrel shaped smoke hood to provide the wearer with a volume of breathable air within the hood sufficient to sustain the wearer for a short period of time.
• This hood works in situations involving high rise building fires where fresh, breathable air is available for a period of time prior to contamination by smoke and noxious gases.
• the major drawback of this hood when used in the aircraft fire situation is the consumption of the fresh, breathable air and generation of carbon dioxide within the hood, leading to hypercapnia and anoxia. In the aircraft fire situation, the time from onset of fire to time of evacuation may exceed the capacity of the Wong invention.
• the instant invention provides an oral-nasal mask which may be connected to any air supply and may be connected to an aircraft's emergency air supply and an air purification system through a wet chemical filter such that fresh, breathable air is available to the passenger at any point during the fire thereby eliminating the need to "fill" the hood with fresh air prior to donning the hood.
• the oral-nasal mask provides breathable air prior to placement of the hood over the head of the user and after placing the hood over the user's head.
• the hood may not provide the passenger with fresh, breathable air prior to the passenger's asphyxiation or suffication due to the smoke and noxious fumes even with the incorporation of the optional filters. Because the hood allows atmospheric air, which is likely to be contaminated in the aircraft fire case, into the hood prior to incorporation on the wearer, the wearer will have to take several breaths of contaminated air before any filtering system allows the purified air to enter the barrel shaped hood. Survivors of recent aircraft fires have stated that one and two breaths of the smoke and noxious gases present in the aircraft fire resulted in the passenger's lungs feeling solidified and in the passenger's experiencing extreme sleepiness.
• the passengers cf aircraft fires cannot risk taking several breaths of the contaminated, toxic, atmospheric ai within the Wong hood prior to receiving the purified ai where such immediate and critical symptoms occur fro one or two breaths.
• the instant invention provides a compact oral nasal mask and hood.
• the invention incorporating th oral-nasal mask does not require a user or passenger t take several breaths of the contaminated, surroundin atmospheric air prior to receiving the fresh, breathabl air.
• the oral-nasal mask is of relatively small volume, just sufficient to cover the user's or passenger's mout and nose region such that the passenger will receive fresh, breathable air immediately upon the user's or passenger's first breath from a supply or from the aircraft supply and/or from the surrounding air filtered through the wet and dry purification filter.
• the porous plastic material is a hydrophobic material composed of polyethylene or other common plastics, a tradename common in this application is POREX POROUS POLYETHYLENE.
• Smoke hoods that have been proposed are disclosed in several prior patents including: 4,554683, 4,231,118, 3,562,813, and 3,458,864.
• the novelty of the instant invention is the relatively small compact respiratory system for use in a building or vehicle or an aircraft and in leaving same.
• the respiratory system also includes a wet chemical scrubbing filter for cleaning a room or cabin air of toxic and other gases connected to the oral-nasal mask, the combination of a collapsible hood that is connected to the oral-nasal mask allowing the oral-nasal mask to be placed over the user's nose and mouth prior to covering the user's eyes with the hood.
• the protective hood in the instant invention has as one of its primary purpose, not to surround the user with fresh air, as the oral-nasal mask already provides this, but to insulate the user's eyes from the irritating effects of the noxious gases and soot disposition by filling the hooc with the user's exhaust gases from the oral-nasal mask.
• the present invention provides the passenger with fresh, breathable air before the user or passenger dons the smoke hood.
• This psychological advancement provides the passengers with the security of fresh breathable air before surrounding their heads with the air impervious hood.
• no other prior art incorporates a dual air supply system providing the user or passenger with either, or both, fresh air from the local supply aircraft's emergency air source if provided, or from the contaminated surroundings by filtering same through a wet chemical filter.
• the instant invention may rely entirely upon the ambient air supply to provide the user or passenger with fresh, breathable air from contaminated surrounding air for a temporary period sufficient to escape from the room, the surrounding area or the cabin of an aircraft.
• the filtering system is stored in the cup-like oral-nasal mask.
• the hood that may be easily placed over the user or passenger is conveniently attached to the outside of the oral-nasal mask.
• an aircraft respiratory system incorporating both an oral-nasal mask providing the passenger with fresh, breathable air from alternative sources, the aircraft's emergency air source and an air purifier source that removes contaminants from the surrounding cabin air, and a protective hood to insulate the passenger from the smoke and noxious gases associated with an aircraft fire to improve passenger's visibility by filling the hood with the user's exhausted gas during an escape from the aircraft.
• the same compact respiratory system may be used in other vehicles or by firemen or the like.
• the wet chemical air purifier continues to work after the user detaches himself from the bottled air or the aircraft's emergency air in order to exit the area, room or aircraft.
• the present invention provides a respiratory system for users of rooms and various areas that may have emergency fires as well as passengers of aircraft involved in aircraft fires sufficient to temporarily maintain the user or passenger's air supply and visibility as well as for other aircraft emergencies such as loss of cabin pressure at high altitudes.
• the instant invention embodies in the existing drop down oral-nasal mask two air supply systems.
• First the ordinary bottle emergency air or airplane emergency air supply system that allows the user or passenger to breath directly from the emergency air source.
• a wet chemical air purifier stored in the cup shaped mask that scrubs toxic and other gases that are taken in from the surrounding room, area or cabin air to purify same for human use in breathing in the event of a fire in the room, area, or cabin.
• the instant invention for providing temporary life support to permit each user or passenger involved in a room fire, area fire or aircraft fire includes the ordinary drop down oral-nasal mask to cover the passenger's mouth and nose region and to surround the passenger's mouth and nose region with fresh, breathable air, a protective hood to insulate the user's or passenger's eyes from the irritant effects of smoke and noxious gas when the hood is filled with the user's exhaust gases, and an air purifier to provide the user or passenger with fresh, breathable air in addition to the aircraft's emergency air source or to provide the user or passenger with the fresh, breathable air after the bottled air or aircraft oxygen is depleted or turned off or the passenger has disconnected himself from the bottled air or aircraft supply when exiting the room, area or aircraft.
• the instant invention for providing temporary life support to permit each user or passenger involved in a room fire, area fire or aircraft fire includes the ordinary drop down oral-nasal mask to cover the passenger's mouth and nose region and to surround the passenger's mouth and nose region with fresh
• this assembly would be the overhead passenger service unit.
• This invention would replace the "gold cups" in that assembly.
• Another object of this invention is to provide a wet filter and systems that allow the user to breath from an air supply and from surrounding air through the wet filter.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the respiratory system emerging from the ceiling on a lanyard and an oxygen tube of the aircraft with the oral-nasal mask, wet and/or dry chemical air purifier system behind a sealed cover, and hood under a cover connected to the outside of the mask.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a user or passenger user grabbing the respiratory system.
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the user or passenger releasing the wet chemical air purifier system from behind the cover and in breaking the seal between the oral-nasal mask and wet chemical air purifier system and extending the purifier system away from the cover with the breathing tube extended.
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of the oral- nasal mask and air purifier in its extended position for use and the lanyard disconnected.
• Figure 5 is a view of the oral-nasal mask and wet chemical air purifier in position on the user's or passenger's head.
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of the user or passenger beginning to release the hood on the oral- nasal mask.
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of the user or passenger having pulled the mask over his head and the oral-nasal mask.
• igure 8 is a front view of the user or passenger in Figure 7 illustrating the supply air tub or the stored air tube severed from the bottled air o aircraft to allow the user or passenger to exit th room, area or aircraft.
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of the user o passenger in Figure 7 with the hood stored under th hood cover.
• Figure 10 is a cross section of the lower ca showing the air passages and the internal configuratio of the wet and dry air purifier.
• Figure 11 is a top view of Figure 10 with th right portion tilted upward. Enclosed is Attachment A pages 1 and 2.
• FIG. 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• FIG. 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• the system 12 provides users an aircraft passengers with fresh, breathable air in cas of smoke, fire or rapid decompression from an air suppl or an aircraft supply and from purified room, area o cabin air and to improve the user's or passenger's visibility and breathing during an escape when the air supply or aircraft supply is disengaged or depleted.
• the respiratory system 12 includes an oral-nasal mask
• the mask includes an open cup- shaped interior 5 shown in Figure r to engage upon the user's or passenger's mouth and nose region 2 shown in Figure 5, to isolate the user's or passenger's mouth and nose region 2, from the contaminated area, room or cabin atmosphere surrounding the user's head.
• the oral-nasal mask I is generally cup shaped with edges 7 and 7 ' f contoured to substantially conform to a human face and particularly, to contour to the passenger's cheekbones 8, and chin 9. This prevents the inflow of area air into the nose-mouth piece.
• Door 50 of the storage opens either manually or automatically container. Illustrated is an airplane's storage container.
• the door 50 hangs down on hinge 54 to open the small overhead compartment to allow the respirator system 12 to drop out as shown in Figure 1.
• the system 12 may be pulled out of the small storage container 56.
• the oxygen or air tube 58 and lanyard 60 are connected to the respirator system 12 and the inside of the small storage compartment 56.
• the user's hand 62 grabs handle 64 and pulls as shown in Figure 2 purifier shell 66 as shown by arrow A in Figure 3 from the mask 1 and upper cap 70.
• the plastic seal 68 is broken as shown in Figure 3 and shell 66 is placed in an in-use position as shown in Figure 3 exposing the outer filter 72 of the wet chemical air purifier 14 that is below filter 72.
• the purifier shell 66 is supported by lanyard 60.
• An elastic band 10 is attached to the oral- nasal mask 1, near the edges 7 and 7 r .
• the passenger extends the elastic band 10, behind the passenger's head ll r to compress the oral-nasal mask 1, against the passenger's mouth and nose region 2 to maintain oral- nasal mask 1, with a substantially airtight seal around the passenger's mouth and nose region 2 as shown in Figures 5.
• the elastic band would allow exhaled air tc move out around the edges 7 and 7' by reason that the nose-mouthpiece has a one-way valve to allow air into the mouthpiece from tube 74.
• the elastic band 10, also supports th rest of the respiratory system 12, in place withou further assistance.
• the elastic band 10, is flexibl and is easily folded into the interior 5 of the ora nasal mask 1 along with a portion of the wet chemica air purifier 14, for storage purposes.
• the oral-nasal mask tube 58 is connected t the purifier shell 66, with a passageway shown by arro B, C, D, E and F shown in Figure 10 into the oral-nasa mask 1.
• the tube 74 extends into the interior 5, or th oral nasal mask 1 and may have a one-way valve in tub 74.
• the end of tube 74, of the oral-nasal mask tube 74, extends into the interior 5, of the oral-nasal mask 1, are unblocked and provide the path for fresh, breathabl air to enter the oral-nasal mask 1.
• the sealed air bag 80 has a one-way flapper valve 84 to allow air to com into the air passageway as shown by arrow B'.
• particulate filter 72 for filtering out larger particles.
• the area, room or aircraft air enters at 86.
• the tube 58 may be broken at 58' as shown at 88 in Figure 8 or the tube 58 may be pulled off entrance member 86.
• the user breaths air in through the oral-nasal mask 1 and exhales into the mask out through one-way valve s 90.
• the wet chemical air purifier 14 is a multichambered assembly of chemicals and filter media, designed to effectively remove the critical levels of harmful, noxious gases and smoke from the atmospheric air coming through particle filter 72 and one or more one-way valves 84 in the plastic non-porous plastic breather bag 84.
• the air from the cabin coming through valve 84 first passes through rigid purifier structure and filter 100.
• the material making up filter 100 is a combination of metal or plastic screen, various filtering media common in the art and a hydrophobic porous membrane to enclose the wet filter.
• In the first chamber 110 is defined by a porous plastic container 112 that allows gases to pass through from filter 100 through filter 120 but keep the wet chemical within container 112. The gas is scrubbed as it passes through container 112.
• Acid gases are neturalized in container 112 containing wet base materials.
• the gases are neutralized before they pass through filter 120 and on through the second chamber 130.
• Chamber 130 catalyzes CO to C0 2 b passing the gas stream through a catalyst such as hopcalite, a mixed metal oxide to provide breathable air at F.
• the air purifier 14, consists of a container 112 which contains a sac 113 to store the wet base materials until activated by pulling actuator, 64.
• the wet chemical air purifier 14, is completely enclosed and sea.l ⁇ the _active chemical agents 16 within the container 112 and sac 113 from the atmosphere.
• the chemical may be both wet and/or dry when activated for use.
• the chemical portion of the air purifier i container 112 and stored in sac 113, is actuated by th pull on handle 64 relative to lower cap 66 that pull cord 150.
• the cord pulls sac 113 between rollers 15 and 154 to rupture sac 113 and displace chemical agent 16 into container 112, as described hereinafter.
• Th chemical portion of the air purifier in container 112 has two parts, wet and dry which are mixed at the tim of actuation, to provide effective neutralizing solutio for wet filtration of the noxious and toxic gases a they pass through the filter before moving on throug the dry filter portion of the air purifier 14.
• the air purifier 14 rests partially in the interior 5, of the oral nasal mask 1, while in storage, prior to deployment.
• cord 150 is attached to handle 64 and one end of the inactivated container 112.
• the other end of container 112 may be connected to filter 100.
• the opposing end of the pull cord 150 when pulled downward as shown in Figure 10, pulls the sac 113 storing the liquid component of the purifier.
• the end of the pull cord 150 is attached to the sac 113 within the air purifier container 112.
• the tension on the cord 15 causes rupture of the wet sac 112, releasing the wet chemical into the surrounding dry chemical agent 162.
• wet chemical 164 which may be water solutions of various alkaline hydroxides or similar base solutions, into the dry chemical 162 which may be a mixture of metal hydroxides, or metal oxides, fully actuates the wet chemical air purifier and filtering system.
• the aircraft emergency air can enter the air puroifier 14, through the air tube 58 through entry tube 86 through passage 166 and 168 into chamber 110 and through chamber 130, and through tube 74 into the mask 1.
• a one-way valve only allowing air to pass into compartment 166 from entry 86.
• the fresh, breathable air from the bottled air or aircraft's emergency air source enters the air tube 58 from the aircreift supply system or storage means. Because the fresh, breathable air from the bottled air or aircraft's emergency air source is non-contaminated, it does not react with the chemicals in filter 112 as it proceeds from tube 58 into bag 80, adding to its expanded shape and then filter 100 in the air purifier 14. From the filter, the fresh, breathable air passes along a path shown by arrows D and E and enters the oral-nasal mask tube 74 which passes the air into the oral-nasal mask 1, where it is inhaled by the user or passenger.
• an atmospheric valve 84 or additional valves within filter 72 is also attached to the air purifier 14, is an atmospheric valve 84 or additional valves within filter 72.
• the valve 84 is open to the atmosphere in the cabin allowing the contaminated air into the air purifier- through filter 100.
• the area, room or cabin air passes through the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 130 and out through tube 74 into the mask 1.
• the user can breath both bottled air or aircraft supply air and purified area, room or cabin air in a percentage governed by the pressure of the aircraft supply air and the design pressure of the valve 84 for example 60% bottled air or aircraft supply air and 40% area, room or cabin air.
• the user's air is substantially provided by the aircraft supply.
• valve assembly 84 may be redesigned in another embodiment so that the valve 84 will remain "normally closed", blocking the flow of the contaminated air from the cabin into the wet chemical air purifier
• the internal pressure v/ithin the air purifier caused by the flow of fresh, breathable air into the air purifier 14, via the air tube 58, may also act to force the closure of the valve 84 (depending on the design features), until the flow of fresh, breathable air via the air tube 58, ceases.
• the valve assembly 58 may be a simple flapper valve well known in the art.
• the air tube 58 has a breakpoint or may be pulled off the entrance connection, where the air tube is easily separated thereby disconnecting the passenger from the aircraft's emergency air source and giving the passenger the mobility necessary to escape the aircraft.
• the entrance into the air purifier is exposed to the contaminated atmospheric air thereby allowing additional contaminated, cabin air into the air purifier. Because the contaminated air contains smoke, toxic gases and noxious gases, the wet and dry chemical materials in the air purifier reacts with and removes the smoke, toxic gases, and noxious gas from the contaminated air thereby rendering the air fit to breath.
• the purified air is then pulled through the oral-nasal mask tube by the force of the passenger inhaling from the oral-nasal mask 1, such that the passenger can temporarily continue to breath purified, breathable air despite the disconnection of the air tube 58, from the bottled or aircraft's emergency air source.
• the respiratory system In the event the user or passenger neglects to remove or break the air tube, to afford the user or passenger's escape from the area, room or aircraft and the bottled air or aircraft's emergency air source becomes depleted, the respiratory system, will always automatically deliver fresh, breathable air to the user or passenger despite the air source depletion.
• the respiratory system 12 accomplishes this using the flapper valve 84 attached to the breather bag.
• a vacuum is created in the interior of chambers 110 and 130 v/ithin the air purifier 14.
• the higher pressured air in the area, room or cabin moves throug ' h the filter 100 toward the lower pressured air in the air purifier 14.
• the interior 5, of the oral-nasal mask 1 is sterilized prior to use of the respiratory system 12, to promote cleanliness.
• the air purifier 14, is shaped to engage against the edges 7 and 7' of the oral-nasal mask 1, to seal the interior 5 of the oral-nasal mask 1, and to prevent the oral-nasal mask 1 from losing its sterility prior to use by the passenger.
• the user or passenger breathes air in through tube 74 and exhausts air out flapper valves 90.
• the hood 28, is folded and attached on the exterior, near the apex, of the cup shaped oral-nasal mask 1 below cup 70, see Figure 6, in the respiratory system's storage state, prior to deployment.
• the upper cap 70 is positioned over the hood 28.
• the lens 29 may be flexible and generally curved to lay flat against the exterior of the mask 1 or in a folded position just underneath the folded hood 28.
• a hood tab 30, is attached to the hood 28, to allow the user or passenger to quickly grab one tab as shown in Figure 6 or more tabs in at least one hand to pull outward in order to pop off the upper cap in the direction of arrow H as shown in Figure 7.
• the hood is then pulled as shown by arrow G off of the oral-nasal mask 1, and over the user's or passenger's head 11 a ⁇ shown in Figure 7.
• the hood tab is conspicuously positioned substantially in front of the wearer's eyes to promote awareness of the availability of the smoke hood attached to the oral nasal mask 1.
• the hood 28 covers the passenger's entire head and neck area 31 and generally over the shoulders.
• the lens 29 is positioned substantially in front of the user's or passenger's eyes.
• the front 32, of the hood 28, may include a short slit to allow the air tube 58, to run from the lower cup of the air purifier 14, to the bottled air or aircraft's emergency air source or it may extend out from under the bottom of the hood as shown in Figure 7.
• the lens 29, may be formulated of Kapton polymer and is transparent to promote visibility in the presence of dense smoke.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
• Medicinal Preparation (AREA)

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• 1988
  • 1988-08-02 WO PCT/US1988/002588 patent/WO1989000873A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1988-08-02 DE DE3851879T patent/DE3851879T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1988-08-02 EP EP88908471A patent/EP0327643B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1988-08-02 AT AT88908471T patent/ATE112974T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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