EP2407208B1 - Protective suit with breathing air supply device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a protective suit, in particular a chemical protective suit, with a breathing air supply device, according to the preamble of claim 1. The breathing air supply device in this case has an automatic lung valve, which can be supplied with oxygen via a valve unit. The valve unit in turn has a bottle connection for the fluid connection of an oxygen cylinder which can be worn by a user of the protective suit and an external air connection to which an external supply unit can be connected, which can be formed, for example, by a stationary oxygen supply system. In addition, a switching valve is provided on the valve unit, by means of which the valve unit is switchable between a bottle supply position in which the regulator is fluidly connected to the bottle connection, and a foreign supply position in which the regulator is fluidly connected to the external air connection. Further, a signal generator is provided on the breathing air supply means, by means of which at least one of the supply positions from the bottle supply position and foreign supply position can be signaled.

Such protective suits are used in order to be able to supply the user with breathing air for longer periods of time by means of the foreign-care unit. If the external supply unit fails, or the connection between foreign unit and protective suit, for example, is interrupted by pinching or buckling of a supply hose, the valve unit automatically switches from the Fremdversogungsstellung to the bottle supply position. However, since the breathing air supply through the portable oxygen cylinder is limited, the valve units are equipped with a signal generator, which is activated when switching the switching valve, thus making the user aware of the supply by the oxygen cylinder. This signal generator generates a perceptible by the user acoustic or optical signal, as known for example from the chemical protection suit of the VSF series of Tesimax Altinger GmbH, 75242 Neuhausen-Steinegg. The user is made aware of the only available for a limited time breathing air supply by the generated signal so that he can retire in time from a contaminated area or can fix a fault in the external air supply.

DE 35 29 487 C1 describes a switching valve for switching between an oxygen supply between a bottle supply and a supply via a compressed air line. For the user it is visually or through feel recognizable via a display pin provided on the valve, via which unit the compressed air supply is currently being effected. In order to be able to attach the changeover valve to the user for this purpose from the outside or to be able to access it, the changeover valve is connected to a belt holder.

In some cases, such suits are used in areas where there is a high level of noise. As a result, it may happen that the user overhears an acoustic signal generated by the valve unit and becomes aware of the cylinder supply only after a delay. With regard to the optical signal, it may also be that the user of the protective suit is so distracted by his work, for example, that he does not see his valve unit for a long time and therefore does not perceive the signal generated.

Out DE 76 38 660 U1 is a ventilated suit with a cooling system known. In this case, a remaining refrigerant supply or a tightness of the cooling system can be displayed in the field of vision of the user.

DE 103 33 585 A1 . EP 0 940 159 A1 and EP 0 413 555 A1 describe respiratory masks, in whose field of view in each case an optical display for displaying an existing pressure of a Druckgasreservois or a gas pressure is provided within the mask.

Other documents known in the art are DE 11 29 376 B . US 4,181,126 A and WO 2006/012475 A2 ,

The object of the invention is to avoid the disadvantages mentioned in a generic protective suit and to ensure that the user is immediately made aware of the switching of the valve unit to the bottle supply position.

This object is achieved by the protective suit with the features of claim 1. In this case, the signal transmitter has a visual display, which is arranged in a hood. This ensures that the user of the suit, regardless of the level of noise prevailing at the workplace and regardless of how much he is distracted, notices the signal without delay.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the optical display is arranged on a viewing window of the hood, whereby the optical signal can be generated in the direct field of view of the user and is thereby immediately perceived by the latter.

It is advantageous if the optical display is held on a frame of the viewing window. The frame allows a simple and stable definition of the optical display.

Advantageously, the optical display is adjustable as a function of a supply pressure, so that in addition to the switching of the valve unit, for example, also be pointed to a decreasing supply pressure in the portable oxygen cylinder or the foreign power unit.

In this case, it is favorable if the optical display provides at least two illumination states in order to be able to signal the user at least two clearly distinguishable operating states. For this purpose, either a light source can be provided by means of which different light states can be generated. Alternatively, however, at least two different lighting means may be provided.

Advantageously, the at least two lighting states have different colors, whereby the user can be displayed in a particularly easy to understand different operating conditions.

Furthermore, it is favorable if the luminous states can be generated by at least one two-color LED, whereby a low power consumption and a long lifetime of the optical display is ensured. As an alternative to such a single LED, which can change the color, at least two LEDs with different colors can also be used.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the optical display on a splash-proof housing, whereby damage to the optical display, for example when cleaning the protective suit can be avoided.

In addition, it is favorable if a supply battery for the optical display is provided on the valve unit. As a result, the supply battery can be integrated particularly well in the rest Atemluftversogrungseinrichtung.

It is advantageous in any case, when the supply battery by means of an on / off switch of the optical display is voltage separable to avoid unnecessary discharge of the supply battery.

Advantageously, a pressure switch is further provided on the valve unit, which is acted upon by a pending at the external air supply pressure supply and by means of which the optical display can be activated. By such a pressure switch, which may be formed, for example, as a membrane pressure switch, a secure activation of the optical display in response to the supply pressure of the external air connection is possible.

In addition, it is favorable if the valve unit has a circumferential seal between the external air connection and the pressure switch, which seals a passage of the valve unit through a material of the protective suit 4. This allows the pressure switch together with the optical display within the Protective suit and sealed against the ambient air of the protective suit can be arranged and operated.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Atemluftversorgungseinrichtung eines erfindungsgemäßen Schutzanzuges,

Figur 2

eine vergrößerte Darstellung einer Ventileinheit gemäß Detail 11 aus Fig. 1,

Figur 3

eine Draufsicht auf eine Rückseite der Ventileinheit in Richtung 111 aus Fig. 2 und

Figur 4

eine vergrößerte Ansicht einer optischen Anzeige gemäß Detail IV aus Fig. 1.

In the figures, an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. Show it:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a breathing air supply device of a protective suit according to the invention,

FIG. 2

an enlarged view of a valve unit according to detail 11 from Fig. 1 .

FIG. 3

a plan view of a rear side of the valve unit in direction 111 from Fig. 2 and

FIG. 4

an enlarged view of an optical display according to detail IV Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 1 shows a breathing air supply device 2 for use with a protective suit 4, in particular a chemical protective suit. The breathing air supply device 2 in this case has an available in a hood 6 of the protective suit 4 available respiratory machine 8, which is connected via a supply hose 10 with a valve unit 12.

The valve unit 12 in this case has a bottle connection 14, which is connected via a bottle connection hose 16 with an oxygen cylinder 18. The oxygen cylinder 18 is dimensioned so that it can be carried in operation, for example by means of a carrying strap by a user (not shown).

Furthermore, the valve unit 12 has an external air connection 20, which can be connected to an external supply unit 24 via an external air connection hose 22, as shown by dash-dotted lines. The external supply unit 24 may be formed for example by a stationary supply line or by a larger reservoir.

Further, a switching valve 26 is provided on the valve unit 12. This is how in Fig. 2 represented by dashed lines, designed as a 3/2-way valve. This connects the supply hose 10 of the regulator 8 in response to a supply pressure applied to the external air connection 20 either in a foreign supply position with the external air connection 20 and thus with the foreign supply unit 24 or, as shown, in a bottle supply position with the bottle connection 14 and thus with the oxygen cylinder 18.

In this case, the switching valve 26 is in the foreign supply position, as long as the external air connection 20, a supply pressure of at least 3 bar is applied. On the other hand, if the supply pressure at the external air connection 20 drops below 3 bar, the changeover valve 26 switches to the bottle supply position.

As in particular from the Fig. 2 and 3 can also be seen, the valve unit 12 also has a pressure switch 28, which is formed for example by a diaphragm pressure switch and is also acted upon by the pending at the external air connection 20 supply pressure.

The pressure switch 28 in this case has the same switching pressure as the switching valve 26 of, for example, 3 bar and is connected via an electrical line 30 to a battery housing 32 housed in a supply battery 34 and an optical display 36 (see Fig. 1 . 2 and 4 ). In addition, an on / off switch 38 is provided on the battery housing 32 (see Fig. 3 ), by means of which the electrical connection between the supply battery 34 and the optical display 36 can be interrupted in order to avoid an unnecessary discharge of the supply battery 34.

How out Fig. 1 and 2 can be seen, the valve unit 12 between the external air connection 20 and the switching valve 26 and the pressure switch 28, a seal D, which seals a passage of the valve unit 12 by a material of the protective suit 4, so that the external air connection 20 at one outside the protective suit 4th is held.

The optical display 36 has, as in Fig. 4 shown by way of example, two light sources 40 in the form of a red and a green LED, so that two different lighting conditions can be displayed. Alternatively, only one LED could be used by means of which different luminous colors can be generated.

The illustrated bulbs 40 are housed in a splash-proof display housing 42. The display housing 42 is in turn held on a frame 44 of a visor 46 of the hood 6.

In the intended use of the protective suit 4, both the oxygen cylinder 18 and the foreign power unit 24 is connected to the valve unit 12. As long as here the Fremdversogungseinheit 24 with a supply pressure of at least 3 bar applied to the external air connection 20, the switching valve 26 is in the foreign supply position and the regulator 8 is supplied exclusively via the foreign supply unit 24 with oxygen.

Sobaid the on / off switch 38 is spent in the "on" position, this switches simultaneously the pressure switch 28, the optical display 36 such that the green light emitting means 40 is activated. Since the optical display 36 is arranged directly on the viewing window 46 and thus in the field of vision of the user, it is clearly signaled to the user that the supply takes place via the external supply unit 24.

However, if the supply pressure falls below a value of 3 bar, for example because the external air connection hose 22 is trapped or the foreign supply unit 24 can no longer supply sufficient supply pressure, then the changeover valve 26 switches over to the bottle supply position. At the same time the optical display 36 is now controlled via the pressure switch 28 so that instead of the green light bulb now the red light emitting means 40 is activated.

The red light source 40 clearly signals to the user that only the limited oxygen supply of the oxygen cylinder 18 is available to him, so that he can remove himself in time from a contaminated environment.

Claims (13)

1. A protective suit (4) having a breathing air supply device (2) which includes a regulator (8) and a valve unit (12) by which the regulator (8) can be supplied with oxygen,
   the valve unit (12) including a bottle connector (14) to which a portable oxygen bottle (18) can be connected,
   an external air supply (20) to which an external supply unit (24) can be connected
   and a selector valve (26) by means of which the valve unit (12) can be switched between a bottle supply setting in which the regulator (8) is connected to the bottle connector (14) and an external supply setting in which the regulator (8) is connected to the external air supply (20),
   and the breathing air supply device (2) being provided with a signalling device by means of which at least one of the supply setting can be signalled,
   characterised in that the signalling device includes an optical display (36) which is arranged in a hood (6).
2. The protective suit of claim 1 wherein the optical display (36) is arranged on a window (46) of the hood (6).
3. The protective suit of claim 2 wherein the optical display (36) is mounted on a frame (44) of the window (46).
4. The protective suit of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the optical display (36) can be activated as a function of the setting of the selector valve (26).
5. The protective suit of any one of claims 1 or 4 wherein the optical display (36) is adjustable as a function of a supply pressure.
6. The protective suit of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the optical display (36) provides at least two light states.
7. The protective suit of claim 6 wherein the at least two light states exhibit different colours.
8. The protective suit of claim 6 or 7 wherein the two light states can be generated by at least one LED.
9. The protective suit of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the optical display (36) includes a housing (42) which is impermeable to splash-water.
10. The protective suit of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein a supply battery (34) for the optical display (36) is provided on the valve unit (12).
11. The protective suit of claim 10 wherein the supply battery (34) can be electrically isolated from the optical display (36) by means of an on/off switch (38).
12. The protective suit of any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein a pressure switch (28) which is subjected to a supply pressure present at the external air supply (20) and which can be activated by way of the optical display (36) is provided on the valve unit (12).
13. The protective suit of claim 12 wherein the valve unit (12) includes between the external air supply (20) and the pressure switch (28) a circumferential seal (D) which seals off a penetration of the valve unit (12) through a material of the protective suit 4.

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