EP3560556A1 - Modular protective clothing for protection against hazardous substances - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular protective suit (1) for protection against harmful substances. The modular protective suit (1) comprises at least two unconnected superimposed clothing layers (10, 20), wherein the outer garment layer (10) is liquid repellent, and the inner garment layer (20) comprises a multilayer laminate arrangement (21) with two cover layers (22) and at least one inner layer (23) arranged therebetween for the removal of harmful substances, wherein the inner layer of clothing (20) is designed to be water vapor and heat permeable.

Description

The invention relates to a modular protective suit for protection against harmful substances.

In the prior art, protective suits with which the respective carriers are to be protected against harmful atomic, biological and / or chemical substances are known. The protective suits are intended to prevent the health-endangering substances from reaching the body of the wearer, regardless of whether the substances are in liquid, gaseous or aerosol form.

In the prior art, essentially two basic design principles are known for corresponding protective suits.

In the one design principle, which, for example, in the DE 195 47 795 A1 is shown, the protective suit comprises a completely impermeable layer. Although with this completely impermeable layer, the harmful substances can be kept away from the wearer, corresponding protective suits have the disadvantage that they hinder the natural regulation of the heat and material balance of the body of the wearer. In order to maintain the operational capability of the wearer, therefore, use is made of filters provided with filters, which provide ventilation of the protective suit and, in particular, removal of body heat and moisture from the wearer. The filters ensure that harmful substances from the environment do not enter the protective suit. A disadvantage of this prior art is that the fan is mandatory and permanently required regardless of the environmental conditions. In particular, blowers, filters and, if necessary, Batteries for the operation of the fan from the wearer of the suit are carried around permanently.

In the other construction principle, eg. According to EP 1 308 186 B1 , The suit has a multi-layer structure in which the individual layers have different functions. In particular, in the firmly associated with a water-repellent but breathable upper fabric lining material of the protective suit, a membrane is incorporated as a barrier against harmful substances. The membrane can be based on cellulose, whereby a variety, but not all harmful substances can be held. The principle also known defense against harmful substances using activated carbon is regularly not used in appropriate protective suits, as the activated carbon is saturated by non-hazardous substances, which ultimately loses its protective effect. The verification of the degree of saturation and / or the regeneration of incorporated in feed activated carbon membranes is - if at all possible - very expensive and costly.

Object of the present invention is to provide a protective suit for protection against harmful substances in which the disadvantages of the prior art no longer occur or only to a lesser extent.

This object is achieved by a protective suit according to the main claim. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a modular protective suit for protection against harmful substances comprising at least two unconnected superimposed layers of clothing, wherein the outer garment layer is liquid-repellent, and the inner garment layer comprises a multi-layer laminate arrangement with two cover layers and at least one inner layer between them for the removal of harmful substances, wherein the inner garment layer is rendered water vapor and heat-permeable.

The protective suit according to the invention is distinguished by its modular construction with at least two clothing layers, the two clothing layers each having different protective functions, but structurally not being connected to one another.

The outer layer of clothing is basically liquid-repellent, in particular water and oil repellent, in order to keep health-hazardous substances in liquid form as far as possible from the inner layer of clothing and the wearer of the protective suit. The outer layer of clothing is preferably breathable, that is permeable to water vapor. Depending on the intended use of the protective suit may optionally be completely impermeable, but due to the modularity of the suit only the outer layer of clothing is to be changed. In general, the outer layer of clothing is upper fabric, which can be designed to be resistant to mechanical stress.

The protection against harmful substances that pass directly through the outer garment layer, for example. Because this is permeable to water vapor or damage such as holes or cracks, or penetrate at possibly exposed edges of the outer layer of clothing between the inner and outer garment layer, is realized via the inner layer of clothing. For this purpose, the inner layer of clothing on a laminate arrangement, can be held with the harmful substances. The laminate arrangement may comprise one or more inner layers, wherein different configurations of the individual inner layers may be configured with regard to the intended use or the expected substances to be held. Thus, an inner layer, for example, be designed on activated carbon base, which is basically permeable, but in which almost all harmful substances are retained as long as through the activated carbon inner layer by adsorption until the activated carbon is saturated. Also, an inner layer based on cellulose is possible, which is only semi-permeable, whereby a large part of known harmful substances can be stopped. A cellulose-based inner layer also provides reliable protection against harmful substances that impact liquid or aerosol on the inner garment layer. By an exemplary combination of an inner layer based on cellulose with an activated carbon inner layer, the respective advantages of both inner layer configurations can be achieved. In this case, a two-layer structure can be realized, or it is created a combined inner layer with activated carbon and cellulose. It is of course also possible, alternatively or additionally, to provide other suitable for the holding of harmful substances inner layers.

If the laminate arrangement has an inner layer which is saturated after a certain time or exhibits a saturation of the adsorption performance, the inner layer can be regenerated by appropriate treatment of only the inner layer of clothing, or it can be replaced by a new inner layer of clothing. In both cases, due to the disconnectedness of the two layers of clothing, the outer Clothing layer remain unchanged and easily with a regenerated or new inner layer of clothing or reused. Since the function of the inner layer of clothing is limited to the holding of substances harmful to health, the inner layer of clothing is comparatively inexpensive to produce, so that even with consuming inner layers a single use of the inner layer of clothing comes into consideration. In order to avoid premature saturation, the inner layer of clothing is preferably vacuum-packed prior to use.

Since the inner layer of clothing is regularly exposed to no special, externally applied mechanical stresses, the inner layer of clothing and in particular the laminate layer limiting top layers can be optimized for comfort. In particular, the cover layers may be textile cover layers, the surface of which may be chosen, for example, with regard to good skin compatibility.

Regardless of the actual configuration of the laminate arrangement, the inner layer of clothing is designed according to the invention water vapor and heat permeable, so that the body physiological thermal balance of the inner layer of clothing is influenced as little as possible. For this purpose, the inner clothing layer preferably has a water vapor transmission resistance of at most 8 m ² · ^Pa / _W , more preferably of at most 6 m ² · ^Pa / _W , particularly preferably of at most 4 m ² · ^Pa / _W. It is also preferred if the thermal resistance of the inner layer of clothing at most 50 × 10 ^{- 3} m ² · ^K / _W, preferably at most 40 × 10 ^-3 m ² · ^K / _W, more preferably at most 30 × 10 ^-3 m ² · ^K / _W is.

In order to ensure a good wearing comfort of the inner layer of clothing, the inner layer of clothing has a maximum thickness of less than or equal to 2 mm, preferably less than or equal to 1.7 mm, preferably less than or equal to 1.4 mm.

In order to reduce transitions in the area of the inner layer of clothing by which possibly harmful substances could reach the skin of the wearer, the inner layer of clothing is preferably equipped with integrated feet, protective shoes, a hood, a tube collar and / or protective gloves. As a result, hands, feet, neck and / or head (with the exception of the visual field) can be protected by the inner layer of clothing.

The inner and / or outer layers of clothing are preferably flame-retardant and / or antistatic.

In particular, if the outer layer of clothing is permeable to water vapor, so that the modular protective suit can be considered to be breathable as a whole, the described outer and inner layers of clothing are often sufficient. In particularly challenging climatic conditions, if due to a specific application, a completely impermeable outer layer of clothing is selected and / or due to heavy physical stress on the wearer, between outer and inner layer of clothing at least partially a distance to the air duct between the two layers of clothing can be arranged. The distance is not connected to any of the adjacent clothing layers, so that they are flexible and, for example, depending on the prevailing climatic conditions and / or the physical stress of the wearer can be provided or omitted. The spacer layer allows an air movement directly above the inner layer of clothing, which promotes the removal of water vapor passing through the inner layer of clothing and thus the temperature regulation of the body of the wearer. An immediate protective function against harmful substances is not required in the distance position and regularly not provided.

In order to further favor the temperature regulation, a suction fan for generating an air flow in the distance position can be provided. With this suction fan convection of air is enforced by the distance position, wherein the suction fan sucks the air in the distance distance, which is then replaced by "new" air. The "new" air can either pass through the outer layer of clothing in the distance position, if this is made breathable, or there are special inflow openings in the outer layer of clothing provided, which may also be provided with liquid and / or dust filters. can be configured. The latter is particularly relevant for protective suits with completely impermeable outer layer of clothing.

The distance layer may in particular be a spacer fabric and / or a spacer fabric. To protect the knitted fabric or the woven fabric, the spacer layer may still have textile cover layers.

The harmful substances may in particular be atomic, biological or chemical pollutants. The protective suit according to the invention may in particular be an ABC protective suit.

Figur 1:

eine schematische Darstellung der einzelnen Komponenten eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen modularen Schutzanzuges; und

Figur 2a, b:

schematische Schnittansichten verschiedener Konfigurationen des modularen Schutzanzuges gemäß Figur 1.

The invention will now be described by way of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a schematic representation of the individual components of a first embodiment of a modular protective suit according to the invention; and

FIG. 2a, b:

schematic sectional views of various configurations of the modular protective suit according to FIG. 1 ,

The in FIG. 1 shown modular protective suit 1 is designed as aviator clothing for a fighter pilot. As a result, the outer garment layer 10 is packaged as a combat pilot suit and has a tough exterior. The outer clothing layer 10 is made of a breathable or water vapor permeable, but otherwise liquid, in particular water and oil repellent material.

The protective suit 1 further comprises an inner, water vapor and heat-permeable clothing layer 20, whose construction is described below in connection with FIG FIG. 2 will be explained. The inner garment layer 20 comprises a pair of trousers 24, a top 25 with tube collars 26, boots 27 and gloves 28. The individual components of the inner garment layer 20 are designed to overlap each other when worn at the points of transition to prevent ingress to avoid substances harmful to health by interspaces. The tube collar serves as a transition to the helmet 40, which also in the transition between protective suit 1 and helmet 40 penetration of harmful substances can be prevented.

Optionally, between the inner layer of clothing 20 and the outer layer of clothing 10, a spacer layer 30 can be arranged which, as in FIG FIG. 1 shown - may be designed as a so-called. Shorty, so in particular does not extend over the arms and the entire length of the legs of the designed as coveralls inside layer of clothing 20. At the distance position 30, whose exact structure is still based FIG. 2a will be explained, a suction fan 31 is provided with the air contained in the spacer layer 30 can be sucked out.

To put on the protective suit 1, a pilot first of all puts on the components 24-28 of the inner clothing layer 20, it being irrelevant whether he is still wearing additional underwear or if the inner clothing layer 20 is intended to serve as underwear. Subsequently, he can optionally overlay the distance layer 30, before he puts on the actual combat suit as an outer clothing layer 10. Finally, the pilot puts on helmet 40, overgloves and boots. The helmet 40 is equipped with suitable protection against harmful substances. For the boots and overgloves, it is sufficient if they are liquid repellent - the protection against harmful substances in the area of the feet and hands is ensured by the booties 27 and gloves 28 of the inner layer of clothing 20.

In FIG. 2 are exemplary cross sections through the modular protective suit 1 according to FIG. 1 shown in the applied state, where FIG. 2a the protective suit 1 with applied distance position 30, FIG. 2b the protective suit 1 without a distance position 30 shows. In FIG. 2 the individual clothing layers 10, 20, 30 are also shown spaced apart to provide the invention to clarify structural disconnectedness among each other. In the real case, the clothing layers 10, 20, 30 are of course directly on top of each other.

The outer garment layer 10 consists - as already stated - made of breathable, liquid-repellent material.

The inner garment layer 20 comprises a laminate arrangement 21 23 with two textile cover layers 22 made of cotton and / or synthetic fiber and an inner layer 23 arranged therebetween. The inner layer 23 comprises activated carbon, which offers protection from harmful substances due to its adsorption effect. The laminate assembly 21 is breathable, so that the inner garment layer 20 has a water vapor permeability of 4 m ² · ^Pa / _W. The thermal resistance of the inner layer of clothing is 30 · 10 ^-3 m ² · ^K / _W , the total thickness of which is 1.4 mm. Due to the activated carbon in the laminate assembly 21, the inner layer of clothing 20 is intended for single use and must be replaced after a predetermined wearing time.

The only optionally provided distance layer 30 (see. FIG. 2a ) comprises a spacer fabric 32, which is arranged between two air-permeable textile cover layers 33. Due to the spacer fabric 32, the air between the outer and the inner layer of clothing 10, 20 can also move in the direction parallel to the layers 10, 20, so as to. Via the fan 31 (see. FIG. 1 ) to be sucked out. Air may then flow through the breathable outer garment layer 10.

All layers - both the inner and the outer layers of clothing 10, 20, as well as the distance layer 20 - are designed antistatic and flame retardant, which can be achieved by appropriate choice of materials.

Claims (11)

A modular protective suit (1) for protection against harmful substances comprising at least two uncoated garment layers (10, 20), the outer garment layer (10) being liquid repellent, and the inner garment layer (20) comprising a multilayer laminate assembly (21) comprising two Cover layers (22) and at least one inner layer (23) arranged therebetween for the removal of harmful substances, wherein the inner layer of clothing (20) is designed to be water vapor and heat permeable. Protective suit according to claim 1,
characterized in that
between outer and inner layer of clothing (10, 20) at least partially a Distanzlange (30) for air guidance between the two clothing layers (10, 20) is arranged, wherein the Distanzlange (30) with none of the adjacent clothing layers (10, 20) is. Protective suit according to claim 2,
characterized in that
a suction fan (31) for generating an air flow in the distance layer (30) is provided. Protective suit according to claim 2 or 3,
characterized in that
the spacer layers (30) comprise a spacer fabric (32) and / or a spacer fabric. Protective suit according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the laminate arrangement (21) of the inner garment layer (20) comprises one or more inner layers based on activated carbon and / or cellulose. Protective suit according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the cover layers (22) of the inner garment layer (20) are textile cover layers (24). Protective suit according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the inner garment layer (20) has a water vapor permeability of at most 8 m ² · ^Pa / _W , preferably at most 6 m ² · ^Pa / _W , more preferably at most 4 m ² · ^Pa / _W. Protective suit according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the thermal resistance (20) of the inner garment layer is at most 50 · 10 ^-3 m ² · ^K / _W , preferably at most 40 · 10 ^-3 m ² · ^K / _W , more preferably at most 30 · 10 ^-3 m ² · ^K / _W is. Protective suit according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the inner garment layer (20) has a maximum thickness of less than or equal to 2 mm, preferably less than or equal to 1.7 mm, preferably less than or equal to 1.4 mm. Protective suit according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the inner garment layer (20) comprises boots (27), protective shoes, gloves (28), a tube collar (26) and / or a hood. Protective suit according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the inner and / or outer layer of clothing (10, 20) is flame retardant and / or antistatic.

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