FR2688408A3 - Protective mask - Google Patents

Abstract

This mask for protecting against noxious, polluting or toxic fumes (emanations), and also against fumes of any type, includes an actual mask (1, 2, 4) intended to protect the face of the user and incorporating a zone (5) intended to enable the user to see through the said mask. It has, at least at the level of its front face (3), a plurality of openings (8) communicating with a receptacle (6) for collecting the various types of fumes, incorporated into the said front face (3) and connected to a suction (aspiration) source (9). Application: suction of the fumes generated during welding operations and the like.

Description

PROTECTION MASOUE.

 The invention relates to a protective mask, particularly intended to overcome toxic, harmful and generally polluting fumes, as well as fumes of all kinds and from all origins.

 It relates more specifically but not exclusively to a mask for protection against fumes generated during welding or other operations.

 In this particular application, the fumes generated are harmful, and this harmfulness is increased when these welds are carried out in a closed place, which is the most general case.

 In order to limit this harmfulness, it has been proposed to install extractor hoods, typically consisting of a fan associated with a duct, the hood itself being for example positioned at the end of an articulated arm, capable of being able to deploy to the actual welding site. While these hoods can suck up a significant portion of the fumes thus released, on the other hand, they can only be used in a fixed position, given their very operating system. In this way, they turn out to be completely incompatible with the principle of a mobile station, which for a large number of activities constitutes the majority of welding stations.

 An equivalent principle has then been proposed in which the extractor hood is mounted on a mobile carriage, further comprising an independent smoke suction and filtration device. However, if certainly in this particular case, it is then possible to move the hood according to the place of welding, this device nevertheless proves to be inconvenient in view of the fact that at each movement, the carriage must also be moved, source of loss of time.

 Another solution was then proposed consisting in capturing the fumes directly at the level of the welding torch. This principle consists in adding to the torch proper a pipe opening slightly behind the torch, and connected to a suction source. This principle, if it turns out to be effective for extracting smoke, on the other hand involves handling a torch that is much stiffer, much heavier, and in fact much more difficult to use, and therefore unsatisfactory for the user, especially in the context of precision welding. In addition, this system only works with the arc welding technique. In other words, not all other types of welding can work with this principle. In this way, the scope of such a system is greatly reduced.

 Finally, the extractor hood system, like that of the torch fitted with a suction pipe, is relatively expensive, especially for small structures. So the investment required to equip a welding workshop is generally prohibitive, so that it is generally not undertaken, to the detriment of the health of the users.

 The invention aims to overcome these various drawbacks. It offers a protective mask against harmful fumes in general, polluting or toxic, and also against fumes of all kinds, and in particular those from welding, comprising a system for extracting fumes or fumes directly at its level.

 This mask comprises a mask proper, intended to protect the face of the user, and further comprises, at least at the level of the front face, a plurality of openings, communicating with a receptacle integrated into said front face, and connected to a source of suction.

 In other words, the invention no longer consists in providing any suction system, whether in the form of a hood or directly at the level of the torch or of the welding device, but in directly providing the mask protection required for many applications of such a suction device. In this way, one overcomes the various drawbacks mentioned above.

 According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the lateral faces of the mask also have openings, communicating with said receptacle.

 Advantageously, these openings on the front or anterior or lateral faces are formed by slots, or holes, more or less regularly distributed around the zone intended to allow vision through the mask.

 For certain applications, the mask is provided with a grip handle, positioned at its base, connected to the receptacle for collecting fumes and other emanations, the free end of which is connected to the suction source via a flexible joint reversibly to said handle by a swivel connector.

 In another embodiment, the mask is self-worn by any appropriate means, in particular straps, headband, etc., and is provided with a lateral suction device, communicating with the receptacle for collecting emanations and fumes.

 The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the following exemplary embodiments, given by way of indication but not limitation, in support of the appended figures.

 Figure I is a schematic perspective view viewed from three-quarters rear of a mask according to the invention.

 Figure 2 is a rear plan view of Figure 1.

 FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section along the line ffi-III in FIG. 2.

 FIG. 4 is a cross section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

 Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the operation of a mask applied to the weld according to the invention.

 Figure 6 is a representation of another embodiment of the mask according to the invention.

 FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. 6.

 Although more particularly described in application with the protective masks used in the field of welding, it goes without saying that the invention cannot be limited to this single application.

 There is shown in Figure 1 such a mask with the general reference (I). This perspective view seen from three rear quarters, represents in particular the carcass (2) of the mask, generally produced by injection or thermoforming of PVC or polyester, comprising an anterior face (3), generally planar, and a lateral shell ( 4), defining lateral faces, intended to protect the entire face of the user.

 This mask also comprises a window (5), typically made of glass, or even liquid crystals, and intended to allow the protection of the user against the emission of light, and in general of electromagnetic radiation emitted during of welds.

 In addition and according to the invention, this mask comprises an internal receptacle (6), for example defined by a plate (7) attached against the internal front face of the mask, and communicating with the outside of the front face (3) by louvers (8) regularly distributed around said window (5). Although represented in the figures by slots, these openings could be constituted by circular orifices or any other equivalent system.

 In addition, according to another fundamental characteristic of the invention, this receptacle (6) communicates with a suction source (9) by means of the grip handle (10) of said mask. In fact, this handle (10), traditional in masks for protection against welding fumes and fumes, opens at one of its ends at the receptacle (6), as can be seen in Figure 3, and extends at its other end via a hose (11) and a swivel joint (12) with the suction device (9). In this way, the mask can be freely manipulated, without causing any twisting of the hose (II).

 The suction device typically consists of a filter (13), and of an actual suction system (14), in order to allow the direct evacuation of the fumes sucked into the ambient air after filtration.

 In this way, it is understood that during the welding operations, it suffices to start the suction device (9), so that almost all of the fumes generated during the welding operations are sucked directly at the mask, thus eliminating any emanation and other fumes inhaled by the user. In addition, given the more or less significant proximity of the mask to the actual welding area, proximity which depends on the welding technique used, and on the habits of the user, the latter is systematically protected.

 In addition, in the context of welds carried out with an electric arc, in which, in order to protect the weld pool produced during the actual welding, a mixture of argon / carbon dioxide is injected in known manner. Thus, since we do not suck directly at the weld zone, but at least at a distance of ten to twenty centimeters from it, we do not disturb this shielding gas. In fact, we can increase the power of the suction device, and therefore its efficiency, which is not possible to do with the torch - suction nozzle system.

 In a particular embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, the mask is self-supporting, for example by a headband system (15) and, in this particular embodiment, the receptacle (6) communicates at the lateral carcass (4) with two suction nozzles (16) and (17), for example positioned in the vicinity of the ear. In addition, and in order to avoid any risk of untimely twisting of the hose connecting the mask to the suction device, the mask is provided with two intermediate hoses (18), which converge at a fastening belt (19) surrounded by the user, and at which the flexible pipe (11) itself opens.

 I1 emerges from the invention a great simplicity of operation and implementation, an increase in user safety, and above all greater maneuverability of the instruments used, whose operation requires protection. In addition, since the user no longer has to worry about the fumes or other emanations emitted when handling, he can concentrate more thoroughly on the task he performs. Thus, this mask is perfectly suited both to the welding technique and to laboratory manipulations in which volatile products of high toxicity or harmfulness are used, but also in places where the atmosphere is polluted. In addition, such a device meets the standards of working conditions currently in force. Finally, given its simplicity of construction, its cost is very moderate.

Claims (6)

 1 / Mask for protection against harmful, polluting or toxic fumes, and also against fumes of any kind, comprising a mask proper (1,2,4) intended to protect the face of the user integrating an area (5) intended to allow vision through said mask, characterized in that it has at least at its front face (3) a plurality of openings (8), communicating with a receptacle (6) for collecting fumes and fumes , integrated into said front face (3), and connected to a suction source (9).  2 / protective mask according to claim 1, characterized in that its lateral faces (4) also have openings communicating with said receptacle (6).  3 / protective mask according to claim I, characterized in that the openings (8) of the front face (3) of the mask (1,2) are formed by slots, or holes, more or less regularly distributed around the viewing area (5) of said mask.  4 / Protective mask according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is provided with a grip handle (10), positioned at its base, connected at one of its ends to the receptacle (6), and the other end of which is connected to the suction source (9) by means of a hose (I1) secured reversibly to the said handle (10) by a rotary connector.  5 / protective mask according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is self-supporting by any suitable means (15), and whose receptacle (6) is connected to the source of suction (9 ) by intermediate hoses (18), connected to lateral suction nozzles (16,17) formed at the side walls of said mask, the intermediate hoses (18) joining at the level of the hose (11).  6 / Mask for protection against smoke generated during welding operations, comprising a mask proper (1,2,4) intended to protect the face of the user incorporating a vision window (5), characterized in that it has at its front face (3) a plurality of gills (8), communicating with a receptacle (6) for collecting fumes and smoke, formed inside the mask, and connected to a suction source (9), said gills being regularly distributed around the window (5), and in that it is provided with a grip handle (10), positioned at its base, connected at one of its ends to the receptacle (6), and the other end of which is connected to the suction source (9) by means of a hose (11) secured reversibly to said handle (10) by a rotary connector.