FR2865655A1 - Adsorption filters processing, storing and controlling station, for respiratory protection, has gaseous fluid processing source connected to processing stations, which receive fluid to allow reverse-flow regeneration of filters - Google Patents

Abstract

The station has cabinets (40a, 40b) accessible via access doors (46). The cabinet (40a) has a set of processing stations (44a, 44b, 45a, 45b) that connects filters (2a, 2b) to be processed. A gaseous fluid processing source (43) is connected to the processing stations. The gaseous fluid is distributed to processing stations for allowing back-sweeping of the filters. A separate enclosure within the station houses electronic units, including a computer running programs necessary for controlling the system. An independent claim is also included for a method for processing, storing and controlling adsorption filters.

Description

Process and treatment station, parking, filter management at

  adsorption and their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation, or free.

  FIELD OF THE INVENTION: The method and the regeneration treatment, parking, and adsorption filter management device, associated with ventilator-assisted or free-breathing respiratory protection devices, which are the subject of the present invention, are applicable in all fields. respiratory protection requiring a very high level of control of the use and management of such filters and devices, for the preservation of the health of people against any aggression of substances for which there are such filters. These areas are all those where the ambient air carries molecules or dangerous substances such as: industries manufacturing or using or using such molecules or substances, whether these industries are in a normal or degraded mode of operation or in a situation crisis. Such a method implemented on such a device allows the multiple use of such filters in safe conditions, the continuous and controlled evaluation of such uses of filters and preferably respirators, assisted or not, with which they are associated, a significant economy of means and a better efficiency, compared to any other more classical comparable solution.

  PRIOR ART Respiratory protection devices (APR) based on the use of adsorption filters are commonly used against the risks associated with chemical substances.

  The effectiveness of the adsorption filters used varies according to many parameters, the main generally accepted are known to those skilled in the art, including: the nature of the substances encountered and their physico-chemical properties, the nature of the adsorbent used: specific surface or microporous volume, pore diameter, acidity or basicity, behavior with respect to water vapor, humidity and air temperature, the risk of interference between substances that may to be at the origin of selective adsorption and desorption phenomena, the case of water vapor is a particular example.

  This multiplicity of parameters, the multiplicity of exposure situations or possible applications in the field make it difficult to use and control such adsorption filters in the respiratory protection.

  The guarantees offered by such filters have however progressed through the implementation by manufacturers of standardized tests. These tests are used to indicate the general uses of these filters and their compliance with minimum performance and efficiency requirements. However, these tests are performed under specific conditions, most often far removed from the reality of exposure situations or operating conditions encountered in the field.

  This way of operating the adsorption filters has many drawbacks all of which juxtapose, as a precautionary principle asserted: manufacturers introduce safety factors into their recommendations, security managers, faced with their responsibility, hesitate to prescribe them for respiratory protection in situations of exposure or work, the users use them anyway and at best throw them after a single use, but is it really the best? Or at worst after a time of variable use rarely mastered.

  Some reference organizations, for example the INRS in France, have analyzed and laid down the limits of the respiratory protection based on the use of filters, but have, under way or planned, the realization of various studies with the aim of improving knowledge of the behavior and performance of the filters, especially in real exposure situations. It is indeed very common in industrial chemical processes to be confronted with a risk of exposure to mixtures of substances, which by their nature are variable, the effects of which are not taken into account in standardized tests. Such studies and their conclusions will certainly improve the practical knowledge of the adsorption filter behavior using adsorbents, which are known and currently applied in fields such as industrial gas purification, gas sampling, and the like. pollutant analysis.

  Such studies, certainly comparable to those carried out on the basis of the present invention and described later, will not paradoxically simplify the implementation of such filters for a prescriber. A better knowledge of the complexity of the cases to be treated, associated with an increasingly asserted precautionary principle, will also not lead to an operational facilitation of the use of such filters in the respiratory protection, which facilitates is one of the objectives of the present invention.

  The current state of the art, according to the recommendations of the suppliers and the standards, indicates that in the cases of multiple use and outside the periods of use the filters must be stored protected from any pollution. Most often this storage is carried out in a sealed container or with shutter means of such filters. Such storage recommendations assume the respect of a principle of conservation and stability of the substances absorbed on such filters. In fact, experience shows the opposite and such conditions are never fully respected, only the filters fixing the substances by an appropriate and irreversible chemical reaction will behave satisfactorily to such conditions. For all other types of filter, the existence of physical equilibrium between the substances adsorbed on the support and the gas phase above such a support, associated with the presence of unsaturated adsorbent sites in the vicinity, make more or less less quickly the substances will diffuse throughout the mass of such a support, even without any sweeping. This phenomenon will be all the more important and marked that the substances or mixtures of substances will have a low boiling point. Thus, even being very far from the capacity limit of a filter and after a certain storage time, substances will be present at the outlet of such a filter and inhaled from the following use, by a single user or a different user. This behavior is at the origin of the single-use recommendation of AX type filters recommended for low-boiling substances, although paradoxically these filters are more efficient, by the nature and the quantity of the adsorbent used. .

  There is now a solution to such a problem and a means for safely and fully controlled use of such adsorption filters with specially designed ventilated respiratory protection devices (APRVAs), particularly in complex exposure cases. as mentioned above, of which a typical example is described below in FIG. 1, or when a preliminary evaluation of the exposure or work situations can not be made, or when the preliminary test of such filters in situations of simulated exposure can not be achieved on a test bench (fig.2).

  In the current state of the art and current common usage practices, millions of filters are consumed annually around the world and are considered after use as special industrial waste that must be destroyed, most often by simple incineration, or recycled with recovery and media processing. It is furthermore probable that in a large number of cases the destroyed filters are not worn out or very far from having reached their adsorption capacity limit and could still be used without the disadvantages described and demonstrated below in the figure. 1. Such use practices also have a negative environmental and economic record. Each year, thousands of tonnes of different plant species are taken from the wild and turned into activated carbon after at least one heat treatment of controlled combustion necessarily generating carbon dioxide emissions, each year thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide are emitted to the environment. atmosphere by the incineration of such treated filters as waste. In addition to the environmental aspects, the economic aspect is to be considered because the cost of recovery of such filters is even higher in the case of recycling with reprocessing of the support, after separation of the filter housings and disposal of the latter as waste.

  In the current state of the art and current common use practices the problems posed by the use, control, control, management of such filters and their intermediate storage outside their uses, that of the Verification of the proper use of such filters and advantageously devices to which they are associated, that of the life cycle of such filters and the environmental and economic impacts related to their use and their destruction as special waste, remain relevant.

  In the present state of the art known of the respiratory protection, there is no method and device that properly performs a treatment or conditioning of the adsorption filters during their period of non-use in order to guarantee the total absence of substance at the exit of such filters as and when they are used repeatedly until reaching an optimum limit of time of use, predetermined or observed in use, requiring replacement.

  Regarding the necessary prior identification (ID) function of such filters, or of any other object in general, many documents and patents describe methods or devices implementing contactless RF-ID technology and the implementation of labels as identifier (ID) of all kinds of objects, for example: Document FR 2 817 684 deals with a complex case of simultaneous identification of numerous objects very close together and arranged in the same zone, by a combination of activatable antennas arranged according to a matrix, they themselves located inside a large antenna, all associated with a particular computer processing.

  The document FR 2 797 124 deals with a different case of the identification of a single object, but which can be presented in different ways on a drum transfer system, by an array of alternately activated antennas and at a fast scanning speed, according to a device and an appropriate algorithm The document FR2812429 deals with a particular case of identification of a gas cylinder by means of an electronic label disposed on the bottle. This label is read by a device combining several antennas coupled and arranged in different ways on a fixed support, adapted to the storage function of these bottles. The purpose is to record on these labels the data essentially necessary for the commercial and regulatory management of bottles, in conjunction with a database-type computer application.

  In general, proposed devices as in the aforementioned documents are intended to solve complex cases, due in large part to the degree of freedom that can present the provision of an ID tag on all kinds of objects in relation to means fixed reading, or due to the simultaneous presence of many objects in the sensitivity zone of the same reading means.

  Some documents deal with the case of identification by various means of personal protective equipment (PPE) essentially for the purpose of regulatory management of such PPE. Document FR 2 801 998 deals with the case of identification of PPE by physical integration of PPE. an electronic chip in the material for the manufacture of PPE, the purpose is essentially the writing of information on these chips with the objective of administrative and regulatory management of such objects. This management implements an appropriate reader connected directly to a PC, on which a database is located.

  The document DE19916476 deals with a comparable case of integrating tracking memories incorporated in each component component of a respiratory protection. The integration of such memories is achieved by physical incorporation into the material for the manufacture of the components of such APR. According to the inventors, these memories are intended to provide administrative and / or regulatory management of the equipment, control of the adequacy of materials for their use and between them. Such memories are read and used during the access control of these devices in a use area, through an access gantry comprising means for reading such memories. Such a device could be used to count the time of presence of an APR in a risk zone, assimilate it to the time of use, compare it to a total time of authorized use and refuse a new access to such an area risk if such a time limit is exceeded. However, such a device has several disadvantages for these controls, in particular: it does not take into account the variations in composition and concentration of substances likely to be encountered having a direct effect on the decrease in the duration of use of the filters, it does not take into account the actual dynamic behavior specific to each substance on such filters which can further reduce such a duration, it does not solve or does not improve the problem posed concerning the storage of the filters, between each use, in the case of multiple use, with the aforementioned disadvantages.

  There is therefore a significant need in all the aforementioned fields to be able to fully utilize adsorption filters in respiratory protection, which are effective, particularly adapted to the reality of situations encountered in industrial hygiene and easier to use.

  It is also necessary for any manager, beyond his obligation of means, to show that the protections available to his staff are effective, controlled and under control, and that this effectiveness is translated into results.

  There is, as a corollary and in addition, the need for any responsible employer to set up the organizations necessary to enforce the effective wearing of the means of respiratory protection that he makes available to his staff.

  There is, moreover, a corollary, an important need for any responsible employer able to easily control and control the management of these means of respiratory protection and their uses.

  There is, as a corollary, the need for any responsible employer to prove that the processes and organizations that it sets up are regularly evaluated, remain under control and are corrected.

  There is, as a corollary, the concern of any responsible and citizen organization to best manage natural resources and to limit the impact of its activities on the environment.

Description of the invention

  The object of the present invention is to overcome the majority of the aforementioned drawbacks.

  Any proposed solution necessarily requires an exact knowledge of the behavior of substances on such filters. This knowledge largely refers to the adsorption phenomena known in the art, but must however be experimentally verified under real dynamic conditions, or simulated, given the multiplicity and complexity of cases encountered in respiratory protection; the typical example of real experimental verification described hereinafter in Figure 1 is generalizable to many complex cases.

  A method is proposed to acquire this experimental knowledge on a test bench, by a simulation of exposure situations faithfully cross-referencing real situations, allowing the study of the mode of operation of such filters and its consequences. Such a method implemented on such a test bench is described below in FIG. 2.

  The subject of the present invention is a method implemented in an inseparable manner with a device, which will be referred to as "Station" in the remainder of the present description, carrying out: processing operations, 2865655 -s parking adsorption filters, management of their provision with respiratory protection devices to which they are associated, preferably APRVA type, or APRVL, allowing full control of the treatment of such adsorption filters preferentially, or filters in general , the total control of their access and their uses, advantageously the control of the means of respiratory protection with assisted or free ventilation using such filters, the management of the self-service use of the means of protection thus made available, the management the effective wearing of the means of protection thus made available, characterized in that it is controlled by computer means and computer programs comprising such functions of management, control and supervision of such a method and device.

  According to the method of the invention, the filters are subjected to an inverse or backscan sweeping by a flow of gaseous treatment fluid circulating counter-current of the normal direction of circulation of the air inhaled, during use. protective devices.

  In the present description, the described example of a preferred embodiment of a station according to the invention comprises all the means or devices for the classification of such a station for use in areas with a risk of presence. possible inflammable or explosive substances.

  In the present invention, such a treatment method applied to the adsorption filters during their period of non-use and parking on such a station, allows them to be maintained under optimal conditions of efficiency and made available in safe conditions.

  In the present invention, the filter processing method implemented on such a station as well as the control of access to such filters and associated respiratory protection devices, use the same unambiguous identification means (ID) of each filter and apparatus, of each user or prescriber, for example a label comprising such identification means incorporated in its manufacture and using RF-ID technology, in principle known to those skilled in the art. Such an identifier (ID) is of common use and has been advantageously used to illustrate the principle of the method. Such a label unequivocally coded for its manufacture does not need to be programmed or modified for the sole identification function, even though it includes a rewritable memory zone which offers little interest in the case of filters which are by nature perishable objects. Such a label is simply read by appropriate reading means provided with and its identification code recorded in the method and device object of the present invention. Such labels are, in the state of the art, consumables commonly used in many applications for identification or traceability functions.

  Such a label is simply contiguous to a particular place of the filters before they are made available on such a station, whatever the type or the form of the filter, without it being necessary to modify the manufacture of such filters, so that they are recorded on the same station and associated with each other for their uses, for example paired in an example of preferred embodiment described, and that the treatment of the filter association thus constituted can be controlled and managed on the same station of a station. Such a label belongs to the process and device of the present invention and forms an integral part thereof, such a label can be reused after assigning its ID to a new filter in a database, in this case the data of a preceding Filter related to this ID, filter necessarily removed to be offered for destruction, no longer useful and are erased, or archived, in the databases. Such an identifier (ID) could be integrated into the manufacture of the filters as has been proposed for example in certain documents of the prior art, but in a captive manner to a proposed solution. For this integration to be advantageously applicable in the method of the present invention, all the manufacturers should adopt standards of identification and construction of filters common to their entire profession, allowing the reading of such an ID by a method and a unique means which could then be substituted for that adopted in the present invention. The necessarily standardized integration of such an identifier (ID) with the construction of such filters would not constitute a modification or an improvement of the method, in which the function ID in principle is part of the state of the art.

  The treatment process consists of an inverse scan called back-flushing of the filter by a flow of treatment gas, preferably nitrogen from the distillation of air because this nitrogen contains neither water nor chemical substance. This gas is generally available on a network at most major industrial sites. This treatment gas sweep is carried out at a determined flow rate, at atmospheric pressure and at room temperature or advantageously at a higher temperature obtained by a suitable preheating means.

  Otherwise, the nitrogen can be replaced by compressed air generally available in a network at industrial sites and dried by an appropriate means, for example alumina which is the most commonly used industrial solution. This dried air, however, still contains a little moisture and must be usefully preheated. In all cases, nitrogen or air, such preheating significantly accelerates the backscattering adsorbed substances. Such preheating can be achieved by any suitable means, for example electric or by any other means producing the same effect. This preheating must be temperature limited and controlled to avoid excessive thermal expansion that would have a negative effect on the settling of the adsorbent, creating preferred gas flow paths. In the case of the use of dried air as process gas, this preheating is also intended to displace the equilibrium: residual water vapor after drying I adsorbent, it avoids or reduces the risk of gradual accumulation of water on the adsorbent and maintain optimal filter efficiency over the maximum period of availability. This air must necessarily be taken from a non-polluted area, which may present some difficulties in an industrial environment. In all cases of use of air, it is useful to control its quality by adding a detector (s) of substances, or any other equivalent means, to prevent accidental pollution filters.

  This detection may be performed by a device (s) independent (s) or integrated (s) to a Station, without this constitutes a modification or an improvement of the present invention. This detection can be treated as an internal or external data on a station, as appropriate, and must usefully stop the flow of treatment air to prevent pollution filters. The use of air instead of nitrogen involves additional checks and precautions which are known to those skilled in the art and are not described in the present description. The above-mentioned risks related to the use of air are certainly at the origin of a prohibition of any regeneration treatment by air appearing in most of the instructions of the manufacturers of adsorption filters. The objective reasons for such a ban are technically questionable in view of the scientific reality but are certainly based on the operational impossibility in the current state of the art to properly control such a regeneration treatment of such filters, regeneration however commonly practiced in industrial processes using the same type of adsorbent for the purification or the treatment of gases, object of many publications, in which the phase of purification by adsorption is generally done around the ambient temperature or as low as possible and at a pressure that is generally as high as possible, and in which the desorption regeneration phase is generally carried out at a much higher temperature and a lower pressure, ideally atmospheric pressure, by a co-current or advantageously countercurrent sweeping . This regeneration involves most often a first phase of treatment with water vapor which performs a dual function: sweep gas and heat transfer gas, followed by a second phase of sweeping and cooling with air.

  In the process according to the invention such a treatment comprises two different and complementary phases implemented on a station designed and constructed to behave in such a way: the first is an active phase during which a large flow of a gaseous fluid, preferably Nitrogen, or, failing that, air, is sent to the filter for a predetermined time, against the flow of the normal direction of use to back-sweep the absorbed substances during the period of use in respiratory protection ; such a first phase is carried out under the conditions of normal atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature or, more advantageously, at a higher temperature obtained by a controlled and limited preheating of nitrogen, or scavenging air, between ambient temperature and 80 C or according to the structure of the filter body 100 C, so as not to cause a settling of the absorbent may cause a decrease in its performance; - 12 - the second phase maintains, after the first and always against the current, a slight flow of nitrogen, or air, until a new use of the filter; such a second phase is carried out at atmospheric pressure and at room temperature.

  Such a second phase maintaining such a small permanent flow rate fulfills at least three objectives: o to avoid the phenomena of migration / diffusion of traces of residual substances towards the outlet of the filter during their period of non-use, a phenomenon encountered in a conventional conservation with sealing or storage in sealed packaging, as will be demonstrated in the example of fig.1 below, o ensure storage of the filter without any risk of adsorption of substances from the outside atmosphere, o allow control the setting or the optional reset of a means for measuring the concentration of substances on the air at the outlet of such filters before each use and immediately after the putting into service or putting back into service of such filters thus treated, on a respirator preferably with assisted ventilation (APRVA), or free (APRVL), which would be equipped with such a means of measurement, or any other means of measuring substance independent of a respirator.

  The method uses the identification (ID) of each filter, preferably of each APRVA or APRVL, ID read by a reader of the networked device, the date of commissioning or the first pass on a station for their registration, or each return to a Station for: verification of belonging to a concerned Station, treatment, management of this treatment and usage management. This verification determines the acceptance or rejection of the filters, advantageously APRVA or APRVL, on a Station, whatever the reason: limit use period exceeded, filter pairing not respected with destruction request, unauthorized use on the Station, or any other function useful to the control of such Station.

  In the case of the exemplary preferred embodiment described and for APRVAs equipped with two filters, these two filters are definitively associated with the first pass or record on a station, their processing and management will be performed, in parallel in this case. at each exit or return to a Station where they are authorized and at the same treatment station.

  In such a method, each user authorized to wear these respiratory protections, or to prescribe the port, has the same personal identification means (ID). This means may be that specific to the method and device and be superimposed on another used in a pre-existing organization, or be that of the pre-existing organization after adaptation as an identification means (ID) to the device of the present invention. Users or prescribers are identified and registered in the process by a designated area manager, from an RF-ID reader of the same type as that implanted on a station, attached to a computer workstation accessible to the manager.

  The treatment gas flow rates on the adsorption filters are controlled by a time delay preset specifically for each station or for each station of the same station, depending on its zone of implantation, the type of filters used (ID), substances concerned and advantageously conditions of use known in the field. Such a delay could be adapted to the actual use time of such filters, assimilated by default to the time during which such a filter has been out of the station, for example as a measure of economy of the treatment gas in the case of 'Nitrogen.

  The present invention also comprises computer means for compiling information, data, reports from each station, each filter, advantageously each APRVA or APRVL and each user or prescriber, transmitted through a communication interface by an internal network to a company. , to be compiled and processed continuously by computer programs located on a server of the method and the device thus constituted.

  The present invention enables a permanent audit and evaluation of the use of the filters. It also allows continuous audit and evaluation: the effective wearing of respiratory protection by identified carriers in the process, from the effective prescription of the wearing of these protections, to occasional carriers, by contractors identified in the process .

  The present invention therefore makes it possible to supervise and keep under control, the treatment, the provision of the adsorption filters, advantageously of each APRVA or APRVL, by the computer processing of information and data from each station, providing functions permanent audit and evaluation of the organization and efficiency of the process and the device thus constituted.

  For example it is possible to check, through the provision of computer reports, the effective use of filters, preferably and preferably APRVA, or APRVL, (dates of use, number of uses, duration of use , duration of processing, name of users, uses in progress, etc.) and the effective wearing of protections by operators deemed to have to use them, or the effective provision by contractors deemed to have to prescribe them and have them carried .

  In all cases, the identification of the users is requested by the method to access the station with controlled opening of the doors conditioned to this identification. The data related to the output and return of the filters, advantageously and preferably APRVA, or APRVL, on the station are stored in the method and the computer means for the individual assignment of the duration of the port of the protection, by default and by motivating measure, to the user who will have returned the filters and the APRVA, or APRVL. Any abnormal access, for example manual opening always possible of the doors without identification, is interpreted as a defect in the access procedure which is at least transmitted to the person in charge of the zone concerned.

  The present invention thus allows, in self-service, the organization and the use under control of these protections by operators or ordering prescribers, in a perimeter where the risks are known or have been evaluated.

  The present invention allows to reuse a large number of times the same filter retaining all its effectiveness. It also reduces the number of filters consumed and saves the natural resources taken to produce such filters, the number of filters to destroy or recycle with a reduction in environmental impacts directly in proportion to such a decrease. This reduction in environmental impacts is of a constant incidence with regard to the quantity of substances emitted to the atmosphere, the treatment process only restoring to the atmosphere the quantity adsorbed on the filter which would have been emitted anyway without the use of a filter. The factor for reducing the environmental impact on this aspect is originally in the situation encountered during the use of the protection and not on the treatment of the filters. Only a treatment gas, nitrogen preferentially, or air, is consumed for this treatment with a consumable cost that remains lower in all cases at the cost of purchasing a filter and a global cost The invention will be better understood with the aid of the appended figures making it possible to understand the fundamentals and operating principles, descriptions relating to a currently preferred embodiment of the invention. some examples of possible variants. The proposed method is implemented in an interdependent manner and inseparable from a computerized and controlled device, called Station in the present invention. On all the descriptions or figures, the functionally or physically identical parts have the same root and / or the same identification number. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the presently preferred embodiment and the material means described or shown, nor to the number of filters that would be treated with a comparable method implemented on a comparable device.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an example of APRVA of the state of the art modified by the addition of two recording detectors in tests of efficiency and actual behavior of the filters to show the limits of the control of such filters. in the state of art and current uses.

  Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a bench for tests in simulated exposure situations made from pure substances, and its main parts.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of resolution curves of the substance concerned in the test described in FIG. 2 on such a test bench in simulated situations, for average concentrations between 2 and 20 times the mean value of exposure (VME) Figure 4 shows an example of recording the backscanning treatment of a filter after simulated or normal use.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a closed station and its main external parts. FIG. 6 represents an open door station and shows the access to the compartments of the filters and the APRVAs preferentially, or APRVL (figure of the abstract). FIG. Treatment and parking stations located in different risk zones showing the hardware and general IT architecture, the server part implementing such a method, computer stations of zone administrators.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic and technical view allowing the description of the method, the understanding of the operation of such a processing and parking station and its links with the computer means implanted on a networked server implementing such a method .

  FIG. 9 shows the detail of the leak detector seal, clamping force limiter, presence detector and trigger for reading the ID, of a filter.

  FIG. 10 is a view of a screen showing the operating states of a station displayed in supervision mode in the method, from any computer of the authorized network.

  Fig. 11 is a view of a screen showing the management functions in the method of the state of the filters in a given usage area from any computer of the enabled network.

  FIG. 12 is a view of a screen showing the recording functions in the method of a filter type to allow its use in a given zone (s), from any computer enabled network.

  FIG. 13 is a view of a screen showing the setting of the conditions and the limits of use of the filters in the method for a given use area, from any authorized computer of the network.

  FIG. 14 is a view of an administrator mode screen showing the administration functionalities in the method of rights and access to the different functionalities and different areas of implementation of Stations, from any authorized computer of the network.

  The following abbreviations are used in the remainder of the description for the sake of brevity: VME: Average exposure value, regulated or recommended, not to be exceeded in average value for a period of eight hours of work per day and for five days a week.

  TLV: Exposure Limit Value, regulated or recommended, not to be exceeded in average value for a period of 15 minutes, and a limited number of times generally between 3 to 5 times for an 8 hour workstation.

  ppm: part per million parts by volume, generally corresponds to cm3 of gaseous substance per m3 of air.

  APR: respirator in general, except APRVL insulating breathing apparatus: self-ventilating respirator using APRVA filters: ventilator with assisted ventilation using filters Adsorption: precisely relates to reversible physical balance phenomena { adsorption c desorption} related to entrapment of substances on a porous adsorbent support. By extension and trivialization of the use of this term in the respiratory protection, it can also include cases where a substance, after being adsorbed (generally fast step) is complementarily fixed by an appropriate chemical reaction (generally slower step). In the latter case, there is no reversible equilibrium. The adsorption capacity determined in the standardized tests correctly defines all the uses of such so-called chemical filters. In this case, and in this case only, the rule of proportionality between the time of use and the concentration, from the data indicated in the standards and the actual conditions of use can be applied relatively satisfactorily.

  ID: HSE Identifier: Hygiene Safety Environment.

  RF-ID: Radio Frequency IDentification.

  A2: recommended filter for adsorption of substances with a high boiling point (A), greater than 65 c AXP3: recommended filter for adsorption of low boilers (AX), less than 65 c, supplemented by dust filtration (P3).

  PPE: personal protective equipment in general Figure 1 describes one of the real examples tested which is sufficient to illustrate a complex problem and shows the limits of the control of such filters in the current state of the art. A state-of-the-art APRVA (1) equipped with two adsorption filters AXP3 (2) has been worn for about fifty minutes on a situation known to expose a mixture of substances of which a small fraction have dots. boilers which classify them in the group with low boiling point <65 C. In such a case, the filter AX would impose itself, but on the one hand such a filter does not always benefit from an approval of the supplier for use with an APRVA, and the instructions and standards recommend that such a filter should not be used simultaneously or alternatively with low-boilers and high-boilers. The efficiency concerns nevertheless lead a cautious prescriber to resort under his own responsibility to the use of this filter because it is precisely more efficient: the volume of adsorbent is greater, the specific surface of the adsorbent is more important, so the absorption capacity of such a filter is in all cases larger than that of a type A2 filter which should be normally used; such an AX filter will provide in such a situation better protection, however still difficult to control on the issue of its duration of use in complex cases of mixtures of substances.

  The instantaneous and average concentrations of total substances were measured continuously on such an APRVA (1) modified by adding two recording detectors, as shown in fig.1. The average ambient concentration of total substance measured (15b) over the period under consideration was about 300 ppm by volume. The concentration on the air at the outlet of the filters (7), (8) was measured by a first continuous method with a aforementioned detector (15a) connected (8.1) to a gas circulation cell (17), intersected by a second method with a conventional activated carbon tube sampling device (22.5) placed inside the user-worn facepiece (22) connected to a volumetric gas sampling pump (22.6). This second measure also taking into account the leak towards the inside of the used facepiece. These two methods showed that no trace of substance (<0.1 ppm) had emerged from the filters until the end of the operation and the stopping of such an APRVA after leaving the zone. exposure.

  The filters (2) were stored, voluntarily without being obstructed, for two days and outside any possible source of pollution. When these filters were put back into service on such a modified APRVA, the output concentration of the filters was immediately raised between 5 and 7 ppm and stabilized. It should be noted that if the filters had been sealed according to the recommendations, the situation would not have been less critical, on the contrary. Similarly, if A2 filters had been used, depending on the use and because of the high proportion of high-boilers, this would not have improved the situation, on the contrary; because of their lower efficiency, the risk of faster release of the lighter substances during the same use would have been greater and internal migration during the period of no use certainly faster and more important, the constants d balance being lower between a support type A2 and the same substances. In addition to such filters A2, which would have been used only 50 minutes, not being prohibited from multiple uses, could have been reused in the state of the situation described above with certain exposure to substances from the second use, even during the first use if it had lasted longer.

  Thus it would be necessary in a large number of cases of the state of the art, not only to limit the time of use of such filters to the behavior of the lightest substances, it would be necessary to know or know how to predict or measure exactly such behavior in reality, especially in complex cases like the example described above, but in addition to destroying the filters after a single use in a large number of comparable complex cases, for lack of possible control of multiple uses.

  Arguments are thus provided through this single example showing that nothing is properly controlled, or easily controlled in the current state of the art for the management of such filters, in general or particularly in such circumstances, certainly common in the industry, at least by the complexity of the example described in the absence of being by the level of concentration of substances encountered.

  Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a test bench (30) of such filters, created for this purpose in the laboratory to perform tests on any substance injected in pure form or in the form of mixtures on such a bench , with any type of protective device used, provided that the air flow during the tests is comparable to the average flow rate of the protection that will be used, such a bench comprises at least one or more of the following devices: an air drying installation (not shown in Fig. 2) an air flow control device (31), set according to the average flow rate in actual use of the filters an air humidifying device ( 32) having a water capacity, agitated by appropriate means (37) and reheated by appropriate means (38), to recreate by continuous vaporization, if necessary, moisture conditions comparable to those encountered in actual exposure situations . This humidifier makes it possible to test, by simple comparison between, with and without, the effect of this humidity on the efficiency of the filters used a buffer capacity (34) of a known volume of gas stirred by a suitable means (37), by for example about 30 liters corresponding to the volume of air inhaled for about a minute by a person making a normal effort. A recording detector may be introduced or connected (36) for instantaneous concentration measurements at the filter inlet.

  devices (33) for introducing known quantities of pure substances, gaseous or liquid, separately or in the form of mixtures in such a capacity, comprising a bypass system (33.1).

  a device (35) for connecting the filter to be tested in the normal direction of use (35.1) or in the backscatter direction (35.2) to the capacity.

  a device for connecting a recording detector (36) after the filter.

  The method on which the present invention is based is based on an exact knowledge of the actual behavior of the substances on such filters, confirmed by the experiment and cross-checked by a test method on such a bench. In the preferred example described, such a method is adapted to reproduce at least the extreme and average phases of the actual conditions observed and measured in the field. This method takes into account an average time of about one hour generally accepted as ideal for the continuous wearing of a respiratory protection in Industrial Hygiene, this time can be increased to two hours under ergonomic conditions particularly satisfactory. At the end of this period, a rest period must be observed, during which time the filters can be replaced if necessary or controlled. This method directly uses pure substances directly or as mixtures. This method introduces safety factors in several aspects, as well as the systematic verification of the reversibility of the adsorption to validate the possibility of being put into treatment outside periods of use. This method is generalizable to all types of filters and unassisted respiratory protection. Such a method comprises at least one or more of the following phases: 1) simulated maximum concentration: it is at least greater than 10 times the highest peak value recorded in the field in real work situation, over a given period generally quite short .

  2) number of simulated maximum concentration phases: it is set according to the nature of the exposures observed in the field, for example five or six times over a period of one hour to cover most of the cases encountered in Industrial Hygiene; first at the beginning of the test, followed by four or five others at regular intervals, 3) simulated mean concentration: the number of maximum concentration phases is set to give an equivalent average concentration, expressed for example over a period of fifteen minutes or eight hours of work, at least equal to twenty times the value of the actual average professional exposure measured over the same period.

  4) minimum average concentration to be simulated: if a measured actual average occupational exposure value, multiplied by twenty, is less than twenty times a limit value of the test substance, the maximum concentration phases will be set to be equivalent, expressed for example over a period of fifteen minutes or eight hours of work, at an average concentration at least equal to twenty times such a limit value.

  5) total duration of the simulation test: it is continued after the simulated maximum concentration phases, for example on the first hour, steps 2), 3) or 4), until appearance of the substance at the outlet of the filter (time output) and up to the recording of the maximum concentration peak (resolution time) of the substance on the filter.

  6) verification of the reversibility of the adsorption: steps 2), 3) or 4), as the case may be, are repeated on a new or regenerated filter, so as to simulate the progress of an operation, for example about one hour with high exposure. The air flow is maintained after the last introduction, for ten to fifteen minutes for example. The filter is then placed in backscatter position on the bench and the flow is maintained until the total purge of the filter substance.

  the end of purge time represents in these conditions the time during which an adsorption filter should be treated by back-scanning to be regenerated and that there is no more substance inside.

  In order to control such back-scanning, the quantity of substance found, especially when it is a low-boiling substance, must be comparable to the quantity of substance introduced.

  7) the maximum allowed continuous use time :: this is the exit time of the substance identified in 5), The results of these tests are used to determine the conditions of use of the adsorption filters, in real-life situations. exposure, including: 8) the recommended cumulative use time: this is time 7), divided by a safety factor which must take into account the maximum period of availability 9), apart from any other provision regeneration treatment or special filter 9) the maximum permissible period of availability: the period after which a filter must be replaced whether it has been used or not, whether in the case of an individual allocation , or in the case of a collective use, apart from any other regeneration treatment arrangement or special such filters.

  The results of these tests thus serve to determine most of the operating parameters of the regeneration treatment that will be adopted in the present invention.

  The results of the tests carried out on such a bench confirmed several points concerning the adsorption equilibrium, very interesting points when they are applied to the control of these filters under real conditions of use, to the analysis of their operation and to the possibility of treatment during their period of non-use: the substance came out completely from the filters if the sweep was continued with a gas, nitrogen or air, dry or wet, co-current of the sense of normal use the substance stood out completely and even more quickly if this scan was done after each use and counter to the normal direction of use.

  the filters after total desorption of the substance, regardless of the direction of desorption, recover their characteristics and could be reused a large number of times with the same performance.

  the exit time can be considered as a constant, for a given substance, on a given support and under given resolution conditions (t, pressure, gas flow, etc.).

  The exit time, to a large extent and at least for the concentration values usually measured in Industrial Hygiene, varies little with the amount of substance absorbed on the filter as shown in FIG. 4.

  The ratio of the concentrations: outlet / inlet decreases rapidly in relation to the increase in the exit time and / or resolution of the substances. This phenomenon is due to the gas / adsorbent equilibria and the fact that the adsorption filters also behave like true attenuators and capacitive integrators. This behavior will be even more verified if it will be high boilers and / or the filters will be used below their limit of adsorption capacity.

  the extrapolation of this capacitive behavior makes it possible to affirm that if the filters were never replaced (hypothetical situation), or are too late (situation which must certainly be encountered in the state of the art), or are not not treated by the method and device of the present invention during periods of non-use and storage in the case of multiple uses, the average concentration at the outlet of the filters will tend towards the average of the concentrations integrated on the filters and usually measured on the corresponding exposure situations, however, the concentration peaks encountered would never be inhaled.

  Fig. 3 shows examples of resolution curves of the substance concerned, carried out on a test bench as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, in simulated exposure situations by the method described above, at average concentration levels calculated for eight working hours between 2 and 20 times the VME of the substance, equivalent to 10 to 100 times the ELV of a such substance that this ELV exists by regulation or that it is considered in relation to a rule of use. These curves confirm that the exit time of a substance is comparable to a constant largely independent of the average concentration injected, at least for the concentration values usually measured in Industrial Hygiene. The results obtained on such filters and such a test bench with such a method totally overlap those established in the majority of real exposure situations, in particular as regards the determination of the exit times of the substances. In conclusion, knowledge of the exit time of a substance on an adsorption filter, operating in a domain far from its saturation and / or its capacity limit, used continuously under realistic exposure conditions, makes it possible to control the time during which such a filter will be effective for all its comparable applications in respiratory protection. The knowledge of the operating modes and malfunction of such filters is demonstrated through the many tests performed in real situations, as the example described above in FIG. 1, or the simulation of such situations, advantageously more extreme situations, on such a test bench as described in FIG. 2 with the method described previously.

  Fig. 4 shows an example of the result of the regeneration treatment by back-scanning of the substance concerned in FIG. 1, carried out on a filter after a test carried out as described in FIG. 2, for a mean equivalent concentration equal to ten times the VME of the substance. This retro-scan was performed on a bench (30), in order to verify the reversibility of the adsorption equilibria of substances in simulated situations and to validate such treatment of the adsorbent of the filters. The same result is obtained on the backscattering of a filter after a real exposure situation comparable to that tested and described in FIG. 1, and all the more advantageously and rapidly that such a backscanning will be practiced consecutively. to a use. More generally, the same result is obtained on the majority of substances, which is in principle consistent with the knowledge of the behavior of such adsorbents.

  Figs. 5 and 6 show an example of treatment station, parking, management of adsorption filters and their provision with respirators assisted ventilation, or free, characterized in that it comprises a cabinet (40). ) enclosing a plurality of stations, or, on the one hand, a plurality of processing stations (44a and 44b, 45a and 45b, ...) arranged to allow the connection of the filters to be treated (2a and 2b, ... ) and, on the other hand, a plurality of stationary stations (41.1, ...) of such apparatus, said station also comprising at least one source of gaseous treatment fluid (43) connected to such treatment stations ( 44a and 44b; 45a and 45b, ...) and selectively controlled dispensing and dispensing means, or gaseous treatment fluids on said treatment stations, for backscanning such filters by means of of this or these gases.

  In such an example of preferred embodiment, a Station (40) and its components, visible externally, are shown in a representation of closed doors and open doors, designed for example for four APRVA or APRVL and eight pairs of filter treatment stations. More specifically, such a station comprises a plurality of cabinets powered by utilities: air (42), treatment gas preferably Nitrogen (43), electric current (57), a connection to a computer network (71.0), for example three cabinets in the figures described. A first screened cabinet (44b) containing the parking and processing stations (44a & 44b,), (45a & 45b), ... on which are placed filters (2a & 2b, ...) identified (51a & 51b , ...) in the process. Each station has two LEDs indicating the status of the filters (55a & 55b, ...). A second closed cabinet (40c) having electrical circuits, electronic communication interface with control means and control (71) of such a treatment, via a network (71.0) type Ethernet for example. This cabinet comprises reading means, for example an RF-ID reader (50) to which is connected an activatable antenna (51c), allowing the reading of a user identifier (52c), display means and voice information of a user (49). A third cabinet (40a) having storage compartments or compartments (41.1) APRVA used and their charging (57.1), or APRVL. Each compartment (41.1), in a preferred embodiment, is equipped with a reading antenna of low sensitivity identical to said previous antenna (51d) or, in another possible variant, all the compartments can be surrounded by a larger internal antenna of the same type, but of greater sensitivity, encompassing all compartments, such RF-ID reader (50) being designed to handle the successive readings of several tags located in the sensitivity area of such an antenna . The reading of the tags (21) identification (ID) APRVA, or APRVL in the process is triggered in one or other of the variants, for example at the time of their parking or for example after their implementation in the car park when the doors are closed (46), for the purposes of verifying the authorized use of such APRVAs or APRVLs on such a station. Such a tag may advantageously contain, in addition to the ID in such a method and according to the possibilities integrated in such APRVAs, different data entered in a memory zone during the operation of such APRVAs, for purposes of reporting usage. and / or the control of the operating state of such APRVAs, such as for example: the duration of operation of such an apparatus corresponding to the duration of use of the filters, the concentration of substance determining the actual efficiency of the filters and their duration of use limit. This cabinet (40a) and the screen cabinet (40b) are closed by doors (46) whose opening is automatically controlled, after identification of a user, by electromechanical means (59). In another embodiment of such a station, the cabinets (40a) and (40b) could be replaced by a single screened cabinet, incorporating the devices and functions of the two cabinets (40a) and (40b), in which would be placed APRVAs equipped with their filters, the assembly being connected by the pipe (8) to a single base (44a) of a treatment station which in this case would contain only one and on which such a pipe would be connected in the same way. However, on the one hand such a variant would offer fewer possibilities, in particular on the points of the direct control of the filters and their pairing or the impossibility of classification of such a screened cabinet including electrical installations, for its installation in a risk zone of presence of flammable substance, on the other hand such a device thus constituted could not be used with APRVAs having valves or valves on the input of the filters.

  FIG. 7 represents the hardware and general computing architecture of a set of stations connected in a network to a computer architecture implementing such a method. The hardware and general computing architecture of such an arrangement does not repeat the description of a Station. This arrangement is constituted by a plurality of stations (40), each operating partially autonomously from locally integrated means to such -2s-Stations. These stations are connected to a server computer (71), by an internal network organization type Ethernet (71.0) or equivalent, implementing such a method. Each Station or computer device connected to the network has a physical address (IP) of its own. Each Station belongs to a defined workshop and / or protection zone, in which exposure risks have been assessed and are known. Each computer station connected to the network, more particularly those responsible for the implementation of such a method and such a device on a risk zone (73), (74) or that of the HSE manager (72), is equipped with a reader, for example RF-ID (71.1, 72.1, 73.1, 74.1, ...) and can access the different functionalities of the computer programs, after the allocation of rights in databases by an administrator. The zone and / or workshop managers have these readers (73.1), (74.1) to administer the users of their zone and initialize the filters and devices made available in the process on the concerned Stations. The HSE PC also has an RF-ID (72.1) reader for process and station audit.

  The computer programs controlling such operations are implemented on computer means and on a server computer implementing the method. Such computer programs are inseparable from the method implemented on stations, according to the claims. Such programs have been implemented to control and manage such a method implemented on such networked stations, to control all their states, to process and assign all the data coming from such stations in the process, to perform alarm functions, carry out information functions by editing or making available computer reports directly on screen or on any appropriate medium, performing monitoring functions to materialize and remotely view the operation and status of such Stations, and more generally any other function useful for driving and controlling such a method and device.

  Such computer programs are not described in the present invention, however, it should be understood that they are indissociable from the method of the present invention. However, any realization of computer programs having the same object, ie managing a treatment of such filters, their use in the context of such a treatment and the management of such filters and their accessories in the context or in parallel with such processing which would be carried out in a comparable process, could not constitute an improvement or a modification of the computer programs indissociable from the present invention. Some screen shots of such computer programs are given for illustration and briefly commented in Figures 10 to 15.

  Figure 8 schematic character, made according to the legend below, to understand the operation of the integrated process in a device called station implementing such a method. In the exemplary preferred embodiment described such a station comprises for example: two filters per station and per unit, in each storage compartment APRVA or APRVL separate antennas (51d) and multiplexed (53) on the reader (50 ), and uses as the nitrogen treatment gas. Such a station is characterized in that it comprises a set of cabinets whose shape and organization, for example three in a preferred variant described in FIGS. 5 and 6 is adapted to the main functions implemented in such a process: treatment of adsorption filters during their period of non-use and parking in a screened cabinet (41.b), - storage and / or charging battery-powered APRVAs, or APRVLs as appropriate, used for respiratory protection in a closed cabinet (41.a), management and control of the condition of filters, their uses and access to these means of protection in self-service for users or specifiers in a cabinet (41.c).

  legend of FIG. 8: treatment gas, nitrogen in the example described, air and utilities; service control of a Station; data and information useful to the service commands of a Station; user information commands.

  Such a method and such a device are provided, according to the invention, to behave in such a way that they perform one or more of the following functions or actions.

  The station is supplied with ventilation air (42) by a regulator (42.1) which maintains the cabinets (40c) and (40b) in a controlled atmosphere. The presence of this air flow is controlled by the air flow sensor (42.2) whose state (42.3) is relayed by an interface (47). This sensor (42.2) cuts (58) the general power supply (57) in the event of a fault. The opening of the access doors (46) to the chargers and filters is controlled by an electromechanical device (59), after identification of a user with a badge (52c) on the identification means, by an RF-ID reader (50) to which is connected a passive antenna (51c). This opening is controlled by the sensor (59.1) which specifically and directly cuts the charging current (57.1), the automation supply (57.2) remaining maintained. The device comprises timed relays (58) which only restore the power supply (57.1) after closing the door (46) confirmed by the sensor (59.1) and an air sweep time sufficient to regain a controlled atmosphere in the cabinet (40a).

  Such a station is fed with treatment gas (43), preferably Nitrogen in the example described, advantageously preheated (43a) by a means known in the art at a temperature above room temperature, but nevertheless less than a temperature at which the settling of the adsorbent or the materials constituting a filter would be affected, between ambient temperature and 80 c, or else 100 c. Said process gas is distributed after expansion (43.1) to the various treatment stations (44), (45), ... identical. The pressure of said process gas delivered to said stations is controlled by a pressure measuring means (43.2) whose state (43.3) is relayed by an interface (47) to the process server (71).

  The information concerning the faults: air flow (42.3), load compartment power supply (57.3), process gas pressure (43.3), external information (48) are relayed by an interface ( 47) and processed by service, control and supervision computer programs located on a remote server (71) which contains all the databases relating to the stations, the users, the filters. Certain information is advantageously displayed or delivered locally (49). Each processing station is identical to the detailed one (44).

  At the beginning of the treatment, the lighting of the red indicator (55a), the triggering of the delay (55), the solenoid valve (44.1) referred to command (56) of the station concerned, are controlled by installed service computer programs. on the server (71) through an interface (47). During the treatment phase, the solenoid valve (44.1) remains open and supplies the station (44.4) with process gas through a flow control means, for example a fixed restriction (44.3).

  At the end of the treatment, the autonomous local time delay (55), closes the solenoid valve (44.1) by the control (56), causes the extinction of the red indicator (55a) and the lighting of the green indicator (55b), the station (44.4) remains powered by the low permanent flow of nitrogen through the bypass comprising flow control means, for example a fixed restriction (44.2), to (44.4). The green LED (55b) remains lit continuously until a user removes a first filter from the station (44.4).

  The treatment gas supply (44) of the station (44.4) is for example equally divided between the two bases (44a) and (44b) on which adsorption filters (2a) and (2b) are screwed onto a base ( 2.1, fig.9) adapted to the filters used, for example comprising a thread made according to DIN3182, or any other device specific to a filter type or manufacturer.

  On each adsorption filter (2a) and (2b) is appended, at its commissioning, or could be integrated in its manufacture, a unique identifier ID (52a) and (52b), at a particular place for reading this identifying by appropriate means, regardless of the exact position of the filter on the bases (44a) or (44b), for example such an identifier attached to a filter is placed so that it is opposite a means for reading, for example a fixed activatable antenna (51a) or (51b) connected to the multiplexer (53a) and (53b). This reading is performed through an analog multiplexing (53) known in the art of such antennas, driven and triggered by computer programs, for example through a seal (3.1) disposed on the bases (44a) and (44b). ) of a station, performing the sealing, the limitation of the clamping force, the detection of normal presence of a filter on its base triggering parallel reading of the ID of such a filter after tightening. Outside these reading phases thus triggered, the multiplexer (53) connects by default, on the reading means (50), an identifier reading means, for example an activatable antenna (51c), allowing a user ( 52c) to have regular access to the Station.

  After returning to the filter station and APRVA, the closing contact of the doors (59.1) controls the connection of the reading means (50), on the reading means of the APRVA or APRVL identifier, alternatively through the multiplexer (53) in the example of the activatable antennas (51d) located in each storage compartment APRVA (41.1) or APRVL, or without multiplexing in the case of a single antenna encompassing all the compartments, for at least reading functions of the ID (21) of such APRVA or APRVL, and advantageously according to the possibilities offered and integrated in such APRVA, different information or data entered during the operation of such APRVA in a memory area (21) of such an ID for the purpose of reporting the use made and / or controlling the operating status of such an APRVA.

  In the present invention the RF-ID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology has been advantageously used for all the identification functions. Any other technology fulfilling the same function, current or future, could be used without this being a modification or an improvement of the present invention in which the function ID is in principle part of the state of the art.

  Starting from an example of first commissioning of a parking and treatment station 25, the description of the operation and the steps of the method on such a device are as follows: The identified filters (2a) & (52a) and ( 2b) & (52b), ... and the users (52c), ... are prerecorded and declared in databases of the computer programs on the server (71) implementing such a method, by a manager the zone concerned, for example a risk zone (A), on its reader RF-ID (74.1) connected to his computer station (74) connected to the company network (71.0). The APRVAs, or the APRVLs as the case may be, are identified in the same way (21), or may include such an identifier integrated in the construction, and are also pre-recorded in the method as usable on such a station or any other station on which they would be declared in the process.

  To obtain normal opening of the door of the Station, a user must identify himself by presenting his identifier (52c) on the means of identification, for example an activatable antenna (51c), allowing the opening of the doors.

  The new filters, previously recorded by a zone manager, are successively screwed onto the bases of an available station (44a) and (44b) station. At the same time, the method successively triggers the reading of the ID of each filter (52a) or (52b) according to the sequence of sequence: the contact established by the seal (3.1) confirms the tightness and the presence of a filter (54), for example on the base (44a), transmitted by the interface (47) to the server (71) whose computer programs control through the interface (47) the multiplexer (53) making connect and activate the reading means, (53a) in the example described, for reading the ID (52a) of such a filter.

  The filters thus processed in the process will be permanently associated and will be managed together. This association, a pair in the example described, will be stored in the databases of the computer programs and can not be changed during the entire duration of use of the filters, except voluntary action accessible only to an administrator declared in the process (72) or (74) depending on the organizations adopted.

  The functions: identification of a user (52c), presence detection (3.1), identification of the filters (2a) or (2b), peer verification (52a) and (52b), state management (42.3) and / or ( 43.3) and / or (57.3) and / or (48), being satisfied at the level of the computer programs of the method (71), a first processing cycle is started which locally initializes or resets, as the case may be, the delay (55) with the opening of the solenoid valve (44.1) of the process gas and the display of the red indicator (55a) on the station concerned.

  These operations are repeated until complete equipment of all stations of the station which has eight positions of pairs of filters in an embodiment described.

  According to this example, each APRVA, or APRVL, is placed in a compartment and connected as appropriate, to its socket (57.1) which is not supplied with current. When closing the door (46) the detection of closing (59.1) activates the timer relay (58) which will restore the voltage on the receptacles (57.1) after a fixed preset time. The method connects, as previously described, the identification means APRVA storage compartments, or APRVL as appropriate, for at least reading their ID (21) which will record, or confirm, in the process as possible be used and managed by this Station.

  At the end of the cycle delay (55), the solenoid valve (44.1) of the process gas is closed, the red indicator light (55a) is off, and the green indicator light (55b) is lit on the station concerned. The filters remain permanently in the parking lot under a small flow of treatment gas by a bypass comprising a fixed flow control means (44.2). They are then available to users, self-service, to ensure their respiratory protection on all exposure situations in the area concerned in connection with the type of filter available to them.

  To equip itself, a user identifies (52c) on the means of identification, for example a passive antenna (51c). The method controls the opening (59) of the access doors (46), and confirms the identity of the user on the information means (49). It then indicates on these same means (49) the post n of the set of filters to be used, so as to best distribute their uses over the duration of provision of filters provided on the Station. As soon as the first game filter is detected removed from the station (54), the means (49) indicates the maximum recommended continuous use time for the same and unique user, after which time the filter set must be returned to an Station to be returned to treatment.

  The user takes an APRVA, or an APRVL as the case may be, on which he adapts the set of filters and his individual facial piece, or any other facial piece that would have been given to him after cleaning.

  Another user will in turn be equipped in the same way, after identifying himself, without the need to close the doors that will be closed by the last user.

  The usage time that will be taken into account by default and conservatory measure in the process is that during which the set of filters will have remained outside the Station. It is therefore advantageous to adopt usage practices that best match the actual use time with that of maintaining the filters outside the station, although, given the processing implemented, it becomes secondary, the more important is not to exceed the recommended usage time, which is under control.

  After use, the user must return the set of filters used in treatment on a Station. For this, it identifies (52c) on the means of identification, for example a passive antenna (51c). The method controls the opening (59) of the access doors (46) and confirms the identity of the user on the information means (49). After removal of the APRVA or APRVL filters, the user screws them directly onto the bases of the same available position. the process then carries out certain checks: verification of the authorization of use on the zone and / or Station concerned - verification of the conformity of the pairing of the filters - verification of their date of expiry of the manufacturer (if it was registered) - verification that the cumulative usage time limit has not been exceeded the verification that the period of availability on a Station has not been exceeded. The method indicates on the information means (49) whether the set of filters is not accepted with possibly the reason for this refusal. An alarm information is then posted on the supervision and can be sent to the computer station of the area manager concerned (74) or to the position of the HSE manager (72).

  By default, the process assigns the user's time to port or use the protection to return the filters, this time by default corresponds to the output time of the filters of the Station. The user thus proves that he made good use of the protections put at his disposal by his employer.

  The user then returns the APRVA, or the APRVL as appropriate, to his station compartment (41.1), charges his batteries as appropriate by connecting it to its socket (57.1) and closes the doors. The method connects, as previously described, the identification means storage compartments APRVA, or APRVL as appropriate, for at least reading their ID (21) and advantageously, depending on the possibilities offered and integrated in such APRVA , different information or data entered during the operation of such APRVAs in a memory area (21) of such an ID for the purpose of reporting the use done, for example the actual duration of operation of such an APRVA, duration which is will then advantageously replace the output time of the filters of a station, taken by default as being the time of use of such filters and / or the control of the operating state of such an APRVA.

  Another user may in turn park filters and other respiratory protection in the same way, without the need to close the doors that will be by the last one.

  The display means or information (49) useful for user security includes audible and understandable messages for any user having reading difficulties. Such a device using speech synthesis means known in the art, is not described in a station implementing the method of the present invention.

  All the information and parameter values allowing remote control of the operations carried out, in particular alarms, malfunctions or procedural defects, refusal of reasoned filters, filters not returned within a given time, exceeding programmed criteria, or more generally any useful information , are centralized in the databases of the computer programs of the server (71) and made available to the designated zone managers on their computer station, for example (74) concerning the risk zone (A), provided that this station is connected to the network, or to that of the HSE manager (72).

  The present invention makes it possible to use such a method and such a device with other types of filters, without the possibility of regeneration treatment by backscanning during the parking period. In this case, such a station becomes simply a management and control station for the provision of such types of filters and APRVAs, or APRVL, with the same general management characteristics described above, realizing only: the maintenance of such types of filters out of any pollution during their non-use, the control of conformity to the intended uses, the control of their pairing in the example of Station described, the control of their cumulative duration of use compared to a fixed threshold beyond which filters will be rejected and proposed for disposal.

  The method and the device of the present invention can be simply adapted, in another embodiment, to be used in the management and control of irreversible adsorption filters, ie generally using chemical reactions fixing the substance on a reactive support (for example mercury, chlorine, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, etc.). Thus, for example, in the case of a HgP3 filter adapted to mercury protection, such a suitable station will display to a user the remaining protection time available for the use of these filters before disposal.

  This other embodiment is characterized in that the stations (44), (45), etc. can be simplified by deleting the solenoid valve (44.1) and the fixed flow control means (44.3). Only the fixed flow control means (44.2) will remain in the by-step which becomes in fact the only main circuit whose function is to deliver a low nitrogen flow continuously on the station (44.4). This low flow also maintains the filters under optimal conditions of hygiene and sheltered from any adsorption of external substances. Functions; solenoid valve control (44.1), start-of-treatment cycle timeout display (55) are suppressed, the filter status function (55a) and (55b) is changed in the service computer programs to be conditioned to the accumulated total time authorized use. All the other features of the process and its implementation on such a station remain unchanged.

  The same result could be obtained on a station as described in the exemplary preferred embodiment of the present invention, by not programming any processing time, or a very short processing time. The solenoid valve (44.1) is thus always closed and the display (55b) is always green as long as a fault or threshold programmed for this type of filter will not be met or exceeded.

  In this other exemplary embodiment or in the preferred variant example by not programming any processing time, the management of this type of filters and APRVA or APRVL in the process is based on the same general principles, except on the point of the cumulative use time of such filters. This duration is set by the supplier according to the adsorption capacity of the filters according to standardized tests and is generally indicated in the records of such filters. In the case of this type of filter, and only in this case, this duration can be increased or decreased, in order of magnitude, in the proportion of the ratio: average concentration tested in the standard I known average concentration and measured against which it is necessary protect a user. The cumulative total usage time will always be counted by default as being the sum of times where the filter will not have been present on the Station, whether it has been used or not (precautionary provision). The replacement of the filters will be requested in the process after exceeding one of the thresholds programmed for this type of filter. This duration could also be determined in simulated exposure situations on an ad hoc installation of tests such as that described in Figure 2.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram of a functional character of a sealing seal and clamping force limiter (3.1), characterized in that it is arranged to fulfill the following functions: firstly, sealing performed on both sides on parts (3.1a) and (3.1b); secondly, limitation of the clamping compression of the seal (3.1) by deformation of the resilient internal part (3.3), with perception of the end of manual clamping by mechanical stop between the two discs (3.2) through the internal contact points (3.4); in third and simultaneously, detection of the end of clamping and the normal presence of the filter on its base by closing under controlled atmosphere of an electrical circuit established between the two discs (3.2) through the internal contact points (3.4) , after the compression phase of such a seal triggering the reading of the ID of a filter. In the embodiment shown, the plug (3.7a), allows the maintenance in place of such a seal being pressed on a fixedly secured base in the pipe (3.6a) and connected to an electrical circuit through a passeparois waterproof (3.8); the plug (3.7b) is depressed floating on a connector (3.6b) connected to a flexible extensible wire itself connected to an electrical circuit through a sealed wall-pass (3.8). any other device for fixing such a seal could be used without this constituting a modification or improvement of such a seal. Such a seal can be easily removed and replaced by the outside using an extractor (3.5), fixed for example on one of the disks (3.2).

  Figure 10 is a view of a process screen showing the operating states of a station displayed in supervision mode from any computer enabled on the network. In this mode, a general index menu allows you to select: a Station area or a cartridge area, which are actually filters, or a user area or a logger area. After selecting the Station menu and after selecting a Station on the network through a selection window, the elements controlled on a Station appear symbolized: the location and identifier of a Station, the extension numbers, - 39 the presence of the filters on these stations, the state of the filters on a single indicator, for example of green or red color depending on whether the filter set is available or being processed. A second zone is reserved for the controls of different states displayed for example in green if they are normal or in red if they are in abnormal situation (alarm): control of correct closing of the doors of the Station, control of the presence of a flow sweeping air in the cabinet, monitoring the presence of the pressure of the process gas which is nitrogen in the embodiment shown, controlled by the server on which are implanted such computer programs as communication with the Station interface is active so it is under control. A third area contains a history of all significant events recorded for such a station pointing to more on-demand content.

  FIG. 11 is a view of a screen of the method showing the functions of management of the filters and their states in a determined use zone generally corresponding to a station, with respect to various criteria, notably listing their identifier and different information on their uses, with fields pointing to more detailed subsets. FIG. 12 is a view of a screen of the method showing the list of the stations, their physical addressing declared in the databases of the computer programs and for each station the type of filter the use of which is authorized, as well as a setting parameter for the duration of the treatment of such filters.

  Fig. 13 is a view of a process screen showing the setting of the conditions and usage limits of the filters for a given area of use, including: the recommended continuous usage time, the maximum continuous usage time not to be exceeded at the end of which the process will post an anomaly to the person in charge of the zone concerned, the total maximum duration of cumulative uses after which the filters will be refused in the process and will have to be destroyed. This view also shows a minimum duration of treatment cycle which must at least be respected; if this minimum duration is not respected, for example removal of the filters of a station while the treatment is not completed and the indicator (55a) indicates locally that the filters are not available, the process will post an alarm to the head of the area concerned, otherwise a simple anomaly. This view still shows a choice by checkbox depending on the type of filter in use on a station between two different modes of operation. Selecting the box: displaying this information when a filter is removed from the station corresponds to the use of reversible adsorption filter with completion of a regeneration back-scan treatment that will indicate to users the recommended continuous duration not to exceed . The selection of the box: to display the remaining time when a filter is removed from the station corresponds to the use of an irreversible adsorption filter without the possibility of backscanning treatment which will indicate to the users the remaining available use time not to be exceeded , duration depending on the capacity. i0

  Figure 14 is a view of a screen of the administrator mode method showing the rights administration functionalities and access to the different functionalities and different areas of implementation of Stations. These rights may be partial or total and attributed, function by function, performed in such a process.

Claims (26)

  1. Station for treatment, parking, management of adsorption filters and their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation, or free, characterized in that it comprises a cabinet (40) containing a plurality of stations, ie, on the one hand, a plurality of processing stations (44a and 44b, 45a and 45b, ...) arranged to allow the connection of the filters to be treated (2a and 2b, ...) and, on the other hand, a plurality of parking stations (41.1, ...) of such apparatuses, said station also comprising at least one source of gaseous treatment fluid (43) connected to such treatment stations (44a and 44b; and 45b, ...) and selectively controlled dispensing and dispensing means, or gaseous treatment fluids on said processing stations, for back-flushing such filters by means of this or these gases.   2. Station for treatment, parking, management adsorption filters and their provision with respiratory protection devices, assisted or free, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two compartments accessible via access doors (46), on the one hand, a first compartment (40a) enclosing a plurality of processing stations (44a and 44b, 45a and 45b) ...) and a second compartment ( 40b) containing a plurality of stations or storage compartments of such devices.   3. Station according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that it consists of a cabinet having at least three compartments (40a) (40b) (40c), ie: - firstly, a first compartment (40b) enclosing a plurality of processing stations arranged to allow the connection of the filters to be treated (2a, 2b, ...), for example on a standard thread made according to DIN 3182 or any other appropriate device, and their maintenance in the parking position on support bases (2.1), having a seal (3.1) interposed; -41 - on the other hand, a second compartment (40a) arranged to permit the parking of respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation (1) , or with free ventilation without refill, comprising a plurality of storage compartments (41.1) equipped with means (57.1) for recharging the batteries of such apparatus, and, in addition, a third closed compartment (40c) containing electrical means e control electronics of such a station, means for interfacing (47) and linking with a network (71.0) and a server computer (71) comprising appropriate computer programs necessary for: driving and controlling such treatment, the management of the provision and use of such filters, the management of the provision and use of such ventilator devices with assisted ventilation or free ventilation, the individualized management of the proper use of means of protection thus made available, remote viewing of the operating state of such stations in such a method and, more generally, the processing of any information useful for the operation of such a station; 4. Station according to any one of claims 1 to 3characterized in that it comprises: at least one source of gaseous treatment fluid (43), control means (43.1) and control (43.2) of the pressure of this gaseous fluid, connected to such treatment stations, for example (44, 44a and 44b; 45, 45a and 45b, ...), each treatment station comprising means controlling the delivery of said gaseous fluid (56), ( 44.1), the time (55) during which said treatment is applied and the control of the flow rate of said gaseous fluid in the treatment position (44.3) or kept in the parking position (44.2) on said station (44.4), evenly distributed, in an example a pressure source (42.1) and a flow rate operation of the compartments (40b) and (40c), containing electrical devices, under atmospheric conditions In a controlled manner, said flow control means (42.2) controls a means (58) for generally breaking the current in the two compartments (40b) and (40c).   5. Station according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the compartment (40c) comprises reading means (50) and multiplexing (53) connected: on the one hand in the compartment (40b), on each of the bases of said stations, to a suitable non-contact reading device (51a) and (51b), arranged opposite the filters connected in the parking position, for reading their identifier (52a) and (52b), ... attributed to their commissioning; on the other hand in the compartment (40a), in a first preferred embodiment and in each of the storage compartments (41.1), a suitable reading device without contact (51C) of low sensitivity, arranged, for example flat on the shelf inside such lockers, or, in a second preferred embodiment, a suitable single non-contact reading device of the same type (51C), but of larger size and higher sensitivity, placed inside the cabinet (40a) and encompassing all the storage compartments (41.1), for reading their identifier (21), ... assigned to their commissioning.   6. Station according to any one of claims 3 to 2, characterized in that the compartment (40c) comprises reading means (50) and multiplexing (53) connected to a suitable reading device without contact of low sensitivity ( 51c) enabling the reading of a user identification means, for example a badge (52c), and its access to the treatment (40a) and storage compartments (40b) after the controlled opening (59) of the doors (46) conditioned to said identification; said opening, verified by appropriate means (59.1), simultaneously controls a charging current breaking means (58) (57.1) in all the compartments (41.1) and the transmission in the information process: open door (57.3). ), the power supply of the automation (57.2) remains maintained.   7. Station according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each processing station (44a, 44b; 45a, 45b, ...) comprises means for displaying the state of treatment of such filters connected to such stations, these means being, for example, constituted by LEDs indicating to a user that such filters are available (55b) or unavailable (55a).   8. Station according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises user information means (49), for example by display and / or delivery of voice messages, concerning the use of such devices. filters and such devices, for example the n of the station filters to use to balance their uses, the recommended duration of use or the remaining time depending on the type of filter.   9. Station according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises appropriate means for preheating (43.1) of the treatment gas (43) to raise its temperature to a value between room temperature and 80 c preferentially, or 100 c.   10. Station according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bases of the receiving stations (44a, 44b; 45a, 45b, ...) filters located in the processing compartment (40b) are equipped a sealing seal and clamping force limiter (3.1).   11. Station according to claim 10, characterized in that said seal is arranged to perform the following functions: firstly: effecting a seal on both sides on the parts (3.1a, 3.1b); secondly: limitation of the clamping compression of the seal (3.1) by deformation of the resilient inner part (3.3), with perception of the end of manual clamping by mechanical stop between the two discs (3.2) through the contact points internal (3.4); thirdly and simultaneously: detection of the end of clamping and the normal presence of the filter on its base by the closure of an electric circuit established under a controlled atmosphere between the two disks (3.2) through the internal contact points (3.4 ) after the compression phase of the joint; said closing triggering the reading of the ID of the filter connected to said base and conditioning the delivery of said treatment gas on said filter after closing the doors (46).   12. Station according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that: an appropriate device makes it possible to maintain such a seal in position: for example the plug (3.7a) allows such a holding being pressed on a base integrally fixed in the pipe (3.6a), such a base is connected to an electrical circuit through a sealed wall pass (3.8); in such an example the plug (3.7b) is depressed floating on a connector (3.6b) connected to a flexible extensible wire itself connected to an electrical circuit through a sealed wall-pass (3.8), the extraction of such a seal is facilitated by a suitable device, for example an extraction ring (3.5), integrally fixed on a rigid part of such a seal (3.2).   13. Treatment station, parking adsorption filters and management of their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation, or free, according to any of the claims there 12, characterized in that, in a Another variant embodiment of such a station, such filters can remain on said devices allowing it during their period of provision, all being put into treatment, parking, connected by a pipe (8) connected the same way on a parking station, comprising in such a variant a single base.   - 46 - 14. Station according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, in cases where the treatment gas is air, at least one substance detection device (36) internal or external is placed upstream or on the treatment gas supply circuit (43), such an alarm delivering device (48) for controlling the shutdown of the treatment gas distribution means (43) to prevent any accidental pollution of such filters.   15. Station according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for identifying such filters, such devices, such users in the method and the means of their reading without contact implemented on such Station, resort for example to the RF-ID technology, for example: activatable labels with their manufacture of such a unique identifier are contiguous on such filters at the time of their commissioning, so as to be opposite said reading device on said bases of said processing stations once said filters connected, or any other comparable reading device contained in the cabinet (40b) or a single cabinet grouping the compartments (40a) and (40b); or activatable labels provided with their manufacture of such a unique identifier are contiguous on such devices at the time of their commissioning, so as to be read by said reading device contained in the compartments (41.1) or the cabinet ( 40a), or any other comparable reading device contained in a single cabinet comprising the compartments (40a) and (40b); or activatable labels provided with their manufacture of such a unique identifier are contiguous on user badges, so as to be read by said reading device (51 c) contained in the compartment (40c); such badges may be process-specific or may be those used in a preexisting organization after adaptation as means of identification to the device of the present invention.   16. Device characterized in that it consists of a plurality of stations, according to any one of the claims therein and in that each station is parameterized in the method according to its implantation zone and / or the type filter system used, such stations being networked (70.1) to a computer architecture comprising at least one server computer (71) containing appropriate computer programs and necessary for: conducting and controlling such processing, the management of the provision and use of such filters, the management of the provision and use of such respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation or free ventilation, the individualized management of the proper use of the means of protection thus put at disposal, remote viewing of the operating status of such stations in such a method, more generally the processing of any information useful to the function of such a station, and a plurality of computers (72), (73), (74), ... equipped with reading means (71.1), (72.1), (73.1), (74.1) , ... of the identifier of the filters (52a), ... and the users (52c), ...   17. A method of treatment, parking of the adsorption filters and management of their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation, or free, characterized in that after each use and during their period of non-use, such filters are placed in parking position connected to their bases and subjected for a given time to at least a first reverse or reverse scan by a suitable flow of gaseous treatment fluid circulating against the direction of flow of the air when using said filters during protection.   18. The method of claim 17, characterized in that the gaseous treatment fluid is preferably constituted by nitrogen obtained by distillation of the air.   19. The method of claim 17, characterized in that the gaseous treatment fluid may be compressed air and dried industrially, the quality of which is controlled by at least one measuring means internal or external to said station, means controlling in this case stopping the delivery of said treatment air if substances are detected therein.   2865655 -48- 20. A method according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that said first backscreen filters is performed at a large determined flow rate, at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature preferably between room temperature and a temperature of 80 c or 100 c, obtained by preheating said gaseous treatment fluid.   21. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that said first backscanning is continued by a second backscanning with a lower appropriate gaseous fluid flow rate to keep such filters in the parking lot, outside any external pollution and to avoid the diffusion of residual substances towards the exit of the filters on the inhaled air side, during the following uses of said filters during their use in protection; such a flow rate of holding gaseous fluid is delivered at atmospheric pressure and at ambient temperature.   22. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that, in another variant, such filters are maintained during their period of non-use in parking position, connected to their bases and subjected to a constant reverse or reverse scan by an appropriate flow rate of treatment gaseous fluid circulating counter-current to the direction of flow of the air during the use of said filters during the protection; such a backscanning is performed at atmospheric pressure and at room temperature.   23. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 22, characterized in that such a method is implemented on computer means, comprising at least one server computer networked to stations according to any one of claims 1 to 16, which server comprises appropriate computer programs necessary for: the conduct and control of such processing, the management of the provision and use of such filters, the management of the provision and uses of such respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation or free ventilation, the individualized management of the proper use of the means of protection thus made available, remote viewing of the operating state of such stations in such a process and, more generally, the processing of any information useful for the operation of such a method implemented on such Stations.   24. The method of claim 23 characterized in that such a method is designed so that the management and allocation of the use of such filters is for example carried out as follows: such filters, pre-recorded in the process or recorded at their disposal. first pass on such a Station for their treatment, will be associated with each other, for example paired, and will be compulsorily used and put in treatment following this association during their period of availability on such Station, any non-compliance with this condition will result in the rejection of the affected filters and their request for destruction; such prerecorded filters may be used and accepted only on said Stations or their use has been authorized in the process, generally corresponding to areas of risk analyzed and controlled; the uses of such filters are balanced in such a method by informing a user on the n of the station of the least used filters with which he must protect himself; in the case of reversible adsorption filters, the recommended duration for a single use continues before returning to such a station for treatment, is indicated to the user after removal of the first filter from a treatment station, or, in the case of In the case of irreversible adsorption filters, the remaining available service time is indicated to the user after removal of the first filter from a treatment station; in the case of reversible adsorption filters, such a usage time must not exceed a time limit, for a single continuous use and generally by the same user, declared in the process for a type of filter considered; If such a limited usage time is exceeded, the method will post at least one alarm message on the computer of the zone manager concerned and make the information available on the operating state supervision functions of the Station concerned; the user who identifies himself in the process at the return of such filters on such a station to return them in treatment will be credited with a time of use of the protection placed at his disposal, time of use which will be added to an individual history of the uses of such protections; such a usage time is taken by default and precautionary measure as the time when such filters will not have been present on such a Station; The period during which such filters are made available on such stations is evaluated according to several different criteria, in particular: o on the one hand, an expiry date is declared in the process at the commissioning of such filters, if such a date is exceeded the filters will be refused on return to a Station, whether they have been used or not, the process will post at least an alarm message on the computer of the area responsible concerned and will make the information available on functions of supervision of the state of operation of the Station concerned, o secondly, more generally and for all types of filters according to their characteristics, a limit of total duration of the cumulated uses is declared in the process when these filters are put into service, if the duration of the cumulated uses exceeds such a limit, the filters will be refused on the next return on a Station, the process will post at least s an alarm message on the computer of the zone manager concerned and will make the information available on functions for monitoring the operating status of the station concerned. 25 30   28. Method according to one of claims 23 or 24 characterized in that such a time of use taken by default, can be advantageously replaced by the actual operating time of a respiratory protection device with assisted ventilation equipped with such filters and having means suitable for transmitting such an operating time in the process, more generally any other information useful for such a method, on its return on such a station comprising appropriate reading means.   26. A method of treating, parking adsorption filters and management of their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation, according to claims 23 to 25 characterized in that such a recommended use time or such limit of the total duration of use, may be advantageously replaced by measuring the concentration of substance immediately on the output of such filters, whatever their type, with respirators assisted ventilation device comprising such appropriate means of detection of substances, thus determining their real effectiveness and their limit of duration of use in all cases.