GB1561773A

GB1561773A - Breathing appliance

Info

Publication number: GB1561773A
Application number: GB4482776A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-10-27
Filing date: 1977-10-27
Publication date: 1980-03-05

Description

(54) BREATHING APPLIANCE (71) I, JOHN BERTRAM COOK, a British subject, of Old Farm House, Penshurst Road, Bidborough, Kent, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to improvements in breathing appliances particularly for use in paint spray shops and like areas in which it is not possible to breathe in atmospheric air directly because of contamination.

Gas masks have previously been used which were fitted with a simple filter. The disadvantage of such masks was that the pores of the filters were rapidly clogged, particularly in paint spray shops where the finely atomised droplets of paint congealed on the filter, and therefore the filters had to be frequently replaced. Rapid replacement of the filters was both time-consuming and expensive. The pores in the filters could not be made larger so as to prevent clogging because the filters were then inefficient and allowed contaminated air to enter the mask.

One solution to this problem was to provide an air- cylinder to which the mask was connected by an air line so that a wearer had his own self-contained supply of air.

This solution is expensive because a supply of air cylinders have to be kept and the air cylinders were also cumbersome restricting the mobility of a person wearing the mask connected to the cylinder.

An alternative solution was to provide an air pump fitted with a large filter to which the mask was connected by an air line. The large filter was not clogged so rapidly as the mask filter because of its capacity and the pump was cheaper to use than an air cylinder. However, the pump was cumbersome and a person wearing the mask connected to the pump could only move away from the pump to the extent of the air line. This arrangement was therv fore also disadvantageous in that it restricted the mobility of a person wearing the mask connected to the pump.

The present invention aims to overcome the abovementioned disadvantages.

According to the invention, there is provided a breathing appliance comprising a mask having an inlet, a non-return valve fitted to said inlet, a separate outlet and a non-return valve fitted to said outlet; an air pipe or hose connected at one end to the inlet of the mask; a first coupling member connected to the other end of the pipe or hose and a T-shaped coupling member, the arms of said T-shaped coupling member being adapted to be fitted in an air line and the leg of said T-shaped coupling member being engageable with said first coupling member.

In a paint spray shop, for example, an air line is required to atomise the paint for spraying. The T-shaped coupling member can be inserted in this air line and a paint spray operator can breathe the air which is also supplied to the paint atomiser. Since this air line is usually quite long extending from an air compressor which is usually located in a corner of the paint spray shop to the furthest point in the shop from the compressor, mobility of an operator who has connected his breathing appliance to the air line is assured. Moreover, a separate air cylinder or pump is not required and, since the main air compressor is usually located well away from the area in which spraying is taking place, filters fitted to the compressor are not clogged rapidly because the compressor is sucking in relatively clean air.If desired, the compressor may be located outside the paint shop altogether.

Preferably, a valve is provided in order to regulate the flow of air through the air pipe or hose to the mask. The valve is preferably mounted in a housing at the said other end of the air hose which housing also accommodates part of the first coupling member. A belt may be attached to the housing which a wearer can strap round his waist to keep the housing out of his way when he is working.

In the interests of further safety for wearers of the breaching appliance according to the invention, a filter is preferably provided in the inlet to the mask.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing the single figure of which is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a breathing appliance according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the appliance comprises a mask 1 having two apertures 2 and 3 and a pair of buttons 4 (only one shown). The buttons are designed to engage the ends of a strap 5 by means of which the mask can be held over a wearer's mouth and nose in a conventional manner.

An annular member 6 is fitted into the aperture 2 in the mask and is held therein.

The member 6 has a through-going bore 7 which is traversed by three webs (not shown) which meet at the centre in a small ring (not shown). A stem 8 projecting from one side of a flexible disc 9 of rubber, neoprene or the like extends through the small ring and is held therein by providing the end of the stem with an enlarged head portion (not shown). The flexible disc 9 is thus normally held against the base of the member 6 to close the bore 7 and constitutes an outlet valve for the mask. The disc 9 can be forced away from the base of the member 6 when a wearer of the mask exhales but is held even more firmly against the base of the member 6 when the wearer inhales. The disc 9 is protected by a perfor ated disc 11 which can be clipped over a bead 13 on the outer rim of the member 6.The disc is provided with a lug 12 to facilitate its removal from the member 6 in order to allow inspection of the condition of the flexible disc 9.

A cup-like member 14 having an ex ternal screw-thread 15 formed thereon is fitted into the aperture 3 in the mask 1.

The base of the cup 14 has a bore 16 which is aligned with the aperture 3 and the bore is traversed by three webs (not shown) which meet at the centre and from which a stem (not shown) extends into the mask.

A flexible disc 17 of rubber, neoprene or the like and having a central aperture 18 is fitted over the stem inside the mask and is held in place by providing the stem with an enlarged head portion (not shown).

The flexible disc 17 is thus normally held against the base of the cup 14 to close the bore 16 and constitutes an inlet valve for the mask. The disc 17 can be forced away from the base of cup 14 when a wearer of the mask inhales but is held even more firmly against the base of the cup 14 when the wearer exhales.

A conventional paint spray filter cartridge 22 can be fitted into the cup-shaped member 14, a rubber sealing ring 21 being fitted over the body of the cartridge to provide a seal between the rim 19 of the cup 14 and a rim or bead 23 on the cartridge.

Fitted over the cartridge 22 is a cotton prefilter 24 and a coarse-mesh sieve screen 25 designed to trap coarse dust particles. A plate 26 is fitted over the screen 25 and is held in place by a cap 28 which is internally screw-threaded to engage the screwthread 15 on the cup-shaped member 14.

The plate 26 is provided with a central aperture 27 in which is located a convoluted air hose 31. The air hose is made of flexible material such as rubber, neoprene or the like and is provided at one end with a relatively rigid flange 32 which is designed to be clamped by the plate 26 against the screen 25 when the cap 28 is screwed onto the cup-shaped member 14.

The other end of the hose 31 terminates in a straight-walled portion 33 which is fitted onto a housing 34. Extending from the housing and in communication with an internal bore (not shown) in the housing leading to the interior of the air hose 31 is a coupling member 35. The coupling member 35 is adapted to be releasably engaged by the limp of a T-shaped coupling member (not shown) the arms of which are adapted to be connected into an air line (not shown).

In the interests of further safety and of prolonging the active life of the filters 22, 24 and 25, an additional filter 38 is provided which is fitted in the housing 34 and secured in place by screwing the coupling member 35 into a bore in the housing so that the end of the coupling member 35 is closed by the additional filter 38. This additional filter may take the form of a bronze ball filter.

The internal bore in the housing 34 can be closed or opened by a valve controlled by a valve operating member in the form of a rotatable control knob 36. A belt 37 is secured to the housing 34, e.g. by screws (not shown), by means of which the housing can be strapped to a wearer's waist.

The mask is preferably made of a flexible material such as rubber or neoprene but other materials may be used if desired.

Further, while the components 6, 11, 14, 28 and 34 are desirably made of a synthetic plastics material, other materials may be used if preferred.

Other embodiments and modifications of the breathing appliance are envisaged without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, although the mask shown in the drawings is a half mask, a full face covering mask may alternatively be used if desired. Further, the mask may be provided with two air pipes instead of one, which air pipes are intended to lead on either side of a wearer's head to a filter housing located behind the wearer and connected by a further air pipe or hose to the housing which is strapped to the wearer's waist. This modification has the advantage that the air pipes or hoses do not get in an operator's way when he is working.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: l. A breathing appliance comprising a mask having an inlet, a non-return valve fitted to said inlet, a separate outlet and a none-return valve fitted to said outlet; an air pipe or hose connected at one end to the inlet of the mask; a first coupling member connected to the other end of the pipe or hose and a T-shaped coupling member the arms of said T-shaped coupling member being adapted to be fitted in an air line and the leg of said T-shaped coupling member being engageable with said first coupling member.

2. A breathing appliance according to claim 1, wherein a valve is provided to regulate the flow of air through the air pipe or hose.

3. A breathing appliance according to claim 2, wherein the valve is mounted in a housing at the said other end of the air hose, said housing also accommodating part of the first coupling member.

4. A breathing appliance according to claim 3, wherein a belt is attached to the housing.

5. A breathing appliance according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein a filter is provided in the housing.

6. A breathing appliance according to claim 5, wherein the filter is held in place by engaging the first coupling member in a bore in the housing in such a manner that the end of the coupling member is closed by the filter.

7. A breathing appliance according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the filter comprises a bronze ball filter.

8. A breathing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a filter is provided at the inlet to the mask.

9. A breathing appliance according to claim 8, wherein the filter at the inlet to the mask comprises a housing to which said one end of the air pipe or hose can be secured and which is adapted to contain a replaceable filter cartridge.

10. A breathing appliance substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

the breathing appliance are envisaged without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, although the mask shown in the drawings is a half mask, a full face covering mask may alternatively be used if desired. Further, the mask may be provided with two air pipes instead of one, which air pipes are intended to lead on either side of a wearer's head to a filter housing located behind the wearer and connected by a further air pipe or hose to the housing which is strapped to the wearer's waist. This modification has the advantage that the air pipes or hoses do not get in an operator's way when he is working.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: l. A breathing appliance comprising a mask having an inlet, a non-return valve fitted to said inlet, a separate outlet and a none-return valve fitted to said outlet; an air pipe or hose connected at one end to the inlet of the mask; a first coupling member connected to the other end of the pipe or hose and a T-shaped coupling member the arms of said T-shaped coupling member being adapted to be fitted in an air line and the leg of said T-shaped coupling member being engageable with said first coupling member.
2. A breathing appliance according to claim 1, wherein a valve is provided to regulate the flow of air through the air pipe or hose.
3. A breathing appliance according to claim 2, wherein the valve is mounted in a housing at the said other end of the air hose, said housing also accommodating part of the first coupling member.
4. A breathing appliance according to claim 3, wherein a belt is attached to the housing.
5. A breathing appliance according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein a filter is provided in the housing.
6. A breathing appliance according to claim 5, wherein the filter is held in place by engaging the first coupling member in a bore in the housing in such a manner that the end of the coupling member is closed by the filter.
7. A breathing appliance according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the filter comprises a bronze ball filter.
8. A breathing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a filter is provided at the inlet to the mask.
9. A breathing appliance according to claim 8, wherein the filter at the inlet to the mask comprises a housing to which said one end of the air pipe or hose can be secured and which is adapted to contain a replaceable filter cartridge.
10. A breathing appliance substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.