GB2580349A

GB2580349A - Respirator

Info

Publication number: GB2580349A
Application number: GB1900070.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oliver Paul
Original assignee: Survitec Group Ltd
Current assignee: Survitec Group Ltd
Priority date: 2019-01-03
Filing date: 2019-01-03
Publication date: 2020-07-22

Abstract

A respirator device 10 comprising a snorkel 36 having distal and proximal ends, where the snorkel 36 is fluidly coupled to a filter 38 for removing harmful agents from a gas which passes through both the filter 38 and the snorkel 36 as the gas is breathed by a user of the respirator 10. The snorkel’s proximal end is for locating near the user’s mouth. Preferably the respirator 10 further comprises a fluid tight housing 30 for the filter 38. Filter 38 may be a filter of airborne biological, chemical or radiological agents. Snorkel 36 may comprise a valve to prevent water from passing through the snorkel when it is submerged. Snorkel 36 may include a powered air supply device to reduce the breathing effort of the user. The respirator is also described in terms of it preventing water contacting the filter and so clogging the filter. In use it is described that a swimmer who has their face under water can breathe by way of the snorkel’s distal end being above the surface of the water.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No. GII1900070.2 RTM Date:17 June 2019 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

AVON EZAIR

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk /ipo RESPIRATOR.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a respirator device for a wearer, including a filter for removing harmful agents from gas which. passes through the filter.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Respirator devices are known that incorporate filters for filtering biological and or chemical agents from the ambient atmosphere in order to prevent. the wearer of the device from inhaling these toxic agents.

The present inventors have determined that it would be advantageous to provide respirator devices to personnel that might be used in situations where they are exposed to moisture, such as when the wearer is swimming or transferring from one vessel to another for example, to board a hijacked. ship). The present inventors have identified that a difficulty with using a conventional respirator device in such conditions is that the filter, when exposed to moisture, can become clogged. This can make it difficult for the wearer of the respirator device to breathe and/or can reduce the effectiveness of the filter against chemical and/or biological agents.

It would be beneficial to provide a respirator device that was suitable for use in conditions where exposure to moisture was likely.

F THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a respirator device for a wearer, including a filter for removing harmful agents from gas which passes through the filter, and snorkel means having a proximal end located near the wearer's mouth and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end, the filter and the snorkel means being fluidly coupled such that gas breathed by the wearer in use passes through the filter and the snorkel means.

The distal end will typically extend above the water surfac The gas breathed by the wearer may he air that is potentially contaminated with biological, radiological or chemical agents The snorkel in the embodiments to be described prevents (or reduces) water (or other liquid) from coming into contact with the filter. If such contact occurred, it would tend to clog the filter.

In the embodiments, the filter and snorkel means provide an inlet for gas breathed. by the wearer. The filtered. gas is inhaled by the wearer. A separate outlet may be provided for exhaled gas, A mount may mount the snorkel means with respect to the wearer such that the distal end is spaced apart from the wearer's mouth. In such an arrangement, if the wearer's mouth is submerged, the distal end may extend above the water (or other liquid), allowing the wearer to breathe while also preventing the water (or other liquid) from coming into contact with the filter. The snorkel means may be provided with a valve, preferably at the distal end thereof. The valve prevents the passage of water when the snorkel is completely submerged so as to prevent water entering the filter.

The mount may comprise a strap for locating the snorkel means relative to the wearer's head. The strap may attach the snorkel means to a helmet worn by the wearer or to a plate that attaches to the helmet.

The snorkel means may include a rigid portion extending from the distal end to the mount and a further portion extending from the rigid portion to the proximal end. The further portion may be flexible, The rigid portion may provide the desired spacing of the distal end away from the wearer's mouth. The flexible part may extend around. the wearer's head -from the mouth area to the forehead.

The respirator device may include a fare mask for the wearer, the filter being coupled to the face mask. The face mask may also protect the wearer's face and eyes from the chemical, radiological or biological agent. The face mask may be worn with a protective hood, the hood protecting the wearer's head from harmful biological, radiological and/or chemical agents. The face mask may be worn with a protective coverall/suit, the coverall/suit protecting the wearer's body from harmful biological, radiological and/or chemical agents.

The respirator may include a fluid-tight housing for the filter.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a respirator device for a wearer, including a filter housing for accommodating a filter that removes harmful agents from gas which passes through the filter, and snorkel means having a proximal end located near the wearer's mouth and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end, the filter housing and the snorkel means being fluidly coupled such that gas breathed by the wearer in use passes through the filter housing and the snorkel means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of protecting a person from harmful biological, radiological or chemical agents in. air when that person is also likely to be exposed to water, the method including: providing the person with a respirator device including a filter for removing the harmful agents from gas which passes through the filter, and snorkel means, the filter and the snorkel means being fluidly coupled such that air breathed by the person passes through the filter and the snorkel means, wherein the snorkel has a proximal end located near the person's mouth and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end arid positioned above the person's mouth such that when the mouth is submerged in the water the distal end may extend above the water.

The method may include attaching (directly indirectly) the snorkel to the person's head such that the proximal end is 10 positioned above the person's mouth: The method may include locating the snorkel relative to the person's head such that the proximal end is positioned above the person's mouth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding. of the present invention an embodiment will. now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of a respirator device fitted to a 20 wearer; Figure 2 shows a from view of the respirator device, with the distal portion of a snorkel shown in cross-section; Figure 3A shows perspective view a connector of the respirator device; Figure 3B shows a cross section through the connector of Figure 3A taken along line A-A; Figure 4 shown a side view of the respirator device fitted to a wearer when the wearer is partially submerged; Figure 5 shown a side view of the respirator device fitted to 35 a wearer when the wearer is completely submerged; and F g re 6 shows an embodiment in which the respirator device is powered.

In the figures, like elements are generally designated with the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A respirator device according to an embodiment of the invention is:hewn generally at 10 in figure 1. The device 10 includes a mask 20. I0

The respirator device 10 may be worn with a head portion 12, a neck portion 14 and a body portion 16. The head portion 12 and neck portion 14 may he embodied as a protective hood 15, the hood 15 protecting the wearer's head and neck from harmful biological, radiological and/or chemical agents. The body portion 16 may be embodied as a protective coverall/suit 17, the coverall/suit 17 protecting the wearer's body from harmful biological, radiological and/or chemical agents. The protective hood 15 and protective coverall/suit 17 may be formed as a single garment.

The device 10 may be worn with a helmet 18 that covers the wearer's head, except for the wearer's face. The protective hood. 15 also includes an opening at the wearer's face. The opening is covered by the mask 20. The mask 20 may seal against the wearer's face, and the hood 15 may be donned after the mask such that the edges of the hood opening overlie and seal against the periphery of the mask 20. The mask 20 includes a. transparent lens 22, The respirator device 10 covers and seals the wearer's face from the ambient atmosphere.

A filter housing 30 is attached to the face mask 20. In the 35 embodiment the filter housing 30 is generally cylindrical, although it should be appreciated that other shapes are possible. In the embodiment the housing 30 includes a generally circular inlet port 32 anid a generally t1 a outlet port 34 he outlet nort 34 communicates with a D ondin i opening n the mask 20 to allow gas to pass it the mask 20 so ",:an be breathed by the inie Port 32 is t ched t).--a snorkelsno_'.kel 36.The srorkel 36 comprises part of the esprator device 10.

he housing 30 on._filter, -.own dashes:Lines 38, The filter may e any suitable filter capable of itering chemical,radiologicaland/or biological agents from the ambient atmosphere.

Tk e snorkel icludes an nlet connector 40 a tachea to inlet port 3 f the filter h using 30. In the embodiment the inlet connector 40 is ig'id t,ut thisnot essential. The inlet connector 40 has a generally curved configuration and is connected at one end to a flexible tube 42 that ex,tenac around he side and top of the mask 20 (and the wearer's face) to a distal' portion 44 of the snorkel 36 via:a connection part 46.

ThP 1 tal po n 44 of the snorkel 36 may termi to in a slotted end cap 4 The inlet connector: 40 Itiay be onnected at other end to the inlet port 32 of the filter housing 3e by 'an an adapter 200, as shown Figure 2, :;A andEadapter20 erall cylindrical (although other shapes are possible) and has an inner passage 232 for the passage of air into the filter; housing,0 "he exterior_ of the ada 200 has ci. circumferential co' 204.orm therein for connecting to the inlet connector 40 (e.g. by a "turn and loci" arrangement). The adapter 200 is such that it allows the inlet unnecctor 40 tobe raoidly detached f housing0 This allow., access to the filter housing 30 to enable replacement of e filter therein.

This useful in an emergency and to allow the filter to be replace For connecting the adapter 200 to the filter housing 30 a plurality of pegs or clips 206 are provided that are spaced apart around the inner passage 202. The clips 206 are resiliently deformable so that they deform inwardly when the body of the filter housing 30 passes over the inclined surfaces 210 of the clips 206 whereafter the clips 206 resile locking the body of the filter housing 30 in the recesses 212. Alternatively, the adapter 200 may be bonded to the filter housing 30.

The distal portion 44 of the snorkel 36 is formed of a rigid tube that extends from a position at the top of, or above, the mask 20, from a position on the wearer's forehead upwardly, so that the distal end extends above the top of the wearer's head.

The distal portion 44 of the snorkel 36 may be mounted to a plate 50 that is held in position with a strap 52 that passes around the wearer's head -e.g. attached to the head portion 12. The distal portion 44 of the snorkel. 36 may alternatively be mounted on the helmet 18.

The positioning of the distal portion 44 of the snorkel 36 is 25 such that, when the wearer is swimming the distal end 49 will extend above the water and so allow the wearer to breathe even though their face/head is under water -as shown in Figure 4.

As shown. in Figure 2, at the distal end 49 of the snorkel 36 (e.g. in the end cap 48) a valve assembly 100 may be provided such that when the distal end 49 is submerged -as shown in Figure 5 -water entry into the filter is blocked. The valve assembly 100 may include a frusta-conical chamber 102 formed in or contained in the rigid tube of the distal portion 44 of the snorkel 36. The sides of the frusto--conical chamber 102 taper towards the distal end 49 of the snorkel 36 and form an upper circular opening 103. A fluid inlet 104 is provided at the distal end 49 of the snorkel 36. At the opposite, lower end of the frusto-conical chamber 102 a lower circular opening 106 is formed by an annular ridge 108. A buoyant ball 110 is provided in the frusto-conical chamber 102 and has a diameter' greater that the diameter of the upper circular opening 103 and the lower circular opening 106 in order to locate the buoyant ball 110 in the.frusto-conical chamber 102. When the distal end 49 of the snorkel 36 is submerged the buoyant ball 110 floats to the top of the frusto-conical chamber 102 and forms a fluid-tight seal with the upper circular opening 103 to prevent water or other fluid) from entering the fluid inlet 104.

In addition to allowing the wearer to breathe when under water, the snorkel arrangement 36 prevents water contacting the filter 38, which can cause clogging of the filter, which might make it difficult for the wearer to breathe and/or may reduce the effectiveness of the filter against chemical, radiological and/or biological agents.

The snorkel 36, comprising inlet connector 40, flexible tube 42, connection part 46 and distal portion 44, forms a fruid tight path The snorkel from the distal end 49 to the filter housing 30. 36 has a.fluid tight connection with the filter housing 30, and the filter housing 30 has a fluid tight connection with the mask 20. The respirator device 10 makes a fluid tight connection with the wearer's face (and/or hood 15). Any air/gas breathed by the wearer therefore passes through the snorkel 36 and filter 38. Thus, the air/gas is filtered, and harmful biological, radiological and/or chemical agents are removed, making the air/gas safe to breathe. The encasement of the filter 38 in the fluid tight housing 30 and the raised location of the distal end 49 of the snorkel 36 prevent or reduce ambient water/liquid from contacting the filter 38. The end cap 48 may reduce further entry of ambient water/liquid into the snorkel 36.

The filter 38 and snorkel 36 provide a gas inlet for the respirator device 10 and provide air to the wearer during the inhale portion of the breathing cycle.

An outlet for gas from the mask 20 is provided at 60 at a location generally aligned with the wearer's mouth. The outlet 60 allows air exhaled by the wearer to escape from the mask 20. An outlet valve (not shown) may be _rovi*ded that opens to permit exhaled gasses to flow out of the mask 20 under positive pressure. Under negative pressure the outlet valve closes. ;A second filter housing 30A may be provided on the opposite side of the mask to the first-mentioned filter housing 30. The second filter housing 30A may contain a filter similar to the filter 38 of the first-mentioned filter housing 30, The second filter housing 30A may be provided with snorkel parts 40, 42 and 46 which connect to the distal snorkel portion 44 in a similar manner to the first-mentioned filter housing 30. ;Alternatively, the second filter housing 30A may have inlet port 32 like the first-mentioned filter housing 30 but which is selectively sealable. The inlet port 32 may be open when the wearer is not likely to be exposed to water (or other fluid), and may be sealed when exposure water (or other fluid) is likely. ;In addition to preventing the filter 38 from being exposed to water (or other fluid) when the wearer is swimming, the respirator device 10 is also beneficial when the wearer may be splashed by fluid (for example sea-spray). The snorkel 36 prevents or reduces significantly) moisture reaching the filter 38. ;The air supply to the wearer may be powered, A suitable 35 powered unit is available from Avon Protection Systems, Inc. under the name "AVON EZAIP1. ;Such a powered. arran*.gement is shown in Figure 6. In such an arrangement, rather than the filter housing (and filter) being mounted to the mask 20, two filter housings 30A, 30B (and filters) are mounted on a garment donned by the wearer. The filter housings 30A, 308 are connected to the distal end 44 of the snorkel 36 by a first flexible tube 42A, which is coupled to each of the filter housings 30A, 30B by respective inlet connectors 40A and 4013. Air passes "rough the filter housings 30A, 30B (and filters therein) to an inlet of a powered air supply device 300 via supply tube 302. The air then passes from the powered. air supply device 300 tm a second flexible tube 42B to an inlet to the mask 20. The powered air supply device 300 reduces the breathing effort required for the wearer. The powered air supply device 300 may be mounted to the same garment as the filter housings 30A, 30B" The direction of air flow is shown by arrows in the tubes.

As in the other embodiments, a valve assembly 100 may be provided in the snorkel of the type shown and described in 20 relation to Figure 2.

Claims

CLAIMSA respirator device for a wearer, including a filter for removing harmful agents from gas which passes through the filter, and snorkel means having a proximal end for location near the wearer's mouth and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end, the filter and the snorkel means being fluidly coupled such that gas breathed by the wearer in use passes through the filter and the snorkel means.

The respirator device of claim 1, including a mount for mounting the snorkel means with respect to the wearer such that the distal end is spaced apart from the wearer's mouth.

The respirator device of claim 2, wherein he mount comprises a strap for locating the snorkel means relative to the wearer's head.

4, The respirator device of claim 2 or wherein the snorkel means includes a rigid portion extending from the distal end to the mount and a further portion extending from the rigid portion to the proximal end, The respirator device of claim s, wherein the further portion is flexible.6. The respirator device of any one of the preceding claims, including a face mask for the wearer, the filter being coupled to the face mask.The respirator of any one of the preceding claims, including a fluid-tight housing for the filter.8. A respirator device for a wearer, including a filter housing for accommodating a filter that removes harmful agents from gas which passes through the filter, and snorkel means having a proximal end for location near the wearer's mouth and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end, the filter housing and the snorkel means being fluidly coupled such that gas breathed by the wearer in use passes through the filter housing and the snorkel means, 9, The respirator device of claim 8, including a mount configured to mount the snorkel means with respect to the wearer such that the distal end is spaced apart from the wearer's mouth.10, The respirator device of claim 9, wherein the mount comprises a strap for attaching the snorkel means to the wearer's head.11. The respirator device of claim 9 or 10, wherein the snorkel means includes a rigid portion extending from the distal end to the mount and a further portion extending from the rigid portion to the proximal end.12. The respirator device of claim 11, wherein the further portion is flexible.13. The respirator device of any one of claims 8 to 12, including a face mask for the wearer, the filter housing being coupled to the face mask.14. A method of protecting a person from. harmful biological, radiological or chemical agents in it when that person is also likely to be exposed to water, the method including: providing the person with a respirator device including a filter for removing the harmful agents from gas which passes through the filter, and snorkel means, the filter and the snorkel means being fluidly coupled such that air breathed by the person passes through the filter and the snorkel means, wherein the snorkel has a proximal end located near the person's mouth and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end and positioned above the person's mouth such that when the mouth is submerged in the water the distal end may extend above the water.15. The method of claim 14, including locating the snorkel relative to the person's head such that the proximal end is positioned above the person's mouth.16. The respirator device or method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter is a biological, radiological or chemical agent filter.17. The respirator device or method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the snorkel means includes a valve configured to prevent water from passing through the snorkel means when it is submerged.18. The respirator device or method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the snorkel means includes a powered air supply device configured to reduce the breathing effort of the wearer.