US2632163A

US2632163A - Protective outfit

Info

Publication number: US2632163A
Application number: US207569A
Authority: US
Inventors: Spandau Ludwig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-01-24
Filing date: 1951-01-24
Publication date: 1953-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 1970-03-24

Description

March 24, 1953 SPANDAU PROTECTIVE OUTFIT Filed Jan. 24, 1951 Patented Mar. 24, 1 953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROTECTIVE OUTFIT Ludwig Spandau, Arverne, N. Y.

Application January 24, 1951, Serial No. 207,569

4 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a protective outfit to be worn by firemen, air-raid wardens and the like, and has for an object to provide an outfit that is especially intended as a protection against fire, heat, smoke, and poisonous gases; and for use in dissipating smoke, fighting fire, disinfecting areas, decontaminating poisoned air, and neutralizing poison gases.

Still another object of the invention is to propide a protective outfit that will provide a certain amount of protection against radio-activity.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a protective outfit against dust-charged radio-activity.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an outfit so that a spray may be liberated to disinfect the air, say within an air-raid shelter, and thus provide a protection against any dangerous gases that might be within the shelter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an outfit wherein different fire-fighting chemicals may be used in a portable tank to fightfire, etc., while the suit will protect the wearer against tear gas, lung gas, toxic smokes, and especially against blister or mustard gases.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an outfit comprising a suit that entirely covers the body to thus protect the body against gases and liquids; and to provide a portable tank so that desired fire-fighting chemicals can be carried therein and releases therefrom by the wearer; and, especially, to provide a special form of helmet so that a spray of chemicals and water from the tank may be shot upwardly into the air to dissipate the smoke and the gases, and may be directed downwardly over the suit to thus keep the wearer cool for self-protection in places of great heat or fire.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an outfit that may be used for spraying purposes where the wearer requires protection from the spray being used.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain new and novel arrangements and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings, showing a preferred embodiment,

Fig. l is a side elevation of the Protective Outfit shown on the wearer and with the baffle plate on the helmet swung to the rear to allow the liquid and spray to be shot into the air,

Fig. 2 is a similar view from the opposite side,

2 showing the baffie plate in position to direct the liquid and spray downwardly over the wearer,

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the helmet, showing the baflle plate in position to direct the liquid and spray downwardly,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view of the baffle plate arrangement, the dotted lines showing the baffle plate swung from one position to the other,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but taken at right angles thereto, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the several views and to Figs. 1 and 2, for the moment, there is shown the protective suit I that is made of Vinyl, which as is well known is a thermoplastic and has the desired characteristic for a suit to protect the wearer agains poisonous gases and radio-activity.

I preferably add 3% of lead powder to the Vinyl as then the suit will Withstand radioactivity up to approximately 300 units gamma. The suit is white, as this will tend to deflect the radio-active rays and also makes the wearer more visible in the darkness.

The gloves 2, as well as the shoes 3, should be of the same material (Vinyl) so that the hands and feet of the wearer will also be protected against poisonous gases and radio-active rays, etc.

The gas mask or hood 4 will be fitted under the neck of the suit I to also protect the wearer, and this gas mask 4 is generally made of rubber.

Thus the entire body and head of the wearer are protected against tear gas (chloracetophenone, brombenzylcyanide), lung gas phosgene, chlorpicrin), and toxic smokes like adamsite, di-' phenylchlorarsine, and especially against blister gases (mustard gases).

With a suit of this kind, the wearer has complete protection therefrom against most known dangerous poisonous gases; and will be enabled to cross in safety the most dangerously contaminated zones.

I have found that Vinyl of eight thousandths of an inch .008") gauge thickness will afford the desired protection and is relatively light in weight.

It will be understood that a suit made of synthetic rubber or Fiberglas mixed with the same amount of lead powder, or a slightly greater percentage, will also be effective, but will be much heavier in weight.

Referring now to the gist of the invention and to Fig. 3, for the moment, there is shown a heL- met which is skeleton in form and preferably consists of the metal bowed rods 6, which may be of aluminum, copper or any other desired metal, while encircling the lower edge of the frame is the relatively thick rubber band I so that this helmet 5 may be secured over the hood 4 (as shown in Figs. 1 and 2) By making the helmet 5 of a skeleton frame and by having the rubber holding band I, the helmet 5 may be easily and quickly fitted over the hood or gas mask 4 worn by the wearer without any necessary adjustments.

Secured to the apex of the bows 6 may be seen a pipe 8, to the free end of which is secured a metal nozzle 9; while supported by the nozzle 9 and the pipe 8 may be seen the rigid arm it, on which there is a small metal upright ll (see'liig. 4).- over which is fitted a hollow metal tube l2, which is provided with a notch l3 (see Fig. 5) at its lower end. Rigidly secured to the upper end of the tube I2 is a metal bafiie plate 14 with a downwardlyfiaringrim [5, as may-be seenin the several views.

Secured to the arm iii and through the inner end of the bailie plate I4 is the spring i6, which will hold the baffle plate i4 and the tube E2 in a set position, until it is raised by hand, so that the notch l3 will be disengaged from the arm H], after which the tube i2 and the baflie plate it may be swung 180, and then the notch l3 will again be engaged by the arm 23.

Thus, the wearer may turn the baffle plate E5 to the position shown in Fig. 1 when the liquid and spray, about to be mentioned, are to be shot upwardly into the air; or, the baiile plate i may be'tiu'ned to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the liquid and spray will hit it (baffle plate E 5) and be directed downwardly over the wearer. Thus the bafile plate [4 will remain in either set position until intentionally moved by the wearer.

On the other end of the pipe 8 is shown a connection I! so that the pipe 8 may be quickly fastened to a pipe I8 leadin from a portable tank i9; and there is a valve 28 in the line so that this spray may be cut oil or turned on at any time at the nozzle 9.

From the tank [9 there is another hose or tube 2| with a nozzle 22 so that the liquid and spray may be directed from the tank [9 and the nozzle 22, to be guided by the hand of the wearer. There is also a valve 23 just behind the nozzle 22 (as may be seen in Fig. 2) so that the liquid and the spray from the tank 19 may be cut off at any moment.

The-tank I8 is of conventional form andhas a handle 24 so that air pressure may be forced into the tank IE! to cause the liquid and spray under pressure to be. shot from either the nozzle 9 or the nozzle 22. or both, at the same time.

Also, as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, there are provided straps 25 that are to be attached to the tank l9 to pass over the shoulders of the wearer so that the latter may have both hands free.

The tank I6 is filled with water and chloramine (C7HiClNO2SNa3HzO), preferably in the proportion of 2 parts of chloramine to 100 parts of water. Usually chloramine contains 1l.5-13% active chlor. and this active ingredient will tend to kill microbes, neutralize poison gases, and at the same time destroy the smoke and refresh the air. Of course, other chemicals can also be used in the tank I9, but I find, the one mentioned most effective.

It will be understood that the helmet 5 is completely. separate and apart from. the garment and may be used with other fire-protective garments; but I have found the one made of Vinyl to be exceedingly effective for the purpose.

It will be understood that I have not shown the details of construction of the suit, as it may have belts, protective zippers, etc., so that the suit can be slipped on quickly; and I find it can be put on, in the case of an emergency, in about two minutes.

I have also found that the weight of the garment I including the gas mask or hood 4 and the helmet 5, and the pressure tank I!) is about 17 lbs. The water tank [9 itself weighs about 9 lbs. while the garment I weighs 7 lbs, and the helmet 5 and gas mask or hood 4 weigh about /2 lb. each. The-weightof the water in the tank IS with its chemicals is about 22 lbs. Thus, it will be seen that the protective-outfit is relatively light in weight and should not be tiring to the wearer.

By having a coupling 1? at the end of the pipe 3, .it is an easy matter to connect another tank, if so desired, to the helmet pipe in an emergency rather than waitin to re-fill the exhausted tank.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a protective outfit that can be used for fire fighting, ole-contaminating the air, such as poisoned air, in air-raid shelters, buildings, etc.; disinfection purposes, and neutralization of most of the known poison gases.

Furthermore, by providing this helmet with its nozzle and bailie plate,.the chemicals can be shot up into the air to dissipate smoke, or directed downwardly over the wearer in case of great heat or fire.

Although the suit is especially designed for use in extinguishing fires, disinfecting areas, and neutralizing poisonous gases, it might have other commercial uses.

Many slight changes might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a helmet for fire-fighting purposes and the like, a metal frame, an elastic band around the lower end of the frame for holding the helmet on the head of the wearer, an inlet pipe secured to the outer surface of the frame, a nozzle connected therewith, mounted on the top of the helmet and pointing upwardly, an upright mounted on the top of the helmet, a rotatable tube on said upright and a bafile plate secured to the said rotatable tube and positioned over the nozzle and. rotatable to a position out of alignment with the nozzle.

2. In a'helmet for fire-fighting purposes and the like, a skeleton frame, an elastic band around the lower end of the frame for holding the helmet on the head of the wearer, an inlet pipe secured to the outer surface of the frame, a nozzle connected therewith mounted on the top of the helmet and pointing upwardly; an upright mounted on top of the helmet and a tube mounted over said upright for rotation, and having a baffle plate secured thereto, the baffle plate extending over the nozzle and rotatable to a position out of alignment with the nozzle, and means connected with the afore-mentioned pipe for forcing a liquid through the nozzle and against the bafile plate when the same is in position over the nozzle.

3. In a helmet for fire-fighting purposes and the like, a skeleton frame, an elastic band around the lower end of; the frame'for holding the helmet on the head of the wearer, an inlet pipe secured to the outer surface of the frame, a nozzle connected therewith, mounted on the top of the helmet and pointing upwardly; an upright, a sleeve mounted on said upright for rotation, a baffle plate secured to the upper end of the sleeve and positioned over the nozzle, and rotatable to a position out of alignment with the nozzle, and means for temporarily locking the baffle plate in a position over the nozzle and to one side of the nozzle.

4. A helmet, consisting of a curved metal frame, an elastic means for holding the frame together and over the head of the wearer, a pipe secured to the top of the frame, a nozzle on the end thereof pointing upwardly and an arm extending from said nozzle; an upright secured to said arm, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said arm, a baflie plate secured to the upper end of 6 said sleeve, and said baffle plate free to rotate to a position over the nozzle and beyond the nozzle; and spring means for holding the sleeve and baflie plate locked in both positions.

LUDWIG SPANDAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS