US3140590A - Air conditioner for a face mask - Google Patents

Description

July 14, 1964 F. M. G LEOCKLER 3,140,590

AIR CONDITIONER FOR A FACE MASK Filed April 2 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BYZHZ W EM. G4 50 0K1. 5/?

July 1 1954 M. QLEQQKLEB AIR CONDITIONER FOR A FACE MASK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1963 INVENTOR KMGL EacK ER ATTORNEY w 8 6 5 9 5 w i 7 W 7 r i e United States Patent 3,140,590 AIR CONDITIONER FOR A FACE MASK Frederick M. Gleockler, Rte. 70, E. Marlton Pike, Marlton, NJ. Filed Apr. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 276,047 4 Claims. (Cl. 62-459) This invention relates to an air conditioner attachment adapted to be utilized with and form a part of a respirator for cooling and humidifying the air entering a face mask and which air is additionally filtered n a conventional manner to remove therefrom noxious gases and dust particles.

One primary use of the invention, as presently contemplated, is in connection with the spraying of vegetation. The spray materials utilized include chemicals which are extremely harmful to the lungs, making it necessary that the operator utilize a respirator. Such spraying frequently has to be done under extremely hot weather conditions so that the face mask becomes extremely uncomfortable due to the heat and dryness of the air. Consequently, it is extremely difficult not to remove or partially remove the face mask and which would be very dangerous to the user due to the noxious gases and dust in the surrounding atmosphere.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a cooling unit which in cooling and humidifying the air being drawn into the face mask will substantially eliminate the discomfort of wearing the face mask under hot weather conditions, and will thus minimize the risk of the operator removing or partially removing the face mask and exposing himself to injury.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an air conditioning attachment of extremely simple construction which may be readily assembled with a conventional respirator and which can be effectively and safely utilized, and which is light in weight so that it will not be burdensome to the user.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating presently preferred embodiments thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, showing one embodiment of the air conditioning unit incorporated in and utilized as an attachment for one type of respirator;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly broken away, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 13-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through a portion of the air conditioning unit;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of another form of respirator and showing another type of air conditioning attachment associated therewith;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view, partly in elevation, taken substantially along the line 66 of FIG- URE 5, and

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view through the air conditioning unit taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 77 of FIGURE 6.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and first with reference to FIGURES 1 to 4, a conventional face mask is shown in FIGURE 1 designated generally 10 and is provided with a conventional outlet or exhaust valve 11 and a nipple 12 containing a conventional inwardly opening check valve, not shown. Straps 13 extend from portions of the mask 10 and engage around the head of the wearer to hold the mask sealed against the face so that air can be inhaled by the wearer only through the nipple 12 and can be expelled only through the outwardly opening check valve 11.

One end of an extensible and flexible hose 14, which is preferably formed of rubber, is secured around the nipple 12 by a clamp 15.

A canister, designated generally 16, which is of a conventional type utilized as a part of a respirator is secured by lacing 17 to a harness member 18 which in turn is fastened to a neck encircling strap 19 by which the canister 16 is suspended from the neck of the wearer. As shown in FIGURE 2, the canister has an intake opening 20 in the top thereof controlled by an inwardly opening check valve 21 and the other lower end of the canister 16 has an externally threaded outlet nipple 22. The canister 16, in a conventional respirator assembly, is inverted with respect to its position of FIGURES l and 2 and the other end of the hose 14 is connected to the nipple 22 to complete the conventional assembly.

However, in the present invention the respirator, designated generally 23, additionally includes an air conditioning or cooling unit, designated generally 24. Said unit includes a receptacle 25 which preferably contains ice cubes 26 and which is provided with a threaded cap or closure 27. A sealing ring or gasket 28 provides an effective air seal between the receptacle and closure. The receptacle 25 and closure 27 may be formed of metal or other impervious material. One end of an angular or L-shaped conduit 29 is formed integral with or suitably secured to the receptacle 25 near the top thereof and said conduit 29 has an upturned opposite end 30. One end of a rigid pipe or conduit 31 is formed integral with or suitably connected to the closure 27, near a portion of its rim or periphery, and extends upwardly therefrom, The threaded connection 32 between the flanged rim of the closure 27 and the open top of the receptacle 25 is constructed so that when the closure 27 is tightened on the receptacle 25 the pipe 31 will be located in close proximity to the pipe 29, as clearly illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The other lower end of the hose 14 is secured around the upper end of the pipe 31 by a second clamp 15.

One end of a short rigid tube 33 is connected to the nipple 22 by an internally threaded cap member 34 which is swivelly mounted on the tube 33 and threadedly engages over the nipple 22. A short length of flexible and non-elastic hose of rubber or similar material, designated 35, has an upper end engaging over the tube 33 and a lower end engaging over the upturned conduit end 30, and which hose ends are secured to the parts 33 and 30 by conventional clamps 36.

The canister 16 contains gas absorbing material which must be maintained in a dry condition. This is normally provided for by having the intake port 20 located on the underside of the canister. However, since the canister 16 is inverted when utilized as a part of the respirator 23 including the air conditioning unit 24, the canister 16 is modified to the extent that a shield 37 is secured thereto so as to completely cover the wall 37a thereof in which the intake port 20 is formed and which shield has openings 38 at the ends thereof which face downwardly and outwardly, as seen in FIGURE 2, and through which air enters the shield from which it can be drawn into the canister 16 through the inwardly opening check valve 21 thereof, as indicated by the arrows 39.

The canister 16, tube 33, hose 35, conduit 29, a part of the receptacle 25, the conduit 31, hose 14 and nipple 12 form an air intake passage which discharges into the mask 10. Accordingly, all air drawn from the surrounding atmosphere by the breathing of the wearer of the mask 10 is filtered in passing through the canister 16 and is thereafter cooled and moistened in passing through a portion of the receptacle 25 by the ice or coolant 26 contained in said receptacle, so that only purified, cooled and moistened air enters the mask 10, which air after being breathed by the wearer of the mask is discharged through the out wardly opening exhaust valve 11. Thus, even though the respirator 23 is being utilized under extremely hot and dry conditions the mask thereof can be worn in comfort. The tube or conduit 31 may be formed of a rigid material which will tend to retain cold so that air passing upwardly therethrough from the receptacle will retain its low temperature. The receptacle 25 may be formed of a material having heat and cold insulating characteristics to retard melting of the ice 26 therein, so that the respirator 23 may be used for a considerable period of time, even under extremely hot conditions, before the ice 26 will have completely melted, and even thereafter the cool water within the receptacle 25 will function as a coolant and humidifier for a further period of time. The attachment 24 is relatively light in weight, even when substantially filled with the coolant 26, so that the weight thereof will not be burdensome to the wearer of the respirator.

Since it is important that no liquid reach the canister 16, the pipes 29 and 31 are disposed near the inner side of the receptacle 25, that is, the side thereof nearest the canister 16, to minimize any tendency of the receptacle to tilt toward the canister 16 while being worn, so that no water from the melted ice 26 can flow back through the conduit 29 toward the canister. When the closure 27 is removed the receptacle 25 can readily be titled clockwise as seen in FIGURE 1 for emptying the water therefrom and so that none of the water will enter the conduit 29 which will be swung upwardly by such tilting of the canister.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of the invention utilized with a smaller face mask which covers the nose and mouth and which is held applied to the face by head encircling straps 41. The conventional respirator 42 of which the mask 40 forms a part includes two cylindrical housings 43 which are fastened to the exterior of the face mask and which open into the interior of the face mask through ports controlled by inwardly opening check valves, not shown. The externally threaded open outer end 44 of each housing 43 is provided with a removable internally threaded flanged ring 45 which retains a conventional filter cartridge, not shown, within the housing 43. The mask 40 has an outwardly opening check valve 46 disposed between the housings 43 and constituting the exhaust port of the respirator. All of the parts of the respirator 42, previously described, are conventional. The wearer in breathing draws air inwardly through the two housings 43, which air is purified to remove all noxious gases and dust particles therefrom in passing through the conventional filters contained in the housings 43, and this air after being breathed by the wearer is exhausted from the mask 40 only through the exhaust port 46.

An air conditioning unit, designated generally 47, is shown associated with each housing 43. As the units 47 are identical, a description of one will sufiice for both. Each air conditioning unit 47 includes a receptacle 48 having a threaded open upper end 49 to which the enlarged end 50 of a coupling or closure member 51 is threadedly connected. The member 51 has a restricted open upper end 52 which fits into an end of a hose or flexible conduit 53, which is secured thereto in any suitable manner as by means of a conventional clamp 54. The other end of the hose 53 is stretched over the retaining ring 45 and is secured thereto by a conventional clamp 55.

The receptacle 48 is disposed within a larger container 56 and the bottom 57 of {the receptacle 48 is secured to the bottom 58 of the surrounding container 56 in any conventional manner, as by soldering, as seen at 59 in FIG- URE 6. The container 56 has an open upper end 60 which is disposed adjacent the threaded end 49 of the receptacle 48. The container 56 is disposed concentrically around and spaced from the receptacle 48 to define a surrounding air chamber 61 for the receptacle 48 which is open at the end 60 of the container 56. The receptacle 48 has a series of circumferentially spaced inlet ports 62 which are located beneath but near the upper end 60 of the container 56 and which communicate with the chamber 61. The receptacle 48 is filled or partially filled with a coolant such ice cubes 63.

As the wearer of the mask 40 inhales, air is drawn into the air chamber 61 of each cooling unit 47 through the open end 60 of the container 56 and, as indicated by the arrows 64 in FIGURE 6, the air is drawn into the receptacle 48 through the ports 62 and is cooled by the coolant 63, after which the air passes upwardly through the hose 53 into and through the housing 43. The air in passing through the housing 43 is filtered by the conventional filter cartridge contained therein, not shown, for removing noxious gases and particles from the air, after which the air enters the mask 40 through a conventional check valve, not shown, which opens into the mask. The air after being breathed and exhaled is exhausted from the mask through the outwardly opening check valve of the exhaust port 46.

It will be readily apparent that the air chamber 61 will provide heat and cold insulation for the receptacle 48 for trapping cold which is conducted from the receptacle 48 so that the ice 63 will last a considerable period of time in the receptacle 48. In addition, a part of the cold air in the chamber 61 will be drawn through the ports 62 so that a portion of the air passing through the cooling unit 47 will be pre-cooled before entering the receptacle 48. The units 47 may be made relatively small and light in weight, even when filled with the coolant 63, so that said units may be readily suspended from the housings 43 by the hoses 53 without being burdensome to the wearer of the mask 40. The melting from the ice 63 will collect in the receptacles 48 and any of this water which might splash outwardly through the ports 62 will be caught in the chamber 61. The receptacles 48, with the containers 56 attached thereto, may be readily unscrewed from the couplings 51 for emptying the water therefrom and for replenishing the coolant 63.

It will also be readily apparent that only a single unit 47 could be utilized with the respirator 42 so that only a portion of the air entering the mask 40 would be cooled and humidified.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a respirator including a face mask, an air passage through which air is conveyed to the face mask from the atmosphere, and an air filter interposed in said air passage; an air conditioning unit including a receptacle containing ice, said receptacle forming a part of the air passage for cooling the air passing therethrough and being disposed below the level of the air filter, said receptacle having an open top, a removable closure for said open top, a conduit communicating with said receptacle and extending from said closure to the mask and forming a part of the air passage, and a second conduit forming a part of the air passage having a lower discharge end opening into said receptacle beneath said closure and an upper inlet end connected to and communicating with an outlet port of the air filter.

2. In a combination as defined by claim 1, said discharge end of the second conduit being disposed adjacent said closure and in a part of the receptacle located nearest the air filter, and the end of said first mentioned conduit, leading from the closure, being disposed in a part of (siaid closure located in close proximity to said second conuit.

3. In combination with a respirator including a face mask, an air passage through which air is conveyed to the face mask from the atmosphere, and an air filter interposed in said air passage; an air cooling unit including a receptacle containing ice, said receptacle forming a part of the air passage for cooling the air passing therethrough and being disposed below the level of the air filter, said air filter being interposed in the air passage between said receptacle and the face mask, and said air passage including a conduit portion extending between the receptacle and air filter and supporting said receptacle, said conduit portion including a part detachably connected to an end of the receptacle and removable therefrom for replenishing the ice and a flexible part extending from said first mentioned part to the air filter.

4. In combination with a respirator including a face mask, an air passage through which air is conveyed to the face mask from the atmosphere, and an air filter interposed in said air passage; an air conditioning unit including a receptacle adapted to contain a coolant, said receptacle forming a part of the air passage for cooling the air passing therethrough and being disposed below the level of the air filter, said air filter being interposed in the air passage between said receptacle and the face mask, said air passage including a conduit portion extending between the receptacle and air filter and supporting said receptacle,

said conduit portion including a part detachably connected to an end of the receptacle and removable therefrom for replenishing the coolant and a flexible part extending from said first mentioned part to the air filter, a container secured to and surrounding a substantial portion of the receptacle and combining therewith to provide an insulating air chamber around the receptacle having an open end for receiving air from the atmosphere, and said receptacle having ports communicating with said air chamber and combining therewith to form parts of said air passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,117,922 Sterkel Nov. 17, 1914 1,978,994 Fortunato Oct. 30, 1934 2,381,568 Booharin Aug. 7, 1945 2,390,233 Akerrnan Dec. 4, 1945 2,706,983 Matheson et al Apr. 26, 1955 2,784,714 Pitzipio Mar. 27, 1957 3,018,776 Saitta et a1. Jan. 30, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 679,559 France Jan. 10, 1930

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A RESPIRATOR INCLUDING A FACE MASK, AN AIR PASSAGE THROUGH WHICH AIR IS CONVEYED TO THE FACE MASK FROM THE ATMOSPHERE, AND AN AIR FILTER INTERPOSED IN SAID AIR PASSAGE; AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT INCLUDING A RECEPTACLE CONTAINING ICE, SAID RECEPTACLE FORMING A PART OF THE AIR PASSAGE FOR COOLING THE AIR PASSING THERETHROUGH AND BEING DISPOSED BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE AIR FILTER, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OPEN TOP, A REMOVABLE CLOSURE FOR SAID OPEN TOP, A CONDUIT COMMUNICATING WITH SAID RECEPTACLE AND EXTENDING FROM SAID CLOSURE TO THE MASK AND FORMING A PART OF THE AIR PASSAGE, AND A SECOND CONDUIT FORMING A PART OF THE AIR PASSAGE HAVING A LOWER DISCHARGE END OPENING INTO SAID RECEPTACLE BENEATH SAID CLOSURE AND AN UPPER INLET END CONNECTED TO AND COMMUNICATING WITH AN OUTLET PORT OF THE AIR FILTER.

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