Filter adapter for holding a filter unit and personal protective equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filter adapter for receiving a filter unit and corresponding personal protective equipment. The filter adapter can be connected to a filter device and thus used together with a filter device. The filter adapter is suitable for receiving a filter unit and can be connected to a filter device. The filter adapter has: a connection structure for connecting to the filter device, a receiving structure for receiving the filter unit, and a contact surface for sealing against a protective suit.

Description

The present invention relates to a filter adapter for accommodating a filter unit and to corresponding personal protection equipment. The filter adapter can be connected to a filter device and can thus be used together with a filter device.Filter devices are one type of respirator. Respirators are divided according to their mode of operation into filter devices (filtering, acting depending on the ambient atmosphere) and insulating devices (supplying breathing gas, acting independently of the ambient atmosphere) and are differentiated according to their design and mode of operation.The various types of equipment are specified in corresponding German or European standards. The designation of individual parts of respirators is defined in DIN EN 134.Filter devices may be equipped with a blower to cause ambient air flow through a filter unit towards a user. Filter devices of this type are also referred to as blower filter devices (also known as PAPR or powered air-cleaning respirator). Blower filter devices generally have a low inhalation resistance and also have a particularly favorable microclimate in the breathing connection.Such a filter device is known from DE 10 2012 013 656 A1.Filter devices may also not have fans, in which case the user must generate an ambient air flow through a filter unit by means of his own breathing effort. This type of filter device is also known as an APR (Air-Purifying Respirator).A filtering device is suitable for receiving a filter unit to filter the ambient air with respect to solid, liquid and / or gaseous pollutants and to provide the filtered ambient air to the user of the filtering device.Together with a breathing connection, such filter devices and filters form a breathing protection system.The breathing connection provides a fluidic connection between the filter device and the user, through which the user can breathe the filtered ambient air. Examples of known breathing connections are a mouthpiece assembly, a quarter mask, a half mask, a full mask, a respirator hood, a respirator helmet and a respirator suit.Frequently, a line such as a hose (also referred to as a breathing hose) is also provided between the filter device and the breathing connection-as part of the breathing connection or separately therefrom-which line connects the breathing connection indirectly to the filter device. Alternatively, the breathing connection and the filter device are connected to one another directly, i.e. without an additional line.In special use situations, it is necessary for the breathing connection to be designed as a respirator suit or as a chemical protector suit (hereinafter collectively also referred to simply as a protective suit in the preamble), which additionally protects some or all parts of the user's body against potential pollutants from the environment.In this connection, two basic arrangements of the filter device relative to the protective suit are known: outside the protective suit or inside the protective suit.Carrying the filter device outside the protective suit allows the use of a protective suit of compact design, but results in the filter device being contaminated by pollutants in the environment of the protective suit. A complicated preparation of the filter device after each use is thus necessary.Supporting the filter device within the protective suit avoids the entire filter device having to be processed after use, but requires that a suitable interface be provided between the filter device arranged in the interior of the protective suit and the environment for extracting ambient air.The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an interface of this type, in particular an interface of this type, which can be used in a particularly flexible manner.These and other objects are achieved by the subject matter of the independent claim.The dependent claims, the description and the figures provide further features and advantageous embodiments of the invention.According to the invention, a filter adapter for receiving a filter unit is provided in this respect, wherein the filter adapter can be connected to a filter device. The filter adapter has: a connecting structure for connecting to the filter device, a receiving structure for receiving the filter unit, and a contact surface for sealingly bearing against a protective suit.The invention is based on the idea that the provision of an interface between the protective suit and the filter device can be simplified by providing an additional filter adapter. This is because the filter device can thus be suitable for different purposes of use and can be set up for the specific application of carrying the filter device in a protective suit by providing the filter adapter. It is thus not necessary to provide different types of filters and / or filter devices for different purposes of use.A filter device is understood to mean a filter device described at the beginning, i.e. in particular a blower filter device or a filter device without a blower.A filter unit is understood to mean a component which can comprise one or more filters or consist of these. The filter unit is configured to at least partially remove predetermined pollutants from the ambient air that can be passed through it, wherein these pollutants can be liquid, solid and / or gaseous substances. A filter unit can be designed, for example, as a particle filter, gas filter, combination filter, AX filter, SX filter and / or as a CO filter.A filter unit may comprise, for example, a filter material or a plurality of filter materials, which may be surrounded by a filter housing, which forms an air inlet on an upstream side of the filter unit and forms an air outlet on a downstream side of the filter unit. As part of the filter housing or separately therefrom, the filter unit can have a filter connection for connection to the filter device, i.e. a mechanical and fluidic interface for coupling to the filter device.A filter unit may comprise further and / or different components than those mentioned above.A protective suit is understood to mean personal protective equipment which is configured to protect a torso and / or arms and / or legs of a user, preferably the entire body of the user, from damaging influences. The harmful effects can be, for example, of atomic, chemical or biological nature. An example of a protective suit is a chemical protective suit which is intended to protect against the damaging action of predetermined chemicals.According to the invention, a filter adapter is particularly characterized in that it is structurally separate or reversibly separable from the filter device and from the filter unit and can be selectively brought into engagement with the filter device and filter unit.Filter devices which are suitable for use with a filter adapter according to the invention can, if they are designed as a blower filter unit, have a blower unit (also referred to merely as a blower), which can have a fan wheel driven by an electric motor and a fan housing (for example a spiral housing) which is matched to the fan wheel. The drive energy for the blower unit and an associated control unit can be provided by an energy supply unit, which can preferably have rechargeable batteries or accumulators. The controller may be further configured to process user inputs. These inputs can comprise, for example, switching the blower unit on and off and / or adjusting the power of the blower unit. In addition, the control unit can be configured to adapt the power of the motor (or of the blower unit) to the requirements of the user. This is especially important when the user requires more breathing air due to increased physical exertion or when the breathing resistance through the filter increases after a longer operating period. The blower unit, the control unit and the power supply unit are usually enclosed by a housing. The above-described filter unit can be connected to this housing. Furthermore, the above-described breathing tube or the breathing connection can be connected to this housing. During operation, air is sucked by means of the blower device through the filter unit into the housing of the blower unit and then, as described at the beginning, is conducted indirectly or directly to the breathing connection.The filter adapter is preferably formed in one piece, wherein the contact surface is formed between the connecting structure and the filter receptacle.The one-piece design of the filter adapter reduces the number of parts to be handled and thus simplifies the handling of the filter adapter.Alternatively, it is preferred that the filter adapter is formed in two parts with (i.e. comprising) a first filter adapter element and a second filter adapter element, wherein the contact surface is formed between the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element.The contact surface leading to the seal between the protective suit and the filter adapter can thus be provided by pairing components which are separate from the filter device, namely by the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element. The sealing effect can thus be adapted specifically to desired properties, since the contact surface is independent of the filter device in this case.Preferably, a sealing element is arranged between the connecting structure and the filter device.In this way, a seal between filter adapter and filter device can be further improved.Preferably, the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element can be connected by means of a thread pairing, so that the protective suit can be received in a force-fit manner between the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element.In this way, the assembly and thus handling of the two-part filter adapter can be simplified while simultaneously achieving the sealing effect.The receiving structure is preferably designed corresponding to a filter receptacle of the filter device.A corresponding configuration is understood to mean that the receiving structure is compatible with the filter receptacle. In other words, the filter adapter is configured to receive a filter, which can also be inserted into a filter device into which the filter adapter can be inserted. Thus, the filter adapter functions as a universal adapter compatible with standard filter units.The connecting structure is preferably designed corresponding to a filter connection of the filter unit.A corresponding configuration is understood to mean that the connection structure is compatible with the filter connection. In other words, the filter adapter can be inserted into a filter connection of the filter device, so that no additional interface or no modification of existing interfaces is required for receiving the filter adapter. Thus, the filter adapter functions as a universal adapter compatible with standard filter devices.Preferably, a circumference of the connecting structure is smaller than a circumference of the receiving structure.The filter device is preferably designed as a blower filter device.According to the invention, a filter unit for use with a filter adapter according to one of the preceding claims is also provided, which filter unit has advantages and effects comparable to the filter adapter according to the invention. Furthermore, any features described with respect to the filter adapter are also considered to be disclosed in connection with the filter unit.According to the invention, a filter device for use with a filter adapter according to one of the preceding claims is also provided, which has advantages and effects comparable to the filter adapter according to the invention. Furthermore, any features described with respect to the filter adapter are also considered to be disclosed in connection with the filter device.According to the invention, there is further provided personal protection equipment, the personal protection equipment comprising a filter device, a filter unit, a filter adapter as described above and optionally a protection suit for use with the filter adapter. Further, any features described with respect to the filter adapter are also considered to be disclosed in connection with personal protection equipment.These and further features and effects of the invention also result from the following description of the figures. The following shows: FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a filter device according to the invention and a filter unit according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a filter device according to the invention, a filter unit according to the invention and a two-part filter adapter according to the invention, FIG. 3 shows the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2 in a assembled state, and FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a filter device according to the invention, a filter unit according to the invention and a one-piece filter adapter according to the invention in a assembled state.According to the invention, a filter adapter 100 is provided. Exemplary embodiments of filter adapters 100 according to the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4.FIG. 1 shows a section of an exemplary filter device 300 suitable for use with a filter adapter 100 according to the invention.This exemplary filter device 300 has a filter receptacle 320 formed in a housing of the filter device 300 and is connected fluidically to a line 310 in the direction of a breathing connection and / or a fan. The filter receptacle 320 can be provided as an integral part of the filter device 300, for example as illustrated from its housing, or as a separate component.In the example shown, the filter receptacle 320 is designed as a cutout with a mechanical interface for connection to a filter connection 210 of the filter unit 200. However, it is not necessary for the filter receptacle 320 to be formed as a cutout.In the example shown, the filter receptacle 320 is designed with an undercut 321 which can be latched to a corresponding latching element 211 of the filter unit 200. Other configurations of the mechanical interface formed by filter receptacle 320 and filter connection 210, such as, for example, as a thread pairing or as a bayonet connection, are likewise possible.The filter receptacle 320 of the example shown is furthermore configured to be brought into substantially flush contact with a wall 212 of the filter unit 200, although this is not necessary.FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show the filter device 300 and the filter unit 200 according to FIG. 1 together with two different embodiments of the filter adapter 100 according to the invention. The filter adapter 100 according to FIGS. 2 and 3 is embodied in two parts, wherein the filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4 is embodied in one part.FIG. 2 shows the two-part filter adapter 100 with the filter device 300 and the filter unit 200 in the non-assembled state. FIG. 3 shows the two-part filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 2 in the assembled state.Both filter adapters 100, i.e. both the filter adapter 100 according to FIGS. 2 and 3 and that according to FIG. 4 (hereinafter also collectively referred to simply as "the filter adapter 100"), are suitable for receiving a filter unit 200, for example the filter unit 200 according to FIG. 1, and can be connected to a filter device 300, for example the filter device 300 according to FIG. 1.The filter adapter 100 of all figures has a connecting structure 110 for connecting to the filter device 300, a receiving structure 120 for receiving the filter unit 200 and a contact surface 130 or a plurality of contact surfaces 130 a, 130 bfor sealingly bearing against a protective suit 400.The filter adapter 100 according to FIGS. 2, 3 is formed in two parts with a first filter adapter element 100 aand a second filter adapter element 100 b, wherein the contact surface 130 a, 130 bis formed between the first filter adapter element 100 aand the second filter adapter element 100 b.The first filter adapter 100 aaccording to FIGS. 2, 3 can have a connecting structure 110, which can be formed in accordance with the filter connection 210 of the filter unit 200, which can therefore have, as shown by way of example, a latching element 110 of identical design and a wall 112 of identical design, which can be brought into engagement with the filter receptacle 320 of the filter device 300 in the same way as the filter unit 200.The first filter adapter 100 aand the second filter adapter 100 bin accordance with FIGS. 2, 3 can be connected by means of a thread pair 151, 152, so that the protective suit 400 can be received in a force-fit manner between the first filter adapter element 100 aand the second filter adapter element 100 b. For this purpose, the first filter adapter 100 acan have an external thread and the second filter adapter 100 bcan have an internal thread or vice versa.In the example shown, the first filter adapter 100 aand the second filter adapter 100 bfurther each have a through-opening 160 a, 160 bto provide a fluidic connection between the filter unit 200 and the filter receptacle 320.The second filter adapter 100 bin accordance with FIGS. 2, 3 can have a receiving structure 120, which can be designed in accordance with a filter receptacle 320 of the filter device 300. By way of example, it is shown that the receiving structure 120 can have an undercut 121 for this purpose, which can be formed in the same way as the undercut 321 of the filter receptacle 320, if present.By connecting the first filter adapter 100 aand the second filter adapter 100 bin accordance with FIGS. 2, 3, the two-part filter adapter 100 a, 100 bcan be assembled, wherein during assembly the protective suit 400, which can have a suitable interface 410 with a through-opening 420, can be brought into sealing contact with the contact surface 130, 130 b. This assembled state is shown in FIG. 3.As is illustrated in FIG. 2, a sealing element 140 can be arranged between the connecting structure 110 of the filter adapter 100 a, 100 band the filter device 300 or the filter receptacle 320. For example, as illustrated, this can be configured as an O-ring; however, any other type of sealing element and / or the provision of a plurality of sealing elements is possible.The filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4 is formed in one piece, wherein the contact surface 130 is formed between the connecting structure 110 of the filter adapter 100 and the filter receptacle 320.The filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4 can have, as the connecting structure 110, for example an external thread which can be brought into engagement with a corresponding internal thread 310 of the filter device 300. The internal thread 310 of the filter device 300 can be configured as part of the filter receptacle 320 or be provided separately therefrom.It is likewise possible in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 2, 3 for the connecting structure 110 to be designed as an external thread, as according to FIG. 4. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, it is possible for the connecting structure 110 to be formed with a latching element, such as that according to FIGS. 2, 3. In both exemplary embodiments, the connecting structure 110 can also be formed in any other desired manner.The receiving structure 120 of the filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4 can be designed corresponding to the filter receptacle 320 of the filter device 300, as is shown.The filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4 also preferably has a through-opening 160 for fluidically connecting the filter unit 200 to the line 310.It is not shown that a sealing element can also be provided in the filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4 between the filter device 300 and the filter adapter 100.As can be seen in the filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4, it is preferred that a circumference of the connecting structure 110 is smaller than a circumference of the receiving structure 120.The filter device 300 of all exemplary embodiments can be designed as a blower filter device.According to the invention, a personal protection equipment 500 is further provided, comprising: a filter device 300, a filter unit 200, a filter adapter 100, 100 a, 100 band optionally a protection suit 400 for use with the filter adapter 100, 100 a, 100 b.List of reference characters100 Filter adapter 100 afirst filter adapter element 100 bsecond filter adapter element 110 connecting structure 111 latching element of filter adapter 112 wall of filter adapter 120 receiving structure of filter adapter 121 undercut of filter adapter 130, 130 a, 130 bcontact surface 140 sealing element 151 external thread 152 internal thread 160, 160 a, 160 bthrough opening 200 filter unit 210 filter connection 211 latching element of filter unit 212 wall of filter unit 300 filter device 310 line 311 internal thread of filter device 320 filter receptacle 321 undercut of filter device 400 protective suit 410 interface 420 through opening of protective suit 500 personal protection equipmentReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2012 013 656 A1

[0005]

Claims

Filter adapter (100) for receiving a filter unit (200), wherein the filter adapter (100) can be connected to a filter device (300), having - a connecting structure (110) for connecting to the filter device (300), - a receiving structure (120) for receiving the filter unit (200), and - a contact surface (130, 130a, 130b) for sealing contact with a protective suit (400).Filter adapter (100) according to claim 1, wherein the filter adapter (100) is formed in one piece, and wherein the contact surface (130) is formed between the connection structure (110) and the filter receptacle (320), or wherein the filter adapter (100) is formed in two pieces with a first filter adapter element (100a) and a second filter adapter element (100b), and wherein the contact surface (130a, 130b) is formed between the first filter adapter element (100a) and the second filter adapter element (100b).Filter adapter (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a sealing element (140) is arranged between the connecting structure (110) and the filter device (300).Filter adapter (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first filter adapter element (100a) and the second filter adapter element (100b) are connectable by means of a thread pairing (151, 152), such that the protective suit (400) is receivable in a force-fit manner between the first filter adapter element (100a) and the second filter adapter element (100b).Filter adapter (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving structure (120) is formed corresponding to a filter receptacle (320) of the filter device (300).Filter adapter (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting structure (110) is formed corresponding to a filter connection (210) of the filter unit (200).Filter adapter (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter device (300) is configured as a blower filter device.A filter unit (200) for use with a filter adapter (100) according to any preceding claim.A filter device (300) for use with a filter adapter (100) according to any preceding claim.Personal protection equipment (500) comprising: - a filter device (300) according to claim 9, - a filter unit (200) according to claim 8, - a filter adapter (100, 100a, 100b) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and - an optional protection suit (400) for use with the filter adapter (100, 100a, 100b).

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