Modular, adjustable powered air-purifying respirator system
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- D WHEATLEY ENTERPRISES INC
- Filing Date
- 2022-06-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-31
Smart Images
Figure 0007898463000003 
Figure 0007898463000004 
Figure 0007898463000005
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention generally relates to modular, wearable respiratory devices, and more particularly to a modular, adjustable, compact powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) system with an electric fan.
Background Art
[0002] Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) systems are commonly used by emergency responders and other personnel working in hazardous environments, such as environments that may be contaminated with chemical, biological, radioactive, or nuclear contaminants. Such systems typically include one or more filter cartridges and a blower assembly used to deliver air through a filter canister to a respirator or protective mask worn by an operator, thus supplying the operator with clean, breathable air. Such systems are generally effective in providing a safe, breathable environment for the operator, but are often heavy and bulky, making them difficult to wear and fatiguing. Further, the physical space occupied by the components of such systems can make it difficult for an operator to use the components in narrow, small, or otherwise restricted spaces. Additionally, operators with different mission objectives may be equipped with a variety of other equipment, making it difficult to incorporate all of the other desired equipment into a single, typical PAPR system.
[0003] Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a thin, lightweight PAPR system that is easily wearable and transportable by an operator and whose shape and overall configuration can be easily customized to meet the operator's physical space requirements.
Summary of the Invention
[0004] This specification discloses a modular, adjustable, compact PAPR system. According to a particular aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the system includes a blower, a filter rail chassis detachably mounted to the blower inlet, and a hose system detachably mounted to the blower outlet. The filter rail chassis is low profile and is offered in one of several configurations capable of mounting, for example, one to three filter cartridges. The power supply can be offered in various configurations, preferably including a battery pack detachably mounted to the blower in a nested configuration close to both the blower and the filter chassis to maintain the system's compact profile; alternatively, the power supply can be carried away from the blower by a power cord interconnecting the blower and the battery pack. Furthermore, the power supply can also be configured to connect directly to an A / C or D / C power supply. Such variable power and filter configurations provide the user with the opportunity to quickly change the PAPR configuration, allowing the user to quickly adapt to the specific environment in which they are operating (i.e., controlling the airflow from the blower and the number of filters mounted on the filter rail chassis). The hose system has an elliptical outer tube extending from a first connector (attached to the blower) to a second opposite end (attached to the operator's protective mask). The elliptical shape maintains a nearly flat profile as the hose extends across or along the operator's body. Within this elliptical outer tube, two circular air transport conduits are sealed to prevent external contamination. This assembly, despite having an elliptical outer shape, maintains remarkably high hoop stress as a result of the circular tubes inside the tube system, resulting in a flat, small-profile tube system with low resistance to bending and intentional curves (which the operator may desire to position the tube system around other equipment worn by the operator). It does not inadvertently twist or seal even during low-radius turns, resulting in a low-profile, non-tipping hose system for supplying air from a remotely transported blower and filter assembly to the operator's protective mask.
[0005] In exemplary embodiments, the blower unit of a PAPR system is adjustable so that the user or wearer can change the position of the blower unit's outlet and, consequently, the connection point of the hose system, thereby allowing the user or wearer to route the hose as most desirable for the equipment configuration at that time, while maintaining an airtight airflow conduit that extends from the filter rail chassis holding the filter cartridge through the PAPR to the outlet port and finally to the hose system to deliver to the user's mask. In this regard, the blower unit employs a modular assembly having an upper blower unit housing and a lower blower unit housing, the upper blower unit housing being rotatable relative to the lower blower unit housing by simple manual adjustment from outside the blower unit housing. An internal sealing member between the upper and lower blower unit housings ensures that airtightness is maintained within the airflow path with respect to the blower unit during such rotational adjustments. In such an assembly, if the wearer's equipment configuration desires to align the hose in a straight line when the filter is not attached to the blower unit, the blower unit can be configured so that the outlet port is aligned with the filter rail. Similarly, if the wearer's equipment configuration is modified so that the hose is preferably extended outward from the side of the blower unit at a 90° (or other angle) relative to the filter rail, the wearer can manually rotate the top of the blower unit housing to the intended new position while maintaining the airtight seal inside the air passage.
[0006] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, A modular blower unit having an upper and lower part of the blower unit housing, an air inlet in the lower part of the blower unit housing, and an air outlet provided in the upper part of the blower unit housing, configured to be detachably connected to a hose system for supplying purified air to the user, A filter rail chassis having a first closed end and a second open end, the filter rail chassis being removablely attached to the air inlet of the blower unit at the second open end of the filter rail chassis, wherein the filter rail chassis has at least one chassis inlet configured to receive a filter canister in a removable and sealed manner, The upper part of the blower unit housing is manually rotatable relative to the lower part of the blower unit housing to change the angle between the first airflow passing through the filter rail chassis and the second airflow exiting the air outlet. We provide powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) assemblies.
[0007] Further aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description by merely illustrating a number of specific embodiments and models, including the best mode intended for carrying out the invention. Other different embodiments of the invention are also possible, and some of their details can be modified in various obvious ways, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the drawings and description should be considered illustrative and not restrictive. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] Novel features of the present invention are described in detail in the appended claims. The features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by referring to the following detailed description illustrating exemplary embodiments in which the principles of the present invention are utilized. The present invention is shown in the appended drawings as examples, not as limitations, and the same reference numerals refer to similar elements.
[0009] [Figure 1A] Figure 1A is a perspective view of a powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B]Figure 1B is a magnified view of a portion of the powered air-purifying respirator assembly shown in Figure 1A, illustrating the hose system connected to the blower unit. [Figure 2A] Figure 2A is a front perspective view of the blower unit used in the powered air-purifying respirator assembly shown in Figure 1A. [Figure 2B] Figure 2B is a rear view of the blower unit shown in Figure 2A. [Figure 2C] Figure 2C is a front view of the blower unit shown in Figure 2A. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the filter rail chassis used in the powered air-purifying respirator assembly shown in Figure 1A. [Figure 4A] Figure 4A is a top view of the powered air-purifying respirator assembly from Figure 1A with the filter canister installed, with the blower cover removed for clarity. [Figure 4B] Figure 4B is a top view of the powered air-purifying respirator assembly from Figure 1A, with the filter canister removed, and the blower cover removed for clarity. [Figure 5A] Figure 5A is a front perspective view of the power unit used in the powered air-purifying respirator assembly shown in Figure 1A. [Figure 5B] Figure 5B is a rear perspective view of the power unit shown in Figure 5A. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a front perspective view of a blower and power unit according to a further embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a front perspective view of a powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to a further embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows a pouch for remote storage of a power unit according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the hose system used in the powered air-purifying respirator assembly shown in Figure 1A. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the hose system shown in Figure 9. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is an exploded view of the inlet end and the outlet end of the hose system of FIG. 9. [Figure 12(A)] FIG. 12(A) is a perspective view of a respiratory protective device assembly with an electric fan according to a further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. The blower unit includes a modular assembly having an upper blower unit housing that is rotatable relative to the lower fixed blower unit housing. [Figure 12(B)] FIG. 12(B) is a perspective view of the respiratory protective device assembly with an electric fan of FIG. 12(A), in which the upper blower unit housing is rotated 90° from the position of FIG. 12(A). [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the respiratory protective device assembly with an electric fan of FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B) with a part of the upper blower unit housing removed. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the respiratory protective device assembly with an electric fan of FIG. 13 with the blower fan unit housing of the upper blower unit housing removed. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a top perspective view showing the seal plate of the upper blower unit housing placed on the lower blower unit housing. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a top of a top perspective view showing the seal plate of the upper blower unit housing placed on the lower blower unit housing with the retainer ring removed. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of the lower blower unit housing. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a bottom perspective view of the upper blower unit housing. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is another top perspective view of the lower blower unit housing.
Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention
[0010] The present invention can be understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawings. The description of the present embodiment is provided below to enable the implementation of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the preferred embodiments, but is intended to function as a specific example thereof. Those skilled in the art should understand that the disclosed concepts and specific embodiments can be easily used as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for performing the same purpose of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also understand that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention in its broadest form.
[0011] Descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted for the sake of clarity and brevity. The terms used in this specification are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used in this specification, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Further, the use of terms such as "a" and "an" does not indicate a limitation of quantity, but rather indicates the presence of at least one of the items being referred to.
[0012] The use of terms such as "first", "second", etc. does not mean a specific order, but is included for the purpose of identifying individual elements. Further, the use of terms such as "first", "second", etc. does not indicate an order of importance, and the terms "first", "second", etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. As used herein, the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising", or "includes" and / or "including" identify the presence of the described features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but it will be further understood that they do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.
[0013] While some features are described in relation to individual exemplary embodiments, the embodiments are not limited thereto, so that features from one or more exemplary embodiments can be combined with other features from one or more exemplary embodiments.
[0014] Referring to Figures 1A and 1B, a modular, integrated powered air-purifying respirator ("PAPR") system is provided, according to a particular aspect of the embodiment, including a blower unit 10, a filter rail chassis 30 configured to receive a filter canister 36 such as a CBR filter canister, a power assembly 50 for supplying power to the blower, and a hose assembly 100 for interconnecting the blower with a protective mask.
[0015] Referring to Figures 1A-4B, the blower unit 10 includes an inlet port 12 that receives the outlet end 32 of the filter rail chassis 30 in an airtight connection. The blower unit 10 includes a motor that operates a fan 11 (Figures 4A-4B) that draws air into the inlet port 12 of the blower unit 10, passing through the filter rail chassis 30 and outward through the outlet end 32 of the filter rail chassis 30. The filter rail chassis 30 also includes one or more filter canister ports 34, each of which can removably receive a filter canister 36, such as a CBR filter canister having a configuration well known to those skilled in the art. When the blower unit 10 is operating, air is drawn through the filter canister 36 into the filter canister ports 34, and contaminants are removed from the air during that process. This purified air flows from the filter canister port 34 through the main body of the filter rail chassis 30 to the blower unit 10, enters the inlet port 12 of the blower unit 10, flows from the outlet port 14 to the hose assembly 100, and is finally delivered to the operator's protective mask.
[0016] The filter rail chassis 30 has a slim body configuration in which the width of the filter rail chassis 30 does not exceed the diameter of the filter canister 36. The outlet end 32 of the filter rail chassis 30 has a width complementary to the width of the inlet port 12 of the blower unit 10, but the more distal portion of the filter rail chassis 30 may have an even slimmer profile to further minimize the load on the operator and the impact on the operator. Furthermore, the filter rail chassis 30 can have three or more filter canister ports 34, two filter canister ports 34, or one filter canister port 34, so that the operator can select the configuration that is best suited to the operating environment while minimizing the profile of the filter rail chassis 30 and maximizing the ability to adapt the system to current operational needs. Since the filter rail chassis 30 is detachable from the blower unit 10, a modular system can be provided in which the operator can select a filter rail chassis 30 of the appropriate size for a particular mission (i.e., one filter, two filters, three filters, etc.). Preferably, the outlet end 32 of the filter rail chassis 30 can be detachably received by a clip 32a for holding the filter rail chassis 30 to the inlet 12 of the blower unit 10, and this clip 32a can be manually removed when desired (for example, to change the filter rail chassis 30 from a two-filter configuration to a three-filter configuration or a one-filter configuration).
[0017] To further maintain a compact shape, the blower unit 10 may have a concave wall 16 facing the filter canister 36 when mounted on the filter rail chassis 30. Preferably, the concave wall 16 has a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of the outer wall of the filter canister 36, so that the filter canister 36 closest to the blower unit 10 can be positioned closer to the blower unit 10 than if the wall 16 were provided in a planar configuration. The blower unit 10 also has a front wall 18 that holds the outlet port 14, an operator switch 19 that allows the operator to adjust the speed of the blower motor, and preferably a smart remote switch ("SRS") connector 20 that allows the connection of an SRS 120 on the hose assembly 100, as will be described in more detail later.
[0018] According to certain aspects of the embodiment, particularly with reference to Figures 1A and 1B, the SRS may be provided in either a standalone configuration, housed in its own housing connected to the SRS connector 20 of the blower unit 10, or in a hose-integrated configuration, where the SRS 120 is attached to the hose assembly 100. The SRS 120 can function with two switches, namely onboard and remote. Preferably, when the remote switch is used, the onboard switch is disabled. In the remote hose-integrated configuration, the SRS 120 may have a two-position switch located at the end of the hose assembly 100 and attached to the operator's mask, thus providing easy and quick access for the operator. The remote SRS 120 may preferably have an "off" position, which includes a position in which a rigid tactile (snap) is maintained, and an "on / set" position, which includes an instantaneous position of the tactile. When set to "off," the PAPR is turned off. When the operator first presses "ON / SET" from the "OFF" position, the PAPR is turned on with the programmed setting <Setting 1> or <Last> (see the description of program selection below). Similarly, each subsequent press of "ON / SET" sets the PAPR to the next program setting <Setting X>.
[0019] Therefore, as a non-limiting example, if you start from the "Off" position and press "On / Set" three times, the PAPR will operate at the speed programmed in <Setting 3>.
[0020] Optionally, additional features can be incorporated into the SRS assembly, such as indicators that provide visual signals indicating the system status, including (as a non-limiting example) low flow rate or current flow, low battery or general battery status.
[0021] Similarly, the manual onboard blower / filter rail switch 19 may have a rotary selector that, as a non-limiting example, can provide four position settings such as "off," "setting-1," "setting-2," and "setting-3" (each such setting indicates a different operating speed or other operating condition for the blower unit 10, each being the same as the programmed condition for the remote SRS 120).
[0022] According to a particular aspect of a particular embodiment, the system allows an operator to define the number of speed settings that can be achieved by the blower unit 10, and the function / flow of each. Such programming can be performed through the SRS connector 20, such as by connecting a PC or other computing device to the SRS connector 20. In a particular configuration, the PC or other computing device may include software that allows each <setting> to be programmed to, preferably, one of the following exemplary settings: (i) a constant flow rate having a range defined by the blower operating window for a predetermined number of filter canisters 36, and (ii) a BRR (Breath Rate Response) defined by the number of filter canisters 36 and available as an offset from a default parameter used to increase the flow rate level on the BRR curve.
[0023] A PC or other computing device may further include software that enables a “first on / off” setting, which may be configured to start from <setting 1> or from the last setting used before “off”. Furthermore, a PC or other computing device may include software that allows a cycle after the last setting. For example, if four settings are programmed after on / set has been pressed four times, then when on / set is pressed a fifth time, it can be configured to do nothing, regardless of how many times on / set has been pressed, as follows: TIFF0007898463000001.tif28170 Alternatively, pressing it 5 times will return you to the setting from the 3rd time, and so on, in a cycle as follows. TIFF0007898463000002.tif27170
[0024] As described above, and particularly with reference to Figures 5A-7, the modular integrated PAPR system includes a power assembly 50 for supplying power to the blower unit 10. With respect to a particular embodiment, the power assembly 50 may have a battery pack that can be mounted, such as being removablely mounted to the housing of the blower unit 10. In this regard, the battery pack 50 may have an inner wall 52 that matches the profile of the housing of the blower unit 10 and at least a portion of the outer edge of the filter rail chassis 30. More specifically, a first portion of the inner wall 52 may be planar to match the side wall portion of the housing of the blower unit 10, and at least a portion of the battery pack is located below the housing 10 of the blower unit.
[0025] The battery pack 50 preferably has a pin assembly 54 that meshes with the power port 22 of the blower unit 10, so that the pin assembly 54 engages with the internal power circuit of the blower unit 10 to supply power to the blower motor. Optionally, a battery pack adapter 60 may be provided and placed in series between the battery pack 50 and the battery port 22 of the blower unit 10. The use of such a battery pack adapter 60 allows for quick replacement of the battery pack 50 with another battery pack 50 when it is depleted, without having to operate the battery pack 50 attached to the blower unit 10. A cable 62 can detachably receive the pins 54 of the battery pack 50, allowing for quick connection and disconnection of the battery pack 50 to another battery pack 50. Such a cable 62 also allows the operator to carry the battery pack 50 on their body away from the blower unit 10 and chassis 30, thus further providing the operator with the opportunity to minimize the profile of the blower unit 10 and chassis 30. The battery pack adapter 60 also has pins 64 with a configuration that is generally the same as the pins 54 of the battery pack 50, and these pins 64 similarly engage with the power port 22 of the blower unit 10.
[0026] Furthermore, the battery pack 50 may optionally include a detachable cable 70 (Figure 7) that allows the battery pack 50 to be connected to a power source such as an AC or DC power source, for both the purpose of charging the battery pack 50 and for the purpose of directly supplying power to the blower unit 10. Alternatively, the battery pack 50 may be wired to such a power cable 70. The battery pack 50 may be configured to supply external power to the blower unit 10 when connected to an external power source and to automatically switch to battery power when disconnected from the external power source.
[0027] Furthermore, while the battery pack 50 is removable from the blower unit 10, it may have removable fasteners such as screws or bolts to hold the battery pack 50 in the housing of the blower unit 10 and ensure a secure connection between these elements. In a particularly preferred configuration, the upper part of the battery pack 50 may include a guide rail 53 that engages with a push latch 17 on the lower side of the housing of the blower unit 10, so that the battery pack 50 slides into place on the lower side of the housing of the blower unit 10 and remains held in place, while the user can push the push latch 17 downwards to slide the battery pack 50 outward along the guide rail 53 and finally remove it from the blower unit 10.
[0028] In each of the above cases, the battery pack 50 may be detachable from the blower unit 10 and can be carried by an operator away from the blower unit 10 and chassis 30, for example, in a pouch 80 (Figure 8).
[0029] As described above, and particularly with reference to Figures 9-11, the hose system 100 provides a conduit for breathable air from the blower unit 10 to the connection port of the operator's protective mask. The hose system 100 has a first end 101 configured to connect to an outlet port 14 on the blower unit 10 and a second end 102 configured to connect to an inlet port located outside the operator's protective mask. More specifically, the first end 101 includes a rotatable coupling 103 that forms a linear connection with the outlet port 14 on the blower unit 10. Similarly, the second end 102 includes a rotatable coupling 104 that holds an outlet 105 providing a 90° connection from the hose system 100 to the operator's protective mask, in order to further minimize the profile of the modular, integrated PAPR system. In exemplary embodiments, a first flexible cuff 106, which may be made of rubber, and a similarly configured second flexible cuff 107, each fit tightly onto the tapered portions of the rotatable couplings 103 and 104, respectively, and each enters an outer tube 110. Preferably, the outer tube 110 is coupled to the rubber cuffs 106 and 107, respectively, to ensure an airtight connection.
[0030] The outer tube 110 is made of a material that is sufficiently flexible to allow the operator to position and route the tube in the configuration most desirable for a particular equipment configuration, and is heavy enough to prevent tearing. The outer tube 110 is also elliptical, which helps maintain a small, flat profile so that the hose system 100 can be laid flat against the operator's body in the intended position and location without rolling or interfering with the use of other equipment worn by the operator. In certain exemplary configurations, the outer tube 110 may be made of a highly durable nylon such as CORDURA® or NOMEX®, as an example not limited to this. Alternatively, the outer tube 110 may be made of other flexible material that is abuse-protective, such as KEVLAR® or a similarly configured material. The outer surface of the outer tube 110 is preferably bonded to the inner surfaces of the rubber cuffs 106 and 107, respectively.
[0031] Preferably, two circular cross-section pneumatic conduits 120 are located inside the outer tube 110 and deliver filtered air from the blower unit 10 to the air inlet of the operator's protective mask. The circular pneumatic conduits 120 may include reinforcing coils 122 extending around the outer circumference of each conduit 120 to provide resistance to crushing of each independent conduit 120, such as when the outer tube 110 is inadvertently compressed by other equipment carried by the operator. Furthermore, by providing two such circular pneumatic conduits 120, a significantly higher hoop stress is applied to the entire hose system 100 than if the entire hose system 100 were simply a hollow ellipse. Thus, such an assembly of an elliptical outer tube 110 with circular internal pneumatic conduits 120 allows for a flat, low-profile outer hose system 110 that can rest against the operator's body, again contributing to the overall thinning of the hose system 100, while still ensuring protection against accidental twisting or closure of the air conduits. Furthermore, by providing two internal circular pneumatic conduits, the resistance to bending is reduced compared to when a single large circular conduit is provided, allowing the operator to route the hose system 100 around their body in a way that is most appropriate and comfortable for the given load of equipment. In an exemplary configuration, each pneumatic conduit 120 has an outer diameter preferably about 14–24 mm, more preferably about 19 mm, and a length of about 36 inches.
[0032] Each end of each pneumatic conduit 120 is received within a fitting 130. Each fitting 130 is configured to transport air between the two pneumatic conduits 120 and one of the first end 101 and the second end 102. The outer wall of each fitting 130 is sized to fit snugly inside the respective inner ends of the 90° connections of the rotatable coupling 103 (first end 101 of the hose system 100) and the rotatable coupling 104. The outer wall of each fitting may be further provided with one or more sealing members, such as gaskets and O-rings, to provide a fluid and airtight seal. In a particularly preferred configuration, a CBRN protective barrier sleeve 140 surrounds both pneumatic conduits 120 to further protect the air transported by the conduits 120 from contamination from harmful elements outside the hose system 100. In such a configuration, the CBRN protective barrier 140 is sealed to each fitting 120 at each inner end of each fitting 120. The CBRN protective barrier 140 can be formed from Gore-Tex® in one exemplary embodiment, but various other flexible CBRN-protectable materials can be used in a similar manner without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0033] Next, with particular reference to Figures 12(A) and 12(B), a powered air-purifying respirator assembly 200 according to a further embodiment of the present invention is shown. As described above, the powered air-purifying respirator 200 can be mounted on a filter rail chassis 30 which may include one or more filter canisters 36 and may also accept a battery pack 50 configured as again described above. However, the powered air-purifying respirator 200 shown in Figures 12(A) and 12(B) has a modular assembly including an upper blower unit housing 210 and a lower blower unit housing 250. The upper part 210 of the blower unit housing is rotatably attached to the lower part 250 of the blower unit housing so as to change the position of the upper part 210, particularly the outlet port 14, so that the wearer can route the hose 100 in the manner most desirable for the equipment configuration at that time, while maintaining an airtight airflow conduit that extends from the filter rail chassis 30 through the powered air-purifying respirator 200 to the outlet port 14 (and ultimately to the hose 100).
[0034] The upper part of the blower unit housing 210 includes a blower unit cover 212, a blower fan unit housing 214, and a blower unit seal plate 216. The blower unit cover 212 is attached to the blower fan unit housing 214 via one or more connectors such as screws, bolts, or similarly configured connectors, and may include one or more sealing members (not shown), such as O-rings or similarly configured sealing members, to maintain a sealed compartment within the upper part of the blower unit housing 210. Similarly, the blower fan unit housing 214 is attached to the blower unit seal plate 216 via one or more connectors such as screws, bolts, or similarly configured connectors, and may also include one or more sealing members (not shown), such as O-rings or similarly configured sealing members, to maintain a sealed compartment within the upper part of the blower unit housing 210.
[0035] Similarly, the lower blower unit housing 250 includes a blower unit inlet housing 252 and a bottom cover 254. The blower unit inlet housing 252 is attached to the filter rail chassis 30 at the inlet 253 (Figure 19) and directs filtered air to the upper blower unit housing 210 and finally to the outlet port 14. The blower unit inlet housing 252 is secured to the bottom cover 254 via one or more connectors such as screws, bolts or similarly configured connectors and may include one or more sealing members (not shown), such as O-rings or similarly configured sealing members, to maintain a sealed compartment within the lower blower unit housing 250.
[0036] Next, as shown in Figure 13 (with the blower unit cover 212 removed for clarity), the blower fan unit housing 214 includes a blower fan unit 218 located within the blower fan compartment 220. Continuing to refer to Figures 13 and 14 (with the blower fan unit housing 214 removed for clarity), the blower fan unit 218 is positioned to direct filtered air drawn from the filter canister 36 through the filter rail chassis 30, through the lower part of the blower unit housing 250 to the outlet port 14, and then to the hose 100. The position of the blower fan unit 218 is fixed within the upper part of the blower unit housing 210, and even if the upper part of the blower unit housing 210 rotates relative to the lower part of the blower unit housing 250, the outlet of the blower fan unit 218 always remains aligned with the outlet port 14.
[0037] Next, referring particularly to Figures 15 to 19, the upper blower unit housing 210 is rotatably attached to the lower blower unit housing 250 via a retainer ring 256 fixed to the lower blower unit housing 250 at the blower fan intake hub 258 (shown in Figures 17 and 19) by screws, bolts, or similarly configured fasteners such as fasteners (not shown). The retainer ring 256 rests on or just above the retainer ring receiving rim 222 of the central baffle 220 of the seal plate 216 (Figure 16), but is not fixed to the retainer ring receiving rim 222. The retainer ring 256 is thus fixed to the lower 250 of the blower unit housing, but only holds the upper 210 of the blower unit housing so that it does not move perpendicularly away from the lower 250 of the blower unit housing. Therefore, the upper 210 of the blower unit housing can rotate freely relative to the retainer ring 256 and the blower fan intake hub 258 to change the orientation of the upper 210 of the blower unit housing (and thus the outlet port 14) relative to the lower 250 of the blower unit housing. As best shown in Figures 18 and 19, when the upper 210 of the blower unit housing is coupled to the lower 250 of the blower unit housing, the baffle 220 extends around the outer surface of the blower fan intake hub 258, directing air from the blower fan intake hub 258 to the blower fan unit 218, and from the blower fan unit 218 to the outlet port 14.
[0038] To maintain a sealed, airtight airflow path through the powered air-purifying respirator assembly 200, the upper blower unit housing 210 is provided with an O-ring seal (or similarly configured sealing member) that maintains an airtight, sealed connection between them even as the upper blower unit housing 210 and the lower blower unit housing 250 rotate relative to each other. More specifically, referring to Figure 18, the lower surface of the blower unit seal plate 216 has an outer peripheral groove 224 configured to receive such a sealing member, which similarly engages with and is compressed by the upper edge of the cylindrical seal wall 260 of the lower blower unit housing 250. Similarly, the inner peripheral wall of the baffle 220 includes an inner peripheral seal member rim 226 configured to receive a smaller diameter sealing member, which provides a seal between the inner peripheral wall of the baffle 220 and the outer peripheral wall of the blower fan intake hub 258.
[0039] To enable rotation of the upper 210 of the blower unit housing relative to the lower 250 of the blower unit housing, preferably a spring-biased slider actuator 310 is movably mounted on the lower 250 of the blower unit housing and includes a release pin 312 extending upward from the top surface of the slider actuator 310. The release pin 312 is positioned to engage with one of a plurality of pin receivers 230 on the bottom surface of the seal plate 216 of the upper 210 of the blower unit housing, thereby locking the rotational position of the upper 210 of the blower unit housing to one of a plurality of positions relative to the lower 250 of the blower unit housing. For example, if the wearer's equipment configuration desires to position the hose 100 in a straight line with the filter rail 30, the upper 210 of the blower unit housing can be configured as shown in Figure 12(A) such that the hose connection extends outward and in a straight line with the filter rail 30. Similarly, if the wearer's equipment configuration is changed so that it is desirable for the hose 100 to extend outward from the side of the blower at a 90° angle to the filter rail 30, the wearer can simply push down the slider actuator 310 to disengage the pin 312 from its current pin receiver 230, manually rotate the upper blower unit housing 210 to its new position (as shown in Figure 12(B)), and then release the slider actuator 310 to re-engage the release pin 312 with another pin receiver 230, thus locking the upper blower unit housing 210 in the new position. Optionally, a stop pin 232 (Figure 18) can also extend downward from the bottom of the seal plate 216 on the upper blower unit housing 210, and this stop pin 232 is positioned to contact a stop plate 262 (Figure 19) on the lower blower unit housing 250 to limit the rotational range of the upper blower unit housing 210 to its intended maximum range.
[0040] Now, while preferred embodiments and specific modifications of the underlying concepts of the present invention have been fully described, various other embodiments, as well as specific variations and modifications of the embodiments shown and described herein, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art with familiarity with the underlying concepts. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention can be carried out in ways other than those specifically described herein.
Claims
1. A modular blower unit having an upper and lower part of the blower unit housing, an air inlet in the lower part of the blower unit housing, and an air outlet provided in the upper part of the blower unit housing, configured to be detachably connected to a hose system for supplying purified air to the user, The filter rail chassis has a first closed end and a second open end, and is removably attached to the air inlet of the blower unit at the second open end of the filter rail chassis, wherein the filter rail chassis has at least one chassis inlet configured to removably and seally receive a filter canister. The upper part of the blower unit housing is manually rotatable relative to the lower part of the blower unit housing to change the angle between the first airflow passing through the filter rail chassis and the second airflow exiting the air outlet. Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) assembly.
2. The upper part of the blower unit housing further includes a baffle extending downward from the bottom surface of the upper part of the blower unit housing. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 1.
3. The lower part of the blower unit housing further has a blower fan inlet hub that engages with the baffle in a sealable manner. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 2.
4. The baffle is rotatable relative to the blower fan inlet hub. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 3.
5. The retainer ring is further fixedly attached to the upper surface of the blower fan inlet hub. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 3.
6. The baffle further includes a retainer ring receiving rim provided inside the baffle, The retaining ring engages with the baffle, thereby rotatably mounting the baffle to the blower fan inlet hub. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 5.
7. The baffle further comprises an internal sealing member rim provided along the inner circumference of the baffle, The aforementioned internal sealing member rim has an internal sealing member on it, The internal sealing member engages with the outer circumferential wall of the blower fan inlet hub. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 3.
8. The baffle is rotatable relative to the blower fan inlet hub. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 7.
9. The upper part of the blower unit housing further has an external sealing member groove positioned between the baffle and the outer circumference of the bottom of the upper part of the blower unit housing, the external sealing member groove having an external sealing member therein, and the external sealing member seals and engages with the cylindrical wall of the lower part of the blower unit housing. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 7.
10. The lower part of the blower unit housing further includes a slider actuator provided on the outer peripheral wall of the lower part of the blower unit housing and a release pin extending upward from the slider actuator, and the bottom side of the upper part of the blower unit housing is provided with a plurality of pin receivers configured to receive the release pins. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 1.
11. The lower part of the blower unit housing further includes a plurality of stoppers positioned to restrict the rotation of the upper part of the blower unit housing relative to the lower part of the blower unit housing. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 1.
12. It further includes a hose system for supplying purified air to the user. The hose system has a hose inlet that is detachably attached to the air outlet of the blower unit, and a hose outlet configured to be attached to the user's safety mask. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 1.
13. The aforementioned hose system is Two circular cross-section air transport conduits extending between the hose inlet and the hose outlet, and The system further comprises an elliptical outer tube extending between the hose inlet and the hose outlet, surrounding the two circular cross-section air transport conduits. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 12.
14. The hose inlet further comprises a first rotatable coupling, The hose outlet further comprises a second rotatable coupling, The aforementioned hose system is A first flexible cuff, attached to the first rotatable coupling and having a first cuff surface, wherein the first end of the elliptical outer tube is coupled to the first cuff surface, and The present invention further comprises a second flexible cuff, which is attached to the second rotatable coupling and has a second inner surface, wherein the second end of the elliptical outer tube is coupled to the inner surface of the second cuff. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 13.
15. Between the two circular cross-section pneumatic conduits and the elliptical outer tube, there is further a CBRN protective barrier tube surrounding the two circular cross-section pneumatic conduits. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 13.
16. The device further comprises: a first fitting that receives the first ends of each of the two circular cross-section pneumatic conduits and is insertable into the first rotatable coupling to form a first fluid-tight seal; and a second fitting that receives the second ends of each of the two circular cross-section pneumatic conduits and is insertable into the second rotatable coupling to form a second fluid-tight seal. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 14.
17. The blower unit further comprises a portable power assembly that is detachably attached to the blower unit, The portable power assembly has a bottom surface aligned with the bottom surface of the blower unit, extends distally from the front of the blower unit to a point adjacent to a portion of the filter rail chassis, and has a top surface, at least a portion of which is positioned lower than the top surface of the at least one chassis inlet. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 1.
18. The portable power assembly is connectable to the power port of the blower unit, and the power assembly further comprises a battery pack adapter connectable to the power port of the blower unit, and a power cable fixed to the battery pack adapter and connectable to the portable power assembly. The powered air-purifying respirator assembly according to claim 17.