초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a ventilation system for a protective suit for use in hazardous environments. In a further aspect it concerns the protective suit itself. An air purifying respirator draws air from outside the protective suit through a filter, supplies filtered breathing air via a br

The present invention relates to a ventilation system for a protective suit for use in hazardous environments. In a further aspect it concerns the protective suit itself. An air purifying respirator draws air from outside the protective suit through a filter, supplies filtered breathing air via a breathing hose to a space within the face piece, and supplies filtered ventilating air via a ventilating hose to the interior of the protective suit. A ventilation valve in the ventilating hose automatically closes only during periods of high breathing demand to counter a pressure drop inside the face piece.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A ventilation system for a protective suit, including in combination:a protective suit to cover the user's body; a face piece to cover at least the nose or mouth of the user; an air purifying respirator to draw air from outside the protective suit through a filter, and to supply filtered breathin

1. A ventilation system for a protective suit, including in combination:a protective suit to cover the user's body; a face piece to cover at least the nose or mouth of the user; an air purifying respirator to draw air from outside the protective suit through a filter, and to supply filtered breathing air via a breathing hose to a space within the face piece, and to supply filtered ventilating air via a ventilating hose to the interior of the protective suit; a ventilation valve in the ventilating hose automatically operable to close the ventilation valve only during periods of high breathing demand to counter a pressure drop inside the face piece. 2. A ventilation system according to claim 1, where the valve closes when the pressure drop across the filter exceeds a predetermined value, the flow rate exceeds a predetermined value, or the pressure inside the mask falls below a predetermined value, or any combination of these parameters.3. A ventilation system according to claim 1, further including a processor to receive signals from sensors associated with the system, and control the automatic operation of the ventilation valve.4. A ventilation system according to claim 3, where the signals received from the sensors include a signal representing the pressure drop across the filter, the air flow rate through the respirator or the breathing hose, or the air pressure inside the mask.5. A ventilation system according to claim 1, where the valve operates between two states.6. A ventilation system according to claim 5, where the valve operates progressively between the two states.7. A ventilation system according to claim 1, where the air purifying respirator operates to respond to breathing demand and increase flow to the face piece when breathing demand increases.8. A ventilation system according to claim 1, where the air purifying respirator is worn in a harness and is positioned inside the back of the protective suit where space is provided by an extension.9. A ventilation system according to claim 8, where a port is provided in the extension for air to be drawn in from outside the protective suit by the air purifying respirator.10. A ventilation system according to claim 9, where the filter is outside the suit and screwed to a spigot extending from the pump unit through the port.11. A gas tight protective suit to cover a user's body, the suit comprising:a rear extension; a pump unit worn in a harness, the pump unit worn in a harness being held in the rear extension; and a port in the rear extension for air to be drawn in from outside the protective suit by an air purifying respirator; wherein an air-tight connection is made around the port when a filter is properly connected to the pump unit so that no air may pass through the port without passing through the filter; the gas tight protective suit further comprising a ventilation system including a protective suit to cover the user's body; a face piece to cover at least the nose or mouth of the user; an air purifying respirator to draw air from outside the protective suit through a filter, and to supply filtered breathing air via a breathing hose to a space within the face piece, and to supply filtered ventilating air via a ventilating hose to the interior of the protective suit; a ventilation valve in the ventilating hose automatically operable to close the ventilation valve only during periods of high breathing demand to counter a pressure drop inside the face piece.