DE4344353A1 - Supply unit for personal protective suit - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit (22) provides filtered and cooled breathing air for the person wearing the protective suit (10). It is carried on the back of the wearer. Its shape is like a rucksack and it is removable from the protective suit. The supply unit comprises a frame (28) supported on the wearer via elements (30, 32) inflatable by the supplied air. The supply unit pref. contains at least one compressor (42), a condenser (46), and a cooling circuit with a drive (40), contg. a heat exchanger (38). An element may be included for cooling the breathing air, or there may be a Dewar flask filled with liquefied gas.

Description

The invention relates to a supply device for one in one Person in a protective suit, to whom filtered and cooled breathing air can be supplied, wherein the supply device is arranged on the back of the person.

In the case of industrial accidents in particular, rescue work is often required performing people against z. B. protected toxic gases or chemical substances become. For this, the people wear hermetically sealed protective suits, whereby filtered air is inhaled through breathing masks. These measures are enough however, no longer when the ambient temperature is high. In In this case, it is necessary that the person not only filtered, but also cooled air is supplied.

The present invention is therefore based on the problem of a supply device of the type described above in such a way that the weight the supply device is relatively small, preferably a maximum of 10 kg, so as not to burden the person unnecessarily. Furthermore, the supply facility can be used regardless of the physique of the person, whereby Behin changes should be excluded. The supply facility itself should also work largely independently, with the presence of drive if necessary aggregates should not be perceptible to the person or should be felt to a small extent.  

The problem is solved according to the invention essentially in that the Ver care device backpack-like and removable from the back of the protective suit is formed and that the supply device comprises a metal frame and via at least one which can be filled with air conveyed in the supply device Element can be supported against the person. This is the Ele preferably around a cushion or cushion. Through these measures is one automatic adaptation to people of different body types possible without that pressure points can form that would make it difficult.

The one or more air cushions or pillows also have the advantage that the Supply device is vibration and vibration damped. Hence can there are oscillations or vibrations in the supply device NEN aggregates that at least for conveying the air, but in particular also for Driving a compressor and a fan associated with a condenser are necessary for the generation of cooling air, not transferred. There is also a Noise reduction in breathing and cooling air.

Another advantage to be emphasized results from the air-filled element. This way, the air to be supplied to the person is compensated for when Air flow fluctuations should occur through the unit. There is also an additional one cher supply of breathing air given, which is particularly advantageous if that Unit should fail and via a bypass with reserve air filter from the Person himself must be sucked in air.

The air is preferably cooled by means of a refrigeration cycle including a refrigeration compressor, condenser driven by the unit as well as the heat exchanger through which the air to be supplied flows.

Alternatively, there is the possibility that the supply device for cooling the breathing air has Peltier elements. The supply facility can also comprise at least one liquid gas-receiving dewar.  

If an internal combustion engine is used, it should have a centrifugal force clutch at least the refrigeration compressor can be coupled. Preferably too a fan assigned to the capacitor switches on via a centrifugal clutch bar. These measures make it easy to start the drive motor.

The drive motor can be designed to be speed-controlled, with a flexible one Control console can be designed as a bracelet on the person's wrist.

The speed control of the drive unit is a change in Cooling capacity / air volume possible.

However, the cooling capacity can also be changed by a manually operated one Bypass flap on the evaporator / cooler (heat exchanger). Then this is the Case when the speed is not controlled due to the ambient temperature However, too much cooling of the breathing air should be avoided.

Condensate accumulating in the heat exchanger such as evaporator / cooler can Condensate tank are fed, which are attached to the legs and via slack che is connected to the cooler. The container can have a volume point out, which is sufficient over the period of use. Alternatively, a smaller one Containers should be selected that would have to be emptied periodically. Finally, over An automatic drain valve will drain condensate, leaving the line via a position-independent float valve or an automatic one via Über pressure opening beak valve can be opened.

The air to be supplied to the inside of the protective suit is preferably in the Area of a face mask hermetically sealed with the suit, whereas there are air outlets in the foot area. This gives the advantage that the person is covered with cooling air from top to bottom.

The mask itself can have a screw socket in which an ABC filter pa trone can be used. These measures will be taken when disconnecting the  Breathing air from the supply device into the protective suit or mask leading lines or hoses or if the cooling unit is defective further ensures that the person wearing the protective suit is aware of the danger can leave the bringing area.

The compressor can be a reciprocating compressor, a roll piston compressor, a gas controlled compressor or other known Act refrigeration compressors.

The drive unit should either be an air-cooled two stroke engine, small diesel engine, small-circuit piston engine or, as mentioned, Elek act tromotor.

Further details, advantages and features of the invention are not only apparent from the claims, the features to be extracted from them - for themselves and / or in combination - but also from the following description of the Drawing preferred embodiments can be found.

Show it

Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a protective suit with a first exporting approximately the form of a supply device,

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a device for conveying and cooling of air,

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment for conveying and cooling air and

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a supply device.

In Fig. 1, a protective suit ( 10 ) for one person is shown in principle. The protective suit ( 10 ) comprises an overall ( 12 ) with an integrated protective mask ( 14 ) as well as gloves ( 16 ) and shoes ( 18 ).

So that the person in the protective suit ( 10 ) can also enter areas in which there are dangerous substances in the air and higher temperatures prevail, the inside of the protective suit ( 10 ) is connected to a supply device ( 22 ) via a hose ( 20 ). connected for chilled fresh air. The tube ( 20 ) preferably opens into the mouth area of the mask ( 14 ).

In the foot area of the protective suit ( 10 ), outlet flaps ( 24 ) and ( 26 ) are provided, via which air can be released to the outside. By arranging the outlet openings ( 24 , 26 ) in the foot area, it is consequently ensured that the person is flushed with cooled air from head to foot.

The supply device ( 22 ) is designed like a backpack and has a frame ( 28 ) preferably made of aluminum, on which the units for conveying and cooling air described below are arranged. Furthermore, air cushion or cushion ( 30, 32 ) are provided between the frame ( 28 ) and the back of the person, via which the frame ( 28 ) and thus the supply device ( 22 ) is resiliently supported with respect to the person. The pads ( 30 ) and ( 32 ) are inflated via filtered air, and a connection to the inside of the protective suit ( 12 ) can be established. The pads ( 30 , 32 ) can consequently lie in a line leading to the hose ( 20 ).

The air cushions ( 30 , 32 ) result in a multitude of advantages. So there are no pressure points from the support frame ( 28 ), regardless of the physique of the person.

Through the air cushion ( 30 , 32 ) there is also vibration and vibration damping of units, which includes the supply device ( 22 ).

In addition, noise reduction of breathing and cooling air is effected.

Finally, the air cushions ( 30 ) and ( 32 ) or their contents enable an equalization of fluctuations in air delivery. The content of the pillows ( 30 ), ( 32 ) also serves as air supply in the event that a switchover of the air supply from the supply device ( 22 ) via, for. B. should be closed by an ABC filter cartridge, not shown, opening in the mask area. This is necessary if the supply device ( 22 ) should fail.

The essential elements of the supply device ( 22 ) are an ABC air filter ( 34 ), through which air is sucked in by means of a blower such as a compressor ( 36 ) driven by a motor ( 40 ) such as a two-stroke or diesel engine and fed to a heat exchanger ( 38 ), from which the filtered air flows if necessary via the air reservoir ( 30 , 32 ) in the suit ( 10 ). A refrigeration compressor ( 42 ) and a fan ( 44 ) for a condenser ( 46 ) can also be driven via the motor ( 40 ).

The compressor ( 42 ) with the condenser ( 46 ) and the heat exchanger ( 38 ) (evaporator / cooler) forms a refrigeration cycle.

If necessary, a bypass line (not shown) can be provided parallel to the heat exchanger ( 38 ) in order to regulate the amount of air to be supplied to the protective suit ( 12 ) or the cooling capacity. Alternatively or in addition, there is the possibility of varying the speed of the drive motor ( 40 ). For this purpose, a control console designed as a bracelet on the person's wrist can be provided.

In order not to load the engine ( 40 ) when starting by the compressor ( 36 ), the compressor ( 42 ) and / or the fan ( 44 ), centrifugal clutches can be connected between the units to be driven and the drive shaft of the engine ( 40 ) .

FIG. 4 is shown in a further preferred embodiment of a supply device according to the invention (56), which is formed like a rucksack, and is carried on the back of a person.

The supply device comprises a preferably made of aluminum tube of the support frame ( 58 ), which consists of lateral U-legs and cross braces connecting them.

The support frame ( 58 ) carries an internal combustion engine ( 60 ), the drive shaft of which is connected to a refrigeration compressor via a centrifugal clutch ( 62 ). The shaft of the internal combustion engine ( 60 ) also drives a fan ( 66 ), via which air can be fed to a heat exchanger ( 70 ) via an intake filter ( 68 ). The heat exchanger itself is part of a refrigerant circuit which, in addition to the refrigeration compressor, comprises a condenser ( 72 ) and a fan ( 74 ) assigned to it, which is also driven by the internal combustion engine ( 60 ).

The air flowing through the heat exchanger ( 70 ) then arrives in a flexible support on the back of the person and adapts to this adapting air cushion ( 76 ), which performs the function of the air cushions ( 30 , 32 ) of the embodiment of FIG. 1. The filtered and cooled air then flows from the air cushion ( 76 ) into the interior of the protective suit.

Figs. 2 and 3 are shown in the conveying or refrigerant circuit embodiments to filtered and cooled fresh air into the interior of the protective suit (10) to lead.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the compressor ( 36 ) sucking in the air via the filter ( 22 ) is driven by an electric motor ( 48 ). The air then flows over the heat exchanger ( 38 ) to reach the protective suit ( 12 ) via the connection ( 20 ). The air cushion can be located in this connection.

The heat exchanger ( 38 ) is part of a refrigerant circuit in which both the compressor ( 42 ) and the condenser ( 46 ) assigned to the fan ( 44 ) are driven by an electric motor ( 50 ).

In contrast, an internal combustion engine (52) of FIG. 3 used on the one hand with the compressor (56) and the other part is connectable via a centrifugal clutch (54) to the compressor (42) and the fan (44).

Otherwise, the structure of the embodiment of FIG. 3 corresponds to that of FIG. 2, so that there is no need to go into the further elements.

It should also be mentioned that the evaporator / cooler ( 38 ) can lead to a condensate conduit (not shown) which leads to a container arranged in the foot area of the protective suit ( 10 ), in which the condensate is collected. Alternatively, there is the option of closing the line with a position-independent float valve through which condensate can drain. There is also the option of using a beak valve that opens due to excess pressure.

Claims (14)

1. Supply device ( 22 , 56 ) for a protective suit ( 10 ) accommodating a person, the filtered and cooled breathing air can be supplied, the supply device being arranged on the back of the protective suit, characterized in that the supply device ( 22 , 56 ) is backpack-like and of the protective suit ( 10 ) is designed to be removable such that the supply device comprises a frame ( 28 , 58 ) and can be supported against the person by means of air-fillable elements ( 30 , 32 , 76 ) in the supply device. 2. Supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that the supply device ( 22 , 56 ) at least one compressor ( 42 , 64 ), a condenser ( 46 , 72 ) and a heat exchanger ( 38 , 70 ) for comprehensive cooling circuit with drive ( 40 , 50 , 52 , 60 ). 3. Supply device according to claim 1, characterized, that the supply device for cooling breathing air Peltier elements having.   4. Supply device according to at least one of the preceding An claims, characterized, that the supply device absorbing at least one liquid gas Deware tube covered. 5. Supply device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the refrigeration compressor ( 42 , 64 ) by means of a DC or internal combustion engine ( 40 , 50 , 52 , 60 ) can be operated. 6. Supply device according to at least claim 5, characterized in that the internal combustion engine ( 52 , 60 ) via a centrifugal clutch ( 54 , 62 ) with at least the compressor ( 42 , 64 ) can be connected. 7. Supply device according to at least one of the preceding An claims, characterized, that the speed of the drive is adjustable. 8. Supply device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a preference, manually operated, the heat exchanger ( 38 , 70 ) bridging bypass is provided for regulating amounts of breathing air and / or temperature. 9. Supply device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that from the heat exchanger ( 38 , 70 ) leads a condensate discharge line to the leg area of the protective suit ( 10 ). 10. Supply device according to at least claim 9, characterized, that the condensate discharge line opens into a vessel and / or through a position-independent valve can be closed. 11. Supply device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective suit ( 10 ) in the leg region has air outlet openings ( 24 , 26 ). 12. Supply device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the refrigeration compressor ( 42 , 64 ) is a reciprocating compressor or a rolling piston compressor or a gas-controlled compressor. 13. Supply device according to at least one of the preceding An claims, characterized, that the internal combustion engine is an air-cooled two-stroke engine, a small die selmotor or a miniature piston engine. 14. Supply device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that breathing air can be supplied to the protective suit ( 10 ) via a bypass line having an ABC filter cartridge.