# US 2012/0073359 A1 · Test head assembly for use in testing protective masks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0073359 A1 - Document ID: US20120073359A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/923,583 - Filed: 2010-09-29 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-29 - Assignees: Hamilton Associates, Inc. - Inventors: Eric Hanson; Colin Gordon Hodge; Gary Warren McCurdy; Gilbert Olvera - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120073359A1 ## CPC - G01M 3/26: by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An apparatus for use in testing a protective mask for leaks. The apparatus includes a test head assembly for supporting at least a portion of a protective mask to be tested for leaks. The test head assembly may be freestanding or it may be mounted directly on the mask tester. Preferably, the test head assembly includes a test head having a test space. The test space is operably associated with a mask tester such that a fluid from the test space is directed to the mask tester for analysis to determine if a leak exists in the mask. The test space is generally coextensive with the inner surface of the protective mask being tested. Although the test space is generally coextensive with the inner surface of the protective mask being tested, it is designed such that it has minimal volume to enhance the testing process by expediting test response time, reducing the time period it takes for a mask tester to reach one or more prerequisite test conditions (e.g., a predetermined vacuum), eliminate or greatly reduce lag time when the mask tester is operating in the probe mode (i.e., the mode used to isolate the location of a leak) and prevent dilution of challenge concentration. Preferably, the test is shaped to permit a protective mask to be readily mounted on the test head in a fluid tight manner. Preferably, the test head is formed from two or more removable sections to allow the size of the test head to be readily modified without replacing the entire test head. An optional perfect mask or test shroud may be mounted about the test head to ensure that the mask tester is not erroneously detecting leaks in a protective mask being tested. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for use in testing a protective mask for leaks, said apparatus comprising: (a) a test head assembly for supporting at least a portion of a protective mask to be tested for leaks; and, (b) said test head assembly including a body having an outer circumferential surface, an inner surface and a test space formed between said outer circumferential surface and said inner surface, said outer circumferential surface substantially surrounding said test space, said test space substantially surrounding said inner surface, said outer circumferential surface having at least one opening for allowing fluid located about said outer circumferential surface to flow into said test space, said body having a fluid pathway, said fluid pathway being in fluid communication with said test space at one end and in fluid communication with a mask testing device at the other end to allow fluid in said test space to be directed through said fluid pathway to the mask testing device for analysis to determine if a leak exits in the protective mask being tested. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said test space is substantially silo-shaped. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said body has a hollow inner cavity, said inner surface substantially surrounds said hollow inner cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein: (a) said test space substantially surrounds said hollow inner cavity; and, (b) at least first and second conduits operably associated with the mask testing device, at least a portion of said first and second conduits extend into said hollow inner cavity and are in fluid communication with said test space. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said test space has a thickness of less than ⅛ of an inch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said outer circumferential surface of said body is formed from a material having a low coefficient of friction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein: (a) said outer circumferential surface of said body is formed from polyoxymethylene. ### Claim 8 An apparatus for use in testing a protective mask for leaks, said apparatus comprising: (a) a test head assembly for supporting at least a portion of a protective mask to be tested for leaks; and, (b) said test head assembly including a body about which a protective mask is mounted for testing the protective mask for leaks, said body having a generally tubular mid-section having an outer surface, said body having a hollow cavity, said body further including a test space being disposed between said outer surface and said hollow cavity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein: (a) said outer surface of said generally tubular mid-section includes a plurality of openings in fluid communication with said test space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein: (a) said body includes a generally dome-shaped upper section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein: (a) said generally tubular mid-section and said generally dome-shaped upper section are removably attached to said test head assembly. ### Claim 12 An apparatus for use in testing a protective mask for leaks, said apparatus comprising: (a) a test head assembly for supporting at least a portion of a protective mask to be tested for leaks; and, (b) said test head assembly including a body having an outer shell, an inner core and a test space formed between said outer shell and said inner core, said outer shell having a hollow cavity, said outer shell being removably mounted about said inner core. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein: (a) said outer shell includes a first section and a second section, said first section is removably attached to said second section, said first section forms an uppermost portion of said body, said second section is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein: (a) said outer shell further includes a third section removably attached to said second section, said second section being disposed between said first section and said third section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein: (a) said third section includes an inwardly stepped portion about which a seal of a neck seal type protective mask is secured during testing of the neck seal type protective mask. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein: (a) each of said first section, said second section and said third section include a plurality of openings in fluid communication with said test space. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein: (a) said inner core includes a first section and a second section, said first section of said inner core is removably attached to said second section of said inner core. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein: (a) said inner core includes a third section, said second section of said inner core is removably attached to said third section of said inner core. ### Claim 19 An apparatus for use in testing a protective mask for leaks, said apparatus comprising: (a) a test head assembly including a body for supporting at least a portion of a protective mask to be tested for leaks, said body having at least a first section and a second section, said second section being substantially tubular and removably attached so that said second section can be readily removed from said test head assembly and replaced with a different body section having at least one dimension different from said second section such that the size of said body can be readily varied. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein: (a) said first section is generally dome-shaped and removably attached to said second section, said first section forms an uppermost portion of said body, said body having a test space, each of said first section and said second section include a plurality of openings in fluid communication with said test space. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) An apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein: (a) said test space includes an annular portion that extends along substantially the entire length of said second section. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) An apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein: (a) said body includes an inner surface, said annular portion surrounds said inner surface of said body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein: (a) said body includes a test space, said body and said test space are substantially silo-shaped. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein: (a) said test head assembly includes a test shroud devoid of leaks for enabling a user to determine if a mask testing device is falsely detecting leaks, said test shroud is incapable of functioning as a protective mask for an individual, said test shroud is configured to be mounted about said body in a fluid tight manner. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein: (a) said test shroud includes a substantially cylindrical portion and a necked down portion, said substantially cylindrical portion encloses a major portion of said body, said necked down portion is formed from a material that when secured to said body forms a fluid tight seal. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) An apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein: (a) said substantially cylindrical portion is formed from a closed cell foam neoprene and said necked down portion is formed from latex.