Operator station emergency visual assurance method and apparatus

An operator station emergency visual assurance method, for use at a station including a source of operationally necessary visual information and an operator position spaced from said source of visual information, and for assuring said operator substantially uninterrupted access to said source of visual information under emergency conditions of a progressive invasion by heavy smoke and/or particulate matter toward and/or into the space between the said source of visual information and the operator, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a positionable clear path of visibility means having a container movable between said operator and said source of visual information enabling it to completely fill such of the space between said source of visual information and said operator as includes the visual path between said source of visual information and the operator,
• (b) positioning said positionable means in the space between said source of visual information and the operator, and
• (c) thereby preempting and/or displacing any smoke and/or particulate matter from said visual path and thus assuring the provision of a clear path of visibility between said source of visual information and said operator under such emergency conditions.

In a work station area which includes an operator position and visual acquisition material for said operator which is spaced from said operator position, the method for providing clear visibility between said operator and said acquisition material when vision impeding fluids, vapors, and/or particulate matter interpose in the space between the operator and the visual acquisition material which includes the steps of:

• (a) inserting into the space between said operator and said acquisition material a container for excluding said vision impeding fluids, vapors, and/or particulate matter,
• (b) providing light transmitting means from said operator to said acquisition material in said inserted container, and
• (c) thereby maintaining said operator's visibility to said acquisition material at all times when said vision impeding fluids, vapors and/or particulate matter are present in said work station area.