Apparatus and method for breathing apparatus component coupling

A method for mounting a filter cartridge onto a housing in a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) system, the method comprising:

• axially aligning a fluid outlet on the filter cartridge with a fluid inlet on the housing;
• coupling the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet with less than a single turn of the filter cartridge relative to the housing to sealably connect the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet in fluid communication;
• releasably locking the filter cartridge to the housing by seated engagement, when the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet are sealably connected, of a pair of opposed detent elements on the filter cartridge and the housing;
• and
• detecting whether the fluid outlet is sealably connected to the fluid inlet in fluid communication,
• wherein the detecting step comprises:
• altering the conductivity of an electrically conductive circuit when the opposed detent elements are in seated engagement.

A method for mounting a filter cartridge onto a housing in a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) system, the method comprising:

• axially aligning a fluid outlet on the filter cartridge with a fluid inlet on the housing;
• coupling the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet with less than a single turn of the filter cartridge relative to the housing to sealably connect the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet in fluid communication;
• releasably locking the filter cartridge to the housing by seated engagement, when the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet are sealably connected, of a pair of opposed detent elements on the filter cartridge and the housing;
• and
• directing fluid out of the fluid inlet on the housing until the opposed detent elements are in seated engagement.

A method for mounting a filter cartridge onto a housing in a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) system, the method comprising:

• axially aligning a fluid outlet on the filter cartridge with a fluid inlet on the housing;
• coupling the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet with less than a single turn of the filter cartridge relative to the housing to sealably connect the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet in fluid communication;
• releasably locking the filter cartridge to the housing by seated engagement, when the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet are sealably connected, of a pair of opposed detent elements on the filter cartridge and the housing;
• and
• redirecting fluid flow in the housing when the opposed detent elements are placed in seated engagement.

A method for connecting a first component onto a second component for fluid transfer therebetween in a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) system, the method comprising:

• axially aligning a fluid outlet on the first component with a fluid inlet on the second component;
• coupling opposed threaded sections on the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet, by less than a full rotation of the first component relative to the second component to sealably connect the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet in fluid communication;
• and
• releasably locking the first component to the second component by seated engagement, when the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet are sealably connected, of a pair of opposed detent elements on the first component and the second component.

In a fluid flow system having a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, a coupling for connecting the conduits in fluid communication comprising:

• a male threaded portion on the first conduit;
• a female threaded portion on the second conduit, the male and female portions having cooperating threads for mated engagement along an axis of coupling rotation, and the male and female portions formed so that, by relative conduit rotation of less than 360° in a first direction about the rotation axis, the first and second conduits are affirmative connected;
• a first detent element spaced radially from its respective threaded portion and extending in an axial direction on one of the conduits;
• and
• a second detent element on the other one of the conduits, the second detent element aligned for seated engagement with the first detent element when the conduits are threadably connected, whereby the seated engagement of the first and second detent elements releasably locks the first and second conduits together.

In a fluid flow system having a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, a coupling for connecting the conduits in fluid communication comprising:

• a male threaded portion on the first conduit;
• a female threaded portion on the second conduit, the male and female portions having cooperating threads for mated engagement along an axis of coupling rotation, and the male and female portions formed so that, by relative conduit rotation of less than 360° in a first direction about the rotation axis, the first and second conduits are affirmative connected;
• a first detent element spaced radially from its respective threaded portion and extending in an axial direction on one of the conduits;
• a second detent element on the other one of the conduits, the second detent element aligned for seated engagement with the first detent element when the conduits are threadably connected, whereby the seated engagement of the first and second detent elements releasably locks the first and second conduits together;
• a first electrical contact on the first conduit;
• and
• a second electrical contact on the second conduit, the first and second contacts being brought into electrically conductive contact when the first and second detent elements are placed in seated engagement.

A filter cartridge for a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) system wherein the filter cartridge is removably mounted on a housing, the filter cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge cannister having a filter media chamber therein, a fluid inlet in communication with the filter media chamber and a fluid outlet in communication with the filter media chamber,
• a threaded section associated with the fluid outlet on the cartridge cannister, the threaded section bearing threads adapted to mate with a threaded portion on the housing so that, with less than one rotation of the threaded section relative to the threaded portion, the fluid outlet of the cartridge cannister is sealably secured to the housing;
• and
• a first detent element on the cartridge cannister, spaced radially from the threaded section and extending axially therealong, with the first detent element aligned to fit into seated engagement with an opposed second detent element on the housing when the fluid outlet of the cartridge cannister is sealably secured to the housing.