Respirator flow control apparatus and method
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsGarry J. Walker, Desmond T. Curran, Mark A. J. Fernandes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air flow control system for a respirator (10) is described which includes a shell that defines a breathable air zone for a user (18) wearing the respirator (10), an air delivery conduit (27) within the shell of the respirator, and a valve member (557) moveable relative to the air delivery conduit and within the shell to vary the air flow through the air delivery conduit. The air flow control system also includes an outer device (46) outside of the shell of the respirator that is rotatable by a user (18) of the respirator while wearing the respirator to control movement of the valve member.
Claims17
An air flow control system for a respirator, the control system comprising:
- a shell that defines a breathable air zone for a user wearing the respirator;
- an air delivery conduit within the shell of the respirator, the air delivery conduit comprising at least one air outlet for delivering breathable air to the user's facial area, wherein the air delivery conduit is separable from the shell;
- a valve member positioned in a valve opening prior to the at least one air outlet to vary the air flow through the valve opening and the at least one air outlet;
- an air inlet conduit in fluid communication with the air delivery conduit and positioned upstream of both of the at least one air outlet and the valve opening;
- and
- an outer device outside of the shell of the respirator to control movement of the valve member, whereby when the valve member is closed, air will flow through the air inlet conduit and out of the at least one air outlet, but not out of the valve opening.
An air flow control system for a respirator, the control system comprising:
- a shell that defines a breathable air zone for a user wearing the respirator;
- an air delivery conduit within the shell of the respirator, the air delivery conduit comprising at least one air outlet for delivering breathable air to the user's facial area;
- a valve member configurable to open and close a valve opening prior to the at least one air outlet to vary the air flow through the valve opening and the at least one air outlet, wherein the air delivery conduit includes a right branch and a left branch and the valve opening is positioned at a juncture of the right and left branches, wherein the at least one air outlet comprises a first air outlet associated with the right branch of the air delivery conduit and a second air outlet associated with the left branch of the air delivery conduit, wherein the first air outlet is different than the second air outlet;
- an air inlet conduit in fluid communication with the air delivery conduit and positioned upstream of both of the at least one air outlet and the valve opening;
- and
- an outer device outside of the shell of the respirator to control movement of the valve member, whereby when the valve member is closed, air will flow through the air inlet conduit and out of the at least one air outlet, but not out of the valve opening.
A method for controlling air flow within a respirator, the respirator comprising a shell that defines a breathable air zone for a user wearing the respirator, an air delivery conduit within the shell of the respirator, wherein the air delivery conduit is separable from the shell, the conduit comprising at least one air outlet for delivering breathable air to the user's facial area, a valve member positioned in a valve opening prior to the air outlet, an air inlet in fluid communication with the air delivery conduit and positioned upstream of both of the at least one air outlet and the valve opening, and an outer device outside of the shell to control movement of the valve member, the method comprising:
- forcing air through the air delivery conduit;
- and
- rotating an outer device outside of the shell to manipulate the valve member and vary the air flow through the valve opening and the at least one air outlet, whereby when the valve member is closed, air will flow through the air inlet conduit and out of the at least one air outlet but not out of the valve opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.