Powered air purifying respirator

Abstract

A personal powered air respirator, for example a welding or spraying helmet (10), includes a remote controller (30) for adjusting one or more operating parameters of the helmet and a means of displaying information regarding said parameter in, on or adjacent the interior of the vision panel (12) of the helmet. The invention allows for convenient adjustment in use. The remote controller is adapted to clothing, such as belt, glove or pocket, or may be incorporated in equipment for use with the helmet.

Claims

1. A personal powered air respirator comprising a helmet having a vision panel, said helmet being for connection to a source of clean air and a power supply, said respirator further including a remote controller for adjusting an operating parameter of said respirator whereby information regarding said parameter is adapted to be displayed in, on or adjacent the interior of said vision panel, wherein the remote controller further comprises a housing, and the housing has a fastening means and wherein the remote controller is mounted on a glove by the fastening means.

2. A respirator according to claim 1 wherein said vision panel comprises an auto darkening filter for welding.

3. A respirator according to claim 2 wherein one of sensitivity and delay time of said auto darkening filter is adjustable from said remote controller.

4. A respirator according to claim 2 wherein the shade of said filter is adjustable from said remote controller.

5. A respirator according to claim 1 wherein said information is represented in one or more of alphabetical, numerical and diagrammatic form.

6. A respirator according to claim 1 wherein said remote controller includes a display for indicating the value of said parameter.

7. A respirator according to claim 1 wherein said remote controller communicates wirelessly with said vision panel.

8. A respirator according to claim 1 wherein said remote controller is adapted for attachment to clothing.

9. A respirator according to claim 1 wherein said remote controller is incorporated in a separate apparatus for use in conjunction with said respirator.

10. A respirator according to claim 9 wherein said apparatus is one of welding, grinding and spraying equipment.

11. A respirator according to claim 1 and further including an air quality sensor in said helmet.

12. A respirator according to claim 11 and further including an alarm responsive to said sensor for indicating low air quality.

13. A respirator according to claim 1 and further including a back-pack or belt-pack source of clean air connected to said helmet via a hose.

14. A respirator according to claim 13 wherein said source comprises a housing, a filter, a fan and a source of power for said fan.

15. A method of adjusting an operating parameter of a helmet having a supply of purified air, and comprising providing a remote controller wherein the remote controller further comprises a housing, wherein the housing has a fastening means and wherein the remote controller is mounted on a glove by the fastening mean, providing a vision panel in said helmet, adjusting an operating parameter of said helmet, by manipulation of said remote controller, and providing in, on or adjacent the interior of said vision panel information concerning adjustments of said remote controller.

16. A respirator according to claim 1 wherein the remote controller is mounted on the back of the glove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) One feature of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a welder using a personal air respirator while welding according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic internal view of a welding helmet;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic external view of a controller; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a helmet, air purifying unit and remote controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) With reference to the drawings, a welding helmet 10 with an air supply comprises a housing 11 in which is provided an ADF vision panel 12.

(7) Below the panel 12, and within the field of vision of the user, is a display 13. Any kind of information relating to the helmet may be displayed, of which the following are examples.

(8) A status indicator 14,15 may indicate by illumination which of two or more alternative states are selected, in this case WELD or GRIND. The alternative states may automatically select certain respirator or ADF parameters.

(9) A direction indicator 16 indicates the direction of adjustment, for example by illumination of the appropriate arrows.

(10) A numerical indicator 17,18 may indicate the value of a parameter, for example an ADF response time or a volumetric air flow rate. Such a value may also be indicated by a graphical display, such as by illumination of sections of the progressive bar chart 19 or display of sections of a battery indicator 20.

(11) Similar displays of function, selection, direction, value and amount may be provided for any parameter, and may include for example maximum, minimum, remainder, proportion and time. In the panel 21 is indicated two graphical and one numerical indication of volumetric air flow rate.

(12) A controller 30, for example for belt or glove mounting comprises a display 31, an on/off button 32, and two up/down rocker switches 33,34 for adjustment of respirator parameters. The switches (which may comprises separate buttons) are orthogonally orientated to permit them to be distinguished without looking. Communication from the controller is by lead or more preferably is wireless, using for example BLUETOOTH, to a body mounted respirator supply, which may comprise an adjustable speed fan and air filter supplying air under pressure to the helmet.

(13) The controller is typically a microprocessor device having an internal power supply and memory.

(14) FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a respirator unit controlled by the remote controller 30, and comprising a backpack housing 41, a fan 42, a filter 43 for incoming air, and a hose 44 to direct outgoing air to a helmet 10. Such a respirator unit is worn on the body of the helmet user, and may further include a power supply, such as a rechargeable battery; such a battery may alternatively be separately provided in a belt pack or the like.

(15) Connection of the controller 30, fan 42 and helmet 10 by electrical lead is envisaged, but for convenience it is anticipated that wireless communication will be preferred.

(16) As noted above an air quality monitor or sensor 46 may be incorporated in the helmet, for example an oxygen deficiency sensor. The output of such a sensor may be used to display an air quality indicator in, on or adjacent the vision panel, and/or to trigger an alarm if air quality is low. The alarm may be visual and/or audible, and/or vibrating. The location of an audible or vibrating alarm may be in or on the housing 41, and communication between such an alarm and the monitor or sensor 46 may be by electrical lead or wirelessly.

(17) An air quality monitor may be useful if, for example, welding gases enter the respirator unit. Indications relating to the monitor/sensor 46 may also be provided on the remote controller 30.

(18) The physical size and shape of the controller 30 may be selected according to the intended use, to the number of parameters to be adjusted and to the difficulty of manipulation; for example oversize buttons may be provided where the user is expected to be gloved.