Cooling device for a protective respiratory apparatus

Abstract

A cooling device (10), for a protective respiratory apparatus (100), has a housing (20), a breathing bag (30) arranged in the housing (20) with an inlet (32) for respiratory air (A) and an outlet (34) for cooled respiratory air (A) and a spring plate (40) with a spring device (42) to apply a spring force to the breathing bag (30). Between the housing (20) and at least one section of an outer side (36) of the breathing bag (30) an cooling air channel (50) is formed. The cooling air channel (50) is connected to the ambient air (U) outside the housing (20) in a fluid-communicating manner. A blower (52) is arranged for the generation of a flow of the ambient air (U) through the cooling air channel (50). Furthermore a protective respiratory apparatus (100) having such a cooling device is provided.

Claims

1. A cooling device for a protective respiratory apparatus, the cooling device comprising: a housing; a respiratory bag arranged in the housing with an inlet for respiratory air and an outlet for cooled respiratory air; a spring plate with a spring device to apply a spring force to the respiratory bag; a cooling channel formed between the housing and at least one section of an outer side of the respiratory bag, wherein the cooling channel is connected to ambient air outside the housing in a fluid-communicating manner; and a blower arranged at an inlet of the cooling channel for generation of a flow of the ambient air into or through or both into and through the cooling channel.

2. A cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one flow-directing element arranged in the cooling channel for a targeted influence on a direction of flow of the ambient air in the cooling channel.

3. A cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling plate arranged in the housing, the cooling plate being formed as an abutment for the respiratory bag to which the spring force is applied by way of the spring plate.

4. A cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the cooling plate has at least one flow-directing element for a targeted influence on a direction of flow of the ambient air in the cooling channel.

5. A cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the cooling plate is in a heat-transmitting contact with a section of an outer side of the respiratory bag and has at least one cooling rib for a surface contact enlargement with the ambient air in the cooling channel.

6. A cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the cooling plate has at least one cooling opening which exposes the cooling channel towards an outer side of the respiratory bag.

7. A cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one ambient-air temperature sensor arranged for the determination of the temperature of the ambient air.

8. A cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one respiratory-air temperature sensor arranged for the determination of the temperature of the respiratory air.

9. A cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the cooling plate or the spring plate is integrated directly with the respiratory bag and takes on a sealing function at the respiratory bag.

10. A cooling device according to claim 3, wherein one of the spring plate and cooling plate is integrated into the respiratory bag.

11. A cooling device according to claim 10, wherein surfaces of the cooling plate have structural elements configured to provide additional heat conducting surfaces which improve the heat exchange between the respiratory air and the surfaces of the cooling plate or the spring plate.

12. A protective respiratory apparatus for the respiration of a person, the protective respiratory apparatus comprising: a respiratory-air circuit; an air reservoir connected to the respiratory-air circuit; a respiratory-air regenerator arranged in the respiratory-air circuit; and at least one cooling device arranged downstream of the respiratory-air regenerator in the respiratory circuit the at least one cooling device comprising: a housing; a respiratory bag arranged in the housing with an inlet for respiratory air and an outlet for cooled respiratory air; a spring plate with a spring device to apply a spring force to the respiratory bag; a cooling channel formed between the housing and at least one section of an outer side of the respiratory bag, the cooling channel is connected to ambient air outside the housing in a fluid communicating manner, the at least one section of the respiratory bag being spaced from the spring plate; and a blower arranged at an inlet of the cooling channel for generation of a flow of the ambient air into or through or both into and through the cooling channel.

13. A protective respiratory apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising at least one flow-directing element in the cooling channel influencing a direction of flow of the ambient air in the cooling channel.

14. A protective respiratory apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a cooling plate arranged in the housing, the cooling plate being formed as a support abutment for the respiratory bag to which the spring force is applied by way of the spring plate.

15. A protective respiratory apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the cooling plate is in a heat-transmitting contact with a section of an outer side of the respiratory bag and has at least one cooling rib for a surface contact enlargement with the ambient air in the cooling channel.

16. A protective respiratory apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the cooling plate has at least one cooling opening which exposes the cooling channel towards an outer side of the respiratory bag.

17. A protective respiratory apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: at least one ambient-air temperature sensor arranged for the determination of the temperature of the ambient air; and at least one respiratory-air temperature sensor arranged for the determination of the temperature of the respiratory air.

18. A protective respiratory apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: the cooling plate or the spring plate is integrated directly into the respiratory bag; surfaces of the cooling plate or the spring plate have structural elements configured to provide additional heat conducting surfaces which improve the heat exchange between the respiratory air and the surfaces of the cooling plate or the spring plate and prevent an adhesion of the side regions of the respiratory bag together or to the spring plate or the cooling plate.

19. A cooling device according to claim 1, wherein: the ambient air is directly outside the housing; the ambient air is separate from the respiratory air.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a protective respiratory apparatus in accordance with the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a cooling device in accordance with the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the embodiment of FIG. 2 with changing volume of the respiratory bag; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a further embodiment of a cooling device in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a protective respiratory apparatus 100 in accordance with the invention. This has already been put into use by a person 200. Thus, a respiratory-air circuit 110 is provided which is described from the starting point of the person 200. When the person 200 expires air, the expired respiratory air A is introduced through an expiratory hose 160 along the respiratory-air circuit 110 into a respiratory-air regenerator 130. There, for example by means of absorption, a reduction in the CO.sub.2-content is effected. This step leads to a rise in temperature of the respiratory air A and in it being loaded with moisture. Subsequently, the warmed-up respiratory air A that is loaded with moisture can enter a respiratory bag (breathing bag) 30 along the respiratory-air circuit 110 through an inlet 32. Such a respiratory bag is formed as a cooling device 10 and will be explained further later in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. Downstream of the respiratory bag (breathing bag) 30, which is used as a pneumatic abutment for the pneumatic function of the lungs of the person 200, the respiratory air A, which has been cooled in the cooling device 10 and preferably has reduced moisture content, exits out of an outlet 34 out of the respiratory bag 30 again. In this case fresh air or air enriched with oxygen from an air reservoir 120 can be admixed therewith by way of a valve. An additional ice cooler 140 is optionally also provided in the case of this embodiment of the protective respiratory apparatus 100 in order to be able to raise the cooling capacity further. The cooled respiratory air A now reaches the person 200 again by way of the inspiratory hose 150 and can there be inspired.

(7) An embodiment of a cooling device 10 in accordance with the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. A respiratory bag 30 is provided, to which a spring force can be applied by means of a spring plate 40 with a spring device 42. For this, the spring device 42 is stayed against a housing 20 of the cooling device 10. FIG. 2 shows the situation prior to the expiration of air by the person 200, whilst FIG. 3 shows the situation after the expiration. In other words, the volume of the respiratory bag 30 is enlarged during the expiration of air by the person 200 and is diminished again during the inspiration of air by the person 200. In order to be able to carry out this movement, the corresponding application of the spring force is provided by the spring device 42.

(8) The heated-up respiratory air A which is loaded with moisture is located within the respiratory bag 30. In order to cool this air, a ventilating channel (cooling channel, cooling air duct) 50 is provided which is connected in a fluid-communicating manner with the ambient air U by means of an air inlet 51. Arranged in this air inlet 51 there is a ventilator (fan/blower) 52 which by means of a control unit 80 is supplied with energy and can be controlled or regulated. If the blower 52 moves, a flow of the ambient air U into the cooling channel 50 is generated along the respective direction of flow R of the ambient air U. Provided in the center of the cooling plate 56 that is provided there is a cooling rib 58 which is additionally formed for cooling purposes as a result of the possibility of heat-contacting heat-transmission to the surface side of the respiratory bag 30. The crucial cooling surface is, however, the outer side 36 of the respiratory bag 30. If the ambient air U has entered the cooling channel 50, it is directed to the two sides and is there guided downwards along the direction of flow R. In the case of the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2, most air is found in this region, this air having been pressed outwards by the action with the spring force by means of the spring device 42. In this case, therefore, irrespective of the real current volume of the respiratory bag 30, the greatest quantity of air is provided, preferably under the spring pressure applied by the spring device 42. The maximum cooling capacity occurs on these outer sides 36, and this is intensified in particular by condensation on the inside of the respiratory bag 30 for the respiratory air. Subsequently, the ambient air U that is loaded in this way with heat can exit out of the housing 20 through air outlets that are not denoted specifically.

(9) FIGS. 2 and 3 show, in addition, a sensor system with an ambient-air temperature sensor 60 and a respiratory-air temperature sensor 70. Thus, it is possible for the control unit 80 to determine the temperature gradient. Depending on the temperature gradient, accordingly a greater or a smaller volume flow can be provided in order to keep the cooling capacity as constant as possible or to compensate for a change in the gradient of the temperature between ambient air U and respiratory air A. It is also possible to achieve a timely switch-off of the blower if the temperature of the ambient air U exceeds the temperature of the respiratory air A.

(10) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a cooling device 10 in accordance with the invention. Thus, according to FIG. 4, a cooling plate 56 can be identified from above. The cooling plate 56 is used in a similar manner to the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3. In contrast therewith, instead of a cooling rib 58, according to the embodiment of FIG. 4, flow-directing elements 54 in the form of directing surfaces are provided. These allow a star-shaped distribution to be enforced with a uniform fanning-out of the introduced ambient air U to all outer sides 36 of the respiratory bag 30. In addition, a plurality of cooling openings 57 is provided for improved removal of heat out of the respiratory bag 30. This perforation thus results in an aerated cooling plate 56, as shown in FIG. 4.

(11) The explanation of the embodiments above describes the present invention exclusively within the scope of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with each other, in so far as this is sensible, technically, without departing from the scope of the present invention. While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.