Filter box assembly and filter unit

Abstract

A filter unit for use in a filter box assembly, the filter unit comprising a particulate filter layer and a gas filter layer, the particulate filter layer being configured to bias towards the gas filter layer, exerting pressure thereon. There is also described filter box assemblies (including a duel filter assembly) comprising the filter unit, and a respiratory protective device comprising the filter unit. Also described is a method of manufacturing a filter unit with a gas filter layer and a particulate filter layer, wherein a force is applied to the particulate filter layer causing it to fix the gas filter layer in place. Also described is a method of manufacturing a dual filter assembly wherein a casing is twice reversibly attached to and detached from a support surface, filter units being added to the casing when the casing is attached to the surface.

Claims

1. A filter box assembly for use with a respiratory protective device, the filter box assembly comprising: a first filter unit and a second filter unit, wherein the first filter unit and the second filter unit share a common air channel in fluid contact with the first filter unit and the second filter unit, wherein the common air channel is adjacent to the first filter unit and the second filter unit, the first filter unit and the second filter unit comprising a gas filter layer and a first particulate filter layer, the first particulate filter layer comprising a resilient material, wherein the first particulate filter layer is compressed such that it applies a positive force against the gas filter layer, the first particulate filter layer thereby being configured to bias towards the gas filter layer.

2. The filter box assembly of claim 1, wherein the common air channel is located between the first filter unit and the second filter unit.

3. The filter box assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spacer configured to space apart the first filter unit and the second filter unit, wherein optionally the depth of the common air channel is defined by the spacer.

4. The filter box assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter unit comprises a support layer, which optionally is a second particulate filter layer.

5. The filter box assembly of claim 4, wherein the gas filter layer is located between the first particulate filter layer and the support layer.

6. The filter box assembly of claim 4, wherein the gas filter layer is adjacent to the first particulate filter layer and the support layer.

7. The filter box assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter unit comprises a first perforated support plate and a second perforated support plate.

8. The filter box assembly of claim 7, wherein the first particulate filter layer is located between the first perforated support plate and the second perforated support plate.

9. The filter box assembly of claim 7, wherein the first particulate filter layer is adjacent to one of the first perforated support plate and the second perforated support plate.

10. The filter box assembly of claim 7, wherein a support layer is located between the first perforated support plate and the second perforated support plate.

11. The filter box assembly of claim 10, wherein the support layer is adjacent to one of the first perforated support plate and the second perforated support plate.

12. A respiratory protective device comprising a filter box assembly as described in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) There will now be described, by way of example only, embodiments of the invention with reference to the following Figures, of which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a respiratory protective device including a filter box assembly;

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a side elevation of a respiratory protective device including a filter box assembly;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a side elevation of a filter box assembly comprising two filter units; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a side elevation of a filter box assembly comprising one filter unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a respiratory protective device 30 having a filter box assembly 10 connected to a mouthpiece 24. Also shown are a perforated filter plate 19 and a nose clip 26.

(7) Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown there is shown a respiratory protective device 30 having a filter box assembly 10 connected to a mouthpiece 24. The filter box assembly contains two filter units 22 which share a common air channel 13. As can be seen, the air channel 13 is in direct contact with the filter units 22, and in this case is in direct contact with a support scrim (support layer) 16, which is a particulate filter. Adjacent the support scrim 16 is a gas filter layer 17, and adjacent the gas filter layer 17 is a particulate filter later 18. To the outside of the assembly 10 is a perforated filter plate 19 which is adjacent the particulate filter layer 18. Also shown is a nose clip 26.

(8) In this embodiment, the filter unit 22 comprises the support scrim (support layer) 16, the gas filter layer 17, the particulate filter later 18, and the perforated filter plate 19. The casing 11 can also form part of the filter unit 22.

(9) The gas filter layer 17 may be made from several components such as, for example, an activated charcoal powder or granules, which require to be held in place to prevent escape or leakage of the components.

(10) In use, the wearer puts the mouthpiece 24 into their mouth, and the nose clip 26 over their nose, and thus can only breathe air which has passed through the filter box assembly 10 and, in particular, the filter units 22. The perforated filter plates 19 allow the ingress of atmospheric air. Any harmful particulates are removed by the particulate filter layers 18, 16, and any harmful gases and vapours are removed by the gas filter layers 17. Thus, contaminant free air is provided to the wearer.

(11) Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a section through a double-sided (FIG. 3) and a partially completed (FIG. 4) filter box assembly 10 which is contained within casing 11 which incorporates a central step 12 and an outlet channel 13. The casing 11 can be of rigid or flexible form, and can be constructed from a suitable material, such as light alloy, nylon, ABS or rubber, and can be of any suitable shape, such as round or rectanguloid. Casing 11 is designed to have sufficient strength to protect its contents, to withstand any forces imposed on the filter components, to withstand foreseeable forces that may be generated if the device is dropped onto hard surfaces, and to withstand foreseeable mishandling and rough usage.

(12) The filter box assembly contains two filter units 22 which share a common air channel 13. As can be seen, the air channel 13 is in direct contact with the filter units 22, and in this case is in direct contact with a perforated filter plate 15. Adjacent the perforated support plate is a support scrim 16, which in this case is a particulate filter layer. Adjacent the support scrim 16 is a gas filter layer 17, and adjacent the gas filter layer 17 is a particulate filter layer 18. To the outside of the assembly 10 is a perforated filter plate 19 which is adjacent the particulate filter layer 18. Also shown is a lid 20, which can be used to locate nose clip 26.

(13) In these embodiments, the filter unit 22 comprises the perforated filter plate 15, the support scrim (support layer) 16, the gas filter layer 17, the particulate filter later 18, and the perforated filter plate 19. The casing 11 can also form part of the filter unit 22.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a section through a filter box assembly 10 with one filter unit 22 assembled. To complete one half of the filter box assembly 10 (i.e., one filter unit 22), casing 11 is sat on, and temporarily sealed (i.e., reversibly attached) to rigid base 14, which acts as a support surface. Perforated filter plate 15 is sat on the top of central step 12. Support scrim 16 is sat on top of perforated filter plate 15 and a defined volume of adsorbent/absorbent 17 is snowed into the volume formed by support scrim 16 and the upper walls of the casing 11 so-forming a gas filter layer 17. Support scrim 16 may optionally provide a degree of filtration efficiency to capture particulates that may be released by adsorbent/absorbent 17, as such particulates can cause discomfort to the wearer.

(15) The particulate filter 18 and perforated support plate 19 are sat sequentially on top of adsorbent/absorbent 17. A suitable force is then applied to perforated support plate 19 to cause particulate filter 18 to compress and so form the source of the force applied to adsorbent/absorbent 17 to lock them securely in position. A force of about 50 kg (490 N) has been found to be suitable for one widely used electrostatic filter medium, which is formed from suitable synthetic fibres, such as polypropylene.

(16) A jig, not shown, may be required to ensure that during the compression of the particulate filter 18, the perforated filter plate 19 is correctly located to sit correctly within the lip of the casing 11. The perforated filter plate 19 is held securely in place by lid 20. Perforated filter plates 15, 19 can be identical, if desired. Laser cut stainless steel has been found to be a suitable material for forming perforated filter plates 15, 19. The perforated filter plates 19 may also act as and be referred to as support plates or perforated support plates. The perforated filter plates 15, 19 have sufficient structural strength and/or rigidity to support the pressure generated by the force applied to compress the particulate filters 16, 18. Furthermore, perforated filter plates 15, 19 have sufficient structural strength to retain their structural integrity when such forces are applied to them.

(17) The central step 12 is sufficiently rigid to enable the height h of the central step 12 to be maintained under the load imposed by compression of the particulate filters 18. The central step 12 acts as a spacer, spacing the two filter units apart and can be a tab which is attached or integral to the casing 11, or can be a separate shim or spacer(s).

(18) To complete the second half of the filter box assembly 10 (i.e., to add the second filter unit 22), the casing 11 is detached from the support surface 14, is turned upside down and is again reversibly attached to the support surface 14 so that the lid 20 sits on top of, and is temporarily sealed to, the support surface (rigid base) 14, and the above assembly procedure is repeated in the same sequence to achieve a complete double-sided filter box assembly 10.

(19) It will be appreciated that the method described can be truncated to make a single filter unit and/or a single filter assembly.

(20) Referring again to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a section through a completed filter box assembly 10. The contaminated air enters the filter assembly 10 through the particulate filters 18 before entering adsorbent/absorbent 17.

(21) Lids 20 can be formed by swaging the top of casing 11 if it is made from metal or a suitable plastic. Alternatively it can be clipped, glued or welded in position if made from metal, plastic or rubber.

(22) To ensure that both filter units 22 of the double-sided filter assembly 10 are as similar as possible in terms of breathing resistance, and therefore in terms of the volume of air flowing through each half of the filter assembly 10 in use, air at a defined flow rate can be drawn through outlet channel 13, and the pressure drop generated by each filter unit 22 can be measured sequentially using a suitable pressure measuring means, not shown. If necessary, a volume of adsorbent/absorbent 17 can be carefully snowed onto or removed from the second filter unit 22 as required before the second lid 20 is fixed in position.

(23) The filter assemblies can be temporarily sealed to the support surface if it is wished to test the flow resistance of each filter unit.

(24) In one embodiment the central step is an integral part of the casing wall. The central step abuts the perforated support plates on either side of the air channel, and defines the air channel depth.

(25) In an alternative embodiment the central step is not an integral part of the casing wall, but is formed by a separate spacer, or spacers, located between the perforated support plates on either side of the air channel. In this embodiment the lid on the filter unit which is closest to the rigid base can be part of the casing, and the filter unit can be assembled by sequentially inserting the following parts into the casing: the first (lower) perforated support plate, the (lower) particulate filter, the (lower) gas layer, the (lower) support scrim, the second (lower) perforated support plate, the spacer, or spacers (which could be in the form of a topless and bottomless box which forms the sides of the air channel), the first (upper) support plate, the (upper) support scrim, the (upper) gas layer, the (upper) particulate filter and the second (upper) perforated support plate. The whole filter assembly can then be compressed as one unit to fix the gas filter layer in place before the top lid is then fitted.

(26) The use of the compressed particulate filter to lock the adsorbent/absorbent granules in place can also be used in the manufacture of conventional combined gas and vapour and particulate filters.

(27) Suitable materials for use in the particulate filter layer(s) include, for example, polypropylene or nylon.

(28) Suitable materials for use in the gas filter layer include(s), for example, activated carbon, silica gel, molecular sieves or Tenax (Trade Mark).

(29) Suitable materials for use in the support scrim include(s), for example, polypropylene or nylon.

(30) This invention applies primarily to the manufacture of filter assemblies for respiratory protective devices, but can also be applied to the manufacture of filters for other applications.

(31) While this invention has been described with reference to the sample embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications can be made to the structure and elements of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as a whole.