FILTER ADAPTER FOR HOLDING A FILTER UNIT AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Abstract

A filter adapter holds a filter unit and corresponding personal protection equipment. The filter adapter can be connected to a filter device and can thus be used together with a filter device. The filter adapter is suitable for holding a filter unit and can be connected to a filter device. The filter adapter includes: a connecting structure for connection to the filter device, a holding structure for holding the filter unit, and a contact surface for sealing contact with a protective suit.

Claims

1. A filter adapter for holding a filter unit, wherein the filter adapter is configured to be connected to a filter device, the filter adapter comprising: a connecting structure for connection to the filter device; a holding structure for holding the filter unit; and a contact surface configured for sealing contact with a protective suit.

2. A filter adapter according to claim 1, wherein the filter adapter is formed in one piece and the contact surface is formed between the connecting structure and the filter holder, or wherein the filter adapter is formed in two parts with a first filter adapter element and a second filter adapter element, and the contact surface is formed between the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element.

3. A filter adapter according to claim 2, further comprising a sealing element configured to be arranged between the connecting structure and the filter device.

4. A filter adapter according to claim 2, wherein the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element can be connected by means of a thread pairing such that the protective suit can be received in a force-locking manner between the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element.

5. A filter adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing element configured to be arranged between the connecting structure and the filter device.

6. A filter adapter according to claim 1, wherein the filter adapter is formed in two parts with a first filter adapter element and a second filter adapter element, and the contact surface is formed between the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element, wherein the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element include a thread pairing to connect the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element such that the protective suit can be received in a force-locking manner between the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element.

7. A filter adapter according to claim 1, wherein the holding structure is configured to correspond to a filter holder of the filter device.

8. A filter adapter according to claim 1, wherein the connecting structure is configured to correspond to a filter connection of the filter unit.

9. A filter adapter according to claim 1, wherein the filter adapter is configured for the filter device, wherein the filter device is configured as a blower filter device.

10. A filter adapter according to claim 1, in combination with the filter unit to form a filter arrangement, wherein the filter unit is configured to be held by the holding structure.

11. A filter adapter according to claim 1, in combination with the filter device to form a filter device arrangement, wherein the filter device comprises a filter holder and the connecting structure is configured to connect to the filter holder of the filter device.

12. Personal protective equipment comprising: a filter device; a filter unit; and a filter adapter, the filter adapter comprising: a connecting structure for connection to the filter device; a holding structure for holding the filter unit; and a contact surface configured for sealing contact with a protective suit, wherein the filter unit is configured to be held by the holding structure, and wherein the filter device comprises a filter holder and the connecting structure is configured to connect to the filter holder of the filter device.

13. Personal protective equipment according to claim 12, further comprising a protective suit, wherein the protective suit is configured for use with the filter adapter.

14. Personal protective equipment according to claim 13, wherein the filter adapter is formed in one piece and the contact surface is formed between the connecting structure and the filter holder, or wherein the filter adapter is formed in two parts with a first filter adapter element and a second filter adapter element, and the contact surface is formed between the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element.

15. Personal protective equipment according to claim 14, further comprising a sealing element configured to be arranged between the connecting structure and the filter device.

16. Personal protective equipment according to claim 14, wherein the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element can be connected by means of a thread pairing such that the protective suit can be received in a force-locking manner between the first filter adapter element and the second filter adapter element.

17. Personal protective equipment according to claim 13, wherein the holding structure is configured to correspond to a filter holder of the filter device.

18. Personal protective equipment according to claim 13, wherein the connecting structure is configured to correspond to a filter connection of the filter unit.

19. A filter unit configured to be held with a filter adapter, the filter adapter comprising: a connecting structure for connection to a filter device; a holding structure for holding the filter unit; and a contact surface configured for sealing contact with a protective suit.

20. A filter device comprises a filter holder configured to connect with a connection structure of a filter adapter, the filter adapter further comprising a holding structure for holding a filter unit; and a contact surface configured for sealing contact with a protective suit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the Drawings:

[0046] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a filter device and filter unit according to the invention;

[0047] FIG. 2 is a sectional showing an embodiment of a filter device according to the invention, a filter unit according to the invention and a two-part filter adapter according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the embodiment according to FIG. 2 in an assembled state; and

[0049] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a filter device according to the invention, a filter unit according to the invention and a one-piece filter adapter according to the invention in an assembled state.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0050] Referring to the drawings, according to the invention, a filter adapter 100 is provided. Examples of embodiments of filter adapters 100 according to the invention are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a section of an exemplary filter device 300, which is suitable for use with a filter adapter 100 according to the invention. This exemplary filter device 300 has a filter holder 320 formed in a housing of the filter device 300, which is fluidically connected to a line 310 in the direction of a breathing connection and/or a blower. The filter holder 320 can be provided as an integral part of the filter device 300, for example as shown a part of its housing, or as a separate component.

[0052] In the example shown, the filter holder 320 is configured as a recess with a mechanical interface for connection to a filter connection 210 of the filter unit 200. However, it is not necessary for the filter holder 320 to be configured as a recess.

[0053] In the example shown, the filter holder 320 is configured with an undercut 321, which can be latched with a corresponding latching element 211 of the filter unit 200. Other configurations of the mechanical interface formed by the filter holder 320 and filter connection 210, such as a threaded pairing or a bayonet lock, are also possible.

[0054] The filter holder 320 of the illustrated example is further configured to be brought into substantially flush abutment with a wall 212 of the filter unit 200, although this is also not necessary.

[0055] In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the filter device 300 and the filter unit 200 according to FIG. 1 are shown together with two different embodiments of the filter adapter 100 according to the invention. The filter adapter 100 according to FIGS. 2 and 3 is configured in two parts, whereas the filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4 is configured in one part.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows the two-part filter adapter 100 with the filter device 300 and the filter unit 200 in a non-assembled state. FIG. 3 shows the two-part filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 2 in an assembled state.

[0057] Both filter adapters 100, i.e. both the filter adapter 100 according to FIGS. 2 and 3 and that according to FIG. 4 (hereinafter also referred to collectively simply as the filter adapter 100) are suitable for holding (receiving/accommodating) a filter unit 200, for example the filter unit 200 according to FIG. 1, and can be connected to a filter device 300, for example the filter device 300 according to FIG. 1.

[0058] The filter adapter 100 of all figures has a connecting structure 110 for connection to the filter device 300, a holding structure 120 for holding the filter unit 200 and a contact surface 130 or a plurality of contact surfaces 130a, 130b for sealing contact with a protective suit 400.

[0059] The filter adapter 100 according to FIGS. 2, 3 is formed in two parts with a first filter adapter element 100a and a second filter adapter element 100b, wherein the contact surface 130a, 130b is formed between the first filter adapter element 100a and the second filter adapter element 100b.

[0060] The first filter adapter 100a according to FIGS. 2, 3 can have a connecting structure 110, which can be formed corresponding to the filter connection 210 of the filter unit 200, which can thus have a similarly formed latching element 110 and a similarly formed wall 112, as shown by way of example, which can be brought into engagement with the filter holder 320 of the filter device 300 in the same way as the filter unit 200.

[0061] The first filter adapter 100a and the second filter adapter 100b according to FIGS. 2, 3 can be connectable by means of a threaded pairing 151, 152, so that the protective suit 400 can be accommodated non-positively between the first filter adapter element 100a and the second filter adapter element 100b. For this purpose, the first filter adapter 100a can have an external thread and the second filter adapter 100b can have an internal thread or vice versa.

[0062] In the example shown, the first filter adapter 100a and the second filter adapter 100b further each have a through opening 160a, 160b in order to provide a fluidic connection between the filter unit 200 and the filter holder 320.

[0063] The second filter adapter 100b according to FIGS. 2, 3 can have a holding structure 120, which can be configured to correspond to a filter holder 320 of the filter device 300. As an example, it is shown that the holding structure 120 can have an undercut 121 for this purpose, which can be formed in the same way as the undercut 321 of the filter holder 320, if present.

[0064] By connecting the first filter adapter 100a and the second filter adapter 100b according to FIGS. 2, 3, the two-part filter adapter 100a, 100b can be assembled, whereby during assembly the protective suit 400, which can have a suitable interface 410 with a through-opening 420, can be brought into sealing contact with the contact surface 130, 130b. This assembly or assembled state is shown in FIG. 3.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 2, a sealing element 140 can be arranged between the connecting structure 110 of the filter adapter 100a, 100b and the filter device 300 or the filter holder 320. For example, as shown, this can be configured as an O-ring; however, any other design of a sealing element and/or the provision of a plurality of sealing elements is possible.

[0066] The filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4 is formed in one piece, with the contact surface 130 being formed between the connecting structure 110 of the filter adapter 100 and the filter holder 320.

[0067] The filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4 can, for example, have an external thread as the connecting structure 110, which can be brought into engagement with a corresponding internal thread 310 of the filter device 300. The internal thread 310 of the filter device 300 can be configured as part of the filter holder 320 or can be provided separately from it.

[0068] In the embodiment example according to FIGS. 2, 3, it is also possible for the connecting structure 110 to be configured as an external thread, as in FIG. 4. Furthermore, in the embodiment example according to FIG. 4, it is possible that the connecting structure 110 is formed with a latching element, as with one of those according to FIGS. 2, 3. In both embodiment examples, the connecting structure 110 can also be formed in any other way.

[0069] The holding structure 120 of the filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4 can be formed corresponding to the filter holder 320 of the filter device 300, as shown.

[0070] The filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4 also preferably has a through-opening 160 for fluidic connection of the filter unit 200 to the line 310.

[0071] It is not shown that a sealing element can also be provided between filter device 300 and filter adapter 100 in the filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4.

[0072] As can be seen in the filter adapter 100 according to FIG. 4, it is preferred that a circumference of the connecting structure 110 is smaller than a circumference of the holding structure 120.

[0073] The filter device 300 of all embodiments can be configured as a blower filter device.

[0074] According to the invention, there is further provided a personal protective equipment 500 comprising: a filter device 300, a filter unit 200, a filter adapter 100, 100a, 100b and optionally a protective suit 400 for use with the filter adapter 100, 100a, 100b.

[0075] 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.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference symbols 100 Filter adapter 100a First filter adapter element 100b Second filter adapter element 110 Connecting structure 111 Latching element of the filter adapter 112 Wall of the filter adapter 120 Holding structure of the filter adapter 121 Undercut of the filter adapter 130, 130a, 130b Contact surface 140 Sealing element 151 External thread 152 Internal thread 160, 160a, 160b Access opening 200 Filter unit 210 Filter connection 211 Latching element of the filter unit 212 Wall of the filter unit 300 Filter device 310 Line 311 Internal thread of the filter device 320 Filter holder 321 Undercut of the filter device 400 Protective suit 410 Interface 420 Access opening of the protective suit 500 Personal protection equipment