Protective device against hypoxy for use in a hostile environment

The present invention relates to devices of protection against hypoxia and fumes, comprising a oro-nasal mask provided with a demand regulator which can be supplemented with protective goggles against the smoke, intended to be powered from a source oxygen and oxygen diluted with air taken from the environment where the ambient pressure requires not a pure oxygen supply.

To protect the crew of a aircraft fitted with such a device against NBC attacks, it has been proposed to complement this with a hood around the head and neck, scheduled to have an affair substantially sealed with the mask.

This solution is not fully satisfactory. In If NBC threat, staff must be equipped from the start a mission at risk of NBC aggression, hood, which in the best case shows only low openings and is very uncomfortable, even when the use of a respiratory mask is not necessary, eg at low altitude.

Are also known protection devices used ground or low-level, with a face cover around the eyes and is provided with means for setting up and holding on the face and comprising a mask Oro-nasal provided with a breathing gas inlet connection (Typically filtered air provided by a fan) and an expiration valve opening to the atmosphere through the face cover. Such a device does not provide, alone sufficient protection against attacks NBC, which are exposed to aircraft pilots and including helicopters and transport aircraft.

The present invention aims to provide a device of protection against hypoxia and fumes that can be used alone when there is no risk of NBC, either combination with a hood which, when worn only (eg in periods of low flying) is much less uncomfortable than conventional hoods.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a device having:<ul><li>a face cover provided with a flexible gasket around the eyes for protection against smoke, with sealing means at its periphery, and a closable connection to a filtered air supply,</li><li>a mouth-and-nose mask placed within the face cover, fixed to it and equipped with a demand regulator which admission is provided with a connection to a power source oxygen and the exhaust of which is connected directly to the atmosphere through the face cover through a valve exhaust, the inspiration and expiration paths the controller being separated by housings,</li><li>and means for setting up and maintaining the face cover.</li></ul>

Such a device can be made from a regulator to classical application, energizable by supply of oxygen, which is preserved the heart, and a mask itself, equipped with a face seal.

The inspiration part of the regulator inside the housing which defines the path of inspiration, will generally be connected to internal ventilation means of the face cover, for ventilating the volume around the head.

When such a device is used for missions where there is no NBC threat, can equip the face-cover means of implementation and restraint on the head constituted by an inflatable harness and an attachment block to the front of the face-cover. The implementation of the device can then perform a conventional manner. harness may be provided to be used by the staff provided a helmet or helmet helpless, similar to that described in the document FR-A-2710272 or US-A-5488948.

An alternative embodiment is applicable only when the risk of hypoxia and smoke is only considered if the pilot wears a helmet, an arch may be attached to the helmet, using bayonets which are conventionally used to hang a mask. In this case, the arch is scheduled so as to receive sealing the face cover. The face of the driver will be exposed to the environment, except for the airway and area surrounding the eyes, protected by flexible joints. The harness is not necessary in this case.

When there is instead a risk NBC, staff dons a hood before starting the mission. This hood conventionally comprises a portion enveloping the head provided with a neck seal and a front plate portion that extends on the flight suit. Unlike usual hoods, which is intended to be used with a device of the kind described above may include a wide aperture releasing the mouth, nose and eyes. Wearing a hood does not have such the degree of discomfort that occur with hoods usual.

A sealed enclosure should consist of around the head of personnel when NBC threat is present. The device just described allows the adoption of certain solutions to form the sealed enclosure. The NBC protection is provided in particular by setting pressure Driver top volume.

One solution is to equip the hood of a hoop, the type described in the patent application No. FR 97 05566, this hoop itself being fixed with bayonets engage in headset receptacles. In this case, the face cover may be provided to be fastened to the hoop by means of the type described in this patent application.

The inspiration path of demand regulator is connected to means of internal ventilation face cover, which may be constituted by two ramps leading to inside the face cover. The mask can be supplied in filtered air when there is no need enrichment oxygen. This filtered air supply is carried out under a slight overpressure, so as to permit scanning of the hood and / or headset as well as the pressurizing the head loudspeaker.

The above features and other appear better on reading the following description of particular embodiments, given as of non-limiting example. The description refers to the accompanying drawings, wherein:<ul><li>Figure 1 is an elevational view with portions broken away, showing a possible construction of a device, as used in conditions not involving NBC no threat;</li><li>2 is an internal view of the face-cover, in perspective;</li><li>Figure 3 is a view in elevation similar to Figure 1 showing the device in place on a hoop of helmet ;</li><li>Figure 4 shows a possible method of using the device by a crew member not wearing headphones, NBC requirements;</li><li>5 shows a hood provided with a headband, usable in employment conditions shown in figures 4 and 6;</li><li>Figure 6, similar to Figure 4, shows a mode use of the device on a helmet, in terms NBC.</li></ul>

The device shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a face cover 12 containing an oral-nasal mask 14 with a face seal 15. The face cover 12 has a valve or valves Expiration 32, a tip 30 connected to a conduit flexible air supply provided with a check valve 33, and optionally a feed nozzle beverage, symmetrically placed to the valve 32 relative to the plane vertical center of the face cover. The face-cover comprises a more flexible seal for sealing in Based on a hoop, as discussed below.

The face cover has a transparent visor or goggles 19 surrounded by a flexible joint intended to rest on the face and delimiting around the eyes of an enclosure protection.

The oro-nasal mask 14, is carried by the face cover 12. It is equipped with a demand regulator 16 which admission is provided with a connection 18 to a power source oxygen and the exhaust of which is connected directly to the atmosphere through the face cover through valve 32. Expiry of inspiration and expiration paths in the controller 16 are separated by respective casings 20 and 22.

The inspiration part of the regulator inside the casing which delimits the inhalation path, is generally connected to internal ventilation means of the face cover, opening into a ramp 24 of the head ventilation (Figure 2).

The front of the front cover shown in Figure 1 is provided to receive an inflatable harness 26 formatting Quick up with a block connectable to the front of face cover. The device may be used with such harness for missions where there is no NBC threat.

The harness may be provided to be used by the staff with a helmet. The seal can then apply on a hoop 28 of the kind described in the application 97 FR 05556. This hoop, if provided, can be fixed removable manner on the helmet by lateral bayonets.

The harness can be removed or omitted. The face-cover may either be provided with fixing means at three points on an arch such as those described in FR-A-97 05 566, cooperating with receptacles 40 equipping the hoop either be fitted with bayonets in the case where there is no bow.

In all cases, it is not necessary to connect the tip 30 to a filtered air supply to these employment conditions, potential dilution taking place at from the ambient air.

When there is instead a risk NBC, staff dons a hood before starting the mission, and connects the tip 30 to a filtered air supply. If the mission does not require wearing a helmet, face cover may be provided to connect directly to a hoop permanently attached to the hood. Figures 4 and 5 show such a hood 42 provided with a discharge valve 44 and of an arch 28. The arch, sealingly attached to the balaclava, defines an opening large dimensions, which is favorable from the point of view of comfort.

The 28 represented arch still has three receptacles retaining the face-cover, and side racks 46 mounting on a helmet.

When the protected person must wear a helmet 50 (Figure 6), which is for example the case of drivers, the arch of the hood is connected to the headset using the racks 46 which engage in receptacles 56. The face-cover is fixed to the arch where it is necessary, by connecting to the receptacles 40.

It is possible to remove the headphones when not necessary, simply releasing the racks 46.

The filtered air supply means may comprise conventionally a blower 52 provided with filters Admission 54, providing the speed needed to breathing and setting removal of the hood. The blower can supply one or more faces cover. She is connected to the onboard network or fed so autonomous.