Method and apparatus for the testing and repair of oxygen breathing apparatus

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the testing and repair of oxygen breathing apparatus, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for the testing and repair of oxygen breathing apparatus which does not require the mounting of the apparatus to a person for testing.

Oxygen breathing apparatus of the type forming a seal around the periphery of a user’s face has in the past been tested by a person mounting the apparatus to his body and the apparatus inflated for the searching of leaks by a second person. In an oxygen canister type of apparatus this is not only proven cumbersome, but quite expensive, since a canister must be utilized to inflate the apparatus for the testing. After a leak is discovered, the common practice was to apply a rubber patch to the leak and retest the apparatus, which required the consumption of another canister adding further to the expense of the operation.

According to the invention, an air pressure system is provided for pressurizing the oxygen breathing apparatus mounted on a manikin head for the determination of air leaks without the necessity of a second person wearing the apparatus. If an air leak is located, the pressure system is reversed drawing a vacuum on the oxygen breathing apparatus through the manikin head at which time liquid or fluid latex is applied around the leak which seals the leak around the inside and outside surfaces of the oxygen breathing apparatus. This system obviates the necessity of a second person in the testing phase and implements a fast, cheap and dependable repair facility much superior to the patch type of repair mentioned above. Another feature of the invention is the utilization of a resilient inflatable manikin head with a pressuresensitive valve coupling the air supply to the rescue breathing apparatus after the head is inflated to insure a tight seal between the face mask of the rescue breathing apparatus and the manikin head.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a means and apparatus for the testing and repair of oxygen breathing apparatus requiring the employment of only one person.

Another object is to provide means and apparatus for the testing and repair of oxygen breathing apparatus which does not require the utilization of an oxygen generating canister.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means and apparatus for the testing and repair of oxygen breathing apparatus which is simple and inexpensive to install and operate and requires a minimum of maintenance and adjustment.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the sole figure is a schematic representation of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, air compressor 11 is coupled through outlet line 12 and T-joint 13 to solenoid-actuated valves 14 and 16. Solenoid-actuated valve 16 is coupled to outlet line 17. Solenoid-actuated valve 14 is coupled through T-joint 18 and line 19 to fitting 21 in manikin head 22. Manikin head 22 has a two-way pressure sensitive check valve 23 which couples the inside of manikin head 22 to oxygen breathing apparatus mask 24 after sufficient pressure has built up to inflate manikin head 22. T-joint 18 also couples line 19 to solenoid actuated valve 26 which, in turn, is connected to T-joint 27 to intake line 28 of air compressor 11. Intake 31 is coupled through solenoid-actuated valve 29 and T-joint 27 to intake line 28 of air compressor 11.

Incoming power lines 35 are coupled to switch arms 32 of double pole, double throw switch 40. Terminals 30 of double pole, double throw switch 40 are coupled to solenoids 33, 34 and 36, and to contacts 37 of solenoid 33. The other side of contacts 37 are coupled to air compressor 11. Solenoid 34 is magnetically coupled to actuate solenoid valve 14, and solenoid 36 is magnetically coupled to actuate solenoid valve 27.

Contacts 38 of double pole, double throw switch 40 are connected across solenoid windings 39, 41 and 42, and to contacts 43 of solenoid 39. The other side of contacts 43 are connected to air compressor 11. Solenoid 41 is magnetically coupled to actuate solenoid-actuated valve 16, and solenoid 42 is magnetically coupled to actuate solenoid-actuated valve 26.

OPERATION

The test an oxygen breathing apparatus, the face mask is first positioned on manikin head 22 and switch 40 thrown to the left so that switch arms 32 make contact with terminals 30 of double pole, double throw switch 40. This energizes solenoid winding 33 closing contacts 37 which, in turn, energizes air compressor 11. At the same time, solenoids 34 and 36 are actuated opening solenoidactuated valves 14 and 29, respectively. In this position solenoids 39, 41 and 42 are de-energized leaving contacts 43 in an open position and solenoid-actuated valves 16 and 26 closed. This is the testing mode which will take air from intake line 31 through valve 29, T-joint 27, intake line 28, to the intake of air compressor 11. Air will then be forced out through exhaust 12 of air compressor 11, T-joint 13, solenoid-actuated valve 14, Tjoint 18 to line 19 and fitting 21 of manikin head 22. When the pressure has built up to a predetermined point inflating resilient manikin head 22, air will be passed through pressure sensitive valve 23 into the oxygen breathing apparatus 24 pressurizing the apparatus itself. It is

3,486,366 pointed out that air cannot pass through valves 16 and 26 since they are in a closed position.

If the oxygen breathing apparatus has a leak it will readily appear since air will be forced out through the leak reducing the pressure. At that point, the leak can be located and marked, utilizing standard bubble-testing techniques and double pole, double throw switch 40 thrown to the position on its right making contact between switch arms 32 and contacts 38 of switch 40. This will de-energize solenoids 33, 34 and 36, opening contacts 37 of solenoid 33, and shutting valves 14 and 29 of solenoids 34 and 36, respectively. At the same time, solenoids 39, 41 and 42 will be actuated closing contacts 43 of solenoid 39, again applying power to air compressor 11. Solenoids 41 and 42 will open solenoid-actuated valves 16 and 26, respectively, which will pull a vacuum from manikin head 22 and face mask 24 down through fitting 21, line 19, T-joint 18, solenoid-actuated valve 26 and T-joint 29 to intake line 28 of air compressor 11 through T-joint 33 and solenoid-actuated valve 17 to exhaust line 17. The air, of course, cannot escape through solenoidactuated valves 14 and 29 since they are now shut by the de-activation of their respective solenoids 34 and 36.

At this time a fluid latex can be placed around the leak in apparatus which will result in an automatic sealing of the leak and complete repair of the unit.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.