Fume protection device

Abstract

 A fume protection device which allows a person within a room of a smoke filled building to breathe air from outside the building comprises a conduit (20) in an exterior building wall in communication with outside air, having a sealing valve adapted to seal the conduit (20) from the passage of air except when activated, so as to maintain pressure differences between the interior of the building and the exterior thereof under ordinary conditions, and one or more breathing masks (2) and tubes (3), the tubes (3) being connected at one end to an inlet port (6) of a mask and having at another end a jack (7) being adapted to connect to the conduit (20) and upon connection to open the sealing valve to establish communication between the outside air and the interior of the breathing mask (2) through the conduit (20) and the tube (3).

Description

Field of Art

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus adapted to provide a supply of fresh filtered air to persons trapped within a burning building and unable to breathe because of toxic fumes caused by the fire.

Background of the Invention

[0002] During the last fifty years there has been a dramatic increase in the construction of tall multi-unit hotels, office buildings and residential complexes. Typically these buildings are constructed with a concrete and steel framework. Accordingly, if a fire begins in a unit of a building, the fire can usually be contained to the particular unit or to a floor of the building. However, the spreading of toxic fumes within the building through ventilation systems, hallways and elevator shafts is a major problem for other persons within the building. Many synthetic materials used in upholstery and rugs (for example, polyurethane) give off toxix fumes upon combustion. Such fumes mixed with the ordinary smoke of combustion can choke, suffocate or poison other individuals in the building who are trapped and blinded by the smoke and unable to escape.

[0003] Frequently, the rooms of such buildings are sealed because of air conditioning and controlled atmosphere requirements, and often there is a pressure difference.between the interior of the buildings and the outside atmosphere. Accordingly, persons within a unit trying to obtain a source of fresh air may find that the only way to get outside air is to break a window, but breaking a window can create a pressure drop in the room which could draw smoke and possibly fire from within the building to that particular unit to aggravate conditions there.

[0004] There have been numerous attempts in the prior art to provide air and oxygen supplies to persons trapped within such buildings. For example, U.S. Patent 4,331,139 and U.S. Patent 4,320,756 both present alternative designs of systems which might be used to supply air to a person trapped in a room in a burning building. Both of these patents attempt to utilize the air supply in the waste vents of a sewage pipe within a building. While these patents present a theoretical solution that may have practical merit in certain circumstances, the method proposed by the patents is not suitable for general application for there is a strong likelihood that the sewage system would become contaminated by toxic fumes and hot gases in the course of a fire. For example, the heat within the burning unit would soon evaporate the water from toilet fixtures and sink traps to allow the smoke and fumes to be drawn into the sewage pipes. Moreover, even if the sewer gas did not become contaminated by the smoke, the pipes could become heated by the fire to produce superheated gases which could burn the lungs of a person inhaling them. In any event, the gases ordinarily resident in the sewer system, while not fatally poisonous would likely cause some sickness if inhaled in quantity over a prolonged period of time.

PRESENT INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which permits a user to access air outside a burning building from within the building without breaking the pressure seal to any appreciable extent between the interior of the building and the exterior, so as to provide the user with a source of outside air to breathe until rescued.

[0006] It is also an object of this invention to provide an apparatus of a simple and cost-effective design which will include a signalling means to alert firemen to the fact that there is someone using the apparatus within the building.

[0007] Accordingly, the invention is an apparatus to allow a person within a room of a smoke-filled building to breathe air from outside the building, comprising in combination;
at least one conduit in an exterior building wall in communication with outside air, such conduit having a sealing device adapted to seal the conduit from the passage of air under ordinary conditions,
at last one tube leading to at least one breathing mask, such breathing masks being adapted to permit the user to breathe air supplied by the tube and to exhale air into the room,
a coupling fixture being adapted to permit connection of the tube to the conduit, and upon connection, to open the sealing device to permit the passage of air through the conduit as it is drawn into the tube by the user.

[0008] The breathing apparatus above described will usually comprise a mask having an inlet port in communication with said tube and having an outlet port in communication with the room. Each such port would be adapted with one-way valves to permit the inflow of air through the inlet port only and to permit the exhaustion of air through the outlet port only.

[0009] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that a number of one-way devices may be used to control the flow of air in and out of the face-mask. Perhaps the simplest of these is simply a flap which overlays the hole and is permitted to open in one direction only because of its size in relation to the size of the port and its location (either on the interior of the mask in the case of the inlet port or on the exterior of the mask in the case of the outlet port).

[0010] In preferred embodiments of this invention the above described apparatus is used in combination with a warning light which may be placed on the exterior of the building, in the hallway or other suitable location. In this combination, the connection of the coupling fixture between the tube and the conduit completes an electrical circuit which lights the warning light to indicate to firemen which breathing apparatus are being used in the building. This facilitates the easy location and rescue of such people.

[0011] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of different types of conduits may be used to establish communication between an interior room and the outside air. Preferably the conduit will be short and directly through the wall to an outside air source. In preferred embodiments of this invention the conduit is also fitted with filters being adapted to clean the air passing through the filter, in the event that there should be some smoke in the air outside the building. It will also be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the conduit may be fitted with a thermal and vapor barrier and may be angled downward to prevent the collection and freezing of water within it. Particular designs of this invention to accomodate environmental design requirements in a variety of climates are within the state of the art and will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0012] For convenience of storage and for cosmetic reasons the apparatus of this invention may be installed in a box located on a wall. The box would be adapted to contain a sufficient quantity of masks, tubes and conduit connections to provide emergency breathing apparatus for the number of persons that might ordinarily be found in such unit of the building with perhaps extras for other people driven from other units. The number, location and make up of emergency breathing stations is a matter of safety design which will be determined by regulation or design. The box may be closed by a door or the like covered with a painting, a mirror, or a notice as to the procedure to be followed in a fire drill, whatever seems appropriate to the particular environment of the location.

DRAWINGS

[0013] In the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG.1 is an illustration of a building fitted with the apparatus of this invention,

FIG.2 is a schematic illustration of a group of people using the apparatus of this invention,

FIG.3 is an illustration of the outside portion of the conduit of the apparatus of this invention,

FIG.4 is a sketch of the mask, tubing and conduit connection of the apparatus of this invention,

[0014] In the description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, like numerals indicate like elements.

[0015] FIG.1 illustrates a ten-story building fitted with the apparatus of this invention. A family located in one unit of the building is using the apparatus of this invention to breathe outside air while a firefighter is searching the building to rescue people from the threat of suffocation or poisoning from smoke and toxic fumes. As illustrated, at each location of the building where people are using the apparatus of this invention, an exterior beacon lights up, indicating to firemen exactly where in the building people are located.

[0016] FIG.2 illustrates the invention in operation. Users of the apparatus strap on a pair of goggles (1) and a face-mask (2). The face-mask is connected to a tube (3). The headgear is fitted about the head by means of an adjustable strap (4). The face-mask has exhaust ports (5) and inlet ports (6).

[0017] The end of the tube away from the mask terminates in a male jack (7) which is adapted to be fitted into a female coupling (8) in communication with the supply of air. A beacon light (9), adjacent the female coupling (8), flashes to indicate that a proper connection has been made to the conduit and that electrical connection has been completed to activate a flashing beacon (15) to alert the fire department.

[0018] It will be appreciated that the flashing beacon may be on the exterior of the building as shown in FIG.2 or in the hallway of the building or even on a panel on the first floor of the building.

[0019] Also illustrated in FIG.2 is a portion of the filter housing (16) of the exterior conduit which will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.3.

[0020] The goggles, face-mask and tubing are contained in a cabinet (14) having a door (13) and a light (12) on its interior. The light (12) is activated by an alternate power source to light up the interior of cabinet (14) when door (13) is opened. The battery and a recharging device to provide the alternate source of power may be contained for example in the cabinet (14) in box (10). The alternate source of power, while not essential, is an added advantage where there is a power failure in the building at the time of the emergency. In the preferred embodiment the flashing beacon is driven by the alternate power source.

[0021] FIG.3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the external portion of the conduit (20) which acts as a duct to communicate between the exterior of the building and the interior of cabinet (14). As shown the end portion (21) depends downwardly to avoid plugging with water, ice or other debris. In the illustrated embodiment the flashing external beacon (15) is contained at the end of the downward depending portion of the conduit (21). The beacon comprises a socket (22) electrically connected within the conduit (21), a beacon light bulb (23) and a protective lens cover (24). The closer the beacon is to the unit the less likely will be interception of the electrical signal by the fire.

[0022] Within the filter section (16) are an internal screen mesh (25), particle filters (26 & 28) and charcoal filter (27), followed by external screen mesh (29) and the filter cap (30). The screens and the filters are adapted to fit in the downwardly depending opening of the end portion (21) and to be retained by the filter cap (30). The filter section is adapted to clean the air before it is drawn into the conduit for breathing. The filtering mechanism may be varied in accordance with predeterminations of possible contaminants. The design of the filter is beyond the scope of this invention and is within the scope of the art of filtration devices.

[0023] FIG.4 illustrates the breathing headpiece in further detail, in particular two exhaust ports (5) are provided with external flap covers (34) being adapted to prevent air from being inhaled through the ports but permitting air to be exhausted therefrom. Similarly inlet port (6) between the tube and the mask is covered by an interior flap (36) which permits air to be drawn from the tube but not to be exhaled into the tube. The male jack (7) at the end of the tube (3) is fitted with prongs (38) which are electrically connected to complete the beacon circuit when jack (7) is inserted in the female opening (8).

[0024] The particular valve mechanism used to seal the conduit is not shown or described in detail since its form is not an essential feature of this invention. It is an element of the combination that in fact, may take on many forms depending on local conditions and design requirements. In essence the conduit sealing mechanism will be selected by skilled persons from valve, or throttling mechanisms available in the art and which will permit the pressure differences on either side of the building wall to be maintained without air leakage through the conduit under ordinary conditions but will open the conduit to the passage of air at least into the building when the tube jack is connected into the conduit. Opening of the sealing valve may be triggered by the mechanical action of jack insertion, by electrical activation of the beacon or by a seperate mechanical, electrical or other independent switching mechanism within or about the cabinet.

[0025] In operation of this invention, persons trapped in a smoke-filled building would open the door of the cabinet (14) which would turn on light (12) to illuminate the cabinet interior. Each person would remove a face-mask and tube from the cabinet and plug into a conduit (8). The beacon light in the cabinet (14) and outside the building would begin flashing. The persons would breathe outside filtered air until firemen located them from the beacon and led them to safety.

[0026] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that modifications or additions may be made to the above described apparatus without departing from the inventing concepts thereof.

Claims

1. A breathing apparatus for persons trapped in a room of a smoke infested building, CHARACTERISED BY HAVING:
at least one horizontal conduit (20) extending straightway through an exterior wall of said building to an outside air source to establish direct communication between an interior room of said building and said outside air, said conduit (20) being adapted with a sealing device to seal the conduit (20) from the passage of air except when activated,
at least one tube (3) connected to at least one breathing mask (2), said mask (2) being adapted to permit a user to breathe air supplied by the tube (3) and to exhale air into the room, and
a coupling fixture (8) between the tube and the conduit being adapted to permit connection of the tube (3) to the conduit (20) and, upon connection, to activate the conduit by opening the sealing device to permit the passage of air through the conduit (20) from outside the building as it is drawn into the tube (3) by the user.

2. The breathing apparatus of claim 1, further characterised in that the mask (2) has at least one inlet port (6) in communication with said tube (3), said inlet port (6) being adapted with a one-way valve to permit air to be drawn into the mask (2) from the inlet port (6) but not to be exhausted through said inlet port (6).

3. The breathing apparatus of claim 2, further characterised in that the mask has at least one outlet port (5), said outlet port (5) being adapted with a one-way valve to permit air to be exhausted from said outlet port (5) but not to be drawn into said outlet port (5).

4. The apparatus of claim 1, 2 or 3, further characterised in that there is included an indicator beacon (15) at a location where it will alert a rescuer, said beacon (15) being adapted to be activated by operation of said breathing apparatus.

5. A breathing apparatus for persons trapped in smoke infested buildings CHARACTERISED BY HAVING:
at least one horizontal conduit (20) extending straightway through an exterior wall of said building to an outside source to establish direct communication between an interior room of said building and said outside air, said conduit (20) being adapted with a sealing valve to seal the conduit (20) from the passage of air except when activated so as to maintain pressure differences between the interior of the building and the exterior thereof under ordinary conditions, and
at least one breathing mask (2) and tube (3), said tube (3) being connected at one end to an inlet port (6) of said mask and having at another end a jack (7) being adapted to connect to said conduit (20) and upon connection to activate the sealing valve to open to establish communication between the outside air and the interior of the breathing mask (2) through the conduit (20) and the tube (3), thereby enabling a user to breathe outside air from within the building.

6. The breathing apparatus of claim 5, further characterised by having a one-way valve between the outside air and the interior of the mask (2) which permits air to be drawn into the mask (2) through the conduit (20) and the tube (3) but prevents air from being exhaled along the same route.

7. The breathing apparatus of claim 5 or 6, further characterised in that the mask (2) has at least one outlet port (5) adapted with a valve to allow air to be exhausted from the mask (2) through the outlet port (5) but to prevent air from being inhaled from said outlet port (5).

Drawing