JP3780455B2 - Mask device with blower - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mask device with a blower in which a blower that operates in conjunction with breathing is provided on a full-face mask, a half-face mask, or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Normally, when working in an atmosphere filled with hazardous substances such as dangerous dust and toxic gas, the worker wears a dust mask or gas mask, and the filter uses a filter that possesses the hazardous substances in the mask or activated carbon. Absorb and purify and breathe with this purified air.
However, in the filter medium, the ventilation resistance increases as the purification effect increases. In particular, radioactive dust in nuclear power plants and dioxins generated in cleaning plants are fatal if they enter the human body even if they are very small. Use a filter material with high purification action and extremely high ventilation resistance. Is done. Therefore, sufficient breathing becomes difficult with the worker's own lung power.
[0003]
Therefore, conventionally, a blower is attached to the front side or the rear side of the filter medium in the shape of an air passage, and breathing assistance is performed using the air supply force (suction force).
In addition, as a mask adopting such a blower system, the present applicant not only simply blows air, but also increases air flow during inhalation in conjunction with breathing and decreases air flow during exhaust to reduce filter consumption. Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-198494 proposed a mask device with a blower that can suppress power consumption by reducing exhaust resistance.
[0004]
By the way, in the mask device with a breathing interlock type blower as described above, it is necessary to detect the breathing timing of the wearer, and the following problems arise.
Most respiratory-linked masks detect the timing of breathing by utilizing the linkage between the movement of the exhaust valve and the movement of breathing. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the exhaust valve b is irradiated with a light beam from a photo interrupter a, the position of the exhaust valve b is grasped by the amount of reflected light, and depending on the position, whether it is during expiration or inhalation The blower is operated in conjunction with breathing by determining the presence and controlling the rotation speed of the motor d that drives the impeller e.
[0005]
However, if the exhaust valve b is installed in the vicinity of the impeller e, it is easily affected by the turbulent flow g, and the movement of the exhaust valve b is not constant, so that it is difficult to accurately scan the breathing timing.
In addition, when the exhaust valve is installed on the ventilation path between the mask intake valve and the blower in order to reduce exhaust resistance, it is a separate type in which the mask body and blower are connected by a hose. Is discharged from the exhaust valve on the ventilation path, the efficiency of the blower is reduced.
[0006]
Furthermore, in order to know the timing of breathing, it is possible to use a pressure sensor without using the movement of the exhaust valve, or to use a diaphragm instead of the exhaust valve, but if these are installed in the vicinity of the impeller, It is still susceptible to turbulence and it is difficult to detect the timing of breathing correctly.
In other words, in the prior art, the exhaust valve, pressure sensor, diaphragm, etc. used to detect the breathing timing must be separated from the impeller to increase the size of the apparatus or reduce the scanning accuracy.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
This invention makes it a subject to provide the mask apparatus with a blower which can scan the timing of a respiration with high precision, eliminating the influence of the turbulent flow by a blower, without enlarging.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The blower with mask device of the present invention, the blower is connected to the facepiece through a hose, the blower is driven by a motor that pulls in sending outside air during its normal operation within the facepiece, connecting said blower and the facepiece ventilation An exhaust valve provided in the road and a photo interrupter that senses the position of the exhaust valve, detects whether the state of the body is during expiration or inspiration, and sends a signal to the motor breathing sensing means setting vignetting emitting, by a signal from the respiration detection means, together with the time when the intake is powered to normal operation to the motor, power supply to the motor is stopped or reduced at the time of exhaust, the respiration detection means And a resistor that transmits the turbulent flow generated from the blower into a laminar flow.
[0009]
The turbulent flow generated from the blower reaches the respiration detection means with the direction and strength of each part being uniform and reaches the respiration detection means. not subjected to correctly detect whether the intake or an exhalation, Ru can control the blower by its result.
Since using the installed exhaust valve to reduce the exhaust resistance for controlling the motor structure requires only simple and can suppress the amount of air leaking from the exhaust valve during the intake by the resistor.
In this case, a photo interrupter can be attached to the resistor, and the resistor can be used as a support substrate for the photo interrupter.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a mask device 1 with a blower according to the present invention includes a face piece 2 and a breathing aid 4 connected to a front lower part of the face piece 2 via a hose 3.
In addition, an intake valve 8 that closes during exhaust and opens during intake is provided at the connection between the hose 3 and the face piece 2.
Further, below the intake valve 8, a first exhaust valve 7 is mounted that opens during exhaust and closes during intake.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 2, the breathing aid 4 includes a blower case 5 attached to the tip of the hose 3, a filter medium 15 installed so as to cross an intake port formed in the blower case 5, and a filter medium 15. In the air passage connecting the blower 16 and the blower 16 and the face body 2 facing each other, the breathing detection means 10 installed in the blower case 5, and between the blower 16 and the breathing detection means 10. And a resistor 6 provided in the above.
The blower 16 is composed of a driving motor 9 and an impeller 21 connected to the output shaft thereof. When the motor 9 is normally operating, the blower 16 takes in outside air through the filter medium 15, and takes the outside air into the hose 3 and It feeds into the inside of the face piece 2 via the intake valve 8.
[0012]
In the air passage connecting the blower 16 and the face piece 2, the blower case 5 is formed with a protruding portion 12 protruding outward, and the tip of the protruding portion 12 is opened to serve as an exhaust port.
In addition, a second exhaust valve 17 is provided at the exhaust port in order to exhaust air sent from the blower 16 during intake and reduce the exhaust resistance.
Furthermore, the resistor 6 is attached so as to cross the base of the protruding portion 12. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the resistor 6 is formed with three vent holes 13 having a diameter of about 2 mm, and the outer surface of the resistor 6 at a position facing the opening / closing portion of the second exhaust valve 17. The photo interrupter 11 is attached to the.
[0013]
When the air sent from the blower 16 passes through the vent hole 13, the direction and strength in each part are converted into a laminar flow that reaches the second exhaust valve 17.
The diameter of the air hole 13 is preferably 0.1 to 10 times the thickness of the resistor 6, and the characteristics of the photo interrupter 11, the distance l between the photo interrupter 11 and the tip of the impeller 21, etc. Set as desired.
The number of the vent holes 13 may be one, but if the diameter of the vent holes 13 cannot be secured sufficiently due to the dimensions of the resistor 6 and the photo interrupter 11, a plurality of the vent holes 13 may be formed.
[0014]
The respiration detecting means 10 includes the second exhaust valve 17 and the photo interrupter 11 described above.
The photo interrupter 11 outputs infrared rays toward the second exhaust valve 17 and transmits a signal when the reflected light reflected by the second exhaust valve 17 is detected by the light receiving surface.
That is, when the state of the face body 2 is inhalation, the second exhaust valve 17 is closed and faces the photo interrupter 11, so that the infrared light reflected by the second exhaust valve 17 is irradiated on the light receiving surface of the photo interrupter 11. As a result, the photo interrupter 11 transmits a signal.
[0015]
However, when the state in the face piece 2 is exhausted, the opening / closing part of the second exhaust valve 17 is separated from the exhaust port and away from the photo interrupter 11, so that the infrared light reflected by the second exhaust valve 17 is reflected by the photo interrupter 11. Deviating from the light receiving surface, no signal is transmitted.
When the second exhaust valve 17 is closed and the photo interrupter 11 transmits a signal, electric power is supplied to the motor 9 that drives the impeller 21 so as to normally operate. As a result, the blower 16 enters the face body 2. Continue to blow.
On the other hand, when the second exhaust valve 17 is opened, a signal is not transmitted from the photo interrupter 11, the power supply to the motor 9 is restricted, and the blowing of the blower 16 is also stopped or reduced.
[0016]
At this time, since the air flow generated from the blower 16 passes through the vent hole 13 and is converted into a laminar flow before reaching the second exhaust valve 17, the strength and direction suddenly change, and the exhaust flow The valve 7 does not open at the time of inhalation or closes at the time of exhaust, and there is no fear that the breathing detection means 10 malfunctions.
Further, air passing through the hose 3 leaks from the second exhaust valve 17 during intake, but since the resistor 6 having the vent hole 13 is installed on the upstream side of the second exhaust valve, the amount of leaked air Is minimized.
[0017]
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
A substrate 18 is provided outside the second exhaust valve 17, and the photo interrupter 11 is attached to a position facing the opening / closing portion of the second exhaust valve 17 on the inner surface of the substrate 18.
In addition, a resistor 6 such as a punching metal, a filter, or a honeycomb board is disposed inside the second exhaust valve 17 so as to cross the base of the projecting portion 12, and the air passing through the resistor 6 is a layer. The flow reaches the second exhaust valve 17 in a flow.
The resistance resistance of the resistor 6 is preferably 10 Pa to 10 kPa at a steady flow of 40 l / min, and is arbitrarily selected according to the characteristics of the photo interrupter 11 and the distance l between the photo interrupter 11 and the tip of the impeller 21. You can choose.
[0018]
When the second exhaust valve 17 is opened and approaches, the photo interrupter 11 receives infrared rays reflected by the second exhaust valve 17 and transmits a signal. When the second exhaust valve 17 is closed, the reflected light is reflected. Deviates from the light-receiving surface of the photo interrupter 11 and does not emit a signal.
In this case, when a signal is issued from the photo interrupter 11, the power supply to the motor 9 is restricted, and the blower 16 reduces or stops the air flow. When no signal is transmitted, normal power supply to the motor 9 is performed. Then, the blower 16 continues to blow.
Since other structures are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0019]
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, even if the distance l between the photo interrupter 11 and the tip of the impeller 21 is 1 cm or less, the respiration detection means 10 is affected by the turbulence generated from the blower 16. It never happened.
Further, the amount of air leaking from the second exhaust valve 17 at the time of intake could be suppressed to 1/10 or less as compared with the case where the resistor 6 was not installed.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect whether the breath is being inhaled or inhaled, and the blower can be accurately controlled based on the result. The device can be downsized.
In addition, since the blower air blown in conjunction with breathing is switched using an exhaust valve provided to reduce the exhaust resistance, many parts are not required and the structure is simple.
Furthermore, since the air flow generated from the blower is converted into a laminar flow before reaching the exhaust valve, the strength and direction suddenly change, and the exhaust valve may open during intake or close during exhaust. There is no worry that the breath detection means will malfunction.
Further, the amount of air leaking from the exhaust valve during intake can be suppressed, and the efficiency of the blower is improved.
According to the second aspect of the invention, since the photo interrupter is supported using the resistor, the structure is further simplified.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a mask device with a blower showing a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a respiratory aid according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a resistor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view of the resistor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a respiratory assistance device according to the second embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mask apparatus 2 with a blower Face body 3 Hose 4 Respiration assist tool 5 Blower case 6 Resistor 7 1st exhaust valve 8 Intake valve 9 Motor 10 Respiration assist tool 11 Photointerrupter 12 Protrusion part 13 Air vent 15 Filter material 16 Blower 17 1st Two exhaust valves 18 Substrate 21 Impeller

Claims (2)

Blower is connected to the facepiece through a hose, the blower is driven by a motor, and its normal viewing write sends outside air into the facepiece during operation, the blower and the exhaust valve provided in a ventilation path connecting the facepiece , Comprising a photo interrupter for sensing the position of the exhaust valve, provided with a breath detecting means for detecting whether the state in the face is during expiration or inspiration, and emitting a signal to the motor, the signal from the respiration detection means, together with the time when the intake is powered to normal operation to the motor, the power supply to the motor when the exhaust is stopped or reduced, between the blower and the breathing detecting means, said A mask device with a blower, characterized in that a resistance body is provided for transmitting a turbulent flow generated from the blower into a laminar flow. The mask device with a blower according to claim 1 , wherein the photo interrupter is attached to the resistor.

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