Patent ID: 8667959
Filing Date: 2014-03-11
Classification: A62B

Abstract:
1. A powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) module comprising: a housing having a central axis and formed by an upper cylindrical portion and a lower cylindrical portion, wherein the upper cylindrical and lower cylindrical portions are axially aligned; a fan mounted in the lower cylindrical portion and having a fan inlet and a fan outlet, a motor mounted in the housing and operably connected to the fan for driving the fan, and at least one battery mounted within the upper cylindrical portion and operably connected to the motor for powering the motor; an inlet opening in the upper cylindrical portion in fluid communication with the fan inlet and configured to selectively mount a filter canister for filtering air that is drawn into the inlet opening; an outlet opening formed in the lower cylindrical portion in fluid communication with the fan outlet, wherein the inlet and outlet openings are co-axially aligned; and a releasable mounting connector that is configured to mount the housing to a facepiece of a respirator mask and, alternatively, to a conduit that is fluidly connected to a facepiece inlet opening in a respirator mask; whereby the powered air purifying respirator module can be positioned between a filter canister and a respirator mask and, alternatively, between a filter canister and a conduit that is connected to a respirator mask.