Abstract:
An adapter to connect a portable testing device known as the Joint Service Mask Leakage Tester (JSMLT) to the outlet valve body of a protective mask such as the M45 mask for testing and validating the operation of the outlet valve of the mask prior to use.

Description:
GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
   The invention described herein may be manufactured, licensed, and used by or for the United States Government. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   Protective masks, also known as gas masks, chemical-biological masks, or more recently as joint service masks, prevent the wearer from exposure of portions of the face, especially the mucus linings of the mouth and respiratory system and the eyes, from contact with irritating and potentially debilitating or fatal environments. Such masks include outlet valves to permit the wearer to exhale while wearing the mask, but also provide a possible site for leaks. Up until now, there was no reliable way to test the outlet valves (OV) on the M45 mask prior to actual use. This invention provides an OV leakage test adapter for the M45 mask. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Generally, protective masks, or gas masks, are known to employ outlet valves to allow the wearer to exhale while maintaining a seal against exposure of the wearer to poisonous or noxious gases since about World War I. 
   However, increased hazards in the environment which not only include noxious or poisonous gases, but have come to include other chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents, have required much more sophisticated masks. Accordingly, the art has developed what has come to be known as the state of the art Joint Service Mask (M45). In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is directed to a leakage tester useful specifically for the M45 mask OV. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The Joint Service Mask Leakage Tester (JSMLT) is a portable testing device capable of testing serviceability and proper fit of current and future chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protective masks. 
   In order to test the OV of the M45, the present inventors developed an outlet valve adapter (OVA) to be used with the JSMLT. 
   The outlet valve adapter (OVA) will be explained in detail as an embodiment of the invention for an M45 mask which comprises both inner and outer components, as shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , respectively. When attached to an M45 mask,  FIG. 1 , the OVA fits with an Outlet Valve Body (OVB), which OVB has a microphone communication port, a drink tube, an outlet valve cover tab, but no means of attaching a JSMLT to the M45 mask. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this embodiment and may be used to form adaptors for other styles, types and countries of manufacture for protective masks in general. 
   The present invention provides the JSMLT with an apparatus, preferably portable, that can be easily applied to the JSMLT and act as an interface (adapter) for testing the M45 mask. This will fulfill the need in the field to test and validate M45 Outlet Valves, as well as other types of masks. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be explained and objects, other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description which makes reference to the annexed drawings herein. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of the M45 mask and the inner and outer components of the M45 Outer Valve Adapter (OVA); 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the components of the outlet valve body (OVB); 
       FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ) represent the inner and outer components, respectively, of the OVA; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the inner component of the OVA attached to an M45 mask; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the outer component of the OVA attached to an M45 mask; 
       FIG. 6  depicts the JSMLT M45 adapter along with pressure tube and a threaded disk that comes with the JSMLT; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the JSMLT M45 inner and outer component of the OVA attached to the JSMLT using the pressure tube; 
       FIG. 8  represents the JSMLT M45 inner and outer component of the OVA testing a mask on the JSMLT; 
       FIGS. 9(   a ),  9 ( b ), and  9 ( c ) represent the sectional elevation, right side and top views, respectively, of the innermost component of the OVA; 
       FIGS. 10(   a ),  10 ( b ), and  10 ( c ), respectively, represent the right side, elevation sectional, and top views of the covering component surrounding the innermost component of the OVA shown in  FIGS. 9(   a )- 9 ( c ); and 
       FIGS. 11(   a ),  11 ( b ) and  11 ( c ), respectively, represent the right side, top view, and left side of the outermost component of the OVA. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In order to test the serviceability of the protective masks, especially the outlet valve (OV)  34  of a JSM M45 mask  100 , there arose a need to create an adapter to attach the JSMLT  200  to the mask  100 . However, neither the OV  34  of the M45 mask  100  or its surrounding outer body provides a means for attaching the JSMLT  200  to the mask. 
   The inventors have, therefore, developed a two part outlet valve adapter (OVA)  201  comprising both inner component  10  and outer component  12 . The inner component  10  has a rubbery elastomeric sealing surface  11  that, in use, lines up with an edge of the M45 outlet valve body (OVB)  14 . The inner component  10  preferably comprises an injection molded part having an inner core of a polymer, preferably an olefin polymer, such as polyethylene and an outer covering of a polymer, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, preferably that sold under the trademark, SANTOPRENE®, available from Santoprene, Inc., a limited partnership of Exxon-Mobil. SANTOPRENE® having a durometer of 30 is particularly preferred. 
   To make the inner component  10 , the olefin polymer, such as polyethylene is first molded and then used as a core for making the covering of SANTOPRENE®. The mold for shaping the SANTOPRENE® is larger than the core, permitting the SANTOPRENE® to encapsulate the core when the SANTOPRENE® fills the over mold cavity. Over molded material having a durometer from 25 to 40 are suitable materials satisfying such durometer values and include aluminum, stainless steel or polymers, such as polyethylene or polycarbonate. 
   The inner component  10  of the OVA  201  provides vital support for the adapter as well as providing the interference fit designed to fit the range of OVB diameters. The inner component  10  also includes the conduit  16  which is used to connect the quick disconnect fitting  18  of pressure tube  20 . 
   The outer component  12  can also be injection molded from a polymer, such as an olefin, preferably polypropylene. This component  12  has sections cut away or formed as apertures  24  and  25 , preferably with slotted, cammed surfaces that will engage projections, such as the drink tube  26  and outlet valve cover tab  28  of outlet valve body  14  on the joint service M45 mask  100 . When outer component  12  is rotated relative to outlet valve body  14 , thereby engaging the cammed surfaces against protrusions on the mask, these apertures  24  and  25  lock the outer component  12  to outlet valve body  14  while simultaneously exerting on inner component  10  to create an interference fit or seal. These apertures also act as a locking mechanism to retain outer component  12  in engagement with outlet valve body  14  and maintain the pressure on inner component  10  to maintain the seal by a downward force on inner component  10 . The hole  13  through the center of outer component  12  provides a location for the pressure port  16  to sit without any interference. Pressure port  16  will attach to quick disconnect fitting  18  of pressure tube  20  leading to the Joint Service Mask Leakage Tester (JSMLT)  200 . 
   The invention, thus, provides the adapter needed to connect existing JSMLT  200  to the OV body  14  of an M45 mask  100  to test the function and serviceability of the outlet valve  34  of the M45 mask  100 . 
   It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments are given by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Thus, one could readily substitute other materials for production of the components of the adapter. For example, although we exemplified molded polymer materials, various metals, such as aluminum, stainless steel or other polymers, such as polyamide, polycarbonate, or other elastomers or engineering polymers can be used in production of the OVA, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
   Further, although we exemplified injection molding, other forms of shaping such as casting, extrusion, transfer molding and other molding processes or machining can be used to form the components of the OVA. 
   Additionally, although it is most desirable to design and shape the pans such that only the inner component  10  and outer component  12  are necessary to form the interference fit and seal required of the invention, it is also possible to use shims or spacers between these components to create the dimensions necessary to form the correct downward pressure to create the interference fit and seal. 
   Having fully described our invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.