An Improved Mask or Inhaling Apparatus for use in Noxious Atmospheres.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of · Application, T8th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mask or Inhaling Apparatus for use in Noxious
Atmospheres.
We, FRIEDRICH WANZ and FRANZ WANZ, trading as O. Neupert Nachfolger, of
29, Am Graben, I; Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to an improved mask or inhaling apparatus for the use of
persons whose vocation entails lengthened confinement in apartments or localities
wherein the atmosphere is charged with noxious gases; the present apparatus being
devised after many trials with existing contrivances.
An inhaler or respirator constructed according to our invention comprises a
breathing mask or visor which may be fitted tightly on to the wearer's head by
means of a pneumatic or padded ring in conjunction with a covering ring of india-
rubber so as to entirely cover the face and keep out the injurious gases, while
the nose and mouth are left free for ordinary breathing. It also comprises means
for controlling respiration, same consisting of a gas-tight pouch containing potash
in a solid state and of a chamber containing compressed oxygen.
The essential characteristic of the invention is that, owing to the employment
of solid dry caustic potash, the interior of the face-guard or mask is effectually
cooled, and-perspiration or the development of vapour prevented, the reagent (with-
out the addition of any absorbing media or intermediate agents) offering an
extended surface which greedily attracts the carbonic acid and moisture of the
air exhaled by the wearer and liquefies them. By these means, the temperature
of the interior of the mask is reduced, with the result that the glass of the sight
aperture is never dimmed, while, at the same time, the mask admits of natural
breathing through the nose; the nose-spring and smoke-glasses hitherto con-
sidered indispensable in instruments of this class, being omitted from the present
construction.
The mask is fitted in front with a sight aperture furnished with glass which carries
a wiper on its inner face. This wiper is capable of rotation by means of an
external finger-piece or button so that the glass may be cleaned after being dimmed
by the first breathing of the wearer.
The edge of the mask is padded; the pad consisting either of a roll of soft
material (such as wadding) covered with india-rubber or of an inflatable air-tube
or air-chamber. This pad surrounds and fits tightly against the wearer's face
and effectually protects it from the outer atmosphere; the tight-closing of the
mask being completed moreover by an india-rubber ring or plate which covers
the pad; the face passing into the central aperture of the ring or plate. The edges
of the plate thus firmly close against the face. The mask is furnished with a
species of hood constructed of impermeable or gas-tight material same being
folded or doubled in the front, rear and sides to constitute a hollow space or
chamber at those parts.
The hollow space in front may be provided with a partition whereof the purpose

page_text: will hereinafter be stated. The hollow space in the hood has smooth inner walls,
as the question of providing a large surface for the cleansing medium used need
not be here considered.
From the part of the mask which covers the face two tubes, are led into the
hollow space above referred to which tubes are provided with valves or cocks
arranged to work in opposite directions for controlling respiration. The hood is
connected at a convenient point by means of a flexible tube with a chamber, prefer-
ably separate from the respirator or inhaler, containing oxygen under pressure;
the said chamber being provided with a regulating valve or cock for controlling
the supply of oxygen:
For securing the mask in position, it is fitted with straps or elastic bands
adapted to be applied round the head.
The caustic potash (which may be in bars or lumps) is inserted through an
opening in the back part of the hood and deposited in the space in the front or in
any other convenient part; the opening being preferably closed by means of fold-
ing or expansible rails or rods.
When using the apparatus, the hood should be turned so as to expose the padded
ring. The mask is applied to the face and secured on the head by means of the
straps or bands, the hood being then passed over the head.
The carbonic acid emitted in breathing passes through one of the pressure-
valves and enters the space in the front part of the hood wherein is
the caustic potash, the latter absorbing the carbonic acid and the.
moisture. To prevent the wearer of the respirator from inhaling any
part of the carbonic acid that may not have been absorbed, the partition above
referred to, may be employed, whereby the carbonic acid is caused to flow through
the space at one side of the hood to the space at the rear and thence to return to
the front by way of the space on the other side; arriving in due course into the
space in the front where it again comes into contact with the caustic potash.
Doted this 10th day of December 1907
An Improved Mask or Inhaling Apparatus for use in Noxious
Atmospheres.
We, FRIEDRICH WANZ and FRANZ WANZ trading as O. Neupert Nachfolger, of
29; Am Graben, I, Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an improved mask or inhaling apparatus for the use of
persons whose vocation entails lengthened confinement in apartments or localities
wherein the atmosphere is charged with noxious gases; the present apparatus being
devised after many trials with existing contrivances.
An inhaler or respirator constructed according to our invention comprises a
breathing mask or visor which may be fitted tightly on to the wearer's head by
means of a pneumatic: or padded ring in conjunction with a covering ring of india-
rubber, so as to entirely cover the face and keep out the injurious gases, while
the nose and mouth are left free for ordinary breathing

page_text: It also comprises means for controlling respiration, same consisting of a gas-
tight pouch containing potash in a solid state and of a chamber containing com-
pressed oxygen.
The essential characteristic of the invention is that, owing to the employment
of solid dry caustic potash, the interior of the face-guard or mask is effectually
cooled and perspiration or the development, of vapour, prevented, the reagent
(without the addition of any absorbing media or intermédiate agents) offering an
extended surface which greedily, attracts, and combines, with, the carbonic acid
and moisture of the air, exhaled by the wearer. By these means, the temperature
of the interior of the mask is reduced, with, the result that the glass of the sight
aperture is never, dimmed,, while, at the same time, the mask admits of natural
breathing through the nose; the nose-spring and smoke-glasses hitherto con-
sidered indispensable. in, instruments of this class, being omitted from the present
construction....
1
S..!
The construction of, the improved apparatus is shewn in the accompanying
drawings in which Fig. 1 represents a perspective view. of the apparatus and Fig.
a cross section of the same.
The mask 1 has in front a glass window. 2 having on the inner side a wiper 3
which can be turned round on the glass, like the pointer of a dial, by means of
an external, button 4, in order to clear the glass of condensed moisture arising
from the breath. The edge of the mask .1 is. lined with a cushion 5, which either
consists of a caoutchouc covering filled with wadding or other soft material, or it
is made of an inflated flexible tube. This cushion serves to enclose the face of
the wearer in an air-tight manner. The air-tight joint is further insured by a
caoutchouc disc 17 covering the cushion 5, and having a central opening; the
disc being so arranged as to press tightly against the face of the wearer when the
mask is fitted on.
To the mask is attached a hood 6 made of gas-tight material which is made
double all round the lower part, so as to form a closed chamber as shewn at 7 and 8.
In the front portion of this chamber may be provided a partition 9 (shewn dotted
at Fig. 2) for a purpose to be presently described. The hollow chamber of the
hood has smooth inside surfaces, it being unnecessary to provide a large extent
of surface for the purifying or absorbing medium.
From the mask I project to the front part 7 of the hood two tubes 10 and 11,
which are provided with valves opening in contrary directions so as to serve as
inlet and outlet for the air supply to the wearer; at a suitable part of the hood
a tube 12 enters, the other end of which is connected to a receptacle 13, prefer-
ably separate from the other part of the apparatus, and which contains compressed
oxygen. The valve 14 serves to regulate the discharge of oxygen into the tube 12.
On the mask 1 are also provided straps, or preferably elastic bands 15 for pass-
ing round the head, in order to insure the close fit of the mask to the face.
In the front part 7 of the hood, and, if necessary, also in other parts, is placed
caustic potash, in sticks or lumps. For enabling this to be introduced, the hood
has an opening which is closed by bars 16 that are made to nip the sides together
by means of screws.
When required to be used, the hood is turned up at the back so as to expose
the cushion 5, the mask 1 is then applied to the face and is secured to the head
by the bands 15, after which the hood is turned down over the head.
The exhaled carbonic acid passes through the valve in the tube 10 into the
front part 7 of the chamber where the caustic potash is situated which greedily
takes up and combines with the carbonic acid and the moisture and thereby also
reduces the temperature.
In order to prevent the possibility of again inhaling any unabsorbed carbonic
acid, the partition 9 may be provided whereby the carbonic acid is caused to
travel a longer distance, as indicated by the arrows, it being made, after coming in
contact with the caustic potash, say on the left hand side of the partition, to pass
thence, in a backward direction (towards 8), and, from the back, forward again

page_text: on the other side, where it is again brought into contact with caustic alkali at 7
and at other places if necessary. The oxygen delivered from the vessel 13 mixes
with the uncondensed nitrogen in the chamber 7, 8, and passes thence through
the inhaling tube 11 into the mask.
".
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim ;
1. An inhaling apparatus wherein the mask of the hood 6 is provided with a
closing cushion 5 and annular caoutchouc disc 17 fitting close against the face
for effectually cutting off the noxious gases from the respiratory organs in com-
bination with the hollow annular chamber 7, 8, having a smooth inner surface,
into which open first the tubes 10, 11, which pass directly to the mask in front
of the respiratory organs and which are provided with suitable inlet and outlet
valves, and secondly an air or oxygen supply pipe 12; the chamber 7, 8 being
charged with solid caustic potash or other suitable solid substance for combining
with carbonic acid and absorbing moisture and heat, such substance being situa-
ted in the immediate neighbourhood of the entering gas and aqueous vapour 60°
as to act effectually thereon without requiring to be spread over extended surfaces,
substantially as described.
2. In an inhaling apparatus such as is referred to in the preceding claim, the
combination, with the glass 2, of a wiper 3, in contact with the inner surface of
such glass and mounted on a central pivot, so as to be capable of rotation by an
external button and thereby clear the glass of condensed moisture, substantially
described.
as.
3. An inhaling apparatus for use in noxious atmospheres constructed or operat-
ing as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of March 1898. :
For the Applicants,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Chartered Patent Agent, 191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.