An Improved Head Gear for Use in Contaminated Atmospheres.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 25th Feb., 1895-Accepted. 30th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Head Gear for Use in Contaminated Atmospheres.
I JEREMIAH EUGENE MATHEWSON of Bellefield Works, Sheffield in the
County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In many trades, the health of the work people suffers from inhaling noxious
fumes, dust, and other deleterious matters, produced in the course of manufacture,
or arising from the working of a process, as, for instance, in the white-lead inanu-
facture or the sand-blast process, and the object of the present invention is to
provide means whereby fresh air for inhaling may be supplied to each worker, and,
at the same time, the approach of the noxious fumes and other deleterious matter
to the mouth of the worker will be prevented; and the invention consists in a head
gear to enclose and be supported by the head, and which is fixed round the neck of
the worker. This head gear is provided with fresh air from a suitably arranged
fresh air main, under pressure, by means of a flexible pipe, provision being made
preferably opposite the mouth or eyes for the escape of the air, which thus not
only serves for inhaling, but effectually prevents the entrance of poisonous fumes
or other deleterious matter into the hat.
In carrying out this invention, I provide a light hat, helmet, or cap, preferably
having air passages between the body and the head band, after the manner of a
pith helmet used in hot climates. To the brim 1 attach, all round, a downwardly
extending screen of some stiff, light material, and of suitable depth and shape, and
to the lower edge of this screen I secure another screen of woven fabric or other
flexible material, which may be gathered in in any suitable manner, and secured
round the neck of the worker.
In the front of the stiff screen opposite the eyes, I remove a portion, say about
four inches wide by two inches deep, and I cover in the space thus formed with
fine wire gauze, talc, gelatine, glass, or other transparent material. When a solid
material is used, I may make other outlets for the air.
To an opening in the helmet, preferably at the top, I provide a nozzle or cock,
to which a flexible tube from a main air supply is attached, and inside I place a
diffuser or distributor, by which the air entering will be distributed, instead of
striking in a single stream on the worker's head.
In a factory, the main air supply may run along the centre of the length of the
factory, and where there are tables or benches on both sides and a number of
workers sit at one bench, branches to the right and left may be provided, with
which the flexible air tubes will be connected.
The pressure of the air may be produced by a pump, blower, or fan, and in the
winter it may be warmed before entering the main.
By these means the operator works practically in an atmosphere of pure fresh
air, and the entrance into the head gear of the noxious fumes, dust, or other
deleterious matter in the work room, is entirely prevented.
Dated this 8th day of September 1894.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: ад improve пe crear for use in contaminated Atmospheres.
I, JEREMIAH EUGENE MATHEWSON of Bellefield Works, Sheffield in the
County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In many trades, the health of the work people suffers from inhaling noxious
fumes, dust, and other deleterious matters, produced in the course of manufacture,
or arising from the working of a process, as, for instance, in the white-lead mann-
facture or the sand-blast process, and the object of the present invention is to
provide means whereby fresh air for inhaling may be supplied to each worker, and,
at the same time, the approach of the noxious fumes and other deleterious matter
to the mouth of the worker will be prevented; and the invention consists in a head
gear to enclose, and be supported by, the head, and which is fixed round the neck
of the worker, so that the head of the worker may have free movement in any
direction. This head gear is provided with fresh air from a suitably arrangel
fresh air main under pressure, by means of a flexible pipe, provision being made
preferably opposite the mouth or eyes for the escape of the air, which thus not
only serves for inhaling, but effectually prevents the entrance of poisonous fumes,
or other deleterious matter, into the hat.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the head gear in position on the
head of a worker;
Fig. 2 is a front view; and
Fig. 3 a transverse section on the line, Fig. 1.
A is a light hat, helmet, or cap, preferably having air passages B between the
body A and the head band C, after the manner of a pith helmet used in hot
climates. To the brim A' I attach all round a downwardly extending screen D, of
some stiff light material, and of suitable depth and shape, as shewn, and to the lower
edge of this screen D I secure another screen E, of woven fabric, or other flexible
material, which may be gathered in in any suitable manner, and secured round the
neck of the worker.
In the front of the stiff screen D, opposite the eyes, I remove a portion, say,
about four inches wide by two inches deep, and cover in the space thus formed
with fine wire gauze, talc, gelatine, glass, or other transparent material, G. When
a solid material is used, inay make other outlets for the air; or I may close the
opening partly with glass and partly with wire gauze, as shewn in the drawing,
as, for some purposes, the wire gauze may not be sufficiently transparent. This
material, whatever it may be, is preferably slidden into a small metal framework
fixed round the opening, so that different kinds of material may be employed, as
desired, and according to the nature of the work in hand, or for convenience of
renewal.
To an opening a in the helmet A (preferably at the top), I provide a nozzle or
junction b, to which a flexible tube c from a main air supply is attached, and inside
I place a baffle or distributor d, by which the air entering will be evenly distributed
inside the head gear, instead of striking in a single stream on the worker's head.
In a factory, the main air supply may run along the centre of the length of the
factory, and where there are tables or benches on both sides, and a number of
workers sit at one bench, branches to the right and left may be provided, with
which the flexible air tubes will be connected.
The pressure of the air may be produced by a pump, blower, or fan, and in the
winter it may be warmed before entering the main.

page_text: By these means, the operator works practically in an atmosphere of pure fresh
air, the entrance into the head gear of the noxious fumes, dust, or other deleterious
matter in the work room, is entirely prevented, and at the same time perfect
freedom of motion is allowed for the head of the worker.
I may here remark that I am aware it has been proposed to employ a head
gear, chiefly for firemen's use, with a fresh air inlet and a sight opening and air
outlet combined, but such head gear has been of no practical use for general
purposes, as it has been fixed to the shoulders of the wearer, after the manner of a
diver's helmet, and does not permit of the free movement of the head of the wearer,
which is an essential feature of the improved head gear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A head gear to enclose and be supported by the head, and be secured round
the neck of the worker, and provided with a fresh air inlet and outlets, and a sight
opening, as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A head gear for use in contaminated atmospheres, consisting of a hat or
equivalent portion, to fit and be carried by the head of the worker, and provided
with air passages and an air inlet and diffuser, a stiff screen pendent from the brim
of the hat, and provided with a sight opening to be closed with some transparent
material and to serve also as an air outlet, and a flexible screen or portion adapted
to be gathered in, & secured round the neck of the worker, as and for the purposes
set forth.
Dated this 25th day of February 1895.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.