Mine Safety Appliances Company

Msa Technology, LLC

Other

Christopher L Prete

Mark Cavaliere

Carsten Christian Leuschner

Peter Kling

Michael Horn

Klaus Schmidtke

Marco Tekelenburg

Michael F Becker

John F Rihn

Mark L Cavaliere

A connector system for connecting a cable having a length to an item includes a base operatively connectible to the item, the base including a channel to seat at least a portion of the cable, the channel being in operative connection with the item upon connection of the base to the item, and a rotatable member which is rotatable relative to the base. The cable is in operative connection with the rotatable member so that, as the rotating member rotates relative to the base, a bend in the cable is formed at different locations in the length of the cable such that the different locations define different lengths of the cable. The different lengths of the cable become positioned within the channel as the rotating member rotates relative to the base.

Cable connector for use with a rotating connection

An indicator arrangement for a regulator removably connectable to a facemask in a breathing apparatus, the indicator arrangement including: at least one release button comprising a body operationally engaged with at least one component of the regulator and configured to be actuated by a user to detach the regulator from the facemask, wherein at least a portion of the body is configured to facilitate transmission of light from at least one light source; and wherein the light is visible on or through at least one external surface of the body of the at least one release button. A regulator release button and breathing apparatus are also disclosed.

Indicator arrangement, regulator release button, and breathing apparatus

A respirator system includes a regulator for use in connection with a facepiece of the respirator system. The regulator includes an interface. The respirator system further includes a hose assembly including a hose for carrying breathing gas to the regulator and a cable for carrying at least one electrical wire to the regulator. The respirator system also includes a connector system. The connector system includes a base operatively connectible to the interface of the regulator. The base includes a channel to seat at least a portion of the cable. The channel is in operative connection with an interior of the regulator upon connection of the base to the interface. The connector system also includes a rotatable member which is rotatable relative to the base. The cable is in operative connection with the rotatable member so that a bend in the cable travels along the length of the cable and a varying length of the cable is positioned within the channel depending upon the rotational position of the rotating member relative to the base.

A respiration system includes a regulator including an inlet for connection to a source of pressurized gas and an outlet for delivery of the gas to the user, and a respiration facepiece for use in connection with the regulator including an interface removably attachable to the regulator, at least one seal system adapted to form a sealing engagement with the face of a user, an inhalation port in fluid connection with the regulator interface and with the facepiece interior, an inhalation check valve in fluid connection between the inhalation port and the facepiece interior; an exhalation port in fluid connection with the facepiece; an exhalation check valve in fluid connection with the exhalation port; and an ambient port separate from the inhalation port and from the exhalation port, which is in fluid connection with the facepiece interior without an intervening check valve.

Facepiece with open port

A breathing system with a facepiece that includes a first port adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the outlet of a regulator assembly to introduce pressurized breathing gas into the facepiece; a second port adapted to be connected to an air purifying system; and an exhaust valve through which the user's exhausted breath can exit the facepiece. The breathing system also includes a pressure adjustment mechanism that includes a communication link in communicative connection with an actuator such that the exhaust pressure adjustment mechanism sets the internal facepiece pressure required to open the exhaust valve, independently of the respiration of the user, to a first pressure when the actuator is in the first state, to a second pressure when the actuator is in the second state. The first pressure is higher than the second pressure.

Devices, systems and methods for operation of breathing apparatuses in multiple modes

A pressure demand regulator assembly for use with a breathing apparatus having a valve assembly that includes an inlet for connection to a source of breathing gas, an outlet for connection to a facepiece to provide breathing gas to the user and an actuator for controlling the flow of breathing gas between the inlet and the outlet in response to the user's respiration. The regulator assembly further includes a flexible elastomeric diaphragm in operative connection with the actuator. The diaphragm is exposed to ambient pressure on a first side thereof and exposed to a positive pressure within the facepiece on a second side thereof. The regulator assembly also includes an impermeable and flexible shield that seals the first side of the diaphragm from certain toxic substances in the ambient atmosphere while allowing the first side of the diaphragm to experience ambient pressure, such that the flexible shield moves along with the diaphragm during respiration without dampening the movement of the diaphragm during respiration of the user.

Pressure regulator assembly

An alignment and connection mechanism for more quickly attaching a mask-mounted regulator to the facepiece of a self-contained breathing apparatus is disclosed. The alignment and connection mechanism provides an alignment member preferably mounted on the regulator and a guide member preferably mounted on the facepiece. The user initially attaches the alignment member to the guide member at a connection point which is visible to the user through the lens of the facepiece when it is being worn. The regulator is then slid down the guide member until it is in proper alignment for connection to the facepiece.

Alignment and connection mechanism for a mask-mounted regulator

The present invention provides a sizing guide for assisting in the initial determination of an appropriate size of respirator mask for a user thereof. The sizing guide has at least a first sizing gap having a known width such that comparison of the width of the first sizing gap with the length between a pair of facial landmarks such as the sellion landmark and the menton landmark provides an initial determination of the appropriate size respirator mask for the user which can then be fit tested. Preferably, the sizing guide also has a second sizing gap having a known width different from the width of the first sizing gap.

Growing community of inventors

Cranberry Township, PA, United States of America

Christopher L Prete