Air Delivery System Test

Fail Safe Test 

Tests Performed on the Mask and Air Delivery System to Insure Safety and Comfort

Change in Pressure Simulation: 

Air pressure is reduced or compressed at certain locations in the delivery system. The pressure scale is low (blue) to high (red)

Note: The the top and bottom of the tank remain blue because they were used as constraints and therefore must stay completely rigid in space, feeling no effect from the pressure within the tank.  

Center of Gravity Simulation:

The center of gravity was located in order to ensure that the mask is well balanced and comfortable when worn. The center of gravity is near the center of the mask and a few inches back from the front, placing the center of gravity near the users left nostril, giving an almost perfect balance.

Materials Received and to be Incorporated into the Final Project:

MSA Millennium Gas Mask-

The mask will be used as a platform for testing the air delivery system. It will hold both the 40mm Filter and the air delivery system.

Scuba Stage 2 Regulator-

The regulator is primarily used for the command valve within it. When the user breaths the regulator allows ambient pressure air to enter the mask, when they stop breathing or exhale the air is cut off.

40mm NATO Filter-

The filter is used only as a fail safe for this project. In case of air delivery system failure, the user can use the filter to breath in filtered air.

(should be ~33ci) 68ci/4500psi Air Tank Bottle

The bottle will be used to store the high pressure air.

Note: Picture includes the Air Tank Regulator and the ASA

Air Tank Regulator (Output of 750-850 psi)

This regulator will be used to reduce the pressure of the air inside of the bottle to a lower and safer operating pressure. 

90 degree Macroline Fitting

The fitting will connect the Scuba regulator to the macroline so the air can pass from the air tank into the regulator. 

Note: Picture also includes Macroline

POPS ASA (Push On/OFF Purge System)

The POPS ASA will be used as another fail safe for the final design. If the air ever becomes uncontrollable due to the SCUBA regulator failing the ASA can cut off all air flowing out of the air tank almost instantly.

Macroline

The macroline will be how the travels from the air tank to the Scuba regulator.

2.25" x 2.25" x 4.00" block of aluminum to be made into two adapters

 The aluminum will be milled so that there is an adapter for the macroline fitting to fit onto the scuba regulator and another adapter will be milled so that the scuba regulator fits into the gas mask.

Note: This is only an unfinished adapter made of the aluminum

Drexel Machine Shop - Making the First Adapter

In order to connect the air tank to the SCUBA regulator, a small female to female threaded adapter needed to be made. See below for the dimensions.

Below are two videos of this adapter being created using a lathe in the Drexel Machine Shop.

Parts Update

Two of the required parts of the project just arrived today:

1. MSA Gas mask

2. 40mm Gas mask Filter

The overall computer model of the mask

NEW UPDATED CAD MODEL:

0. Gas Mask

The gas mask will essentially be the backbone of this engineering project. It will serve as the template that our group will build upon. Using a gas mask for the overall template would be the best option because it is already air tight, allows the user to breath in purified air, and requires very little knowledge to use properly. The mask should be a bi-filter gas mask so that it has one attachment area for a filter and the other attachment area for the small filter. This will cost approximately $25.

1. Single Gas Mask Filter

The filter will be used in the smoke or chemical filled room and filter out all of the harmful toxins and allow the user to breath cleaner and healthier air. This will cost approximately $8.

2. Potential Locator Beacon

While it is not a finalized part of the mask, a locator beacon may be attached to the strap of the mask in order to allow the user to be rescued in a reduced amount of time. The beacon should automatically turn on when the mask is removed from the shelf. The faster the victim is able to be rescued the greater the chance of their survival. An Arduino computer may be used in place of this, which can be rented for free.

3. Exhalation Valve

The exhalation valve is used so that the mask always remains air tight. When the user breaths out their breath will be removed via the exhalation valve. It would also be beneficial in the case that too much air if released by the air tank it would leave the mask via the exhalation valve instead of the side of the mask, which may injure the user. This will cost approximately $18.

4. Acrylic

The acrylic sheet will be used to construct a larger shield lens for the face. In the current gas mask there are two small circular lenses that do not allow for much visibility, especially in a smoke filled room. If the two small lenses were replaced with one larger shield style lens it would improve visibility greatly. This will need to be cut and bent to fit the mask, and will cost approximately $10.

5. Wires & Batteries

In order to create the aforementioned automated electrical system, basic wires and batteries will be needed. Since soldering equipment does not need to be purchased,  this will cost approximately $10.

Emergency Mask Description:

One of the largest problems in a fire is the thick smoke that fills a building. Victims become trapped or go to drastic measures to escape, often resulting in injury or even death. Providing several extra minutes of escape time would dramatically increase mortality rate. Our group's solution to these problems is an all-in-one emergency mask - a device that can solve many of the issues associated with being in a burning building including dense smoke, low visibility, low oxygen levels, and difficulty locating victims. By wearing this mask and following standard fire evacuation protocols, fire victims will be able to travel through smoke either to be rescued or to safety.