11.07.2024
To the 170th anniversary of creation of insulating devices for respiratory protection (respirators) for mine rescuers.
The history of creating a device capable to protect human lungs from harmful environment goes far in the past. Back in the early days of the mining and coal industry, when helping miners, volunteer rescuers used heavy bags filled with clean air from which the rescuer would inhale and exhale into the environment. These were the first primitive gas protection devices. The first breathing device on compressed oxygen - respirator* was developed in 1854 by Belgian professor T. Schwann. The device consisted of two seven-liter metal cylinders filled with oxygen at a pressure of 0.6 - 0.7 MPa, a regenerative cartridge for purification of exhaled (manually supplied) air from carbon dioxide and a breathing bag. Breathing in the respirator was carried out through the mouthpiece, the nose was blocked with a nasal clip. Oxygen supply from the cylinder was regulated manually. In the regenerative cartridge exhaled air was purified from carbon dioxide grains of calcium oxide hydrate soaked in alkali solution. Working time in the respirator was limited to about 30-35 minutes, the weight of the respirator was 24 kg. * respirator (German), a carrier of air; (Latin), respiration. The design of the device already took into account the physiological features of breathing - at rest the oxygen consumption of a person was 0.5 l/min, and when performing work, with increasing load - from 1.5 to 3.0 l/min.
Figure 1. The first regenerative devices on compressed oxygen:
b - mountain rescue apparatus Galibert;
c - mountain rescue apparatus Neupert;
d - Dreger hose apparatus.
The main disadvantage of the first respirator was the manual adjustment of oxygen supply. The scheme of oxygen supply and distribution in the respirator was as follows: oxygen from the cylinder entered the high-pressure chamber, and from it - into the flow chamber. Excess pressure in the chamber bent the diaphragm and a special valve locked the oxygen supply opening. When the pressure in the flow chamber dropped, the diaphragm returned to its original position and opened the opening between the chambers. Later in the design of respirators for injection of purified air into the breathing zone was used injector, but in 1918 it was abandoned because of sucking into the respirator poisoned air from the atmosphere.
The DRAGER injector respirator, model 1904 - 1909, had two one-liter cylinders with oxygen at a pressure of 12.5 MPa, two regenerative cartridges with caustic lye, a refrigerator, an injector and a reducing valve.
These respirator units were mounted on the frame, on the shoulder straps behind the back, and a two-section breathing bag for purified and exhaust air with breathing hoses - on the rescuer's chest. Breathing was carried out through a mouthpiece or a metal helmet-mask covering the face and the vertex of the rescuer's head. The fit of the mask to the face was provided by a hollow rubber ring filled with air in the form of an air cushion. In the front part of the mask there was a mica window, which in case of fogging could be wiped off with a special sponge carried in a pouch near the vent.
The VESTFALIA injector respirator was equipped with two regenerative cartridges (one of which was disposable) and already had a saliva collector.
The first pulmonary automaton, regulating the necessary oxygen supply, was developed in 1907 in England and used in the respirator firm "B.E.G.". In 1923, respirators with a combined supply of oxygen (1.5 liters per minute) through the lung machine and dosing device appeared
There were attempts to combine the functions of a breathing bag and a regenerative cartridge (PROTO - FLEIS - DEVIS respirator, model 1926). For this purpose grains of caustic potassium were poured into the bag or cloth nets with granulated pumice soaked with alkali solution were placed. But this design was not widely used, because the amount of carbon dioxide not absorbed on inhalation exceeded the permissible norm.
The main respirator in rescue stations service in Germany and Russia in the mid-20-ies of the XX century, was a respirator of the company "DRAGER" model 1924 (Fig. 2), which later became the basic model in the creation of the first respirator in Russia.
In the 30s of the last century in Europe "trendsetters" in the field of design and serial production of respirators on compressed oxygen were German firms "DRAGER" and "DEGEA-AUDOS" (Fig. 2,3). Apparatuses of these firms were characterized by high reliability and quality of manufacture.
Figure 2. Respirator of the firm "DRAGER" (model of 1924):
a - main 4-hour respirator of the firm "DRAGER"; b - auxiliary 2-hour respirator of the firm "DRAGER".In the early 20s of the last century and in Russia began to design respirators on compressed oxygen.
In 1925, the first respirator - TP, largely copying the DRAGER device, was manufactured.
In 1927-1929 years continued to improve the respirator TP, it was equipped with a refrigerator of inhaled air and all the units were placed on the body, behind the back of the rescuer. This design was more successful than the respirator firm "DRAGER" model 1924, easier to operate, it had fewer connecting parts, reduced weight by 2.5 kg.
In 1930, Russia started serial production of the TP respirator at the Orekhovo-Zuyevo Respirator plant.
In 1933, the same plant, in cooperation with the Moscow Mining Institute (MMI), began serial production of a two-hour working apparatus - the RKR-1 pulmonary-force respirator.
The respirator was equipped with a two-liter cylinder of oxygen at a pressure of 15 MPa, with a continuous metered supply of oxygen into the bag at a rate of 1.2 liters per minute. The weight of the respirator is 12.5 kg, the method of carrying on the back. This respirator in the last modification RKR-3 (Fig. 4a) was in service with mine rescue units for more than 10 years.
At the same time, an oxygen isolating gas mask KIP was developed and put into serial production as an auxiliary breathing apparatus. The gas mask was equipped with a cylinder with a capacity of 0.7 liters of oxygen at a pressure of 15 MPa, regenerative cartridge, helmet-mask or mouthpiece with a nose clip and smoke goggles.
The mass of the respirator - 6.5 kg, the term of protective effect - 1 hour, the method of carrying - on the side with a shoulder and waist belt.
Subsequent modification - KIP-5 device with a lower temperature of exhaled air and less resistance to breathing (Fig. 4b).
Figure 4. Isolation respirators:
a - RKR-3 respirator; b - KIP-5 respirator.In the 30s of the last century, scientific research conducted by a group of Russian scientists under the leadership of Academician A.A. Skochinsky at the Department of Safety Engineering of the Moscow Mining Institute of Physics and Technology allowed to develop a new sorbent - lime absorber of carbon dioxide KP-I. It allowed to refuse from caustic soda and expensive disposable regenerative cartridges. It was also found that the term of protective effect of the respirator without its reloading can be brought to 4-6 hours. To do this, it is necessary to reduce the rate of oxygen supply from 1.5 to 1.2 l/min, increase the mass of CPI in the cartridge from 1.7 to 2.2 kg and place the cartridge in the respirator not horizontally, but vertically.
Since 1947 in the USSR began mass production of working 4-hour respirator RKK-2 (respirator Kovshova-Kuzmenko) and auxiliary 2-hour - RKK-1 (Fig. 5), for these respirators specially mastered the production of lightweight cylinders for oxygen.
Figure 5. Isolation respirators:
a - working respirator RKK-2; b - auxiliary respirator RKK-1.In 1949 in the workshops of paramilitary mountain rescue units (PMMRU) of the Urals was developed regenerative respirator 4-hour action "URAL-1" (Fig. 6).
Fig. 6. Respirator "Ural-1"
Thus, at the beginning of the second half of the last century the classical scheme of regenerative isolating respirator on compressed oxygen and optimal physiological-hygienic parameters of its operation were finally formed:
Inhaled oxygen-air mixture:
| oxygen content | not less than 25% |
| сarbon dioxide content | not more than 2.5% |
| temperature | not more than 450C at ambient temperature of 250C |
| average resistance to inhalation and exhalation | not more than 245 MPa |
| maximum resistance | 340 MPa |
| mass of working respirator in the equipped state | 12 kg |
| mass of auxiliary respirator equipped | 8 kg |
Since the 60's of the last century in the USSR were developed: working respirators R-12 and R-30, auxiliary respirators RVL-1 and R-34 (VNII mine rescue, Ukraine); working respirators "URAL-5", "URAL-6", "URAL-7", "URAL-10" (CNIL PMMRU Ural, Russia).
Figure 7. Insulating respirators:
a - respirator R-12; b - respirator "URAL-10".
In the Republic of Kazakhstan emergency rescue (mine rescue) services are currently equipped with respirators R-30, R-34 - produced by the company "DEZEGA" Ukraine (Fig. 8) and respirator R-30EH (Fig. 9). They are distinguished by high reliability, durability, ease of maintenance and lower cost compared to Western analogs.
Figure 8. Isolation respirators:
a - respirator R-30; b - auxiliary respirator R-34.
Respirator R-30EX - modernized model of respirator R-30 with a protective effect time of 4 hours. Thanks to the use of new materials and high-tech design solutions, the technical characteristics and reliability of the device have improved.
Fig. 9. Respirator R-30EX
Currently, DEZEGA has entered the market and put on the assembly line a new generation respirator - P-70i (Fig.10) with positive pressure, which is designed on new principles of safety and production. Thanks to new materials and high-tech design solutions DEZEGA has significantly improved the technical performance and reliability of the device. Now the user does not need any special tools for maintenance.
Figure 10. P-70i Respirator Figure 11. DEZEGA D-VISION full-face mask
DEZEGA D-VISION full-face mask is a means of personal respiratory protection, which is also used with P-30, P-30EX and other self-contained compressed oxygen breathing apparatus with a closed breathing cycle. The mask provides maximum comfort and reduces user fatigue for the entire duration of the protective effect of the breathing apparatus.
