Protective enclosure
View Patent ↗The present invention describes chemical protective enclosure comprising a waterproof outer surface comprising an impermeable portion and an air diffusive portion, and further comprising a chemically adsorptive material substantially adjacent the air diffusive portion, wherein there is sufficient diffusion of breathable air into the chemical protective enclosure to sustain life.
1. A chemical protective enclosure comprising
a) a waterproof outer surface comprising
i. an impermeable barrier portion that is impermeable to gas and liquids, and
ii. an air diffusive portion having an airflow of less than about 5 L/m 2 /s at 100 Pascals and
b) a chemical protective material adjacent the air diffusive portion, wherein the chemical protective enclosure comprises greater than about 0.3 L/min/occupant oxygen diffusion through the air diffusive portion.
2. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the air diffusive portion comprises a microporous polymer layer.
3. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the air diffusive portion has an airflow of less than about 3 L/m 2 s at 100 Pascals.
4. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the air diffusive portion has an airflow of less than about 2 L/m 2 /s at 100 Pascals.
5. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 having a cumulative breakthrough of sulfur mustard (HD) through the air diffusive portion and the chemical protective material at 20 hours that is less than or equal to about 2 μg/cm 2 at an exposure pressure of about 60 Pa.
6. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 having a cumulative breakthrough of sulfur mustard (HD) through the air diffusive portion and the chemical protective material at 20 hours that is less than or equal to about 1 μg/cm 2 at an exposure pressure of about 60 Pa.
7. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the air diffusive portion comprises a porous fluoropolymer.
8. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the air diffusive portion comprises porous polytetrafluoroethylene.
9. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the air diffusive portion comprises expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene.
10. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the chemical protective material is removable.
11. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 10 wherein the chemical protective material comprises a detachment mechanism for removing and replacing the chemical protective material.
12. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the chemical protective material is adsorptive.
13. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the chemical protective material comprises activated carbon.
14. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the air diffusive portion and the chemical protective material are integrated to form a diffusive protective panel.
15. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 14 wherein the diffusive protective panel has a thickness of less than about 15 mm.
16. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 14 wherein the diffusive protective panel comprises a microporous polymer layer and an adsorptive material.
17. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 14 wherein the diffusive protective panel comprises a porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane and activated carbon.
18. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 14 wherein the chemical protective material comprises less than 200 g/m 2 of adsorptive material.
19. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 14 wherein the diffusive protective panel further comprises at least one textile layer.
20. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 14 where in the diffusive protective panel has a permeability to oxygen greater than about 3 m 3 /m 2 *hr*bar, an airflow of less than about 5 L/m 2 /s at 100 Pascals, and having a cumulative breakthrough of sulfur mustard (HD) through the diffusive protective panel at 20 hours that is less than or equal to about 2 μg/cm 2 at an exposure pressure of about 60 Pa.
21. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 20 wherein the diffusive protective panel has a thickness of less than about 15 mm.
22. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the chemical protective material comprises less than 400 g/m 2 of adsorptive material.
23. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the impermeable barrier portion comprises a fluoropolymer.
24. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the impermeable barrier portion further comprises a textile.
25. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the air diffusive portion is liquid-proof.
26. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the air diffusive portion further comprises at least one textile layer.
27. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a tent.
28. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a casualty bag.
29. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a hood.
30. The chemical protective enclosure of claim 29 wherein the hood comprises a protective barrier viewing window.
31. A chemical protective enclosure comprising
a) a waterproof outer surface comprising
i. an impermeable barrier portion that is impermeable to gas and liquids and
ii. an air diffusive portion comprising a microporous porous polytetrafluoroethylene layer, the air diffusive portion having an airflow of less than about 5 L/m 2 /s at 100 Pascals, and
b) a chemical protective material comprising activated carbon positioned adjacent the microporous porous polytetrafluoroethylene layer and opposite the outer surface,
wherein air diffusing through the microporous porous polytetrafluoroethylene layer passes through the chemical protective material before entering the chemical protective enclosure, and
wherein greater than about 0.3 L/min/occupant oxygen diffuses through the air diffusive portion and into the chemical protective enclosure.