Portable test system for uniform chemical concentration testing of personal protection products and method of use
View Patent ↗An apparatus for testing personal protection equipment or devices comprising an enclosure body having an air-inflatable support structure that receives an air-transferable chemical and air to maintain a substantially rigid structural integrity; a nozzle connected to the air-inflatable support structure, wherein the nozzle releases air and the air-transferable chemical from the air-inflatable support structure into the interior of the enclosure body for a selected period of time as a concentration of the air-transferable chemical in the interior of the enclosure body is at a steady state of uniformity; and a panel integrated into the enclosure body that passively releases air from the enclosure body.
1. An apparatus for testing protective devices, comprising:
an enclosure body comprising an air-inflatable support structure that receives an air-transferable chemical and air within an interior of the air-inflatable support structure to inflate the air-inflatable support structure to support and maintain a substantially rigid structural integrity of the enclosure body, the enclosure body having an enclosed interior when the air-inflatable support structure is inflated;
a nozzle connected to the air-inflatable support structure, wherein the nozzle releases the air and the air-transferable chemical from the interior of the air-inflatable support structure into the interior of the enclosure body for a selected period of time as a concentration of the air-transferable chemical in the interior of the enclosure body is at a steady state of uniformity; and
a panel integrated into the enclosure body that passively releases air and air-transferable chemical from the interior of the enclosure body.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air-transferable chemical comprises an aerosol.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air-transferable chemical comprises a vapor.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle directs the air-transferable chemical at a selected location in the enclosure body.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure body is portable.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said air-inflatable support structure comprises elongated air-inflatable beams.
7. A test chamber system, comprising:
an enclosure body comprising an air-inflatable support structure;
a device for supplying an air-transferable chemical;
a fan or blower operatively connected to the air-inflatable support structure and the device, wherein the fan or blower transfers the air-transferable chemical and air into an interior of the air-inflatable support structure;
at least one nozzle connected to the air-inflatable support structure, wherein the at least one nozzle opens causing the air-transferable chemical and the air to exit the interior of the air-inflatable support structure and enter into an interior of the enclosure body;
a sensor in the enclosure body that detects whether a concentration of the air-transferable chemical in the enclosure body is at a steady state of uniformity; and
a panel integrated into the enclosure body that releases air from the interior of the enclosure body.
8. The test chamber system of claim 7 , wherein the air in the interior of the air-inflatable support structure retains an inflation of the air-inflatable support structure that permits the enclosure body to retain structural rigidity.
9. The test chamber system of claim 7 , wherein the panel comprises a plurality of holes.
10. The test chamber system of claim 7 , wherein the panel comprises a covering that controls an amount of air released from the interior of the enclosure body.
11. The test chamber system of claim 7 , wherein the panel directs a portion of the air and a portion of the air-transferable chemical out of the interior of the enclosure body.
12. The test chamber system of claim 7 , wherein the panel comprises a carbon laced mesh panel.
13. A method for testing protective devices, comprising:
directing air and an air-transferable chemical into an interior of an air-inflatable support structure of an enclosure body, the enclosure body having an interior;
releasing some of the air and the air-transferable chemical from the interior of the air-inflatable support structure into the interior of the enclosure body;
selectively releasing air from the interior of the enclosure body;
determining whether a concentration of the air-transferable chemical in the interior of the enclosure body is at a steady state of uniformity; and
performing a diagnostic test procedure on a protective device in the interior of the enclosure body while the concentration of the air-transferable chemical in the enclosure body is at a steady state of uniformity.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the air and the air-transferable chemical directed into the interior of the air-inflatable support structure is at a pressure and volume of at least a minimum level necessary to retain a structural rigidity of the air-inflatable support structure.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising mixing the air-transferable chemical and the air to achieve the steady state of uniformity of concentration of the air transferable chemical in the air.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mixing comprises mixing the air-transferable chemical and the air prior to directing the air-transferable chemical and air into the air-inflatable support structure.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mixing comprises mixing the air-transferable chemical and the air in the interior of the air-inflatable support structure.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mixing comprises mixing the air-transferable chemical and the air after releasing the air-transferable chemical and the air into the enclosure body.
19. The method of claim 13 , comprising controlling an amount of the air-transferable chemical directed into the air-inflatable support structure and released into the interior of the enclosure body.
20. The method of claim 13 , comprising selectively releasing enclosed air and the air-transferable chemical from the enclosure body.