Remaining Service Life Indication System for Gas Masks Cartridges and Canisters

Abstract

Gas masks and canisters for gas masks have a chemical sorbent that protects the respiratory system of the wearer from gaseous compounds. The remaining service indication systems for respiratory protections systems provide a warning to the wearer that the capacity of the chemical sorbent to adsorb or absorb further compounds is nearly depleted. A remaining service life indication system has a computer memory device for storing information concerning the canister for determining an end of the service life of a gas mask, a canister and/or a cartridge and such devices from the input of various sensors.

1 . A canister for use with a respiratory protection device, comprising:
 a container;   a chemical sorbent within the container;   a digital memory storage device capable of storing data and communicating information and communicating with a central processing unit; and   a communication module capable of communicating with an external processing unit.   
     
     
         2 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the computer memory storage device is a physical device used to store data. 
     
     
         3 . The canister of  claim 2 , wherein the computer memory storage device is at least one of RAM, DRAM, SRAM, tape, magnetic disk, flash memory, compact disk, DVD, or addressable semiconductor memory. 
     
     
         4 . The canister of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication module and the computer memory storage device are part of a radio frequency identification unit. 
     
     
         5 . The canister of  claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency identification unit in communication with the computer memory storage device. 
     
     
         6 . A respiratory protection device, comprising:
 a chemical sorbent canister, wherein the chemical sorbent canister comprises:   a chemical sorbent within the canister;   a computer memory storage device capable of storing data and communicating information and communicating with a central processing unit; and   a communication module capable of communicating with an external processing unit;   a gas mask capable of receiving the chemical sorbent canister; wherein the gas mask comprises:   a central processing unit capable of communicating with the communication module;   a chemical concentration sensor in communication with the central processing unit; and   an air flow sensor in communication with the central processing unit.   
     
     
         7 . The respiratory protection device of  claim 6 , wherein the central processing unit communicates with the communication module through a wired connection. 
     
     
         8 . The respiratory protection device of  claim 6 , wherein the central processing unit communicates with the communication module through a wireless connection. 
     
     
         9 . The respiratory protection device of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless connection is a radio frequency identification unit, a blue tooth connection, or other wireless communication. 
     
     
         10 . The respiratory protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the radio frequency identification unit is one of an active radio frequency identification unit or a passive radio frequency identification unit. 
     
     
         11 . The respiratory protection device of  claim 6 , wherein the central processing unit is capable of estimating the amount of target chemical compounds passing into the chemical sorbent canister from an output of the chemical concentration sensor and the air flow sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The respiratory protection device of  claim 6 , wherein the computer memory storage device is capable of storing a canister identification indicator, an initial sorbent capacity, and a remaining sorbent capacity of the chemical sorbent. 
     
     
         13 . The respiratory protection device of  claim 6 , wherein the gas mask further comprises a second computer memory storage device, and the second computer memory storage device is capable of storing a canister identification indicator, an initial sorbent capacity, and a remaining sorbent capacity of the chemical sorbent. 
     
     
         14 . The respiratory protection device of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the chemical concentration sensor and the air flow sensor provide intermittent output to the central processing unit.