DEVELOPMENT OF A SMART SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SMART SCBA) FOR USE IN EMERGENCY ESCAPE

摘要

The Smart SCBA developed under this contract accomplished two objectives. First it demonstrated that an electronically controlled oxygen sensing & dosing device to maintain a minimum safe breathing level (19.5%) is feasible. The second is that the new FSR/CO canister, used with a negative pressure gas mask, is a viable improvement over the W-65 SCSR used by nearly all metalonmetal underground miners. This canister and catalyst protect the user from all combustion gases and at least 10,000 ppm carbon monoxide with reduced-temperature inhaled breathing gas lasts much longer than one hour and allows voice communication during an escape.