US 12,083,466 B2
Filter cartridge with turbulence generating features
Marc L. Roth, Owens Cross Roads, AL (US); William J Spangler, Jr., Forest Hill, MI (US); Lester D Strauch, III, Churchville, MD (US); Patrick O Hulbert, Dallastown, PA (US); and Robert Michael Ferguson, Baytown, TX (US)
Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by USA as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Apr. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/237,247.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/014,264, filed on Apr. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0331110 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. B01D 46/00 (2022.01); A62B 23/02 (2006.01); B01D 46/10 (2006.01); A62B 19/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 46/0045 (2013.01) [A62B 23/02 (2013.01); B01D 46/0004 (2013.01); B01D 46/0005 (2013.01); B01D 46/10 (2013.01); A62B 19/00 (2013.01); B01D 2265/028 (2013.01); B01D 2279/65 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A filter cartridge for a facepiece respirator mask body, the filter cartridge comprising:
a cover having a top surface, a cover sidewall, a plurality of cover support elements, and an inhalation vent, the cover support elements extending downwardly from the top surface, the inhalation vent being located primarily in the cover sidewall;
a base having a bottom surface, a base sidewall, a plurality of base support elements, and an inhalation port, the base support elements extending upwardly from the bottom surface, the inhalation port extending through the bottom surface; and
a filter medium;
wherein the base and the cover collectively define an interior compartment, the filter medium being sandwiched between the base support elements and the cover support elements in a manner that divides the interior compartment into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the filter cartridge being configured such that ambient air entering into the upper chamber via the inhalation vent passes through the filter medium and into the lower chamber before exiting the interior compartment through the inhalation port,
wherein the cover comprises a plurality of inhalation vents, each of the inhalation vents being located at least primarily in the cover sidewall,
the plurality of cover support elements including a first cover support element and a second cover support element, the plurality of inhalation vents including a first set, a second set, and a third set, the first set located outward of the first cover support element, the third set located outward of the second support element, and the second set located between the first and the third sets.
 
15. A filter cartridge for a facepiece respirator mask body, the filter cartridge comprising:
a cover having a top surface, a cover sidewall, a plurality of cover support elements, and an inhalation vent, the cover support elements extending downwardly from the top surface, the inhalation vent being located primarily in the cover sidewall;
a base having a bottom surface, a base sidewall, a plurality of base support elements, and an inhalation port, the base support elements extending upwardly from the bottom surface, the inhalation port extending through the bottom surface; and
a filter medium;
wherein the base and the cover collectively define an interior compartment, the filter medium being sandwiched between the base support elements and the cover support elements in a manner that divides the interior compartment into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the filter cartridge being configured such that ambient air entering into the upper chamber via the inhalation vent passes through the filter medium and into the lower chamber before exiting the interior compartment through the inhalation port,
wherein the cover comprises a plurality of inhalation vents, each of the inhalation vents being located at least primarily in the cover sidewall,
wherein the filter cartridge comprises a front region and a rear region, the plurality of inhalation vents being located in the rear region of the filter cartridge,
the plurality of cover support elements including a pair of cover support elements, each of the pair of cover support elements extending forwardly from the rear region, the plurality of inhalation vents including a first set, a second set, and a third set, the first set located outward of a first of the pair of cover support elements, the third set located outward of a second of the pair of cover support elements, and the second set located between the first and the third sets.
 
18. A filter cartridge for a facepiece respirator mask body, the filter cartridge comprising:
a cover having a top surface, a cover sidewall, a plurality of cover support elements, and an inhalation vent, the cover support elements extending downwardly from the top surface, the inhalation vent being located primarily in the cover sidewall;
a base having a bottom surface, a base sidewall, a plurality of base support elements, and an inhalation port, the base support elements extending upwardly from the bottom surface, the inhalation port extending through the bottom surface; and
a filter medium;
wherein the base and the cover collectively define an interior compartment, the filter medium being sandwiched between the base support elements and the cover support elements in a manner that divides the interior compartment into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the filter cartridge being configured such that ambient air entering into the upper chamber via the inhalation vent passes through the filter medium and into the lower chamber before exiting the interior compartment through the inhalation port,
wherein the cover comprises a plurality of inhalation vents, each of the inhalation vents being located at least primarily in the cover sidewall,
wherein the filter cartridge comprises a front region and a rear region, the plurality of inhalation vents being located in the rear region of the filter cartridge,
the plurality of cover support elements including a generally straight cover support element extending rearwardly from the front region and a pair of serpentine support elements each extending forwardly from the rear region, each of the serpentine cover support elements equidistant from the straight cover support element, and the plurality of inhalation vents symmetrically distributed along the cover sidewall with respect to the straight cover support element.