THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

AND

JOURNAL OF THE COAL AND IRON TRADES.

Voi. CVII.

FRIDAY. MARCH 27, 1914.

No. 2778.

Some New Types of Rescue Apparatus.

A series of Papers were read before the Midland Institute of Mining, Civil and Mechanical Engineers.
March 24, 1914, dealing with various New Designs of Rescue Apparatus.

Draeger Self-Rescue Apparatus.

In the first place, Mr. Richard Jacobson gave a
description of the new emergency apparatus, made by
the Draeger firm. He pointed out that ever since the
introduction of self-contained breathing apparatus, the
question how to rescue entombed miners preserved alive
in a pocket of fresh air after an explosion had naturally
presented itself to the mining community. It is obvious
that it would be impossible to bring out men found alive
in the workings after an explosion through the noxious
atmosphere, unless they were protected by breathing
appliances. Yet it is of the utmost urgency to get the
men out as quickly as possible, as the air (which is then
still breathable) may become contaminated by smoke or
gas at any moment. Inventors of breathing apparatus
have directed their attention to this problem and, as a
consequence, a number of more or less useful appliances
have been constructed.

The Westfalia and the Draegerwerk companies in
Germany have each placed on the market since 1907 a
stretcher fitted with a fresh-air hood, which allows of a
rescued man being carried through a noxious atmosphere
without danger of his being asphyxiated. These appli-
ances, however, have the disadvantage of being cumber-
some and somewhat expensive. Other attempts have
since been made of solving this problem in different
ways. In the Aerophore liquid-air apparatus the air
exhaust has been utilised by connecting a pipe and
mask to it, so as to enable a second man to breathe the
exhaled air. The Mining Engineering Company Limited,
of Sheffield, and Messrs. Siebe, Gorman and Co. Limited)
of London, have each placed on the market an emer-
gency apparatus, consisting of an oxygen cylinder, to
which is connected a pipe, a breathing-bag and a mask.
This apparatus is carried over the shoulder (together
with the rescue apparatus) for use in bringing out men
through a noxious atmosphere or for use by the wearer
in case the rescue apparatus should fail. All these
appliances, although serving a useful purpose, cannot,
however, be termed “ self-rescue ” apparatus.

A self-rescue apparatus should fulfil the following
important conditions, if it is to be of practical value -

(1)	The construction must not contain any delicate
parts.

(2)	The apparatus should be light and compact, and
capable of being donned and ready for use in a few
seconds.

(3)	It should be so simple as not to require special
training, and capable of being used without the
possibility of wrong application.

(4)	It should be cheap as regards first cost, mainte-
nance, and use.

(5)	It should also be capable of being stored fully
charged for any length of time without the charges
deteriorating.

(6)	It should be independent of the resiue apparatus,
as otherwise only a few men could be brought out at a
time, and the rescuers themselves would be hampered
in their movements and action.

All the foregoing requirements are fulfilled in the
Draeger apparatus, which is described in the paper.
(See Colliery Guardian, January 9, 1914, page 84.)
The apparatus complete weighs only 6J lb., and
it may be carried either over the shoulder, round
the neck, on the back, ox- at the side, without much
additional encumbrance. It may be deposited under-
ground or at the pit-head without any deterioration
of the charges or fear of damage, as all the parts are
protected by a cover. This cover can be undone by a
turn of the hand, when the apparatus is at once ready
for use. The appliance is of the regenerative type, the

breathing air being purified and revivified with oxygen
after each exhalation, which is not the case in other
types of apparatus of the kind. In order to bring the
apparatus into action, it is only necessary to open the
oxygen cylinder valve, when the breathing bag becomes
inflated with oxygen. The apparatus is capable of
supplying the wearer with fairly pure breathing air for
a period of from 30 to 45 minutes. As much as 36,250
foot-pounds of work have been done by users of the
apparatus during experiments. There is no need to
clean or dry the apparatus after use, so that after being
recharged it can be used again as often as necessary.

The apparatus proper consists of four parts, which
are fitted so as to take up the smallest possible space,
namely: (1) oxygen cylinder’ with closing valve;! (2)
potash cartridge; (3) breathing] bag, and (4) breathing
tube with rubber mouthpiece for mouth-breathing and
noseclip. The oxygen cylinder- contains a quantity of
compressed oxygen at a pressure of about 150 atmo-
spheres, which is sufficient for the above-mentioned
breathing period. The absorption of the exhaled carbon
dioxide is effected by means of a special pattern of the
well-known Draegex- cartridge. The breathing bag,
consisting of light, but strong, rubberised material, is
screwed to the cartridge. The breathing tube consists
of a strong, flexible corrugated-rubbex- pipe, and the
rubber’ mouthpiece and noseclip are joined permanently
to the breathing tube. The apparatus is mounted on a
metal frame and hangs round the neck by means of a
neck strap, the ends of the protecting cover being
tapered in such a way that they may be used a body-
strap. All parts of the apparatus are exchangeable and,
by special request, the apparatus can be supplied with
additional smoke-goggles.

The expired air (containing carbon dioxide) is pro-
pelled through . the breathing tube to the potash
cartridge, where it passes over a number of metal trays
containing grains of alkali, and is freed of the carbon
dioxide. The trays are so arranged that the exhaled air
passes over all the trays and over each grain without
interfering with its free passage. The cartridges are
supplied sealed and ready for use. The absorbing
process can be recognised by the heating of the cartridge.
The air (now free of carbon dioxide) then passes into
the breathing bag, where it is revivified by oxygen.
The oxygen flow is actuated by opening the cylinder
valve. The regenerated air may now be re-inhaled
through the breathing pipe, after having twice passed
through the cartridge. The breathing is perfectly free
and unobstructed, as, in addition to the potash cartridge,
there is no appreciable resistance in the circuit.

The use of the apparatus is so simple that anyone
can understand it without previous knowledge. The
oxygen supply, not being automatic, must be actuated
by hand by opening the cylinder and closing it again,
when the bag is moderately inflated. When the bag
becomes deflated, the cylinder valve should be opened
and closed again as before.* No air should be blown
into the bag at starting, but only oxygen. The con-
struction of an efficient self-rescue apparatus was urged
at the second International Rescue Congress at Vienna
last year, and the present apparatus is the outcome of
this demand.

Meco Half-hour Type of Portable Breathing’Apparatus.

This was described by Mr. Harold C. Jenkins. The
Meco half-hour type of apparatus is a compromise
between the full-sized and the emergency type of
appliance; in other words, it is a complete artificial
breathing dress in miniature. The circulation is main-
tained throughout by means of an injector, thus
allowing of a considerable amount of work to be done

in the apparatus. A reducing valve is fitted, so that
after the oxygen valve has once been turned on, no
further attention is required; the wearer feels absolutely
safe, and is sure that the oxygen supply will last him a
full half-hour. The oxygen cylinder, regenerator and
reducing valve are all combined in a light metal frame-
work, which is slung across the shoulders. The breathing
bag is hung round the neck by means of a strap, and a
small body strap passes round the bottom of the bag, to
which the metal frame can also be attached to prevent
it from moving from any fixed position. The regenerator
is charged with layers of caustic soda and caustic
potash, which are contained on gauze trays, in a manner
similar to that adopted in the standard rescue apparatus.
The air circulation maintained through the apparatus is
at the rate of 55 to 60 litres (about 2 cubic feet) per
minute, so that the wearer has an ample air supply.

As previously stated, this apparatus is not intended
to do such work as the larger-capacity appliances are

Fig. 1.—Meco Half-hour Type of Portable
Breathing Apparatus.



capable of doing, but is made to supply a demand for a
small apparatus which anyone may be allowed to wear
without danger. Apparatus of this type may be stored
underground in boxes, or kept at the bottom of the
shaft for emergency cases. It may be packed into a
small space, only weighs 18 lb., and is particularly suit-
able for short inspections of gassy places. In connection
with bye-product plants it is sometimes necessary to
enter through small man-holes for inspection and
cleaning. It is impossible for a man to do this without
some sort of apparatus, owing to the fumes, and the
larger type will not allow of a man getting through a
very small man-hole. With the half-hour type it is
possible for the wearer to get through with the apparatus
outside the hole, but with a mouthpiece in the mouth
and the oxygen turned on. After he has entered the
tank, the apparatus can be handed down to him through
the man-hole.

Although, said the author, the types of apparatus
which employ the small aperture for regulating the flow