When the wearer exhales, a valve closes and air is diverted to the area around the eyes, over-pressurizing the face mask area to prevent contaminated air from leaking in if the seal is broken. A blower built into side of the mask pulls air into its nose cup to ensure consistent air flow during an inhale. The mask, which connects to a belt- or backpack-mounted battery, is based on a commercial version of the Avon M50 filtration mask used throughout the US military. By adding a blower to the mask, the Army is hoping to make it easier for soldiers to focus more on the mission and less on the sweat pooling around their eyes.
#Cool gas mask full#
Doing anything in full Nuclear-Biological-Chemical gear is an order of magnitude harder under the best of conditions.
The system, which bears a surface resemblance to helmets worn by Star Wars’ Darth Vader and Halo’s Master Chief, uses built-in fans to both cool a soldier’s face and keep the mask pressurized to prevent contaminated air from leaking in.Īs someone who has spent hours in a gas mask, I can testify to how uncomfortable and distracting it can be-especially in high heat or humidity. The US Army’s Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) has developed a new combination of helmet and respirator mask that will keep soldiers safer and more comfortable when buttoned down against chemical, biological, or radiation threats.
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