Method for protecting breathing organs and eyes from aerosols and device for implementing the same

Abstract

The invention relates to a method that comprises generating air flows (2) in the form of an air curtain in front of openings of the face to be protected using ambient air without preliminary purification, and directing said flows (2) in such a way that the flow lines do not intersect the planes of the openings of the face to be protected and reject aerosol particles in the vicinity of said openings. The configuration of the flows (2) is selected so that any vector extending from the surrounding medium through the air into the plane of the openings of the face to be protected, intersects at least one of said flows (2). The speed and the transverse section of the flow (2) are selected so that the acceleration gained by the aerosol particles falling into the flow from the surrounding medium, is sufficient for diverting them from the sections of the face to be protected. The device of the present invention comprises a portable power unit and pumps (3, 3a) generating air flows in the form of an air curtain in front of the inlet openings of the breathing organs (5) (nostrils (12) and mouth), wherein the speed vector of the flows (2) is parallel to the planes of said openings. The flows (2) have a speed (more or equal to 10 m/s) sufficient for trapping the aerosol particles that may penetrate the breathing openings and for rejecting them aside together with the flow (2) away from the breathing organs (5). The air flows (2) are generated by the pump (3, 3a) directly from ambient air with the aerosol particles contained therein, but due to the speed thus obtained, the flows (2) maintain within themselves said aerosol particles that pass beyond of the breathing openings due to inertia.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of PCT application serial number PCT/RU2010/000581 filed on Oct. 13, 2010, published as WO 2011/049485 A1 on Apr. 28, 2011, which claims priority of Russian application serial number 2009140206 filed on Oct. 23, 2009, and both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Claimed invention relates to the hygiene and preventive healthcare. More specifically it relates to the methods and means for respiratory organs and eyes protection from aerosols.

PRIOR ART

There are known many methods and devices for protection of respiratory organs and eyes from aerosols. For example, in the Russian Federation patent No. 2030191 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,173 there are described various types of gas mask comprising a mask, tightly put on the face, air pipes and air pump supplying pure air under the mask for a breathing. However, the presence of airtight mask creates hygienic problems and discomfort for the user, namely, skin irritation and increased sweating where the user's face is in contact with the mask. Also there are restrictions for the user on the visual observation of the environment and on the voice communications. It becomes particularly clear during a long (several hours) wearing of such a device. Also the users, as a rule, tend to shun the wearing of similar devices with a mask for the aesthetic reasons.

There are also known other variants to protect respiratory organs and eyes from aerosols, which provide protective helmets (Russian Federation patent No. 2022579, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,736,927 and 6,250,299), comprising a transparent visor covering the face, air filter, air fan with a portable power source and air pipes for aerosols purified air supply under the visor to the face. However, usage of said means leads to a limited user's visual observation and voice communications, as well as to the user's discomfort due to the considerable size and weight of said device. The helmet's wearing also violates the aesthetics appearance of the user, obscuring a significant part of the hairstyles and the face, which is violating mimic communications with other people. The visor's presence may also lead to the moisture condensation on its surface, which, in turn, leads to a loss of its transparency. In addition, the device does not preclude aerosol inhalation, because the design of the air pipes does not create directional air flow in the area of the nostrils and the mouth. Also the air flow velocity is low in this area due to the presence of the facial glass visor, so it allows aerosols to penetrate into the respiratory zone during inspiration.

Also there are known means for respiratory organs and eyes protection from aerosols (Russian Federation patent No. 2070823 and European patent application EP 0368916), comprising a fastening device on the user's head, a pump having a portable power unit and the filters, providing the source of the purified air, and the air pipes used to form the air curtain of aerosols purified air flow in the area of the respiratory organs (the nostrils and the mouth). However, there is a need for a preliminary purification of the air, which is forming said protective air curtain. It requires additional energy consumption and increases the cost, size and weight of the device. The increased weight and dimensions of the device also reduce user's comfort and convenience. In addition, passive air cleaning means (filters) do not ensure the complete removal of bacterial and viral aerosols during long term work. Also, all known active means of air sterilization (plasma discharge, UV irradiation, ozonation, etc.) contain high voltage components which could reduce electric safety of said devices. Moreover, all active means of biological sterilization during their operation provide harmful molecules and chemical radicals, which may be toxic for the user organism when inhaled.

The most close technical solution to the claimed invention is the Russian Federation patent No. 2255778, selected as the invention's prototype. Said prototype teaches the method and the device for respiratory organs and eyes protection against aerosols using a stream of preliminary purified (sterile) air for a breathing. Direction of the air stream axis coincides with the tangent line to the geometrical surface formed by the tip of the nose, chin and the jaws. Said air stream is provided using a pump with a portable power source, air filters and air flow pipes. However, according to the prototype, it is necessary to purify the air, which is forming said protective air stream. It requires additional energy consumption from the portable power source and increases the cost, size and weight of the device. The increased weight and size of the devices also reduce user's comfort and the usability convenience. In addition, passive air cleaning means (filters) do not ensure the complete removal of bacterial and viral aerosols during long term operation. Also all known active means for air sterilization (plasma discharge, UV irradiation, ozonation, etc.) contain high voltage components, which reduces the electrical safety of the device. Moreover, all active means of biological sterilization during their operation provide chemically active molecules (ozone, radicals, ions) which may be toxic for the user's organism when inhaled.

INVENTION DISCLOSURE

The goal of proposed invention is to create such a method and device for the respiratory organs and eyes protection against aerosols that would avoid immediate contact of protection means with the facial skin to achieve a high hygienic and aesthetic effect during a long-term wearing. Also the protection means must not block the sound channel for the conversation, and must have small overall dimensions, weight and power consumption for a high level of usability convenience and comfort.

This problem may be solved by creating a method for respiratory organs and eyes protection against aerosol particles of ambient air. According to the proposed method, the air flows are provided in the form of air curtain in front of the protected facial sites, namely, for individual or overall protection of nostrils, mouth and eyes, where, according to the proposed invention, said air flows are formed from the surrounding air without preliminary purification. Further said air streams (i.e. air flows) are directed in such a way that the stream lines do not cross the planes of the protected facial areas (inlet cross sections of the nostrils, mouth and eyes). At the same time, said air streams must carry aerosol particles beyond of said facial openings. The configuration of said air streams is chosen in such a way that any vector, carried out from any point of the space around the face to any protected facial opening, must be intersected by, at least, one of said air streams. Also the air stream velocity and its cross section must be chosen in such a way that aerosol particles, trapped by the stream from the surrounding space, would be accelerated enough to be ejected beyond of the protected facial areas.

Thus, if the aerosol particle tries to penetrate a breathing hole (nostrils, mouth), it will be obliged to cross the air stream which is generated in the form of the air curtain in front of said breathing hole. At the certain ratio between the mass of the particle, its cross-section size and the air stream velocity, the particle is captured (deflected and accelerated) by the air stream and is further moving at the speed of said air flow away from the protected breathing hole.

It is expedient that said air streams would be directed along the line of the lips towards from the cheeks to the nose.

Also it is expedient to direct these air streams perpendicular to the line of the mouth, from top to bottom.

Another variant of the invention is to form said air streams by air injection through the air pipes using a compressor powered by a portable source.

Also it is possible to create said air flows by a pumping of the air out of the area in front of said facial sites through the air pipes using a pump powered by a portable source.

Another variant of the invention is to attach said air pipes to the spectacle frame.

Also possible variant of the invention is to attach the air pipes to the phone headset frame.

Another expedient variant of the invention is to mount the air pipes on the dress.

One of expedient variants of the invention is to mount the air pipes on a headdress.

The technical result achieved by the proposed invention is in substantial reduction of energy consumption, size and weight of the device for implementation of the method proposed, as well as in a higher electrical safety level and in resolving of the problem with a toxic influence of air purification system on the user's organism.

The goal of the invention may be also achieved by the device for protection of respiratory organs and eyes against aerosol particles from the surrounding air. The device comprises fastening means to orient said device relative to person's face; at least one pump with a portable power supply source; air pipes connected to the pump and designed to form air streams in the form of protective air curtain before the protected sites of the face, including simultaneously or separately person's nostrils, mouth and eyes. According to the claimed invention, the pump is designed with a possibility to form the specified air streams directly from the surrounding air; outlets of the air pipes are directed relative to the face in such a manner that air flow lines don't cross the plane of entrance openings of protected facial sites. Said air streams must have such configuration that any vector, carried out from any point of the surrounding space through the air to the inlet opening of the protected facial site, is crossed, at least, by one of said air streams. Available pump rate must be taken into account: said air stream cross-section configuration and velocity must be chosen so that the acceleration, acquired by aerosol particle getting to said air stream from surrounding air, would be enough for its deflection from the protected facial opening.

One of the possible variants of the present invention comprises a vacuum pump for said air flows formation.

Another possible variants of the present invention comprises a compressor for pressurising ambient air to form said air streams.

Also possible is to use an axial fan as said compressor.

Another variant is to use a centrifugal fan as said compressor.

It is expedient that said air pipes are mounted in such a way that the air streams are directed along the line of the lips towards from the cheeks to the nose.

It is also expedient that said air pipes are mounted in such a way that the air streams are directed perpendicular to the mouth line from top to bottom.

It is expedient that said air pipes are mounted on a spectacle frame.

It is expedient that said air pipes are mounted on a phone headset frame.

It is possible to mount said air pipes on a clothes collar or on a headdress.

It is expedient to mount one or more air flow speed sensors on said air pipes for automatic regulation of the air flow rate at the protective air curtain to guarantee interception of aerosol particles when the velocity of the incident air with aerosols is increased.

The technical result achieved by the proposed invention is a common one both for the method of respiratory organs and eyes protection from aerosols and for the device for its implementation. It is substantial reduction in energy consumption level, size and weight of the device, as well as improvement in electrical safety and prevention of toxic influence by air sterilization system on the user's organism.

In addition, the proposed device does not provide difficulties for breathing, leaves open the mouth and the nose of the user and is not in a contact with the skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the claimed invention some variants of the invention embodiment are described with the references to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a diagram explaining the principles of the moving aerosol particles deflection by the air stream from centrifugal fan (for simplicity a portable power source consisting of accumulator battery is not shown on the diagram).

FIG. 2 schematically shows the front view of the protective device fixed on the user's ears and forming the air curtain parallel to the lips line for the protection of the nostrils and mouth against aerosols. The device is mounted on the headset frame, while the power supply is in the pocket of the dress and is not shown on the diagram.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the front view of the protective device fixed on the user's head. It is forming the air curtain perpendicular to the mouth line from top to bottom. Power source is in the pocket of the dress and is not shown on the diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The claimed method of respiratory organs and eyes protection from the ambient aerosol particles provides air streams in the form of the air curtain in front of the protected facial sites, including individual or overall protection of the nostrils, mouth and eyes. These air streams are formed from the surrounding air without preliminary purification, said air streams are directed in such a way that the air flow lines do not cross the plane of the protected facial openings and are caning away aerosol particles from protected facial openings. Configuration of these air streams are chosen in such a way that any vector, carried out from any point of the face surrounding space through the air to protected openings, is crossed by, at least, one of said streams. The speed and the cross-section of the air stream are chosen in such a way that acceleration provided by said air stream to aerosol particles is sufficient for a deflection of aerosols incident from the surrounding air and for ejection of these aerosols away from the protected areas.

Said air streams can be directed, for example, along the lips line from the cheeks to the nose, or perpendicular to the mouth line, from top to bottom. These air streams may be provided by pressurising of the air through the air pipes using compressor with a portable power source or by a sucking out of the air from said facial area through the air pipes using vacuum pump with a portable power source. These air pipes may be mounted, for example, on a spectacle frame, on a phone headset frame, on a clothing or on a headdress.

It is common known that healthcare problems occur when human is exposed to harmful aerosol particles, which are inhaled through the nostrils and mouth. In particular, the flu virus and the tuberculosis bacilli are transferred by airborne droplets from person to person. Aerosol particles, dangerous when inhaled, have sizes from 0.1 μm or more (in a smaller aerosol particle bacterium or virus can not be accommodated) and are suspended in the air, where they make enough long chaotic Brownian motion before falling to the ground. Aerosol particles with size of 100 microns or more quickly fall out of the air. Aerosol particles with size more than 10 μm can not penetrate into the most vulnerable sections of the lower lungs, as when they move on the heavily curved trajectories through the respiratory tract (nose, throat and trachea), they will likely settle on the upper respiratory tract walls, where their pathogenic effect is lower. It is well known that the average speed of the Brownian motion of aerosol particles in a still air under normal conditions is 0.1 m/s or less. It means that these aerosol particles almost stand still in the air, and people, coming in the area of their location, simply suck them during inspiration.

Obvious, that the most dangerous from the point of view of a possible disease transfer for a person it is staying in a room, where ill people may extend viruses and bacteria by airborne way through the sneezing, cough and conversation. Very often there is no significant air motion here (but a good ventilation could reduce concentration of the harmful aerosols). In the modern life conditions people spend most time in the closed rooms or in the public transport vehicles where the process of cross contamination during epidemics occurs. Thus, people inhale suspended particles almost motionless in the coordinates' framework connected with the room, where the particles speed relative to respiratory openings (the nostrils and the mouth) doesn't exceed 1.5 m/s (speed of a walking person). Therefore, if, according to claimed invention, to create air stream (air curtain) parallel to inlet plane of respiratory opening with sufficient flow speed (for example, 10 m/s and more), the aerosol particle, which has got to the air stream, will be caught (deflected and accelerated) by this air stream. After trapping the aerosol particle will continue motion with the speed of said air stream; this circumstance will prevent its hit into respiratory organs. Note also, that air flow speed at the nostril inlet during a breath doesn't exceed averaged 2 m/s, and it sharply falls when leaving the vicinity of the nostrils because of the rapid increase in cross-section of inhaled flow. Therefore, a breath (as the most dangerous breathing phase for aerosol penetration) doesn't change considerably the air flow vectors in said air curtain at its speed of 10 m/s and more. During breath through an open mouth the total cross-section of the inlet opening is even more compared with the nostrils, therefore the speed of inhaled air is additionally decreased, and the changes of air stream vectors at a breath through the mouth are even less. Let's also note that formation of the air curtain around the nostrils and the mouth doesn't break conditions for a normal breathing. It takes place because of air molecules have a mass, much smaller that of the aerosol particles, thus the main molecules of the air (oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide), participating in breathing, move with the speed of near to 500 m/s in the free diffusion mode. It quickly equalizes any gradients of the air molecules concentration, ensuring free breathing (gas exchange) of the protected person. Thus, the specified air curtain will protect respiratory organs against penetration of incident aerosol particles through the curtain and, at the same time, provide a free breathing.

At the same time, if the aerosol particle was in the air stream at the moment of its formation (when said air stream is generated in the pump and pipes from the surrounding air with possible aerosols presence and without preliminary purification), the particle is accelerated (caught) along with the flow of the air curtain and acquires curtain's flow speed and motion vector, which is parallel to the inlet plane of the breathing hole. In this way this particle will not be able to get into said breathing hole. Such a system of nostrils, mouth and eyes protection represents a respirator with inertial gasdynamic isolation, and therefore it does not require preliminary air purification means for the air curtain formation.

In order to determine conditions for formation of protective air curtain, let's consider a spherical droplet 1 on FIG. 1, moving with the speed v₀ across the air stream 2. Let air stream 2 has flow speed v_s, width L and is formed using the pump 3 (for example, compressor) and the air pipe 4. Air flow vectors of the air stream are shown on FIG. 1 by arrows N emanating from the air pipe 4. The inlet opening of breathing organ (the nostril or the mouth) is designated with 5. We assume, that at the moment, when the droplet 1 entered the air stream 2, the transverse component of its velocity v=0. The force of air resistance F is applied to the droplet 1, when it enters the air stream 2

F=½·C·S·(v−v_s)²  (1)

where:
ρ—air density;
S—the squared cross-section of the droplet;
C—dimensionless factor, which for a spherical body equals 0.47.

Mass of the droplet 1 equals 4/3·π·ρ₀·R³, where ρ₀ is water density, R—radius of the droplet. The squared cross-section of the spherical droplet equals to π·R².

Acceleration experienced by the droplet 1 inside of the air stream as a function of time t is equal to:

dv(t)/dt=⅜·(ρ/ρ₀)·(C/R)·(v−v_s)²  (2)

Solving Equation (2) with initial conditions v(0)=0, one can find that the transverse velocity of the droplet 1 varies in time during passage of the air stream in accordance with the following expression:

v(t)=v_s·t/(t+ 8/3·ρ·R/(C·ρ₀·v_s))  (3)

It may be derived from (3) that the time t_0.5, when the droplet 1 will achieve a half of the velocity v_s in the transverse direction, is equal

t_0.5= 8/3·ρ·R/(C·ρ₀·v_s)  (4)

Taking into account that ρ/ρ₀˜1000, one can get

t_0.5(sec)=0.005·R/v_s  (5)

where R is expressed in microns and v_s—in m/s. The distance x(t), which the droplet 1 passes in the transverse direction (along the air stream vector), is determined by time integrating of the expression (3):

x(t)=v_s·(t−t_0.5·ln((t+t_0.5)/t_0.5))  (6)

Consider an example of practical implementation: let the droplet 1 of 10 μm size tries to penetrate the air curtain (air stream 2) having 2 cm thickness and 10 m/s flow speed. According to (5), in this case t_0.5=0.005 s. If the droplet 1 moves through the air curtain with a speed v₀=2 m/s (corresponding to a very rapid movement of the user with near to 7 km/h velocity), time of the possible crossing of the air stream 2 by the droplet 1 is equal to L/v₀=0.01 s. During this time duration (equal to the doubled t_0.5) in accordance to equation (3) the droplet 1 acquires speed 6.6 m/s along the air stream 2 direction and, according to equation (6), it passes distance x(t)=5 cm. The resultant velocity V_res of the droplet 1 will be about 7 m/s, and the direction of its vector is shown on FIG. 1. Thus, the droplet 1 will pass beyond the entrance hole 5 of the breathing organ and is unable to get into it. Therefore, it will be ejected by the air curtain. Let's consider another droplet 1a, which would fell into the breathing hole 5 in the case of air stream 2 being off. The trajectory of the droplet 1a in this case is shown by the dotted line M₁ on the FIG. 1. In the case of the air stream 2 presence the droplet 1 passes beyond the breathing hole 5 at the trajectory shown by solid line M₂ on the FIG. 1.

The proposed on the FIG. 2 device for the user's 6 respiratory organs and eyes protection from aerosols is intended for considerable decrease of harmful aerosol penetration into user's organism during the breathing. It comprises a portable power supply source (not shown on the drawing), the pumps 3, 3a and the air pipes 4, 4a forming air streams 2 (air curtain) before inlet openings of respiratory organs (nostrils and mouth). On the role of the pump 3, it can be used some vacuum device for air suction, or various compressors for air pumping. It is also possible to use miniature industrial fans with rotating blades, in particular, axial fans (air is accelerated in the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the blades) or centrifugal ones (air is accelerated in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the blades). Such fans may be powered by DC voltage 5-12 V and current ˜0.1 A, thus the battery of accumulators with electric capacity 3-5 A·hour can provide continuous operation of the protecting device during a full day time.

According to the proposed invention, the air pipe 4 may be of various configurations, in particular, it can be used a combination of one or more pipes to protect each of the entrance openings of the breathing organs and eyes (see FIG. 2, where pipes for eyes protection are not shown for simplicity of the drawing) or it may be a pipe for overall facial area protection (see FIG. 3).

It is known that, if the speed of the air stream will not exceed a few dozen m/s, the air pipes 4 with a smooth internal surface will generated a laminar air flow 2. Thus the cross section of the air stream 2 will be similar to the outlet configuration of the air pipe 4. Leaving the pipe 4, the air stream will gradually expand and slow down. Thus, to create the air curtain of the predetermined shape (width and thickness), it is necessary to provide the same shape to the outlet of the air pipe 4. For example, to protect the nostrils and the mouth, as shown on FIG. 2, it can be used air pipes 4 and 4a having rectangular outlet with rounded corners (to reduce possible turbulence around the corners). For the variant shown on FIG. 3, taking into account the anatomic feature of the user's face (nose), one can use the air pipe 7, having on the cross-sectional view a shape of circle arc with a constant width (as a protective plastic shield on the helmet of ice hockey player).

Flow lines of the air curtain are shown on FIG. 2 by arrows N emanating from the air pipes 4 and 4a, on FIG. 3—by arrows N emanating from air pipe 7. The length of air pipes 4, 4a and 7 may be various, but it should be sufficient to form homogenious air stream 2, despite of some air disturbances arising at the exit from the air pumps 3 and 3a. The length of the pipes 4, 4a, 7 is also determined by considerations of a user-comfortable location of the pumps 3, 3a forming protective air curtain. If possible, this length should be kept minimal to reduce aerodynamic resistance in the pipe segment between the pumps 3, 3a and the outlets of air pipes 4, 4a, 7. In this way it may reduce power consumption by the pumps 3 and 3a. Air pipes 4, 4a, 7 should have a smooth inner profile and a gradual change of cross-section from the entrance, connected to the pump, and up to the pipe outlet to form a laminar air flow. In this case the air stream 2 will keep its speed and direction of motion for a maximum time after exiting from the outlet of the air pipes 4, 4a, 7. Also, the pipes 4, 4a, 7 may have a various curved shape in such a way that, depending on the individual face shape of the user 6, the speed vector of the air stream 2, protecting the facial openings of the breathing organs, may be directed parallel to the inlet plane of said breathing holes. Also the air stream 2 configuration in the area of the breathing hole must create the air curtain, i.e. any vector, which is drawn from any space point in front of the user's face and which is crossing the inlet plane of the breathing hole, should intersect one of said air streams. In this case, if the aerosol particle (droplets 1 and 1a on FIG. 1) is trying to get, for example, into the nostril, said particle hits the air stream 2 of the curtain. In this case said air stream 2 flows transversively to the particle and, at a certain ratio between the mass of the particle, its cross-sectional size and the air stream velocity, the particle is captured (deflected and accelerated) by the air stream and further continues to move at the speed of this stream away from the protected opening.

The cases of the pumps 3, 3a, as well as of the air pipes 4, 4a, 7 may be made from a plastic to reduce weight. Additionally, one can use plastic transparent to the visible light and ultraviolet radiation, it will provide access of sunlight to the skin of the face.

Because it is necessary to provide a spatial fixation of said protective device relative to the nostrils and the mouth of the user 6, you can use a variety of options for fastening device. For example, it is possible to mount said protective device on the spectacle frame (not shown on the drawings) or with the headset frame 8, tightly fixed on the head. Also for user 6 convenience, it is possible to mount said protective device on a headdress (not shown on the drawings), a head ribbon 9 or with a dress elements (not shown on the drawings).

Additionally, in said protective device it can be installed one or more air flow speed sensors (not shown on the drawing) for automatic regulation of the air curtain flow rate and for the enhanced interception of aerosol particles in the case of the increase in the oncoming speed of the ambient air. It also permit to save battery power, when the surrounding air is practically motionless and the flow rate may be decreased. In this case, for example, one can use well known design of the open case thermo-resistors installed inside of airflow to be measured. Said thermo-resistors with the stabilized heating means as an airflow speed sensors, microprocessor for data analysis from said thermo-resistors and DC-DC converter for a voltage supply regulation of the pump motor power are possible to use for this purpose.

FIG. 2 demonstrates a variant of the protective device which is mounted on the user's head 6 and which is producing air curtain (air streams 2) along the line of the lips 10 in the direction from the cheeks 11 toward the nose 12. The pumps 3 and 3a (in this case the centrifugal fans are used) should have size, capacity, volumetric efficiency and output pressure sufficient to create air streams 2 with necessary flow speed and cross section value, as is explained on the FIG. 1 and by the analysis of equations (1-6).

The pumps 3 and 3a are tightly connected with air pipes 4 and 4a with rectangular outlet cross-section to form a protective air curtain with required width and thickness. Pumps 3 and 3a are mounted by the frames 8, 8a to the headset, which provides secure fixation of the device at the user's 6 head. Air pipes 4 and 4a are attached in such a way that their axes are intersected at some angle to each other (for example, 90°) to avoid opposing interference with each other. In this case at the streams' intersection region the resultant airflow will be directed opposite to the person's face and will throw away the captured aerosol particles. Anatomical features of user's 6 face (which is convex in a horizontal section plane) contribute to the easy implementation of the necessary intersection angle. Also the pumps 3 and 3a are cable connected to a power source with a turn on/off switch (are not shown on FIG. 2) which may be held in the pocket of the dress or in any other convenient place for the user 6.

Said device is sucking surrounding air (as shown on the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 by the arrows K) into round inlet holes of the pumps 3 and 3a, and there is no preliminary air purification. Using air pipes 4 and 4a, the protective air streams 2 are formed in the directions, shown by arrows N on the FIG. 2, on this way the air streams 2 deflect aerosol particles flying in the direction of entrance openings of the nostrils and mouth. Thus the air pipes 4 and 4a are directed relative the face of user 6 so, that air streams 2 pass beyond (do not cross and do not touch) the plane of the nostrils and the mouth inlet holes. It prevents inhalation of aerosol particles carried by the air streams 2, aerosols are present here due to streams formation in the pumps 3, 3a without preliminary purification.

On the FIG. 3 it is shown another version of the proposed protective device, which is fixed on the head of the user 6 and is forming the air curtain perpendicular to the mouth line 10 from top to down. Pumps 3 and 3a with necessary parameters (in this case it is also possible to use centrifugal DC fans) are tightly connected to the air pipe 7 having in cross-sectional view a form of a circle arch with a width, sufficient for simultaneous protection of eyes, nostrils and the mouth (similar to protective plastic helmet guard of ice hockey player). The thickness and the speed of the air curtain formed should be sufficient for performance of protective functions, as was analyzed in equations (1-6). The cross-section of the air pipe 7 closer to the outlet may have the rounded corners for reduction of turbulence of the formed air stream 2. The pumps 3, 3a and the air pipe 7 are attached to a head tape 9 which provides reliable fixation of the device on the user's 6 head or on the headdress (is not shown on the drawing). Pumps 3 and 3a are connected through a cable to a power supply source with the on/off switch (not shown on the drawing) which can be held in a pocket of clothes or in any other place, convenient for the user 6.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The proposed method and the device are designed to prevent harmful aerosols (bacteria, viruses, allergens in various forms, including liquid drops, as well as various kinds of dust) penetration into the human respiratory system, including the upper respiratory ways, as well as in the eyes and on the skin of the face.

Claims

1. A method for protecting breathing organs and eyes from aerosols, comprising the steps of:

(a) air streams in the form of air curtain are created before protected sites of the face, including, simultaneously or separately, nostrils, mouth and eyes;

(b) said air streams are formed without preliminary purification;

(c) said air streams are directed in such a way that the lines of air flow are not crossing the inlet planes of protected facial openings and are deflecting the aerosol particles away from these openings;

(d) configuration of said air streams are chosen in such a way that any vector, carried out from any point of surrounding space through the air to the plane of protected facial opening, is crossed by, at least, one of said air streams;

(e) speed and cross-section of each said air stream are chosen in such a way that the acceleration acquired by aerosol particles, getting into any said stream from surrounding space, is sufficient for their deflection from protected facial openings.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said air streams are directed parallel the line of the lips in the direction from the cheeks to the nose.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said air streams are directed perpendicular to the mouth line in the direction from top to down.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said air streams are formed by air pumping through the air pipes using compressor with a portable power supply source.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said air streams are formed by air sucking from the area before said facial openings through the air pipes using suction pump with a portable power supply source.

6. The method of claims 4-5 wherein said air pipes are mounted on a spectacle frame.

7. The method of claims 4-5 wherein said air pipes are mounted on a headset frame.

8. The method of claims 4-5 wherein said air pipes are mounted on a clothes.

9. The method of claims 4-5 wherein said air pipes are mounted on a headdress.

10. A device for protecting breathing organs and eyes from aerosol, comprising

(a) means of fastening of the said device relative to the face of user;

(b) at least, one pump with the portable power supply source;

(c) air pipes connected to the pumps and made with the possibility of air streams generation in the form of air curtain before protected facial openings, including, simultaneously or separately, nostrils, mouth and eyes;

(d) said pumps are made with the possibility of said air streams formation directly from the surrounding air;

(e) outlets of said air pipes are directed relative to user face in such a way, that flow lines of said air curtain don't cross the plane of protected facial inlet openings;

(f) configuration of said air streams is chosen in such a way, that any vector, carried out from any point in surrounding space through the air to the plane of protected inlet facial opening, is crossing, at least, one of said streams;

(g) a cross-section and a speed of said air streams are chosen so, that the acceleration acquired by aerosol particles, getting into any of said air stream from surrounding space, is enough for their deflection from the protected facial openings of the user.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said pumps are the vacuum devices for air sucking.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein said pumps are the compressors for the pressurizing of the surrounding air.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein it has an axial fan as the compressor.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein it has a centrifugal fan as the compressor.

15. The device of claims 11-14 wherein said air pipes are mounted in such a way that said air streams are directed parallel to the line of lips in the direction from cheeks to nose.

16. The device of claims 11-14 wherein said air pipes are mounted in such a way that said air streams are directed perpendicular to the mouth line in the direction from top to bottom.

17. The device of claims 11-14 wherein said air pipes are mounted on a spectacle frame.

18. The device of claims 11-14 wherein said air pipes are mounted on a headset frame.

19. The device of claims 11-14 wherein said air pipes are mounted on a collar of clothes or at a headdress.

20. The device of claims 11-14 wherein one or several sensors of airflow speed are mounted on said air pipes for automatic control of airflow speed in each air stream of said air curtain and for the enhanced interception of aerosol particles, when the velocity of the incident air with aerosols is increased.