CBW Low Profile Man-Mounted Filter And Blower Unit

There is an increasing threat of chemical and biological (CB) agents being used by hostile forces when USN aircrew could be exposed. Aircrews must wear special eye and respiratory protective equipment both before. During, and after flight operations, and transition between these states without compromising CB Protectionintegrity. Man-mounted CBW filter/blower units have previously been produced and integrated with the aircrew flight ensemble. However, they are typically bulky and protrude from the front of the aircrew overvest, making it difficult to maneuver the cockpit, and creating a potential snagging hazard for flight controls and during mergency egress. The proposed work addresses these concerns. The unit developed will have a low profile, and be integrated with aircrew's flight ensemble so that the nuisance and safety hazards are eliminated. It will do so while providing the same level of protection as the current units. Phase I will address the individual technologies required to develop the new filter/blower unit; state-of-the-art review, tradeoff analysis, and system design will indicate the best solution. In Phase II, the blower will be manufactured for testing.