III–E–11

This breather is a substitute or simplified oxygen breather which is used in conjunction with a gas mask and drum type canister when a contaminated atmosphere becomes in oxygen or when the gas mask canister breaks down.

There are no identification markings except those on the oxygen bottle, namely: "Sauerstoff".

The apparatus consists of the following main parts:

The oxygen cylinder is decribed in detail under item III–E–7. The black web carrying strap is secured to the oxygen cylinder by passing through a metal leop which is secured to the latter by means of a thin metal band tightened around the cylinder. The operating handle on the feed valve operates very easily; it cone lecked by means of a thin lead wire and lead seal. The connecting hose is an ordinary thin wall black rubber tube, 0.5 inches in outer diameter and 26 inches long; it is secured to the adapter and valve by means of glue and cord.

The rubber tube is connected to the bottom of the adapter which is a shallow green painted metal cup, 4.2 inches in diameter and one inch deep. The bottom is sligthly con-cave and is fitted in the center with a standard mica plate-type inlet valve. A black rub-ber fitting band is fastened about the metal adapter by means of a thin metal strip similar to the one used on the oxygen cylinder. The rubber fitting band projects 1.3 inches from the adapter and has two internal ridges to help make a tight fit on a standard drum type canister. The metal part of the adapter also has an internal ridge to prevent the canister from being pushed in too far and damaging the inlet valve.

This auxillary breather increases the oxygen concentration in inhaled contaminated atmosphere. If the concentration is too high, with the result that the gas mask canister begins to break down, it is a very simple matter to cover the inlet valve of the adapter with one's hand and thereby convert the apparatus to a closed oxygen breather set. This apparatus might be aspecially useful in protection against carbon monoxide and may be used in conjunction with the COFE 39 canister, item III–B–12.

III–E–11