Firehawk SCBA Filter Adapter

thingiverse

I received an urgent request from a fire department for an SCBA Filter, which is crucial emergency PPE that allows the SCBA mask to be used as personal protective equipment against COVID-19 or other pathogens. Luckily, my local fire department was kind enough to bring over a mask, although unfortunately it wasn't the correct one. I decided to create the filter anyway. This adapter is specifically designed for use with a Firehawk regulator. The mask I was testing was an MSA Ultra Elite, and since it had a Firehawk adapter screwed in, I discovered that the threads on the mask are identical to those of a Soviet GP-5 mask (which I happened to have as a costume piece a few years ago). To use these threads, you need to remove two screws and take out the existing adapter. I'm sure the FD doesn't want to lose the ability to quickly use their SCBA's, so the filter is specifically tailored for the Firehawk regulator. It's designed to utilize the original O-Ring, although I can redesign it to accommodate a standard O-Ring if needed. I've set the tolerances on the threads slightly loose to make 3D printing easier. The intention is to place filter material inside the cover and use the insert if necessary to hold it in place (the insert can be made with a square cutout for easier filter creation). Then, simply screw the filter onto the adapter. There are ribs on the cover and two ribs on the adapter that provide a secure grip. The original O-Ring does an excellent job of keeping the adapter firmly attached to the mask. I also created a version with tabs to lock onto the adapter, but it seems unnecessary. The design could benefit from further refinement to eliminate any unneeded space for faster printing and lighter weight. If this is something that fire departments need, I'll continue working on it. If anyone has other masks or adapters they'd like me to adapt, please feel free to send them my way. If you're a fire department interested in having these printed, don't hesitate to contact me. I'm grateful to the Skokie Fire Department (Illinois) for lending me the mask that made this project possible.