In 2020-2021 I designed an adapter to connect a gasmask tube onto a Trellchem/Alphatec suit. I have made several designs and the latest one is presented here. The adapter screws in the existing vent hole of the suit. It uses a checkvalve and an o-ring so that when you unscrew the gasmask tube the vaccuum effects lasts a bit more.
Downloads below at the end of this post.
You will need to print the adapter part and the nut part. Then you will need a 30mm o-ring with 1.5mm diameter and a “3M 383 valve” both you can easily find online.
Example of the valve after vaccuuming on a test subject.Example of the valve during use on a test subject. Restraints help ensure the test subject does not remove the tube at any time.
I had the sudden idea of making myself gear related cookie cutters after Gearblast. It was probably a way to fight for the Post-Gearblast Depression Syndrome (PGSD). It is actually really simple, I opened up Solidworks, loaded a logo picture I wanted to represent and followed the shape to give it a 3D life.
Then I printed these shapes on my 3D printer and it was soon time to cut little pieces of biscuits !
Et voià, bon appétit !
For those who want to make little Gearblast cookies and little Dainese cookies, here is the download link for the STL files :
It is very interesting to feel an airtight suit or a drysuit close to the body with a vaccuum effect. Some people use a vaccuum cleaner but what I find fun is to use a tube connected to the air intake of a gasmask. While your breathe wearing the suit, you gradually pump the air inside naturally.
To be able to connect to the Trellchem a standard gasmask tube, I need an adapter. By standard I mean a tube with connectors following the STANAG 4155 standard (also called 40mm NATO Thread). The trellchem has an air exhaust port that is fastened into a 25mm hole. I designed an adapter to replace it.
Trellchem exhaust port with washer and nut.
Version 1
My design in SolidWorksMy tube adapter vs the original exhaust port.
Version 2
This adapter worked fine, but eventually when I disconnect the tube, all the air comes back in the suit at once. I designed a second adapter with a checkvalve so that the suits stays airtight.
New design using a 30mm rubber disc as checkvalveNew valve ready to 3D print viewed in a slicer softwareAir is kept inside while the tube is disconnected from the suit
I dreamed for years to own a chemical protection suit. I remember I did try one in 2012, a level A suit by Auer.
Auer Level A full encapsulation suit (2012)
At different occasions in 2019, I played with people wearing Trellchem suits. I was not wearing them myself but damn I enjoyed touching and smelling them ! So I decided I needed to get one…
Trellchem suits
Sourcing a Trellchem suit is not that easy. It’s a very narrowly used product. Don’t expect to find new ones in a store somewhere or listed online for sale.
Ansell bought Trelleborg, the former manufacturer of Trellchem in May 2012 (source : ansell annual report 2013). In October 2018, they communicated that Trellchem products will now be called AlphaTec Products. This made it hard for my reseach because some websites are not updated and resellers are hard to find wih the name AlphaTec (AlphaTec is a leading glove manufacturing brand of Ansell)
I found a way to source used suits. A friend of mine pointed me a seller from India on Ebay selling used suits. I was careful and closely inspected pics from the seller to pick one in good condition. I found one almost new and in a good state.
Gear delivery
As soon as I received my suit, I put it on…
Gear up and breathe inside the suit 😉Suit is in a good state, glove joints are greased, gloves are powderedBoots are CLEANManufacturing date is 2016, this is quite recent for a used productThe suit in full
