EP1713545A1

EP1713545A1 - Method and plant for treating, parking and managing adsorption filtersand the supply thereof with assisted or free ventilation protective respirators

Info

Publication number: EP1713545A1
Application number: EP05717544A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rolland Marais; Gilles Marais
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-03
Filing date: 2005-02-03
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Also published as: WO2005082461A1; FR2865655B1; FR2865655A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a plant (40) and a method for treating adsorption filters, managing the supply thereof with assisted- or free-ventilation protective respirators (1) comprising stations (44a, ), where the filters (2a,..) identified for retro blowing (52a, ) by gaseous fluid (43) are parked and storage compartments (41.1, ) for said respirators (1) identified (21) for recharging (57.1). Said plant is also provided with reading means (50) at the station (51a, ) and the compartments (51d,..) of said identifiers (52a, ) and (21). The presence of the filters on the seats and the identification thereof are detected and actuated by an appropriated connection controlling a retro-blower. Reading means (51c, ) of an identifier of users (52c) on reading means (50) actuates (59) the opening of doors (46). The plant (40) is also provided with means for displaying the state of the filters (55a, ) and information (49) of the users. Said plants (40) operate within a network (71.0) and are controlled by computer programs introduced in a server (71) which control said method and plants.

Description

Method and station for treatment, parking, management of adsorption filters and their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted or free ventilation. Field of the invention:

The method and the device for regeneration treatment, parking, management of adsorption filters, associated with respiratory protection devices with assisted or free ventilation, objects of the present invention, are applicable in all areas of respiratory protection requiring a very high level of mastery of the use and management of such filters and devices, for the preservation of the health of people against any attack of substances for which there are such filters. These areas are all those where the ambient air carries dangerous molecules or substances such as: industries manufacturing or implementing or using such molecules or substances, whether these industries are in a normal or degraded mode of operation or in situation of crisis. Such a method implemented on such a device allows the multiple use of such filters under safe conditions, the continuous and controlled evaluation of such uses of the filters and advantageously of respiratory protection devices, assisted or not, with which they are associated, a significant saving of resources and better efficiency, compared to any other more conventional comparable solution.

State of the Art Respiratory Protection Devices (RPDs) based on the use of adsorption filters are in common use against the risks linked to chemical substances. The effectiveness of the adsorption filters used varies according to many parameters, the main ones generally accepted of which are known to those skilled in the art, in particular: - the nature of the substances encountered and their physicochemical properties, - the nature of the adsorbent used: specific surface or microporous volume, pore diameter, acidity or basicity, behavior towards water vapor, humidity and air temperature, - the risk of interference between substances which can cause selective adsorption and desorption, the case of water vapor is a particular example. This multiplicity of parameters, the multiplicity of exposure situations or possible applications in the field, make it difficult to use and control such adsorption filters in respiratory protection. The guarantees offered by such filters have however progressed through the implementation by manufacturers of standardized tests. These tests indicate the general uses of these filters and their compliance with minimum performance and efficiency requirements. However, these tests are carried out under specific conditions, most often very far from the reality of exposure situations or operating conditions encountered in the field. This way of operating the adsorption filters has many drawbacks, all of which are juxtaposed, by the effect of a stated precautionary principle: manufacturers introduce safety factors in their recommendations, safety managers, confronted with their responsibility, hesitate to prescribe them for respiratory protection in exposure or work situations, users still use them and at best throw them away after a single use, but is it really the best? Or at worst after a time of variable use rarely mastered. Some referent organizations, for example INRS in France, have analyzed and set the limits of respiratory protection based on the use of filters, but have, in progress or in project, the realization of different studies in order to improve knowledge of the behavior and performance of filters, especially in real exposure situations. It is indeed very common in industrial chemical processes to be confronted with a risk of exposure to mixtures of substances, by nature variable, whose effects are not taken into account in standardized tests. Such studies and their conclusions will certainly improve practical knowledge on the behavior of adsorption filters employing adsorbents, yet known and commonly applied in fields such as industrial gas purification, gas sampling and l of pollutants. Paradoxically, such studies, certainly comparable to those carried out on the basis of the present invention and described below, will not simplify the implementation of such filters for a prescriber. A better understanding of the complexity of the cases to be treated, associated with an increasingly asserted precautionary principle, will not go either in the direction of operational facilitation of the use of such filters in respiratory protection, facilitation which is one of the objectives of the present invention. The current state of the art, according to the recommendations of suppliers and standards, indicates that in cases of multiple use and outside periods of use filters must be stored away from any pollution. Most often this storage is carried out in a sealed container or with means for closing off such filters. Such storage recommendations presuppose compliance with a principle of conservation and stability of the substances absorbed on such filters. In fact, experience shows the opposite and such conditions are never fully respected, only the filters fixing the substances by an appropriate and irreversible chemical reaction will have satisfactory behavior under such conditions. For all other types of filter, the existence of physical equilibria between the substances adsorbed on the support and the gas phase above such a support, associated with the presence of nearby unsaturated adsorbent sites, that more or less less quickly the substances will diffuse throughout the mass of such a support, even without any scanning. This phenomenon will be all the more important and marked as the substances, or mixtures of substances, will have a low boiling point. Thus, even if it is very far from the capacity limit of a filter and after a certain storage time, substances will be present at the outlet of such a filter and inhaled from the next use, by the same user or a different user. This behavior is at the origin of the recommendation of single use of the AX type filters recommended for substances with low boiling points, although paradoxically these filters are very effective, by the nature and the quantity of the adsorbent used. .

There is now a solution to such a problem and a means to use in a safe and totally controlled manner such adsorption filters with respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation (APRVA) designed for this purpose. effect, particularly in complex exposure cases as mentioned above, a characteristic example of which is described below in Figure 1, or when a prior assessment of exposure or work situations cannot be made, or when the prior testing of such filters in simulated exposure situations cannot be carried out on a test bench (fig. 2). In the state of the art and current ordinary usage practices, millions of filters are consumed each year worldwide and are considered after use as special industrial waste which must be destroyed, most often by simple incineration, or recycled with recovery and treatment of the support. It is more likely that in a large number of cases the destroyed filters are not worn or very far from having reached their limit of adsorption capacity and that they could still be used without the drawbacks described and demonstrated below. in Figure 1. Such usage practices also have a negative environmental and economic impact. Each year thousands of tonnes of different plant species are taken from the wild and transformed into activated carbon after at least one heat treatment of gentle / gentle combustion / oxidation necessarily generating carbon dioxide emissions, each year thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide are emitted to the atmosphere by the incineration of such filters treated as waste. In addition to the environmental aspects, the economic aspect is to be considered because the cost of recovering such filters is even higher in the case of recycling with reprocessing of the support, after separation of the filter housings and elimination of the latter as waste. In the state of the art and current ordinary use practices the problems posed by the use, control, control, management of such filters and their intermediate storage outside of their uses, that of verification of the proper use of such filters and advantageously of the devices with which they are associated, that of the life cycle of such filters and of the environmental and economic impacts linked to their use and their destruction as special waste, remain valid. There does not exist in the current state of the known art of respiratory protection a method and a device carrying out in an appropriate manner a treatment or a conditioning of the adsorption filters during their period of non-use in order to guarantee the complete absence of substance at the outlet of such filters at as and when they are used repeatedly until the optimum usage time limit, predetermined or observed for use, is reached, requiring replacement. Concerning the necessary prior identification (ID) function of such filters, or of any other object in general, numerous documents and patents describe methods or devices implementing contactless RF-ID technology and the implementation of labels as identifier (ID) of all kinds of objects, for example: Document FR 2 817 684 deals with a complex case of simultaneous identification of numerous objects very close together and arranged in the same area, by a combination of activatable antennas arranged according to a matrix, they themselves located inside a large antenna, all associated with a particular computer processing. The document FR2812429 deals with a particular case of identification of a gas cylinder by means of an electronic label placed on the cylinder. This label is read by a device combining several antennas coupled and arranged in different ways on a fixed support, adapted to the storage function of these bottles. The purpose is to record on these labels data essentially necessary for the commercial and regulatory management of the bottles, in connection with a computer application of the database type. In general, the devices proposed as in the aforementioned documents are intended to resolve complex cases, due in large part to the degree of freedom that the provision of an ID tag can have on all kinds of objects with respect to means. fixed reading, or due to the possible simultaneous presence of many ID objects in the sensitivity zone of the same reading means. Certain documents deal with the case of identification by different means of personal protective equipment (PPE) essentially for the regulatory management of such PPE. The document DE19916476 deals with a comparable case of integration of tracking memories incorporated in each element making up a respiratory protection. The integration of such memories is carried out by physical incorporation into the material in the manufacture of the components of such APRs. According to inventors, these memories have for objective an administrative and / or regulatory management of the material, a control of the adequacy of the materials for their uses and between them. Such memories are read and used during the access control of these materials in an area of use, through an access portal comprising means for reading such memories. Such a device could be used to count the time spent by a PRA in a risk zone, assimilate it to the time of use, compare it to the total time of use authorized and refuse new access to such a zone. risk if such a usage time limit is exceeded. However, such a device has several drawbacks for these checks, in particular: it does not take into account variations in composition and concentration of substances likely to be encountered having a direct effect on the reduction of the duration of use of the filters, it does not take into account the real dynamic behavior specific to each substance on such filters which can decrease even more such a duration, it does not solve or improve the problem posed concerning the storage of the filters, between each use, in the case of 'multiple use, with the aforementioned drawbacks.

There is therefore an important need in all the aforementioned fields to be able to fully use adsorption filters in respiratory protection, which are effective, particularly suited to the reality of the situations encountered in industrial hygiene and more easy to use. It is also necessary for any manager, beyond their obligations of means, to show that the protections made available to their staff are effective, controlled and under control, and that this efficiency translates into results. There is, as a corollary and in addition, the need for any responsible employer to set up the organizations necessary to enforce the effective wearing of the respiratory protection means that he makes available to his staff. There is, as a corollary, an important need for any responsible employer to be able to easily master and control the management of these respiratory protection means and their uses. There is, as a corollary, the need for any responsible employer to prove that the processes and organizations that he sets up are regularly evaluated, remain under control and are corrected. There is, as a corollary, the concern for any responsible and citizen organization to manage natural resources as well as possible and to limit the impact due to its activities on the environment.

Description of the invention: The object of the present invention is to remedy the majority of the aforementioned drawbacks. Any solution proposed necessarily requires an exact knowledge of the behavior of substances on such filters. This knowledge largely refers to the adsorption phenomena known in the art, but must however be experimentally verified under real dynamic conditions, or simulated, taking into account the multiplicity and complexity of the cases encountered in respiratory protection; the typical example of real experimental verification described below in figure 1 can be generalized to many complex cases. A method is proposed making it possible to acquire this experimental knowledge on a test bench, by a simulation of exposure situations faithfully intersecting real situations, allowing the study of the mode of operation of such filters and its consequences. Such a method implemented on such a test bench is described below in FIG. 2. The subject of the present invention is a process implemented inseparably from a device, which will be designated by the name of "Station" in the remainder of this description, performing operations: processing, parking adsorption filters, managing their provision with respiratory protection devices with which they are associated, preferably of the APRVA or APRVL type, allowing total control of the treatment of such adsorption filters preferentially, or filters in general, total control of their access and their uses, advantageously the control of respiratory protection means with assisted or free ventilation using such filters, management of the self-service use of the protection means thus made available, individual management the effective wearing of the protection means thus made available, characterized in that it is controlled by means computer programs and computer programs comprising such management, control and supervision functions of such a method and device.

According to the method of the invention, the filters are subjected to reverse scanning or back-scanning by a flow of treatment gaseous fluid circulating against the current of the normal direction of circulation of the breathed air, when using the protective devices. In the present description, the example described of a preferred embodiment of a Station according to the invention, includes all the means or devices allowing the classification of such a Station for use in areas presenting a risk of presence possible flammable or explosive substances. In the present invention, such a treatment method applied to adsorption filters during their period of non-use and parking on such a Station, allows them to be maintained at optimal conditions of efficiency and made available under safe conditions. In the present invention, the method of treatment of filters implemented on such a Station as well as the control of access to such filters and to the associated respiratory protection devices, use the same unique identification means (ID) of each filter and device, of each user or prescriber, for example a label comprising such an identification means incorporated in its manufacture and using RF-ID technology, in principle known to those skilled in the art. Such an identifier (ID) is in common use and has been advantageously used to illustrate the principle of the method. Such a label codified unequivocally in its manufacture does not need to be programmed or modified for the sole identification function, although comprising a rewritable memory area which offers only little interest in the case of filters. which are by nature perishable objects. Such a label is simply read by appropriate reading means supplied with and its identification code recorded in the method and the device, object of the present invention. Such labels are, in the state of the art, consumables in common use in many applications for functions of identification or tracing of objects. Such a label is simply attached to a particular location of the filters before they are made available on such a Station, whatever the type or shape of the filter without it being necessary to modify the manufacture of such filters, so that they are registered on the same Station and associated with each other for their uses, for example paired in an example of preferred embodiment variant described, and that the processing of the combination of filters thus formed can be controlled and managed on the same workstation. a station. Such a label belongs to the method and device which is the subject of the present invention and is an integral part thereof, such a label can be reused after assigning its ID to a new filter in a database, in this case the data of a previous filter linked to this ID, filter necessarily removed to be proposed for destruction, are no longer useful and are deleted, or are archived, in the databases. Such an identifier (ID) could be integrated into the manufacture of filters as has been proposed for example in certain documents of the prior art, but in a captive manner to a proposed solution. For this integration to be advantageously applicable in the process of the present invention, it would be necessary for all the manufacturers to adopt standards for the identification and construction of filters common to their entire profession, allowing the reading of such an ID by a method and a unique means which could then replace that adopted in the present invention. The necessarily standardized integration of such an identifier (ID) in the construction of such filters would not constitute a modification or an improvement of the process, in which the ID function in principle is part of the state of the art. The treatment process consists of a reverse sweep known as “back sweeping” of the filter with a flow of treatment gaseous fluid, carried out at determined flow rates, at atmospheric pressure and at ambient temperature or at a higher temperature obtained by suitable means of reheating. Such a gaseous treatment fluid can be: for example nitrogen originating from the distillation of air, nitrogen contains neither water nor chemical substance, generally available in a network on most large industrial sites, or for example l compressed air, the humidity of which is controlled by an appropriate means, for example by passing over activated alumina which is a commonly used industrial solution or if ambient air is directly used, for example by a process of the "air conditioning" type removing by cooling and condensation part of the humidity contained in the air, followed by reheating to a controlled temperature of this air, or even for example humid air compressed at a pressure and a temperature such that, after separation of the condensed water, said humidity in the air can be controlled to an appropriate value. In all cases, whatever the gaseous treatment fluid, such reheating would notably accelerate the back sweeping of the adsorbed substances. Such heating must be limited in temperature to avoid excessive thermal expansion which would have a negative effect on the settling of the adsorbent, creating preferred gas flow paths. Such reheating would displace the equilibria of the residual water vapor on the adsorbent after such treatment and would make it possible to control the risk of progressive accumulation of water on the adsorbent and to maintain optimal filter efficiency over the period of maximum availability allowed. This air must necessarily be taken from an unpolluted area, which can present certain difficulties in an industrial environment. In all cases of use of air, it is useful to control its quality by adding a substance detector (s), or any other equivalent means, to prevent accidental pollution of the filters. This detection can be carried out by an independent device (s) or integrated into a Station, without this constituting a modification or an improvement of the present invention. This detection can be treated as internal or external data on a Station, as the case may be, and must usefully control the stopping of the process air flow to prevent any pollution of the filters. The use of air as a gaseous treatment fluid involves additional checks and precautions which are known to those skilled in the art and are not described in the present description. The risks mentioned above linked to the use of air are certainly at the origin of a ban on any regeneration treatment with air appearing in most of the instructions of the manufacturers of adsorption filters. The objective reasons for such a ban are technically questionable in the light of scientific reality, but are certainly based on the operational impossibility in the current state of the art of properly mastering such a regeneration treatment for such filters, which is however commonly regenerated. practiced in industrial processes using the same type of adsorbent for gas purification or treatment, the subject of numerous publications, in which the adsorption purification phase is generally carried out around room temperature or as low as possible and at a pressure generally as high as possible, and in which the regeneration phase by desorption is generally done at a much higher temperature and a lower pressure, ideally atmospheric pressure, by a co-current or advantageously against the current sweep. This regeneration most often involves a first phase of treatment with water vapor which performs a dual function: carrier vector gas and heat transfer gas, followed by a second phase of scanning and cooling with air. In the method according to the invention, such a treatment comprises two different and complementary phases implemented on a Station designed and produced to behave in such a way: the first is an active phase during which a large flow of said gaseous fluid is sent to the filter for a predetermined time, against the flow of the normal direction of use to back sweep the substances absorbed during the period of use in respiratory protection; such a first phase is carried out under the conditions of normal atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature or, more advantageously, at a higher temperature obtained by said controlled heating of said gaseous back-flushing fluid, between ambient temperature and 60 ° C. or more high according to the structure of the filter bodies, for example 100 ° C., so as not to cause a packing of the absorbent liable to cause a reduction in its performance; the second phase maintains, after the first and always against the current, a slight flow of said gaseous fluid, until a new use of the filter; - Such a second phase is carried out at atmospheric pressure and at ambient temperature. Such a second phase maintaining such a slight permanent flow meets at least several objectives: o avoid the phenomena of migration / diffusion of traces of residual substances towards the outlet of the filter during their period of non-use, phenomenon encountered in conventional conservation with sealing or storage in sealed packaging, as will be shown in the example of fig.1 below, o maintain the adsorbent in ideal and controlled humidity conditions o ensure storage of the filter without any risk of adsorption of substances from the outside atmosphere, o allow to control the setting or optional resetting of a means of measuring the concentrations of substances in the air at the outlet of such filters before each use and immediately after the commissioning of new filters or the putting back into service of such filters thus treated , on a respirator preferably with assisted ventilation (APRVA), or free (APRVL), which would be equipped with such a means of measurement, or any other means of e measurement of substance independent of a respiratory protection device.

The method uses the identification (ID) of each filter, advantageously of each APRVA or APRVL, ID read by a reader of the networked device, on the date of commissioning or on the first pass on a Station for their recording, or at each return to a Station for: verification of membership in a Station concerned, treatment, management of this treatment and management of uses. This verification conditions the acceptance or rejection of filters, advantageously APRVA or APRVL, on a Station, whatever the reason: limit of use period exceeded, pairing of filters not respected with request for destruction, unauthorized use on the Station, or any other useful function for controlling such a Station. In the case of the example of preferred embodiment described and for APRVAs equipped with two filters, these two filters are definitively associated with the first pass or recording on a Station, their processing and management will be carried out, in parallel in this case , at each exit or return to a Station where they are authorized and to the same treatment station. In such a process, each user authorized to wear these respiratory protection devices, or to prescribe the wearing thereof, has the same personal identification means (ID). This means may be that specific to the process and to the device and be superimposed on another used in a preexisting organization, or be that of the preexisting organization after adaptation as a means of identification (ID) to the device of the present invention. Users or prescribers are identified and registered in the process by a designated area manager, using an RF-ID reader of the same type as the one installed on a Station, attached to an IT workstation accessible to the manager. The flow rates of such a gaseous treatment fluid on the adsorption filters are controlled by a time delay preset specifically for each Station or for each station of the same Station, depending on its location area, the type of filters used (ID), of the substances concerned and advantageously of the conditions of use known in the field. Such a time delay could be adapted to the actual usage time of such filters, assimilated by default to the duration during which such a filter will have been outside the Station, for example by saving process gas in the case of l 'Nitrogen. The present invention also includes computer means for compiling the information, data, states, originating from each station, each filter, advantageously each APRVA or APRVL and each user or prescriber, transmitted through a communication interface by an internal network to a company. , to be compiled and processed continuously by computer programs installed on a server of the process and the device thus formed. The present invention allows a permanent audit and evaluation of the use of filters. It also allows a continuous audit and evaluation: of the effective wearing of respiratory protection by wearers identified in the process, of the effective prescription of the wearing of these protections, to occasional wearers, by contractors identified in the process . The present invention therefore allows the supervision and the keeping under control, of the processing, of the provision of the adsorption filters, advantageously of each APRVA or APRVL, by the computer processing of the information and data coming from each Station, ensuring permanent audit and evaluation functions of the organization and efficiency of the process and of the system thus constituted. For example, it is possible to check, through the provision of IT reports, the effective use of filters, advantageously and preferably APRVA, or APRVL, (dates of use, number of uses, duration of uses , duration of treatment, name of users, current uses, etc.) and the effective wearing of protections by operators deemed to have to use them, or the actual making available by principals deemed to have to prescribe and have them worn . In all cases, the identification of users is requested by the process to access the Station with controlled opening of the doors subject to this identification. The data linked to the output and return of the filters, advantageously and preferentially APRVA, or APRVL, on the Station are kept in the process and the IT means for the individual allocation of the duration of the wearing of the protection, by default and by motivating measure, to the user who will have returned the filters and the APRVA, or APRVL. Any abnormal access, for example manual opening of doors always possible without identification, is interpreted as a defect in the access procedure which is at least transmitted to the person in charge of the zone concerned. The present invention therefore allows, in self-service, the organization and the use under control of these protections by operators or prescribing principals, in a perimeter where the risks are known or have been evaluated. The present invention allows the same filter to be reused a large number of times while retaining optimum efficiency. At the same time, it decreases the number of filters consumed and saves the natural resources taken to make such filters, the number of filters to destroy or recycle with a reduction in environmental impacts directly in proportion to such a reduction. This reduction in environmental impacts is done at constant incidence concerning the quantity of substances emitted to the atmosphere, such a process of such treatment only returning to the atmosphere the quantity adsorbed on the filter which would have been, anyway , issued without the use of a filter. The factor of reduction of environmental impact on this aspect is originally located in the situation encountered during the use of protection and not on such treatment of filters. Only said gaseous treatment fluid is consumed for such a treatment with a consumable cost which remains very much lower in all cases than the purchase cost of a filter and an overall cost of disposal or recycling exactly reduced in the proportion of the consumption of the filters L ' The invention will be better understood with the aid of the appended figures which make it possible to understand the foundations and the operating principles thereof, descriptions relating to a currently preferred embodiment and some examples of possible variants. The proposed method is implemented in an interdependent and inseparable manner from a computerized and controlled device, called Station in the present invention. On all descriptions or figures, the functionally or physically identical parts have the same root and or the same location number. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the currently preferred embodiment and the material means described or shown, nor to the number of filters which would be treated with a comparable method implemented on a comparable device.

Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating an example of APRVA of the state of the art modified by the addition of two recording detectors in efficiency tests and real behavior of the filters to show the limits of the control of such filters in the state of the art and current uses. Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a bench for tests in simulated exposure situations made from pure substances, and its main parts. FIG. 3 shows an example of the resolution curves of the substance concerned in the test described in FIG. 2 on such a test bench in simulated situations, for average concentrations between 2 and 20 times the average exposure value (VME) Figure 4 shows an example of recording the treatment by back-scanning of a filter after simulated or normal use. Figure 5 illustrates a closed Station and its main external parts FIG. 6 represents a Station with open doors and showing access to the compartments of the filters and APRVA preferably, or APRVL (figure of the abstract)

FIG. 7 represents a network of processing and parking stations located in different risk zones showing the general hardware and computer architecture, the server part implementing such a method, computer stations of zone administrators.

FIG. 8 is a schematic and technical view allowing the description of the process, the understanding of the operation of such a processing and parking station and its links with the computer means installed on a network server implementing such a process. .

FIG. 9 shows the detail of the seal leak-tightness detector, clamping force limiter, presence detector and trigger for reading the ID, of a filter.

FIG. 10 is a view of a screen showing the operating states of a Station displayed in supervision mode in the process, from any computer on the authorized network.

FIG. 11 is a view of a screen showing the management functionalities in the method of the state of the filters in a determined use area from any computer of the authorized network.

FIG. 12 is a view of a screen showing the recording functionalities in the method of a type of filter for authorizing its use in a determined zone (s), from any network enabled computer.

FIG. 13 is a view of a screen showing the configuration of the conditions and limits of use of the filters in the method for a determined area of use, from any authorized computer of the network.

FIG. 14 is a view of a screen in administrator mode showing the administration functionalities in the process of rights and accesses to the different functionalities and to the different zones implementation of Stations, from any authorized computer on the network.

The following abbreviations are used in the following description, for the sake of brevity:

VME: Average Exposure Value. Regulated or recommended, not to be exceeded in average value for a period of eight hours of work per day and for five days per week.

ELV: Exposure Limit Value, regulated or recommended, not to be exceeded in average value for a period of 15 minutes, and a limited number of times generally between 3 to 5 times for an 8-hour workstation. ppm: part per million part by volume, generally corresponds to cm ³ of gaseous substance per m ³ of air.

APR: respiratory protective device in general, except self-contained breathing apparatus

APRVL: breathing apparatus with free ventilation using filters

APRVA: respiratory protection device with assisted ventilation using filters

Adsorption or sorption: concerns precisely the phenomena of reversible physical equilibria {adsorption desorption} linked to the trapping of substances on a micro-porous support.

Chemistry Adsorption or chemisorption: Generally involves a first step of sorption of substances, which after having been adsorbed (more or less rapid step), is additionally fixed by an appropriate chemical reaction (more or less slow step). In this case, there is no (or little) reversible equilibrium. Unlike the sorption phenomenon, the chemisorption capacity determined in the standardized tests correctly defines all the uses of such filters, usually called "chemical". In this case, and only in this case, the rule of proportionality between the time of use and the concentration, from the data indicated in the standards and the actual conditions of use can be applied quite satisfactorily. Absorption: usual generic term improperly applied in respiratory protection which includes the two above-defined phenomena: adsorption and chemisorption ID: Identifier

HSE: Health and Safety Environment.

RF-ID: Radio Frequency IDentification.

A2: filter recommended for adsorption of substances with high boiling point (A), higher than 65 ° c AXP3: filter recommended for adsorption of substances with low boiling point (AX), lower than 65 ° c, supplemented by a dust filtration (P3). PPE: personal protective equipment in general

FIG. 1 describes one of the real examples tested which suffices to illustrate a complex problem and shows the limits of the control of such filters in the current state of the art. A state-of-the-art APRVA (1) equipped with two AXP3 adsorption filters (2) has been worn for about fifty minutes on a situation known to expose to a mixture of substances of which a small fraction have points of which classify them in the group with a low boiling point <65 ° C. In such a case, the AX filter would be necessary, but on the one hand such a filter does not always benefit from an approval from the supplier for use with an APRVA, and on the other hand the instructions and standards recommend that a such a filter should not be used simultaneously or alternately on substances with low boiling point and substances with high boiling point. The concern for efficiency nevertheless leads a wise prescriber to resort on his own responsibility to the use of this filter because it is precisely more effective: the volume of adsorbent is greater, the specific surface of the adsorbent is at less comparable if not greater than that of a filter of type A2, therefore the absorption efficiency of such a filter would in all cases be of this type greater than that of a filter of type A2 which should be normally used; such an AX filter would provide better protection in such a situation, however still as difficult to master on the question of its duration of use in complex cases of mixtures of substances. The instantaneous and average concentrations of total substances were measured continuously on such an APRVA (1) modified by the addition of two recording detectors, as shown in fig. 1. The average ambient concentration of total substances measured (15b) over the period considered was approximately 300 ppm by volume. The concentration on the air at the outlet of the filters (7), (8) was measured by a first continuous method with a above-mentioned detector (15a) connected (8.1) to a gas circulation cell (17), intersected by a second method with a conventional device for sampling on an activated carbon tube (22.5) placed inside the face piece worn by the user (22) connected to a volumetric gas sampling pump (22.6). This second measurement also takes into account the leak towards the interior of the face piece used. These two methods showed that no trace of substance (<0.1 ppm) had left the filters until the end of the operation and the stopping of such an APRVA after its exit from the zone of exposure. The filters (2) were stored, voluntarily without being obstructed, for two days and without any possible source of pollution. When these filters are put back into service on such a modified APRVA, the concentration at the output of the filters immediately rose to between 5 and 7 ppm and stabilized. It should be noted that if the filters had been sealed according to the recommendations, the situation would not have been less critical, on the contrary. Similarly, if A2 filters had been used, depending on the use and because of the high proportion of substances with high boiling point, this would not have improved the situation, on the contrary; because of their lower volume of activated carbon, the risk of the lighter substances being released more quickly during the same use would have been greater and internal migration during the period of non-use certainly comparable. In addition to such A2 filters, which would only have been used for 50 minutes, since they were not prohibited for multiple uses, could have been reused in the state of the situation described above with certain exposure to substances from the second use, or even during the first use if it had lasted longer. Thus it would be necessary in a large number of state of the art cases, not only to limit the time of use of such filters to the behavior of lighter substances, still it would be necessary to know or know how to predict or measure exactly such behavior in reality, in particular in complex cases like the example described above, but in addition to destroying the filters after a single use in a large number of comparable complex cases, including probably in the case of filters A2 said with multiple uses, by lack of possible mastery of multiple uses. Arguments are thus brought through this single example showing that nothing is properly controlled, or easily controllable in the current state of the art for the management of such filters, in general or particularly in such circumstances, certainly frequent in industry, at least by the complexity of the example described, if not by the level of concentration of substances encountered.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a test bench (30) of such filters, created for this purpose in the laboratory to carry out tests on any substance injected in the pure state or in the form of mixtures on such a bench , with any type of protection device used, since the air flow during the tests is comparable to the average flow of the protection that will be used, Such a bench includes at least one or more of the following devices: - an air drying installation (not shown in fig. 2) - an air flow control device (31), adjusted according to the average flow rate in actual use of the filters - a humidification device for the air (32) having a water capacity, agitated by an appropriate means (37) and heated by an appropriate means (38) to recreate by continuous vaporization, if necessary, humidity conditions comparable to those encountered in real situations d 'exposure. This humidifier allows you to test by comparison, and all other things being equal, the effect of this humidity on the efficiency of the filters used. - A buffer capacity (34) of known suitable volume and agitated by an appropriate means (37), for example about 30 liters corresponding to the volume of air inhaled for about one minute by a person making a normal effort. A recording detector can be there introduced or connected (36) for instantaneous concentration measurements at the inlet of the filter. - devices for introducing (33) known quantities of pure, gaseous or liquid substances, separately or in the form of mixtures, into such a capacity and a bypass system (33.1). - an airlock (35) allowing the filter to be tested to be connected to the capacity in the direction of normal use (35.1) or in the direction of back-sweeping (35.2). - a device for connecting a recording detector (36) after the filter. This prior evaluation is carried out according to a preferred method based on the experience resulting from the process on which the present invention is based. In the privileged example described, such a method is suitable for reproducing at least the extreme and average phases of the real conditions observed and measured in the field. This method takes into account a recommended time limit, approximately one hour is generally accepted as ideal, for the continuous wearing of respiratory protection, this time can be increased to two hours under particularly satisfactory ergonomic conditions. At the end of this period, a rest period must generally be observed, during which the filters can be replaced if necessary or checked. This method directly uses pure substances separately or in the form of mixtures This method introduces safety factors on several aspects, as well as the systematic verification of the reversibility of the adsorption to validate the possibility of treatment outside the periods use. This method is generalizable to all types of filter and to respiratory protection in free ventilation, such a method comprises at least one or more of the following phases: 1) Simulated maximum concentration: it is at least greater than a certain number of times, for example 10 times, the highest peak value recorded, generally for a short time, in an actual work situation, 2) Number of simulated maximum concentration phases: it is set according to the nature of the exposures observed in the field , for example five or six phases of injections over a given period, by example one hour, covers the majority of situations encountered in Industrial Hygiene, the first when the test is started, followed for example by four or five others at more or less regular intervals,

3) Simulated average concentration: the simulated maximum concentration phases are fixed, for example over said given period, so as to give an equivalent average concentration at least equal to a certain number of times, for example 20 times, the Value of the Actual average occupational exposure measured over the given period,

4) Minimum average concentration to be simulated: if a measured actual Average Occupational Exposure Value is lower than a certain number of times, for example 20 times, a Limit Value of the substance tested for a given time, the phases of maximum concentrations will be fixed on said given period, according to such a Limit Value, so as to be at least equivalent on average to a certain number of times such a Limit Value, without ever exceeding the total theoretical capacity available of a filter ,

5) Total duration of the simulation test: it is continued after the phases of maximum simulated concentrations, for example over said given period, and phases 2), 3) or 4), until the appearance of the substance leaving the filter measured as the exit time and / or until the recording of the maximum of the concentration peak measured as the time of resolution of the substance on the filter,

6) Verification of the reversibility of the adsorption: steps 2), 3) or 4), as the case may be, are repeated on a new or regenerated filter, so as to simulate the progress of an operation over said given period. The air flow is maintained for some time, for example ten to fifteen minutes, after the last injection phase. The filter is then placed in the back-sweeping position on the bench and a flow of an appropriate gaseous fluid is maintained, until the filter substance is completely purged: o the purge end time represents in these conditions the time during which an adsorption filter should be treated by back sweeping under the same conditions to be regenerated and that there is no more substance inside, o for mastering such a back-sweep the quantity of substances found, must be comparable to the quantity of substance introduced, 7) The maximum authorized continuous use duration: it is equal to said time of exit of the substance noted in 5), outside any other actual measurement provision of this duration, The results of these tests are used to determine the conditions of use of the adsorption filters, in real exposure situations, in particular: 8) the recommended cumulative duration of use: c ' is time 7), divided by a safety factor which must take into account the maximum authorized release period 9), apart from any other reg processing neration or special of such filters 9) the maximum authorized availability period: period after which a filter must be replaced whether or not it has been used, whether in the case of an individual allocation, or in in the case of collective use, apart from any other regeneration or special treatment provision for such filters.

The results of these tests thus serve to determine most of the operating parameters of the regeneration treatment which will be adopted in the present invention. The results of the tests carried out on such a bench have confirmed several points concerning the adsorption equilibria, very interesting points when they are applied to the control of these filters under real conditions of use, to the analysis of their operation and to the possibility of treatment during their period of non-use: the substance came out completely from the filters if the scanning was continued with a gas, nitrogen or air, dry or humid, co-current with the direction of normal use the substance came out completely and even faster if this scan was done after each use and against the direction of normal use. the filters after total desorption of the substance, regardless of the direction of desorption, regain their characteristics and could be reused a large number of times with the same performance, the exit time can be considered as a constant, for a given substance, on a given support and under given resolution conditions (t °, pressure, gas flow, etc.). The exit time, to a large extent and at least for the concentration values usually measured in Industrial Hygiene, varies little as a function of the quantity of substance absorbed on the filter as shown in FIG. 4. The ratio of concentrations: exit / entry decreases rapidly in relation to the increase in the time of exit and / or resolution of the substances. This phenomenon is due to the gas / adsorbent balances and to the fact that the adsorption filters also behave like real "capacitive attenuators and integrators". This behavior will be all the more verified if they are substances with high boiling points and / or if the filters are used below their limit of adsorption capacity. the extrapolation of this capacitive behavior makes it possible to affirm that if the filters were never replaced (hypothetical situation), or are too late (situation which must certainly be encountered in the state of the art), or are not not treated by the method and the device of the present invention during the periods of non-use and storage in the case of multiple uses, the average concentration at the outlet of the filters will tend towards the average of the concentrations integrated on the filters and usually measured on the corresponding exposure situations, however, the concentration peaks encountered would never be inhaled.

Fig. 3 shows examples of resolution curves of the substance concerned, carried out on a test bench as shown in the example of realization of fig. 2, in simulated situations of exposure by the method described above, at average concentration levels calculated for eight hours of work between 2 and 20 times the VME of the substance, equivalent to 10 to 100 times the ELV of a such substance, that this ELV exists legally or that it is considered in relation to a rule of use. These curves confirm that the exit time of a substance is comparable to a constant little dependent on the average concentration injected, at least for the low concentration values usually measured in Industrial Hygiene. The results obtained on such filters and such a test bench with such a method completely overlap with those established in the majority of actual exposure situations, in particular as regards the determination of the exit times of the substances. In conclusion, knowing the exit time of a substance on an adsorption filter, operating in a range far from its saturation and / or its capacity limit, used continuously under realistic exposure conditions, makes it possible to control the period during which such a filter will be effective for all of its comparable applications in respiratory protection. Knowledge of the operating and malfunctioning modes of such filters is demonstrated through the numerous tests carried out in real situations, such as the example described previously in FIG. 1, or the simulation of such situations, advantageously more extreme situations, on such a test bench as described in fig. 2 with the method described above.

Fig. 4 shows an example of the result of the regeneration treatment by back sweeping of the substance concerned in FIG. 1, carried out on a filter after a test carried out as described in FIG. 2, for an equivalent average concentration equal to ten times the VME of the substance. This back-scanning was carried out on a bench (30), in order to verify the reversibility of the adsorption equilibria of substances in simulated situations and to validate such a treatment of the adsorbent of the filters. The same result is obtained on the back sweep of a filter after an actual exposure situation comparable to that tested and described in FIG. 1, and this all the more advantageously and quickly as such a back sweep will be carried out consecutively. for one use. More generally the same result is obtained on most substances, which is in principle in accordance with knowledge of the behavior of such adsorbents. Figs. 5 and 6 show an example of a treatment station, a parking lot, a management of adsorption filters and their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted or free ventilation, characterized in that it comprises a cabinet (40 ) containing a plurality of stations, that is, on the one hand, a plurality of treatment stations (44a and 44b, 45a and 45b, ...) arranged to allow the connection of the filters to be treated (2a and 2b, ... ) and, on the other hand, a plurality of parking stations (41.1, ...) of such devices, the said station further comprising at least one source of gaseous treatment fluid (43) connected to such treatment stations ( 44a and 44b; 45a and 45b, ...) and means for distribution and delivery, selectively controlled, of this or these gaseous treatment fluids on said treatment stations, in order to perform a back-sweeping of such filters by means of this or these gases. In such an example of a preferred variant, a Station (40) and its components, visible from the outside, are shown in a figuration of closed doors and open doors, designed for example for four APRVA or APRVL and eight paired filter processing stations. More specifically, such a Station comprises a plurality of cabinets supplied with utilities: air (42), a gaseous treatment fluid (43), for example nitrogen or air, electric current (57), a connection to a computer network (71.0), for example three cabinets in the figures described. A first mesh cabinet (44b) containing the parking and treatment stations (44a & 44b,), (45a & 45b), ... on which filters (2a & 2b, ...) are identified (51a & 51b , ...) in the process. Each station has two indicator lights indicating the status of the filters (55a & 55b, ...). A second closed cabinet (40c) comprising electrical, electronic circuits, a communication interface with monitoring and control means (71) of such processing, via a network (71.0) of the Ethernet type for example. This cabinet comprises a reading means, for example an RF-ID reader (50) to which is connected an activatable antenna (51c), allowing the reading of a user identifier (52c), means of display and voice information of a user (49). A third cabinet (40a) comprising lockers or storage compartments (41.1) of the APRVAs used and their recharging (57.1), or of the APRVLs. Each compartment (41.1), in a preferred embodiment, is equipped with a low sensitivity reading antenna identical to said previous antenna (51 d) or, in another possible variant, all of the compartments can be surrounded by a larger internal antenna similarly type, but of greater sensitivity, encompassing all the compartments, such an RF-ID reader (50) being designed to manage the successive readings of several tags located in the sensitivity zone of such an antenna. The reading of the identification labels (21) of the APRVA, or APRVL, in the method is triggered in one or other of the variants, for example at the time of their parking or for example after their putting in the car park when the doors (46) close, for the purpose of verifying the authorized use of such APRVA or APRVL on such a Station. Such a label can advantageously contain, in addition to the ID in such a method and according to the possibilities integrated in such APRVAs, various data written in a memory area during the operation of such APRVAs, for the purpose of reporting usage. and / or checking the operating status of such APRVAs, such as for example: the operating time of such an appliance corresponding to the duration of use of the filters, the concentration of substances determining the actual effectiveness of the filters and their time limit. This cabinet (40a) and the mesh cabinet (40b) are closed by doors (46), the opening of which is controlled automatically, after identification of a user, by electromechanical means (59). In another alternative embodiment of such a Station, the cabinets (40a) and (40b) could be replaced by a single mesh cabinet, integrating the devices and functions of the two cabinets (40a) and (40b), in which would be placed APRVAs fitted with their filters, the assembly being connected by the pipe (8) to a single base (44a) of a treatment station which in this case would only have one and to which such a pipe would be connected in the same way. However, on the one hand such a variant would offer fewer possibilities, in particular on the points of direct control of the filters and their pairing or the impossibility of classification of such a mesh cabinet comprising electrical installations, for its installation in a risk zone for the presence of flammable substance, on the other hand such a device thus constituted could not be used with APRVA comprising valves or valves on the inlet of the filters. FIG. 7 represents the general hardware and computer architecture of a set of Stations connected in a network to a computer architecture implementing such a method. The general hardware and IT architecture of such an arrangement does not use the description of a Station. This arrangement is constituted by a plurality of Stations (40), each operating in a partially autonomous manner from means locally integrated into such Stations. These Stations are connected to a server computer (71), by an internal network to an Ethernet type organization (71.0) or equivalent, implementing such a method. Each Station or computer peripheral connected to the network has its own physical address (IP). Each Station belongs to a workshop and / or a defined protection zone, in which the risks of exposure have been assessed and are known. Each computer station connected to the network, more particularly those responsible for implementing such a process and such a device in a risk area (73), (74) or that of the HSE manager (72), is equipped with a reader, for example RF-ID (71.1, 72.1, 73.1, 74.1, ...) and can access the various functionalities of computer programs, after allocation of rights in databases by an administrator. The zone and / or workshop managers have these readers (73.1), (74.1) to administer the users of their zone and initialize the filters and devices made available in the process on the Stations concerned. The HSE manager's PC also has an RF-ID reader (72.1) for auditing the process and the Stations. The computer programs controlling such operations are installed on computer means and on a server computer implementing the method. Such computer programs are inseparable from the process implemented on Stations, according to the claims. Such programs have been produced to control and manage such a process implemented on such networked Stations, to control all their states, to process and allocate all the data coming from such Stations in the process, to carry out alarm functions, perform information functions by editing or making available computer reports directly on screen or on any appropriate medium, perform supervision functions to materialize and view distance the operation and states of such Stations, and more generally any other function useful for the conduct and control of such a process and device. Such computer programs are not described in the present invention, however, it should be understood that they are inseparable from the process of the present invention. However, any production of computer programs having the same object, that is to say managing a processing of such filters, their use within the framework of such processing and the management of such filters and their accessories within the framework or in parallel with such processing which would be implemented in a comparable process, cannot constitute an improvement or a modification of the computer programs inseparable from the present invention. A few screen views of such computer programs are given by way of illustration and briefly commented on in FIGS. 10 to 15. FIG. 8, schematic, produced according to the legend below, makes it possible to understand the operation of the process integrated into a device called Station implementing such a process. In the example of preferred embodiment variant described such a Station comprises for example: two filters per station and per device, in each APRVA or APRVL storage compartment separate antennas (51 d) and multiplexed (53) on the reader ( 50), and uses nitrogen as the treatment gas. Such a Station is characterized in that it comprises a set of cabinets whose shape and organization, for example three in a preferred variant described in FIGS. 5 and 6 is adapted to the main functions implemented in such a process: treatment of adsorption filters during their period of non-use and parking in a screen cabinet (41. b), storage and / or recharging of APRVA running on batteries, or APRVL depending on the case, used for respiratory protection in a closed cupboard (41.a), management and control of the state of filters, their uses and access to these means of protection in free service for users or specifiers in a cabinet (41. c). legend of FIG. 8: ^ gaseous treatment fluid, nitrogen in the example described, air and utilities; .> - Service command of a Station; • * data and information useful for the service commands of a Station; - - - - user information commands.

According to the invention, such a method and such a device are provided for behaving in such a way that they perform one or more of the functions or actions below. The Station is supplied with ventilation air (42) by a regulator (42.1) which maintains the cabinets (40c) and (40b) under a controlled atmosphere. The presence of this air flow is controlled by the air flow sensor (42.2) whose state (42.3) is relayed by an interface (47). This sensor (42.2) cuts (58) the general electrical supply (57) in the event of a fault. The opening of the access doors (46) to the recharging devices and to the filters is controlled by an electromechanical device (59), after identification of a user provided with a badge (52c) on the identification means, by example an RF-ID reader (50) to which a passive antenna (51c) is connected. This opening is controlled by the sensor (59.1) which specifically and directly cuts the load current (57.1), the power supply to the automations (57.2) remaining maintained. The device includes time relays (58) which do not restore the power supply (57.1) until the door (46) has been confirmed by the sensor (59.1) and have sufficient air sweep time to find a controlled atmosphere in the cabinet (40a). Such a Station is supplied with gaseous treatment fluid (43), nitrogen in the example described, advantageously heated (43a) by a means known in the art to a temperature above ambient temperature, but nevertheless below a temperature at which the settling of the adsorbent or the materials constituting a filter would be affected, between ambient temperature and 60 ° C., or even 100 ° C. Said treatment gas is distributed after expansion (43.1) to the different treatment stations (44), (45), ... which are identical. The pressure of said process gas delivered to said stations is controlled by a pressure measurement means (43.2) whose state (43.3) is relayed by an interface (47) to the process server (71). Information concerning faults: air flow (42.3), electrical supply to the load compartment (57.3), pressure of the process gas (43.3), taking into account external information (48), are relayed by an interface ( 47) and processed by service, control and supervision computer programs installed on a remote server (71) which contains all the databases relating to the Stations, to the users, to the filters. Some information is advantageously displayed or delivered locally (49). Each treatment station is identical to the one detailed (44). At the start of treatment, the lighting of the red indicator (55a), the triggering of the time delay (55), the solenoid valve (44.1) by the command (56) of the station concerned, are controlled by service computer programs installed on the server (71) through an interface (47). During the treatment phase, the solenoid valve (44.1) remains open and supplies the station (44.4) with treatment gas through a flow control means, for example a fixed restriction (44.3). At the end of the treatment, the local self-timer (55), closes the solenoid valve (44.1) with the command (56), causes the red light (55a) to go out and the green light (55b) to light up, station (44.4) remains supplied by the low permanent flow of process gas through the bypass comprising a flow control means, for example a fixed restriction (44.2), towards (44.4). The green indicator (55b) remains permanently on until a user removes a first filter from the station (44.4). The supply of process gas (44) to the station (44.4) is for example evenly distributed between the two bases (44a) and (44b) on which adsorption filters (2a) and (2b) are screwed onto a base ( 2.1, fig. 9) suitable for the filters used, comprising for example a thread produced according to DIN3182 standard, or any other device specific to a type or manufacturer of the filter. On each adsorption filter (2a) and (2b) is attached, when it is put into service, or could be integrated into its manufacture, a unique ID identifier (52a) and (52b), in a particular place allowing the reading of this identifier by an appropriate means, regardless of the exact position of the filter on the bases (44a) or (44b), for example such an identifier attached to a filter is placed so that it is opposite a means reading, for example a fixed activatable antenna (51a) or (51b) connected to the multiplexer (53a) and (53b). This reading is carried out through an analog multiplexing (53) known in the art of such antennas, controlled and triggered by computer programs, for example through a seal (3.1) disposed on the bases (44a) and (44b ) of a station, sealing, limiting the clamping force, detecting the normal presence of a filter on its base simultaneously triggering the reading of the ID of such a filter after its tightening. Apart from these reading phases thus triggered, the multiplexer (53) connects by default, to the reading means (50), an identifier reading means, for example an activatable antenna (51c), allowing a user ( 52c) access the Station normally. After returning to the Filters and APRVA station, the door closing contact (59.1) controls the connection of the reading means (50), to the reading means of the identifier of the APRVA or APRVL, alternately through the multiplexer (53) in the example of activable antennas (51 d) located in each APRVA (41.1) or APRVL storage compartment, or without multiplexing in the case of a single antenna encompassing all the compartments, for at least functions of reading of the ID (21) of such APRVA or APRVL, and advantageously according to the possibilities offered and integrated into such APRVA, various information or data recorded during the operation of such APRVA in a memory area (21) of such ID for the purpose of reporting the use made and / or checking the operating status of such an APRVA. In the present invention the RF-ID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology has been advantageously used for all the identification functions. Any other technology fulfilling the same function, current or future, could be used without constituting a modification or an improvement of the present invention in which the ID function is in principle part of the state of the art. Starting from an example of the first commissioning of a parking and processing station, the description of the operation and steps of the process on such a device are as follows: The filters identified (2a) & (52a) and (2b ) & (52b), ... and the users (52c), ... are preregistered and declared in databases of computer programs on the server (71) implementing such a method, by a responsible for the area concerned, for example a risk area (A), on his RF-ID reader (74.1) connected to his computer station (74) connected to the company network (71.0). APRVAs, or APRVLs as the case may be, are identified in the same way (21), or may include such an identifier integrated into the construction, and are also prerecorded in the process as usable on such a Station or any other Station on which they would be declared in the process. To obtain the normal opening of the Station door, a user must identify himself by presenting his identifier (52c) on the identification means, for example an activatable antenna (51c), allowing the doors to be opened. The new filters, previously registered by a zone manager, are successively screwed onto the bases of an available station (44a) and (44b) of the Station. At the same time, The process successively triggers the reading of the ID of each filter (52a) or (52b) according to the sequence of sequences: the contact established by the seal (3.1) confirms the tightness and the presence of a filter (54), for example on the base (44a), transmitted by the interface (47) to the server (71) whose computer programs control through the interface (47) the multiplexer (53) making connect and activate the reading means, (53a) in the example described, for reading the ID (52a) of such a filter. The filters thus treated in the process will be definitively associated and will be managed together. This association, a pair in the example described, will be stored in the databases of computer programs and may no longer be modified during the entire period of use of the filters, except voluntary action accessible only to an administrator declared in the process (72) or (74) depending on the organizations adopted. Functions: user identification (52c), presence detection (3.1), identification of filters (2a) or (2b), pairing verification (52a) and (52b), status management (42.3) and / or ( 43.3) and / or (57.3) and / or (48), being satisfied at the level of the computer programs of the process (71), a first processing cycle is launched which locally initializes, or reinitializes as the case may be, the time delay ( 55) with the opening of the process gas solenoid valve (44.1) and the display of the red light (55a) on the station concerned. These operations are repeated until all stations of the Station are fully equipped, which includes eight pairs of filter stations in an exemplary embodiment described. According to this example, each of the APRVAs, or APRVLs, is placed in a compartment and connected, as the case may be, to its socket (57.1) which is not supplied with current. When the door (46) closes, the closing detection (59.1) activates the time relay (58) which will restore the voltage on the sockets (57.1) after a preset preset time. The method connects, as described above, the means of identification of the APRVA storage compartments, or APRVL as the case may be, for at least the reading of their ID (21) which will record them, or confirm them, in the method as being able be used and managed by this Station. At the end of the cycle delay (55), the solenoid valve (44.1) of the process gas is closed, the red light (55a) off, and the green light (55b) on the station concerned. The filters remain permanently in the parking lot under a weak sweep of treatment gas by a bypass comprising a fixed flow control means (44.2). They are then available to users, in self-service, to ensure their respiratory protection on all exposure situations in the area concerned in relation to the type of filter made available to them. To equip themselves, a user identifies himself (52c) on the identification means, for example a passive antenna (51c). The method controls the opening (59) of the access doors (46), and confirms the identity of the user on the information means (49). It then indicates on these same means (49) the position number of the set of filters to be used, so as to best distribute their uses over the duration of provision of the filters provided on the Station. As soon as the first filter in the set is detected removed from the station (54), the means (49) indicate the maximum continuous use time recommended for the same single user, time after which the filter set must be returned to a such Station to be put back in treatment. The user takes an APRVA, or an APRVL as the case may be, on which he adapts the set of filters and his individual face piece, or any other face piece that would have been given to him after cleaning. Another user can in turn equip himself in the same way, after identifying himself, without the need to close the doors, which will be closed by the last user. The usage time which will be taken into account by default and precautionary measure in the process is that during which the set of filters will have remained outside the Station. There is therefore an interest in adopting usage practices that make the actual usage time coincide as well as that of keeping the filters out of the Station, although taking into account the treatment implemented, this becomes secondary, the most important being not to exceed the recommended usage time, which is under control. After use, the user must replace the set of filters used for treatment on a Station. For this, it identifies itself (52c) on the identification means, for example a passive antenna (51c). The method controls the opening (59) of the access doors (46) and confirms the identity of the user on the information means (49). After removing the filters from the APRVA or APRVL, the user screws them directly onto the bases of the same available station. The process then performs certain checks: verification of the authorization for use in the zone and / or Station concerned - verification of the conformity of the pairing of the filters - verification of their expiration date from the manufacturer (if it has been registered) - verification of the non-exceeding of the authorized cumulative usage time limit - verification of the non-exceeding of the provision period on a Station. The method indicates on the information means (49) if the set of filters is not accepted with possibly the reason for this refusal. Alarm information is then posted on the supervision and can be sent to the computer station of the area manager concerned (74) or to the station of the HSE manager (72). The process assigns by default and by educational measure the time of wearing or use of the protection to the user who has returned the filters, this time corresponds by default to the time of exit of the filters from the Station. The user thus provides proof that he has made good use of the protections made available to him by his employer. The user then puts the APRVA, or APRVL as the case may be, in his compartment of the Station (41.1), puts his batteries on charge as the case may be by connecting it to his socket (57.1) and closes the doors. The process connects, as described above, the means of identifying the APRVA storage compartments, or APRVL as the case may be, for at least reading their ID (21) and advantageously, according to the possibilities offered and integrated into such APRVAs, different information or data entered during the operation of such APRVA in a memory area (21) of such an ID for the purpose of reporting the use made, for example the actual duration of operation of such an APRVA, duration which will then advantageously replace at the output time of filters from a Station, taken by default as being the time of use of such filters and / or of checking the operating status of such an APRVA. Another user can in turn put filters and another respiratory protection device in the same way, without the need to close the doors, which will be closed by the last. The display or information means (49) useful for user safety include audible and understandable messages for any user with reading difficulties. Such a device using voice synthesis means known in the art, is not described in a Station implementing the method of the present invention. All the information and values of the parameters allowing remote control of the operations carried out, in particular alarms, malfunctions or procedures, refusal of motivated filters, filters not returned within a given time, exceeding programmed criteria, or more generally any useful information , are centralized in the server computer program databases (71) and made available to designated area managers on their computer workstation, for example (74) concerning the risk area (A), as soon as this station is connected to the network, or to that of the HSE manager (72). The present invention allows the use of such a method and such a device with other types of filters, without the possibility of regeneration treatment by back-scanning during the parking period. In this case, such a Station simply becomes a Management and control station for the provision of such types of filters and APRVAs, or APRVLs, with the same general management characteristics described above, only achieving: the maintenance of such types of filters out of any pollution during their non use, the control of the conformity to the intended uses, the control of their pairing in the example de Station describes, the control of their cumulative duration of use compared to a fixed threshold beyond which the filters will be refused and offered for disposal. The method and the device of the present invention can simply be adapted, in another exemplary embodiment, to be used in the management and control of filters with irreversible adsorption, that is to say generally calling for reactions of chemisorption irreversibly fixing the substance on a reactive support (for example mercury, chlorine, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, etc.). Thus, for example, in the case of an HgP3 filter suitable for mercury protection, such a suitable station will display to a user the protection time remaining available for the use of these filters before their elimination. This other embodiment is characterized in that the stations (44), (45), etc., can be simplified by eliminating the solenoid valve (44.1) and the fixed flow control means (44.3). Only the fixed flow control means (44.2) will remain in the by-step, which in fact becomes the only main circuit, the function of which is to deliver a low flow rate of a suitable gaseous fluid continuously to the station (44.4). This low flow rate also keeps the filters in optimal hygienic conditions and sheltered from any adsorption of external substances. The functions ; solenoid valve control (44.1), start of treatment cycle delay display (55) are deleted, the status function of the filters (55a) and (55b), is modified in the service computer programs to be conditioned to the total accumulated time authorized use. All the other characteristics of the process and of its implementation on such a Station remain unchanged. The same result could be obtained on a Station as described in the preferred embodiment variant of the present invention, by programming no processing time, or a very short processing time. The solenoid valve (44.1) is thus always closed and the display (55b) is always green until a fault or a threshold programmed for this type of filter is not encountered or exceeded. In this other example of alternative embodiment or in the example of preferred variant by programming no treatment time, the management of this type of filters and of APRVA or APRVL in the process is based on the same general principles, except on the point of the cumulative duration of use of such filters. This duration is fixed by the supplier according to the capacity adsorption of filters according to standardized tests and is generally indicated in the instructions for such filters. In the case of this type of filter, and only in this case, this duration can be increased or decreased, in order of magnitude, in the proportion of the ratio: average concentration tested in the standard / known and measured average concentration against which it is necessary protect a user. The cumulative total usage time will always be counted by default as the sum of the times or the filter will not have been present on the Station, whether it has been used or not (conservatory provision). Replacement of filters will be requested in the process after one of the thresholds programmed for this type of filter has been exceeded. This duration could also be determined in simulated exposure situations on an ad hoc test facility like that described in Figure 2.

FIG. 9 is a functional diagram of a tightness detector and tightening force limiter joint (3.1), characterized in that it is arranged to fulfill the following functions: first, sealing made of two sides on parts (3.1a) and (3.1b); secondly, limiting the compression compression of the seal (3.1) by deformation of the resilient internal part (3.3), with perception of the end of manual tightening by mechanical stop between the two discs (3.2) through the internal contact points (3.4); third and simultaneously, detection of the end of tightening and of the normal presence of the filter on its base by closing under a controlled atmosphere of an electrical circuit established between the two discs (3.2) through the internal contact points (3.4 ), after the compression phase of such a seal triggering the reading of the ID of a filter. In the example of embodiment shown, the plug (3.7a) allows the holding in place of such a seal by being pressed on a base solidly fixed in the pipe (3.6a) and connected to an electrical circuit through a pass - watertight walls (3.8); the plug (3.7b) is inserted in a floating manner on a connector (3.6b) connected to a flexible extensible wire itself connected to an electrical circuit through a sealed pass-wall (3.8). any other device for fixing such a seal could be used without this constituting a modification or improvement of such a seal. Such a seal can easily be removed and replaced from the outside using a puller (3.5), fixed for example on one of the discs (3.2). Figure 10 is a view of a process screen showing the operating states of a Station displayed in supervision mode from any authorized computer on the network. In this mode, a general index menu allowing to select: a Station zone or a cartridge zone, which are in fact filters, or a user zone or a logger zone. After selecting the Station menu and after selecting a Station on the network through a selection window, the items checked on a Station appear symbolized: the location and identifier of a Station, the extension numbers, the presence filters on these stations, the status of the filters on a single indicator, for example green or red depending on whether the filter set is available or being processed. A second zone is reserved for controls of different states displayed for example in green if they are normal or in red if they are in an abnormal situation (alarm): control of correct closing of the doors of the Station, control of the presence of a flow sweeping air in the cabinet, checking the presence of the pressure of the process gas, of nitrogen in the embodiment shown, checking by the server on which such computer programs are installed Communication with the Station interface is active, therefore it is under control. A third area contains a history of all significant events recorded for such a Station pointing to more detailed content on demand.

FIG. 11 is a view of a screen of a method showing the functionalities for managing the filters and their states in a defined use area generally corresponding to a Station, with respect to different criteria, notably listing their identifier and different information on their uses, with fields pointing to more detailed subsets. FIG. 12 is a view of a screen of the process showing the list of Stations, their physical addressing declared in the databases of the computer programs and for each Station the type of filter whose use is authorized, as well as a parameter for adjusting the duration of the processing of such filters. FIG. 13 is a view of a screen of the process showing the configuration of the conditions and limits of use of the filters for a determined area of use, in particular: the recommended continuous use time, the maximum continuous use time not to exceed at the end of which the process will post an anomaly intended for the person in charge of the zone concerned, the maximum total duration of cumulative uses at the end of which the filters will be refused in the process and must be destroyed. This view also shows a minimum duration of the treatment cycle which must at least be respected; if this minimum duration is not respected, for example removal of the filters from a station when the treatment is not finished and the LED (55a) locally indicates that the filters are not available, the process will post an alarm for the responsible of the zone concerned, otherwise a simple anomaly. This view also shows a c-hoix per check box depending on the type of filter in use on a Station between two different operating modes. The selection of the box: "display this information when a filter is removed from the station" corresponds to the use of a reversible adsorption filter with a back-regeneration regeneration treatment which will indicate to users the recommended continuous duration not to not exceed. The selection of the box: "display the remaining time when a filter is removed from the station" corresponds to the use of an irreversible adsorption filter without the possibility of a back-scanning treatment which will indicate to users the remaining available use time at not to exceed, duration dependent on the only capacity.

Figure 14 is a view of a screen of the administrator m method showing the rights administration functionalities and accesses to the different functionalities and to the different areas of implementation of Stations. These rights can be partial or total and allocated, function by function, carried out in such a process.

Claims

1. Treatment station, parking, management of adsorption filters and their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted or free ventilation, characterized in that it comprises a cabinet (40) containing a plurality of stations, that is, on the one hand, a plurality of treatment stations (44a and 44b, 45a and 45b, ...) arranged to allow the connection of the filters to be treated (2a and 2b, ...) and, on the other hand, a plurality of parking stations (41.1, ...) of such devices, the said station further comprising at least one source of gaseous treatment fluid (43) connected to such treatment stations (44a and 44b; 45a and 45b, ...) and means of distribution and selectively controlled delivery of this or these gaseous treatment fluids on said treatment stations, in order to perform a back-sweeping of such filters by means of this or these gas.

2. Treatment station, parking, management of adsorption filters and their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted or free ventilation, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two compartments accessible via access doors (46), i.e., on the one hand, a first compartment (40a) containing a plurality of treatment stations (44a and 44b, 45a and 45b) ...) and, a second compartment ( 40b) parking containing a plurality of stations or lockers for storing such devices.

3. Station according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that (it consists of a cabinet comprising at least three compartments (40a) (40b) (40c), either: - on the one hand, a first compartment (40b) containing a plurality of treatment stations arranged to allow the connection of the filters to be treated (2a, 2b, ...), for example on a "standard" thread produced according to DIN 3182 or any other suitable device, and maintaining them in the parking position on support bases (2.1), comprising an interposed seal (3.1); - on the other hand, a second compartment (40a) arranged to allow the parking of respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation (1), or with free ventilation without recharging, comprising a plurality of storage compartments (41.1) equipped with means ( 57.1) allowing recharging of the batteries of such devices; and, in addition, a third closed compartment (40c), containing electrical and electronic means for controlling such a Station, means for interfacing (47) and for connection with a network (71.0) and a server computer ( 71) comprising appropriate computer programs necessary for: conducting and controlling such processing, managing the provision and use of such filters, managing the provision and use of such devices of respiratory protection with assisted ventilation or free ventilation, individualized management of the proper use of the protection means thus made available, remote viewing of the operating status of such stations in such a process and, more generally, in treatment any information useful for the operation of such a Station;

4. Station according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one source of gaseous treatment fluid (43), means for regulating (43.1) and controlling (43.2) the pressure of this gaseous fluid, connected to such treatment stations, for example (44, 44a and 44b; 45, 45a and 45b, ...), each treatment station comprising means controlling the delivery of said gaseous fluid (56), (44.1), the time (55) during which said treatment is applied and the control of the flow rate of said gaseous fluid, in the treatment position (44.3) or maintains in parking (44.2) on said station (44.4), also distributed, in a example described, on the two bases (44a) and (44b) - a source of industrially dried compressed air (42), means for controlling the pressure (42.1) and the flow (42.2) of this compressed air, making it possible to maintain the operation of the compartments (40b) and (40c), containing electrical devices, under a controlled atmosphere, said flow control means (42.2) controls a means (58) of general cut-off of the current in the two compartments (40b) and (40c).

5. Station according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the compartment (40c) comprises reading means (50) and multiplexing (53) connected: - on the one hand in the compartment (40b) , on each of the bases of said stations, to a suitable contactless reading device (51a) and (51b), ... arranged opposite the filters connected in the parking position, for reading their identifier (52a) and (52b), ... attributed to their entry into service; - secondly in the compartment (40a), in a first preferred embodiment and in each of the storage compartments (41.1), to a suitable contactless reading device (51C) of low sensitivity, arranged, for example at flat on the shelf inside such racks, or, in a second preferred embodiment, to a unique suitable reading device without contact of the same type (51 C), but of larger size and higher sensitivity , placed inside the cabinet (40a) and encompassing all of the storage lockers (41.1), for reading their identifier (21), ... assigned to their commissioning.

6. Station according to any one of claims 3 to 2, characterized in that the compartment (40c) comprises reading means (50) and multiplexing (53) connected to an appropriate reading device without low sensitivity contact ( 51c) allowing the reading of a means of identification of a user, for example a badge (52c), and his access to the processing (40a) and storage (40b) compartments after the controlled opening (59) of the doors (46) conditioned to said identification; said opening, verified by an appropriate means (59.1), simultaneously controls a means (58) for cut off of the recharging current (57.1) in all the compartments (41.1) and the transmission in the information process: door open (57.3), the electrical power supply to the automations (57.2) remaining maintained.

7. Station according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each treatment station (44a, 44b; 45a, 45b, ...) comprises means for displaying the state of treatment of such filters connected to such stations, these means being, for example, constituted by indicators indicating to a user that such filters are available (55b) or not available (55a).

8. Station according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises means of informing users (49), for example by display and / or delivery of voice messages, concerning the use of such filters and such devices, for example the filter station number to be used to balance their uses, the recommended duration for one use or the remaining duration depending on the type of filter.

9. Station according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises appropriate means for maintaining the temperature (43.1) of the gaseous treatment fluid (43) making it possible to control its temperature at a value below 60 ° c preferentially, or even 100 ° c.

10. Station according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bases of the receiving stations (44a, 44b; 45a, 45b, ...) of the filters located in the treatment compartment (40b) are equipped a seal detector and tightening force limiter (3.1).

11. Station according to claim 10, characterized in that said seal is arranged to fulfill the following functions: firstly: making a seal on both sides on the parts (3.1a, 3.1 b); - secondly: limitation of the tightening compression of the joint (3.1) by deformation of the resilient internal part (3.3), with perception of the end of manual tightening by mechanical stop between the two discs (3.2) through the points of internal contacts (3.4); - thirdly and simultaneously: detection of the end of tightening and of the normal presence of the filter on its base by closing an electrical circuit established under a controlled atmosphere between the two discs (3.2) through the internal contact points ( 3.4) after the compression phase of the joint; said closing triggering the reading of the ID of the filter connected to said base and conditioning the delivery of said treatment gas to said filter after closing the doors (46).

12. Station according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that: - a suitable device makes it possible to maintain such a seal in position: for example the plug (3.7a) allows such maintenance by being pressed on a base fixedly fixed in the pipe (3.6a), such a base is connected to an electrical circuit through a sealed wall passage (3.8); in such an example, the plug (3.7b) is inserted in a floating manner on a connector (3.6b) connected to a flexible extensible wire itself connected to an electrical circuit through a sealed pass-wall (3.8), - extraction such a seal is facilitated by a suitable device, for example an extraction ring (3.5), fixedly attached to a rigid part of such a seal (3.2).

13. Treatment station, parking of adsorption filters and management of their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted or free ventilation, according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, in another alternative embodiment of such a station, such filters can remain on said devices allowing it during their period of provision, the whole being treated, in parking, connected by a pipe (8) connected from the same way on a parking station, comprising in such a variant a single base.

14. Station according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, in cases where the gaseous treatment fluid is air, at least one device for detecting substances (36) internal or external placed upstream or on the inlet circuit for the gaseous treatment fluid (43), such a device delivering an alarm (48) making it possible to control the stopping of the means for distributing the gaseous treatment fluid (43) to prevent any accidental pollution of such filters.

15. Station according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for identifying such filters, such devices, such users in the process and the means for reading them without contact implemented on such a Station, for example use RF-ID technology, for example: - activatable labels with their manufacturing of such a unique identifier are attached to such filters at the time of their commissioning, so as to be opposite screw of said reading device on said bases of said processing stations once said filters connected, or any other comparable reading device contained in the cabinet (40b) or a single cabinet grouping the compartments (40a) and (40b); - or activatable labels provided with their manufacturing such a unique identifier are attached to such devices at the time of their commissioning, so as to be read by said reading device contained in the compartments (41.1) or the cabinet (40a), or any other comparable reading device contained in a single cabinet grouping the compartments (40a) and (40b); - Or activatable labels provided with their manufacturing of a unique identifier are attached to user badges, so as to be read by said reading device (51c) contained in the compartment (40c); such badges can be specific to the process or be those used in a preexisting organization after adaptation as a means of identification to the device of the present invention.

16. Device characterized in that it consists of a plurality of Stations, according to any one of claims 1 to 15 and in that each Station is configured in the method according to its location area and / or the type of filter used, such Stations being connected in a network (70.1) to a computer architecture comprising at least one server computer (71) containing appropriate computer programs necessary for: conducting and controlling such processing, the management of the provision and use of such filters, the management of the provision and use of such respiratory protection devices with assisted or free ventilation, individualized management of the proper use of the means of protection thus provided available, remote viewing of the operating status of such stations in such a process, more generally the processing of any information useful for the operation ment of such a Station, and a plurality of computers (72), (73), (74), ... equipped with a reading means (71.1), (72.1), (73.1), (74.1) , ... of the identifier of the filters (52a), ... and of the users (52c), ...

17. Method of treatment, parking of adsorption filters and management of their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted or free ventilation, characterized in that after each use and during their period of non-use, such filters are put in the parking position connected to their bases and subjected for a determined time to at least a first reverse scan or back-scan by an appropriate flow of gaseous treatment fluid flowing against the flow direction of the air when using said filters during protection.

18. The method of claim 17, characterized in that the gaseous treatment fluid may be compressed atmospheric air whose humidity is controlled by an appropriate means, for example by passing over activated alumina which is a industrial solution commonly used or for example by an "air conditioning" type process eliminating by cooling and condensing part of the humidity contained in the air, followed by heating to a controlled temperature of this air, or for example compressed to a pressure and temperatures such that they allow after separation of the water condensed to control said air humidity to an appropriate value; air, the quality of which is controlled by measuring means, internal or external to said station, controlling the stopping of the delivery of said treatment air if one or more substances are detected therein at an abnormal level, said substances comprising the humidity of the air.

19. The method of claim 17, characterized in that said gaseous treatment fluid may be nitrogen free of any substance, obtained by distillation and purification of atmospheric air,

20. Method according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that said first back-sweeping of the filters is carried out at a significant determined flow rate, at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature comprised, preferably between room temperature and a temperature of 60 ° c, or even 100 ° c, obtained by said heating of said gaseous treatment fluid.

21. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that said first back-sweep is continued by a second back-sweep with a lower flow rate of gaseous fluid suitable for keeping such filters in the parking lot. ideal humidity conditions, out of any external pollution and avoid the diffusion of residual substances towards the outlet of the filters on the inhaled air side, during the following uses of said filters during their use in protection; such a flow of gaseous holding fluid is delivered at atmospheric pressure and at ambient temperature.

22. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that, in another variant, such filters are maintained during their period of non-use in the parking position, connected to their bases and permanently subjected to reverse scanning or back-scanning by appropriate flow of flushing gaseous fluid flowing against the current of the air flow direction when said filters are used during protection; such back-scanning is carried out at atmospheric pressure and at ambient temperature.

23. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 22, characterized in that such a method is implemented on computer means, comprising at least one server computer connected in network to stations according to any one of Claims 1 to 16, which server includes appropriate computer programs necessary for: conducting and controlling such processing, managing the provision and use of such filters, managing the provision and uses of such respiratory protection devices with assisted or free ventilation, individualized management of the proper use of the protection means thus made available, remote viewing of the operating status of such stations in such a process and, more generally, to the processing of any information useful for the operation of such a process implemented on such Stations.

24. The method of claim 23 characterized in that such a method is designed so that the management and allocation of the use of such filters is for example carried out as follows: - such filters, prerecorded in the process or recorded at their first passage on such a Station for their treatment, will be associated with each other, for example paired, and will be obligatorily used and put in treatment according to this association during their period of provision on such a Station, any non respect of this condition will result in the rejection of the filters concerned and their request for destruction; - such pre-recorded filters may be used and accepted only on said Stations or their use will have been authorized in the process, generally corresponding to risk zones analyzed and controlled; the uses of such filters are balanced in such a process by informing a user on the number of the least used filters with which he must protect himself; in the case of reversible adsorption filters, the recommended duration for a single continuous use before returning to such a Station for treatment, is indicated to the user after removal of the first filter from a treatment station, or, in the in the case of irreversible adsorption filters, the remaining available usage time is indicated to the user after removal of the first filter from a treatment station; in the case of filters with reversible adsorption, such a usage time must not exceed a time limit, for a single continuous use and generally by the same user, declared in the process for a type of filter considered;

If such a limit usage time is exceeded, the process will post at least one alarm message on the computer of the zone manager concerned and will make information available on functions for monitoring the operating status of the Station concerned; the user who identifies himself in the process of returning such filters to such a station to put them back into treatment will be credited with a usage time of the protection made available to him, usage time which will be added to an individual history of the uses of such protections; such usage time is taken by default and conservative measure as being the time or such filters will not have been present on such a Station;

The period during which such filters are made available on such Stations is evaluated according to several different criteria, in particular: o on the one hand, an expiration date is declared in the process for the commissioning of such filters, if a such date is exceeded the filters will be refused upon return to a Station, whether they have been used or not, the process will post at least one alarm message on the computer of the concerned zone manager and will make the information available on functions of supervision of the operating state of the concerned Station, o on the other hand, more generally and for all types of filters according to their characteristics, a limit on the total duration of the cumulative uses is declared in the process for putting these filters into service, if the duration of the cumulative uses exceeds such a limit the filters will be refused on the next return to a Station, the process will post at least one alarm message on the computer of the zone manager concerned and will make information available on functions for monitoring the operating status of the station concerned.

25. Method according to one of claims 23 or 24 characterized in that such a usage time taken by default, can be advantageously replaced by the actual operating time of a respiratory protection device with assisted ventilation equipped with such filters and comprising appropriate means for transmitting such an operating time in the process, more generally any other information useful for such a process, on its return to such a Station comprising appropriate reading means.

26. A method of treatment, parking of adsorption filters and management of their provision with respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation, according to claims 23 to 25 characterized in that such a recommended usage time or such limit of total duration of use, can advantageously be replaced by measuring the concentration of substance immediately on the outlet of such filters, whatever their type, with respiratory protection devices with assisted ventilation comprising such appropriate means of detection substances, thus determining their real effectiveness and their duration of use limit in all cases; said means comprising measuring the humidity.