If it weren't for this epidemic, you'd never dream that a big guy like the Ford F-150 would have anything to do with a respirator, but it's true. Known internally as "Project?Apollo," it's said to have been inspired by the Apollo 13 mission, in which astronauts in space made a simple CO2 filter out of gray duct tape, cardboard covers from flight manuals, and scraps of space suits in order to avoid being poisoned, which is pretty amazing, isn't it?
When an epidemic strikes, no industry is immune. In China, BYD, Wuling and other car companies have put into production masks, what the people need, what car companies make, must give these socially responsible car companies point of praise; in the U.S., the epidemic led to factory shutdowns, medical supplies are in short supply, Ford, FCA and other automakers chose to cooperate with the medical equipment manufacturers, car companies to participate in the manufacture of masks, respiratory is born in this context.
How does the Ford F-150 "transform" into a respirator? The principle is not complicated, the use of the Ford F150 ready-made parts, such as respirators, one of the core components of the power unit is the Ford F-150 used to cool the seat of the blower, coupled with the 3M?HEPA air filtration materials, can effectively filter the air pollutants, such as carrying viruses in the droplets, the Ford official disclosed that this respiratory machine can work for 8 hours long single time.
With the design in mind, a quick boost in production capacity is a key factor, and Ford is considering how to produce these next-generation PAPR protective devices at its Michigan manufacturing plant, which could boost 3M's output tenfold!
The respirator works by utilizing a seat-cooled squirrel-cage blower from a Ford F-150 pickup truck to draw air into a filter that then blows clean air into the supply hose of the respirator hood, and driving the fan requires a standard 12-volt power tool battery pack.
Of course, it's not enough to just have all these parts; all these little bits and pieces are housed in a 3D-printed plastic casing that's fastened to a looped metal bar so that it's ready to be worn.
With all that said, perhaps there's still a question as to why it's the Ford F150's seat ventilator that's the respirator in so many models. Couldn't other brands? To answer the latter question first, of course other brands' seat ventilators can be used for respirators, this is the same principle. As for the choice of Ford F150, this is even simpler, in addition to Ford has a strong R & D and production capacity, in the U.S. sales ranking of the Ford F150 has long dominated the first place, naturally, its supply of parts is also the largest, so the choice of Ford F150 parts to do respiratory is both helpless and a wise choice.
This article comes from the author of the automobile family car, does not represent the views of the automobile family position.