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The KG (German: Klein-Gasschutzgerät - small gas protection device) series was designed before the Second World War by Dräger for the Civil Defence and Fire brigade. It was exported to many countries and used till the end of the 1970s. It is easy to confuse it with other Dräger and Degea Audos MR rebreather series.
KG 1928[]
It was the first rebreather in the KG series and one of the first rebreather produced by Dräger which used the "backpack" configuration making it much more compact than the previous hip or waist carried ones. It was sold in Japan through the Kawasaki company under the "Type No.4" designation.
Facepiece[]
It could be used either with a mouthpiece and a nose clip or with various other facepieces. The Leder B-Maske being the most common.
Backpack[]
It is very similar to the later KG130 however the easiest way to distinguish them is that the KG 1928 top connector of the regenerating cartridge is not elasticated with a rubber hose piece. The backpack contains a regenerating cartridge filled with bariumhydroxid, a breathing bag and a oxygen source tank. The reductor and oxygen dispenser system is placed on the bottom of the device. It is connected via two hose to the mask. It could provide enough oxygen for an hour.
Magyar Világhiradó 687. Légoltalom a fővárosban
Hungarian news about air raid training at Elektromos Művek. Both KG 1928, KG130 can be seen and many other types
KG 1931 (KGG)[]
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KG130[]
The KG130 rebreather was designed in 1930 by Dräger for the Civil Defence and Fire brigade. It was exported to Hungary and Japan (probably produced by the latter too). A lot of other countries used this design to a degree. After the war it was used in Austria.
Facepiece[]
In Germany, Hungary and Japan the facepiece could be an S-maske, Auer and Degea 700 series masks or a Leder B-Maske (all without an exhale valve). In Switzerland it was used with the O-Maske.
Backpack[]
The aluminium backpack has two leather carrying straps for attachment to wearer's back and one strap to attach around waist. It contains a regenerating cartridge filled with barium hydroxide, a 4,5l breathing bag and a 1l oxygen source tank which contained oxygen on 150bar. Like on the KG 1928, the reductor and oxygen dispenser system is placed on the bottom of the device and reductor is also connected to a pressure gauge. The dispenser was automatic, it injected a fixed amount of oxygen every time when the breathing bag deflated (inhaling) but the user could inject more oxygen manually if it was necessary by pressing the button on the reductor. The two corrugated breathing hoses are connected to the top of the device and would go over the shoulders - one is for inhaling and the other one for exhaling. It could be used for 60-100 minutes.
KG120[]
The KG120 rebreather was designed before the Second World War by Dräger mainly for military use but it was used by the Civil Defence and the Fire brigade too. It was license built by many companies during the war but it kept the designation. It was exported to Hungary where the device was used until the 1960s.
Facepiece[]
The facepiece is an early GM-30 mask but without exhale valve, later is was used with the GM-38 and the ebu made devices were used with OPT masks. In Hungary it was used with the 34M mask as well, in Switzerland the O-Maske was used with this rebreather.
Backpack[]
The breathing device can be found inside a wooden box with metal case where the apparatus itself is located. The case has two leather carrying straps for attachment to wearer's back and one strap to attach around waist. There's a manufacturer's logo on the case and the name of the apparatus Heeres-Atmer KG120. Inside the case there's a 1l oxygen tank on the bottom, a rubberized canvas breathing bag on the middle and the regenerating cartridge on the top. Corrugated hose with pressure gauge is attached to the case from the left side, together there are two hoses - one is for inhaling and the other one for exhaling. These hoses are attached to the mask. The system worked automatically as the user breathing because the reductor dispensed a fixed amount of oxygen every time when the breathing bag deflated (inhaling). The wearer could also regulate the oxygen supply manually if it was necessary. The exhaled air flowed to a the breathing bag with capacity of 5 liters through the regenerating cartridge. This bag served as an air storage and was connected to the regenerating cartridge filled with bariumhydroxid. The air from the pouch was later mixed with oxygen from the tank and was again inhaled by the wearer. The case had also built-in horn which warned the wearer in case he forgot to open the oxygen tank. Pressure of air flowing from the tank automatically turned the horn off. It could provide enough oxygen for an hour.
External information[]
"The Russians found a Heeresatmer set in Hitler's bunker when they searched it in May 1945. There is no direct evidence that it was actually for the Führer's personal use, but it is quite possible: "A door led to Hitler's bedroom...here was a bed with a night table...a safe in which he kept secret papers...and oxygen apparatus." Cabinets in a nearby corridor contained ordinary gas masks and other air-raid equipment."
After the war Chirana, a Czechoslovakian company continued to produce the rebreather as CH146.
KG210[]
The KG0 rebreather was designed before the Second World War by Dräger for the Civil Defence and Fire brigade. It was exported to Hungary and to many other countries.
Facepiece[]
The facepiece can be a GM30, GM38, Gasmaske 200 or Leder B-Maske without exhale valve.
Backpack[]
The backpack contains a regenerating cartridge filled with bariumhydroxid, a breathing bag and a oxygen source tank. It is connected via two hose to the mask.
References[]
- http://www.therebreathersite.nl/Zuurstofrebreathers/German/draeger_heeresatmer.htm
- Légoltalmi radiológiai-biológiai-vegyvédelmi alapismeretek (book-1965)
- Légitámadás! (book-1936)
- Légoltalmi ismeretek (book-1937)
- Tűzrendészeti Közlöny (book-1930)
- GUERRA CHIMICA E DIFESA ANTIGAS (book-1931)