PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-685
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 685
DECEMBER 2009
49
PS 685
DEC 09
A
clogged internal nozzle on the M41 protection assessment test system (PATS)
causes a low (maybe zero) ambient particle count, which causes the particle check/
particle count to fail. That stops mask testing.
But there are a couple of easy Fxes you can use to unclog that clogged nozzle:
±irst, try compressed air. Get a can of compressed air with a long straw that
attaches to its nozzle. Most stores have the air cans in their computer section. NSN
7930-01-398-2473 gets six 10-oz cans of compressed air.
Turn off the PATS and remove the
alcohol cartridge. Gently insert the
long straw into the PATS as far as it
will go with the straw centered in the
cavity. The internal nozzle is at the far
end of the cavity. Give the nozzle two
or three bursts of air.
Reinsert the alcohol cartridge and
turn on the PATS. Do the daily checks.
If you still get a particle check/particle
count failure, time for Plan B.
Turn off the PATS and remove the
alcohol cartridge. Turn and hold the
PATS on end so that you can look
down into the cartridge cavity. Take a
bottle of the reagent alcohol used with
PATS and drip three to four drops
down into the cavity. Try to keep the
drops centered so they don’t hit the
sides of the cavity. Don’t let more
than a few drops go down the cavity.
One well-placed drip is enough.
Keep the PATS in the vertical position for Fve minutes so the alcohol can soften or
dissolve the blockage.
Put the PATS in its normal operating position and perform the procedure with
compressed air again. No luck? Try the nozzle procedure in WP 0014 00 in TM 3-
4240-349-12&P.
If PATS still fails the particle check/particle count, it’s time to call the experts.
Contact the JPEO CB Hotline at (866) 476-8404 or TMDE at DSN
788-8546, (256)
842-8546.
W
hen they need a replacement M41 protection assessment test system (PATS),
some units are buying a new one directly from the manufacturer. That’s a waste of
unit money.
The Army has plenty of M41s stored at depots. If your unit is authorized PATS, you can
get one of these stored units for free!
If you need help requisitioning a PATS, NSN 4240-01-365-8241, contact your MACOM’s
UIC information ofFcer. To Fnd who that is, go to:
and log in
with your CAC card. Then under ±ORCE, click on
MACOM UIC Info OfFcer
.
Your command’s UIC will be listed there along with the contact’s phone number.
You can also contact the PATS inventory management specialist at DSN 793-3033, (309)
782-3033, or email: greta.j.dugan
@us.army.mil
M41 PATS…
Unclogging
Clogged Nozzle
No
Need
to Buy
PATS
±irst try unclogging internal
nozzle with compressed air
If that doesn’t
work, try 3 to 4
drops of alcohol
well, old timer, I
guess we need to
get you replaced.
that’s going
to cost a
pretty penny.
wrong,
sonny.
you can
replace
me for
free!
what’s up
with this?
you
failed the
particle
check.
hope this
doesn’t
mean
you need
big-time
repairs.
hold on
there.
it’s just
that my
internal
nozzle is
plugged.
read this!
it tells
you how to
clear it.
685.48-49.indd
1-2
10/26/09
3:20:13 PM
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