Tool Room Mechanic John Walsh teamed up with the Rapid Prototype Center (RPC) to ensure a safer and more efficient process was in place when cleaning respirator air lines.

"These are breathing lines for our workforce and they have to be tested and cleaned out before every use to ensure our folks are safe and able to breathe on the job," said Walsh. "We hold a weight test for each tubing and then we purge each air line with air pressure to clean them and ensure the airways are clear."

Walsh would place one end of the tube on the air pressure valve, keeping the airway clear so that the pressure would surge through the tubing. He would then test the other end with a white rag to ensure the airway was clean for use.

However, due to the ball inserts in the tubing, it was becoming more difficult to use the air pressure through the air lines, thus extending the cleaning process.

"The original way almost seemed like a small bicycle leak compared with hardly any pressure at all going through the tubing," said Walsh. "I wanted something that would be able to open the airway back up without damaging the balls inside or the tubing itself. I knew of the RPC from my co-worker Kenny Kinstler so I reached out to him and let him know what I was looking for. Within a day, Kenny had this plunger adapter prototyped and ready to go. And it is exactly what I needed!"

Kinstler, a sheet metal mechanic for the RPC, created a plunger adapter that would insert at the end of the tubing to open up the airway. This allowed the air pressure to flow through the tubing without resistance.

"I know John takes a lot of pride to ensure the workforce has clean airways for their respirators so I wanted to help him out as much as I could," said Kinstler. "It's a simple idea that makes a big difference. And we at the RPC are here to make these ideas a reality."

"I'm really excited to see how much of an impact this idea has made," said Walsh. "Getting these tubes clean and out to the workforce fast is huge for us. And just knowing that we're doing everything in our power to ensure our shipyard family is safe is a big win! I'm thankful to Kenny and his team at the RPC for taking the time to hear out my idea and help make it possible."

If you have an idea that might improve your job, contact the RPC at 396-4950/4956/4758 or 778-4181.

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For more news from Norfolk Naval Shipyard, visit www.navy.mil/.