Headrest noise reduction

Now that I got the courage to decapitate my Headrest I have been wondering how to reduce it's noise.

The Headrest's tubing has a very small diameter, this is a good contributor for turbulence/noise. I was thinking if I can cut it and replace the end connection back it could maybe diminishes the noise. I imagine it's possible to heat up the end of the tubing to make it more flexible and been able to plug back again the connection to it's end.

But because it's not easy to have supplies from USA (in case it doesn't works) I haven't still get the courage to try it. The other point is 'could the turbulence reduction affect the CO2 evacuation in a noticeable/negative way?

I know men are more courageous for this kind of experimentation Who is the brave who is going to make it a try ? To compensate for the shortness of the remaining tube I planned to use a short CPAP tube to connect (the Resmed inlet tube for Activa etc) between the Headrest and the machine tube.

Rosie

I don't think the inlet tube for an Activa (or for the Ultra Mirage masks) would work, Rosie.

One end of the inlet tube would attach fine to the main air hose. But the end you'd be trying to attach to the top of the Headrest (after you removed the narrow diameter hose) wouldn't fit. The "mask end" of the inlet tube would be way too big to fit tight enough onto the Headrest.

Of course, there's always duct tape... But, I think it would be pretty difficult to "tape" the bigger inlet tube around the smaller "spout" of the Headrest in a way that would not leak.

rosacer wrote:The other point is 'could the turbulence reduction affect the CO2 evacuation in a noticeable/negative way?

No, I wouldn't think that would happen. The CO2 exhaust is part of the plastic frame in front, below where the narrow connector hose "connects." The narrow connector hose (and the main air hose, for that matter) has nothing to do with the location of the exhaust vent, or how the vent does its job.

restedgal,

I didn't explain properly that's not new

What I'm considering to do to the Headrest tubing is:
1) I cut as much tubing as I can
2) I manage to take apart the Headrest connection from the tubing I just cut, I need to cut with extra care the tubing around the connection without damaging the connection.
3) I heat up a bit the tubing's end (the part which is already connected to the rest of the mask) to make it malleable and been able to push inside the connection I just undone.
4) Now I have a Headrest with a very short tubing (maybe 4 to 5 inches) from the exhale port to the end connection, with it's connector in place
5) I take the Resmed Inlet tubing and I connect it to the Headrest connection (I have a connection because I put it back, although I love duct tape I wont need it in this case )

The reason why I need the Resmed Inlet tubing is because as in the case of an Activa, Quattro etc which has no tubing it's needed to connect to the 6' hose, which is already at the maximum length.

I think the real problem is to be able to replace the Headrest connector once I cut the tubing. If I can't put back the connector I wont be able use my Headrest at least I can make a miracle with duct tape as you suggest scary stuff Who goes first ??

p.s. There is what is known as Shrinking tubing used in electronics which could be useful in case the Headrest tubing doesn't fit properly after been cut. The shrinking tubing is a tubing which shrinks once you apply heat, it's used around wire's junction in place of electrical tape. This tubing comes in different diameters and the bigger diameters as the one we would need comes with a kind of thermal glue.

Rosacre....

Thanks for the heat-shrink-tubing idea. It's in my supply kit that I use for electrical tinkering...but i had never thought about using it with my CPAP fabricating. Your idea will be the difference between "failure" and "it works" sometime in the future.....

G

Hi Gerald

I know we can have heat Shrink tubing with thermal glue inside (I have already used it) 1 inch diameter , I saw on internet 1/2 inch diameter but I don't know if this one has glue because the small tubes I used in electronics doesn't have it. The 1 inch could fit in the Headrest connector without problem what I dont know is if it will shrinks enough to be tight. I need to go to the electronic's store and check what is available because I used that kind of tubing at my former job and I don't know if it's available for the people as you and me.

But the question still is: is this going to work for the sealing issue? Provably yes but there is a small risk. The second question is: is a shorter tubing enough to produce a noticeable noise reduction? For now I don't have the courage nor the time to make the experiment Maybe in a couple of months I'll do it when I will have the time to decapitate one of my 2 spare Headrests in case of failure. Let's see if there is a brave scientific mind in the forum whom will try it. It would be fabulous if we find a way to make the Headrest more silent.

Rosie

EDIT: the exact name is adhesive heat shrink tubing

I may not be following this question well, as far as what you refer to as the headrest. But, large bore tubing is also available in 8 and 10 ft lengths. billed at the same price or should be as the 6 ft.

Rosie, maybe you've already tried all the non invasive options, but seems a cover on that tube could serve as a muffler. Have you tried that? I used to use a decapitated Headrest. Last one I've kept the box on it but took off the headgear, but getting ready to dismantle this one too before I go bald with that thing sitting on the front of my head.

rosacer wrote:The second question is: is a shorter tubing enough to produce a noticeable noise reduction?

Rosie, my gut instinct is that making the narrow diameter connector tube shorter won't make the Headrest quieter. But if you, or someone else, tries what you're thinking about (and described so well)... and it does lessen the sound, that will be a very good outcome. You think like a good Lab Rat, ya know?

Kteague wrote
Last one I've kept the box on it but took off the headgear, but getting ready to dismantle this one too before I go bald with that thing sitting on the front of my head.

So funny Kteague, I was thinking the same thing, me too I was having problems with my hair and the front tooth too I didn't wanted to destroy the mask. My tooth won.

My small tube has a cover on 75% of the length. The only thing that works is my hear plugs The other day I toke from the closet my PRSystem One Rev00, OH MY GOODNESS what a concert I get, I was not able to sleep well; I'm now used to the quietness of my PRSystem One REV02. I was wondering how in the hearth I was able to sleep for almost one year using the REV00 So the idea to make a fix to the Headrest came to my mind.

Restedgal

You are maybe right but there is a small possibility that the noise diminishes in certain way. It will maybe diminished only a bit. Me too I have the impression the exhaust ports are the principal cause of the noise and that has no solution. When you reduce the diameter of a tube the speed of the fluid traveling inside increases, so do the turbulence, friction, noise; still the million dollars question is how much this is responsible of the problem.

Maybe one day I will try it. If I do it I'll let you know what happened. I could WIN a trophy YES!!!!