Kearny Air Pump

The Kearny Air Pump is an expedient air pump used to ventillate a shelter. The design is such that a motivated person with normal mechanical skills can construct and operate one. It is usually human powered and employed during a time of crisis. It was designed to be used in a fallout shelter, but it can be used in any situation where ventilation is needed such as after a hurricane.

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It was developed from research performed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by Cresson Kearny and published in Nuclear War Survival Skills.

The basic principle is to create a flat surface with vanes which close when moving air and open when going back to the starting position.

See also

• Kearny Fallout Meter
• Nuclear War Survival Skills (ISBN 0-942487-01-X)