High pressure air cylinders for use with self-contained breathing apparatus

• US 10,016,630 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Scott Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Phifer, Jerry Allen, Parson, William Eugene, Mele, Ronald Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Vasat, Peter S
• Application Number:
  US14/644,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20160038774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 220581, 220584, 12820522
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/02 Masks gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/022 Breathing demand regulators SCUBA diving regulators B63C11/22
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/04 Couplings; Supporting frames
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/00 Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 ; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0128 spherical or elliptical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 Breathing

Abstract

A self-contained breathing apparatus includes an air cylinder pressurized to about 5500 psi, wherein the air cylinder is compatible with infrastructure used in conjunction with the air cylinder. The self-contained breathing apparatus also includes a first regulator valve for reducing air pressure from the air cylinder to a predetermined level. A second regulator valve is also provided for reducing the air pressure from the predetermined level to a level suitable for use by an operator, wherein air is supplied from the second regulator valve to the operator via a mask. The self-contained breathing apparatus further includes a frame for supporting the air cylinder on the back of the operator. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. An assembly for a firefighter self-contained breathing apparatus, comprising:

a frame having a user support portion mounted to the frame; and

a single cylinder mounted to the frame, the single cylinder including a pressure volume portion for containing a volume of gas pressurized to a service pressure, the pressure volume portion having a length, a diameter, and a water volume;

wherein the service pressure is about 5,500 psig;

wherein the single cylinder further includes a gas transmission port coupled to a pressure regulator assembly;

wherein the pressure volume portion defines an operational parameter of the compressed gas cylinder, the operational parameter being a relationship between free air capacity of the compressed gas cylinder in liters and a rated service time in minutes, the operational parameter consisting of 2400 liters of free gas and provides the rated service time as 60 minutes; and

wherein the length of the pressure volume portion is about 17.9 inches to about 20.3 inches, and the diameter of the pressure volume portion is about 5.7 inches to about 6.1 inches; and

the compressed gas cylinder has a weight of about 10.0 pounds to about 11.6 pounds.

2. A self-contained breathing apparatus of a firefighter, comprising:

a single compressed gas cylinder comprising a pressure volume portion for containing a volume of gas pressurized to a service pressure of about 5.500 psig, the pressure volume portion having a length, a diameter, and a water volume;

the single compressed gas cylinder further including a gas transmission port;

a first regulator valve coupled to the gas transmission port for receiving compressed gas from the pressure volume portion, the first regulator valve for reducing a first pressure of gas received from the pressure volume portion to a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure;

a second regulator valve in fluid communication with the first regulator valve for receiving compressed gas from the first regulator valve, the second regulator valve for reducing the pressure of gas received from the first regulator valve to a third pressure that is lower than the second pressure;

a mask portion in fluid communication with the second regulator valve, the mask portion for providing gas at the third pressure to a user; and

a frame portion having a user support portion to enable a user to carry the single compressed gas cylinder;

wherein the pressure volume portion defines an operational parameter of the compressed gas cylinder, the operational parameter being a relationship between free air capacity of the compressed gas cylinder in liters and a rated service time in minutes, the operational parameter consisting of 2400 liters of free gas and provides the rated service time as 60 minutes; and

wherein the length of the pressure volume portion is about 17.9 inches to about 20.3 inches, and the diameter of the pressure volume portion is about 5.7 inches to about 6.1 inches; and

the compressed gas cylinder has a weight of about 10.0 pounds to about 11.6 pounds.

3. An air cylinder and regulator assembly for mounting to a frame of firefighter self-contained breathing apparatus, the frame having a support portion to enable a firefighter to carry a single air cylinder and regulator assembly, the air cylinder and regulator assembly comprising:

a compressed gas cylinder having a gas transmission port; and

a pressure regulator valve coupled to the gas transmission port;

wherein the compressed gas cylinder comprises a pressure volume portion for containing a volume of gas pressurized to a service pressure of about 5500 psig, the pressure volume portion defines an operational parameter of the compressed gas cylinder, the operational parameter being a relationship between free air capacity of the compressed gas cylinder in liters and a rated service time in minutes, the operational parameter consisting of 2400 liters of free gas and provides the rated service time as 60 minutes, the pressure volume portion having a length, a diameter, and a water volume;

the length of the pressure volume portion is about 17.9 inches to about 20.3 inches, and the diameter of the pressure volume portion is about 5.7 inches to about 6.1 inches; and

the compressed gas cylinder has a weight of about 10.0 pounds to about 11.6 pounds.