BREATHABLE AIR SAFETY SYSTEM FOR BOTH EMERGENCY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL

• US 20100031955A1
• Filed: 07/23/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rescue Air Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rescue Air Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: TURIELLO, ANTHONY J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,371,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.240
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 15/00 Installations affording protection against poisonous or injurious substances, e.g. with separate breathing apparatus preventing escape of dirt or fumes from the area where they are produced B08B15/00; building aspects E04H9/00 ; use of air currents for screening F24F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/877 With flow control means for branched passages

Abstract

A method and/or system for a breathable air safety system for both emergency and civilian personnel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a safety system includes a supply unit of a structure to facilitate delivery of a breathable air from a source of compressed air to an air distribution system of the structure, a civilian air supply enclosure of the structure to provide a civilian pressure of the breathable air such that the civilian pressure is suitable for direct human consumption through a civilian breathable air apparatus coupled with the civilian air supply enclosure, a firefighter air supply enclosure of the structure to provide a high-pressure of the breathable air such that the high-pressure is suitable to fill the breathable air in a firefighter breathable air apparatus through a RIC/UAC connector of the fill panel and/or a CGA connector.

Claims

1. A safety system, comprising:

a supply unit of a structure to facilitate delivery of a breathable air from a source of compressed air to an air distribution system of the structure;

a civilian air supply enclosure of the structure to provide a civilian pressure of the breathable air such that the civilian pressure is suitable for direct human consumption through a civilian breathable air apparatus coupled with the civilian air supply enclosure;

a firefighter air supply enclosure of the structure to provide a high-pressure of the breathable air such that the high-pressure is suitable to fill the breathable air in a firefighter breathable air apparatus; and

a routing mechanism of the structure to provide a distribution of the breathable air through at least one of a wall, a ceiling, and a floor of the structure.

2. The safety system of claim 1 further comprising a combined fill panel of the structure that provides the breathable air at the civilian pressure suitable for direct human consumption concurrently with the breathable air at the high-pressure suitable for filling the breathable air in the firefighter breathable air apparatus.

3. The safety system of claim 2 wherein:

the civilian pressure of the breathable air provided by the civilian air supply enclosure is approximately 10 to 40 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI); and

the high-pressure of the breathable air provided by the firefighter air supply enclosure is approximately 3000-6000 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI).

4. The safety system of claim 3 wherein:

the civilian breathable air apparatus is at least one of a respiratory mask, a face covering, and a protective breathing unit; and

the firefighter breathable air apparatus is a portable compressed air container that facilitates delivery of the breathable air to a firefighter during a rescue mission.

5. The safety system of claim 4 wherein:

a breakable cover of an enclosure of the civilian air supply enclosure to secure the civilian air supply enclosure from intrusions that potentially compromise safety and reliability of the air distribution system; and

a solid cover with a locking mechanism of the firefighter air supply enclosure to secure the firefighter air supply enclosure from intrusions that potentially compromise safety and reliability of the air distribution system.

6. The safety system of claim 5 wherein the civilian air supply enclosure further comprising a communication system of the civilian air supply enclosure to enable communication with emergency personnel directly from the civilian air supply enclosure, and wherein the breathable air in the firefighter breathable air apparatus is filled through at least one of a RIC/UAC connector and a CGA (Compressed Gas Association) connector of the firefighter fill panel.

7. The safety system of claim 6 wherein an alarm is triggered when the breakable cover of the civilian air supply enclosure is compromised that alerts the emergency personnel to a location in the structure where rescue aid is required.

8. The safety system of claim 5 further comprising an enclosure encompassing the civilian air supply enclosure and the firefighter air supply enclosure having any of a weather resistant feature, ultraviolet and infrared solar radiation resistant feature to prevent corrosion and physical damage.

9. The safety system of claim 5 further comprising a valve to prevent leakage of the breathable air from the air distribution system potentially leading to loss of a system pressure.

10. The safety system of claim 9 further comprising a regulation module of the civilian air supply enclosure and the firefighter air supply enclosure to maintain pressures of the breathable air when other breathable air apparatuses are actively being used to deliver the breathable air through the fill panel.

11. The safety system of claim 1 further comprising any of a fire rated material and a fire rated assembly to enclose a piping of the air distribution system such that the air distribution system has an ability to withstand elevated temperatures for a prescribed period of time.

12. The safety system of claim 11 further comprising:

a robust solid casing to encase the piping to prevent physical damage to the air distribution system potentially compromising a safety and integrity of the air distribution system.

any of a stainless steel and a thermoplastic material to ensure that the piping is compatible for use with the compressed air.

13. A method of a safety system in a structure, comprising:

transferring a breathable air from an air distribution system to a civilian air supply enclosure having a valve to regulate distribution of the breathable air to a person at a civilian pressure suitable for direct human consumption through a civilian breathable air apparatus coupled with a panel of the civilian air supply enclosure;

transferring the breathable air from the air distribution system to a firefighter air supply enclosure having a valve to regulate distribution of air to a person at a high-pressure suitable for filling the breathable air in a firefighter breathable air apparatus through a connector on the firefighter air supply enclosure; and

detecting that a quality of the breathable air is safe to use.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein:

the civilian pressure of the breathable air provided by the civilian air supply enclosure is approximately 10 to 40 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI); and

the high-pressure of the breathable air provided by the firefighter air supply enclosure is approximately 3000-6000 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI).

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the civilian breathable air apparatus is at least one of a respiratory mask, a face covering, and a protective breathing unit; and

the firefighter breathable air apparatus is a portable compressed air container that facilitates delivering of the breathable air to the firefighter during a rescue mission.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining that a breakable cover of the civilian air supply enclosure is compromised;

transmitting a signal that provides a notification of a location of the civilian air supply enclosure to emergency personnel;

providing a communication mechanism between the civilian air supply enclosure and the emergency personnel through a telephone affixed to the fill panel; and

maintaining a pressure of the breathable air when breathable air apparatuses are actively being used to deliver the breathable air through the civilian air supply enclosure and the firefighter air supply enclosure.

17. A structure comprising:

a civilian air supply enclosure to provide a civilian-pressure of a breathable air such that a civilian pressure is suitable for direct human consumption through a civilian breathable air apparatus coupled with the civilian air supply enclosure; and

a firefighter air supply enclosure to provide a high-pressure of the breathable air such that the high pressure is suitable for filling the breathable air in a firefighter breathable air apparatus through a connector on the fill panel; and

a regulation module to maintain a pressure of the breathable air of the civilian air supply enclosures and the firefighter air supply enclosures actively being used to deliver the breathable air.

18. The structure of claim 17 wherein the regulation module may be installed at least one of the civilian air supply enclosure, the firefighter air supply enclosure, and an air distribution system to facilitate delivering of the breathable air of approximately 10 to 40 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) for the civilian air supply enclosure and to facilitate delivering of the breathable air of approximately 3000-6000 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) for the firefighter air supply enclosure.

19. The structure of claim 17 wherein:

wherein the civilian pressure of the breathable air is approximately 10 to 40 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) for a civilian breathable air apparatus such that civilian pressure is suitable for direct human consumption through the civilian breathable air apparatus; and

wherein the civilian breathable air apparatus is at least one of a respiratory mask, a face covering, and a protective breathing unit.

20. The structure of claim 17 wherein:

wherein the high-pressure of the breathable air is approximately 3000-6000 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) for the firefighter breathable air apparatus such that the high-pressure is suitable for filling a compressed form of the breathable air in the firefighter breathable air apparatus through at least one of the RIC/UAC connector and a CGA connector; and

wherein the firefighter breathable air apparatus is a portable compressed air container that facilitates delivering of the breathable air to the firefighter during a rescue mission.