High Pressure Air Cylinders for Use with Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

• US 20140076322A1
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Scott Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Mele, Ronald B., Phifer, Jerry A., Parson, William E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,029,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.22
• 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 psig, 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. A compressed gas cylinder, comprising:

a 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 5,400 psig to about 6,000 psig; and

wherein the single cylinder further includes a gas transmission port for coupling to a pressure regulator assembly.

2. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the single cylinder has a radius of 3.27 inches or less to minimize rotational inertia on a user.

3. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 1200 liters of free gas.

4. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 1800 liters of free gas.

5. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 2400 liters of free gas.

6. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 3000 liters of free gas.

7. A self-contained breathing apparatus, comprising:

a single compressed gas cylinder comprising a pressure volume portion for containing a volume of gas pressurized to a service pressure of about 5,400 psig to about 6,000 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.

8. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the single compressed gas cylinder has a radius of 3.27 inches or less to minimize rotational inertia on the user.

9. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 1200 liters of free gas.

10. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 1800 liters of free gas.

11. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 2400 liters of free gas.

12. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 3000 liters of free gas.

13. A method for providing gas to a user, comprising:

providing gas from a single compressed gas cylinder having a pressure volume portion for containing a volume of gas pressurized to a service pressure of about 5,400 psig to about 6,000 psig;

reducing the pressure of the gas; and

transmitting said gas at the reduced pressure to a user mask portion.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein reducing the pressure of the gas comprises:

transmitting the gas from the single compressed gas cylinder to a first regulator valve coupled to a gas transmission port of the pressure volume portion; and

reducing, at the first regulator valve, a first pressure of gas received from the pressure volume portion to a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein reducing the pressure of the gas further comprises:

transmitting said gas at said second pressure to a second regulator valve in fluid communication with the first regulator valve; and

reducing, at the second regulator valve, the pressure of gas received from the first regulator valve to a third pressure that is lower than the second pressure;

16. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting gas at the third pressure comprises transmitting gas to said mask in a demand mode in which the second regulator valve is activated only when the user inhales.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting gas at the third pressure comprises transmitting gas to said mask in a continuous mode in which the second regulator valve provides constant gas flow to the mask.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

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

wherein the single compressed gas cylinder has a radius of 3.27 inches or less to minimize rotational inertia on the user.