EMERGENCY OXYGEN SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT WITH SWITCHING DEVICE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING AN EMERGENCY OXYGEN SYSTEM

• US 20190321660A1
• Filed: 04/18/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Aerosystems
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Aerotechnics
• Inventors: Klockiewicz, Florian Damien Romain, Xavir, Charles Christophe, Fromage, Matthieu Luc, Gillotin, Vincent Jean Pierre Marie, Walker, Stuart David Dixon
• Granted Patent: US 11,826,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/14 for high-altitude aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/02 Valves non-return valves mounted in breathing masks or helmets A62B18/10
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/06 the air being conditioned pressurising B64D13/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0681 with oxygen control
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2231/02 Supply or distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2231/025 Oxygen masks; Mask storages; Features related to mask deployment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

An emergency oxygen system for aircraft comprising:

• • a breathing gas supply circuit to be connected upstream to a source of breathing gas and downstream to at least one mask,
  • a flow control valve configured to adjust the flow of breathing gas supplied to the mask,
  • an electronics board configured to control the flow control valve,
  • a power source,
  • a switching device interposed between the power source and the electronics board, the switching device comprising a switch configured to have a first state in which power from the power source is supplied to the electronics board and a second state in which the electronics board is not supplied with power from the power source.

Claims

1. An emergency oxygen system for aircraft comprising:

a breathing gas supply circuit to be connected upstream to a source of breathing gas and downstream to at least one mask, the breathing gas supply circuit comprising a flow control valve configured to adjust the flow of breathing gas supplied to the mask,

an electronics board configured to control the flow control valve,

a power source,

a switching device interposed between the power source and the electronics board, the switching device comprising a switch configured to have a first state in which power from the power source is supplied to the electronics board and a second state in which the electronics board is not supplied with power from the power source.

2. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 1 wherein the power source is a stored power source.

3. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 1 wherein:

the switching device comprises an input point and an output point,

the power source is connected to the input point,

the electronics board is connected to the output point, and

the switching device has an impedance higher than 100 000 ohm in the second state between the input point and the output point.

4. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 1 wherein:

the switch is of electrical or electronic type,

the switching device further comprises an activation line,

the switching device is configured to actuate the switch to switch from the second state to the first state when an activation signal is present in the activation line.

5. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 4 wherein the switching device is configured to uphold the switch in the first state, even if the activation signal in the activation line disappears.

6. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 5 wherein:

the switching device comprises an input point, an output point and an ON point,

the power source is connected to the input point,

the electronics board is connected to the output point,

the switching device is configured to send the activation signal from the ON point to an ON line through the activation line, and

the switching device is configured to send an output signal from the output point to the ON line through an upholding line.

7. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 4 wherein the emergency oxygen system comprises a test switch interposed between the power source and the activation line.

8. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 4 wherein the emergency oxygen system comprises a receiver configured to receive an emergency signal and send the activation signal in the activation line.

9. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 4 wherein:

the emergency oxygen system further comprises a container, at least one mask and a latching assembly,

the container includes a door movable between a closed position and an open position,

the latching assembly has a locking state and a releasing state,

in the locking state, the latching assembly is configured to secure the door in the closed position, in order to maintain the mask within the container,

in the releasing state, the latching assembly is configured to release the door,

the activation line is connected to the latching assembly, and

the latching assembly is configured to be driven in the unlocking state when the activation signal is present in the activation line.

10. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 1 wherein:

the emergency oxygen system further comprises a container, at least one mask and a latching assembly,

the container includes a door movable between a closed position and an open position,

the latching assembly has a locking state and a releasing state,

in the locking state, the latching assembly is configured to secure the door in the closed position, in order to maintain the mask within the container,

in the releasing state, the latching assembly is configured to release the door, and

the electronics board is configured to control the unlocking state of the latching assembly.

11. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 1 wherein:

the switching device comprises a deactivation line configured to switch the switch from the first state to the second state in case a deactivation signal is present in the deactivation line, and

the electronics board is configured to send the deactivation signal in the deactivation line.

12. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 11 wherein:

the electronics board comprises an ambient pressure sensor configured to sense ambient pressure, and

the electronics board is configured to determine whether ambient pressure sensed by the pressure sensor is higher than a depressurization threshold and send the deactivation signal in the deactivation line in case the ambient pressure is higher than the depressurization threshold.

13. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 12 wherein the electronics board comprises a controller configured to control the flow control valve based on the ambient pressure sensed by the ambient pressure sensor.

14. The emergency oxygen system according to claim 1 wherein:

the emergency oxygen system comprises an actuator of aneroid type,

the actuator is configured to have a dimension below an ambient pressure threshold, so that the switch is in the first state.

15. A method of operating an emergency oxygen system including:

(i) interposing a switching device between a power source and an electronics board,

(ii) causing the switching device to electrically connect the power source to the electronics board, and

(iii) adjusting the flow of breathing gas supplied to an aircraft passenger with the electronics board.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the operation includes receiving an activation signal to cause the switching device to electrically connect the power source to the electronics board.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the operation includes upholding the power source connected to the electronics board regardless of the activation signal.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein the operation includes receiving the activation signal to cause the switching device to electrically connect the power source to the electronics board and to cause at least one mask released from a container.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein the operation includes transmitting a deactivation signal from the electronics board so as to cause the switching device to electrically disconnect the electronics board from the power source.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the method comprises detecting a test procedure and during an operation achieving a test procedure and then transmitting the deactivation signal from the electronics board so as to cause the switching device to electrically disconnect the electronics board from the power source.