Escape breathing apparatus

• US 3,976,063 A
• Filed: 09/16/1974
• Issued: 08/24/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Environmental Technologies Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Bendix Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Henneman, John W., Hinds, Duane E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US05/506,497
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 128/142, 128/142.2, 128/142.3, 128/142.4, 128/142.5, 128/142.6, 128/142.7, 128/145 R, 128/145.8, 128/146, 128/146.3, 128/146.4, 128/146.5 , 128/146.6, 128/146.7, 128/191 R, 128/202, 128/203, 190/41 Z
• US Class Current: 128/201.25
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/10 with filter elements

Abstract

A method and system for supplying a person with breathable fluid in an irrespirable atmosphere. A package which is attached to a person holds a container having a valve which is activated upon removal of a protective cover. The valve allows a breathable fluid to flow at a variable rate to a supply conduit. The supply conduit is connected to a reservoir. An inhalation check valve connects the supply conduit to the person. Upon inhalation, the check valve will open and allow breathable fluid to flow from the supply conduit. Upon exhalation, the inhalation check valve closes and an exhalation check valve opens to permit the breathed air to flow through a filter where carbon dioxide is removed before returning to be mixed with breathable fluid in the supply conduit.

Claims

1. A closed loop breathing system for providing emergency protection from an irrespirable atmosphere, said system comprising:

package means attachable to the waist of a person;

covering means attached to said package means to prevent the transmission of contaminants into the interior of the package means;

zipper means connected to said covering means and responsive to an operator for providing access to a portion of the component parts of said breathing system located in said interior of the package means;

container means located in the interior of said package means for retaining a quantity of a first breathable fluid;

first control means connected to said container means for regulating the flow of said first fluid from the container means;

actuator means associated with said first control means and responsive to an operator input to allow said first breathable fluid to continually flow from said container means;

conduit means connected to said first control means for directing the flow of said first fluid away from said container means;

hood means connected to said conduit means, said hood means forming a seal with said person to prevent any of the irrespirable atmosphere from reaching the nose and mouth area of said person;

reservoir means connected to said hood means for establishing a mixing chamber for mixing the first breathable fluid with breathed fluid to replenish metabolic oxygen consumed during breathing;

first one-way check valve means for permitting inhalation by the person of breathable fluid from the reservoir means a relief chamber communicating with said hood means into said hood means;

second one-way check valve means connected to said hood means for permitting exhalation of breathed fluid by the person into said relief chamber, said relief chamber being connected to said reservoir means to allow a portion of the breathed fluid to be communicated to the mixing chamber;

filter means located between the relief chamber and the reservoir means for removing any water vapor and carbon dioxide from the breathed fluid before being communicated to the mixing chamber;

relief valve means located in the relief chamber for maintaining the pressure in the mixing chamber within a predetermined range; and

curtain means attached to said hood means and extending to the shoulders of the person to further protect the person from any harmful conditions present in said irrespirable atmosphere.

2. The closed loop breathing system, as recited in claim 1 wherein said container means further includes;

gauge means for indicating in time, the quantity of said first fluid available for sustaining a person'"'"'s rate of oxygen consumption.

3. The closed loop breathing system, as recited in claim 2 wherein said control means includes:

seal means for covering an opening from the container means;

plunger means connected to said zipper means for rupturing said seal means upon removal of the covering means around the packaging means; and

restrictor means connected to said opening for establishing the flow rate of said first fluid to said conduit means.

4. The closed loop breathing system, as recited in claim 3 wherein said hood means includes:

bubble means for encapsulating the head of the person, said bubble means having an opening with a seal therearound for engaging the neck of the person to prevent escape of breathable fluid from the bubble.

5. The closed loop breathing system, as recited in claim 4 wherein said hood means further includes:

relief valve means for maintaining the pressure of breathable fluid within the bubble means within a predetermined range.

6. The closed loop breathing system, as recited in claim 5 wherein said filter means includes:

first barrier means for removing water vapor from the breathed air before being presented to the mixing chamber; and

second barrier means concentric to the first barrier means for removal of carbon dioxide from the breathed air to maintain the metabolic activity of the person with acceptable limits.

7. The closed loop breathing system, as recited in claim 1 wherein said hood means includes:

face mask means connected to said second control means having an expandable strap for holding the mask against the face to establish said seal.

8. The closed loop breathing system, as recited in claim 7 wherein said hood means further includes:

a cap having a metalized reflective surface thereon to reduce the transfer of thermal energy from the irrespirable atmosphere.

9. A closed loop breathing system for providing a person with a breathable fluid while in an irrespirable atmosphere, comprising:

package means attachable to the torso of the person by a belt;

covering means attached to said package means for preventing the transmission of contaminants into the interior of said package means;

fastener means connected to said covering means and responsive to the person for providing access to a portion of the interior of the package means;

container means located in the interior of said package means for retaining a quantity of a first fluid;

seal means for covering an opening in said container means;

plunger means connected to said container means and responsive to said person for rupturing said seal means and allowing said first fluid to flow from said container means through the opening;

control means connected to said container means for regulating the flow rate of said first fluid from said container means;

pressure reducer means connected to said control means for allowing said first fluid to continually flow from said container means;

conduit means connected to said pressure reducer means for directing the flow of said first fluid away from said pressure reducer means;

hood means connected to said conduit means, said hood means having a flexible surface with sealing means adapted to engage the neck of the person and prevent any of the irrespirable atmosphere from being communicated to the nose and mouth area of the person;

injector means connected to said conduit means for allowing said first fluid to continually flow into said hood means to form a bubble which surrounds the head of the person;

a mixing chamber communicating with the interior of said hood means, said injector means terminating in said mixing chamber;

filter means connected to said hood means and said injector means for removing any water vapor and carbon dioxide said filter means communicates with the interior of said hood means and said mixing chamber whereby breathed fluid is communicated through said filter means into said mixing chamber as a result of a pressure differential being created when said first fluid is continually communicated to said hood means, said first fluid and said breathed fluid being combined in the mixing chamber to provide breathable fluid before being communicated to said bubble, said breathable fluid being breathed by the person from the bubble to sustain metabolic needs for a predetermined period of time, said flow of the breathed fluid through the filter means and the breathable fluid into the bubble providing continuous cooling of the head area of the person; and

escape means for maintaining the pressure of the breathable fluid in the bubble under a predetermined pressure.

10. In the closed loop breathing system, as recited in claim 9 wherein said filter means includes:

first barrier means adjacent the injector means for removing water vapor from the breathed air before being presented to the mixing chamber; and

second barrier means concentric to the first barrier means for removal of carbon dioxide from the breathed air to maintain the metabolic activity of the person with acceptable limits.

11. In the closed loop breathing system, as recited in claim 10 wherein said hood means includes:

curtain means attached to said hood means and extending over the shoulders of the person to provide further protection for any harmful conditions present in the irrespirable atmosphere.