Breathable gas distribution apparatus

• US 4,510,930 A
• Filed: 03/08/1983
• Issued: 04/16/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Energy
• Original Assignee: United States Department of Energy (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Garcia, Elmer D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US06/473,390
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 128/202.13, 128/201.28, 128/202.27, 128/202.22, 128/204.18, 128/204.25, 128/205.12, 128/205.24, 128/205.23, 128/205.19, 128/205.2 5, 222/3, 222/6, 137/883
• US Class Current: 128/202.22
• 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

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to an apparatus for safely supplying breathable gas or air through individual respirators to personnel working in a contaminated area.

Claims

1. An apparatus for safely supplying breathable gas to personnel at a controlled pressure and flow rate from a source of very high pressure, said apparatus comprising:

first pressure regulator means operably connected to said gas source for reducing pressure from said high pressure source to a greatly reduced pressure, well above atmospheric pressure;

second pressure regulator means operably connected to said first pressure regulator means for reducing gas pressure further;

first overpressure relief means operably connected to said second pressure regulator means;

low pressure audible alarm means operably connected to said second pressure regulator means;

manifold means operably connected to said second pressure regulator means for receiving said breathable gas;

a plurality of conduits operably connected to said manifold means, each conduit in said plurality thereof for conducting said breathable gas;

second overpressure relief valve means and overpressure valve audible alarm means operably connected to each of said plurality of conduits;

flow meter means connected to each of said conduits for controlling the flow of breathable gas through each of said conduits at a desired flow rate and pressure; and

a plurality of individual breathing apparatuses, each individual breathing apparatus therein being singularly connected to one conduit in said plurality thereof for receiving said breathable gas conducted from said manifold means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flow meter means comprises a flow meter connected to each conduit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising second pressure relief means operably connected to said manifold means.

4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising means for detecting too low a pressure operably connected to said second pressure regulator means.

5. The invention of claim 1 further comprising pressure gauges operably disposed at said first and second pressure regulator means, on said manifold means and on said conduits between said manifold means and said relief valve means.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first pressure regulator means receives gas at over about 2000 psig and reduces it to a pressure between about 65 and about 100 psig.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said second pressure regulator means reduces pressure from the about 65 to about 100 psig range to between about 50 to about 70 psig.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said manifold means reduces pressure from the about 50 to about 70 psig range to between about 15 and about 19 psig.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said breathable gas delivered through said conduits to each of the individual breathing apparatuses is between about 4 and about 15 psig.