Emergency breathing apparatus

• US 5,293,864 A
• Filed: 08/01/1991
• Issued: 03/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geomet Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Geomet Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: McFadden, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US07/739,066
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 128/201.22, 128/201.24, 128/201.25, 128/201.23, 128/201.28, 128/201.29, 128/201.27, 128/202.12, 128/202.11, 128/202.19 , 128/205.26, 128/205.24, 128/202.22
• US Class Current: 128/201.29
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 17/008 High-altitude pressure suits
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/18 Air supply for diving masks B63C11/14, B63C11/16; respiratory apparatus in general A62B

Abstract

An EBA system is provided which includes a primary source of pressurized air, a secondary source of pressurized air, hoses leading the primary and secondary sources of pressurized air to an EBA valve, and two hoses for directing pressurized air to the interior of a protective suit for over-pressurization and to a mouthpiece of a user. The valve is constructed and arranged to operate under two modes of operation, in one of which air from the primary air source is directed to an over-pressurization hose and an inhalation hose while air from the secondary air source hose is blocked, and a second mode in which air from the secondary or auxiliary supply is directed to the inhalation hose but not to the pressurization hose.

Claims

1. A breathing apparatus comprising first and second sources of air;

a protective suit having an interior, an inhalation port and valve means for controlling the flow of air relative to said first and second air sources, said protective suit and said inhalation port;

first, second, third and fourth conduit means each connected to said valve means and respectively to said first air source, said second air source, said protective suit interior and said inhalation port;

said valve means being constructed and arranged to conduct air from said first air source to said protective suit interior and said inhalation port while preventing air flow from said second air source in a first mode of operation; and

said valve means being constructed and arranged to conduct air from said second air source to said inhalation port while preventing air flow into said protective suit interior and from said first air source beyond said valve means in a second mode of operation.

2. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a manually operable means for switching said valve means between said first and second modes of operation.

3. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a single manually operable means for switching said valve means between said first and second modes of operation.

4. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a manually slidable means for switching said valve means between said first and second modes of operation.

5. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a manually reciprocally slidable means for switching said valve means between said first and second modes of operation.

6. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a single slidable means for switching said valve means between said first and second modes of operation.

7. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a single reciprocally slidable means for switching said valve means between said first and second modes of operation.

9. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for indicating a break in said first conduit means.

11. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second air source is a portable compressed air tank carried by a wearer of said protective suit.

12. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 including quick connect/disconnect means for connecting/disconnecting at least one of said first through fourth conduit means relative to said valve means.

14. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means is denied by a single valve member having two valve heads.

16. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for indicating at least the first mode of operation of said valve.

19. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of bores associated with said conduit means and valve means, said bores have axes, at least two of said bore axes are generally normal to each other, and at least two other of said bore axes are generally coincident to each other.

20. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 2 including means in said first conduit means for adjustably regulating the air pressure flowing therethrough to said valve means.

21. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 2 including means for indicating a break in said first conduit means.

22. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said second air source is a portable compressed air tank carried by a wearer of said protective suit.

23. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve means is denied by a single valve member.

24. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 2 including a plurality of bores associated with said conduit means and valve means, said bores have axes, at least two of said bore axes are generally normal to each other, and at least two other of said bore axes are generally coincident to each other.

25. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 5 including means in said first conduit means for adjustably regulating the air pressure flowing therethrough to said valve means.

26. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 5 including means for indicating a break in said first conduit means.

27. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve means is denied by a single valve member.

28. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve means is denied by a single valve member disposed for movement relatively normal to manually operable means for switching said valve means between said first and second modes of operation.

29. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 5 including a plurality of bores associated with said conduit means and valve means, said bores have axes, at least two of said bore axes are generally normal to each other, and at least two other of said bore axes are generally coincident to each other.

30. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve means is denied by a single valve member having two valve heads.

8. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim I including means in said first conduit means for adjustably regulating the air pressure flowing therethrough to said valve means.

10. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim I including means for visually indicating a break in said first conduit means.

13. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim I wherein said valve means is denied by a single valve member.

15. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim I wherein said valve means is denied by a single valve member disposed for movement relatively normal to manually operable means for switching said valve means between said first and second modes of operation.

17. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim I including mean for indicating at least the second mode of operation of said valve.

18. The breathing apparatus as defined in claim I including means for indicating the first and second modes of operation of said valve.