Air pressure gauge with self contained adjustable alarms

• US 5,357,242 A
• Filed: 12/08/1992
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ralph R. Morgano, Russell N. Reiling, Russell N. Reiling Jr
• Original Assignee: Ralph R. Morgano, Russell N. Reiling, Russell N. Reiling Jr
• Inventors: Morgano, Ralph R., Reiling, Russell N. Jr., Reiling, Russell N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US07/986,670
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 340/626, 340/688, 340/693, 73/732, 73/733, 73/741, 73/756, 73/431
• US Class Current: 340/626
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/18 Air supply for diving masks B63C11/14, B63C11/16; respiratory apparatus in general A62B

Abstract

A diver'"'"'s air tank pressure gauge having audible and visual alarms, an alarm pointer for indicating the pressure at which the alarms will activate, and a crank assembly for changing the position of the alarm pointer. The pressure gauge dial has a cutout for limiting the travel of the alarm pointer between acceptable high and low pressure limits. When the air tank pressure equals a preset alarm pressure, an electrical circuit is completed which activates the alarms. The diver can then turn off the alarms by resetting the alarm indicator to a lower pressure setting and continue the dive at a shallower depth.

Claims

1. An air tank pressure gauge for use by scuba divers comprising:

a dial having a pressure indicator range from 0 lbs. to about 4,000 lbs. and marks corresponding thereto, a cutout portion for limiting the travel of an alarm pointer to between 250 lbs. and 1,000 lbs., and an air tank pressure indicator needle attached to a rotatable center hub for indicating the air tank pressure;

a light emitting diode mounted in an LED holder which is attached to the dial near the 4,000 lb. mark;

a shoulder screw screwed into the LED holder;

a coiled Bourdon tube assembly connected to the center hub;

an indicator lever pivotally attached to the shoulder screw and having a horizontal portion, a first ninety-degree bend, a vertical portion, a second ninety-degree bend, and terminating in said alarm pointer;

two electrically-conductive contacts mounted on the horizontal portion of the indicator lever near the first ninety-degree bend, said contacts connected in series to the light emitting diode, a battery, and an audible alarm;

a shorting lever pivotally attached at one end to the rotatable center hub and having an electrically-conductive shorting bar mounted at the opposite end of the lever such that when the air tank pressure reaches a predetermined level, the shorting lever aligns with the horizontal portion of the indicator lever, causing the shorting bar to contact the electrically-conductive contacts, completing an electrical circuit and thereby energizing the audible alarm and the light emitting diode.

2. The air tank pressure gauge of claim 1 in which the indicator lever further comprises a pin perpendicularly mounted to the vertical portion of the indicator lever and facing away from the shoulder screw, said pressure gauge further comprising a crank assembly for changing the position of the alarm pointer, said crank assembly having a knob, a mounting screw perpendicularly mounted to the center of the knob, and a vertical lever fixedly attached to the mounting screw at the end opposite the knob, said pin being slidably connected to the vertical lever in a manner such that the position of the alarm pointer can changed by rotating the knob.

3. The air tank pressure gauge of claim 2 further comprising a dial cover and case with watertight seals, said dial cover and case encompassing said dial, coiled Bourdon tube assembly, indicator lever, electrically-conductive contacts, and shorting lever.

4. An air tank pressure gauge comprising:

a dial having a pressure indicator range from about 0 lbs. to about 4,000 lbs. and marks corresponding thereto, a cutout portion for limiting the travel of an alarm pointer to between about 250 lbs. and about 1,000 lbs., and an air tank pressure indicator needle attached to a rotatable center hub for indicating the air tank pressure;

a coiled Bourdon tube connected to the center hub;

an indicator lever pivotally attached to a shoulder screw, said shoulder screw held in fixed relation with the dial at a position near the 4,000 lbs. mark of the dial, said indicator lever having a horizontal portion, a first ninety-degree bend, a vertical portion, a second ninety-degree bend, and terminating in said alarm pointer;

two electrically-conductive contacts mounted on the horizontal portion of the indicator lever near the first ninety-degree bend said contacts connected in series to a light emitting diode and a battery;

a shorting lever pivotally attached at one end to the center hub and having an electrically-conductive shorting bar mounted at the opposite end of the lever such that when the air tank pressure reaches a predetermined level, the shorting lever aligns with the horizontal portion of the indicator lever, causing the shorting bar to contact the electrically-conductive contacts, completing an electrical circuit and thereby energizing the light emitting diode.