Underwater oxygen supply system

• US 5,411,018 A
• Filed: 05/26/1994
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Laney T. Rinehart
• Original Assignee: Laney T. Rinehart
• Inventors: Rinehart, Laney T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US08/249,468
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 128/201.27, 128/201.28, 128/202.14, 128/204.26, 128/205.11, 128/205.24
• US Class Current: 128/201.28
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/025 Halfmasks A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/02 Valves non-return valves mounted in breathing masks or helmets A62B18/10
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/186 Mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/22 carried by diver

Abstract

An underwater breathing apparatus capable of supplying either 100% air, 100% oxygen, or an air/oxygen mixture to a diver as needed. A selector switch clearly indicates what is being supplied through the separate secondary breathing apparatus (or "octopus") of the rescuing diver. Also disclosed is a face mask to be placed around the nose and mouth of a diver in distress that is configured with an adaptor which accepts and seals around the mouthpiece of the secondary breathing apparatus. In this fashion, the rescuing diver can supply either air, oxygen, or a mixture of the two to a diver in distress in either a free-flow state or upon demand.

Claims

1. An underwater breathing apparatus having a pressurized air tank, a primary breathing apparatus, and a separate secondary breathing apparatus with mouthpiece wherein the improvement comprises:

(a) a pressurized oxygen tank secured to the air tank;

(b) a first conduit coupled to the air tank and a separate second conduit coupled to said oxygen tank;

(c) a gas mixing valve coupled to both said conduits intermediate the secondary breathing apparatus and said conduits, said gas mixing valve comprising;

i. selector switch means for selectively supplying either pressurized air from the air tank, pressurized oxygen from said oxygen tank, or a pressurized air/oxygen mixture to the secondary breathing apparatus;

ii. an internal mixing chamber for combining said pressurized air and said pressurized oxygen therein prior to delivering said pressurized air/oxygen mixture to the secondary breathing apparatus; and

,

iii. check valve means for preventing backflow through said gas mixing valve.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a face mask sealing around the nose and mouth of a user, said face mask comprising adaptor means for coupling with the mouthpiece of the secondary breathing apparatus.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said adaptor means further comprises projecting tube means for insertion into the mouthpiece when the mouthpiece and said adaptor means are coupled together.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said adaptor means further comprises indentations for accepting the mouthpiece therein and sealing between the mouthpiece and said adaptor means.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said face mask further comprises purge valve means for exhausting fluid from said face mask and attachment means for securing said face mask around the face of the user.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said internal mixing chamber supplies a 60%/40% air/oxygen mixture to the secondary breathing apparatus.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a first stage regulator secured to the air tank, a separate first stage regulator secured to said oxygen tank, and a second stage regulator secured to the secondary breathing apparatus upstream the mouthpiece.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second stage regulator upstream the mouthpiece can be adjusted to supply a free-flow of breathing medium to the user or said second stage regulator can be adjusted to supply said breathing medium upon demand.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first stage regulator secured to the air tank also couples to the primary breathing apparatus and to a pressure gauge.