Valve for a pressure breathing system which accomplishes the Valsalva maneuver

• US 5,467,766 A
• Filed: 10/13/1993
• Issued: 11/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Pennell, David N., Ansite, William K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Asher, Kimberly L.
• Application Number:
  US08/135,740
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 128/201.15, 128/201.24, 128/206.21, 128/206.23, 128/201.18, 128/201.12, 128/207.12, 128/201.23, 128/201.25, 128/201.26 , 128/201.27, 128/203.22, 128/203.18, 128/204.26, 128/206.28, 128/205.24, 128/205.25, 73/40
• US Class Current: 128/205.24
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/10 Valves

Abstract

A pressurized breathing system enabling the execution of the Valsalva maneuver. A breathing mask has an inhalation valve and an exhalation valve. A Valsalva valve when in its normal position does not interfere with the regular performance of the system. When it is activated, it holds the exhalation valve closed. An exhalation effort of the wearer then accomplishes the Valsalva maneuver against the closed inhalation valve.

Claims

1. In a pressurized breathing system comprising a face mask defining a breathing cavity adapted to surround a user'"'"'s nose and mouth, in which an inhalation valve receives breathing gases under supply pressure and supplies them on demand to the cavity, and in which an exhalation valve receives gases from the cavity and discharges them to atmosphere, said inhalation valve and said exhalation valve being unidirectional check valves, said exhalation valve being biased to require muscular effort by the user to raise the cavity to a sufficient pressure to open said exhalation valve, the improvement comprising means to selectively maintain the exhalation valve closed even at pressures above said sufficient pressure, whereby upon exertion of exhalation pressure, the Valsalva maneuver will be accomplished, said means comprising:

said exhalation valve including a seat and an exhalation poppet having a seal, said exhalation poppet being spring-biased toward said seat, and a compensation chamber selectively communicable with said breathing cavity and with said source of gases under supply pressure, said compensation chamber facing said exhalation poppet, pressure in said compensation chamber tending to force the seal toward the seat; and

a Valsalva valve comprising a body having a poppet passage, a poppet seat, a poppet, and a poppet seal, connected between said compensation chamber and said cavity, said Valsalva valve selectively preventing and permitting entry of cavity pressure to said compensation chamber such that when said compensation chamber communicates with said source of gasses under supply pressure, the exhalation valve operates normally, but when said compensation chamber communicates with cavity pressure, the exhalation poppet is held closed.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said poppet of said Valsalva valve includes manually operable and accessible means to move said poppet in said Valsalva valve.

3. A pressurized system comprising:

a face mask defining a breathing cavity adapted to surround a user'"'"'s nose and mouth;

a source of breathing gases under supply pressure;

a unidirectional inhalation valve connected to said source of breathing gases, said inhalation valve mounted to said mask and having an outlet port opening into said cavity;

a unidirectional exhalation valve comprising a valve body having an inlet port opening into said cavity and an outlet port opening to atmosphere, said inlet port having a seat facing downstream from said inlet port between said inlet port and said outlet port, there being an axially movable poppet seal facing said seat and opening and closing said seat, spring bias means biasing said seal toward said seat, a compensation chamber in said body at an opposite side of said poppet seal from said poppet seat, said axially movable seal means interconnecting said poppet seat and the valve body, said axially movable seal means closing said compensation chamber and enabling the poppet seal to move, and a compensation port through said body opening into said compensation chamber; and

a Valsalva valve having a body, a first port connected to said source, a second port connected to said compensation port, a third port opening into said cavity, and valve means for selectively interconnecting said first and second ports in a first valving condition, and to connect said second and third ports in a second valving condition;

the valve means in said first valving condition connecting the source of gases under supply pressure to said compensation chamber and said pressurized system functioning normally, and said valve means in said second valving condition holding the exhalation valve closed and permitting exhalation into the cavity against the closed inhalation and exhalation valves to increase the cavity pressure and accomplish the Valsalva maneuver.

4. A pressurized breathing system according to claim 3 in which said movable seal means in said exhalation valve is a rolling diaphragm.

6. A pressure breathing system according to claim 3 in which said valve means in the Valsalva valve comprises a valve passage opening into said cavity, said first and second ports opening into said passage at axially spaced apart locations, said third port opening at an end of said passage, and a poppet axially slidable in said passage, said poppet including a head adapted to close said third port in said first condition, and to open it in said second condition, said poppet having channel means which in said first condition interconnects said first and second ports having said third port closed, and in said second condition closing said first port leaving said second port open and opening said third port.

7. A pressure breathing system according to claim 6 in which said movable seal means in said exhalation valve is a rolling diaphragm.

8. A pressurized breathing system according to claim 7 in which said inlet port of said Valsalva valve is connected to said source through a passage in said inhalation valve which opens into said source ahead of unidirectional check means in salad inhalation valve.

5. A pressurized breathing system according to claim 5 in which said inlet port of said Valsalva valve is connected to said source through a passage in said inhalation valve which opens into said source ahead of unidirectional check means in said inhalation valve.