Oxygen breathing controller having a G-sensor
First Claim
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1. An oxygen breathing controller for supplying an oxygen containing fluid to a user, which comprises:
- a) a first stage regulator means provided to regulate a pressure of the oxygen containing fluid from a source pressure to a reduced, set point pressure that is somewhat greater than an inhalation pressure suitable for inhalation by the user, the first stage regulator means comprising;
i) a first stage inlet chamber for receiving the oxygen containing fluid at the source pressure; and
ii) a first stage outlet chamber for providing the oxygen containing fluid at the set point pressure, wherein when the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber is at the set point pressure, fluid flow communication between the first stage inlet chamber and the first stage outlet chamber is closed, and wherein when the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber is below the set point pressure, fluid flow communication between the first stage inlet and outlet chambers is present to raise the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber back to the set point pressure; and
b) a second stage regulator means in fluid flow communication with the first stage regulator means and disposed downstream thereof, the second stage regulator means comprising;
i) a second stage inlet chamber in fluid flow communication with the first stage outlet chamber;
ii) a second stage outlet chamber disposed downstream of the second stage inlet chamber and leading to a breathing apparatus for supplying the user'"'"'s breathing requirements;
iii) a diaphragm means separating the second stage inlet chamber and the second stage outlet chamber; and
iv) means for selectively creating a pressure differential across the second stage inlet chamber and the second stage outlet chamber for flexing the diaphragm means between a closed, no flow position and an open, flow position to provide the breathable oxygen containing fluid to the user upon the occurrence of an inhalation event, wherein with an altitude below an altitude threshold and a G-force below a G-force threshold and upon the occurrence of the inhalation event, the diaphragm means is in the open, flow position with the inhalation pressure transmitted to the second stage inlet chamber to thereby cause the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber to fall below the set point pressure so that fluid flow communication between the first stage inlet and outlet chambers is present to admit additional oxygen containing fluid into the first stage outlet chamber to thereby raise the pressure therein back to the set point pressure to close off communication between the first stage inlet chamber at the source pressure and the first stage outlet chamber at the set point pressure while fulfilling the user'"'"'s breathing requirements, and wherein when the user'"'"'s breathing requirements increase due to an increase in either the altitude above the altitude threshold or an increase in the G-forces above the G-force threshold or both, the means for selectively creating the pressure differential across the second stage inlet chamber and the second stage outlet chamber of the second stage regulator means flexes the diaphragm means between the closed, no flow position and the open, flow position at an increased pressure differential in response to the greater of an altitude dependent breathing requirement and a G-force dependent breathing requirement, respectively.
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Abstract
The oxygen breathing controller (10) of the present invention provides a two-stage inlet regulator. In addition, the oxygen breathing controller is provided with an aneroid sensor (100) and a G-sensor (80). The G-sensor has at least two diaphragms (92,93) with G-pressure applied to one of them. Pressure control then depends on a ratio between the effective areas of the diaphragms.
89 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An oxygen breathing controller for supplying an oxygen containing fluid to a user, which comprises:
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a) a first stage regulator means provided to regulate a pressure of the oxygen containing fluid from a source pressure to a reduced, set point pressure that is somewhat greater than an inhalation pressure suitable for inhalation by the user, the first stage regulator means comprising; i) a first stage inlet chamber for receiving the oxygen containing fluid at the source pressure; and ii) a first stage outlet chamber for providing the oxygen containing fluid at the set point pressure, wherein when the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber is at the set point pressure, fluid flow communication between the first stage inlet chamber and the first stage outlet chamber is closed, and wherein when the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber is below the set point pressure, fluid flow communication between the first stage inlet and outlet chambers is present to raise the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber back to the set point pressure; and b) a second stage regulator means in fluid flow communication with the first stage regulator means and disposed downstream thereof, the second stage regulator means comprising; i) a second stage inlet chamber in fluid flow communication with the first stage outlet chamber; ii) a second stage outlet chamber disposed downstream of the second stage inlet chamber and leading to a breathing apparatus for supplying the user'"'"'s breathing requirements; iii) a diaphragm means separating the second stage inlet chamber and the second stage outlet chamber; and iv) means for selectively creating a pressure differential across the second stage inlet chamber and the second stage outlet chamber for flexing the diaphragm means between a closed, no flow position and an open, flow position to provide the breathable oxygen containing fluid to the user upon the occurrence of an inhalation event, wherein with an altitude below an altitude threshold and a G-force below a G-force threshold and upon the occurrence of the inhalation event, the diaphragm means is in the open, flow position with the inhalation pressure transmitted to the second stage inlet chamber to thereby cause the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber to fall below the set point pressure so that fluid flow communication between the first stage inlet and outlet chambers is present to admit additional oxygen containing fluid into the first stage outlet chamber to thereby raise the pressure therein back to the set point pressure to close off communication between the first stage inlet chamber at the source pressure and the first stage outlet chamber at the set point pressure while fulfilling the user'"'"'s breathing requirements, and wherein when the user'"'"'s breathing requirements increase due to an increase in either the altitude above the altitude threshold or an increase in the G-forces above the G-force threshold or both, the means for selectively creating the pressure differential across the second stage inlet chamber and the second stage outlet chamber of the second stage regulator means flexes the diaphragm means between the closed, no flow position and the open, flow position at an increased pressure differential in response to the greater of an altitude dependent breathing requirement and a G-force dependent breathing requirement, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for regulating an oxygen containing fluid flow to a breathing mask worn by a user in an aircraft during flight, comprising the steps of:
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a) controlling an intake of the fluid into the breathing mask in two stages comprising; providing a first stage regulator means for regulating a pressure of the oxygen containing fluid from a source pressure to a reduced, set point pressure that is somewhat greater than an inhalation pressure suitable for inhalation by the user, and a second stage regulator means in fluid flow communication with the first stage regulator means and disposed downstream thereof, the first stage regulator means comprising; i) a first stage inlet chamber for receiving the oxygen containing fluid at the source pressure; and ii) a first stage outlet chamber for providing the oxygen containing fluid at the set point pressure wherein when the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber is at the set point pressure, fluid flow communication between the first stage inlet chamber and the first stage outlet chamber is closed, and wherein when the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber is below the set point pressure, fluid flow communication between the first stage inlet and outlet chambers is present to raise the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber back to the set point pressure; and providing a second stage regulator means comprising; i) a second stage inlet chamber in fluid flow communication with the first stage outlet chamber; ii) a second stage outlet chamber disposed downstream of the second stage inlet chamber and leading to a breathing apparatus for supplying the user'"'"'s breathing requirements; iii) a diaphragm means separating the second stage inlet chamber and the second stage outlet chamber; b) selectively creating a pressure differential across the second stage inlet chamber and the second stage outlet chamber for flexing the diaphragm means between a closed, no flow position and an open, flow position thereby providing the breathable oxygen containing fluid to the user upon the occurrence of an inhalation event, wherein with an altitude below an altitude threshold, a G-force below a G-force threshold and upon the occurrence of the inhalation event, and with the diaphragm means residing in the open, flow position, the inhalation pressure is transmitted to the second stage inlet chamber thereby causing the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber to fall below the set point pressure with fluid flow communicating between the first stage inlet and outlet chambers and admitting additional oxygen containing fluid into the first stage outlet chamber at the set point pressure while fulfilling the user'"'"'s breathing requirements, and c) including selectively increasing the pressure differential required to flex the diaphragm means between the closed, no flow position and the open, flow position when the user'"'"'s breathing requirements increase due to an increase in either the altitude above the altitude threshold or an increase in the G-forces above the G-force threshold or both, the increased pressure differential for flexing the diaphragm means being the greater of an altitude dependent breathing requirement and a G-force dependent breathing requirement.
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11. An oxygen breathing controller for supplying an oxygen containing fluid to a user, which comprises:
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a) a first stage regulator means provided to regulate a pressure of the oxygen containing fluid from a source pressure to a reduced, set point pressure that is somewhat greater than an inhalation pressure suitable for inhalation by the user, the first stage regulator means comprising; i) a first stage inlet chamber for receiving the oxygen containing fluid at the source pressure; and ii) a first stage outlet chamber for providing the oxygen containing fluid at the set point pressure wherein when the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber is at the set point pressure, fluid flow communication between the first stage inlet chamber and the first stage outlet chamber is closed, and wherein when the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber is below the set point pressure, fluid flow communication between the first stage inlet and outlet chambers is present to raise the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber back to the set point pressure; and b) a second stage regulator means in fluid form communication with the first stage regulator means and disposed downstream thereof, the second stage regulator means comprising; i) a second stage inlet chamber in fluid flow communication with the first stage outlet chamber; ii) a second stage outlet chamber disposed downstream of the second stage inlet chamber and leading to a breathing apparatus for supplying the user'"'"'s breathing requirements; iii) a diaphragm means separating the second stage inlet chamber and the second stage outlet chamber wherein upon the occurrence of an inhalation event, the diaphragm means is in the open, flow position with the inhalation pressure transmitted to the second stage inlet chamber to thereby cause the pressure in the first stage outlet chamber to fall below the set point pressure so that fluid flow communication between the first stage inlet and outlet chambers is present to admit additional oxygen containing fluid into the first stage outlet chamber to thereby raise the pressure therein back to the set point pressure to close off communication between the first stage inlet chamber at the source pressure and the first stage outlet chamber at the set point pressure while fulfilling the user'"'"'s breathing requirements; and c) a servo regulator means coupled to the second stage regulator means for regulating a pressure differential across the second stage inlet chamber and the second stage outlet chamber according to an altitude dependent breathing requirement and a G-force dependent breathing requirement wherein when the user'"'"'s breathing requirements increase due to an increase in either the altitude above an altitude threshold or an increase in the G-force above a G-force threshold or both, the servo regulator means increases the pressure differential across the diaphragm means in response to the greater of the altitude dependent breathing requirement and the G-force dependent breathing requirement, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification