Oxygen supply system for wheeled vehicles

• US 5,910,773 A
• Filed: 01/18/1998
• Issued: 06/08/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David W. Brownlee
• Original Assignee: David W. Brownlee
• Inventors: Brownlee, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/135,927
• Time in Patent Office: 506 Days
• Field of Search: 340/575, 340/576, 180/272, 128/201.21, 128/205.24, 204/230, 205/349
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/0007 Adding substances other than water to the air, e.g. perfume, oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/0035 characterised by the control methods for adding the substance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

This invention provides supplemental oxygen to the passenger compartment of wheeled vehicles to reduce drowsiness of drivers of wheeled vehicles so as to reduce the number of accidents caused by drowsy drivers. The invention also makes drivers and passengers in wheeled vehicles more alert and feel better by increasing the percentage of oxygen in the passenger compartments of wheeled vehicles to a beneficial and safe level.

Claims

1. In a wheeled vehicle having a passenger compartment, an internal combustion engine for propelling the vehicle and an electricity generating device, the improvement comprising a system for supplying gaseous oxygen to said passenger compartment for sleep, doze or drowsiness prevention, including:

a container for water;

an electrolysis system for electrolyzing water to evolve gaseous oxygen and gaseous hydrogen using electricity from said electricity generating device;

a pipe for flowing gaseous oxygen from said electrolysis system to said passenger compartment;

an oxygen concentration detection device for detecting the oxygen content of air in said passenger compartment; and

a regulator for regulating the flow of oxygen through said pipe to said passenger compartment to commence the flow when the oxygen content in said passenger compartment falls below a first preselected level and to stop when the oxygen content in said compartment rises to a second preselected level.

2. A wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1 which includes a pipe for flowing gaseous hydrogen from said electrolysis system to said internal combustion engine.

3. A wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which said regulator energizes said electrolysis system when the oxygen content in said passenger compartment is below a preselected level and de-energizes said electrolysis system when the oxygen content in said passenger compartment has risen to a preselected level.

4. A wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which said second preselected percent is about 24-25% by volume.

5. A wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which said electrolysis system includes an anode that produces oxygen and a cathode that produces hydrogen.

6. A system for sleep, doze or drowsiness prevention by supplying gaseous oxygen to a passenger compartment in a wheeled vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electricity generating device, comprising:

a container for water;

an electrolysis system for electrolyzing water to evolve gaseous oxygen and gaseous hydrogen using electricity from said generating device;

a pipe for flowing gaseous oxygen from said electrolysis system to said passenger compartment;

an oxygen concentration measuring device for measuring the oxygen content of air in said passenger compartment; and

a regulator for regulating the flow of oxygen through said pipe to said passenger compartment so as to commence the flow when the oxygen content in said compartment falls below a preselected level of about 20-21 percent by volume and to stop the flow when the oxygen content rises to a second preselected level of about 24-25 percent by volume.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6 which includes a pipe for flowing gaseous hydrogen from said electrolysis system to said internal combustion engine.

8. A system as set forth in claim 6 in which said second preselected percent is 25%.