Devices, systems and methods for generating electricity from gases stored in containers under pressure

• US 7,218,009 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hendrickson, James A., Marangoni, Roy D., Palamara, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko; Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US11/093,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20050217275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/1.A, 290/43, 290/54, 340/517, 310/90
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/00 Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus A62B19/00, A62B21/00, A62B23/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/02 the working fluid being an unheated pressurised gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A breathing system includes a container to store a gas under pressure, wherein the gas includes air or oxygen. The container includes an outlet through which the gas exits the container. The breathing system further includes a generator system including a generator in operative connection with the container outlet such that energy is supplied to the generator by the pressurized gas. The generator converts the energy supplied by the pressurized gas to electrical energy. The system further includes a fluid path in connection with the generator through which pressurized gas passes after providing energy to the generator and a respiration facepiece in fluid connection with the fluid path.

Claims

1. A breathing system for a user, comprising:

a container to store a gas under pressure, the gas comprising oxygen, the container comprising an outlet through which the gas exits the container;

a generator system comprising a generator within a housing, the generator in operative connection with the container outlet such that energy is supplied to the generator by the pressurized gas and the generator converts the energy supplied by the pressurized gas to electrical energy without limiting the flow of pressurized gas to the user;

the electrical energy being transmitted outside the housing to operate an external load;

a fluid path in connection with the generator through which pressurized gas passes after providing energy to the generator; and

a respiration facepiece in fluid connection with the fluid path.

2. The breathing system of claim 1 wherein the generator system comprises a housing comprising an inlet in fluid connection with the container outlet and an outlet in fluid connection with the fluid path.

3. The breathing system of claim 2 wherein the generator system further comprises a mechanism for rotating a shaft of the generator.

4. The breathing system of claim 3 wherein the mechanism is a turbine in fluid connection with the housing inlet.

5. The breathing system of claim 3 wherein the mechanism is a vane in operative connection with the housing inlet.

6. The breathing system of claim 2 wherein the generator system further comprises a feedthrough connector on the housing to transmit electricity from the generator to outside of the housing.

7. The breathing system of claim 1 wherein the generator system further comprises an energy storage mechanism.

8. The breathing system of claim 1 wherein the generator further comprises a voltage regulating mechanism.

9. The breathing system of claim 1 wherein the generator system is positioned within the gas container.

10. The breathing system of claim 1 wherein the generator system is positioned external to the gas container.