Compressed air respirator

• US 7,578,293 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Draeger Safety Incorporated (Dragerwerk AG)
• Original Assignee: Draeger Safety Incorporated (Dragerwerk AG)
• Inventors: Matthiessen, Hans, Kuck, Kai
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIXON, ANNETTE FREDRICKA
• Application Number:
  US11/372,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20060260612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/203.12, 128/203.14, 128/203.25, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.26, 128/204.28, 128/205.13, 128/205.14, 128/205.15, 128/205.16, 128/205.17, 128/911, 128/203.13
• US Class Current: 128/205.17
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0078 Breathing bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/04 and lung-controlled oxygen or air valves

Abstract

A compressed air respirator has prolonged operating time due to a rebreathing feature. The respirator has a compressed air reserve (1) with a connected demand air supply valve (2), wherein the demand air supply valve (2) is connected with a reversible breathing gas reservoir (4) with adjustable volume. A rebreathing line (25) for the user of the apparatus has an expiration valve (88), wherein the rebreathing line (25) is connected with the breathing gas reservoir (4).

Claims

1. A compressed air respirator apparatus, comprising:

a compressed air reserve with a connected demand air supply valve;

a reversible breathing gas reservoir with an adjustable volume, said demand air supply valve being connected with said reversible breathing gas reservoir to supply said reversible breathing gas reservoir with air;

a rebreathing line with a user connection for the user of the apparatus, said rebreathing line having an expiration valve for expiring exhaled breathing air from said rebreathing line to the respirator environment when gas pressure in said breathing line is above a preset pressure, said rebreathing line being in bi-directional flow connection with gas in said breathing gas reservoir such that gas pressure in said reversible breathing gas reservoir is the same as said gas pressure in said breathing line;

a motor operatively connected to said reversible breathing gas reservoir to change the volume thereof;

a motor control wherein the volume of said breathing gas reservoir is set by means of said motor controlled by said motor control;

a control unit; and

a combined sensor for CO₂ concentration and breathing gas volume flow, said combined sensor being arranged in said rebreathing line, said combined sensor being connected with said control unit and said motor control such that depending on a breath-resolved O₂ volume flow determined by means of said combined sensor, the volume for rebreathing from said breathing gas reservoir is regulated by means of said motor control such that a CO₂ concentration level stored in said control unit is obtained, on average, for rebreathing.

2. A compressed air respirator apparatus comprising:

a compressed air reserve with a connected demand air supply valve;

a reversible breathing gas reservoir with an adjustable volume, said demand air supply valve being connected with said reversible breathing gas reservoir to supply said reversible breathing gas reservoir with air;

a rebreathing line with a user connection for the user of the apparatus, said rebreathing line having an expiration valve for expiring exhaled breathing air from said rebreathing line to the respirator environment when gas pressure in said breathing line is above a preset pressure, said rebreathing line being in two way flow connection with gas in said breathing gas reservoir such that gas pressure in said reversible breathing gas reservoir is the same as said gas pressure in said breathing line;

a motor operatively connected to said reversible breathing gas reservoir to change the volume thereof;

a motor control wherein said breathing gas reservoir has a volume set by means of said motor controlled by said motor control;

an opto-electronic registering means for detecting the motion of said reversible breathing gas reservoir;

a control unit; and

a CO₂ sensor connected with said motor control, said CO₂ sensor being arranged in said rebreathing line, said control unit being connected with said opto-electronic registering means for detecting the motion of said reversible breathing gas reservoir, said motor control being actuated for setting rebreathing by varying the volume of said breathing gas reservoir as a function of measured CO₂ concentration and the motion of said breathing gas reservoir.

3. A compressed air respirator apparatus comprising:

a compressed air reserve with a connected demand air supply valve;

a reversible breathing gas reservoir with an adjustable volume, said demand air supply valve being connected with said reversible breathing gas reservoir to supply said reversible breathing gas reservoir with air;

a rebreathing line with a user connection for the user of the apparatus, said rebreathing line having an expiration valve for expiring exhaled breathing air from said rebreathing line to the respirator environment when gas pressure in said breathing line is above a preset pressure, said rebreathing line being in direct two way flow connection with gas in said breathing gas reservoir such that gas pressure in said reversible breathing gas reservoir is the same as the gas pressure in said breathing line;

a motor operatively connected to said reversible breathing gas reservoir to change the volume thereof;

a motor control wherein said breathing gas reservoir has a volume set by means of said motor controlled by said motor control;

a control unit operatively connected to said motor control;

a path transducer or shaft encoder for detecting the motion of said reversible breathing gas reservoir; and

a CO₂ sensor connected with said motor control via said control unit, said CO₂ sensor being arranged in said rebreathing line, said control unit being connected with said path transducer or shaft encoder for detecting the motion of said reversible breathing gas reservoir, so that said motor control is actuated for setting the rebreathing by varying the volume of said breathing gas reservoir as a function of a measured CO₂ concentration and the motion of said breathing gas reservoir.