Breathable air safety system and method having a fill station

• US 7,694,678 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rescue Air Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rescue Air Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Turiello, Anthony J
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIXON, ANNETTE FREDRICKA
• Application Number:
  US11/505,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20090283151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/201.24, 128/203.27, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/205.26, 128/897, 128/898, 52/21, 521/696, 523/021, 521/733, 454169-172
• US Class Current: 128/204.21
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 25/00 Devices for storing or holding or carrying respiratory or breathing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control

Abstract

A breathable air safety system and method having a fill station are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of safety of a building structure is described. A prescribed pressure of an emergency support system is ensured to be maintained within a threshold range of the prescribed pressure by including a valve of the emergency support system to prevent leakage of breathable air from the emergency support system. A filling process of a breathable air apparatus is safeguarded by enclosing the breathable air apparatus in a secure chamber of a fill site of the emergency support system of the building structure. The prescribed pressure of the emergency support system is designated based on a municipality code that specifies a pressure rating of the breathable air apparatus. The prescribed pressure of the emergency support system is maintained such that a system pressure is compatible with the breathable air apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of safety of a building structure, comprising:

ensuring that a prescribed pressure of an emergency support system maintains within a threshold range of the prescribed pressure by including a valve of the emergency support system to prevent leakage of breathable air from the emergency support system;

safeguarding a filling process of a breathable air apparatus by enclosing the breathable air apparatus in a secure chamber of a fill site of the emergency support system of the building structure to provide a safe placement to supply the breathable air to the breathable air apparatus;

wherein the prescribed pressure of the emergency support system is designated base on a municipality code that specifies a pressure rating of the breathable air apparatus that is used in an authority agency of a particular geographical location; and

maintaining the prescribed pressure of the emergency support system such that a system pressure is compatible with the breathable air apparatus through a distribution structure that is rated for use with compressed air that couples the supply unit and the fill site to transfer breathable air of the source of compressed air to the fill site.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising preventing corrosion and physical damage due to weather by incorporating a supply unit enclosure that is weather resistant.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising preventing intrusion of the supply unit potentially compromising the safety and reliability of the emergency support system by incorporating a locking mechanism of the supply unit enclosure.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising minimizing physical damage of various external hazards to protect the supply unit and the fill site from any of an intrusion and damage through utilizing a robust metallic material to the supply unit enclosure.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising preventing leakage of air from the emergency support system leading to a potential pressure loss of the emergency support system through any of a valve of the supply unit and the fill site.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising discontinuing transfer of breathable air from the source of compressed air to the emergency support system through utilizing a valve to the supply unit.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising automatically triggering an alarm and electrically coupling a signal to any of a relevant administrative personnel of the building structure and the emergency supervising station when an intrusion of the supply unit occurs through a tamper switch of the locking mechanism of the supply unit enclosure.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically releasing breathable air from the emergency support system when the system pressure of the emergency support system exceeds the prescribed pressure through triggering a safety relief valve of any of the supply unit and the fill site.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising ensuring compatibility of the emergency support system and the source of compressed air of an authority agency through any of a CGA connector and a RIC (rapid interventions company/crew)/UAC (universal air connection) connector of the supply unit.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting a fill pressure to ensure that the fill pressure of the source of compressed air does not exceed the prescribed pressure of the emergency support system through a pressure regulator of the supply unit.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring any of the system pressure of the emergency support system and the fill pressure of the source of compressed air through the pressure gauge of the supply unit enclosure.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising improving accessibility of the supply unit enclosure through providing luminescence in reduced light environments by incorporating a visible marking.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising isolating a fill site from a remaining portion of the emergency support system using an isolation valve of the fill site such that the remaining portion of the emergency support system is utilizable in an emergency situation.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising automatically actuating the isolation valve based on an air pressure sensor of the emergency support system.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting a fill pressure of the fill site to ensure that the fill pressure does not exceed the pressure rating of the breathable air apparatus through a pressure regulator of the fill site.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising monitoring any of the fill pressure of the fill site and the system pressure of the emergency support system by incorporating a pressure gauge to the fill site.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling the distribution structure to withstand elevated temperatures for a period of time using a fire rated material to encase the distribution structure.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising preventing the fire rated material from damage by incorporating a sleeve at least three times an outer diameter of each pipe of the distribution structure exterior to the fire rated material.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising preventing physical damage to the distribution structure potentially compromising the safety and integrity of the emergency support system by utilizing a robust solid casing of the distribution structure.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising protecting the robust solid casing from any damage using an another sleeve at least three times an outer diameter of a pipe of the distribution structure exterior to the robust solid casing.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically tracking and recording any impurities and contaminants in the breathable air of the breathing emergency support system through an air monitoring system.

22. The method of claim 21 further automatically suspending air dissemination to the fill sites in a case that any of an impurity and contaminant concentration exceeds a safety threshold.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising tracking and recording the system pressure of the emergency support system through a pressure monitoring system.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising electrically coupling the pressure monitoring system and the alarm system of the building structure such that the alarm system is automatically triggered through a pressure switch when the system pressure of the emergency support system is outside a safety range.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising electrically transmitting a warning signal to an emergency supervising station when the system pressure of the emergency support system is below the prescribed level through the pressure switch.