Breathable air safety system for both emergency and civilian personnel

• US 8,371,295 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2008
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rescue Air Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rescue Air Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Turiello, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): GANESAN, SUNDHARA M
• Application Number:
  US12/177,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20100031955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/4, 141/18, 141/54, 141 94- 95, 141/197, 141/236, 141/237, 141/99, 141/47, 141/234, 128/200.24, 128/205.25, 128/202.13, 128/205.14, 128/205.26, 128/204.18, 128/202.17, 128/205.28, 128/200.25, 128/205.24, 128/202.25, 454/338, 454/342, 454/370
• US Class Current: 128/202.13
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 15/00 Installations affording protection against poisonous or injurious substances, e.g. with separate breathing apparatus preventing escape of dirt or fumes from the area where they are produced B08B15/00; building aspects E04H9/00 ; use of air currents for screening F24F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/877 With flow control means for branched passages

Abstract

A method and/or system for a breathable air safety system for both emergency and civilian personnel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a safety system includes a supply unit of a structure to facilitate delivery of a breathable air from a source of compressed air to an air distribution system of the structure, a civilian air supply enclosure of the structure to provide a civilian pressure of the breathable air such that the civilian pressure is suitable for direct human consumption through a civilian breathable air apparatus coupled with the civilian air supply enclosure, a firefighter air supply enclosure of the structure to provide a high-pressure of the breathable air such that the high-pressure is suitable to fill the breathable air in a firefighter breathable air apparatus through a RIC/UAC connector of the fill panel and/or a CGA connector.

Claims

1. A safety system, comprising:

a supply unit of a structure to facilitate delivery of breathable air from a source of compressed air to an air distribution system of the structure;

a routing mechanism of the structure to provide a distribution of the breathable air;

a plurality of civilian air supply enclosures, located in a corresponding plurality of rooms on either side of a hallway of the structure along a length of the structure and configured to;

receive breathable air from the air distribution system based on the routing mechanism and regulate distribution of the breathable air to provide a civilian pressure of the breathable air that is suitable for direct human consumption through a civilian breathable air apparatus coupled with each civilian air supply enclosure; and

a plurality of firefighter air supply enclosures, also located on either side of the hallway along the length of the structure outside the corresponding plurality of rooms and also configured to;

receive breathable air from the air distribution system based on the routing mechanism and regulate distribution of the breathable air to provide a high-pressure of the breathable air that is suitable to fill the breathable air in a firefighter breathable air apparatus coupled with each firefighter air supply enclosure, the high-pressure being significantly higher than the civilian pressure,

wherein the routing mechanism of the structure is configured to enable distribution of the breathable air from the air distribution system through at least one of a wall, a ceiling, and a floor between the civilian air supply enclosures and the firefighter air supply enclosures of the structure.

2. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising a combined fill panel of the structure that provides the breathable air at the civilian pressure suitable for direct human consumption concurrently with the breathable air at the high-pressure suitable for filling the breathable air in the firefighter breathable air apparatus.

3. The safety system of claim 1, wherein:

the civilian pressure of the breathable air provided by a civilian air supply enclosure is approximately 10 to 40 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI), and

the high-pressure of the breathable air provided by a firefighter air supply enclosure is approximately 3000-6000 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI).

4. The safety system of claim 1, wherein:

the civilian breathable air apparatus is at least one of a respiratory mask, a face covering, and a protective breathing unit, and

the firefighter breathable air apparatus is a portable compressed air container that facilitates delivery of the breathable air to a firefighter during a rescue mission.

5. The safety system of claim 4, wherein at least one of:

each civilian air supply enclosure includes an enclosure associated therewith for protection thereof, the enclosure being covered by a breakable cover configured to secure the each civilian air supply enclosure from intrusions that potentially compromise safety and reliability of the air distribution system, and

each firefighter air supply enclosure includes a solid cover with a locking mechanism to secure the each firefighter air supply enclosure from intrusions that potentially compromise safety and reliability of the air distribution system.

6. The safety system of claim 5, wherein at least one of:

the each civilian air supply enclosure further comprises a communication system to enable communication with emergency personnel directly from the each civilian air supply enclosure, and

the breathable air in the firefighter breathable air apparatus is filled through at least one of a RIC/UAC connector and a Compressed Gas Association (CGA) connector of a fill panel associated therewith.

7. The safety system of claim 6, wherein the each civilian air supply enclosure includes an alarm system associated therewith to trigger an alarm when the breakable cover is compromised, thereby alerting the emergency personnel to a location in the structure where rescue aid is required.

8. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure encompassing the each civilian air supply enclosure and the each firefighter air supply enclosure having at least one of a weather resistant feature, ultraviolet and infrared solar radiation resistant feature to prevent corrosion and physical damage.

9. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising a valve to prevent leakage of the breathable air from the air distribution system.

10. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising a regulation module of the each civilian air supply enclosure and the each firefighter air supply enclosure to maintain pressures of the breathable air when other breathable air apparatuses are actively being used to deliver the breathable air therethrough.

11. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a fire rated material and a fire rated assembly to enclose a piping of the air distribution system such that the air distribution system possesses an ability to withstand elevated temperatures for a prescribed period of time.

12. The safety system of claim 11, further comprising:

a solid casing to encase the piping to prevent physical damage to the air distribution system; and

one of a stainless steel and a thermoplastic material to ensure that the piping is compatible for use with the compressed air.

13. A method of a safety system in a structure, comprising:

transferring breathable air from an air distribution system to a plurality of civilian air supply enclosures located in a corresponding plurality of rooms on either side of a hallway of the structure along a length of the structure;

regulating, through a valve of each civilian air supply enclosure, distribution of the breathable air to a person at a civilian pressure suitable for direct human consumption through a civilian breathable air apparatus coupled with a panel of the each civilian air supply enclosure;

transferring breathable air from the air distribution system to a plurality of firefighter air supply enclosures also located on either side of the hallway along the length of the structure outside the corresponding plurality of rooms;

regulating, through a valve of each firefighter air supply enclosure, distribution of the breathable air to a person at a high-pressure suitable for filling the breathable air in a firefighter breathable air apparatus through a connector on the each firefighter air supply enclosure, the high-pressure being significantly higher than the civilian pressure;

distributing the breathable air from the air distribution system through at least one of a wall, a ceiling, and a floor between the civilian air supply enclosures and the firefighter air supply enclosures of the structure; and

detecting that a quality of the breathable air is safe to use.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the civilian pressure of the breathable air provided by the each civilian air supply enclosure is approximately 10 to 40 PSI, and

the high-pressure of the breathable air provided by the each firefighter air supply enclosure is approximately 3000-6000 PSI.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the civilian breathable air apparatus is at least one of a respiratory mask, a face covering, and a protective breathing unit, and

the firefighter breathable air apparatus is a portable compressed air container that facilitates delivering of the breathable air to a firefighter during a rescue mission.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising at least one of:

determining that a breakable cover of the each civilian air supply enclosure is compromised;

transmitting a signal that provides a notification of a location of the each civilian air supply enclosure to emergency personnel;

providing a communication mechanism between the each civilian air supply enclosure and the emergency personnel through a telephone affixed to the fill panel; and

maintaining a pressure of the breathable air when breathable air apparatuses are actively being used to deliver the breathable air through the civilian air supply enclosures and the firefighter air supply enclosures.

17. A structure comprising:

a plurality of civilian air supply enclosures, located in a corresponding plurality of rooms on either side of a hallway of the structure along a length of the structure, configured to receive breathable air from an air distribution system and to provide a civilian pressure of the breathable air such that the civilian pressure is suitable for direct human consumption through a civilian breathable air apparatus coupled with each civilian air supply enclosure;

a plurality of firefighter air supply enclosures, also located on either side of the hallway along the length of the structure outside the corresponding plurality of rooms, and also configured to receive breathable air from the air distribution system and to provide a high-pressure of the breathable air such that the high pressure is suitable for filling the breathable air in a firefighter breathable air apparatus coupled with each firefighter air supply enclosure through a connector on a fill panel associated therewith, the high-pressure being significantly higher than the civilian pressure; and

a regulation module to maintain an appropriate pressure of the breathable air of the each civilian air supply enclosure and the each firefighter air supply enclosure during an active use thereof,

wherein a routing mechanism is implemented in the structure to enable distribution of the breathable air from the air distribution system through at least one of a wall, a ceiling, and a floor between the civilian air supply enclosures and the firefighter air supply enclosures of the structure.

18. The structure of claim 17, wherein at least one of:

the regulation module is installed at at least one of the each civilian air supply enclosure and the each firefighter air supply enclosure, and

the air distribution system is configured to facilitate delivering of the breathable air of approximately 10 to 40 PSI for the each civilian air supply enclosure and approximately 3000-6000 PSI for the each firefighter air supply enclosure.

19. The structure of claim 17, wherein:

the civilian breathable air apparatus is at least one of a respiratory mask, a face covering, and a protective breathing unit.

20. The structure of claim 17, wherein:

the firefighter breathable air apparatus is a portable compressed air container that facilitates delivering of the breathable air to the firefighter during a rescue mission.