HIGH PRESSURE AIR CYLINDERS FOR USE WITH SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS

• US 20120298109A1
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Scott Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Phifer, Jerry Allen, Parson, William Eugene, Mele, Ronald Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 9,004,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.22
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/02 Masks gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/022 Breathing demand regulators SCUBA diving regulators B63C11/22
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/04 Couplings; Supporting frames
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/00 Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 ; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0128 spherical or elliptical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 Breathing

Abstract

A self-contained breathing apparatus includes an air cylinder pressurized to about 5500 psi, wherein the air cylinder is compatible with infrastructure used in conjunction with the air cylinder. The self-contained breathing apparatus also includes a first regulator valve for reducing air pressure from the air cylinder to a predetermined level. A second regulator valve is also provided for reducing the air pressure from the predetermined level to a level suitable for use by an operator, wherein air is supplied from the second regulator valve to the operator via a mask. The self-contained breathing apparatus further includes a frame for supporting the air cylinder on the back of the operator. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A compressed gas cylinder, comprising:

a pressure volume portion for containing a volume of gas pressurized to a service pressure, the pressure volume portion having a length, a diameter, and a water volume selected according to the formula;

2. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1 wherein the service pressure is about 5400 psig to about 5500 psig.

3. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the service pressure is about 5500 psig.

4. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the service pressure is about 5500 psig to about 5600 psig.

5. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the water volume is about 349 cubic inches.

6. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 1200 liters of free air.

7. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 6, wherein the cylinder has a weight of about 5.7 pounds to about 6.6 pounds.

8. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 7, wherein the length of the pressure volume portion is about 14.8 inches to about 17.3 inches, and the diameter of the pressure volume portion is about 4.3 inches to about 4.7 inches.

9. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 1800 liters of free air.

10. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 9, wherein the cylinder has a weight of about 7.8 to about 9.0 pounds.

11. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 10, wherein the length of the pressure volume portion is about 16.9 inches to about 19.5 inches, and diameter of the pressure volume portion is about 5.0 inches to about 5.4 inches.

12. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 2400 liters of free air.

13. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 12, wherein the cylinder has a weight of about 10.0 pounds to about 11.6 pounds.

14. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 13, wherein the length of the pressure volume portion is about 17.9 inches to about 20.3 inches, and diameter of the pressure volume portion is about 5.7 inches to about 6.1 inches.

15. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the pressure volume portion is configured to contain about 3000 liters of free air.

16. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 15, wherein the cylinder has a weight of about 12.5 pounds.

17. The compressed gas cylinder of claim 16, wherein the length of the pressure volume portion is about 18.4 inches to about 21.0 inches, and diameter of the pressure volume portion is about 6.2 inches to about 6.8 inches.

18. A self-contained breathing apparatus, comprising:

a compressed gas cylinder comprising a pressure volume portion for containing a volume of gas pressurized to a service pressure, the pressure volume portion having a length, a diameter, and a water volume selected according to the formula;

19. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 18 wherein the service pressure is about 5500 psig.

20. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 18 wherein the service pressure is about 5400 psig to about 5600 psig.

21. (canceled)