Self-contained breathing system

• US 7,647,927 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Original Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Inventors: Teetzel, James W., Lemire, Gary M., Hansen, Mark A., Desrosiers, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco; Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, NIHIR B
• Application Number:
  US10/924,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20070235030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,975 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.12, 128/205.23, 128/205.28, 128/204.18, 95/909.1, 952/73, 961/08, 961/21, 961/33, 961/42, 554/67, 554/71, 554/72, 554/73, 554/84
• US Class Current: 128/205.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/105 Filters A61M16/047, A61M16/22 take precedence; water traps A61M16/08
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/006 with pumps for forced ventilation A62B18/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/02 Masks gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/10 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/10 with filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/12 with fresh-air hose
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/006 Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/04 Couplings; Supporting frames

Abstract

A breathing apparatus is operable in self-contained and filtered modes of operation. In the self-contained mode of operation, a breathable gas is delivered to a user from a self-contained source of breathing gas. In a second, filtered mode of operation, a suction source draws ambient air through a filter removing contaminants and delivers filtered ambient air to the user. A method of delivering air to a subject is also provided.

Claims

1. A breathing apparatus comprising:

a chassis defining a passageway for a breathable gas, said chassis further comprising a first inlet for receiving breathable gas from a self-contained source of breathing gas, a second inlet for receiving ambient air, and a first outlet for delivering breathable gas to a user;

a suction source mounted within said chassis and in fluid communication with said second inlet for drawing ambient air into said passageway;

a main filter assembly including a main filter positioned between said second inlet and said passageway for removing contaminants from said ambient air;

one or more self-contained sources of breathing gas removably attached to said chassis and selectively fluidically coupled to said first inlet; and

one or more modules interchangeably attachable to the chassis in place of one of the one or more self-contained sources of breathing gas, wherein said one or more modules are selected from a cutting torch, a hydration module, a circulating source of heating and/or cooling fluid, and combinations thereof.

2. The breathing apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more self-contained sources of breathing gas includes a valve, said valve positioned so as to be manually operable by a user when the breathing apparatus is worn by the user.

3. A breathing apparatus comprising:

a chassis defining a passageway for a breathable gas, said chassis further comprising a first inlet for receiving breathable gas from a self-contained source of breathing gas, a second inlet for receiving ambient air, and a first outlet for delivering breathable gas to a user;

a suction source mounted within said chassis and in fluid communication with said second inlet for drawing ambient air into said passageway;

a main filter assembly positioned between said second inlet and said passageway for removing contaminants from said ambient air;

one or more self-contained sources of breathing gas removably attached to said chassis and selectively fluidically coupled to said first inlet; and

a burst disk assembly for relieving pressure when pressure in said one or more self-contained sources of breathing gas exceeds a preselected value.

4. The breathing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the burst disk assembly provides an air escape path which faces away from a user wearing the breathing apparatus.

5. The breathing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the chassis is adapted to accommodate a plurality of breathing gas container sizes.

6. The breathing apparatus of claim 3, comprising a portable pressurized air tank removably attached to the chassis.

7. The breathing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the main filter assembly is positioned between said second inlet and said suction source.

8. The breathing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the main filter is environmentally sealed from ambient air when the main filter is not in use.

9. The breathing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is suitable for underwater use when the main filter is not in use.

10. The breathing apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

an air hose for supplying a breathable gas to a user.

11. The breathing apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a face mask adapted to be worn over a user'"'"'s face and having a connection port; and

said air hose having a first end adapted to be removably connected to said face mask connection port and a second end opposite the first end adapted to be connected to said outlet.

12. The breathing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising one or both of:

a purge valve connected to said first end of said air hose, the purge valve fluidically connected to a first stage regulator and manually actuable to provide a burst of regulated air from said first stage regulator; and

an alarm system for providing a user-perceptible alert when a pressure of the self-contained breathing system falls below a preselected value.

13. The breathing apparatus of claim 10, wherein said air hose comprises an inner perforated hose for delivering air to a user and an outer flexible bag which is inflatable to hold a volume of air for subsequent delivery to the user.

14. A breathing apparatus comprising:

a chassis defining a passageway for a breathable gas, said chassis further comprising a first inlet for receiving breathable gas from a self-contained source of breathing gas, a second inlet for receiving ambient air, and a first outlet for delivering breathable gas to a user;

a suction source mounted within said chassis and in fluid communication with said second inlet for drawing ambient air into said passageway;

a main filter assembly positioned between said second inlet and said passageway for removing contaminants from said ambient air;

an air hose for supplying a breathable gas to a user;

a face mask adapted to be worn over a user'"'"'s face and having a connection port;

said air hose having a first end adapted to be removably connected to said face mask connection port and a second end opposite the first end adapted to be connected to said outlet; and

an alarm system for providing a user-perceptible alert when a pressure of the self-contained breathing system falls below a preselected value, wherein said alarm system is selected from a visual, audible and/or a somatic alarm system operatively integrated with said breathing apparatus.

15. The breathing apparatus of claim 14, wherein said alarm system comprises a somatic communications system operatively integrated with said breathing apparatus for tactually communicating with a user by producing a vibrational signal responsive to a detected low pressure condition.

16. The breathing apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first end of said air hose comprises:

a vibrating element mounted within the first end of said air hose for producing tactually detectable vibrations;

an electrical connector mounted within the second end of said air hose for electrical connection to a power supply within said chassis; and

an electrical conductor passing through said air hose for electrically coupling said vibrating element and said electrical connector.

17. The breathing apparatus of claim 16, wherein said air hose comprises an inner perforated hose for delivering air to a user and an outer flexible bag which is inflatable to hold a volume of air for subsequent delivery to the user.

18. The breathing apparatus of claim 17, wherein said electrical conductor passes within said inner perforated hose.

19. The breathing apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a second outlet for delivering a breathing gas to a user; and

said first and second outlets disposed on opposite sides of a center line of said chassis, said first and second outlets being selectively attachable to an air hose according to a user'"'"'s preference.

20. A breathing apparatus comprising:

a chassis defining a passageway for a breathable gas, said chassis further comprising a first inlet for receiving breathable gas from a self-contained source of breathing gas, a second inlet for receiving ambient air, and a first outlet for delivering breathable gas to a user;

a suction source mounted within said chassis and in fluid communication with said second inlet for drawing ambient air into said passageway;

a main filter assembly positioned between said second inlet and said passageway for removing contaminants from said ambient air; and

a retractable stand movable between a first, extended position for standing the breathing apparatus in a stable, upright position and a second, retracted position.

21. The breathing apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a port valve for selectively fluidically coupling the passageway with the first inlet and the second inlet.

22. The breathing apparatus of claim 21, wherein said port valve is movable between a first position wherein the passageway is in fluid communication with the first inlet and a second position wherein the passageway is in fluid communication with the second inlet.

23. The breathing apparatus of claim 22, wherein the port valve is manually movable between the first position and the second position.

24. The breathing apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

an electrically controlled actuator for toggling the port valve between the first and second positions.

25. The breathing apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

an actuator for activating the suction source when the port valve is in the second position and deactivating the suction source when the port valve is in the first position.

26. The breathing apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure indicative of a quantity of gas remaining in the self-contained source of breathing gas; and

a display for displaying a quantity of gas remaining in the self-contained source of breathing gas in human viewable form.

27. A breathing apparatus comprising:

a chassis defining a passageway for a breathable gas, said chassis further comprising a first inlet for receiving breathable gas from a self-contained source of breathing gas, a second inlet for receiving ambient air, and a first outlet for delivering breathable gas to a user;

a suction source mounted within said chassis and in fluid communication with said second inlet for drawing ambient air into said passageway;

a main filter assembly positioned between said second inlet and said passageway for removing contaminants from said ambient air;

a port valve for selectively fluidically coupling the passageway with the first inlet and the second inlet, said port valve movable between a first position wherein the passageway is in fluid communication with the first inlet and a second position wherein the passageway is in flow communication with the second inlet;

an actuator for activating the suction source when the port valve is in the second position and deactivating the suction source when the port valve is in the first position;

a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure indicative of a quantity of gas remaining in the self-contained source of breathing gas; and

one or both of;

said port valve being automatically movable between the first position and the second position under programmed control when the detected pressure reaches a preselected minimum threshold value; and

a display for displaying a quantity of gas remaining in the self-contained source of breathing gas in human viewable form.

28. The breathing apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

a prefilter assembly positioned upstream of the main filter for removing contaminants from said ambient air.

29. The breathing apparatus of claim 28, wherein the prefilter includes an external filter formed of a woven nylon material.

30. The breathing apparatus of claim 28, wherein the prefilter assembly includes a mesh filtration medium adapted to filter particles from said ambient air.

31. The breathing apparatus of claim 28, wherein the prefilter assembly includes a mesh filtration medium adapted to filter particles having a size of about 10 microns or larger from said ambient air.

32. The breathing apparatus of claim 27, wherein the main filter is selected from a chemical, radiological, or biological filter, or any combination thereof.

33. The breathing apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

one or more regulators for receiving gas from said source of self-contained breathing gas at a first pressure and outputting the gas at a second pressure lower than the first pressure.

34. A breathing apparatus comprising:

a chassis defining a passageway for a breathable gas, said chassis further comprising a first inlet for receiving breathable gas from a self-contained source of breathing gas, a second inlet for receiving ambient air, and a first outlet for delivering breathable gas to a user;

a suction source mounted within said chassis and in fluid communication with said second inlet for drawing ambient air into said passageway;

a main filter assembly positioned between said second inlet and said passageway for removing contaminants from said ambient air;

a first stage regulator for receiving gas from said source of self-contained breathing gas at a first pressure and outputting the gas at a second pressure lower than the first pressure; and

a second stage regulator for receiving gas from the first stage regulator and outputting the gas at a third pressure lower than the second pressure.

35. The breathing apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

the second stage regulator including a diaphragm having a first surface contacting the breathing gas and a second surface opposite the first surface; and

a protective layer covering said second surface.

36. The breathing apparatus of claim 35, wherein the protective layer is a fluorinated polymer layer.

37. The breathing apparatus of claim 35, wherein the protective layer is polytetrafluoroethylene.

38. The breathing apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a connection port on said chassis fluidically coupled to an outlet of said first stage regulator.

39. The breathing apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a high pressure charging port for charging a connected breathing gas container with an external source of breathing gas.

40. The breathing apparatus of claim 39, wherein said external source of breathing gas is selected from a container of compressed breathing gas and a compressor.

41. The breathing apparatus of claim 34, further comprising an air quality sampler for detecting unfilterable constituents in the ambient air.

42. The breathing apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:

a valve for automatically closing said second inlet and receiving breathing gas through said first inlet when an unfilterable constituent is detected.

43. A method for providing breathable gas to a subject, comprising:

providing a breathing apparatus for selectively delivering a breathable gas from a pressurized source of breathable gas and a source of filtered ambient air;

the breathing apparatus having a chassis defining a passageway for the breathable gas, the chassis further comprising a first inlet for receiving breathable gas from the pressurized source of breathing gas, a second inlet for receiving ambient air, and an outlet for delivering breathable gas to a user;

the breathing apparatus further having a suction source mounted within the chassis and in fluid communication with the second inlet for drawing ambient air through a filtration medium into the airflow reservoir and delivering the filtered ambient air to the subject;

delivering a flow of breathable gas to the subject from the pressurized source when the pressurized source is selected;

delivering a flow of filtered ambient air when the source of filtered ambient air is selected;

sensing a pressure of the breathable gas from the pressurized source; and

if the pressure of the breathable gas from the pressurized source falls below a preselected threshold value, one or both of alerting the subject and delivering a flow of air from the source of filtered air.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

providing a chassis having a housing defining an internal cavity, the cavity providing a reservoir of breathable gas and being fluidically coupled to an airway of the subject;

delivering breathable gas from the pressurized source to the cavity when the pressurized source is selected; and

delivering filtered ambient air to the cavity when the filtered source is selected.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

monitoring the ambient air for one or more harmful unfilterable constituents;

if a harmful unfilterable constituent is detected, stopping flow from the filtered source and delivering breathable gas to the subject from the pressurized source.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

delivering the breathable gas to a face mask worn by the subject.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

delivering the breathable gas to an inflatable air hose, the air hose inflating to provide positive pressure in the face mask.

48. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

reducing the pressure of breathable gas emitted from the pressurized source using one or more gas pressure regulators.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the pressurized source includes one or more portable pressurized tanks.

50. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

providing a suction source for drawing ambient air through a filter and delivering the filtered air to an airway of the subject.

55. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

said breathing apparatus including a control system for controlling a valve selectively coupling the pressurized source and the filtered source to an airway of the subject.

51. A method for providing breathable gas to a subject, comprising:

providing a breathing apparatus for selectively delivering a breathable gas from a pressurized source of breathable gas and a source of filtered ambient air;

the breathing apparatus having a chassis defining a passageway for the breathable gas, the chassis further comprising a first inlet for receiving breathable gas from the pressurized source of breathing gas, a second inlet for receiving ambient air, and an outlet for delivering breathable gas to a user;

the breathing apparatus further having a suction source mounted within the chassis and in fluid communication with the second inlet for drawing ambient air through a filtration medium into the airflow reservoir and for delivering the filtered ambient air to the subject;

delivering a flow of breathable gas to the subject from the pressurized source when the pressurized source is selected;

delivering a flow of filtered ambient air when the source of filtered ambient air is selected;

reducing the pressure of the breathable gas emitted from the pressurized source to an intermediate pressure using a first gas pressure regulator; and

reducing the pressure of the breathable gas output from the first gas pressure regulator to a breathable pressure using a second gas pressure regulator.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

providing a source selector for switching between the pressurized source and the filtered source;

when the source selector is actuated, diverting a portion of the intermediate pressure breathing gas to switch between the pressurized source and the filtered source.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the source selector is selected from a pneumatically operated selector, an electrically operated selector, or a combination thereof.

54. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

providing a manually actuable purge valve; and

causing a flow of the intermediate pressure breathing gas to the user when the purge valve is actuated.