AU664250B2 - Improvements in diving regulator demand valve - Google Patents

Description

r P Our Ref: 459739 66250 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT o or eao~ eao, o ao oo o oa o to o o i, to o o srr os

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Applicant(s): ue or So e u 0 e 0 0 0 a a a 0 6o 0 0 O 0 0 E, 6 T D Preece Co Pty Ltd 265 Condamine Street MANLY VALE NSW 2093

AUSTRALIA

DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Address for Service: Invention Title: Improvements in diving regulator demand valve The following statement is a full descript best method of performing it known to me:ion of this invention, including the 5020 _I -1- IMPROVEMENTS IN DIVING REGULATOR DEMAND VALVE The present invention relates to self contained underwater breathing apparatus and more specifically relates to improvements in regulators associated therewith whereby the breathing characteristics in a regulator are altered so as to reduce the inhalation effort required by a user upon demand for air. The alteration in the breathing characteristics is effected according to the present invention by adjustments to the demand valve in the regulator which includes a venturi assisted air directing means.

Regulators are well known in the diving industry as a crucial component of the apparatuses required. A regulator acts in concert with a pressure reducing valve and as a means for regulation of air for a diver. The pressure reduction activity is known as the first stage of regulation and this involves the reduction in air pressure between the air tank and the regulator. The supply of air upon demand by a diver passes through the first stage thence through a second stage.

15 It is the second stage of operation to which the present invention is primarily 00 directed.

04 04 The second stage of operation is controlled by a demand valve which is located near the air discharge end of the regulator which comprises a mouthpiece.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce the effort required on the part of the user of the regulator upon demand for air.

According to the present invention there is provided a breathing regulator for use 4440 0 in underwater breathing comprising: 4440 0 a housing having a breathing chamber and an outlet, a valve means for enabling travel of air upon demand by a user, the v !ve means having a body, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein the air travels upon demand by the user 4 through the inlet and outlet of the valve means, and then through the outlet of the housing; a movable diaphragm means in the housing responsive a user's demand for air; a venturi assisted air directing means for selectively determining a distance the air travels in the housing from the valve means outlet to the housing outlet, the venturi assisted air directing means comprising: an opening in the valve means, and Sa rotatable concentric sleeve about the valve means body also having an opening p:\wpdocs\wis\specie\459739.spe -2therein, the concentric sleeve having adjustable placement between first and a second selectable position, the position of the sleeve opening relative to the valve means body opening determining the air travel distance; the first position of the sleeve opening aligning with the opening in the valve means body and resulting in a shortest travel distance between the valve means body outlet and the housing outlet; movement of the sleeve opening towards the second position of the sleeve opening taking the sleeve opening out of alignment with the valve means body opening and thereby increasing the air travel distance by inhibiting the free flow of air through the openings.

Preferably the regulator further comprises a rotatable knob located on an exterior of the housing, the concentric sleeve being rotated responsive to rotation of the knob.

Adjustment of the sleeve via the knob alters the direction of the air either towards or away from the mouthpiece of the valve. The concentric sleeve may for example be made 0 from a plastics material. The knob may preferably have associated therewith gradations S0 indicating the available settings for the concentric sleeve.

0 0 00 o 00 00 p:\wpdocs\wls\specic\459739.spc 0461j -Te pe- the-slreve is t f ilita-te -mo -e-e-f air delivery to the user following exiting of the ai rom the housing. The drum also enables selectiv ontrol of air by the user external of the housing either enhance the venturi flow of air on to ca the effect of the vacuum according to user rqA rements.

Prefer the sleeve is made from a plastics material and knob has associated therewith gradations indicating j available-~Settings-for te" oe.

The invention will now be described in more detail according to a preferred but non limiting embodiment and with reference to the accompanying illustrations wherein; Figure 1 shows a cross sectional plan view of a regulator having a demand valve with the poppet in the closed configuration and a venturi assisted air directing means.

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional plan view of the regulator of figure 1 with the poppet in the open 00 configuration and with a venturi assisted air i directing means.

Figure 3 shows an abbreviated cross sectional view of a C 000 Sprior art regulator showing the baffle used for deflection of air, Figure 4 shows an abbreviated cross sectional view of a Sregulator according to one embodiment of the 0" 00 invention showing the concentric sleeve.

Figure 5 shows a side elevational view of a regulator with °the externally operable concentric sleeve in the maximum flow configuration.

Figure 6 shows a side elevational view of the regulator of 0 figure 5 with the externally operable concentric Ssleeve in the minimum flow configuration.

Figure 1 shows a plan cross section of a demand valve 1 showing a poppet valve 2 in the closed position and an externally adjustable outer concentric sleeve 3 which assists in directing air flow to the mouth of the user.

The demand valve of figure 1 comprises a valve housing 4 having there within an inlet opening 5. The valve also contains a poppet 6 which is urged against the orifice of ii.

04 I 0461j 4inlet 5 under the assistance of biasing spring 7. The valve also has a conventional lever 8 which is actuated by linkage to the valve and which is responsive to the action by vacuum assistance of a regulator diaphragm 9 upon demand for air by a user of the demand valve.

When a user demands air, the action of the diaphragm 9 in the regulator causes arm 8 to allow passage of air through inlet opening 5. The configuration of the demand valve in the open position is shown in figure 2. When air is demanded by a user, the air travels through passage inlet opening 5 as previously stated. The passage of this air which is under pressure causes a number of effects. The first being counteraction of the force exerted by biasing spring 7, the second being the impingement of air upon the broad face of wider flange or baffle 10 and a deflection of air around narrower flange or baffle 11.

The effect of the forces so generated causes an increase of and/or a maintenance of pressure in the flange or baffle 11 at the same time as deflection of air is caused by and about flange 10. At this time air is also escaping via outlet orifice 12 located in the wall of the housing 4 and via orifice 13 located in concentric sleeve 13. The configuration of the poppet 6 is such that the air can only either escape through orifice 10 or alternatively impinge upon the surface of baffle 11. The impingement of the air on baffle 11 has the effect of countering the increase in the size of the biasing force exerted by spring 7 as it is compressed under the action of the air pressure. The impinging air on baffle 11 also compensates for air loss through orifice 10. The overall result of this effect is to reduce the effort required by the user demanding air due to the air line forces being maintained on the poppet thereby enabling optimum force balance.

Figure 2 shows the regulator of figure 1 this time in the air demand or inhalation configuration when a user demands air. Upon demand for air the end 14 of the poppet 6 is drawn away from the orifice under the assistance of the vacuum created in chamber 15 by diaphragm 9.

In addition to the altered configuration of the poppet

I

oo a co 00. 0 0i 0"' *0OC 0461j 6 valve, the improved valve also comprises a concentric sleeve 3 (see figures 5 and 6) adapted to concentrically rotate about housing 4. Alternatively, the housing 2 may be fixedly attached to the sleeve 3 so that the whole demand valve portion can rotate as one. This allows the facility for directing the air towards the mouth piece of the regulator thus facilitating improved passage of air and without the assistance of baffles as was required in the prior art.

Figure 3 shows an abbreviated cross sectional elevational view of the prior art configuration of the regulator showing a baffle used for deflection of air. The attitude of the baffle is selected according to the angle the air is to impinge on the baffle.

Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of a regulator showing the venturi assist facility in the demand valve of the present invention located therein. Also, in this regulator, it can be noted that the baffle is absent with 0o 0 the air being directed via rotational freedom of the demand 00 0 00 0 valve so that the user may select the direction of air which 00 0leaves the demand valve, according to air demand requirements.

The disadvantage of the baffle arrangement for air delivery as shown in figure 3 in the cross section of the regulator is that the baffle or screen can work to obstruct the passage of air towards the mouth piece of the regulator. It can also result in drag on the air due to the u 0 0 change in direction thus slowing down entry of the air into 0 the mouth piece of the regulator. This problem is overcome by the elimination of the baffle and also by the facility imparted to the demand valve of the present invention 0 0 whereby it can be rotated within the regulator by external selective orientation of the directional passage of air towards the mouth piece of the regulator. With the rotational ability of the demand valve as shown in figure 2, it is possible that air could be directed anywhere within the range of 0 to 3600 thereby resulting in freer passage of air to the mouth of a user.

Referring to figure 5 there is shown a side elevational 0461j cross sectional view of a regulator 16 having a demand valve 17 whereby air exits the demand valve in the direction of arrow 18 into the mouthpiece 19.

Figure 6 shows the regulator 16 this time with the demand valve 17 reconfigured so that air travels in the direction of arrows 20 so that the vacuum effect created in chamber 21 by means of diaphragm 22 is counteracted.

Control of the demand valve 17 is effected by means of a sleeve 23 which is operable by means of a knob 24 which is external to the regulator 16. This enables a user to alter the direction of air in the mouthpiece during use.

According to the prior art methodology, such adjustment could only be effected by using an instrument to gain access to the inside of the regulator to select a baffle attitude for air direction prior to use.

The demand valve arrangement of the present invention f enables a user to make an air boost selection at any time s during use by means of the external knob 24. This enhances Q a venturi effect of high velocity air when required and it oo 0 may also counteract the vacuum effect created in chamber 21 by diaphragm 22 when a user demands air through the 0 mouthpiece 19.

Thus, figure 5 shows the configuration of the demand valve 17 when maximum air delivery would be presented to i mouthpiece 19.

S; Figure 6 shows the demand valve 17 with the configuration of sleeve 23, disposed so that air delivery to 0 0 mouthpiece 19 is at a minimum. A selection of the D oconfiguration as shown in figure 6 would be likely to be made by an operator when less air is required.

o~ Different users have different air requirements to So maintain a comfortable breathing rate when diving. Thus, it is desirable to have a manual air delivery control which can be adjusted during use according to the particular circumstances.

As a diver dives deeper, the density of air increases necessitating ideally a facility for compensating adjustment to the air delivery. The improvement to the demand valve 17 enables this to be achieved. Also, the adjustment enables 0461j 7 unwanted free flow of air to be prevented or minimised where necessary.

Furthermore, it has been found by divers that too much air can lead to nausea and discomfort when diving. The improvement to the demand valve can stop this by restricting the amount of air free flowing to the user thus, the valve can be adjusted to personal requirements according to air demand.

It will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the overall spirit and scope of the invention as broadly described herein.

s I i .I o oI 0( 6 D'J r

Claims (5)

1. breathing regulator for use in underwater breathing comprising: a housing having a breathing chamber and an outlet, a valve means for enabling travel of air upon demand by a user, the valve means having a body, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein the air travels upon demand by the user through the inlet and outlet of the valve means, and then through the outlet of the housing; a movable diaphragm means in the housing responsive a user's demand for air; a venturi assisted air directing means for selectively determining a distance the air travels in the housing from the valve means outlet to the housing outlet, the venturi assisted air directing meara comprising: an opening in the valve means, and a rotatable concentric sleeve about the valve means body also having an opening therein, the concentric sleeve having adjustable placement between a first and a second selectable position, the position of the sleeve opening relative to the valve means body I, opening determining the air travel distance; .l the first position of the sleeve opening aligning with the opening in the valve t i means body and resulting in a shortest travel distance between the valve means body outlet and the housing outlet; movement of the sleeve opening towards the second position of the sleeve opening taking the sleeve opening out of alignment with the valve means body opening and o" thereby increasing the air travel distance by inhibiting the free flow of air through the o openings. 1 9

2. A regulator according to claim 1 wherein the regulator further comprises a rotatable knob located on an exterior of the housing, the concentric sleeve being rotated responsive to rotation of the knob.

3. A regulator according to claim 2 wherein adjustment of the sleeve via the knob alters the direction of the air either towards or away from the mouthpiece of the valve. *p:\wpdocs\wls\spcie\459739.spe iA _I 1---Cl~nULT -9-

4. A regulator according to claim 3 wherein the concentric sleeve is made from a plastics material.

5. A regulator according to claim 4 wherein the knob has associated therewith gradations indicating the available settings for the concentric sleeve. DATED this 11th day of SEPTEMBER 1995 T D PREECE CO PTY LTD By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE o a a C N4 IV ~,oaao D s* c~r o jr 6 i~P p:\wpdocs\wls\specife\459739.spe 0461j ABSTRACT A breathing regulator for use in underwater breathing which regulator comprises; a primary housing with a breathing chamber, a valve enabling travel of air upon demand by a user from an inlet to an outlet in the valve thence to an outlet in the housing via a mouth piece to the lungs of a user, a movable diaphragm for creating a vacuum in the housing responsive to demand for air. The regulator also comprises a venturi assisted air directing means comprising an opening in the body of said valve and a rotatable and adjustable concentric sleeve about said valve body and with an opening therein which selectively, partly or wholly, aligns with said opening in the valve body to either direct and throttle the free flow of air to the mouthpiece via the shortest 0 distance, inhibit or prevent the free flow of air through said regulator according to which direction and the degree 0 to which the concentric sleeve is rotated about the valve o body. 0~ 00 0 0 0 0 a a