EP0148543B1 - Appareils respiratoires - Google Patents

Appareils respiratoires Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0148543B1
EP0148543B1 EP19840300140 EP84300140A EP0148543B1 EP 0148543 B1 EP0148543 B1 EP 0148543B1 EP 19840300140 EP19840300140 EP 19840300140 EP 84300140 A EP84300140 A EP 84300140A EP 0148543 B1 EP0148543 B1 EP 0148543B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
reservoir
liquid
refrigerant
relief valve
pressure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19840300140
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0148543A1 (fr
Inventor
Michael Harvey Glynn
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sabre Safety Ltd
Original Assignee
Sabre Safety Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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Application filed by Sabre Safety Ltd filed Critical Sabre Safety Ltd
Priority to DE8484300140T priority Critical patent/DE3466934D1/de
Priority to EP19840300140 priority patent/EP0148543B1/fr
Publication of EP0148543A1 publication Critical patent/EP0148543A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0148543B1 publication Critical patent/EP0148543B1/fr
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
    • A62B9/00—Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus

Definitions

  • This invention concerns improvements in or relating to breathing apparatus.
  • breathing apparatus There are two main types of breathing apparatus in use at the present time.
  • One type consists of an air or other respirable gas supply from a cylinder controlled by a demand valve, operated by the wearer (commonly called open circuit type). In this type the full volume of each breath is taken from the cylinder.
  • the British Standard test for breathing apparatus specifies a minute volume of breathing of 40 litres a minute (BS 4667 1974). This has been shown to accurately reflect that actually needed in practice. For practical purposes the largest size oxygen cylinder a man can carry in a breathing apparatus has 2000 litres of air in it and this charged weighs some 15 kilograms. It is seen from these figures that the maximum duration of this type of breathing apparatus is 50 minutes at this flow.
  • This type of apparatus When the requirement for a breathing apparatus is for a longer duration of up to 4 hours, a second type of breathing apparatus is used.
  • This type of apparatus commonly referred to as the closed or semi-closed circuit type, consists of an oxygen cylinder or other oxygen supply feeding into a recirculating system.
  • the circuit of this system includes a reservoir bag and a carbon dioxide absorber, together with non-return and relief valves.
  • This system is well known and has the advantage that the oxygen supply from the cylinder can now be at the rate absorbed by the wearer's lungs and is approximately 1-3 litres per minute depending on activity. This means that the oxygen used for a 4 hour duration is now only 720 litres maximum (at 3 litres per minute) giving a large weight saving.
  • Suitable refrigerant media are:-
  • the arrangement shown therein comprises a respiratory apparatus of the closed circuit type wherein the exhaled gases, prior to reinhalation, pass through a regenerating means and a heat exchanger for effecting cooling of the gases by indirect heat exchange with a coolant vapour evaporated to atmosphere from a body of liquid refrigerant medium coupled to the heat exchanger.
  • a liquid refrigerant is stored within a canister from which, in use, the liquid is discharged to evaporate within a flexible bag surrounding the conventional breathing bag of the closed circuit of the respirator.
  • the outer flexible bag and the breathing bag thus form the heat exchanger, and the refrigerant is discharged from the flexible bag to atmosphere through a non-return valve.
  • a respiratory apparatus comprising a closed or semi-closed circuit wherein exhaled gases, prior to reinhalation, pass through a regenerating means and a heat exchanger for effecting cooling of the gases by indirect heat exchange with a coolant vapour evaporated to atmosphere from a body of liquid refrigerant medium contained in a reservoir coupled to said heat exchanger, characterised in that said liquid storage reservoir is closed by means of a manually adjustable pressure relief valve whereby said liquid refrigerant medium is stored under.a selected vapour pressure and evaporation of the liquid refrigerant medium takes place within the storage reservoir under the influence of heat transferred from a conduit of said closed circuit with which said storage reservoir is in heat exchange relationship whereby the breathing temperature of the recirculated gases is controlled in accordance with ambient conditions.
  • This arrangement gives the enormous advantage that the wearer of a breathing apparatus can himself set the temperature of the inhaled medium by a control on the apparatus and can vary this to suit his needs in varying ambient temperatures. For example, he can select a lower inhaled oxygen temperature in high environmental temperatures and promote body cooling.
  • the said conduit may consist of a tube or other vessel with an adequate surface area in the breathing circuit in thermal contact with the reservoir of liquid.
  • the boiling point of the liquid may then be selected in accordance with the vapour pressure curve for this liquid and an appropriate pressure maintained in the reservoir by adjustment of the pressure relief valve.
  • the boiling point of R11 at 2 bar absolute pressure is 45°C. This gives a blow-off value and reservoir pressure of only 15 P.S.I. (1 bar) above atmospheric pressure so that this agent alone gives a range of 23.7 ⁇ 45°C over the pressure range of 0 to 15 P.S.I. (0 to 1 bar) above atmospheric pressure.
  • the device in accordance with the invention can be stored fully charged ready for instant use.
  • the reservoir can be constructed in one or more parts so that the refrigerant liquid is either inside or outside the breathing circuit tube or vessel. It can also be constructed on the principles of the'non-spill inkwell' so that it is not filled to more than 50% of its volume.
  • the blow-off outlet is then located in the centre point of the reservoir so that the wearer can assume any position, such as head down, without loss of liquid.
  • the breathing apparatus comprises an outer casing formed by two opposed panel members 7 and 8 of dished configuration, the member 7 serving to support a reservoir 2 of refrigerant, as well as a canister 9 containing a carbon dioxide absorbing medium, and an oxygen cylinder 10.
  • the member 8 serves to enclose a breathing bag 11 connected on the one hand to an outlet 12 from the canister 9, and on the other hand to an inlet 13 to a cooling tube 1 located within the reservoir 1.
  • the other end of the cooling tube 1 is coupled to a breathing tube 14 leading to a mouthpiece 15, which mouthpiece is further coupled via an exhaust tube 16 to a conduit 17 leading to the canister 9.
  • the mouthpiece 15 incorporates non-return valves, not shown, which operate in a direction such that air is inhaled from the tube 14 and exhaled to the tube 16.
  • the tube 1 may have fins, balls, wire wool or other means inside to increase the surface area for heat exchange with the breathable medium.
  • the reservoir 2 is provided with a pressure relief valve 4 which is manually adjustable to maintain a predetermined vapour pressure within the reservoir 2, and is connected to a sensing tube 3 which communicates with the volumetric centre of the reservoir 2, which, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, is less than half filled with refrigerant medium so that the refrigerant liquid cannot itself enter the tube 3.
  • valve 4 The construction of the valve 4 is illustrated in more detail Fig. 6, wherein it will be seen that the sensing tube 3 engages with a valve body 25 fitted in the wall of the reservoir 2 and providing a valve seat 26 for a valve member 24 having a stem 24A guided within a bore 22A of an adjustable valve cap 22 in screw threaded engagement with the valve body 25.
  • a compression spring 23 engages between the cap 22 and the valve member 24, and thus the force of the spring, and the corresponding pressure at which the valve member 24 is released from the valve seat 26 is determined by the extent to which the cap 22 is screw threaded on to the valve body 25.
  • the cap 22 incorporates a vent 27 to allow escape of refrigerant gas released by the valve member 24.
  • a locking screw 21 serves to enable locking of the valve cap 22 in a selected position of adjustment. It will be appreciated that the cap 22 can be removed for recharging of the reservoir 2 with refrigerant via the filling and venting tube 3.
  • the reservoir 3 is further provided with a safety valve 6 the construction of which is substantially similar to that of the valve member 4 as illustrated in Fig. 6 with the exception that the sensing tube 3 is omitted.
  • the oxygen cylinder 10 comprises a supply valve and regulator 18 of conventional type, by means of which oxygen can be supplied at a controlled rate to the breathing bag 11.
  • air breathed by the wearer is recirculated through the system in the direction indicated by the arrows.
  • air from the breathing bag 11, containing oxygen supplied from the cylinder 10 is inhaled via pipe 1 and breathing tube 14, and then exhaled via tube 16 and conduit 17 to the canister 9 wherein carbon dioxide is absorbed from the air by the absorbent medium present in the canister 9, before the air returns to the breathing bag 11 to be recharged with oxygen from the cylinder 10.
  • the air to be breathed is cooled by the tube 1 serving as a heat exchanger.
  • the temperature of the air to be breathed is thus determined by the boiling point of the refrigerant medium contained within the reservoir 2 and maintained under a predetermined vapour pressure by means of the adjustable relief valve 4.
  • the rate of evaporation of the refrigerant medium and the degree of cooling of the breathable medium can be controlled by manual adjustment of the pressure relief valve 4.
  • the range of adjustment of the valve 4 is such that it can prevent evaporation of the refrigerant medium when the device is to be stored in normal ambient conditions.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pulmonology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
  • Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)

Claims (8)

1. Appareil respiratoire comportant un circuit fermé ou semi-fermé (1, 14, 15, 16, 17, 13) dans lequel, avant d'être à nouveau inhalés, les gaz exhalés traversent un moyen de régénération (9, 10) et un échangeur thermique (1, 2) pour refroidir les gaz par échange thermique indirect avec une vapeur réfrigérante dégagée dans l'atmosphère depuis un corps de réfrigérant liquide contenu dans un réservoir
(2) couplé à l'échangeur thermique (1, 2), caractérisé en ce que le réservoir de stockage du liquide (2) est fermé au moyen d'un clapet de surpression (4) réglable à la main, d'où il résulte que le réfrigérant liquide est stocké sous une pression de vapeur sélectionnée et que l'évaporation du réfrigérant liquide s'effectue à l'intérieur du réservoir de stockage (2) sous l'influence de la chaleur transférée d'un conduit (1) du circuit fermé avec lequel le réservoir de stockage (2) coopère à des fins d'échange thermique, grâce à quoi la température des gaz recyclés inhalés est réglée en fonction des conditions ambiantes.
2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le corps de réfrigérant liquide et la plage de réglable du clapet de surpression (4) sont choisis de telle sorte que, dans des conditions normales ambiantes, le clapet de surpression (4), convenablement réglé, et susceptible de maintenir fermé le réservoir de stockage (2), conservant ainsi, prête à servir, une charge de réfrigérant.
3. Appareil selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que le clapet de surpression (4) coopère avec un conduit de sortie (3) s'y raccordant en provenance pratiquement du centre volumétrique du réservoir de réfrigérant (2), et en ce que le corps de liquide réfrigérant remplit moins de la moitié de ce réservoir.
4. Appareil selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le liquide réfrigérant est C CI3F, C HC12F ou C2Cl2F4.
5. Appareil selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que ce liquide est un liquide réfrigérant ayant, à la pression atmosphérique, un point d'ébullition inférieur à 40°C.
6. Appareil selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le clapet de surpression réglable
(4) est agencé pour permettre de régler la pression à l'intérieur du réservoir à l'intérieur d'une plage de pressions absolues allant de 1 à 2 bars.
EP19840300140 1984-01-10 1984-01-10 Appareils respiratoires Expired EP0148543B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE8484300140T DE3466934D1 (en) 1984-01-10 1984-01-10 Improvements to breathing apparatus
EP19840300140 EP0148543B1 (fr) 1984-01-10 1984-01-10 Appareils respiratoires

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19840300140 EP0148543B1 (fr) 1984-01-10 1984-01-10 Appareils respiratoires

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0148543A1 EP0148543A1 (fr) 1985-07-17
EP0148543B1 true EP0148543B1 (fr) 1987-10-28

Family

ID=8192522

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19840300140 Expired EP0148543B1 (fr) 1984-01-10 1984-01-10 Appareils respiratoires

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0148543B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3466934D1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4536559A (en) * 1983-06-17 1985-08-20 The Boeing Company Thermally stable polyimide polysulfone compositions for composite structures
US4871475A (en) * 1985-10-07 1989-10-03 The Boeing Company Polysulfone and polyethersulfone oligomers
DE4029084A1 (de) * 1990-09-13 1992-03-19 Draegerwerk Ag Kuehlvorrichtung zur atemgaskuehlung in einem atemschutzgeraet
EP2818204A1 (fr) 2013-06-25 2014-12-31 Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA Dispositif de refroidissement pour combinaisons de protection contre les produits chimiques et/ou appareils respiratoires en circuit fermé

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB733473A (en) * 1951-01-10 1955-07-13 Nat Res Dev Improvements relating to breathing apparatus
DE881155C (de) * 1951-08-15 1953-06-29 Hermann Dr Med Bruener Atemschutzgeraet fuer Arbeiten am heissen Ort
US3527214A (en) * 1967-05-24 1970-09-08 Air Liquide Apparatus for regenerating a breathable gas in individual respiratory device of the closed-circuit type

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3466934D1 (en) 1987-12-03
EP0148543A1 (fr) 1985-07-17

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