EP0524966B1 - A breathing system for smoke diving and the like - Google Patents

A breathing system for smoke diving and the like Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0524966B1
EP0524966B1 EP91906624A EP91906624A EP0524966B1 EP 0524966 B1 EP0524966 B1 EP 0524966B1 EP 91906624 A EP91906624 A EP 91906624A EP 91906624 A EP91906624 A EP 91906624A EP 0524966 B1 EP0524966 B1 EP 0524966B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
breathing
actuator
gas
bag
valve
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP91906624A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0524966A1 (en
Inventor
Nils Terje Ottestad
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.)
OTTESTAD Nils Terje
Equinor ASA
Original Assignee
Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap AS
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
Application filed by Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap AS filed Critical Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap AS
Publication of EP0524966A1 publication Critical patent/EP0524966A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0524966B1 publication Critical patent/EP0524966B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
    • B63C11/02—Divers' equipment
    • B63C11/18—Air supply
    • B63C11/22—Air supply carried by diver
    • B63C11/24—Air supply carried by diver in closed circulation
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
    • A62B7/00—Respiratory apparatus
    • A62B7/10—Respiratory apparatus with filter elements
    • 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
    • A62B9/02—Valves

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a breathing system, especially for use in an atmosphere containing toxic gases, wherein exhaled gas is at least partly recirculated, the system comprising a circulation circuit, a breathing mouthpiece or breathing mask for application to the face of a user, an absorption means for absorbing exhaled CO 2 , a pneumatically controlled breathing bag communicating in said circulation circuit with the breathing mask and the absorption means, a pneumatic actuator arranged for alternating expansion and contraction of the breathing bag in accordance with the breathing pattern of the user, and a pressurized gas source coupled to the breathing bag to supplement the breathing gas therein.
  • Breathing equipment for smoke diving preferably is based on the supply of breathing gas through a breathing valve, whereas exhaled gas is dumped" directly to the surroundings through a one-way valve ( open breathing system").
  • Alternative types of breathing equipment are based on recovery of exhaled gas in a closed" or semi-closed” circulation (see e.g. DE-C-3.105.637). This implies that exhaled gas - partly or completely - is purified of CO 2 and supplied with oxygen so that it is again suitable as a breathing gas.
  • closed or semi-closed breathing systems there is achieved a long service life with a moderate gas supply, but they are normally heavy to breathe with because of the fact that the gas is recirculated by lung force.
  • good open breathing systems are easy to breathe with, but have a considerably shorter service life since one is dependent on keeping the weight low.
  • a substantial advantage with open breathing systems is that one is able to maintain a safety pressure (weak overpressure) in the breathing mask, so that the ingress of gases which are harmful to the health, is prevented.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a closed or semi-closed breathing system which utilizes the available breathing gas reservoir optimally, and wherein the system is reliable in service, is simple and reasonable to produce, and has a small weight and a long service life.
  • a breathing system of the type stated in the introduction which is characterized in that it includes a mode regulator arranged to control the actuator's expansion and contraction of the breathing bag, and to supply breathing gas to the breathing bag, by selectively supplying breathing gas from the pressurized gas source to the actuator, and by venting breathing gas from the actuator to the breathing bag, and a dosing means for supplementing the breathing gas supplied to the breathing bag by the mode regulator, the dosing means comprising a separate gas reservoir connected to the pressurized gas source, the dosing means supplying a metered gas quantity contained in the separate gas reservoir to the breathing bag responsive to the degree of filling of the bag by the mode regulator.
  • an actuator causes expansion and contraction of a breathing bag to reduce the required breathing effort.
  • the actuator is powered by the pressurized gas source. Breathing gas is supplied to the breathing bag by gas vented from the actuator. To ensure that the breathing bag is sufficiently filled, the actuator is sized so that the gas supplied to the actuator, and then vented to the breathing bas, is generally in excess of the required amount.
  • the breathing bag is provided with a valve for dumping excess gas when the total volume exceeds a certain value. This dumping of excess gas results in a certain amount of waste.
  • the provision of the mode regulator and dosing means allows for reduction of the amount of gas supplied to the actuator and then vented to the breathing bag.
  • the actuator is sized so as to require for its proper operation slightly less gas than is normally required for replacing the gas absorbed by the user's lungs. Additional gas as is required to replenish the absorbed gas is provided by the dosing means.
  • the dosing means senses when the amount of gas in the breathing bag after exhalation is too low, and then supplements the gas vented to the breathing bag from the actuator.
  • a mode regulator which, in communication with the pneumatic actuator, makes the breathing bag contract or expand whereby gas is carried to respectively from the user's breathing mouthpiece in accordance with his demand.
  • this mode regulator directly controls the movement of the actuator.
  • the mode regulator acts like a demand regulator, and therefore no mode switch or mode sensor is required. This results in a system wherein both production costs, complexity and maintenance requirements are substantially reduced as compared to the above-mentioned known system.
  • the actuator in the present system is so dimensioned that the oxygen quantity received thereby and thereafter vented" to the breathing bag, is somewhat smaller than the quantity absorbed in the respiration. It is therefore necessary to inject a certain oxygen quantity directly into the circulation of the system, to maintain the oxygen level in the breathing gas.
  • the dosing means is arranged to discharge a metered quantity of gas into the breathing bag each time when, during exhalation, there is not achieved a sufficient filling of the breathing bag.
  • the system is not, like many other closed oxygen apparatuses, based on a fixed injection of gas rich in oxygen, but utilizes the available gas reservoir optimally.
  • An advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention is characterized in that the circulation circuit comprises lengths of conduit covered by a relatively thick porous material which, when saturated with water, utilizes the evaporation of the water for cooling down the breathing gas circulating in the circulation circuit during operation.
  • the breathing system then is constructed in such a manner that surrounding gas flows past the surface and causes an efficient evaporation.
  • the evaporation heat is partly taken from the wet surface which is cooled down considerably.
  • the wet surface of the conduit stretches and possible other cooled-down surfaces in the system have a good thermal conduction to internal surfaces of the breathing system, so that an efficient cooling of the breathing gas is achieved.
  • Such an arrangement for cooling of the breathing gas opens up for considerable advantages as compared to traditional breathing systems wherein the temperature of inhaled gas may be well above the body temperature.
  • this solution has the advantage that the evaporation increases with the surrounding temperature, so that the system manages to maintain an acceptable breathing gas temperature even in rather warm surroundings.
  • wetting with water also has fire-technical advantages.
  • This system will be able to be ready for operation in that it is , e.g. immersed in a container of water.
  • a thick porous material will be able to absorb a considerable quantity of water, and the cooling therefore can take place over a relatively long time without another wetting of the porpous material.
  • the first side of the sensing diaphragm is also influenced by a spring means for maintaining an overpressure in said breathing mask relative to the surroundings.
  • This technique is utilized to establish a safety pressure" in the breathing mouthpiece or breathing mask of the user, something which prevents ingress of gases which are harmful to the health. This is of great importance as viewed from the safety point of view, and is - as far as one knows - not achieved in any other self-contained closed breathing system.
  • the small safety overpressure is maintained in the breathing mask during inhalation as well as during exhalation.
  • Fig. 1 constitute a closed breathing system wherein a breathing bag 1, a breathing mask 2 and a CO 2 absorbing means 3 are connected in series in a closed circuit or circulation, said units being interconnected through conduit stretches 4, 5 and 6.
  • the breathing gas is inhaled from the breathing bag 1 through the breathing mask 2 which is provided with one-way valves 7 and 8 ensuring that inhaled and exhaled gases are not mixed.
  • Exhaled gas passes via the means 3, which consists of a container containing a CO 2 absorbing material, into the breathing bag 1.
  • a pneumatic actuator 9 consisting of a cylinder/piston unit (see Fig. 3) which, as shown, is articulated to the side walls of the breathing bag in the central region thereof.
  • the actuator causes alternating expansion and contraction of the breathing bag in accordance with the breathing pattern of the user, as further described below.
  • a mode regulator 10 seeing that the actuator is supplied with compressed oxygen, or alternatively that supplied oxygen is vented to the breathing bag, as also further described below.
  • Pressurized oxygen is supplied from a source 11 through a pressure reducing valve 12.
  • the actuator 9 is dimensioned such that the oxygen quantity which is received and thereafter vented to the breathing bag, is somewhat smaller than the quantity absorbed in the user's respiration. In order to maintain the oxygen level in the breathing gas, it is therefore necessary to inject a certain oxygen quantity directly into the circulation.
  • a dosing means 13 which is arranged to discharge a metered oxygen quantity into the breathing bag 1 each time when, during exhalation, there is not achieved a sufficient filling of the breathing bag.
  • a sensing means 14 in combination with a pair of arms 15, 16 following the movement of the breathing bag, the arms at one of their ends being pivotally connected to each other, and at their other ends being articulated to the side walls of the breathing bag at the same places where the actuator 9 is coupled to the breathing bag.
  • the sensing means comprises a holding member 17 fixed to one arm 15 and extending in the direction of and past the other arm 16, a lever 18 pivotally connected to the free end of the holding member, a transverse pin 19 fixed to the arm 16 and cooperating with the lever 18, and a valve 20 (see Fig. 3) provided in the holding member and arranged to be actuated by the lever 18. This valve is opened when the lever 18 is lifted by the transverse pin 19 when the breathing bag 1 is filled beyond a certain filling degree, and then delivers a "blocking signal" to the dosing means 13, as further described below.
  • the outer surfaces of the conduit stretches 4, 5, 6 are covered by a relatively thick layer of a material 21 which is porous and water-absorbing, and which - in operation - is intended to be saturated with water, the water then evaporating and providing for cooling-down of the breathing gas circulating in the circulation, as discussed above.
  • the container 3 is covered by the water-absorbing material, and in particular those parts of the circulation located downstream of the container 3, may be extended in a suitable manner, with a view to achieving a large, efficient evaporation surface to the surrounding atmosphere.
  • the construction of the mode regulator 10 is shown more in detail in Fig. 2. It consists of a housing 22 containing a sensing diaphragm 23 dividing the housing into a pair of chambers 24, 25.
  • the chamber 24 communicates with the outer atmosphere through a pair of apertures 26, 27, whereas the chamber 25 communicates with the breathing mask 2 through the conduit 4 and is supplied with breathing gas from the breathing bag 1 through a one-way valve 28.
  • a spring 29 for acting upon the sensing diaphragm 23, so that in operation it is affected by a certain spring force in addition to the atmosphere pressure in the chamber 24. In this manner there is achieved a certain overpressure or safety pressure in the system, when the spring is activated.
  • the spring 29 is arranged in a cap 30 which is screwed into the housing 22 and can be screwed in to a greater or smaller extent, for setting of a desired spring prestressing force and thereby a desired overpressure. It is obvious that the diaphragm-influencing means may be carried out in many other ways than the illustrated spring and cap, but it is essential that the means is easily accessible to the user.
  • the sensing diaphragm 23 is mechanically coupled to a lever 31 for alternative actuation of a first and a second valve 32 and 33, respectively, of which a first valve 32 communicates with the actuator 9 through a conduit 34, and the second valve 33 is coupled to a conduit 35 communicating with the pressurized gas source 11 (through the reducing valve 12) as well as with the actuator 9, as shown in Fig. 3.
  • the actuator 9 consists of a cylinder 36 and a piston 37 having, as viewed in Fig. 3, an upper pressure surface 37a which is substantially smaller than the lower pressure surface 37b of the piston.
  • the upper cylinder compartment 36a is connected to the pressurized gas source 11 through a conduit 38
  • the lower cylinder compartment 36b is connected to the valves 32, 33 of the mode regulator through a conduit 39 (passing through the dosing means 13) and the conduit 34.
  • the smallest pressure surface 37a of the piston stands under a constant pressure influence from the pressurized gas source 11, so that the actuator 9 changes pressure direction according as its lower cylinder compartment 36b is supplied with gas from the pressurized gas source (through the mode regulator valve 33) or is vented (through the valve 32).
  • the upper side of the piston instead might be acted upon by a continuously acting spring force.
  • the dosing means 13 includes a small gas reservoir 40 which is arranged to be filled with oxygen through a first valve or inlet valve 41 which is connected to the pressurized gas source 11 through a conduit 42 and the conduit 38, and further is arranged to be discharged into the breathing bag through a second valve or outlet valve 43.
  • the valves 41 and 43 are arranged to be opened and closed alternately by an operating means in the form of a spring-loaded lever 44 which, in its initial position, keeps the valve 41 open.
  • a unit consisting of a pair of spring-loaded and oppositely directed one-way valves 45, 46 connected in parallel, and a chamber 47 connected in parallel to the valves and which is divided in two parts by a control diaphragm 48, as shown in Fig. 3.
  • the pressure drop across the one-way valve concerned causes the diaphragm 48 to be pressed in the flow direction of the gas.
  • control the dosing means 13 This is utilized to control the dosing means 13, so that it discharges the gas quantity in the reservoir 40 into the breathing bag 1 (through the valve 43) each time when, during exhalation, there is not achieved a sufficient filling of the breathing bag.
  • the control diaphragm 48 is coupled to an operating rod 49 which is moved to the right and affects the lever 44 when the diaphragm 48 is pressed to the right and opens the valve 43, provided that the movement of the operating rod 49 is not prevented as a result of a "blocking signal" delivered from the sensing means 14. As mentioned above, this blocking signal is provided from the valve 20.
  • the blocking signal consists in that the blocking piston 53 is pressure-actuated by opening of the valve 20, so that the piston is moved to the left and actuates a blocking lever 55 preventing said movement of the operating rod 49 even if the control diaphragm 48 is pressed to the right.
  • the blocking signal is nullified in that the control diaphragm 48 is pressed to the left, so that the blocking lever 55 is pivoted by actuation from the operating rod 49 and opens the venting valve 54, so that the blocking piston 53 by spring influence is returned to its initial position.
  • the pressure in the chamber 25 of the mode regulator 10 falls so that the sensing diaphragm 23 is pressed towards the chamber and opens the valve 32.
  • venting of gas from the lower cylinder compartment 36b of the actuator 9 starts, so that the actuator contracts the side faces of the breathing bag 1, so as to maintain a certain safety overpressure in the breathing mask 2.
  • the pressure in the breathing mask rises, and this pressure increase is transferred through a passage 56 to the chamber 25 of the mode regulator, so that the sensing diaphragm 23 is pressed outwards towards the chamber 24.
  • the valve 33 is opened, so that the lower cylinder compartment of the actuator 9 is supplied with compressed gas (oxygen) from the pressurized gas source.
  • the main supply of oxygen to the breathing bag takes place through the venting valve 32 of the mode regulator. Since the actuator as mentioned is dimensioned so as to supply a bit to little oxygen, the dosing means 13 also injects the metered oxygen quantity from the reservoir 40 to the breathing bag 1 after each exhalation wherein the breathing bag has not been sufficiently filled with breathing gas.
  • the injection of oxygen takes place at the same time as oxygen is vented from the actuator and the control diaphragm 48 is pressed to the right and opens the valve 43 by way of the operating rod 49 and the lever 44, that is, just after the inhalation phase has started.
  • the condition for opening of the valve 43 is that the sensing means 14 has not delivered a "blocking signal", which signal is delivered from the valve 20 when the lever 18 is lifted by the transverse pin 19 on the arm 16.
  • the blocking signal causes that the control diaphragm 48 is not able to move the lever 44 to the right and open the valve 43.
  • the blocking signal is nullified automatically when the breathing bag again gets into the exhalation mode and the diaphragm 48 is pressed to the left and opens the venting valve 54.
  • the system according to the invention In cases where the system according to the invention is to be used in a gas-filled atmosphere, it is natural, because of weight, size, etc., to build the mode regulator into the breathing bag, as shown and described. In connnection with e.g. diving, hydrostatic conditions will make it natural to build the mode regulator into the breathing mouthpiece or breathing mask. The breathing system will be operative as soon as the reducing valve supplies gas to the pneumatics of the system.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pulmonology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
EP91906624A 1990-04-03 1991-04-02 A breathing system for smoke diving and the like Expired - Lifetime EP0524966B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO901521A NO174836C (no) 1990-04-03 1990-04-03 Pustesystem for rökdykking o.l.
NO901521 1990-04-03
PCT/NO1991/000052 WO1991015265A1 (en) 1990-04-03 1991-04-02 A breathing system for smoke diving and the like

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0524966A1 EP0524966A1 (en) 1993-02-03
EP0524966B1 true EP0524966B1 (en) 1997-09-10

Family

ID=19893049

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91906624A Expired - Lifetime EP0524966B1 (en) 1990-04-03 1991-04-02 A breathing system for smoke diving and the like

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0524966B1 (no)
JP (1) JP3098538B2 (no)
AT (1) ATE157889T1 (no)
AU (1) AU651968B2 (no)
BR (1) BR9106307A (no)
CA (1) CA2079784C (no)
DE (1) DE69127621T2 (no)
ES (1) ES2109265T3 (no)
NO (1) NO174836C (no)
WO (1) WO1991015265A1 (no)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2357979B (en) * 1999-12-07 2004-02-18 Edward Cumming Breathing apparatus

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE928810C (de) * 1948-10-19 1955-06-10 Carl Von Hoff Selbsttaetige Steuerung einer Naehrgaszufuhr, insbesondere fuer Sauerstoffatemschutzgeraete
DE3105637C2 (de) * 1981-02-17 1986-09-18 Interspiro GmbH, 7529 Forst Kreislauf-Atemschutzgerät
CA1184472A (en) * 1982-02-16 1985-03-26 Les Suchy Breathing protective apparatus
US4793340A (en) * 1985-09-18 1988-12-27 Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S. Breathing system for divers
DE3930362A1 (de) * 1989-09-12 1991-03-21 Draegerwerk Ag Kreislaufatemschutzgeraet

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH05505951A (ja) 1993-09-02
ES2109265T3 (es) 1998-01-16
NO901521D0 (no) 1990-04-03
NO174836B (no) 1994-04-11
EP0524966A1 (en) 1993-02-03
DE69127621D1 (de) 1997-10-16
AU7572491A (en) 1991-10-30
JP3098538B2 (ja) 2000-10-16
BR9106307A (pt) 1993-04-13
CA2079784C (en) 1996-01-09
WO1991015265A1 (en) 1991-10-17
AU651968B2 (en) 1994-08-11
ATE157889T1 (de) 1997-09-15
DE69127621T2 (de) 1998-04-30
NO174836C (no) 1994-07-20
NO901521L (no) 1991-10-04

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