EP0534741A1 - Breathing regulator having air injector feature - Google Patents
Breathing regulator having air injector feature Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0534741A1 EP0534741A1 EP92308679A EP92308679A EP0534741A1 EP 0534741 A1 EP0534741 A1 EP 0534741A1 EP 92308679 A EP92308679 A EP 92308679A EP 92308679 A EP92308679 A EP 92308679A EP 0534741 A1 EP0534741 A1 EP 0534741A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- air
- air inlet
- inlet valve
- regulator
- diaphragm
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000029058 respiratory gaseous exchange Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 33
- 230000009189 diving Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000000452 restraining effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 abstract description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 abstract description 5
- 238000010926 purge Methods 0.000 description 5
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000008246 gaseous mixture Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000033228 biological regulation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000881 depressing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- B63C11/2227—Second-stage regulators
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to breathing regulators for use with demand breathing systems employed in diving, such as scuba diving, and more particularly to regulators for such systems in which the quantity of air or other gas or gaseous mixtures supplied to the user is determined by the breathing demands of the user and is adjustable by the user during such use.
- Demand breathing systems used for diving, particularly scuba diving typically employ a tank of breathable air or other breathable gaseous mixture (hereinafter referred to as "air" for the sake of brevity), a valve at the tank reducing the pressure of the mixture to approximately 140 psi as a first stage of regulating the pressure, a regulator to further reduce and control the pressure of the air in accordance with the breathing demand of the user as a second stage regulation, and a mouthpiece pneumatically coupled to the regulator through which the user breathes and receives air from the system.
- air breathable air or other breathable gaseous mixture
- the regulator employs a flexible diaphragm which senses the breathing demand of the user, and upon inhalation, the diaphragm is deflected in a first direction, opening a valve within the, regulator to, admit air from the tank valve to the mouthpiece and to the user.
- the exhaled air passing through the mouthpiece and into the regulator increases the pressure, deflecting the diaphragm in a second or opposite direction causing the valve within the regulator to close, and due to the increased pressure in the regulator, a portion of the air within the regulator is exhausted, equalizing the pressure on the diaphragm.
- Air can be exhausted by deflection of the diaphragm or a portion thereof away from its seat and exhausted between the diaphragm and its seat or through a separate exhaust valve.
- Improvements on the typical demand breathing systems have been made to reduce or control the extent of the breathing demand required to open or crack the valve within the regulator and exhaust exhaled air, particularly where the conditions, such as depth of diving, changes the demand required as compared to ambient or surface or near surface conditions.
- Such improvements have included the provision of a conical platform for the diaphragm to provide a varying effective area and permit the diaphragm to function as an exhaust valve, as in U.S. Patent No. 4,147,176 to Christianson.
- U.S. Patent No. 4,147,176 also provides an aspirator opening downstream of the valve in the regulator to direct the airflow, and in one embodiment provides for adjustment of the direction of the airflow by the user.
- the user may adjust the direction of the airflow to obtain a favorable breathing demand during one portion of the breathing cycle, but in so doing may cause misadjustment, uncomfortable or even difficult operation during another portion of the breathing cycle.
- An object of the present invention is the provision of adjusting apparatus for a demand breathing system which provides for adjustment over a limited range of the demand requirement of the user, which is readily adjustable by the user during use of the system and which reduces the possibility of extreme adjustment which may cause unbalance or difficulty to the user in using the system.
- This and other objectives of the invention are achieved by providing adjusting apparatus in connection with a second stage regulator whereby the amount of force required to open or crack the valve and a portion of flow of air from the valve may be selectively adjusted to assist the user in comfortable breathing required by that user under conditions then present.
- an object of the invention is to provide a second stage diving regulator having a diaphragm, an air inlet valve and a mouthpiece tube, characterized by: a. an air inlet valve stem retaining means positioned within the regulator and adjustable axially for retaining a portion of an adjustable spring biasing means, for retaining a portion of an air inlet valve stem movably therewithin, and for forming a chamber with the portion of the valve stem retained therein for receiving a flow of air from the valve stem for pneumatically biasing the valve stem toward a valve seat, thereby balancing the position of the valve stem between the retaining means and the valve seat and restraining the opening of the air inlet valve when the valve stem is not in contact with the valve seat, and b.
- air injector means mounted in the regulator, coupled to the air inlet valve and having rotatable adjusting means external to the regulator device for adjusting said air injector means within the regulator device for supplying and directing a flow of air from the air inlet valve separate from the main flow of air from the air inlet valve, adjustably directed between a first position toward the mouthpiece tube and away from the diaphragm, a second position toward the diaphragm and away from the mouthpiece tube for adjusting the pressure of air flowing from the air inlet valve to the mouthpiece tube to adjust the pressure at the inlet valve side of the diaphragm, thereby selectively adjusting the position of the diaphragm to control the amount of breathing effort required of the user to open the air inlet valve.
- regulator 10 on which is mounted a mouthpiece tube 12, which may be integral with the regulator 10.
- a mouthpiece (not shown) is secured to mouthpiece tube 12 and sealed against fluid leakage as is known in the art.
- regulator 10 is pneumatically coupled with a tank (not shown) of air or other breathable gaseous mixture (hereafter referred to as "air” for brevity) under pressure through a first valve (not shown) usually mounted on the tank.
- air air or other breathable gaseous mixture
- Air from the tank and first valve is conveyed to regulator 10 by means of a conduit 14, which can be a flexible tube or hose, having a swaging or flange 15 and secured to regulator 10 by a retaining cap 16 having a corresponding shoulder 17 (FIG. 3).
- the tank is usually supported on the back of the user, and regulator 10 positioned with the mouthpiece in the mouth of the user with the conduit 14 extending therebetween.
- Regulator 10 includes a diaphragm 18 mounted therein and supported by a housing 20 to retain diaphragm 18 while permitting it to deflect in response to changes in air pressure on the air inlet side of diaphragm 18, i.e., the side facing mouthpiece tube 12.
- Diaphragm 18 and housing 20 are enclosed by a cover 22, with openings (not shown) to permit exhausted air to escape from regulator 10 and to permit fluid from the surroundings, e.g. water if the breathing system is used for diving, to enter so as to exert pressure on the opposite side of the diaphragm 18.
- Cover 22 is preferably flexible, in part for a purpose to be hereafter described.
- Diaphragm 18 can also include an exhaust valve or portion 24 which can be deflected by air pressure on the air inlet side of diaphragm 18 after diaphragm 18 has been deflected away from mouthpiece tube 12 to the fullest extent.
- Diaphragm 18 can include a port 26 to permit the air on the inlet side of diaphragm 18 to pass therethrough to exert pressure on portion 24.
- Regulator 10 further includes a lever 28 which has one end position 30 normally abutting a portion of diaphragm 18 so that lever 28 moves in response to the movement of diaphragm 18.
- lever 28 hereinafter will be described in greater detail.
- Regulator 10 includes air inlet valve 32 which desirably is aligned and coupled with conduit 14 within valve housing 34.
- the end of housing 34 adjacent conduit 14 supports a valve seat 36 against which valve stem 38 is normally held by means of a biasing spring 40, and is movable within housing 34 away from seat 36 against the force of spring 40.
- Valve seat 36 and a valve seat retainer 37 are formed of metal so that the parts receiving relatively high pressure air from conduit 14 will withstand that pressure without deforming as might occur if those components were of plastic. In this manner, housing 34, being of rigid plastic, is not subjected to the relatively high pressure air from conduit 14.
- Valve stem 38 is connected to lever 28 so that deflection of diaphragm 18 toward mouthpiece 12 will cause lever 28 to deflect and move valve stem 38 away from seat 36, and subsequent deflection of diaphragm 18 in the opposite direction will allow lever 28 to return to its normal position, allowing valve stem 38 to return to its normal position against seat 36.
- Valve seat 36 is secured to retainer 37 by relatively fine screw threads 37′, whereby advancing or retracting seat 36 with respect to retainer 37 will initially position or set the lever 28 and the point within housing 20 at which lever 28 engages diaphragm 18.
- valve seat 36 can be replaced by unscrewing the latter from retainer 37.
- End portion 42 is preferably made of non-metallic material to cushion the closing or seating of stem 38 against seat 36, and includes a central bore 39 through which a portion of the stream of air from conduit 14 may pass.
- the remainder of stem 38 also includes a central bore 39′ through which the stream of air flowing through the bore 39 in end portion 42 may pass.
- the opposite end portion of stem 38 is retained in a retainer 46, for axial movement within retainer 46.
- Retainer 46 also retains and exerts pressure on biasing spring 40, and forms a chamber 48 which receives the stream of air flowing through the bore 39′ of stem 38 for a purpose to be hereafter described.
- the adjusting apparatus of the present invention includes an adjusting mechanism for axially moving retainer 46 toward and away from seat 36 to provide for adjustment of the tension of biasing spring 40 by the user during use of the breathing system.
- the adjusting mechanism includes a non-metallic shaft 50 rotatably supported within housing 34 and extending therefrom, and a non-metallic knob 52 mounted to the portion of shaft 50 extending externally from housing 34 and secured to shaft 50 for rotation therewith by means of splines 54 on shaft 50 engaging mating splines on knob 52.
- the opposite end portion of shaft 50 is threaded and mates with internal threads 56 formed on the end portion of retainer 46.
- Knob 52 is mounted so that it is not freeably rotatable nor extends from a thin shaft, and thereby cannot be readily accidently rotated or caught on structures which may otherwise occur.
- the shaft 50 rotates within the housing 34, but does not move axially. Instead, the retainer 46, through its threaded engagement with the shaft 50, moves axially within the cavity 44 to adjust tension on the spring 40.
- the retainer 46 is provided with splines 57 which are engaged in a track 58 formed in the housing 34. If rotation of knob 52 is attempted to advance retainer 46 toward valve seat 36 beyond the limits of threads 56, the threads will eventually disengage, and retainer 46 will not advance further, as spring 40 will hold retainer 46 against the end of shaft 50. Upon subsequent adjustment in the opposite direction, the threads will reengage due to the action on the retainer of spring 40.
- the tension on biasing spring 40 can be selectively increased or decreased, thereby adjusting the balancing of valve stem 38 between retainer 46 and seat 36, and through the adjustment of the tension on biasing spring 40 restraining the opening of air inlet valve 32 when stem 38 is not in contact with seat 36.
- the adjusting mechanism provides for limiting the adjustment, while preventing its being damaged by attempted overadjustment.
- the adjusting apparatus of the present invention further includes an adjustable air injector device, which as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is generally designated by numeral 60.
- Air injector device 60 is shown as including an air injector tube 62 with its open end or inlet 64 pneumatically coupled with cavity 44 of air inlet valve housing 34. It should be noted that the inlet 64 is pneumatically coupled to the cavity 44 separately from the main flow of air.
- Tube 62 has an outlet 66 intermediate its ends, and is closed at its upper end opposite inlet 64.
- the outlet 66 is preferably a small circular opening of approximately 1/8 inch diameter to increase the flow velocity therethrough relative to the velocity of air directed at the mouthpiece tube 12 from the cavity 44.
- Tube 62 is integral with a knob 68 external to regulator 10 so as to be adjustably rotatable with the knob, and the tube and knob are retained by a clip or snap ring 70.
- FIG. 1 shows air injector tube 62 in a first position with outlet 66 directed toward mouthpiece tube 12 and away from diaphragm 18.
- FIG. 2 shows air injector tube 62 in a second position with outlet 66 directed toward diaphragm 18 and away from mouthpiece tube 12. It is contemplated that knob 68 may be adjusted to a third position intermediate the first and second positions, wherein air injector tube 62 is positioned with outlet 66 directed toward the side, i.e. directed toward neither diaphragm 18 nor mouthpiece tube 12. It should be noted here that although three basic positions have been described for the injector tube 62, the tube is infinitely adjustable between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
- air inlet valve housing 34 includes an outlet port 72 leading and directed to mouthpiece tube 12 through which the main stream of air from air inlet valve cavity 44 flows directed toward mouthpiece tube 12.
- the port 72 is preferably constructed as an elongate rectangle, and upper edge of port 72 is defined by a wedge shaped member 74 which directs the main stream of air from cavity 44 toward mouthpiece tube 12.
- the narrow port 72 as compared to the volume of cavity 44 tends to create a venturi effect upon the main stream of air as it flows through port 72 and into mouthpiece tube 12, assisting the inhalation of the stream of air by the user.
- the air inlet valve 32 is initially closed by the bias of spring 40 and assisted by the portion of air flow from conduit 14 passing through the central bore of stem 38, entering chamber 48 and impinging upon the end of stem 38 opposite seat 36.
- air is withdrawn from the cavity formed within regulator 10 between diaphragm 18 and mouthpiece tube 12, causing diaphragm 18 to deflect toward mouthpiece tube 12, and forcing lever 28 to deflect, moving valve stem 38 away from seat 36.
- the main stream of air from conduit 14 flows between seat 36 and stem 38, through cavity 44 and outlet 72 into mouthpiece tube 12 and through the mouthpiece to the user.
- the effort or the amount of demand of the inhalation of the user needed to open or crack the valve 32 can be adjusted by the user by adjusting knob 52, causing the retainer 46 to increase or decrease the tension on spring 40.
- An increase in the tension of spring 40 causes a greater inhalation demand on the user to open valve 32, while a decrease in the tension on spring 40 will cause the opposite result.
- the splined shaft 50 and knob 52 arrangement and positive threaded connection between shaft 50 and retainer 46 prevents accidental adjustment from being made without purposeful adjustment of knob 52, and the valve stem 38 is cushioned against casual or accidental misadjustments.
- knob 52, shaft 50 and retainer 46 of non-metallic material reduces unintended changes to the latter which may result if those components were metallic, due in large part to changes in temperature, for example when the system is used for diving into cold water or water having lowered temperatures at the greatest depth of the dive.
- adjustable air injector device 60 in the preferred embodiment including injector tube 62 and the knob 68, permits adjustment by the user to assist or resist the effort or demand required to effect operation of the regulator.
- the tube 62 When the tube 62 is in the first position with outlet 66 directed toward mouthpiece tube 12, the stream of air passing through inlet 64 and out the outlet 66 is added at relatively higher velocity to the main stream of air passing through port 72, thus injecting the air into the user's mouth.
- the action of the tube 62 creates a suction on the air inlet side of diaphragm 18 and a consequent early deflection of the diaphragm and relatively effortless opening of air inlet valve 32 upon inhalation.
- the stream of air from inlet 64 is directed to diaphragm 18, increasing the pressure on the air inlet side of the diaphragm, or counteracting the suction due to inhalation, and thereby requiring a greater inhalation effort or demand by the user to open air inlet valve 32.
- the most desirable position of the injector tube 62 for most users is the third position, in which the air stream is directed toward neither mouthpiece tube 12 nor diaphragm 18, and a normal demand or inhalation effort is required to open air inlet valve 32.
- adjustment of the injector tube can be made by turning knob 68 to rotate the injector tube 62 with outlet 66 increasingly directed toward the diaphragm 18 to increase the pressure in the regulator to offset the increased ambient pressure on the opposite or outwardly facing side of the diaphragm.
- the knob can be rotated in the opposite direction to approach or reach the position illustrated in FIG. 1.
- a purge mechanism is included in regulator 10.
- a purge button 76 is provided supported by diaphragm 18, which button may also be used as the abutting surface in diaphragm 18 to abut portion 30 of lever 28.
- Cover 22 is made flexible, in part to permit the user to easily depress cover 22 above purge button 76 to depress the button.
- purge button 76 When purge button 76 is depressed, lever 28 is directly deflected, opening air inlet valve 32 and causing a surge of air from conduit 14 to enter cavity 44 and exit through port 72 to mouthpiece tube 12 and hence to the user. At the same time, the depression of diaphragm 18 by depressing purge button 76 decreases the volume of the space between diaphragm and mouthpiece tube 12, forcing air and water within that space to be exhausted through port 26 and the edge of portion 24 of the diaphragm as portion 24 is deflected from its seat by the fluid pressure within the described space.
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Pulmonology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates generally to breathing regulators for use with demand breathing systems employed in diving, such as scuba diving, and more particularly to regulators for such systems in which the quantity of air or other gas or gaseous mixtures supplied to the user is determined by the breathing demands of the user and is adjustable by the user during such use.
- Demand breathing systems used for diving, particularly scuba diving, typically employ a tank of breathable air or other breathable gaseous mixture (hereinafter referred to as "air" for the sake of brevity), a valve at the tank reducing the pressure of the mixture to approximately 140 psi as a first stage of regulating the pressure, a regulator to further reduce and control the pressure of the air in accordance with the breathing demand of the user as a second stage regulation, and a mouthpiece pneumatically coupled to the regulator through which the user breathes and receives air from the system. Typically the regulator employs a flexible diaphragm which senses the breathing demand of the user, and upon inhalation, the diaphragm is deflected in a first direction, opening a valve within the, regulator to, admit air from the tank valve to the mouthpiece and to the user. Upon exhalation, the exhaled air passing through the mouthpiece and into the regulator increases the pressure, deflecting the diaphragm in a second or opposite direction causing the valve within the regulator to close, and due to the increased pressure in the regulator, a portion of the air within the regulator is exhausted, equalizing the pressure on the diaphragm. Air can be exhausted by deflection of the diaphragm or a portion thereof away from its seat and exhausted between the diaphragm and its seat or through a separate exhaust valve.
- Improvements on the typical demand breathing systems have been made to reduce or control the extent of the breathing demand required to open or crack the valve within the regulator and exhaust exhaled air, particularly where the conditions, such as depth of diving, changes the demand required as compared to ambient or surface or near surface conditions.
- Such improvements have included the provision of a conical platform for the diaphragm to provide a varying effective area and permit the diaphragm to function as an exhaust valve, as in U.S. Patent No. 4,147,176 to Christianson. U.S. Patent No. 4,147,176 also provides an aspirator opening downstream of the valve in the regulator to direct the airflow, and in one embodiment provides for adjustment of the direction of the airflow by the user. However, in the arrangement disclosed in the patent, the user may adjust the direction of the airflow to obtain a favorable breathing demand during one portion of the breathing cycle, but in so doing may cause misadjustment, uncomfortable or even difficult operation during another portion of the breathing cycle.
- Another attempted improvement is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,796,618 to Garraffa, in which an adjustable flow vane is provided in the flow of air toward the mouthpiece to deflect a portion of that flow toward or away from the mouthpiece. In the arrangement disclosed in Patent No. 4,796,618, the vane can be adjusted between extremes by the user to substantially defeat the assisting effect of the directing of the airflow on the breathing demand required of the user. Such defeat of the assisting effect can cause uncomfortable breathing demand or difficulty in breathing by the user. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the deflecting of a portion of the main air stream away from the mouthpiece may impede the delivery of air to the user.
- Therefore, there is a need for adjusting apparatus for demand breathing systems which provides for selectively assisting the breathing demand of the user during substantially all of the breathing cycle, and which provides for selective adjustment by the user of the demand requirement and smooth operation of the system during its use.
- An object of the present invention is the provision of adjusting apparatus for a demand breathing system which provides for adjustment over a limited range of the demand requirement of the user, which is readily adjustable by the user during use of the system and which reduces the possibility of extreme adjustment which may cause unbalance or difficulty to the user in using the system.
- This and other objectives of the invention are achieved by providing adjusting apparatus in connection with a second stage regulator whereby the amount of force required to open or crack the valve and a portion of flow of air from the valve may be selectively adjusted to assist the user in comfortable breathing required by that user under conditions then present.
- Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a second stage diving regulator having a diaphragm, an air inlet valve and a mouthpiece tube, characterized by: a. an air inlet valve stem retaining means positioned within the regulator and adjustable axially for retaining a portion of an adjustable spring biasing means, for retaining a portion of an air inlet valve stem movably therewithin, and for forming a chamber with the portion of the valve stem retained therein for receiving a flow of air from the valve stem for pneumatically biasing the valve stem toward a valve seat, thereby balancing the position of the valve stem between the retaining means and the valve seat and restraining the opening of the air inlet valve when the valve stem is not in contact with the valve seat, and b. air injector means mounted in the regulator, coupled to the air inlet valve and having rotatable adjusting means external to the regulator device for adjusting said air injector means within the regulator device for supplying and directing a flow of air from the air inlet valve separate from the main flow of air from the air inlet valve, adjustably directed between a first position toward the mouthpiece tube and away from the diaphragm, a second position toward the diaphragm and away from the mouthpiece tube for adjusting the pressure of air flowing from the air inlet valve to the mouthpiece tube to adjust the pressure at the inlet valve side of the diaphragm, thereby selectively adjusting the position of the diaphragm to control the amount of breathing effort required of the user to open the air inlet valve.
- The preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the drawings accompanying this specification in which:
- FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in cross-section, of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a view substantially similar to FIG. 1 showing the apparatus of the present invention adjusted into another position.
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a regulator having the apparatus of the present invention and being taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and in the direction indicated generally.
- Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a
regulator 10 on which is mounted amouthpiece tube 12, which may be integral with theregulator 10. A mouthpiece (not shown) is secured tomouthpiece tube 12 and sealed against fluid leakage as is known in the art. In a demand breathing system,regulator 10 is pneumatically coupled with a tank (not shown) of air or other breathable gaseous mixture (hereafter referred to as "air" for brevity) under pressure through a first valve (not shown) usually mounted on the tank. Air from the tank and first valve is conveyed toregulator 10 by means of aconduit 14, which can be a flexible tube or hose, having a swaging orflange 15 and secured toregulator 10 by a retainingcap 16 having a corresponding shoulder 17 (FIG. 3). The tank is usually supported on the back of the user, andregulator 10 positioned with the mouthpiece in the mouth of the user with theconduit 14 extending therebetween. -
Regulator 10 includes adiaphragm 18 mounted therein and supported by ahousing 20 to retaindiaphragm 18 while permitting it to deflect in response to changes in air pressure on the air inlet side ofdiaphragm 18, i.e., the side facingmouthpiece tube 12.Diaphragm 18 andhousing 20 are enclosed by acover 22, with openings (not shown) to permit exhausted air to escape fromregulator 10 and to permit fluid from the surroundings, e.g. water if the breathing system is used for diving, to enter so as to exert pressure on the opposite side of thediaphragm 18.Cover 22 is preferably flexible, in part for a purpose to be hereafter described.Diaphragm 18 can also include an exhaust valve orportion 24 which can be deflected by air pressure on the air inlet side ofdiaphragm 18 afterdiaphragm 18 has been deflected away frommouthpiece tube 12 to the fullest extent.Diaphragm 18 can include aport 26 to permit the air on the inlet side ofdiaphragm 18 to pass therethrough to exert pressure onportion 24. -
Regulator 10 further includes alever 28 which has oneend position 30 normally abutting a portion ofdiaphragm 18 so thatlever 28 moves in response to the movement ofdiaphragm 18. The function oflever 28 hereinafter will be described in greater detail. -
Regulator 10 includesair inlet valve 32 which desirably is aligned and coupled withconduit 14 withinvalve housing 34. The end ofhousing 34adjacent conduit 14 supports avalve seat 36 against whichvalve stem 38 is normally held by means of a biasingspring 40, and is movable withinhousing 34 away fromseat 36 against the force ofspring 40.Valve seat 36 and avalve seat retainer 37 are formed of metal so that the parts receiving relatively high pressure air fromconduit 14 will withstand that pressure without deforming as might occur if those components were of plastic. In this manner,housing 34, being of rigid plastic, is not subjected to the relatively high pressure air fromconduit 14.Valve stem 38 is connected to lever 28 so that deflection ofdiaphragm 18 towardmouthpiece 12 will causelever 28 to deflect and movevalve stem 38 away fromseat 36, and subsequent deflection ofdiaphragm 18 in the opposite direction will allowlever 28 to return to its normal position, allowingvalve stem 38 to return to its normal position againstseat 36.Valve seat 36 is secured to retainer 37 by relativelyfine screw threads 37′, whereby advancing or retractingseat 36 with respect toretainer 37 will initially position or set thelever 28 and the point withinhousing 20 at whichlever 28 engagesdiaphragm 18. In addition, by removingcap 16,conduit 14, andretainer 37,valve seat 36 can be replaced by unscrewing the latter fromretainer 37. - When
valve stem 38 is moved away fromseat 36, air fromconduit 14 passes betweenseat 36 and theend portion 42 ofstem 38 into thecavity 44 formed byhousing 34.End portion 42 is preferably made of non-metallic material to cushion the closing or seating ofstem 38 againstseat 36, and includes acentral bore 39 through which a portion of the stream of air fromconduit 14 may pass. The remainder ofstem 38 also includes acentral bore 39′ through which the stream of air flowing through thebore 39 inend portion 42 may pass. The opposite end portion ofstem 38 is retained in aretainer 46, for axial movement withinretainer 46.Retainer 46 also retains and exerts pressure on biasingspring 40, and forms achamber 48 which receives the stream of air flowing through thebore 39′ ofstem 38 for a purpose to be hereafter described. - The adjusting apparatus of the present invention includes an adjusting mechanism for axially moving
retainer 46 toward and away fromseat 36 to provide for adjustment of the tension of biasingspring 40 by the user during use of the breathing system. As shown, the adjusting mechanism includes a non-metallic shaft 50 rotatably supported withinhousing 34 and extending therefrom, and anon-metallic knob 52 mounted to the portion of shaft 50 extending externally fromhousing 34 and secured to shaft 50 for rotation therewith by means ofsplines 54 on shaft 50 engaging mating splines onknob 52. The opposite end portion of shaft 50 is threaded and mates withinternal threads 56 formed on the end portion ofretainer 46. Knob 52 is mounted so that it is not freeably rotatable nor extends from a thin shaft, and thereby cannot be readily accidently rotated or caught on structures which may otherwise occur. - Upon purposeful adjustment of
knob 52 by the user, the shaft 50 rotates within thehousing 34, but does not move axially. Instead, theretainer 46, through its threaded engagement with the shaft 50, moves axially within thecavity 44 to adjust tension on thespring 40. In the preferred embodiment, theretainer 46 is provided withsplines 57 which are engaged in atrack 58 formed in thehousing 34. If rotation ofknob 52 is attempted to advanceretainer 46 towardvalve seat 36 beyond the limits ofthreads 56, the threads will eventually disengage, andretainer 46 will not advance further, asspring 40 will holdretainer 46 against the end of shaft 50. Upon subsequent adjustment in the opposite direction, the threads will reengage due to the action on the retainer ofspring 40. Overadjustment by the user which would fully retractretainer 46 away fromspring 40 andstem 38 is prevented, since full retraction of theretainer 46 would open thevalve 32 permitting the free flow of air fromconduit 14 tomouthpiece 12 and thus alerting the user to this condition. Thus, by rotation of theknob 52, the tension on biasingspring 40 can be selectively increased or decreased, thereby adjusting the balancing ofvalve stem 38 betweenretainer 46 andseat 36, and through the adjustment of the tension on biasingspring 40 restraining the opening ofair inlet valve 32 whenstem 38 is not in contact withseat 36. The adjusting mechanism provides for limiting the adjustment, while preventing its being damaged by attempted overadjustment. - The adjusting apparatus of the present invention further includes an adjustable air injector device, which as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is generally designated by
numeral 60.Air injector device 60 is shown as including anair injector tube 62 with its open end orinlet 64 pneumatically coupled withcavity 44 of airinlet valve housing 34. It should be noted that theinlet 64 is pneumatically coupled to thecavity 44 separately from the main flow of air.Tube 62 has anoutlet 66 intermediate its ends, and is closed at its upper end oppositeinlet 64. Theoutlet 66 is preferably a small circular opening of approximately 1/8 inch diameter to increase the flow velocity therethrough relative to the velocity of air directed at themouthpiece tube 12 from thecavity 44.Tube 62 is integral with aknob 68 external toregulator 10 so as to be adjustably rotatable with the knob, and the tube and knob are retained by a clip orsnap ring 70. - FIG. 1 shows
air injector tube 62 in a first position withoutlet 66 directed towardmouthpiece tube 12 and away fromdiaphragm 18. FIG. 2 showsair injector tube 62 in a second position withoutlet 66 directed towarddiaphragm 18 and away frommouthpiece tube 12. It is contemplated thatknob 68 may be adjusted to a third position intermediate the first and second positions, whereinair injector tube 62 is positioned withoutlet 66 directed toward the side, i.e. directed toward neitherdiaphragm 18 normouthpiece tube 12. It should be noted here that although three basic positions have been described for theinjector tube 62, the tube is infinitely adjustable between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. - Additionally, air
inlet valve housing 34 includes anoutlet port 72 leading and directed tomouthpiece tube 12 through which the main stream of air from airinlet valve cavity 44 flows directed towardmouthpiece tube 12. Theport 72 is preferably constructed as an elongate rectangle, and upper edge ofport 72 is defined by a wedge shapedmember 74 which directs the main stream of air fromcavity 44 towardmouthpiece tube 12. Thenarrow port 72 as compared to the volume ofcavity 44 tends to create a venturi effect upon the main stream of air as it flows throughport 72 and intomouthpiece tube 12, assisting the inhalation of the stream of air by the user. - In operation, the
air inlet valve 32 is initially closed by the bias ofspring 40 and assisted by the portion of air flow fromconduit 14 passing through the central bore ofstem 38, enteringchamber 48 and impinging upon the end ofstem 38 oppositeseat 36. Upon inhalation by the user, air is withdrawn from the cavity formed withinregulator 10 betweendiaphragm 18 andmouthpiece tube 12, causingdiaphragm 18 to deflect towardmouthpiece tube 12, and forcinglever 28 to deflect, movingvalve stem 38 away fromseat 36. The main stream of air fromconduit 14 flows betweenseat 36 andstem 38, throughcavity 44 andoutlet 72 intomouthpiece tube 12 and through the mouthpiece to the user. - The effort or the amount of demand of the inhalation of the user needed to open or crack the
valve 32 can be adjusted by the user by adjustingknob 52, causing theretainer 46 to increase or decrease the tension onspring 40. An increase in the tension ofspring 40 causes a greater inhalation demand on the user to openvalve 32, while a decrease in the tension onspring 40 will cause the opposite result. Advantageously, the splined shaft 50 andknob 52 arrangement and positive threaded connection between shaft 50 andretainer 46 prevents accidental adjustment from being made without purposeful adjustment ofknob 52, and thevalve stem 38 is cushioned against casual or accidental misadjustments. Additionally, having theknob 52, shaft 50 andretainer 46 of non-metallic material reduces unintended changes to the latter which may result if those components were metallic, due in large part to changes in temperature, for example when the system is used for diving into cold water or water having lowered temperatures at the greatest depth of the dive. - The presence of the adjustable
air injector device 60, in the preferred embodiment includinginjector tube 62 and theknob 68, permits adjustment by the user to assist or resist the effort or demand required to effect operation of the regulator. When thetube 62 is in the first position withoutlet 66 directed towardmouthpiece tube 12, the stream of air passing throughinlet 64 and out theoutlet 66 is added at relatively higher velocity to the main stream of air passing throughport 72, thus injecting the air into the user's mouth. In addition, the action of thetube 62 creates a suction on the air inlet side ofdiaphragm 18 and a consequent early deflection of the diaphragm and relatively effortless opening ofair inlet valve 32 upon inhalation. - With the
tube 62 in the second position, the stream of air frominlet 64 is directed todiaphragm 18, increasing the pressure on the air inlet side of the diaphragm, or counteracting the suction due to inhalation, and thereby requiring a greater inhalation effort or demand by the user to openair inlet valve 32. The most desirable position of theinjector tube 62 for most users, is the third position, in which the air stream is directed toward neithermouthpiece tube 12 nordiaphragm 18, and a normal demand or inhalation effort is required to openair inlet valve 32. As a user encounters increased ambient pressure, for example, when a relatively high current is encountered, adjustment of the injector tube can be made by turningknob 68 to rotate theinjector tube 62 withoutlet 66 increasingly directed toward thediaphragm 18 to increase the pressure in the regulator to offset the increased ambient pressure on the opposite or outwardly facing side of the diaphragm. However, where greater air pressure to themouthpiece 12 is desired, as when a diver descends to a greater depth, the knob can be rotated in the opposite direction to approach or reach the position illustrated in FIG. 1. As only a constant portion of the air fromcavity 44 is tapped by theair injector tube 62, gradual changes in user breathing effort can be effected, unlike the attempts at improvement disclosed in the prior art. - Occasionally, the user may find it necessary to clear the regulator of water and/or to obtain a quantity of air rapidly, as when the user has not used the breathing system for some period during a dive. To fulfill such requirements, a purge mechanism is included in
regulator 10. In particular, apurge button 76 is provided supported bydiaphragm 18, which button may also be used as the abutting surface indiaphragm 18 toabut portion 30 oflever 28.Cover 22 is made flexible, in part to permit the user to easily depresscover 22 abovepurge button 76 to depress the button. Whenpurge button 76 is depressed,lever 28 is directly deflected, openingair inlet valve 32 and causing a surge of air fromconduit 14 to entercavity 44 and exit throughport 72 tomouthpiece tube 12 and hence to the user. At the same time, the depression ofdiaphragm 18 by depressingpurge button 76 decreases the volume of the space between diaphragm andmouthpiece tube 12, forcing air and water within that space to be exhausted throughport 26 and the edge ofportion 24 of the diaphragm asportion 24 is deflected from its seat by the fluid pressure within the described space. - While a particular embodiment of the breathing regulator having air injector feature of the invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.
Claims (10)
- A second stage diving regulator (10) having a diaphragm (18), an air inlet valve (32) and a mouthpiece tube (12), characterized by:a. an air inlet valve stem retaining means (46) positioned within the regulator (10) and adjustable axially for retaining a portion of an adjustable spring biasing means (40), for retaining a portion of an air inlet valve stem (38) movably therewithin, and for forming a chamber (48) with the portion of the valve stem (38) retained therein for receiving a flow of air from the valve stem (38) for pneumatically biasing the valve stem toward a valve seat (36), thereby balancing the position of the valve stem (38) between the retaining means (46) and the valve seat (36) and restraining the opening of the air inlet valve (32) when the valve stem (38) is not in contact with the valve seat (36), andb. air injector means (60) mounted in the regulator, coupled to the air inlet valve (32) and having rotatable adjusting means (68) external to the regulator device for adjusting said air injector means (60) within the regulator device (10) for supplying and directing a flow of air from the air inlet valve (32) separate from the main flow of air from the air inlet valve (32), adjustably directed between a first position toward the mouthpiece tube (12) and away from the diaphragm (18), a second position toward the diaphragm (18) and away from the mouthpiece tube (12) for adjusting the pressure of air flowing from the air inlet valve (32) to the mouthpiece tube (12) to adjust the pressure at the inlet valve side of the diaphragm (18), thereby selectively adjusting the position of the diaphragm (18) to control the amount of breathing effort required of the user to open the air inlet valve (32).
- The adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized by retainer adjusting means (50, 52) mounted within the regulator (10) and being adjustable externally to the regulator device for axially moving said air inlet valve stem retaining means (46) toward and away from the air inlet valve seat (36), whereby the tension on the adjustable spring biasing means (40) can be selectively increased or decreased by the user during use of the system.
- The adjusting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said air injector means (60) is further characterized by a tube (62) having an inlet (64) pneumatically coupled to the air inlet supply valve housing (34) to receive a flow of air therefrom and having an outlet (66) intermediate its ends, and said tube (62) being directionally adjustable.
- The adjusting apparatus according to claim 3, further characterized by said outlet (66) of said tube (62) being dimensioned to inject air at a high velocity relative to the main flow.
- The adjusting apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the rotatable adjusting means (68) is further characterized by a knob selectively rotatably mounted on the regulator device (10) and connected with said tube (62) so as to be rotatable therewith.
- The adjusting apparatus according to claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 5 as dependent on claim 2, wherein the retainer adjusting means (50, 52) is further characterized by a non-metallic shaft (50) rotatably journaled in the air inlet valve housing (34) and extending externally from said housing, said shaft (50) having threads engaging mating threads (56) on retainer means (46), and a non-metallic knob (52) mounted on said shaft (50) externally of said housing (34) and rotatable only with said shaft (50), whereby rotation of said knob (52) causes the threads on said shaft to rotate and axially move the retainer means (46) toward and away from the air inlet valve seat (36).
- The adjusting apparatus according to claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 5 as dependent on claim 2, wherein the retainer adjusting means (50, 52) is further characterized by a shaft (50) having screw threads, and said retaining means (46) having screw threads (56) mating with the screw threads of said shaft (50), said shaft being rotatable with respect to said retaining means (46), whereby adjustment of the retainer adjusting means (52) toward the valve seat (36) causes unthreading of said retaining means (46) with respect to said shaft, and upon disengagement of said threads of said shaft (50) from said threads (56) of said retaining means (46), no further adjustment of the retaining means (46) toward said valve seat (36) can be made, and the retaining means (46) is held against the end of said shaft (50) by the spring biasing means (40).
- An air injector device for a second stage regulator (10) for a user demand breathing system, the regulator including a diaphragm (18), a mouthpiece tube (12) and an air inlet supply valve (32), said air injector device characterized by:a. air injector means (60) mounted in the regulator (10) and pneumatically coupled to the air inlet supply valve (32) for supplying and directing a flow of air from the air inlet valve (32) separate from the main flow of air from the air inlet valve,b. rotatable adjusting means (68) external to the regulator device (100) connected to said air injector means (60) for adjusting said air injector means within the regulator between a first position whereby the flow of air therefrom is directed toward the mouthpiece tube (12) and away from the diaphragm (18), and a second position whereby the flow of air therefrom is directed toward the diaphragm (18) and away from the mouthpiece tube (12), thereby adjusting the pressure of air flowing from the air inlet valve (32) to the mouthpiece tube (12) to adjust the pressure at the inlet valve side of the diaphragm (18), thereby selectively controlling the amount of breathing effort required of the user to open the air inlet valve (32).
- The adjusting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said air injector means is further characterized by a tube (62) having an inlet (64) pneumatically coupled to the air inlet supply valve (32) to receive a flow of air therefrom and having an outlet (66) intermediate its ends, and said tube (62) being directionally adjustable between said positions.
- The adjusting apparatus according to claim 9, further characterized by said outlet (66) of said tube (62) being dimensioned to inject air at a high velocity relative to the main flow.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US76605491A | 1991-09-26 | 1991-09-26 | |
US766054 | 1991-09-26 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0534741A1 true EP0534741A1 (en) | 1993-03-31 |
EP0534741B1 EP0534741B1 (en) | 1996-11-13 |
Family
ID=25075261
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19920308679 Expired - Lifetime EP0534741B1 (en) | 1991-09-26 | 1992-09-24 | Breathing regulator having air injector feature |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0534741B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2764779B2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
IT202200003899A1 (en) * | 2022-03-02 | 2023-09-02 | Mares Spa | PRESSURE REDUCTION SYSTEM FOR A BREATHING SYSTEM |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH0723698U (en) * | 1993-10-07 | 1995-05-02 | 株式会社ゼクセル | Diving respirator |
JP4023862B2 (en) * | 1997-01-25 | 2007-12-19 | 株式会社ビーイズム | Diving regulator breathing device |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3783891A (en) * | 1972-03-22 | 1974-01-08 | Under Sea Industries | Balanced regulator second stage |
FR2367655A1 (en) * | 1976-10-13 | 1978-05-12 | Spirotech Ind Commerc | BREATHING UNIT WITH ADVANCED REGULATOR, ESPECIALLY FOR USE IN DIVING |
WO1990014990A1 (en) * | 1989-06-06 | 1990-12-13 | T.D. Preece & Co. Pty. Ltd. | Diving regulator demand valve |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2765594B2 (en) * | 1989-06-06 | 1998-06-18 | テー・デー・プリース・アンド・カンパニー・プロブライアタリー・リミテッド | Diving regulator |
-
1992
- 1992-09-24 EP EP19920308679 patent/EP0534741B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-09-26 JP JP4297589A patent/JP2764779B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3783891A (en) * | 1972-03-22 | 1974-01-08 | Under Sea Industries | Balanced regulator second stage |
FR2367655A1 (en) * | 1976-10-13 | 1978-05-12 | Spirotech Ind Commerc | BREATHING UNIT WITH ADVANCED REGULATOR, ESPECIALLY FOR USE IN DIVING |
WO1990014990A1 (en) * | 1989-06-06 | 1990-12-13 | T.D. Preece & Co. Pty. Ltd. | Diving regulator demand valve |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
IT202200003899A1 (en) * | 2022-03-02 | 2023-09-02 | Mares Spa | PRESSURE REDUCTION SYSTEM FOR A BREATHING SYSTEM |
EP4238864A1 (en) * | 2022-03-02 | 2023-09-06 | Mares S.p.A. | Pressure-reducing system for a breathing apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0534741B1 (en) | 1996-11-13 |
JPH05201384A (en) | 1993-08-10 |
JP2764779B2 (en) | 1998-06-11 |
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