EP0702983A1 - Ventil für Atmungsgerät - Google Patents

Ventil für Atmungsgerät Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0702983A1
EP0702983A1 EP95306695A EP95306695A EP0702983A1 EP 0702983 A1 EP0702983 A1 EP 0702983A1 EP 95306695 A EP95306695 A EP 95306695A EP 95306695 A EP95306695 A EP 95306695A EP 0702983 A1 EP0702983 A1 EP 0702983A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
passage
ori
hood
nasal mask
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP95306695A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Terence Burge
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
Application filed by Sabre Safety Ltd filed Critical Sabre Safety Ltd
Publication of EP0702983A1 publication Critical patent/EP0702983A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
    • A62B18/00—Breathing masks or helmets, e.g. affording protection against chemical agents or for use at high altitudes or incorporating a pump or compressor for reducing the inhalation effort
    • A62B18/08—Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices
    • A62B18/10—Valves
    • 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

  • This invention relates to breathing apparatus and in particular to emergency escape breathing apparatus.
  • Emergency escape breathing apparatus is intended primarily to provide a relatively short term supply of breathable gas to a user during retreat from an emergency situation.
  • the breathing apparatus of the present invention while primarily intended for this purpose, also finds application in situations where a longer-term supply of breathable gas is needed.
  • the main components of emergency escape breathing apparatus are a hood, made of flexible material, which covers the head of the user, said hood having a transparent visor portion to allow the user to see out, a supply of breathable gas in the form of a small cylinder carried by the user, and means for supplying the gas from the cylinder to the hood.
  • the air supply will have a medium pressure in the range 2-10 bar.
  • the hood forming as it does a flexible bag over the head, acts as a reservoir for breathable gas and, in normal operation, the gas breathed by the user is partly taken direct from the cylinder, through the aforesaid gas supplying means, and partly from the reservoir formed by the hood.
  • the present invention seeks to overcome this problem by making it immediately apparent to the user that the gas supply has reduced by either reducing that proportion of the gas supplied to the user from the reservoir formed by the hood as against that which is supplied to the user direct from the breathable gas supply, or allowing the user additionally to source air from the exterior.
  • breathing apparatus comprising a hood made of flexible material and intended to cover the head of a user, an ori-nasal mask attached to the inside of said hood for covering the nose and mouth of a user and means for supplying a breathable gas to said ori-nasal mask, said supplying means being characterised by a valve assembly which is operable to control the supply of gas to the ori-nasal mask, said valve assembly comprising a first passage through which gas from said supplying means may flow into said ori-nasal mask, said first passage incorporating a flow restrictor for creating a pressure differential between the input of said first passage and its output, a second passage through which gas may flow into and out of said ori-nasal mask, said second passage incorporating a valve for controlling the flow of gas through said second passage, and control means for controlling the operation of said valve in dependence upon the magnitude of said pressure differential.
  • Said second passage may connect the interior of the ori-nasal mask either to the interior of the hood, or to the exterior atmosphere, and this leads to two different modes of operation. Where the connection is to the interior of the hood, the operation of the valve assembly is as follows:-
  • valve assembly When the second passage connects the ori-nasal mask to the exterior, the operation of the valve assembly is as follows:
  • the neck of the hood may be left as a relatively loose fit so that excess gas simply leaks out, whilst still retaining the reservoir function of the hood.
  • An alternative way is to fit a positive pressure exhalation valve in the hood so as to allow gas out but not in.
  • the hood would be made a relatively sealing fit, thus defining an efficient reservoir within the hood.
  • the exhalation valve can be placed in the hood material, or may be fitted direct in the ori-nasal mask. In this case the ori-nasal mask would also be made a relatively sealing fit.
  • the direct fit is the better option since it can be positioned to remove as much as possible of the carbon dioxide laden exhaled breath and thus keeping the hood relatively clear of carbon dioxide. If the valve in the second passage is arranged to close completely, cutting off normal communication between the ori-nasal mask and the hood, then the exhalation valve will necessarily have to be positioned within the ori-nasal mask since otherwise there would be no vent for excess gas except around the edges of the ori-nasal mask.
  • the flow restrictor may take several forms, such as a single or multiple small holes in said second passage, or a tortuous route or, in the preferred embodiment, a porous membrane which is placed in the first passage.
  • the first passage is defined within a first conduit which is movable between a first and a second position and is biassed into said first position by a spring means.
  • the differential pressure due to the flow of gas through said restrictor acts in the opposite direction, namely in a direction tending to move the conduit to said second position.
  • the first conduit is mechanically linked to the valve in said second passage in such a way that, when the conduit is in said first position, the valve is closed and, when the conduit is in the second position, the valve is open.
  • the differential pressure acts in a direction against the spring means thus tending to keep the conduit in said second position, and keeping the valve in the second passage open.
  • the force of the spring means overcomes the force on the conduit due to the differential pressure and the conduit moves to said first position, thus closing the valve in the second passage.
  • said second passage is defined within a second conduit which extends from the interior of the ori-nasal mask either to the interior of the hood or to the exterior atmosphere and said valve includes a valve member which selectively closes off, either wholly or partially, said second passage.
  • the valve member is mechanically linked to said first conduit and may indeed be actually attached to said first conduit so as to move therewith.
  • the first conduit is coaxially located within said second conduit, and said valve member takes the form of an annular flange formed on said first conduit and arranged to close, wholly or partially, the second passage which is located in the annular space between the first and second conduits.
  • the aforesaid spring means is preferably located at a position exterior to the first conduit in the space between the first and second conduits.
  • the breathing apparatus is of the emergency escape type and comprises a hood 1 made of flexible impermeable material such as fabric reinforced polyurethane.
  • the front part of the hood takes the form of a visor made of flexible transparent plastics material.
  • the hood is worn on the head of the user and has an elasticated neck to provide a reasonable seal at the user's neck, thus defining a relatively sealed space 21 within the hood which acts as a reservoir of breathable gas.
  • the hood is equipped with an ori-nasal mask 2 made of flexible plastics material or rubber which fits against the user's face, over the nose and mouth.
  • the shape of the ori-nasal mask is maintained by an exo-skeleton 3 of rigid plastics material which, like the mask itself, is attached to the hood.
  • An excess pressure exhalation valve is fitted to the exo-skeleton to vent excess gas within the ori-nasal mask to atmosphere.
  • This valve which is of conventional construction and is therefore not illustrated, is fitted within a holder 4 attached to the exo-skeleton 3.
  • a supply of breathable gas is taken from a cylinder (not shown) which is worn by the user.
  • the gas supply could be any compressed air source taken from a fixed or portable air cylinder, or from an air line.
  • the supply pressure will be in the range 2-10 bar.
  • Breathable gas is supplied to the user via a removable connector (not shown) which sealingly fits into a circular holder 5.
  • This circular holder 5 is mounted on the exterior of a valve assembly 6 which is attached to the exo-skeleton 3.
  • the valve assembly 6 controls the flow of gas from the supply to the interior 19 of the ori-nasal mask 2.
  • the valve assembly 6 is made primarily of two components: an outer component 7 and an inner component 8 which is mounted coaxially within the outer component 7 and is movable axially relative to the outer component.
  • the outer component 7 itself comprises coaxially positioned inner and outer portions 9 and 23 respectively.
  • the outer portion 23 is mounted on the exo-skeleton and the inner portion 9 is attached to the circular holder 5.
  • Between the inner and outer portions 9,23 of the component 7 is an annular passage 10.
  • the inner component 8 comprises a cylindrical conduit 11 having, at its end within the interior 19 of the ori-nasal mask, a flange 12 of annular shape.
  • the other (outer) end of the conduit 11 is fitted with a collar 13 which mounts a disc 14 of porous material.
  • This disc may, for example, be a Porvair microporous filter made of sintered Vyton.
  • the conduit 11 is positioned primarily within the inner portion 23 of the outer component 7 and a helical spring 15, for example of stainless steel, is mounted between the two, as shown.
  • This spring acts between a flange 16 formed on the inner portion 8 of the outer component 7, and said collar 13 to thus tend to bias the conduit 11 in an outwards direction (i.e. right to left in the drawing).
  • the conduit 11 is located at its outer end by an O-ring seal 17 positioned in an outer circumferential slot formed in the collar 13, and at its inner end by engagement with the flange 16.
  • the collar 13 is removable, both for assembly purposes, and also to enable the disc 14 to be replaced.
  • a triangular section ridge 18 Around the rim of the opening of the annular passage 10 into the interior 19 of the ori-nasal mask 2 is a triangular section ridge 18. As can be seen, the action of the spring 15 is such as to press the undersurface of the flange 12 onto the tip of the ridge 18 thus effecting a sealing connection and closing off the passage 10 from the interior 19 of the ori-nasal mask 2.
  • the hood 1 is placed over the head, and the ori-nasal mask placed over the nose and mouth to give a reasonable sealing connection against the face around the edge.
  • a source of breathable gas is supplied to the interior 19 of the ori-nasal mask via the above-referred to removable connector which is fitted into the holder 5.
  • breathable gas passes through the porous disc 14 into the passage 20 defined by the conduit 11. The air thence passes along the passage 20 to the interior 19 of the ori-nasal mask 2 where it forms a component of the gas breathed by the user.
  • the air In passing through the porous filter disc 14, the air creates a differential pressure across the disc as between the low pressure in the interior 19 of the ori-nasal mask and the relatively higher pressure of the incoming gas from the source.
  • This differential pressure sets up a force in an inwards direction (i.e. left to right in the drawing) tending to oppose the spring 15.
  • the conduit 11 is pushed in an inwards direction relative to the outer component 7 and thus causes the flange 12 to lift from its seating on the ridge 18 and open up a communication between the interior 19 of the ori-nasal mask 2 and the interior 21 of the hood 1 via the annular passage 10.
  • the gas within the ori-nasal mask which is available for the user to breath is a mixture of air direct from the source, entering via passage 20, and gas from the reservoir formed by the interior 21 of the hood, entering via the passage 10.
  • the passage 10 remains open on both inhalation and exhalation.
  • the gases are drawn in to satisfy the user's demand from both the source and the reservoir formed by the hood; on exhalation, the flow of air from the source via the passage 20 continues, but the flow through the passage 10 reverses, allowing gas to return to the interior 21 of the hood to keep the reservoir topped up. During all of this process, excess gas is vented to atmosphere via the exhalation valve.
  • a plurality of spaced holes are formed through the flange 12 so that, even when the flange lies against the tip of the ridge 18, there is a limited communication between the interior 19 of the ori-nasal mask 2 and the interior 21 of the hood.
  • These holes have no effect during normal operation but, when the pressure falls to an extent to cause the flange 12 to move against the ridge 18, the user can obtain a limited quantity of gas from the reservoir, thus making the effort of breathing more comfortable during this period.
  • the difference in breathing characteristics is still sufficient to give the user clear warning of the possible imminent failure of the supply.
  • FIG. 2 A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 2 and 3. Since the construction is very similar, detailed description will not be given; reference numerals from Figure 1 are used for corresponding parts, where appropriate.
  • valve assembly 6 acts in the same way as described above, but with a different result.
  • a communication is provided between the ori-nasal mask and the interior 21 of the hood, it may be arranged that, in the position of valve assembly 6 shown in Figure 2, the communication is cut off to prevent the user trying to breath increasingly stale gas from the interior of the hood.

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)
EP95306695A 1994-09-22 1995-09-21 Ventil für Atmungsgerät Withdrawn EP0702983A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9419144 1994-09-22
GB9419144A GB9419144D0 (en) 1994-09-22 1994-09-22 Breathing apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0702983A1 true EP0702983A1 (de) 1996-03-27

Family

ID=10761763

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95306695A Withdrawn EP0702983A1 (de) 1994-09-22 1995-09-21 Ventil für Atmungsgerät

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0702983A1 (de)
GB (1) GB9419144D0 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10126633A1 (de) * 2001-05-31 2002-12-12 Heptec Gmbh Atemventil für CPAP-Geräte, Ventilkörper und Verfahren
KR101578506B1 (ko) 2014-11-11 2015-12-18 주식회사 휴먼퍼스트 마스크
DE102021111850A1 (de) 2021-05-06 2022-11-10 Won Young Lee Maske

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2966917A (en) * 1955-02-08 1961-01-03 Sierra Engineering Company Combination valve for breathing equipment
US4007758A (en) * 1976-01-14 1977-02-15 Mine Safety Appliances Company Respirator pressure-demand exhalation valve
EP0130283A2 (de) * 1983-07-05 1985-01-09 Auergesellschaft Gmbh Atemschutzhaube
GB2143137A (en) * 1983-07-14 1985-02-06 Figgie Int Inc Combined pressure compensating exhalation and anti-suffocation valve
EP0325959A2 (de) * 1988-01-14 1989-08-02 Wacko 3 Limited Sicherheitshelm
FR2649016A1 (fr) * 1989-06-30 1991-01-04 Draegerwerk Ag Masque respiratoire avec un bandage sous forme de garniture d'etancheite
GB2244433A (en) * 1990-05-10 1991-12-04 Camberley Rubber Mouldings Lim Expiratory valve
EP0470791A2 (de) * 1990-08-10 1992-02-12 Sabre Safety Limited Notfluchtatemgerät

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2966917A (en) * 1955-02-08 1961-01-03 Sierra Engineering Company Combination valve for breathing equipment
US4007758A (en) * 1976-01-14 1977-02-15 Mine Safety Appliances Company Respirator pressure-demand exhalation valve
EP0130283A2 (de) * 1983-07-05 1985-01-09 Auergesellschaft Gmbh Atemschutzhaube
GB2143137A (en) * 1983-07-14 1985-02-06 Figgie Int Inc Combined pressure compensating exhalation and anti-suffocation valve
EP0325959A2 (de) * 1988-01-14 1989-08-02 Wacko 3 Limited Sicherheitshelm
FR2649016A1 (fr) * 1989-06-30 1991-01-04 Draegerwerk Ag Masque respiratoire avec un bandage sous forme de garniture d'etancheite
GB2244433A (en) * 1990-05-10 1991-12-04 Camberley Rubber Mouldings Lim Expiratory valve
EP0470791A2 (de) * 1990-08-10 1992-02-12 Sabre Safety Limited Notfluchtatemgerät

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10126633A1 (de) * 2001-05-31 2002-12-12 Heptec Gmbh Atemventil für CPAP-Geräte, Ventilkörper und Verfahren
DE10126633B4 (de) * 2001-05-31 2005-11-24 Heptec Gmbh Atemventil für CPAP-Geräte
KR101578506B1 (ko) 2014-11-11 2015-12-18 주식회사 휴먼퍼스트 마스크
DE102021111850A1 (de) 2021-05-06 2022-11-10 Won Young Lee Maske

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9419144D0 (en) 1994-11-09

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