GB1575869A - Emergency life-support unit - Google Patents

Description

(54) EMERGENCY LIFE-SUPPORT UNIT (71) We, WHARTON WILLIAMS LIMITED, a British company of Farbum Industrial Estate, Dyce, Aberdeen, Scotland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to an emergency life-support unit.

According to the present invention there is provided an emergency life-support unit comprising an umbilical cable containing at least two tubes one of which has a greater diameter than the other, an adaptor connected to one end of the cable for connection to an aperture in a pressure vessel, an air driven COn scrubber unit connected to the other end of the umbilical cable to drive gas from the pressure vessel through the larger diameter tube and pass scrubbed gas into the pressure vessel through the narrower diameter tube.

Preferably, the umbilical cable is provided with an inlet and outlet tube through which a heating or cooling medium can pass to heat or cool the gas in the tubes thereby to alter the temperature within the pressure vessel.

Preferably also, a third tube is located in the umbilical cable for the passage of water or liquid food to the pressure vessel.

Preferably also, an additional source of the same gas is connected to the narrower diameter tube to increase the amount of gas supply to the presseure vessel on demand from a sensor.

Preferably also, the adaptor comprises a casing having at one end means for connection to the tube of the cable for the flow of gas through the casing in opposite directions and means at the other end for connection of the adaptor to an outlet/inlet nozzle of the pressure vessel.

Preferably also, the scrubber unit comprises an outer container and a scrubber chamber located therein, with an annular space between the chamber and the container for passage of incoming gas, inlet means in the chamber for entry of the gas into an annular compartment containing a chemical for removing CO2 from the gas, and outlet means in the chamber for outgoing scrubbed gas.

Preferably also, the tube for the gas from the pressure vessel has a branch for connection to a linear type decompression apparatus.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of an umbilical cable and scrubber unit of an emergency life-support unit according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of an adaptor of the unit; and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the scrubber unit.

An emergency life-support unit for use with a pressure vessel includes an umbilical cable 10 in the form of e.g. a 30 feet length of flexible tubing of, e.g. 2" diameter through which passes two rubber or plastics tubes 11, 12, one (11) being of larger diameter than the other (12), e.g. :" diameter and L" diameter. An adaptor 13 (Fig. 2) is provided for connection to one end of the cable; the adaptor is a through hole penetrator comprising a metal casing having means (not shown) at one end for engaging the cable and two nozzles 14, 15 at that end for connection to the t" and 1" diameter tubes of the cable. The casing also has a single tube 16 running through it as a continuation of the smaller diameter nozzle 15.The interior 17 of the adaptor acts as a continuation of the other nozzle 14.

The adaptor 13 has a shoulder 18 leading to a neck portion 19 which terminates in an externally threaded end for connection to one of the outlet/inlet nozzles normally provided on a pressure vessel such as a diving chamber. Internally, the inner tube 16 terminates adjacent to the threaded end. When the outlet/inlet nozzle is open, air or other gas will flow into the body 17 of the adaptor in one direction while air or other gas will flow from the inner tube 16 in the opposite direction; however, as will be more fully explained hereinafter, it is considered that two air flows in opposite directions will be possible in this short space 20 between the end of the adaptor and the end of the continuation tube 16.

The adaptor casing may be formed in two parts, comprising the main part 13fez, and the threaded end part 13b, the two parts being held together by a collar 13c.

At the other end of the umbilical cable, the two inner tubes are connected to a portable CO2 scrubber unit 21 (Fig. 3). This scrubber unit comprises an outer cylindrical container 22 which is openable at one end 23 and in which a replaceable scrubber chamber 24 is located. The scrubber chamber may be 18" long and 6" in diameter and made of sheet metal; it has an annular compartment 25 filled with a chemical which will remove CO2 from incoming gas.

The outer wall 26 of the chamber is solid apart from a grille 27 at one end, i.e. the inner end, when it is in the outer container 22. The inner wall 28 of the chamber is also solid apart from a grille 29 located adjacent to the outer end of the chamber.

An air driven fan 30 mounted in a sleeve 31 is located within the inner end of the container 22 and the scrubber chamber has a cylindrical core 32 which surrounds the fan 30 when the chamber 24 is in the container 22.

The container 22 is connected to the two tubes 11, 12 of the umbilical cable 10 such that on actuation of the fan 30 the large diameter tube 11 will pass gas from the pressure vessel into the outer end of a peripheral space 33 between the container 22 and the chamber 24. The gas passes along that space and through the grille 27 into the annular compartment 25. It then doubles back passing through the compartment and exits through the inner grille 29 into an bpen central core 32 of the scrubber unit.

There it is drawn by the fan to the inner end df the container 22 and out into the smaller diameter tube 12 of the umbilical cable along which it is returned to the pressure vessel.

At least one oxygen sensor may be incorporated to sense the amount of oxygen in the gas being returned to the pressure vessel so that if necessary the oxygen content can be increased by bleeding in additional gas from a supply bottle connected to the return tube of the umbilical cable.

This sensor 34 may be suitably located at the outlet of the scrubber unit and preferably a sensor 35 is also provided at the inlet to the scrubber unit to sense the initial oxygen content for comparison.

A bank of bottles (not shown) containing different gases is preferably provided for connection to a branch tube 36 into the return tube 12.

The larger diameter tube 11 is also preferably provided with a branch pipe 37 which is adapted for connection to a linear type decompression control apparatus. Such an apparatus is fully described and claimed in our co-pending Application No. 14267/78 (Serial No. 1 574 670) and provides for automatic stepwise decompression of the pressure vessel to which it is connected.

Means for raising or lowering the temperature of the returned gas may also be provided. For this purpose a tube or pipe 38 leads into the upper end of the cable 10 and a tube or pipe 39 exits from the lower end. Such means may be a source of steam or hot water or a cooling medium respectively which is passed through the umbilical cable thus heating or cooling both tubes and the gas therein. In this way the temperature in the pressure vessel can be raised or lowered if required.

Further, a third tube 40 may be provided in the umbilical cable, preferably connecting with the return tube 12 close to the adaptor end of the cable 10 and a valve is provided to shut off the return gas temporarily while the tube 40 is in use. This third tube 40 can be used to pass liquid, either water or liquid food, to the occupants of the pressure vessel.

In use, for example, where a diving chamber or mini-submarine is trapped or immobilised, the adaptor 13 is connected to one end of an umbilical cable 10 selected for being of a suitable length and taken down to the stricken vessel where it is connected to one of the outlet/inlet nozzles of the vessel. Meanwhile, the other end of the cable is or has been connected to the scrubber unit 21 and the fan is actuated so that when the outlet/inlet nozzle is opened gas from the vessel will be drawn out through the larger tube 11 of the cable 10 through the scrubber unit and back into the vessel through the return tube 11. As the return tube has a narrower diameter the speed of the return gas will be greater than that of the outgoing gas so that in the open space at the end of the adaptor both gases will pass each other.Any mixing of outgoing gas with the return gas may result in some CO2 being returned to pressure vessel but the small amount of CO2 returned will be acceptable.

It will be appreciated that the emergency life-support unit, as hereinbefore described, provides apparatus specially (but not exclusively) for use in an emergency to keep the situation in the pressure vessel stable or slightly improved until rescue equipment can be brought to the scene and used to effect the rescue. The unit is easily transportable, quick to install and ready to operate as soon as one connection to the pressure vessel is made. A number of umbilical cables may be provided, each of differeqt lengths so that the most suitable can be selected for use.

It can clean the atmosphere in the vessel, alter the temperature, supply additional oxygen and also water and liquid food.

In addition, it can be used in conjunction with the linear decompression apparatus described in our co-pending Application so that, in addition to providing emergency life-support, the personnel in the pressure vessel can be prepared for leaving the vessel.

The unit is primarily for use with subsea vessels such as diving chambers or minisubmarines. It can, however, be utilised in land rescues such as in mining or potholing rescues or other instances where foul air is a danger to trapped persons.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An emergency life-support unit comprising an umbilical cable containing at least two tubes one of which has a greater diameter than the other, an adaptor connected to one end of the cable for connection to an aperture in a pressure vessel, an air driven CO2 scrubber unit connected to the other end of the umbilical cable to draw gas from the pressure vessel through the larger diameter tube and pass scrubbed gas into the pressure vessel through the narrower diameter tube.

2. A unit as claimed in Claim 1, in which the umbilical cable is provided with an inlet and outlet tube through which a heating or cooling medium can pass to heat or cool the gas in the tubes thereby to alter the temperature within the pressure vessel.

3. A unit as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which a third tube is located in the umbilical cable for the passage of water or liquid food to the pressure vessel.

4. A unit as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 or 3, in which an additional source of the same gas is connected to the narrower diameter tube to increase the amount of gas supply to the pressure vessel on demand from a sensor.

5. A unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the adaptor comprises a casing having at one end means for connection to the tube of the cable for the flow of gas through the casing in opposite directions, and means at the other end for connection of the adaptor to an outlet/inlet nozzle of the pressure vessel.

6. A unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the scrubber unit comprises an outer container and a scrubber chamber located therein, with an annular space between the chamber and the container for passage of incoming gas, inlet means in the chamber for entry of the gas into an annular compartment containing a chemical for removing CO2 from the gas, and outlet means in the chamber for outgoing scrubbed gas.

7. A unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the tube for the gas from the pressure vessel has a branch for connection to a linear type decompression apparatus.

8. An emergency life-support unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. some CO2 being returned to pressure vessel but the small amount of CO2 returned will be acceptable. It will be appreciated that the emergency life-support unit, as hereinbefore described, provides apparatus specially (but not exclusively) for use in an emergency to keep the situation in the pressure vessel stable or slightly improved until rescue equipment can be brought to the scene and used to effect the rescue. The unit is easily transportable, quick to install and ready to operate as soon as one connection to the pressure vessel is made. A number of umbilical cables may be provided, each of differeqt lengths so that the most suitable can be selected for use. It can clean the atmosphere in the vessel, alter the temperature, supply additional oxygen and also water and liquid food. In addition, it can be used in conjunction with the linear decompression apparatus described in our co-pending Application so that, in addition to providing emergency life-support, the personnel in the pressure vessel can be prepared for leaving the vessel. The unit is primarily for use with subsea vessels such as diving chambers or minisubmarines. It can, however, be utilised in land rescues such as in mining or potholing rescues or other instances where foul air is a danger to trapped persons. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An emergency life-support unit comprising an umbilical cable containing at least two tubes one of which has a greater diameter than the other, an adaptor connected to one end of the cable for connection to an aperture in a pressure vessel, an air driven CO2 scrubber unit connected to the other end of the umbilical cable to draw gas from the pressure vessel through the larger diameter tube and pass scrubbed gas into the pressure vessel through the narrower diameter tube.

2. A unit as claimed in Claim 1, in which the umbilical cable is provided with an inlet and outlet tube through which a heating or cooling medium can pass to heat or cool the gas in the tubes thereby to alter the temperature within the pressure vessel.

3. A unit as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which a third tube is located in the umbilical cable for the passage of water or liquid food to the pressure vessel.

4. A unit as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 or 3, in which an additional source of the same gas is connected to the narrower diameter tube to increase the amount of gas supply to the pressure vessel on demand from a sensor.

5. A unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the adaptor comprises a casing having at one end means for connection to the tube of the cable for the flow of gas through the casing in opposite directions, and means at the other end for connection of the adaptor to an outlet/inlet nozzle of the pressure vessel.

6. A unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the scrubber unit comprises an outer container and a scrubber chamber located therein, with an annular space between the chamber and the container for passage of incoming gas, inlet means in the chamber for entry of the gas into an annular compartment containing a chemical for removing CO2 from the gas, and outlet means in the chamber for outgoing scrubbed gas.

7. A unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the tube for the gas from the pressure vessel has a branch for connection to a linear type decompression apparatus.

8. An emergency life-support unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.