JP2010013086A - Backup pneumatic power source for emergency escape - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a backup pneumatic power source for emergency escape, wherein a valve of a spare tank (reserve air tank) a1 is manually or automatically opened when air in a portable air tank is exhausted, and respiration gas required for safe surfacing is supplied. <P>SOLUTION: A small-type reserve air tank a1 is connected to a first regulator b1 for scuba diving through an air supplying pipe. Alternatively, a reserve air tank a1 is fixed to and installed at the midway part of the air supplying pipe connecting the first regulator b1 with the second regulator c1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an emergency levitation backup air source when the air (hereinafter referred to as breathing gas) of a carried scuba diving air source (hereinafter referred to as air tank) is exhausted.

  Scuba diving is an acronym for the English Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus SCUBA Kana notation, a diving device that carries air and other breathing gas (Jack = Eve Cousteau is famous as one of the inventors) Point to. It is also translated as a self-contained underwater breathing device. SCUBA in English is a noun that originally refers to diving equipment, but at present, diving activities using this type of equipment are also called scuba diving and are often used as adjectives. Scuba diving is also carried out as a professional activity such as maritime construction, water rescue, military, etc., but in general it is often shown as leisure diving, and it is made of steel or aluminum for the method of carrying breathing gas such as air The tank is used as an air source.

The air tank is a container for compressing and carrying a breathing gas (usually air). In Japan, it is often called a cylinder, but in English it is a tank (bottle), bottle (bottle), or cylinder ( cyinder). There was a time when a lightweight aluminum one was used, but now a steel one is often used. The internal volume is about 6L to 15L, and many in Japan are 10L. The filling pressure is typically 200 kg / cm ² . A part of 300 kg / cm ² is used for technical diving. This high-pressure air is reduced to an intermediate pressure (about 9.5 kg / cm ² ) by the first regulator (first stage regulator), and this intermediate pressure is reduced to a pressure that balances the water depth by the second regulator (second stage regulator). And supply it to the mouthpiece.

  Under the High Pressure Gas Safety Law (formerly the High Pressure Gas Control Law), tanks must not be filled with gas such as air unless they are authorized high pressure gas manufacturers. In addition, the tank must be inspected once every five years by a qualified person and marked with an inspection pass including the letters SCUBA. In Japan, the tank is colored gray and written in white letters as KUKI.

  Conventionally, if you run out of breathing gas from an air tank that you carry for scuba diving, you can borrow a secondary regulator (Octopus) from a partner who is diving together and rise together. However, if there is no buddy on the side in an emergency, there is a risk of drowning, and there is a risk of decompression sickness due to emergency ascent, so divers (hereinafter referred to as divers) usually use pressure gauges Although regular monitoring is required, there is no specific solution for this pressure gauge failure, which is an open issue.

  In addition, diving without decompression is recommended for leisure diving, but in order to prevent decompression sickness in relation to the diving depth of divers and technical diving with a long dive time, ascend at a slow speed or to say a safe stop It is necessary to make a safe stop for 5 minutes at 5-6 meters and exhaust the nitrogen taken into the body.

At the scuba diving guidance organization PADI Japan (The Way the Worlds to Dive), when a residual pressure falls below a certain level (for example, 50 kg / cm ² ) in a diving plan (dive plan) foreseeing troubles and changes in sea conditions, the surface will rise. Although there are individual differences in breathing gas consumption due to differences in physique, exercise amount, water depth and fatigue, each person is responsible for the pressure gauge of the remaining amount of breathing gas in the air tank Instructing techniques to dive while constantly checking. In addition, although diving alone is prohibited and it is recommended that two people dive together, but if the pressure gauge is broken or if you do not check, exhaust the breathing gas in the air tank. In order to cope with this, they have been taught how to divide breathing gas from buddies diving together, and how to ascend urgently in preparation for decompression sickness.

  There is also a commercially available device that emits a warning buzzer by sending a residual pressure to a watch-type receiver by radio wave by connecting a wireless transmitter of a diving computer to the first regulator. In general, the pressure gauge is visually confirmed by self-responsibility. When the air tank was exhausted, it lost consciousness after 1 minute and became flooded after 2 minutes, and panic divers could not avoid the risk of decompression sickness due to emergency ascent.

Also, don't forget to carry a pony bottle or spare air ( http://www.spairair.com/ ) marketed by Nippon Aqualung Co., Ltd. Remove the mouth from the mouth and put it back on the mouthpiece of the pony bottle or release the emergency breathing gas by rotating the rotary valve several times to obtain the breathing gas. It is disadvantageous for divers, and it is very difficult for divers who have fallen out of air to handle quickly without causing panic.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a backup air source for emergency ascent as means for solving the above-described problems. Originally, the first regulator mainly focuses on the role of supplying breathing gas, but the supply pipe of the reserve tank (hereinafter referred to as reserve air tank) is connected to the breathing gas supply port (hereinafter referred to as intermediate pressure port) of the first regulator. ), When the breathing gas is exhausted, the breathing gas in the reserve air tank is automatically or manually released via the first regulator, so that the breathing gas in the reserve air tank is released by the second regulator. It is characterized by supplying continuously from the mouthpiece. In that respect, the reserve air tank is connected to the intermediate pressure port of the first regulator with an air supply pipe, so you don't forget to carry it, and even if there is an emergency, if the residual pressure falls below the set pressure (eg 6 kg / cm ² ) As a result, it will not fail to ascend by releasing the air. In addition, if it does not work automatically, or if you want to efficiently exhaust nitrogen in your body by sucking a breathing gas with a higher concentration of oxygen (hereinafter referred to as Enriched Nitrox) during a safe stop As a means, it is possible to suck from the mouthpiece of the second regulator continuously without re-feeding the mouthpiece in order to suck the breathing gas in the reserve air tank by simply pressing the push button. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the reserve air tank connected with the air supply pipe is attached to the medium pressure port of the first regulator for scuba diving, or the reserve air is connected in the middle of the air supply pipe connecting the first regulator and the second regulator. By attaching a tank and forgetting to carry it, when there is no breathing gas in the scuba diving air tank, you can open it by pressing the open button of the backup air source for emergency use. It is an apparatus characterized by providing a breathing gas necessary for safe ascent.

  The primary function of the first regulator is to supply breathing gas to the second regulator, to supply air to the buoyancy adjustment jacket, and to display the residual pressure on the pressure gauge. When the breathing gas in the air tank is exhausted by connecting to the mouth, the ascending process is safely performed using the emergency breathing gas in the reserve air tank. In addition, the capacity of the reserve air tank container can be selected according to the purpose of use, such as 500ml, 800ml, 1000ml, etc., small and lightweight carbon fiber composite aluminum container that does not interfere with carrying, reinforced plastic, titanium, etc. It is also possible to use this container, and as a mounting method, insert it in a bag-like case such as nylon on the front of the buoyancy adjustment jacket and attach it to the chest strap, or velcro the tank harness etc. It is a monotonous piece of equipment that does not get in the way and is not easy to carry, and features a color scheme that calls attention by coloring the reserve air tank body into a fluorescent orange color.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the reserve air tank can be opened instantaneously by sucking in a push button as a valve opening means, and the breathing gas can be sucked in even if the hand is released. It is a device that has the function of holding the state of the valve (opening of the valve), and has a mechanism that returns the valve to the closed state by pulling out the button that has been pushed in as a plugging means by hand, and is in a panic state without breathing It is characterized by supplying emergency breathing gas easily and quickly for divers who have fallen into.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the reserve air tank is characterized in that the breathing gas is released to the air supply pipe by strongly pushing the opening push button, and the internal mechanism is capable of supplying high-pressure breathing gas of 200 kg / cm ² or more. A device having a function of reducing the pressure until it is adapted to medium pressure breathing gas of about 9.5 kg / cm ² by using a compression spring or a diaphragm according to the surrounding water pressure, and constantly sending a constant pressure of breathing gas to the supply pipe The device is characterized in that breathing can be continued continuously without removing the mouth from the mouthpiece of the existing second regulator, and it is connected to the air supply port of the first regulator, so that the breathing of the reserve air tank The release of the gas means that the ascending process can be performed safely while checking the effective amount of breathing gas with the pressure gauge connected to the first regulator. It is possible.

According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to manually opening the reserve air tank according to claim 2, it is a thing related to the function of automatically opening according to the residual air pressure of the air tank for scuba diving. When the residual pressure of the air tank drops to a set pressure (eg, about 6 kg / cm ² ), or when the carryer (diver) reaches a preset (adjusted) pressure (eg, about 8 kg / cm ² ) There is a device that has the function of automatically opening the reserve air tank valve, connecting the first regulator to the air tank for setup at atmospheric pressure before diving, and opening and closing the first regulator valve However, the function of automatically opening the reserve air tank by mistake due to a safety device using a compression spring cylinder or diaphragm does not work, and the set dive depth It is characterized in that the function of automatically opening the plug is started in a state where the degree is reached (for example, 2 meters or more).

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when a valve of the reserve air tank is opened, a breathing gas flows using a diaphragm (harmonic lead) to generate a vibration sound. A function characterized by easily knowing the operation of the apparatus is provided, and it is possible to know by vibration sound when filling the high-pressure breathing gas or releasing the breathing gas to the atmosphere. In addition, by changing the volume and tone of the breathing gas according to the flow rate and flow pressure of the breathing gas, it is possible to easily know the completion of the filling of the high-pressure breathing gas and the start-up of the device even without a pressure gauge. Even if the opening valve is automatically activated, it is possible to inform the person in charge of an emergency, so that the function of preventing accidental use of the emergency backup air source of the reserve air tank without knowing it is possible. It is a device that has.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, even when sufficient breathing gas remains in the scuba diving air tank, Enrich Nitrox (a breathing gas with a high concentration of oxygen) is used to prevent decompression sickness during a safe stop. If you want to quickly exhaust the nitrogen that has been taken into the body by inhaling the air, the breathing gas in the reserve air tank is supplied to the second regulator by the rectifying valve mechanism (check valve), but the first regulator Since no breathing gas is supplied to the tank, the breathing gas of the enriched nitrox is sucked without mixing the breathing gas of the air tank and the rich nitrox breathing gas of the reserve air tank. In addition, it is usually possible to breathe without being aware of the reserve air tank by passing the breathing gas without resistance by the function of the check valve from the first regulator to the second regulator.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when an approved high-pressure gas manufacturer fills high-pressure breathing gas with an adapter, or when a diver himself attempts to fill the reserve air tank with high-pressure breathing gas, the adapter and the reserve It is a device related to an adapter that distributes a part of the breathing gas held by the air tank for scuba diving easily and quickly in a state where the air tank is connected in advance, and has a function of easily filling and replenishing. In addition, by installing a small pressure gauge in the reserve air tank, it is possible to tell the diver about the remaining pressure and filling completion, and in the event of an emergency, knowing the remaining pressure in the reserve air tank can make the ascent process safer . In addition, the device has a function to prevent a situation such as forgetting to fill the reserve air tank with air, or a situation where the pressure is insufficient due to a decrease in air during storage.

  The invention according to claim 8 relates to a check valve function. In the case where the diver himself tries to transfer the high pressure breathing gas of the air tank to the reserve air tank, the adapter mounting method is incorrect or incomplete. This equipment is intended to prevent accidents caused by reverse jetting of high-pressure gas from the reserve air tank.

  The invention described in claim 9 relates to the function of opening and closing the filling port of the high-pressure breathing gas in conjunction with the push button of the reserve air tank according to claim 2, This function is based on the premise of enhancing safety in handling. The filling port opens in conjunction with the pushed-in open state, and the filling port is closed in conjunction with the open state in which the push button is pulled out by hand. Even when the check valve function malfunctions, the high pressure gas ejection can be stopped urgently by pulling out the push button by hand to make it open. This device features a mechanism that ensures safety in handling high-pressure gas.

Scuba divers tend to panic when there is no air during diving and tend to rise rapidly, and there is a risk of lung rupture or decompression sickness. However, the residual pressure according to claim 3 is 6 kg / cm ² or less, for example. Then, the reserve air tank is automatically opened and the breathing gas is released to provide breathing for supplying the breathing gas necessary for safe ascent. Further, since the warning sound according to the fifth aspect informs the diver of the operation of the reserve air tank, the air in the reserve air tank is consumed without being noticed, thereby preventing the ascent from failing.

  Also, even if you are not a high-pressure gas manufacturer who has received a license, if you are connected by a diver and charge high-pressure breathing gas in the same way as connecting the first regulator to the air tank, you will have an air tank. Distributing a part of the high-pressure breathing gas to the reserve air tank can be easily filled and replenished by a scuba diving qualified person with care. In addition, it is possible for high-pressure gas manufacturers to fill in breathing gas with a high oxygen ratio, such as Enriched Nitrox, and it is thought that it effectively acts in the prevention of decompression sickness and the treatment of nitrogen sickness even during normal ascent. It is clear that high-concentration oxygen breathing is effective in the emergency life-saving treatment method, and since it is also effective in the treatment of decompression sickness, it is not limited to filling the breathing gas from the air tank, but individually from the high-pressure gas manufacturer It is a device that is filled with a breathing gas having a high concentration of oxygen.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present invention belongs to the technical scope of the present invention even if various modifications are made without changing the gist of the invention.

  The present invention has the following configuration in order to achieve the above object. That is, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate pressure port b2 of the first regulator b1 for scuba diving and the air supply pipe inlet d1 of the reserve air tank a1 are connected via the air supply pipe f1, and the air for scuba diving. When the breathing gas in the tank J1 is used up, the breathing gas in the reserve air tank a1 is automatically released and the breathing gas necessary for ascent is supplied to the diver.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, as a connection method, the intermediate pressure port b2 of the first regulator b1 and the supply pipe inlet d1 of the reserve air tank a1 are connected, and the supply pipe outlet d2 of the reserve air tank a1 is connected to the second regulator c1. By connecting to the air supply pipe f2, it is possible to release the breathing gas for backup instantly by strongly pushing the opening push button a3 of the reserve air tank a1 provided for emergency use. If you want to suck in breathing gas with a high concentration of oxygen to prevent decompression sickness during a stop, you can instantly provide a breathing gas with a high concentration of oxygen by pressing the open push button a3 of the reserve air tank a1 strongly. It is an apparatus characterized by doing.

As a method of filling air into the reserve air tank a1, the filling port e5 of the adapter e1-01 and the reserve air tank filling port a4 can be connected by screwing in advance, and filling can be performed by pushing the opening push button a3 of the reserve air tank. By connecting to the valve of the air tank J1 and opening the valve on the air tank J1, the high-pressure breathing gas of 200 kg / cm ² or more can be filled into the container of the reserve air tank a1.

In addition, the approved high-pressure gas manufacturer fills with the same mechanical equipment as the high-pressure breathing gas filling method to a general air tank with the adapter e1-02 attached to the filling port a4 of the reserve air tank a1. can do.

  Japan Marine Leisure Safety Association Foundation Announced 2006 Marine Accident Statistics (March 13 Japan Coast Guard Statistics) The number of beach accidents associated with marine leisure is 881, of which 318 are dead or missing 329 dead / missing people during swimming, 47 accidents during scuba diving, 20 dead / missing people, mostly due to submergence, and residual pressure in the air tank carried by most dead Because it was 0, it seems that it was linked to drowning as a result of exhausting air during diving. We believe that the emergency backup air source is a device that can reliably reduce the number of dead and missing persons, and that this reserve air tank can also be a device to save lives in the event of an accident.

  The emergency escape backup air source can be applied to firefighting activities, lifesaving, evacuation guidance, disaster prevention, and widely used self-contained respiratory for disaster prevention in a wide range such as fire departments, nuclear facilities, chemical factories, etc. This system is used for the special disasters such as terrorist disasters as a future study subject in the air-breathing respiratory protective equipment for the rescue team of the Fire and Crisis Management Equipment Research Council (Air Respirator CFASDM 002: 2004) The US CBRN standard for air ventilators has the following requirements not specified by this standard: As a structural item: emergency air connection system (RIC UAC), alarm with two or more types of alarm signals The equipment can be used in accordance with the standard for high pressure work safety and hygiene published by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. It is considered that the present invention can be used in accordance with the amendment that it is not necessary to provide a spare air tank when carrying a spare cylinder.

It is a piping diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is an external view of the main body and adapter of the same (reserve tank). It is an internal structure figure of the same (reserve tank). It is a piping diagram (example 1) of a main part explaining use of the same (reserve tank). It is a piping diagram (example 2) of a main part explaining the same (reservation tank) use.

Explanation of symbols

01 a1 is a reserve air tank main body and tank container 02 a2 is a main body and mechanism part 03 a3 is an opening / closing push button 04 a4 is a high pressure gas filling port 05 a5, a7, b3 are supply pipe lock screws 06 b1 is a first regulator main body 07 b2 is an intermediate pressure port 08 c1, c3 is a second regulator body 09 c2, c4 intake adjustment valve 10 c5 is a mouthpiece 11 d1 is an air supply pipe inlet 12 d2 is an air supply pipe outlet 13 f1 is a first regulator air supply pipe Inlet side 14 f2 is second regulator air supply pipe outlet side 15 g1 is water pressure adjusting port 16 g2 is intermediate pressure adjusting spring 17 g3 is rubber sheet 18 g4 filter 19 g5 rubber packing 20 g6 is intermediate pressure adjusting chamber 21 g7 is non-return Valve 22 g8 is for opening / closing operation 23 g9 is a rectifying valve 24 e1-01, e1-02 High pressure gas filling adapter 25 h1 pressure gauge 26 J1 is air tank for scuba diving

Claims (9)

  A small spare tank (hereinafter referred to as reserve air tank) is connected to the first regulator for scuba diving (first stage regulator) via an air supply pipe, or the air supply connecting the first regulator and the second regulator (second stage regulator). A reserve air tank is installed in the middle of the pipe, and a backup of this reserve air tank provided for emergency when there is no air (hereinafter referred to as breathing gas) from the air source for carrying scuba diving (hereinafter referred to as air tank). It is a device characterized in that the breathing gas necessary for ascent is provided by opening a valve of a working air source.   The reserve air tank is opened by strongly pushing a push button as a valve opening means, and remains in the pushed state (open valve) even if the hand is released. The device is characterized by a mechanism for returning the valve to a closed state by manually pulling out a push button as a closing means. The reserve air tank controls the surrounding water pressure balance, and uses a compression spring or diaphragm to reduce the pressure of 200 kg / cm ² or higher high-pressure breathing gas until it is adapted to about 9.5 kg / cm ² of medium-pressure breathing gas. Thus, the apparatus has a function of supplying a constant pressure of breathing gas to the air supply pipe regardless of water depth. The reserve air tank is a device having a function of automatically opening the reserve air tank valve when the air pressure of the air tank drops below a preset pressure (for example, 6 kg / cm ² ). It is a device characterized by a mechanism that is activated when diving below a given water depth (for example, 2 meters).   When the reserve air tank valve is opened, the fluid (air or breathing gas) that flows can vibrate the diaphragm (lead) and emit a warning sound. A device having a sound function.   The reserve air tank can pass the breathing gas without resistance from the first regulator through the reserve air tank to the second regulator. When the breathing gas is released by opening the valve of the reserve air tank, the first regulator It is a device having a mechanism using a rectifying valve (check valve) that supplies air to the second regulator side but does not supply air to the second regulator side.   Using an adapter that facilitates high-pressure breathing gas filling by a high-pressure gas manufacturer approved as a method of filling the reserve air tank with air, and an adapter that distributes and fills high-pressure breathing gas directly from the air tank that is carried And an adapter mechanism for filling high-pressure breathing gas. The device is provided with a check valve function capable of replenishing the high pressure breathing gas of 200 kg / cm ² or more of the air tank from the filling port of the reserve air tank, and preventing the high pressure breathing gas from flowing back from the filling port of the reserve air tank.   Using the valve opening and closing plug means of the reserve air tank according to claim 2, the filling port is opened in conjunction with the opened state in which the push button is pushed in, and in conjunction with the opened state in which the push button is pulled out by hand. Then, the device is characterized by a mechanism that closes the filling port and ensures a high level of safety in handling high-pressure gas by being combined with the check valve function according to claim 8.

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