JP2765594B2 - Diving regulator - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, and more particularly, to a regulator (compressed air regulator) of an underwater breathing apparatus having improved breathing characteristics so that air can be easily inhaled. In the present invention, the respiratory characteristic is changed by adjusting the required valve of the regulator.

Regulators are known in the diving industry as an important part of the required equipment. The regulator works with the pressure reducing valve to regulate the supply of air to the diver. The decompression operation is known as the first stage of the regulator and reduces the air pressure between the air tank and the regulator. At the request of the diver, the air passes first through the first stage and then through the second stage.

The present invention mainly relates to the operation of the second stage. The operation of the second stage is controlled by a demand valve with a mouthpiece, located near the air discharge end of the regulator.

An object of the present invention is to enable a diver to easily inhale air.

There are various types of regulators. A typical regulator in its most basic form comprises a housing having a mouthpiece and a demand valve located inside the housing and cooperating with a diaphragm operated by reduced pressure. Both the diaphragm and the demand valve operate on demand for air. The demand valve has a poppet, which is an internal element that moves between a closed position (closed position) and an open position (opened position) in response to a user's request for air. When the poppet is in the closed position, it is pressed against the air inlet of the valve by a spring to stop the air supply.
The inlet is blocked because the compression force of the spring is slightly greater than the pressure applied just upstream of the inlet.

The poppet is moved from a closed position to an open position by the demand of air. At this time, an imbalanced force acts on the poppet due to a suction force stronger than the urging force of the spring.

The first attempt by a regulator user to inhale air, that is, the attempt to pull the closed end of the poppet away from the air inlet, is called the cracking effort. The cracking effort is located at the valve's air intake against the energy of the biasing spring with the degree of vacuum required to overcome the force of the spring biasing in the opposite direction during an air demand. It is a function of the dynamic pressure of the air acting on the poppet.

Since the air moves at a high speed when inhaling the air, the movement of the air is also affected by the Venturi effect.

Conventional poppets have the disadvantage that their shape results in uneven forces at the air inlet and valve chamber.

In a conventional device, when the diver breathes, the poppet moves to the open position and the linear pressure of air
Does not adequately support the poppet, resulting in unbalanced forces that cannot reduce respiratory effort. In this case, the poppet is kept in the open position only by vacuum. Thus, considerable effort is required to maximize when inhalation is weakest at the end of the respiratory cycle.

The present invention provides a balanced force to the valve and improves or eliminates the unbalanced forces present in conventional demand valves by providing a new shape of the demand valve that does not require effort in drawing air. Ask.

A further improvement of the demand valve is that the valve is mounted on a coaxial sleeve that is used in the air flow path by the user adjusting the knob outside the housing, the vacuum is released and directs the air to the mouthpiece of the regulator That is being done. Conventional regulators could not be adjusted without using tools such as a screwdriver.

The regulator of the present invention is a respiratory regulator for use in breathing in water comprising a main housing having a respiratory chamber, a valve, and a diaphragm that moves in response to a pressure difference between the respiratory chamber and the exterior thereof. The valve has an inlet, an outlet, and a flow passage that allows air to move between the inlet and the outlet, and thus to the user's lungs through the outlet of the main housing. And
Further, a poppet movable between an open position and a closed position, slidably provided in the flow path so as to open and close the flow path, and closing the flow path. Biasing means for biasing a poppet at an inlet of a valve; and moving means for moving the poppet in response to movement of the diaphragm, the poppet having first and second ends. An elongate member, at least one air baffle located between the first end and the second end of the elongate member, provided on the elongate member, and the baffle when a user is not requesting air. Closing means provided at the first end of the elongated member so as to close the inlet and the abutting flow path, and slidably provided with an air baffle in the flow path; User demands air to create a pressure drop in the room When the diaphragm drives the moving means to move the poppet away from the inlet, the air continually passes through the flow path and hits the air baffle, urges in the direction to open the valve, and the user opens the valve. It is characterized in that the suction force to be opened is reduced.

In a preferred embodiment, the demand valve comprises a sleeve coaxial with the air flow chamber. The purpose of the sleeve is to provide more efficient air supply to the user following bleeding from the housing. The sleeve also allows the user to selectively control the air from outside the housing, thereby increasing the venturi flow of air and releasing the vacuum as required by the user.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings while comparing with a conventional example.

FIG. 1 shows a part of a conventional request valve 1. The demand valve 1 has a housing 2 with an inlet 3 and an outlet 4. The request valve also has a poppet 5 in the housing. Here, the poppet is in a closed position (closed position) and is pressed against the inlet 3 by the urging force of the spiral spring 6.

FIG. 2 shows the request valve of FIG. 1, but this time shows the poppet 5 being away from the inlet 3 so that air can pass through the chamber 7 of the housing 2 (open position).
In the structure of the demand valve of FIG. 1, the urging force generated by the compression force of the spring 6 is slightly stronger than the air pressure force acting on the inlet 3. As a result, the poppet 5 is pressed against the entrance 3,
The inlet is closed when no air is needed.

When a user of a conventional regulator with a demand valve having a poppet 5 therein draws in air, a vacuum is created, which allows the diaphragm to engage the lever 18 and allow air to enter the chamber 7. . That is, the poppet 5 is moved against the force of the spring 6 to open the inlet, allowing air to pass from the inlet 3 through the room 7 and out of the outlet 4. At this time, as the spring 6 is compressed, the force of the spring gradually increases, so that the force of the demand valve becomes unbalanced. Therefore, the force of the air acting on the poppet 5 caused by the inflow of the air into the inlet 3 is reduced. This reduces the air pressure acting on the poppet. This is exacerbated by the effect that air exits through outlet 4. Due to this force relationship, the effort to maintain the flow of air during the activity of inhaling air to seek air gradually increases,
Unless the suction force is increased, the poppet 5 cannot be maintained at the open position. This occurs when the user who inhales the air has the lowest energy, ie, at the end of the inhalation operation.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a request valve that can reduce the suction effort required of the user when requesting air.

FIG. 3 shows a part of a demand valve according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The request valve has a new shape poppet valve 10 and an externally adjustable outer coaxial sleeve 17 to help direct air toward the user's mouth.

3 is the inlet 3 of the prior art valve shown in FIG.
A valve housing 8 having an inlet 9 similar to that of FIG. The valve is connected to the inlet 9 with the help of a further helical biasing spring 11.
Has a poppet 10 biased toward it. The valve is
It also has a known lever 12 responsive to operation via a link by a regulator diaphragm (see FIGS. 5 and 6) driven by a vacuum generated when air is requested by the user of the request valve. .

In the request valve of the present invention, the shape of the poppet 10 is different from that of the conventional request valve. As shown in FIG. 3, the poppet 10 has a long shaft (elongated member) 13 having a first baffle (flange) 14 and a second baffle (flange) 15. Such a poppet design changes the force generated around the poppet when a user of the request valve requests air. FIG. 3 shows the demand valve according to the invention with the poppet valve in the closed position (closed position). When the user requests air, operation of the diaphragm in the regulator (not shown) causes the arm 12 to draw air through the inlet 9. The structure of the request valve in the open position is shown in FIG. When the air is requested by the user, the air passes through the flow path 9 as described above. The movement of air under pressure has several effects. The first is the reaction of the force applied by the biasing spring 11 and the second is that air impinges on the wider surface of the flange (baffle) 14 and is deflected around the narrower flange (baffle) 15.

The effect of the resulting force is that air
To increase or maintain the pressure on the flange (baffle) 15 when bending around the flange 14. At this time, air is supplied to the outlet 16 provided in the wall of the housing 8 and a coaxial sleeve formed of a plastic material.
Discharged from an orifice 19 located at 17. Poppet 10
Is configured such that air exits through outlet 16 or impinges on the surface of baffle 15. The impingement of air on the baffle counteracts the increased biasing force exerted by the spring 11 as it is compressed by air pressure. Impact of air on the baffle 15 ensures air loss at the outlet 16. The overall effect is to optimize the power balance by reducing the effort of the user requesting air by the air line force maintained on the poppet.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a regulator having a demand valve 20 shaped to accommodate inhalation by a user. In this configuration, the request valve 20 shows a state in which the poppet 21 is urged by the orifice 22 so that the orifice (entrance) 22 is sealed by the end 23 of the poppet 21. Linear pressure from a supply tank (not shown) is applied to supply line 24. The linear pressure applied to line 24 is about 28 pounds of power. To counteract this force, biasing spring 25 biases end 23 of poppet 21 in a direction opposite to the force applied by the linear pressure at end 23.

Ideally, the pressure applied by the biasing spring 25 should be as close to the linear pressure as possible, but slightly higher than the linear pressure to maintain the poppet in a closed position when no air is required.

FIG. 6 shows the regulator of FIG. 5 in an air demand or suction position when a user is demanding air. Due to the demand for air, the end 23 of the poppet 21 is pulled away from the orifice by the vacuum created in the chamber 27 by the diaphragm 28.

Because the spring bias is ideally slightly greater than the linear pressure, additional effort must be applied to the poppet 21 to pull the poppet away from the orifice 22 and allow air to flow freely toward the mouthpiece 29. There must be.
A flange 30 is provided on the main shaft 31 of the poppet 21 to assist in this process.

In conventional poppet systems, linear pressure has no effect on biasing the force toward the poppet once the poppet has been separated from the supply orifice.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the provision of the flange 30 provides a surface against which air entering the flow path of the housing impinges, maintaining a linear pressure acting on the poppet and moving the poppet away from the entrance. , The user's effort in requesting air is reduced.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a flange 30 provided on the poppet according to one embodiment, wherein air flowing into the mouthpiece 29 from the orifice (inlet) 22 and the flow path through the orifice 32 hits the poppet and is deflected. The flange may be composed of a plurality of flanges as long as the flange is biased in the spring direction. The poppet is ideally positioned so that when the orifice 32 is in the fully open position, the air impinges on the flange 30 and this impinging air is directed to the mouthpiece 29 via the orifice 32. It is a target.

The result is a system that has a force regime balanced within the valve and between the linear pressure impinging on the baffle and the biasing force. Thus, the effort required of the user to request air can be reduced. The effect of the presence of the flange or baffle means on the poppet is that when unbalanced forces occur in the respiratory system when demanding air, the selection of a spring, which was necessary in conventional valves, is not required. It is. Thus, the linear pressure applied to the end 23 of the poppet 21 in the closed position of the poppet is maintained by the poppet, but is applied to the flange 30 in the open position. In addition to the modified configuration of the poppet valve, the improved valve also comprises a concentric sleeve 17 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), which is rotatably mounted concentrically about the housing 8. Alternatively, the housing 8 can be fixed to the sleeve 17 so that the entire demand valve part can rotate together. This facilitates directing air in the direction of the mouthpiece of the regulator and allows for the formation of an improved air path without the need for baffles required in the prior art. Baffles used for
1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a conventional regulator shown at 50. The configuration of this baffle is selected according to the angle of the airflow striking the baffle.

FIG. 8 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a regulator showing the ventilation promoting ability of the demand valve according to the present invention provided therein. Also, in this regulator, there is no baffle for the air directed by the free rotation of the request valve, and as a result, the user can select the direction of the air flow from the request valve as required. You can see what can be done.

A drawback of the configuration of the respiratory baffle 50, as shown in FIG. 7, which shows a cross-section of the regulator, is that the baffle or screen acts to impede airflow toward the mouthpiece of the regulator. This also delays air from entering the mouthpiece of the regulator, as a change in direction occurs, drawing air. This problem is solved by the omission of the baffle and the function imparted to the demand valve of the present invention, wherein the demand valve can be rotated in the regulator by an external selective directing of the direction of air flow towards the mouthpiece of the regulator. As shown in FIG. 8, the air can be directed in any direction within the range of 0 to 360 ° depending on the rotation capability of the demand valve, so that a free air path to the mouth of the user can be formed.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a regulator 33 having a demand valve 34, in which air flows from the demand valve in the direction of arrow 35 to the mouthpiece.
Flow towards 36.

FIG. 10 shows that air flows in the direction of arrow 37 and diaphragm 39
FIG. 3 shows a regulator 33 having a demand valve 34 arranged to prevent the vacuum effect occurring in the chamber 38 from occurring.
The control of the request valve 34 is performed by a sleeve 40 operated by a knob 41 provided outside the regulator 33. Thus, the user can change the direction of the airflow to the mouthpiece during use.

In the prior art, such adjustments are made only by using an instrument (e.g., a baffle) inserted into the regulator prior to use to direct the airflow.

The demand valve of the present invention allows the user to select the air boost at any time during use with the external knob 41. Thus, a breathing effect of the high-speed air flow can be obtained when necessary, and the diaphragm 39 provides a chamber 38 when the user requests air through the mouthpiece 36.
The vacuum effect generated in the inside can be prevented.

Thus, FIG. 9 shows the demand valve 34 with the sleeve 40 positioned to maximize airflow to the mouthpiece 36. By selecting the configuration as shown in FIG. 10, even if a small amount of air is required, it is better performed by the user.

When diving, different users require different amounts of air to maintain a suitable breathing rate. Thus, it is desirable to have adjustable manual pneumatic breath control during use according to special circumstances.

As the diver dives deeper, the concentration of air increases, requiring an ideal function to compensate for the regulation of air breathing. This is achieved by improving the demand valve 34.
Achieved. This adjustment also prevents or reduces the free flow of unwanted air, as required.

In addition, divers know that inhaling large amounts of air when diving can make the nausea and sickness worse. In the improved demand valve, the above problem can be solved by limiting the amount of free air flowing to the user, since the valve can be adjusted according to personal needs according to the required air volume.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a simplified longitudinal sectional view of a conventional request valve when the valve poppet is in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a simplified longitudinal sectional view of a conventional demand valve when the valve poppet is in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a simplified longitudinal sectional view of a demand valve according to one embodiment of the present invention when the valve poppet is in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a simplified longitudinal sectional view of a demand valve according to one embodiment of the present invention when the valve poppet is in an open position.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a cross section of a regulator having a demand valve when the poppet is in a closed position.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a cross section of the regulator having the request valve when the pet is in the open position.

FIG. 7 is a simple sectional view of a conventional regulator using a baffle to bend air.

FIG. 8 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a regulator according to one embodiment of the present invention showing a coaxial sleeve.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a regulator having an externally operable coaxial sleeve when the flow rate is at a maximum.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the regulator of FIG. 9 having an externally operable coaxial sleeve when flow is at a minimum.

Claims (16)

(57) [Claims] 1. A breathing regulator for use in breathing in water comprising: a main housing having a breathing chamber; a valve; and a diaphragm that moves in response to a pressure difference between the breathing chamber and the exterior thereof. The valve has an inlet, an outlet, and a flow passage that allows air to move between the inlet and the outlet, and thus to the user's lungs through the outlet of the main housing. A poppet movable between an open position and a closed position, and slidably provided in the flow path so as to open and close the flow path; and to close the flow path. Biasing means for biasing the poppet at the inlet of the valve, and moving means for moving the poppet in response to the movement of the diaphragm, wherein the poppet has first and second ends. An elongate member having the elongate member, At least one air baffle located between the first end and the second end and provided on the elongate member for contacting the inlet when the user is not requesting air to close the flow path; Closing means provided at a first end of the elongated member, slidably provided with an air baffle in the flow path, and used to create a pressure drop in the breathing chamber. When a person requests air, the diaphragm drives the moving means to move the poppet away from the inlet, and the air continually passes through the flow path and hits the air baffle, biasing in the direction to open the valve; A regulator used for breathing in water, wherein a suction force for a user to open a valve is reduced. 2. The regulator of claim 1 wherein the closing means provided at the first end of the elongated member is an end of the elongated member. 3. An end of the elongated member is provided with another baffle for closing the inlet, the baffle being smaller than the cross-sectional area of the flow passage in the valve and smaller than the cross-sectional area of the inlet. The poppet also has a large cross-sectional area so that when the poppet is in the closed position, it functions as a closing member for the inlet and when the poppet is in the open position, functions as an air baffle member. regulator. 4. The regulator of claim 3 wherein said moving means has a lever arm engaged with a second end of said poppet. 5. The valve further comprises an air intake assisting means having an opening which may be selectively or partially aligned with the outlet of the valve and having a coaxial sleeve disposed around the valve. The regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The regulator according to claim 5, wherein said coaxial sleeve is operable by a knob provided outside the regulator. 7. The air is guided in a direction toward or away from the mouthpiece of the regulator by selectively adjusting the coaxial sleeve with the knob.
Regulator. 8. The at least one air baffle provided between the first and second ends of the elongate member, the at least one air baffle being disposed substantially midway between the first and second ends of the elongate member. ,
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the air baffles are spaced apart from each other.
7. The regulator according to any one of (1) to (7). 9. The baffle is located at or near the outlet of the valve when the poppet is in the open position.
9. A regulator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 8 wherein the air strikes the baffle shortly before being discharged from the outlet to apply a force to the poppet to the poppet. 10. The regulator of claim 9 wherein the air impinges extensively on the front of each baffle. 11. The spring according to claim 11, wherein said biasing means is a helical spring.
10 regulators. 12. The spring according to claim 11, wherein said spring is coaxial with a portion of said poppet and is engaged with a surface of a baffle.
Regulator. 13. The regulator of claim 12, wherein said spring engages a second end of the baffle. 14. The regulator of claim 5, wherein said coaxial sleeve is formed of a plastic material. 15. The regulator of claim 14, wherein said knob has a rating indicating the setting of the coaxial sleeve. 16. The closing means includes sealing means for sealing the inlet when the poppet is in the closed position.
15 regulators.