RU2503579C2 - Portable breather with electronic control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to divers' breather with air feed from the surface. Portable breather comprises compressor with electric drive and surface inlet, vessel connected with compressor outlet, storage battery, hose, breathing mechanism kept by diver mouth and connected with hose, level comparator, variable voltage generator and annunciator. Comparator inputs are connected with storage battery and external controlled threshold. Comparator outputs are connected with annunciator and variable voltage generator connected by its output with compressor electric drive.

EFFECT: higher reliability, improved conditions of operation.

3 dwg

Description

The proposed solution relates to diving equipment with air supply from the surface of the water and can be used to breathe a diver under water.

Similar technical solutions are known, see US patent No. 4674493, which contains the following set of essential features: a sealed floating container having a surface inlet and an underwater outlet; an electric compressor and a battery fixed in the inner cavity of the sealed floating container, the electric compressor being connected by its outlet to the underwater outlet of the sealed container; a reservoir connected to an underwater outlet of the sealed container; a hose connected by its inlet to the opening of the tank; respiratory mechanism held by the diver's mouth, used to control inhaled and exhaled gases, connected by its inlet to the outlet of the hose.

Common features of the proposed solution and prototype are:

- electric compressor;

- rechargeable battery for powering the compressor with electric drive;

- a tank connected to the compressor outlet;

- a hose connected by its inlet to the opening of the tank;

- respiratory mechanism.

This analogue does not achieve a technical result associated with the economy, compactness and low weight of the device.

The reason for the impossibility of obtaining the indicated technical result is that the capacity of the compressor with the electric drive is constant and does not depend on the amount of respiratory gas consumed by the diver per unit time, therefore, the performance of the compressor with the electric drive will always be maximum for breathing at the maximum demand of respiratory gas, but with the minimum need respiratory gas, this performance will be excessive, which will lead to an excessive consumption of electric energy kkumulyatornoy battery. To compensate for the excessive consumption of electric energy, a larger battery is required, which leads to the bulkiness of the device and the excessive weight of the device and not profitability.

Also known breathing apparatus, see, US patent No. 5924416, which is selected as a prototype and contains the following set of essential features: a floating inflatable chamber; two containers, the upper and lower, the upper is fixed on a floating inflatable chamber, the lower is attached to the upper container; two electric compressors fixed in the lower container and located in the water; pressure switch that controls the pressure of the gases; a battery for powering the compressor with electric drive, located in the upper container, connected by its terminals to the terminals of the compressor with electric drive through the output contacts of the pressure switch; a reservoir connected to the compressor outlet; a hose connected by its inlet to the opening of the tank; respiratory mechanism held by the diver's mouth, used to control inhaled and exhaled gases, connected by its inlet to the outlet of the hose.

Common features of the proposed solution and prototype are:

- electric compressor;

- rechargeable battery for powering the compressor with electric drive;

- a tank connected to the compressor outlet;

- a hose connected by its inlet to the opening of the tank;

- respiratory mechanism.

This analogue does not achieve the technical result associated with the economy, compactness, low weight and reliability of the device.

The reason for the impossibility of obtaining the indicated technical result is that since the electric compressors operate cyclically, i.e. connected to the battery by the contacts of the pressure switch when the set minimum level of gas pressure is reduced and disconnected when the set maximum level of gas pressure is exceeded, the cycles will be too frequent when using a small tank (2-3 liters), this will reduce the life of the pressure switch and compressors with electric drive, and frequent starting currents and pressure drops are not economical and reduce the reliability of the breathing apparatus. To prevent this, you will need a tank with a volume of at least several tens of liters, which leads to cumbersome apparatus, excessive weight of the apparatus.

The technical result indicated above is achieved in that in a portable breathing apparatus, comprising: an electric compressor having a surface inlet; a reservoir connected to the output of the electric compressor; rechargeable battery; a hose connected to the reservoir; a respiratory mechanism held by the diver’s mouth, connected to a hose, according to the invention, an electronic compressor electric control unit is introduced, consisting of: a gas pressure level sensor in the tank; level comparison schemes; smoothing filter; matching unit for powering the compressor electric drive; the output of the battery is connected to the electronic control unit, the input of the pressure level sensor is connected to the reservoir, the output of the pressure level sensor is connected to one of the inputs of the level comparison circuit, the other input of the level comparison circuit is connected to an external threshold, the output of the level comparison circuit is connected to the input smoothing filter, and the output of the smoothing filter is connected to the input of the matching unit and the output of the matching unit is connected to the electric drive of the compressor.

Instead of a gas pressure sensor in the tank and a level comparison circuit, a controlled voltage stabilizer can be introduced, the output of which is connected to the input of the smoothing filter, while one of the stabilizer inputs is connected to the battery and the other input is connected to a controlled threshold voltage.

Instead of a controlled voltage stabilizer and a smoothing filter, the following can be introduced: a level comparison circuit, a falling voltage generator and a siren, while the inputs of the level comparison circuit are connected to the battery and an external controlled threshold, and the outputs are connected to a siren and a falling voltage generator connected to the electric output compressor.

Introduction of an electronic compressor drive electronic control unit, consisting of a gas pressure level sensor in the tank; level comparison schemes, smoothing filter; matching unit for powering the compressor electric drive and connecting them, as described above, allows you to get rid of the bulky tank, make the device economical, compact and lightweight, using a compact tank (2-3 liters). This is achieved by reading the readings of the gas pressure level sensor in the tank by the input of the level comparison circuit and comparing it with the installation level at the other input of the level comparison circuit. At the output of the level comparison circuit, such an output signal is formed that when it passes through a filter that smooths out ripples and instabilities of the adaptation process, a matching unit that matches the low-power output of the electronic unit and the powerful input of the compressor’s electric drive controls the compressor’s power supply, maintaining the required pressure level in the tank . Those. negative feedback of the process of maintaining a pre-set pressure level in the tank is carried out in the system, while the pressure level is determined by the threshold value at the input of the level comparison circuit.

Thus, the pressure in the tank is maintained at a predetermined minimum level, by changing the supply voltage of the compressor electric drive, without starting currents, providing the necessary quality of the diver’s breathing, at different immersion depths and physical activity, eliminating the bulky reservoir and making the breathing apparatus economical compact, lightweight and reliable.

The introduction of a controlled voltage stabilizer instead of a gas pressure level sensor in the tank and a circuit for comparing the levels and connecting them, as described above, allows you to get the maximum battery life by setting a constant voltage at the input of the compressor’s electric drive when the battery voltage is changing and the sensor readings pressure level, while the magnitude of this voltage is determined at a predetermined threshold level at the second input of the controlled stable voltage insulator.

Thus, the supply voltage of the compressor electric drive will be at a constant predetermined minimum level, ensuring the diver’s breathing at the minimum immersion depth and minimum physical activity, regardless of the flow of air to the breath.

The introduction of a circuit for comparing levels, a decreasing voltage generator and a siren instead of a controlled voltage stabilizer and a smoothing filter, connecting them, as described above, allows you to protect the battery from deep discharge and premature failure due to the fact that when the voltage value decreases at the output of the battery below the level determined by the value of the threshold at one of the inputs of the level comparison circuit, a signal appears at its output, which starts the voltage generator falling from its value to zero at a certain speed while at the other output levels of the comparison circuit receive a signal including the siren.

Thus, a smooth decrease in the supply voltage of the compressor’s electric drive will lead to its performance decreasing smoothly and when the pressure in the tank decreases, the diver will be informed about this and that it is necessary to climb surface.

The invention is illustrated by drawings, which depict:

figure 1 is a structural diagram of a portable breathing apparatus with an electronic control unit according to the first embodiment of the invention;

2 is a structural diagram of a portable breathing apparatus with an electronic control unit according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a portable breathing apparatus with an electronic control unit according to a third embodiment of the invention.

A portable breathing apparatus with an electronic control unit, shown in figure 1, contains:

- a compressor with an electric drive - 1 DC, having a surface inlet;

- a reservoir - 2 compact volumes (2-3 liters) connected to the compressed gas outlet of a compressor with an electric drive - 1;

- hose - 3, connected by its inlet to the tank - 2;

- the respiratory mechanism - 4, held by the diver's mouth, used to control inhaled and exhaled gases, connected by its inlet to the outlet of the hose - 3;

- battery - 5;

- an electronic compressor control unit connected to the output of the battery, consisting of:

- sensor - 6 gas pressure levels connected by its inlet to the tank - 2;

- level comparison schemes - 7;

- smoothing filter - 8;

- matching unit - 9, which serves to coordinate the low-power output of the electronic circuit and the powerful input of the compressor electric drive - 1.

In this case, the sensor output - 6 gas pressure levels is connected to one of the inputs of the level comparison circuit - 7, the other input of the level comparison circuit - 7 is connected to an external threshold, the output of the level comparison circuit - 7 is connected to the input of the smoothing filter - 8, the output of the smoothing filter - 8 is connected to the input of the matching unit - 9 and the output of the matching unit - 9 is connected to the compressor electric drive - 1.

A portable breathing apparatus with an electronic control unit, shown in Fig. 2, instead of a sensor - 6 is the gas pressure level in the tank - 2 and the level comparison circuit - 7 shown in Fig. 1, contains a controlled voltage regulator - 10, the output of which is connected to the input of the smoothing filter - 8, while one of the inputs of the voltage regulator - 10 is connected to the battery - 5, and the other input is connected to a controlled threshold voltage.

A portable breathing apparatus with an electronic control unit shown in Fig. 3, instead of a controlled voltage stabilizer - 10 and a smoothing filter - 8, shown in Fig. 2, contains a level comparison circuit - 7, a falling voltage generator - 11 and a siren - 12, while the inputs of the level comparison circuit - 7 are connected to the battery - 5 and an external controlled threshold, and the outputs are connected to the siren - 12 and the down voltage generator - 11, connected by the output to the compressor electric drive - 1.

As a compressor with electric drive - 1, a BERKUT R20 piston compressor, Unom = 12 V, Qmax = 72 l / min (distributor company TANI, Moscow) can be used.

As a rechargeable battery - 5, a rechargeable battery with the parameters Unom = 12 V, Sleepom = 24 A * h can be used.

As a respiratory mechanism-4, a pulmonary machine from the air-breathing apparatus AVM-12 (manufactured by Campo Russia) can be used.

As a sensor-6 of the gas pressure level, a Honeywell 26PCFFA6G pressure sensor and other similar elements widely available on the market can be used.

As a siren - 12, any device can be used for light and sound warning people.

As elements of an electronic control unit, standard digital and analog elements and elements of microprocessor technology can be used.

The proposed portable breathing apparatus with a control unit operates as follows Fig.1.

When the supply voltage from the battery - 5 is applied to the electronic control unit, the sensor reads - 6 gas pressure levels in the tank - 2 by the input of the level comparison circuit - 7 and compares it with the installation level on the other input of the level comparison circuit - 7. At the output level comparison circuit - 7, such an output signal is formed that when it comes through the filter - 8, smoothing out ripples and instabilities of the adaptation process, and a matching unit - 9, which coordinates the low-power output of the electronic circuit and oschny input electric compressor, supplying the proper voltage to the drive of the compressor - 1 to maintain the pressure in the tank - 2. Ie negative feedback of the process of maintaining a pre-set pressure level in the tank is carried out in the system - 2, when the pressure in the tank is 2, trying to exceed the pre-set pressure, the voltage on the compressor electric drive - 1 will decrease so as to reduce the pressure to a pre-set value, and when the pressure in the tank - 2 is trying to decrease compared to the previously set, the voltage on the compressor electric drive - 1 will increase so as to increase the pressure to a predetermined infused. In this case, the pressure level is determined by the threshold value at the input of the level comparison circuit - 7. Respiratory gas enters the surface inlet of the compressor with electric drive - 1 and accumulates in the reservoir - 2. From the reservoir - 2 gas enters through a hose - 3, into the breathing mechanism - 4 held by the diver's mouth.

Thus, the pressure in the reservoir - 2 is maintained by changing the supply voltage of the compressor electric drive - 1, at a predetermined minimum level, without inrush currents, providing the necessary quality of the diver’s breathing, at various depths of immersion and physical activity, and increasing the reliability of the breathing apparatus.

In Fig.2, when the supply voltage from the battery is 5, one of the inputs of the controlled voltage stabilizer is 10, then its output will have a constant stable voltage. The magnitude of this voltage is determined at a predetermined threshold level at the second input of the controlled voltage regulator - 10. From the output of the controlled voltage regulator - 10, the voltage is supplied to the filter - 8, where the ripples and instabilities of the adaptation process are smoothed, and then to the matching unit - 9. At the input compressor electric drive - 1, a constant voltage is established with a changing battery voltage - 5 and a sensor reading - 6 gas pressure levels. Respiratory gas enters the surface inlet port of the electrically driven compressor - 1 and accumulates in the reservoir - 2. From the reservoir - 2 gas enters through the hose - 3, into the breathing mechanism - 4, held by the diver's mouth.

Thus, the supply voltage of the compressor electric drive - 1 will correspond to the required constant predetermined minimum level regardless of the air flow for breathing, providing a maximum operating time of the device from the battery - 5 when the diver breathes at the minimum immersion depth and minimum physical activity.

In Fig.3, when the supply voltage from the battery - 5 is applied to one of the inputs of the level comparison circuit - 7 and the value of the supply voltage at the output of the battery - 5 is reduced below the level determined by the threshold value at the other input of the level comparison circuit - 7, at the circuit output level comparison - 7 there is a signal that starts the falling voltage generator - 11 from the operating value to zero at a certain speed, and at the same time on the other output of the level comparison circuit appears a signal that includes the siren - 12.

Thus, a smooth decrease in the supply voltage of the compressor electric drive - 1 will lead to its performance decreasing smoothly and with a reduced pressure in the tank - 2 by a gradually increased inspiratory force and a signal from the siren - 12, the diver will be informed about this and that he needs to rise to the surface.

The invention allows to get rid of inrush currents, a bulky reservoir and make the breathing apparatus economical, compact, lightweight, reliable, which is the technical result.

Claims (1)

A portable breathing apparatus comprising an electrically driven compressor having a surface inlet, a reservoir connected to the outlet of the electrically driven compressor, a battery, a hose connected to the reservoir, a breathing mechanism held by the diver's mouth connected to the hose, characterized in that it comprises a comparison circuit levels, a variable voltage generator and a siren, while the inputs of the level comparison circuit are connected to the battery and an external controlled threshold, and the outputs are connected to siren and generator of variable voltage connected by the output to the compressor electric drive.

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