US3744520A

US3744520A - Valve arrangement for diving equipment

Info

Publication number: US3744520A
Application number: US00128048A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Lerris
Original assignee: Danfoss AS
Current assignee: Danfoss AS
Priority date: 1970-04-16
Filing date: 1971-03-25
Publication date: 1973-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-10
Also published as: ES196420U; SE370369B; BE763258A; DE2018146A1; FR2092415A5; GB1351014A; ES196420Y; DE2018146B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve for diving equipment which comprises a valve housing having a charging port, a bottle port and an outlet port. Reducing valve means and reserve valve means are provided in series in the main fluid flow path. The reserve valve means remains open until a pressure on the downstream side thereof has dropped to a point where air in the bottle is at a predetermined low pressure, at which time the reserve valve closes. The reserve valve has means associated therewith which are manually operable to open the reserve valve to allow the remaining contents of the bottle to be fully utilized.

Description

United States Patent 1 Lens [ VALVE ARRANGEMENT FOR DIVING EQUIPMENT [75] Inventor: Hans Otto Lerris, Nordborg,

Denmark [73] Assignee: Danfoss AIS, Nordborg, Denmark [22] Filed: Mar. 25, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 128,048

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 16, 1970 Germany P 20 18 146.8

[52] U.S. Cl. 137/612.1 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6k 17/04 [58] Field of Search l37/6l2.1, 63 R, 137/608, 568

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,534,771 10/1970 Eyerdam 137/525 X 3,561,477 2/1971 Pinto t l37/614.l9 3,207,179 9/1965 Klagues 137/612.1 2,806,479 9/1957 Bennett... 137/63 R 3,037,502 6/ 1962 Gibbens et al. 137/63 R 11/1963 Galeazzi 137/63 R [451 July 10,1973

3,244,196 4/1966 Replogle 137/63 R 3,351,089 11/1967 Garrahan 137/63 R 3,426,790 2/1969 D ..-137/63 R 3,477,463 11/1969 Worden 137/6l2.1 X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,148,040 5/1963 Germany 137/63 R 1,150,874 6/1963 Germany 137/63 R Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott AttorneyWayne B. Easton [5 7] ABSTRACT the reserve valve to allow the remaining contents of the bottle to be fully utilized.

. 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTELJUL 1 012m sum 1 OF 2 VALVE ARRANGEMENT FOR DIVING EQUIPMENT The invention relates to a valve arrangement for diving equipment, particularly for automatic breathing apparatus, and for connection to a compressed-gas contained having a cut-off valve and a reserve switch, which blocks the gas outlet when the pressure drops below a predetermined minimum and then has to be manually operated to draw off further gas.

Pressurized containers (called bottles) are used for supplying oxygen to a diver and these are filled with oxygen or air under a high pressure of for example, 200 atmos. This pressure falls as the gas is used up. A cutoff valve is fitted on the pressurized container and closes the bottle when the latter is not in use. Adjoining this valve is a reserve switch. This responds when the pressure in the bottle falls below a predetermined minimum of 30 atmos. for example, and closes the gas outlet with the help of a closure member. This is the signal for the diver to start to surface. By switching over with the help of a fluid-tight outwardly extending actuating member, he can open a by-pass which short-circuits the above-mentioned closure member, and he can thus use up the remaining contents of the bottle. The actual breathing apparatus is connected to the output side of the cut-off valve and reserve switch associated with the bottle. This apparatus usually consists of a reduction stage which lowers the pressure'in the bottle to, for example, 4 atmos. above the pressure of the water, and of a dispensing stage whic, by further reduction, lets out air at a pressure corresponding to the depth of water.

The seal associated with the actuating member for the reserve switch must be of very high quality so that it operates satisfactorily despite the high pressures. Also, after the reserve switch has been reversed, a large quantity of gas is still available, so that the diver may be tempted not to surface immediately.

The object of the invention is to provide a valve arrangement of the initially stated kind and whereby the difficulties associated with the known reserve switch can be avoided.

This object is achieved by fitting a reducing valve between the cut-off valve and the reserve switch.

This reducing valve reduces the pressure in the bottle to a predetermined pressure or pressure-range, e.g., to atmos. The reserve switch is therefore subjected to a considerably lower pressure than previously. With this arrangement,-the lead-through opening whereby the, operating element of the reserve switch is connected to the associated handle does not require to be nearly so tightly sealed, because of the lower pressure. Furthermore, the pressure at which the reserve switch responds can be kept much lower, so that the quantity of reserve air is only sufficient for surfacing, so that the diver is not tempted to remain submerged any longer. The reducing valve moreover is enabled to deal with input pressures of difi'erent levels so that it is immaterial whether the connected pressure container has a pressure of 200 or 300 atmos. when full.

The provision of the reducing valve between the cutoff valve and the reserve switch causes no or hardly any increase in the cost of constructing the arrangement as a whole, since it suffices if the connected breathing apparatus has only one reducing stage corresponding to the dispensing stage previously employed. Alternatively, if two reducing stages are in fact used, the first stage can be considerably simplified.

It is particularly advantageous if the reserve switch and the reducing valve are brought together to form one component. In this way, it is not possible for mistakes to be made in the switching operation. Furthermore, the cost of the construction and of its assembly is reduced.

It is also expedient for the reducing valve and cut-off valve to be combined to form one component. This ensures that only gas at low pressure can be drawn from the bottle fitted with the cut-off valve. Thus, when the bottle is connected to another container for transferring the contents or for drawing off gas from the two containers in parallel (and the connected container is intended for use at a lower pressure when full), there is no risk of explosion of said connected container as a result of excessive pressure-load.

Safety is further increased by also providing the component with a filling union incorporating a non-retum valve. This means that the bottle can only be filledif this component comprising the cut-off valve and reducing valve is fitted.

The construction is further simplified by the reserve switch being constituted by a valve which is located in the main flow-path, and which closes when the pressure falls below a certain minimum level and which then has to be opened manually. This reserve valve has only one closure member which is firstly operated in dependence upon pressure and can then be immobilized in an open position by hand.

It is very advantageous if the minimum pressure at which the reserve switch closes rises as the water pres sure rises. In this. way, the quantity of reserve gas is rendered dependent upon the diving depth and therefore upon the period required to surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the closure member of the reserve switch is biased by a diaphragm which seals the low-pressure chamber behind the throttle point and which, under the effect of the force from a biasing spring and water pressure, offers resistance to the pressure in this chamber. Since the reducing valve becomes non-effective as soon as the pressure in the bottle falls below the required value, behind the reducing valve, the pressure in the bottle acts directly on the actuating diaphragm over the range in which the reserve switch responds. Since the rear side of the diaphragm is acted upon'by the external pressure, i.e., by the pressure of the water, the pressure at which the reserve switch responds increases with the depth of the water. Furthermore, the diaphragm provides an excellent seal for the chamber in the reserve switch.

The closure member of the reserve switch can also be connected to the constricting element of the reducing valve in such manner that the reserve switch closes when the reducing valve reaches a predetermined position at which the opening is at its widest. This means that a single pressure-dependent control operation suffices for the reserve switch and the reducing valve.

It is particularly advantageous if the reserve switch has a locking device which is dependent upon the entry pressure and which enables the reserve switch to be immobilized in the reserve position only when the pressure falls below a predetermined release pressure. This ensures that the diver does not inadvertently bring the reserve switch prematurely into the reserve position.

The invention will now be described in more detail by reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a control system for the valve arrangement according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a section through a first embodiment of the valve arrangement of the invention, the direction of the passages being illustrated schematically,

FIG. 3 is a similar sectional illustration of another embodiment,

FIG. 4 shows a detail of the arrangement of FIG. 3, in the locked position, and

FIG. 5 illustrates the parts seen in FIG. 4, but in the released position.

The valve arrangement of the invention is accommodated in a unit 1 which, together with a union 2 can be mounted on a pressure bottle 3, and to the outlet port 4 of which can be connected diving equipment, e.g., breathing apparatus 5, while the bottle 3 can be filled with pressurized gas by way of the charging port 6 of the unit 1. The unit 1 contains a cut-off valve 17, a reducing valve 8, a reserve switch or reserve valve 9 and a non-return valve 10. The non-return valve ensures that gas can be drawn from the bottle 3 only by way of the reducing valve 8 and the reserve valve 9 which are arranged in series. The breathing apparatus has only one reducing stage 1 1. This is sufficient since, because of the presence of the reducing valve 8, only a relatively low pressure can be accepted at the outlet port 4, irrespective of the pressure to which the container 3 is filled.

As far as possible, corresponding parts of the embodiments described below are designated by the same reference numerals as used in FIG. 1.

The cut-off valve 7 is fitted with a knob 12 which presses a closure member 14 against a valve seat 15 when the threaded spindle 13 is tightened. The spindle extends through the usual gland 16.

The reducing valve 8 contains a high-pressure chamber 17 and a low-pressure chamber 18. Located in the high-pressure chamber is a throttle element 19 which cooperates with a seat 20. The throttle element is biased by a spring 21, which is backed by a screw 22. The low-pressure chamber is closed by a diaphragm 23 which is peripherally clamped with the help of an attachment 24 and which carries at its centre an actuating member 25 which can act on the throttle member 19 through a needle-like extension 26. The diaphragm is biased on the one side by the pressure in the chamber 18 and on the other side by the force from a spring 27 and the pressure in the chamber 28, which communicates with the surrounding water through an opening 29.

The reserve valve has a seat 30 and a closure member 31 which is secured to a spindle 32 and is biased on the one side by a spring 33 and on the other by the pressure of the out-flowing gas. The spindle is guided in an O- ring 34 and carries a pin 35 which cooperates with an inclined surface 36 on a handle 37 in such manner that, when this handle is moved, the closure member 31 is immobilized in an open position.

The way in which this valve arrangement functions will be readily understood. After the cut-off valve 7 has been opened the gas flows into the high-pressure chamber 17 under the pressure at which it is contained in the bottle. When the gas has been used up at the outlet port 4, the pressure in the low-pressure chamber 18 drops.

The spring 27 then pushes the pin 26 to the left, so that the throttle member 19 is lifted from its seat 20 and gas, the pressure of which is correspondingly reduced, passes from the high-pressure chamber '17 into the lowpressure chamber 18. This low pressure is capable of holding the reserve valve 9 open. When the pressure in the bottle drops, the reducing valve 8 continues to open until finally the throttling action ceases virtually completely. The pressure in the bottle then acts directly on the reserve valve 9. When this pressure drops below the predetermined minimum value, the reserve valve closes. By displacing the inclined surface 36, the cut-off valve can be opened again and immobilized in the open position. The remaining contents of the bottle are then still sufiicient to enable the diver to surface.

The construction shown in FIG. 3 is very similar so that like reference numerals are used for similar parts.

In this arrangement, the reserve valve 9 is connected to the reducing valve 8 through the needle-like extension 26. The actuating member 25 carries a closure member 38 in the form of a sealing ring which cooperates with a valve seat 39. When the throttle member 19 has reached the position in which the opening is at its widest, the closure member 38 bears on the seat 39. The actuating member 25 is provided with a spindle 40 which projects from the attachment 24 and carries at its free end a rotatable knob 41 and a pin 32. This pin is enabled to remain on the inclined surface 43 of a cam element 44 when the knob 41 is rotated. During this rotation, the closure member 38 is lifted from the seat 39. When the pin 42 engages in a recess 45 in the inclined surface 43, the cut-off valve is immobilized in its open position.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the normal operating position somewhat more precisely. In this operating position, the pin 42 is located at one of the ends of the cam surface; the spindle 40 has free axial play..If the pressure drops to such an extent that the cut-off valve 9 closes, the pin 42 moves from the position shown in FIG. 4 into the position illustrated in FIG. 5. Then, by rotating the knob 41, the spindle 40 can be lifted to anextent such that the cut-off valve is forced into the open position. For locking purposes, a fixed stop 46 is provided on the attachment 24 and a movable stop 47 on the rotary knob 41. In the normal operating position illustrated in FIG. 4, the two stops prevent the knob 41 from being rotated. Only when the spindle has descended to the position illustrated in FIG. 5 as a result of reduction of the pressure in the bottle is the lock released, so'that the knob 41 can be rotated. This ensures that, during normal operation, the reserve valve cannot be inadvertently actuated by rotation of the knob 41.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 also incorporates asafety valve 48 which comprises a valve seat 49, a diaphragm 50, an actuating member 51, a closing spring 52 and a set-screw 53. If for some reason the pressure in the outlet port 5 rises above the permissible level, the safety valve 48 opens and discharges gas through the outlet 54.

I claim:

1. A valve for diving equipment comprising a housing having a charging port and an outlet port, said housing also having a bottle port, fluid path means between said charging port and said outlet port, a spur path between said fluid. path means and said bottle port, cut-off valve means between said spur path and said fluid path means, reducing valve means in said fluid path means,

termined pressure at said outlet port, resilient means biasing said reserve valve means towards a closed position and manual means for moving said reserve valve means to a fixed open position.

Claims

1. A valve for diving equipment comprising a housing having a charging port and an outlet port, said housing also having a bottle port, fluid path means between said charging port and said outlet port, a spur path between said fluid path means and said bottle port, cut-off valve means between said spur path and said fluid path means, reducing valve means in said fluid path means, reserve valve means in said fluid path means in series with and on the downstream side of said reducing valve means, said reserve valve means being biased towards an open position solely by pressurized fluid on the downstream side of said reducing valve means and being automatically closeable in response to a predetermined pressure at said outlet port, resilient means biasing said reserve valve means towards a closed position and manual means for moving said reserve valve means to a fixed open position.