Oxygen accumulator for constant partial pressure semi-closed breathing apparatus
US4454878A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 1982 |
| Grant date | Jun 19, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2002 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63C11/24
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to improvements in a diver's semi-closed circuit breathing apparatus and is intended to better control the partial pressure of oxygen during descent and ascent. Such apparatus includes a counterlung, sources of oxygen and inert gas, an oxygen regulator, a mass flow jet in the oxygen circuit, a regulator for the inert gas, and a feed-back controlled laminar flow element for feeding a mixture of the oxygen and inert gas to a counterlung of the breathing apparatus. The improvement comprises the provision of an oxygen accumulator in the oxygen circuit following the mass flow jet so that a portion of the delivered oyxgen is diverted thereto during descent to counteract oxygen partial pressure overshoot. At constant depth the apparatus operates normally, maintaining appropriate oxygen partial pressure, and, during ascent, oxygen is returned from the accumulator to the breathing apparatus to counteract any drop in oxygen partial pressure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.