Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Including body or head supported means covering user's scalp
Utility Patent
1998-07-14
2001-01-02
Lewis, Aaron J. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Including body or head supported means covering user's scalp
C128S201280
Utility Patent
active
06167882
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to breathing equipment for use in toxic atmospheres or under water, comprising a face mask or the like, a breathing gas source, and conduit means for transporting gas from source to mask.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Breathing equipment of this kind is used, for instance, by firemen, persons who are required to occupy toxic environments, and divers. It is therefore of utmost importance to minimize the risk of serious damage to the equipment and provide equipment that is extremely reliable in operation.
The breathing gas is normally carried in bottles or flasks on the back of the person using the equipment, wherein gas is led to the mask through a hose-like conduit. This conduit is vulnerable to external damage. Because the conduit is the only means of transporting gas between bottle and mask, the escape of gas through small leakage sites along its length may also have serious consequences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a gas conduit between a gas source and a mask that is protected against external influences and with which the risks of leakages in the conduit are reduced.
Another object is to increase the safety of the breathing equipment still further, by enabling gas to be delivered to the mask even in the event of a fault in the regulating mechanism or valve mechanisms between a gas bottle and a mask.
The invention is based on the understanding that these objects can be achieved by using between a gas source and a breathing mask a double hose-conduit which will give further protection to the standard gas conduit and enable any gas that leaks therefrom to be transported to the mask, and also to enable breathing gas to be delivered from a bottle to a mask while by-passing faulty regulating and valve components.
Accordingly, breathing equipment according to the present invention is characterized in that the conduit means includes an inner conduit which functions to transport gas to the mask from a pressure regulator mounted adjacent the source, and an outer conduit which surrounds the conduit first mentioned so as to protect the inner conduit and form a passageway that is sealed against the surroundings and the inner conduit and which is connected to the mask so as to deliver thereto any gas that may leak from the inner conduit.
A conduit means of this kind reduces the risk of damage to the inner gas conduit and minimizes the effects of gas leakages therefrom.
The passageway is preferably connected to the mask through the medium of a biased check valve which functions to maintain a given overpressure in the passageway, so as to prevent gas from being sucked into the passageway from the surroundings and transported to the mask should the outer conduit become damaged.
The passageway may be connected directly to the space in the mask. Alternatively, the passageway may be connected to the mask by means of the same breathing valve as that to which the inner gas conduit is connected, or to a separate breathing valve, wherein the passageway may serve as a second gas supply channel.
The other end of the passageway may be connected to the gas source either upstream or downstream of a pressure regulator connected thereto. So that gas will be delivered to the mask through this passageway even if the pressure regulator, for instance, were to malfunction, it is preferred to connect the passageway to the gas bottle upstream of the standard bottle valve. This enables the gas flow to the pressure regulator to be switched-off while still allowing gas to be delivered to the mask via the passageway defined between the outer hose and the inner hose.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2999497 (1961-12-01), Hamilton et al.
patent: 3224444 (1965-12-01), Dempster
patent: 3935861 (1976-02-01), Warncke
patent: 4404969 (1983-09-01), Cresswell et al.
patent: 4449524 (1984-05-01), Gray
patent: 4463755 (1984-08-01), Suzuki
patent: 4534344 (1985-08-01), Constance-Hughes
patent: 5720279 (1998-02-01), Furuichi et al.
Almqvist Hans
Ekstrom Staffan
Interspiro Europe AB
Lewis Aaron J.
Mitchell Teena
Pollock Vande Sande & Amernick
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