Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B9/00—Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus
  • A62B9/02—Valves
  • A62B9/022—Breathing demand regulators
  • A62B9/027—Breathing demand regulators pilot operated, i.e. controlled by valve means sensitive to a reduced downstream pressure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
  • B63C11/02—Divers' equipment
  • B63C11/18—Air supply
  • B63C11/22—Air supply carried by diver
  • B63C11/2227—Second-stage regulators

Definitions

• the present invention relates to regulators for underwater breathing apparatus and more particularly to a scuba regulator second stage using pilot valve controlled pneumatic amplification.
• air or other breathable gas is supplied to a diver from a high pressure tank via a two-stage regulator.
• the regulator first stage is mounted at the supply tank and functions to reduce the air pressure to about 140 psi above the ambient pressure.
• the tank and regulator first stage are supported on the diver's back.
• a conduit or hose supplies the reduced pressure air to a regulator second stage at the diver's mouthpiece.
• the second stage includes a demand valve system which opens to supply breathable gas in response to the inhalation effort of the diver. Provision is made to exhaust gas through the mouthpiece.
• the diaphragm and regulator advantageously are linked by a mechanism of the type shown in the inventor's U.S. Patent No. 4,029,120, issued June 14, 1977 entitled LINKAGE FOR THE DEMAND REGULATOR OF A BREATHING APPARATUS.
• a regulator of the type utilizing these teachings has been found to achieve very low inhalation effort. That is, the diver can essentially inhale normally under water, and the regulator will respond to establish the proper flow of breathable gas. Unlike regulators which do not use pneumatic amplification, it is not necessary for the diver to use excessive inhalation force (i.e., to take a "deeper" breath than normal) to ensure opening of the valve.
• the poppet valve depicted in the U.S. Patent No. 4,076,041 has some tendency to tilt when open. This was a possible source of instability.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide an assembly in which the poppet cannot tilt when either open or closed. Further, in the design shown in the Patent No. 4,076,041 an unbalanced pressure condition could exist in the pilot control chamber, resulting in possible improper opening of the pilot valve.
• Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a regulator having a control chamber with balanced pressure so as to overcome this problem.
• Another objective of the present invention is to provide a simplified adjustment feature for the regulator linkage.
• another objective ' is to provide a simplified diaphragm mounting and linkage assembly.
• Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a scuba regulator second stage in which the .
• air supply hose inlet is situated immediately adjacent to the mouthpiece. This arragement minimizes the torque force exerted on the regulator by the supply hose as the diver moves his head. Accordingly, using the present regulator, the diver is afforded more freedom of head motion without the risk of the regulator being pulled from his mouth by the torque force of the hose as the diver turns his head.
• the poppet itself is configured to have a central peripheral ridge which rides within the cylindrical poppet chamber.
• the particular configuration eliminates tilting.
• the poppet pin and bleed orifice are configured to have an effective outlet area from the control chamber which corresponds generally to the area of the pilot valve seat. Balanced pressure in the control chamber is achieved.
• an improved diaphragm assembly having lower exhalation resistance and reduced water leakage, and a unique detune button for preventing inadvertent turn-on of the regulator during unattended use.
• FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view and FIGURE la is a front view of the improved scuba pilot regulator.
• FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pilot regulator of FIGURE 1, in the inhalation mode.
• FIGURE 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view like that of FIGURE 2, showing the pilot and poppet valves in the closed or neutral mode.
• FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the poppet also shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.
• FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view of the poppet, as seen along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.
• FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of the diaphragm and valve assembly removed from the regulator of FIGURE 1.
• FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view of the valve assembly as seen along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.
• FIGURE 8 is a pictorial view of the linkage also shown in FIGURES 2 and 7.
• FIGURE 9 is a partial transverse sectional view of another embodiment of the regulator of FIGURE 1 having an improved diaphragm assembly.
• FIGURE 10 is an end view of the diaphragm assembly of FIGURE 9 as viewed along the line 10-10 thereof.
• FIGURE 11 is a partial transverse sectional view of another embodiment of the regulator of FIGURE 1 incorporating a detune button.
• FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of a sleeve seal for a portion of the linkage of the regulator of FIGURE 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• the inventive scuba pilot regulator 10 has the external configuration shown in FIGURE 1 and includes a case 11 which advantageously is molded of a plastic such as Delrin having high impact resistance. As described below (FIGURE 6) , the regulator valve assembly unit 40 can be removed and inserted through the end of the case 11 which is covered by a cap 12 and a cap retainer ring 13. Air or other breathable gas mixture from a conventional tank and regulator first stage is supplied to the regulator 10 via an inlet fitting 14 and an inlet tube 15. The inlet tube 15 enters the case 11 in very close proximity to the regulator outlet 16 to which a rubber or plastic mouthpiece 17 is attached. This arrangement, in which the inlet tube 15 is situated very close to the mouthpiece 17 reduces the torque load on the user's teeth as the user's head is turned.
• valve mechanism 18 As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, air flow to the user is controlled by a pilot valve mechanism 18, the general operating characteristics of which are described in the inventor's U.S. Patent No. 4,076,041.
• the valve mechanism 18 is contained in a housing assembly 20 shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 6, and 7.
• the assembly 20 includes a generally cup-shaped housing 21 having a cylindrical skirt 21a, a closed end 21b and an internal cylindrical section 21c.
• the inlet tube 15 extends through a sealed opening 21d in the skirt 21a and terminates at an opening 21 ⁇ in the cylindrical section 21c. In this manner, inlet air is communicated into a chamber 22 with the cylindrical section 21c.
• the end 21f of the cylindrical section 21c is tapered to form an annular edge which functions as the seat of the poppet valve which controls air flow to the user.
• a poppet assembly 23 (FIGURES 2 and 3) includes a poppet 24 (FIGURES 4 and 5) which is partially situated within the housing cylindrical section 21c.
• the assembly 23 includes an O-ring 25 which cooperates with the valve seat 21f to control the main air flow from the inlet tube 15 to the user.
• the valve seat 21f and the O-ring 25 thus comprise the principal flow-controlling components of a poppet valve 26.
• the poppet valve 26 In the neutral mode of FIGURE 3, the poppet valve 26 is closed, with the O-ring 25 in annular contact with the valve seat 21f. In this condition, air flow from the inlet tube 15 to the user is blocked.
• the poppet assembly 23 In the inhalation mode shown in FIGURE 2, the poppet assembly 23 has moved toward the cap 12 so as to separate the O-ring 25 from the valve seat 21f.
• the valve 26 thus is open, thereby providing an air flow path from the chamber 22 past the open valve 26 into a larger annular chamber 27, the outer wall of which is defined by the skirt 21a of the housing 21.
• the chamber 27 is enclosed by the cap 12 (FIGURE 2) , so that the only outlet from the chamber 27 is an opening 28 ⁇ FIGURES 2 and 7) in the closed end 21b of the housing 21.
• the entire housing closed end 21b including the opening 28 is covered by a flexible, disc-shaped seal 29 which advantageously is formed of 30- shore silicone or like material.
• the seal 29 is held in place by a rigid disc 31.
• the section 31a of the disc 31 which faces the opening 28 is bent away from the housing 21 as shown in FIGURES 2, 6 and 7.
• the air flowing from the opening 28 thus is deflected by the seal 29 and the disc 31a toward the outlet 16 and mouthpiece 17.
• the poppet assembly 23 includes an improved poppet 24 having the configuration shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. It has a cylindrical section 24a having an outside diameter at a somewhat smaller than the inside diameter of the housing cylindrical section 21c. The section 24a thus defines the inner wall of the chamber 22.
• One end 24b of the poppet 24 has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the housing cylindrical section 21c, and is grooved to retain an O-ring 34. The poppet end 24b thus defines one end of the chamber 22.
• the poppet 24 has an annular flange or ridge 24c the outer diameter of which also corresponds to the " inside diameter of the cylindrical section 21c.
• the poppet 24 is axially movable within the cylindrical section 21c between the closed position of FIGURE 3 and the open position of FIGURE 2. During such movement, the flange 24c remains substantially in contact with the cylindrical 21c. This ensures that the poppet 24 remains coaxially aligned within the cylindrical section 21c regardless of the axial position of the poppet 24. In order words, the flange 24c prevents tilting of the poppet 24.
• a relatively large hole 24d extends transversely all the way through the poppet 24.
• the axis of the hold 24d advantageously is aligned with the median plane of the flange 24c.
• the hold 24d accomplishes two functions. First, it provides an air flow path from the chamber 22 into a cylindrical pilot valve chamber 35 within the poppet 24. Secondly, it established a flow path within the chamber 22 past the flange 24c itself. As best seen in FIGURE 5, as a result of the hole 24d, the flange 24c itself does not form a complete circle. Rather, it has two "missing" sections 24e, through which air can flow past the flange 24c. Thus, when the valve 26 is open ⁇ FIGURE 2) the inlet air flows from the tube 15 into the chamber 22 and past the flange 24c via the "missing" sections 24e to the valve- 26.
• the O-ring 25 is held in place by a poppet cap 36 which is screw threaded to the end 24f of the poppet 24.
• the cap 36 includes an enlarged annular flange 36a the front face of which has a recess or grove 36b that receives the O-ring 25.
• This groove 36b is slightly undercut so as to form within the groove 36b an annular "hook" 36c which (when viewed in cross-section as in FIGURES 2 or 3) overhangs a portion of the O-ring 25 that is facing the valve seat 21f.
• the O-ring 25 is positively retained or locked in place between the cap 36 and the poppet section 24g.
• These two members surround approximately 3/4 of the periphery of the O-ring 25, leaving exposed only that portion of the periphery adjacent to the annular line of contact with the valve seat 21f. There is no tendency for the O-ring 25 to become displaced during regulator operation.
• the poppet assembly 23 is biased toward the housing 21 by a poppet spring 37 one end of which surrounds the poppet cap 36 abuts against the flange 36a.
• the other end of the spring 37 seats against a retainer 38 that has a generally U-shaped cross-section including legs 38a the ends of which are attached by means of a retaining ring 39 to the housing cylindrical section 21c.
• the spring retaining end 38b of the retainer 38 advantageously is disc-shaped. Typically, there may be three legs 38a.
• the valve itself consists of an annular valve seat 24h formed in the poppet 24 at the forward end of the chamber 35.
• the poppet 24 includes an , interior coaxial bore 24j extending from the end of the poppet that is covered by the cap 36 almost all of the way to the poppet end 24b.
• the interior end of the bore 24k is not flat, but rather is "hook” shaped when viewed in cross-section (FIGURES 2 and 3) so as to define the annular edge-shaped valve seat 24h.
• the pilot pin 41 includes a rear section 41a which extends through the chamber 35 and extends into a central opening in the poppet cap 36. At this rear end, the pin 41 is sealed by an O-ring 43 that is caught within the poppet cap 36. The other end 41b of the pin 41 projects through the bore 24k and through an orifice member 44 into contact with one of the balls 50 in the diaphragm linkage assembly described below. Between the sections 41a and 41b in the pin 41, there is an annular groove 41c which receives an O-ring 45 that serves as the closure member of the pilot valve 42. The O-ring 45 is held in place by a ring 46 that surrounds a portion of the pin 41.
• the ring 46 includes an annular lip that covers the portion of the O-ring 45 periphery that is radially outward of the groove 41c. In this manner, the O-ring 45 is firmly retained by the pin 41 and the ring 46 with only a relatively small portion of its periphery exposed for contact with the pilot valve seat 24h.
• the poppet bore 24k has a diameter which is essentially the same as the diameter of the pilot valve seat 24h.
• the pin 41b has a diameter slightly less than that of the bore 24k so that when the pilot valve 42 is opened, inlet air will flow from the chamber 22 via the poppet bore 24d and the chamber 35 through the space between the O-ring 46 and the valve seat 24h into the space between the bore 24k and the pin end 41b, and thence into a control chamber 49 between the poppet 24 and the orifice member 44.
• the resultant build-up of pressure in the chamber 49 urges the entire poppet 24 to the right as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 3, thereby opening the pilot valve 26.
• the air in the chamber 49 leaks out via the space between the central bore or orifice 44a in the member 44 and the pin end 41b. In effect, the pressure drop across the orifice 44a provides the controlling pressure which opens the main poppet valve 26.
• the diameter of the. orifice 44a is roughly the same as the diameter of the bore 24k, so that the area of the annular opening between the orifice 44a and the pin end 41b is roughly the same as the seating area of the pilot valve 42.
• the housing assembly 20 further includes a guide rod 21g extending coaxially from a cylindrical section 21h that projects forwardly from the cup shaped housing 21.
• the cylindrical section 21h contains a pair of rigid balls 50 and 51 which together with a lever 52 and a linkage arm 53 constitute the linkage between the pilot valve 42 and a diaphragm 55.
• the basic operation of this linkage is disclosed in the inventor's U.S. Patent No. 4,029,120.
• the configuration of the linkage arm 53 which typically is made of Delrin or other rigid plastic material, best is shown in FIGURE 8.
• the lever 52 is pivotally connected to one end 53a of the arm 53 and extends through an opening 21j in the cylindrical section 21h into the space between the balls 50 and 51.
• a ring 53c integrally formed near the middle of the arm 53b loosely surrounds and is guided by the rod 21g-.
• a lock nut 54 is threaded on the end of the rod 21g to serve as a stop for the arm 53.
• a disc-shaped end 53d of the arm 53 serves as a central rest for the diaphragm 55, the center 55a of which has an internally flanged opening that is configured for mounting on a peripherally grooved boss 53e extending from the arm 53 in coaxial alignment with the guide ring 53c.
• the diaphragm 55 is situated within an enlarged end 11a, lib of the case 11 and seats against an internal conical platform lie which is formed as an integral part of the case 11.
• the diaphragm 55 and the conical platform lie cooperate as a diaphragm assembly of the type taught by the inventor's U. S. Patent No. 4,147,176.
• the effective sensing area of the diaphragm is reduced in uniform proportion to the diaphragm displacement.
• Adjustment of the linkage assembly is facilitated by a screw 56 which extends through the cylindrical section 21h and which has a central concave area 56a that serves as a rigid stop for the ball 51.
• the screw 56 By moving the screw 56 in or out, the rest position of the ball 51 is changed.
• the rest position of the ball 51 can be established so that the ball 50 will immediately start to move when the diaphragm 55 first is displaced.
• the adjustment end of the screw 56 faces the regulator outlet 16. This permits easy adjustment by the entry of a screwdriver through the outlet 16.
• the adjustment screw 56 could be mounted so as to face an interior side wall of the housing 11. In that instance, it could be adjusted when the entire assembly 40 is removed from the casing 11 (as shown in FIGURE 6).
• the diaphragm 55 also functions as the exhaust valve for the regulator 10. To this end, the outer perimeter 55b of the diaphragm 55 is free to move away from the platform lie. Thus during breathing, the exhaled air flows into the regulator outlet 16, pushes the diaphragm edge 55b away from the platform lie, and escapes through the openings lie (FIGURES la and 2) at the front end of the case 11. Also situated at the front end lid is a cover 60 which is held within a large opening llf by means of a ring 61.
• the cover 60 is made of a flexible material such as f Neoprene and supports a central purge button 62. When this button is pressed, a central portion 60a of the flexible cover 60 pushes against the boss 53e so as to displace the linkage arm 53 and open the regulator valve. Purging occurs.
• the regulator 10A features an improved diaphragm assembly 65 which has very low exhaust pressure, and which aids in preventing leakage of water into the regulator interior and thence into the diver's mouth.
• FIG. 9 The diaphragm 66 has a large central opening surrounded by an annular retainer section 66a of generally U-shaped cross- section that matingly engages a flange-shaped interior section llg of the regulator plastic housing 11.
• the outer diaphragm 67 likewise advantageously is formed of 30-shore silicone rubber or a like soft, pliable material which returns rapidly to its original shape after being deformed.
• the general configuration of the outer diaphragm 67 corresponds to that of the diaphragm 55 in FIGURE 2, and it is similarly mounted to the linkage arm 53 « .
• the inner and outer diaphragms 66 and 67 are of equal diameter, and contact one another around their periphery in a median plane 68.
• the outer periphery of each diaphragm 66 and 67 has a respective integral bead 66b and 67b.
• the two diaphragms are clamped together over approximately one-half of their circumference by a rigid plastic clamp 69 having a generally U-shaped cross-section, as shown in FIGURE 9.
• the center of the clamp is situated near the bottom of the regulator 10A in proximity to the housing section llh (FIGURE la) between the openings lie.
• the undamped sections 66c and 67c of the diaphragms thus are situated near the top of the regulator 10A.
• the decreased pressure at the mouthpiece outlet 16 causes both the inner and outer diaphragms 66 and 67 to compress toward one another, with concomitant movement to the right (as viewed in FIGURE 9) of the median plane 68 and the linkage arm 53'.
• the outer diaphragm 67 does not have to invert its shape during this operation. This appears to result in a reduction in the amount of inhalation pressure required to move the linkage arm 53' by the same distance, as compared with the embodiment of FIGURE 2.
• the regulator may be used in an "octopus" arrangement in which two regulator second stages are attached by separate hoses to the same tank and regulator first stage.
• This arrangement now is commonly used by divers as a safety situation in which the diver normally breathes through one of the two second stages. The other is available for use in an emergency either by the diver himself (if his normal mouthpiece should fail) or by another diver.
• Another circumstance is when the diver is swimming on the surface with a snorkel, with his regulator out of his mouth.
• the interior of the unused regulator becomes flooded with water.
• the resultant fluctuations of the interior water pressure may cause displacement of the diaphragm 55 (FIGURE 2) or diaphragm assembly 66 (FIGURE 9) . This will cause the regulator to open with undesirable flow-through of compressed air from the tank.
• the detune button 70 is intended to eliminate such regulator turn-on during unattended use.
• the detune button 70 is mounted within a circular opening 71 in the cap 12C.
• the interior surface of the opening 71 is ridge-shaped, and includes an interior tapered or conical surface 71a which increases in diameter from the center 71b of the ridge 71 toward the interior of the regulator IOC, with a typical taper angle of 10°.
• a second tapered surface 71c extends from the ridge 71b toward the exterior of the regulator IOC with increasing radius.
• An O-ring 72 seats within a peripheral recess 70a in the button 70 in contact with the opening 71.
• the interior face of the button 70 includes a peripheral flange 70b which seats against an inner shoulder 12a of the cap 12C when the detune button 70 is in the disengaged position shown in FIGURE 11.
• the groove 70a is situated so that in this disengaged position the O-ring 72 is seated against the outer tapered surface 71c.
• pin 73 Projecting inwardly from the center of the detune button 70 is a pin 73.
• This pin 73 projects through an opening 38d in the end 38b of the spring retainer 38.
• Pin 73 faces the rear end 41e of the pilot pin 41 through an opening 36d at the rear of the poppet cap 36.
• the length of the pin 73 is selected so that when the detune button 70 is in the disengaged position shown in FIGURE 11 there is sufficient clearance between it and the pin end 41e so as to allow normal movement of the pin 41 during operation of the regulator IOC.
• the user pushes to the left against the outer surface 70c of the button 70 so as to urge the O-ring 72 past the ridge 71b. - In this engaged position, the rod 73 abuts against the end 41e of the pin 41.
• the pressure of the O-ring 72 against the inner tapered surface 71a creates a component of force toward the left (as viewed in FIGURE 11) which is communicated via the pin 73 to the pin 41.
• the regulator 10C is underwater but out of the diver's mouth, the pressure variations of the water against the interior of the diaphragm 55 or diaphragm assembly 65 will be insufficient to overcome the force exerted on the pin 41 by the detune button 70. Inadvertent opening of the regulator 10C, with undesired air flowthrough, will be prevented.
• the detune button 70 can be automatically snapped back into the disengaged position by taking an initial "deep breath.”
• sufficient differential pressure will be created across the diaphragm 55 or the diaphragm assembly 65 so as to slightly displace the pin 41 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 11.
• This displacement need only be sufficient to crack open the pilot valve 42, and to slightly move the detune button 70 toward the right.
• the force does not have to be sufficient to move the O-ring 72 past the ridge 71b.
• the pilot valve 42 is slightly opened, a concomitant opening of the poppet valve 26 will occur.
• the detune button 70 can be simply engaged by finger pressure on the surface 70c prior to unattended use of the regulator. There is no need manually to disengage the detune button when the regulator later is to be used. The diver need only put the regulator 10C in his mouth and take an initial strong breath to snap the detune button 70 to the disengaged position.
• the movement distance required to transfer the detune button from the engaged to the disengaged position is greater than that required to engage the purge button 62.
• depression of the purge button will not transfer the detune button from the engaged to the disengaged position.
• depression of the purge button will crack open the pilot valve 42, with concomitant slight opening of the poppet valve 26. This will allow sufficient inlet air to enter the chamber 27 so as to force the detune button into the disengaged position.
• the user can merely depress the purge button 62.
• the disc-shaped end 53d is a unitary part of the linkage arm 53.
• the diaphragm-supporting disc-shaped end member 53D may be a separate member, as shown in FIGURE 9.
• the member 53D has a threaded stem 53f* which extends from the. disc 53d' in a direction opposite from the boss 53e'. This stem 53f engages a threaded ring 53g' formed at the end of the arm 53' concentric with but spaced from the ring 53c.
• Such an arrangement permits adjustment of the rest position of the diaphragm 67.
• the pin 73 is "illustrated as being a thin metal rod extending from a hole in a plastic detune button 70.
• the detune button and pin may be formed as a unitary, all plastic member in which the pin comprises an integral boss or protuberance extending from the surface 70d of the button which faces the regulator interior chamber 27.
• a generally cylindrical sleeve 75 (FIGURE 12) of silicone plastic or like resilient material may be placed around the exterior of the cylindrical section 21h.
• a sleeve 75 advantageously includes a bulge region 75a which covers the opening 2lj and is provided with a slit 75b through which the lever 52 projects.
• the bulge 75a and slit 75b thus form a lip-like seal which will prevent contamination from entering into the region of the linkage balls 50 and 51 while permitting necessary movement of the lever 52.
• a pair of holes 75c in the sleeve 75 fit over the adjustment screw 56 to retain the sleeve in place on the cylindrical section 21h.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Fluid-Driven Valves (AREA)
• Control Of Fluid Pressure (AREA)
• Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)

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• 1981
  • 1981-10-29 EP EP19810903151 patent/EP0092544A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1981-10-29 GB GB08316626A patent/GB2118048B/en not_active Expired
  • 1981-10-29 JP JP50369981A patent/JPS58501656A/ja active Pending
  • 1981-10-29 WO PCT/US1981/001460 patent/WO1983001576A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1981-10-29 AU AU7890782A patent/AU7890782A/xx active Pending

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