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Mouthpiece supply valve

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1. YYOL 001 e j A v90L j i VZOL U S Patent Jun 12 2012 Sheet 4 of 15 US 8 196 581 B2 108 162 FIG 4 Nh Hea Day C lt p i e t a US 8 196 581 B2 Sheet 5 of 15 Jun 12 2012 U S Patent oci 00L US 8 196 581 B2 Sheet 6 of 15 Jun 12 2012 U S Patent VVvOL SLL TSIAWN Lab at v94 S3 W NOLLOZS RM Uv V901 US 8 196 581 B2 Sheet 7 of 15 Jun 12 2012 U S Patent A 9ld D DD NOILOSS YYOL an v90L 00L YYOL US 8 196 581 B2 Sheet 8 of 15 Jun 12 2012 U S Patent C NOILOaS q cLV Cam ARRABA 00 cL SLL US 8 196 581 B2 Sheet 9 of 15 Jun 12 2012 U S Patent 944 vOv US 8 196 581 B2 Sheet 10 of 15 Jun 12 2012 U S Patent Ol Old 1S U S Patent Jun 12 2012 Sheet 11 of 15 US 8 196 581 B2 FIG 11 162 U S Patent Jun 12 2012 Sheet 12 of 15 US 8 196 581 B2 162 315 160 FIG 12 158 112
2. US 8 196 581 B2 Sheet 13 of 15 Jun 12 2012 U S Patent L Dld ELE SOE ZLE PLE ze GLE OLE TLE 60E 90 LOE Poe LEE H dmi EE m aic Wetbenerdnona IE at ene LES 4 L LE TIR eee m S RO p y cer m m aay dh k Een RNC 71 15 oO OOOO Od Di T GL iN Gee cu Sud c9l OLE ZOE SLE Oe SLE 091 N BSI U S Patent Jun 12 2012 Sheet 14 of 15 US 8 196 581 B2 202 204 FIG 14 20 200 US 8 196 581 B2 Sheet 15 of 15 Jun 12 2012 U S Patent pou eseaj ou AOG 9r Jojyenjoy aijewoyny OE 90 Jaindwoy Gi Josueg 9LE c J0sueg VLE voe SL Old 0c ual BopuojeM 66 99i og 91607 SLE c3 Jajndwog Li Je3nduio2 Z JOSUBS OLE 90 L JOSUSS US 8 196 581 B2 1 MOUTHPIECE SUPPLY VALVE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U S Provisional Application No 61 044 543 filed Apr 14 2008 which is incorporated by reference BACKGROUND The present disclosure is direct to self contained breathing apparatus and more particularly to mouthpiece supply valves for use with rebreather type self contained breathing apparatus Rebreather devices may collect exhaled respiration gas from a user store clean and or re oxygenate the gas in a respiration loop and then present the same respiration gas to the user for inhalation Rebreather apparatus may be class
3. 18 solenoid may act upon BOV release rod 146 in a manner similar to mode selector 108 thereby shifting the mouthpiece supply valve 20 from rebreather mode to bail out mode As discussed above in some exemplary embodiments the amount of energy exerted by automatic actuator 320 may be relatively minimal due to the action of one or more springs biasing the mouthpiece supply valve 20 towards bail out mode and or due to the minimal about of energy required to shift mouthpiece supply valve 20 from rebreather mode to bail out mode Inanother exemplary embodiment automatic actuator 320 may comprise a normally energized solenoid which may be operative to shift the mouthpiece supply valve 20 from rebreather mode to bail out mode upon deenergization of the solenoid resulting from the timing out of watchdog timer 318 Such an embodiment may also cause the mouthpiece supply valve 20 to shift from rebreather mode to bail out mode upon a loss of power in the rebreather device In other exemplary embodiments the automatic actuator 320 may comprise a pneumatic actuator a squib a small pyrotechnic device a thermal retention device such as a hard wax that may be partially melted upon application of electric current to a heating device and or a piezo crystal actuator Although an exemplary embodiment described with refer ence to FIG 15 includes a watchdog timer 318 it is within the scope of the disclosure to employ an alternative logic device in
4. be useful in open circuit regulator second stages particularly with octo pus alternate air sources or stage cylinder regulators Exem plary embodiments may reduce the possibility of free flow failures and a consequent loss of gas supply More generally an exemplary secondary regulator valve assembly 158 as described herein may be useful where it is desirable to toggle a regulator between two setpoints Inanexemplary embodiment mode selector 108 may be in a forward and extended position relative to a user holding mouthpiece 102A in his or her mouth when the mouthpiece supply valve 20 is in rebreather mode In this position mode selector 108 retains BOV release rod 146 in its extended 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 14 position towards inlet hose connector 104A in which BOV spring 150 is compressed and groove 196 retains actuator 186 in a position towards inlet hose connector 104A its rebreather position When actuator 186 is in its rebreather position base portion 192 allows overpressure valve plate 404 to hold overpressure valve sealing ring 408 against the surface of exhaust valve housing 176 due to the force of overpressure valve spring 406 thereby sealing shut bottom opening 175 In addition when actuator 186 is in its rebreather position rod 120 is retained in its rebreather posi tion towards outlet hose connector 106A With rod 120 in the rebreather position inlet mushroom valve 114 is held a
5. embodiment a first actuating force applied to the first valve actuator to open the regulator valve when the secondary tension piston is disengaged from the regulator valve is less than a second actuating force applied to the first valve actua 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 65 6 tor to open the regulator valve when the secondary tension piston is engaged with the regulator valve In a detailed embodiment the first valve actuator may include a first pivotable lever arm In a detailed embodiment the second valve actuator may include a second pivotable lever arm Ina detailed embodiment a regulator valve assembly may include a diaphragm arranged to sense a differential pressure the diaphragm being operatively connected to the first valve actuator In a detailed embodiment the inlet orifice the regulator valve and the secondary tension piston may be linearly arranged Ina detailed embodiment a regulator valve assembly may include a valve spring adjustment boot mechanically inter posing the second valve actuator and the secondary tension piston In a detailed embodiment movement valve spring adjustment boot in response to movement ofthe second valve actuator is operative to engage and disengage the secondary valve piston from the regulator valve In a detailed embodiment the first valve spring may mechanically interpose the valve spring adjustment boot and the regulator valve and movement ofthe valve spring adj
6. motion of regulator inlet valve 306 dueto movement oflever arm 160 However when secondary tension lever arm 315 is pivoted to either side it moves valve spring adjustment boot 310 and secondary tension piston 313 axially into contact with regulator inlet valve 306 This increases the force that must be applied to lever arm 160 to cause regulator inlet valve 306 to move away from orifice 304 to admit pressurized gas into mouthpiece supply valve main housing 100 Thus by moving secondary tension lever arm 315 to an actuated position a greater differential pressure must be felt on diaphragm 164 to cause movement of lever arm 160 and admission of pressurized gas Referring back to FIG 1 in an exemplary mouthpiece supply valve extension 418 of actuator 186 may be arranged to move secondary tension lever arm 315 to the side towards external connection 112 when the mouthpiece supply valve 20 is placed in the rebreather mode and actuator 186 may be arranged to allow secondary tension lever arm 315 to return to its substantially perpendicular initial position when the mouthpiece supply valve 20 is placed in the bail out mode Referring back to FIGS 11 13 in an exemplary embodi ment a secondary tension adjustment screw 314 may seat a distal end ofthe secondary tension piston 313 and a distal end of secondary tension spring 312 Secondary tension adjust ment screw 314 may be threadedly adjustable axially adjust able to vary the additional f
7. operative to maintain the inlet valve shut the outlet valve shut and the overpressure valve substantially open In a detailed embodiment the inlet valve may be a mush room valve the outlet valve may be a mushroom valve and the inlet valve and the outlet valve may be mounted to an axially slidable valve rod which is operatively coupled to the actuator the valve rod having a first position corresponding to the first position of the actuator and a second position corre sponding to the second position of the actuator In a detailed embodiment the release rod may be biased towards its second position by a release rod spring and the release rod spring may be operative to prevent the release rod from stopping in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position In a detailed embodiment the valve rod may be biased towards its second position corresponding with the second position of the actuator In a detailed embodiment the supply gas regulator may receive pressurized gas from a compressed gas source via a first stage regulator In a detailed embodiment the mode selector may be con nected to the actuator by an axially slidable release rod In a detailed embodiment the release rod may be axially slidable between a first position corresponding to the first position of the actuator and a second position corresponding to the sec ond position of the actuator and the release rod may be biased towards its second po
8. rod spring may be operative to prevent the release rod from stopping in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position In a detailed embodiment the overpressure valve may be spring biased shut when the actuator is in the first position and the actuator may maintain the overpressure valve open when the actuator is in the second position Ina detailed embodiment the mode selector may be manu ally operable to shift the inlet outlet valve assembly between the first and second positions and the mode selector may be automatically operable to shift the inlet outlet valve assembly from the first position to the second position in response to a sensed condition In a detailed embodiment the sensed con dition may be associated with at least one of a partial pressure of a constituent of the respiration gas a pressure a tempera ture and a component failure In a detailed embodiment a mouthpiece supply valve may include an automatic actuator which may include at least one of a solenoid a pneumatic actuator a squib a thermal reten tion device and a piezo crystal actuator Ina detailed embodiment at least one of the inlet valve and the outlet valve may include a mushroom type check valve Ina detailed embodiment the pressurized gas supply regu lator may be manually actuatable via a button and automati cally actuatable by a diaphragm In a detailed embodiment the diaphragm may fluidicly interpose the interi
9. the user In an exemplary embodiment mode selector 108 may be in a rearward and retracted position e g at least a portion of mode selector 108 may engage slot 110 when the mouth piece supply valve 20 is in bail out mode In this position BOV spring 150 holds BOV release rod 146 in its retracted position towards outlet hose connector 106A and groove 196 retains actuator 186 in a position towards outlet hose connector 106A its bail out position When actuator 186 is in its bail out position base portion 192 depresses overpres sure valve plate 404 overcoming the force of overpressure valve spring 406 and exhaust diaphragm 174 is fluidicly connected to the interior of main housing 100 In addition when actuator 186 is in its bail out position rod 120 is retained in its bail out position towards outlet hose connector 106A With rod 120 in its bail out position spiders 124 126 hold mushroom valves 114 116 against the respective shoul ders 113 115 FIGS 6 and 7 shown rod 120 in bail out position This arrangement prevents mushroom valves 114 116 from opening regardless of the pressure differential between the interior of main housing 101 and inlet tubing 104 and or outlet tubing 106 An exemplary embodiment may operate in bail out mode as follows A user may inhale respiration gasses through the mouthpiece 102A connected to mouthpiece connector 102 Dueto the pressure differential between the ambient environ ment and the int
10. WO 2007 126317 11 2007 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Author Unknown Dive Rite 3000 2 Regulator Service Manual 2007 32 pages Lamartek Inc D B A Dive Rite WO cited by examiner Primary Examiner Loan Thanh Assistant Examiner Peter S Vasat 74 Attorney Agent or Firm Baker amp Hostetler LLP 57 ABSTRACT A mouthpiece supply valve which may be used in connection with a rebreather An exemplary mouthpiece supply valve may include a housing an inlet mushroom valve an outlet mushroom valve a supply gas regulator an exhaust valve and a mode selector An exemplary mouthpiece supply valve may perform manual diluent valve automatic diluent valve overpressure relief valve excess fluid ejection and bail out valve functions 46 Claims 15 Drawing Sheets 412 132 104A 412 144 tel 90 156 136 402 0 154 L US 8 196 581 B2 Sheet 1 of 15 Jun 12 2012 U S Patent olo SLY gzol Vcol US 8 196 581 B2 Sheet 2 of 15 Jun 12 2012 U S Patent SLL e 081 cL col Ws Ua EN EN f f WA P d gs E um J us es Rei b A De 4 Ay N N N N ih YYOL X ge 00L 801 US 8 196 581 B2 Sheet 3 of 15 Jun 12 2012 U S Patent A J L Old 80L i Z N Proceres EE QS PN c9L 7 TS
11. actuator 20 40 45 50 4 In a detailed embodiment the release rod may be spring biased towards its second position and the valve rod may be spring biased towards its second position Ina detailed embodiment the release rod and the valve rod may be arranged substantially in parallel In a detailed embodiment the exhaust valve may include an exhaust valve diaphragm arranged to allow venting of the interior of the housing when a pressure in the interior of the housing is greater than an ambient pressure In a detailed embodiment the second stage regulator valve assembly may be operatively coupled to the actuator the second stage regulator valve assembly may be operative to selectively admit the pressurized gas to the interior of the housing in response to a first sensed pressure difference when the actuator is in the first position and the second stage regulator valve assembly may be operative to selectively admit the pressurized gas to the interior of the housing in response to a second sensed pressure difference when the actuator is in the second position Ina detailed embodiment the second stage regulator valve assembly may include a secondary tension lever arm opera tive to select between the first sensed pressure difference and the second sensed pressure difference and the actuator may act upon the secondary tension lever arm Ina detailed embodiment the second stage regulator valve assembly may include a regulator i
12. addition to or in place of watchdog time 318 For example an automatic actuation system may include a logic device programmed to provide a trip signal to automatic actuator 320 upon receipt of a predetermined number of abnormal signals from computers 302 304 306 For example receipt of abnor mal signals from computers 302 304 and a normal signal from computer 306 may result in a trip signal to the automatic actuator 320 Further it is to be understood that the signals provided throughout the automatic actuation system may include normal or non trip signals and or abnormal or trip signals For example computers 302 304 306 may provide normal signals to a logic device and the logic device may provide a non trip signal to automatic actuator 320 In the event of an equipment failure and the resulting loss of the normal signal from one or more computers 302 304 306 the logic device may cease providing the non trip signal to the automatic actuator 320 and the automatic actuator 320 may trip the mouthpiece supply valve 20 from rebreather mode to bail out mode It is to be understood that computers 302 304 306 may comprise computing devices arranged to operate and or con trol various components of the rebreather device e g com puting devices which control admission of oxygen into the breathing loop via a solenoid valve in response to sensed oxygen partial pressure In some exemplary embodiments computers 302 304 306 may comprise com
13. against orifice 304 thereby terminating pressurized gas flow from the high pressure gas cylinder Anexemplary embodiment may include a valve spring 309 coaxially mounted over the inlet valve 306 between annular shoulder 337 extending from the reciprocating valve body and an adjustment nut 311 provided within the regulator valve housing 301 distal from the shoulder 337 with respect to the orifice 304 The valve spring may be a compression spring arranged to bias regulator inlet valve 306 towards orifice 304 Valve spring 309 may be operative to seal regulator inlet valve 306 against orifice 304 and to bias lever arm 160 outward into its initial position The valve spring adjustment nut 311 may threadedly engage valve spring adjustment boot 310 and may allow adjustment of the force exerted by valve spring 309 In an exemplary embodiment valve spring adjustment boot 310 may slidably receive the end of regulator inlet valve 306 opposite the end that selectively engages orifice 304 In addition valve spring adjustment boot 310 may receive sec ondary tension piston 313 and secondary tension spring 312 in a coaxially distal position with respect to the inlet valve Further a groove on an outer surface of valve spring adjust US 8 196 581 B2 13 ment boot 310 may receive portions of secondary tension lever arm 315 In a position generally perpendicular the axis of regulator valve housing 301 secondary tension lever arm 315 does not inhibit the
14. aphragm interpos ing the interior of the housing and an ambient environment 16 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 1 wherein the supply gas regulator is operable manually via a button and automatically by a supply gas regulator diaphragm 17 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 1 wherein the actuator is operatively connected to the supply gas regulator US 8 196 581 B2 21 wherein in the first position the actuator is operative to select a first differential pressure setpoint for the supply gas regulator and wherein in the second position the actuator is operative to select a second differential pressure setpoint for the sup ply gas regulator 18 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 17 wherein the supply gas regulator includes a first spring arranged to bias a regulator inlet valve shut a second spring arranged to selec tively assist the first spring in biasing the regulator inlet valve shut wherein the first differential pressure is associated with only the first spring and wherein the second differential pres sure is associated with the first spring and the second spring 19 A self contained breathing apparatus comprising a rebreather arranged to renovate an exhaled gas rendering it suitable for inhalation and a mouthpiece supply valve including a housing having an interior fluidicly coupled to a mouthpiece a mode selector mounted to the housing and shiftable between a first position and a second pos
15. as regulator operative to selectively admit a pressurized gas to the interior of the hous ing when a pressure within the interior housing is less than an ambient pressure an exhaust valve arranged to selectively vent the interior of the housing when the pressure within the interior of the housing is greater than the ambient pressure an overpressure valve fluidicly interposing the interior of the housing and the exhaust valve a movable actuator operatively connected to the inlet valve the outlet valve and the over pressure valve and a mode selector arranged to shift the actuator from a first position associated with a first mode to a second position associated with a second mode In the first position the actuator may allow operation of the inlet valve and the outlet valve such that the inlet valve opens when a pressure within the inlet tube is greater the pressure within the interior of the housing the inlet valve shuts when the pressure in the interior of the housing is greater than the pressure within the inlet tube the outlet valve opens when the pressure in the interior of the housing is greater than a pressure in the 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 2 outlet tube and the outlet valve shuts when the pressure in the outlet tube is greater than the pressure in the interior of the housing and in the first position the overpressure valve may be spring biased shut In the second position the actuator may be
16. ather 202 via inlet hose connector 104A and outlet hose connector 106A which may include various gas reno vation components operative to render an exhaled gas suitable for inhalation Referring to FIGS 1 and 14 in an exemplary embodiment inlet hose connector 104A and or outlet hose connector 106A respectively provided on inlet port 103 and outlet port 105 may be sealed to other components such as inlet tubing 104 and or outlet tubing 106 using one or more hose connec tor clamps 416 and or one or more o rings 412 414 As discussed below in rebreather mode inlet tubing 104 may provide respiration gas to the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user and outlet tubing 106 may receive exhaled respira tion gas from the user via the mouthpiece An exemplary self contained breathing apparatus 200 may further include a compressed gas cylinder 204 or other source of compressed gas which may be connected to an exemplary mouthpiece supply valve 20 Referring back to FIG 1 in an exemplary embodiment inlet hose connector 104A and outlet hose connector 106A may include mounting surfaces sized to receive inlet tubing and or outlet tubing provided with a variety of different rebreather devices such as those provided by different manu facturers For example inlet hose connector 104A and outlet hose connector 106A may include mounting surfaces having appropriate sizes shapes thread configurations etc to couple with different rebreather devic
17. aust valve the overpressure valve being spring biased shut when the actuator is in its first position and the overpressure valve fluidicly connecting the exhaust valve to the interior of the housing when the actuator is in its second position and asecond stage regulator valve assembly operatively con nected to a source of pressurized gas and arranged to selectively admit the pressurized gas to the interior of the housing the second stage regulator valve assem bly being operative to admit the pressurized gas to the interior of the housing in response to manual actua tion of a purge button and in response to a sensed pressure difference between the ambient environment and the interior of the housing 20 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 19 wherein the mode selector is manually operable by a user 20 25 30 40 45 50 65 22 21 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 20 wherein manual operation of the mode selector includes translation and rotation of the mode selector 22 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 19 wherein the release rod is biased towards its second position by a release rod spring and wherein the release rod spring is operative to prevent the release rod from stopping in an inter mediate position between the first position and the second position 23 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 19 wherein the mode selector is automatically operable in respons
18. az United States Patent Bozanic et al US008196581B2 10 Patent No 45 Date of Patent US 8 196 581 B2 Jun 12 2012 54 76 21 22 65 60 51 52 58 MOUTHPIECE SUPPLY VALVE Inventors Jeffrey Evan Bozanic Fountain Valley CA US Lars Erik Frimann Jar Barum NO Magne Tessem Alesund NO Forrest P Gauthier Maineville OH US Notice Subject to any disclaimer the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U S C 154 b by 669 days Appl No 12 423 780 Filed Apr 14 2009 Prior Publication Data US 2009 0320847 A1 Dec 31 2009 Related U S Application Data Provisional application No 61 044 543 filed on Apr 14 2008 Int Cl A62B 9 02 2006 01 US Cl 128 205 24 128 207 16 128 204 26 128 204 27 128 204 29 137 81 2 Field of Classification Search 128 205 24 128 201 27 201 28 204 26 204 27 205 12 128 206 15 204 18 205 21 204 22 204 29 128 207 14 207 16 205 27 205 28 137 81 2 137 384 8 384 2 141 293 222 6 251 229 See application file for complete search history 102A 102B e 416 414 n o S hie f 56 References Cited U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 2 865 369 A 12 1958 Kline we 128 207 16 4 273 120 A 6 1981 Oswell 128 204 26 5 127 398 A 7 1992 Stone 5 746 199 A 5 1998 Bayron et al 6 681 766 Bl 1 2004 Matsuoka 2002 0157669 A1 10 2002 Chen FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
19. diaphragm In a detailed embodiment the actuator may be operatively connected to the supply gas regulator In a detailed embodi ment in the first position the actuator may be operative to select a first differential pressure setpoint for the supply gas regulator In a detailed embodiment in the second position the actuator may be operative to select a second differential pressure setpoint for the supply gas regulator In a detailed embodiment the supply gas regulator may include a first spring arranged to bias a regulator inlet valve shut a second spring arranged to selectively assist the first spring in biasing US 8 196 581 B2 3 the regulator inlet valve shut the first differential pressure may be associated with only the first spring and the second differential pressure may be associated with the first spring and the second spring In an aspect a self contained breathing apparatus may include a rebreather arranged to renovate an exhaled gas rendering it suitable for inhalation and a mouthpiece supply valve including a housing having an interior fluidicly coupled to a mouthpiece a mode selector mounted to the housing and shiftable between a first position and a second position an axially slidable release rod operatively coupled to the mode selector and shiftable between a first position and a second position an actuator operatively coupled to the release rod and shiftable between a first position and a second position the ac
20. direction as mode selector 108 is extended and rotated downward thereby shifting actuator 186 into the rebreather position as described in the previous paragraph In an exemplary embodiment a mouthpiece supply valve 20 may be prevented from partially shifting between 0 a 5 25 40 45 50 65 12 rebreather mode and bail out mode For example BOV release rod spring 150 may bias BOV release rod 146 suffi ciently that unless mode selector 108 is latched in the rebreather position BOV release rod spring 150 may press BOV release rod 146 and actuator 186 and valve rod 120 into the bail out position Similarly once mode selector 108 is positively latched in the rebreather position actuator 186 and valve rod 120 may be fully shifted to their respective rebreather positions In some exemplary embodiments a rotary or barrel type shut off valve may be incorporated in main housing 100 to prevent outside gas or fluid from entering the respiration loop if the user removes the mouthpiece valve from the mouth or otherwise breaks the loop s seal FIGS 11 13 depict an exemplary dual tension second stage regulator valve assembly 158 Regulator valve housing 301 which may be substantially cylindrical as shown in the Fig ures including an external connection 112 on one end and adjustment knob 162 on the other The regulator valve hous ing 301 may provide a framework and structure to hold vari ous regulator component
21. e Exemplary embodiments may include a spring motivated actuator which may be actuated manually by the user or automatically by one or more sensors associ ated with the rebreather for example to select the bail out mode should the rebreather fail to provide a breathable gas While exemplary embodiments have been set forth above for the purpose of disclosure modifications of the disclosed embodiments as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art Accordingly it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the above precise embodiments and that changes may be made without departing from the scope Likewise it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the stated advantages or objects disclosed herein to fall within the scope of the disclosure since inherent and or unforeseen advantages of the may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein What is claimed is 1 A mouthpiece supply valve comprising a housing having an interior an inlet valve arranged to selectively admit a respiration gas to the interior of the housing from an inlet tube an outlet valve arranged to selectively discharge the respi ration gas from the interior of the housing to an outlet tube a mouthpiece connector fluidicly coupled to the interior of the housing a supply gas regulator operative to selectively admit a pressurized gas to the interior of the housing when a
22. e operative to prevent mushroom valves 114 116 from collapsing in a coun terflow direction In addition spiders 124 126 may be opera tive to hold mushroom valves 124 126 shut when the mouth piece supply valve 20 is placed in bail out mode Also associated with mushroom valves 114 116 may be one or more o rings 130 which may seal the hubs of spider 126 to rod 120 and or one or more mushroom valve tensioning springs 132 134 that may respectively mounted within the ports 103 105 to bias spiders 124 126 towards mushroom valves 114 116 which may aid in shutting mushroom valves 114 116 in bail out mode and or may assist in switching the mouthpiece supply valve 20 into bail out mode from rebreather mode Nut 121 and or waster 410 may be threaded onto rod 120 to retain spider 126 In an exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG 6 one or more internal shoulders 113 115 may be provided near inlet mushroom valve 114 and or outlet mushroom valve 116 such that the respective spiders 124 126 may press the respective mushroom valves 114 116 against the respective shoulders to maintain the mushroom valves 114 116 shut in certain cir cumstances as described below For example main housing 100 may include an internal shoulder 113 near inlet mush room valve 114 and outlet hose connector 106A may include an internal shoulder 115 near outlet mushroom valve 116 Referring again to FIG 1 in an exemplary embodiment a valve housing 136 may be mo
23. e to a sensed condition 24 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 23 wherein the sensed condition is associated with at least one of a partial pressure of a constituent of the respiration gas a pressure a temperature and a component failure 25 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 24 further comprising an automatic actuator the automatic actuator including at least one of a solenoid a pneumatic actuator a squib a thermal retention device and a piezo crystal actuator 26 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 19 wherein the release rod is spring biased towards its second position and the valve rod is spring biased towards its second position 27 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 19 wherein the release rod and the valve rod are arranged sub stantially in parallel 28 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 19 wherein the exhaust valve includes an exhaust valve dia phragm arranged to allow venting of the interior of the hous ing when a pressure in the interior of the housing is greater than an ambient pressure 29 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 19 wherein the second stage regulator valve assembly is opera tively coupled to the actuator wherein the second stage regu lator valve assembly is operative to selectively admit the pressurized gas to the interior ofthe housing in response to a first sensed pressure difference when the actuator is in the first p
24. en the actuator is in the second position 45 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 33 wherein the inlet valve and the outlet valve are fluidicly connected to a rebreather 46 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 19 wherein at least one of the inlet valve and the outlet valve includes a mushroom type check valve
25. ent pressure In such circumstances due to the pressure differential between the ambient environment and the interior of main housing 100 diaphragm 164 may be drawn towards mouthpiece con nector 102 which may cause lever arm 160 to pivot towards second stage regulator valve assembly 158 Pivoting lever arm 160 in this direction may actuate the internal valve assembly within second stage regulator valve assembly 158 thereby allowing externally provided respiration gas to enter the interior of main housing 100 via external connection 112 Once the pressure inside main housing 100 reaches and or exceeds about ambient pressure diaphragm 164 may be pushed outwards away from mouthpiece connector 102 which may cause lever arm 160 to pivot away from second stage regulator valve assembly 158 Such pivoting may cause the internal valve assembly within second stage regulator valve assembly 158 to shut In this manner an exemplary mouthpiece supply valve may perform ADV functions The present disclosure contemplates that ifthe gas volume in the loop should increase the excess pressure in the device um 0 a 5 20 40 45 50 55 65 16 may hinder the user from exhaling into the loop The present disclosure contemplates that some rebreather devices may include an overpressure relief valve OPV to eliminate such excess gas volume An exemplary mouthpiece supply valve 20 may perform OPV functions As discussed above with the m
26. erior of main housing 100 diaphragm 164 may be drawn towards mouthpiece connector 102 which may cause lever arm 160 to pivot towards second stage regu lator valve assembly 158 Pivoting lever arm 160 in this US 8 196 581 B2 15 direction may actuate the internal valve assembly within sec ond stage regulator valve assembly 158 thereby allowing externally provided respiration gas to enter the interior of main housing 100 via external connection 112 Because exhaust valve plate 404 is held open by actuator 186 exhaust diaphragm 174 is fluidicly exposed to the interior of main housing 100 and the differential pressure between the ambi ent environment and the interior of main housing 100 may cause exhaust diaphragm 174 to remain shut The user may then exhale respiration gasses through the mouthpiece 102A connected to the mouthpiece connector 102 Due to the pres sure differential across diaphragm 164 lever arm 160 may pivot away from mouthpiece connector 102 thereby causing the internal valve assembly within second stage regulator valve assembly 158 to shut Similarly due to the pressure differential across exhaust diaphragm 174 exhaust dia phragm may open thereby allowing the user to exhale respi ration gasses and or excess fluid to the ambient environment For example a user may expel saliva from the user and or fluid which has entered the loop from outside such as sea water The present disclosure contemplates that if gas is l
27. es Referring primarily to FIGS 1 3 in an exemplary embodi ment a mode selector 108 also referred to as a BOV but ton provided on valve housing 136 may switch the mouth piece supply valve 20 between rebreather mode and bail out mode In bail out mode the mode illustrated in FIGS 2 and 3 a portion of mode selector 108 may engage slot 110 provided on the valve housing 136 A user may shift from bail out mode to rebreather mode by extending the mode selector out ofthe slot 110 and then rotating mode selector 108 down wardly From the perspective of a user who may be holding a mouthpiece attached to mouthpiece connector 102 in his or her mouth shifting from bail out mode to rebreather mode may require pulling mode selector 108 to the left out of slot 110 and rotating it downward Similarly a user may shift from rebreather mode to bail out mode by rotating mode selector 108 upwardly towards slot 110 As discussed below a spring associated with mode selector 108 may be arranged to pull mode selector 108 into engagement with slot 110 once mode selector 108 is substantially aligned by rotation with slot 110 In some exemplary embodiments mode selector 108 may be mounted on the other side of mouthpiece supply valve 20 for operation by a user s right hand In an exemplary embodiment an external connection 112 provided on a regulator valve assembly 158 mounted to and extending through the valve housing 136 may be utilized to connec
28. gas to exit from the interior of main housing 100 and may prevent gas and or fluid in the ambient environment from entering main housing 100 Exhaust valve retainer 176 may be sealed to main housing 100 by o ring 178 and may be covered by exhaust cover 180 Screws 181 extend through corresponding holes in the exhaust cover exhaust valve retainer 176 and main housing 100 to fasten the exhaust valve assembly 177 over the bottom opening 175 of the main hous ing 100 Exhaust valve retainer 176 may include openings to allow fluid and or gas from the interior of main housing 100 to exit via exhaust diaphragm 174 and exhaust valve retainer 176 may substantially support and provide a seating surface for exhaust diaphragm 174 Exhaust cover 180 may be arranged to direct exhaust received from exhaust diaphragm US 8 196 581 B2 11 174 toward the sides e g generally beneath inlet hose con nector 104A and outlet hose connector 106A In an exemplary embodiment exhaust valve retainer 176 may also support an overpressure valve plate 404 and over pressure valve spring 406 An overpressure sealing ring 408 may be mounted to the overpressure valve plate 404 and overpressure valve spring 406 may be arranged to bias over pressure valve plate 404 and overpressure sealing ring 408 into sealed contact with the portion of exhaust valve retainer 176 around bottom opening 175 Exemplary operations ofthe overpressure valve components are described below A
29. i fied as semi closed rebreathers SCR or closed circuit rebreathers CCR Some rebreather devices allow the user to breath gasses supplied from an external source such as a compressed gas cylinder using a bail out valve BOV if the re breather fails to perform the necessary gas renovation functions or when desired by the user The present disclosure is made in contemplation of U S Pat Nos 5 127 398 5 746 199 and 6 681 766 U S Patent Application Publication No 2002 0157669 and PCT WO 2007 126317 Al which are incorporated by reference into this Background section SUMMARY Exemplary embodiments include mouthpiece supply valves which may be used in connection with a rebreather An exemplary mouthpiece supply valve may include a housing aninlet mushroom valve an outlet mushroom valve a supply gas regulator an exhaust valve and a mode selector An exemplary mouthpiece supply valve may perform manual diluent valve automatic diluent valve overpressure relief valve excess fluid ejection and bail out valve functions for example In an aspect a mouthpiece supply valve may include a housing having an interior an inlet valve arranged to selec tively admit a respiration gas to the interior of the housing from an inlet tube an outlet valve arranged to selectively discharge the respiration gas from the interior of the housing to an outlet tube a mouthpiece connector fluidicly coupled to the interior of the housing a supply g
30. ing 170 positioned between the purge button 118 and front plate 168 which may bias purge button 118 ina direction generally away from mouthpiece connector 102 and or diaphragm lid 172 mounted thereover to the valve housing The purge button 118 presses against diaphragm 164 which in turn presses against lever arm 160 The diaphragm lid 172 includes a central opening 173 through which the purge button 118 extends Front plate 168 may be arranged to prevent water from directly hitting diaphragm 164 which otherwise may cause second stage regulator valve assembly 158 to supply unnecessary gas into main housing 100 in an uncontrolled manner e g free flow In particular front plate 168 may assist in preventing hydrostatic imbalances from impacting proper operation of the diaphragm 164 and second stage regulator valve assembly 158 Diaphragm lid 172 may par tially cover and may hold purge button 118 purge button spring 170 front plate 168 and diaphragm 164 in place on valve housing 136 An exemplary main housing 100 may include a bottom opening 175 adapted to seat an exhaust valve assembly 177 The exhaust valve assembly 177 may include an exhaust diaphragm 174 which may be mounted to an exhaust valve retainer 176 which is mounted over the bottom opening 175 of the main housing Exhaust diaphragm 174 may be arranged to allow fluid such as saliva from the user and or fluid which has entered the loop from outside such as sea water and or
31. ion and a second stage regulator valve assembly operatively con nected to a source of pressurized gas and arranged to selec tively admit the pressurized gas to the interior ofthe housing the second stage regulator valve assembly being operative to admit the pressurized gas to the interior of the housing in response to manual actuation of a purge button and in response to a sensed pressure difference between the ambient environment and the interior of the housing In a detailed embodiment the mode selector is manually operable by a user In a detailed embodiment manual opera tion ofthe mode selector may include translation and rotation of the mode selector In a detailed embodiment the release rod may be biased towards its second position by a release rod spring and the release rod spring may be operative to prevent the release rod from stopping in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position In a detailed embodiment the mode selector may be auto matically operable in response to a sensed condition In a detailed embodiment the sensed condition may be associated with at least one of a partial pressure of a constituent of the respiration gas a pressure a temperature and a component failure In a detailed embodiment a mouthpiece supply valve may include an automatic actuator which may include at least one of a solenoid a pneumatic actuator a squib a thermal reten tion device and a piezo crystal
32. ion and the second position wherein the mode selector is arranged to simultaneously actu ate the overpressure valve to restrict and allow gas flow between the interior of the housing and the exhaust valve 35 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 34 further com prising a spring biased release rod wherein the mode selector is coupled to the release rod the actuator is coupled to the release rod and the valve rod is coupled to the actuator 36 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 35 wherein the release rod and the valve rod are arranged substantially in parallel 37 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 36 wherein the release rod is biased towards its second position by a release rod spring and wherein the release rod spring is operative to prevent the release rod from stopping in an intermediate posi tion between the first position and the second position 20 30 40 24 38 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 33 wherein the overpressure valve is spring biased shut when the actuator is in the first position and wherein the actuator maintains the overpressure valve open when the actuator is in the second position 39 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 33 wherein the mode selector is manually operable to shift the inlet outlet valve assembly between the first and second positions and wherein the mode selector is automatically operable to shift the inlet outlet valve assembly from the first position to the second positi
33. iration gas from an external source such as a compressed gas cylinder via a BOV Exemplary embodi ments may be useful in applications such as fire fighting medical oxygen delivery personnel isolation suits for hazard ous environments mine safety emergency gas supply sys tems aviation gas supply systems underwater breathing devices and other applications Referring to FIG 1 an exemplary mouthpiece supply valve 20 may include a main housing 100 which may struc turally support various other components The main housing 100 may include a mouthpiece connector 102 which may receive a compliant mouthpiece 102A which may be made of silicone rubber or another soft material for example which may be retained by a polymer tension band 102B or other clamping device for example The mouthpiece may be held in a user s mouth The main housing 100 further may include a forward open ing port 101 for seating the valve housing 136 and its associ ated assemblies as described below and may further include opposed cylindrical inlet and outlet ports 103 and 105 20 25 30 35 40 45 55 8 extending out opposite sides of the main housing 100 and coaxially aligned with each other As shown in FIG 14 with reference to an exemplary self contained breathing apparatus 200 inlet tubing 104 and or outlet tubing 106 respectively coupled to inlet port 103 and outlet port 105 may connect a mouthpiece supply valve 20 to a rebre
34. ition an axially slidable release rod operatively coupled to the mode selector and shiftable between a first position and a second position an actuator operatively coupled to the release rod and shiftable between a first position and a second posi tion the actuator including a base portion a valve rod operatively coupled to the actuator and shift able between a first position and a second position the valve rod having a first end and a second end an inlet valve mounted to the first end of the valve rod the inlet valve being arranged to allow a respiration gas to flow from the rebreather into the interior of the housing via an inlet tube when the valve rod is in its first position and to prevent the respiration gas from flowing from the inlet tube into the interior of the housing when the valve rod is in its second position an outlet valve mounted to the second end of the valve rod the outlet valve being arranged to allow a respi ration gas to flow from the interior of the housing to the rebreather via an outlet tube when the valve rod is in its first position and to prevent the respiration gas from flowing from the interior ofthe housing into the outlet tube when the valve rod is in its second position an exhaust valve mounted to the housing and arranged to vent the interior ofthe housing to an ambient environ ment an overpressure valve mounted to the housing and flu idicly interposing the interior of the housing and the exh
35. may cause the automatic actuator 320 to trip BOV release rod 146 thereby shifting the mouthpiece supply valve 20 from rebreather mode to bail out mode In an exemplary embodiment the watchdog timer 318 may be programmed to consider inputs received from one or more of computers 302 304 306 to determine whether one or more of computers 302 304 306 has failed For example watch dog timer 318 may be programmed to reset upon receipt of reset signals from two of the three computers 302 304 306 If the watchdog timer 318 determines that one of computers 302 304 306 has failed it may disregard an input from the failed computer and may reset based upon inputs from the operational computers Insome exemplary embodiments one or more sensors 308 310 312 314 316 may be operatively coupled to more than one computer In some exemplary embodiments redundant sensors 308 310 312 314 316 may be provided For example more than one sensor arranged to detect the partial pressure of oxygen at a particular point in the rebreather loop may be provided In some exemplary embodiments automatic actuator 320 may include any device that may be operative to shift the mouthpiece supply valve 20 from rebreather mode to bail out mode For example automatic actuator 320 may comprise a normally deenergized solenoid which may be energized upon receipt of a trip signal from watchdog timer 318 The 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65
36. ne or more sensors 308 310 312 314 316 and which may be operative to send one or more signals to a logic device 318 such as a watchdog timer Sensors 308 310 312 314 may provide signals based on any condition relevant to the opera tion ofthe rebreather device For example some sensors may provide a signal related to the partial pressure of one or more gasses in the respiration loop such as oxygen sensors which may be fuel cell type sensors and or carbon dioxide sensors Other exemplary sensors may include liquid detectors which US 8 196 581 B2 17 may be located to detect excessive liquid within the respira tion loop and or flooding of a carbon dioxide absorbent which may cause a dangerous condition referred to as a caustic cocktail for example Exemplary liquid detectors may include dual electrode type sensors Other exemplary sensors may include pressure and or differential pressure sen sors valve position detectors and or temperature sensors for example Exemplary sensors may be operative to detect mechanical failures of the rebreather device directly and or via detection of the results of mechanical failures such as pressure temperature and or gas concentration conditions In an exemplary embodiment one or more computers 302 304 306 may receive signals from more than one sensor 308 310 312 314 316 such as computer 306 in FIG 15 which may receive signals from three sensors 312 314 316 In such an exam
37. nexemplary mouthpiece supply valve 20 may include an actuator 186 In an exemplary embodiment actuator 186 may be adapted to perform several functions and may include several components such as a first engagement portion 188 which may be adapted to engage a groove 196 on BOV release rod 146 a second engagement portion 190 which may be adapted to engage a boss 194 on rod 120 a base portion 192 which may be adapted to selectively open over pressure valve plate 404 and or an extension 418 which may be arranged to selectively act upon secondary tension lever 315 of second stage regulator valve assembly 158 to vary the setpoint of the regulator as described below An exemplary mouthpiece supply valve 20 may be shifted between rebreather and bail out In rebreather mode mode selector 108 is in its rotated and extended position This retains BOV release rod 146 in its rebreather position to wards inlet port 103 Slot 196 on BOV release rod 146 holds actuator 186 in its rebreather position towards inlet port 103 Engagement portion 190 of actuator 186 holds valve rod 120 inits rebreather position towards inlet port 103 which holds inlet and outlet mushroom valves 114 116 away from shoul ders 113 115 respectively Thus inlet and outlet mushroom valves 114 116 may function as one way valves as discussed above In addition base portion 192 of actuator 186 is disen gaged from overpressure plate 404 thus overpressure plate 404 is
38. nlet valve fluidicly inter posing the source of pressurized gas and the interior of the housing a first spring arranged to bias the regulator inlet valve shut and a second spring arranged to selectively bias the regulator inlet valve shut In a detailed embodiment the secondary tension lever arm may selectively engage the sec ond spring to bias the regulator inlet valve shut In a detailed embodiment the rebreather may be a closed circuit rebreather In an aspect a mouthpiece supply valve may include a housing including a mouthpiece and having an interior a one way exhaust valve mounted to the housing and arranged to vent the interior ofthe housing to an ambient environment an overpressure valve selectively fluidicly interposing the interior of the housing and the exhaust valve a pressurized gas supply regulator mounted to the housing and arranged to selectively supply a pressurized gas to the interior of the housing an inlet outlet valve assembly mounted within the housing the inlet outlet valve assembly including a valve rod having a first end and a second end a one way inlet valve mounted to the first end of the valve rod a one way outlet valve mounted to the second end of the valve rod and a spring arranged to bias the valve rod towards the second end and an actuator operatively coupled to the valve rod and including a base portion the base portion being arranged to selectively restrict and allow gas flow between the interior of
39. om stopping in an intermediate posi tion between the first position and the second position 8 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 1 wherein the mode selector is manually operable by a user 9 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 8 wherein manual operation of the mode selector includes translation and rotation of the mode selector 10 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 8 wherein the mode selector is automatically operable in response to a sensed condition 11 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 10 wherein the mode selector is manually operable by the user between its first position and its second position and wherein the mode selector is automatically shiftable from its first position to its second position in response to the sensed condition 12 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 11 wherein the sensed condition is associated with at least one of a partial pressure of a constituent of the respiration gas a pressure a temperature and a component failure 13 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 11 further com prising an automatic actuator the automatic actuator includ ing at least one of a solenoid a pneumatic actuator a squib a thermal retention device and a piezo crystal actuator 14 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 1 wherein the inlet valve and the outlet valve are in fluidic communication with a rebreather 15 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 1 wherein the exhaust valve includes an exhaust valve di
40. on in response to a sensed condition 40 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 39 wherein the sensed condition is associated with at least one of a partial pressure of a constituent of the respiration gas a pressure a temperature and a component failure 41 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 40 further com prising an automatic actuator the automatic actuator includ ing at least one of a solenoid a pneumatic actuator a squib a thermal retention device and a piezo crystal actuator 42 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 33 wherein at least one of the inlet valve and the outlet valve includes a mushroom type check valve 43 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 33 wherein the pressurized gas supply regulator is manually actuatable via a button and automatically actuatable by a diaphragm 44 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 43 wherein the diaphragm fluidicly interposes the interior of the housing and the ambient environment wherein the diaphragm is opera tively connected to a regulator inlet valve and wherein the diaphragm is operative to open the regulator inlet valve when a differential pressure between the interior of the housing and the ambient environment exceeds a first setpoint when the actuator is in the first position and wherein the diaphragm is operative to open the regulator inlet valve when the differen tial pressure between the interior of the housing and the ambient environment exceeds a second setpoint wh
41. or of the housing and the ambient environ ment the diaphragm may be operatively connected to a regu lator inlet valve and the diaphragm may be operative to open the regulator inlet valve when a differential pressure between the interior of the housing and the ambient environment exceeds a first setpoint when the actuator is in the first posi tion Ina detailed embodiment the diaphragm may be opera tive to open the regulator inlet valve when the differential pressure between the interior of the housing and the ambient environment exceeds a second setpoint when the actuator is in the second position In a detailed embodiment the inlet valve and the outlet valve may be fluidicly connected to a rebreather In an aspect a regulator valve assembly may include an inlet orifice fluidicly connected to a source of pressurized gas an regulator valve arranged to selectively seal against the inlet orifice a valve spring arranged to bias the regulator valve into sealing contact with the inlet orifice a first valve actuator operatively coupled to the regulator valve for selectively opening the regulator valve a secondary tension piston selec tively engagable with the regulator valve a secondary tension spring arranged to bias the secondary tension piston toward the regulator valve a second valve actuator operatively coupled to the secondary tension piston for selectively engag ing the secondary tension piston with the regulator valve Ina detailed
42. orce applied by secondary ten sion spring 312 on regulator inlet valve 306 thereby allowing adjustment ofthe increase in differential pressure that must be felt by diaphragm 164 for secondary regulator valve assembly 158 to admit pressurized gas into the mouthpiece supply valve main housing 100 Inan exemplary embodiment an adjust cap screw 317 may threadedly engage regulator valve housing 301 and may be operative to hold various internal parts in place Inan exemplary embodiment an adjustment knob 162 may attach to the end of the secondary tension adjustment screw 314 and may facilitate manual adjustment of the secondary tension adjustment screw 314 as discussed above Adjust ment knob 162 may be affixed to secondary tension adjust ment screw 314 by an adjustment knob screw 320 In an exemplary embodiment various o rings 303 307 316 318 may provide sealed interfaces between various com ponents O rings 318 may be provided on external surfaces of secondary regulator valve assembly 158 and may be operative to seal secondary regulator valve assembly 158 to mouthpiece supply valve main housing 100 Although an exemplary secondary regulator valve assem bly 158 has been described in connection with a rebreather mouthpiece supply valve it is to be understood that the exem plary secondary regulator valve assembly 158 may be utilized in other devices For example an exemplary secondary regu lator valve assembly 158 as described herein may
43. osition and wherein the second stage regulator valve assem bly is operative to selectively admit the pressurized gas to the interior of the housing in response to a second sensed pressure difference when the actuator is in the second position 30 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 29 wherein the second stage regulator valve assembly includes a secondary tension lever arm operative to select between the first sensed pressure difference and the second sensed pres sure difference and wherein the actuator acts upon the sec ondary tension lever arm 31 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 30 wherein the second stage regulator valve assembly includes a regulator inlet valve fluidicly interposing the source of pres surized gas and the interior of the housing a first spring arranged to bias the regulator inlet valve shut and a second spring arranged to selectively bias the regulator inlet valve shut and wherein the secondary tension lever arm selectively engages the second spring to bias the regulator inlet valve shut 32 The self contained breathing apparatus of claim 19 wherein the rebreather is a closed circuit rebreather 33 A mouthpiece supply valve comprising a housing including a mouthpiece and having an interior a one way exhaust valve mounted to the housing and arranged to vent the interior of the housing to an ambient environment an overpressure valve selectively fluidicly interposing the interio
44. ost from or compressed within the rebreather s respiration loop addi tional gas from another source such as an external com pressed gas cylinder may be added to match the volume of the inhale of the user The present disclosure contemplates that some rebreather devices incorporate a manual diluent addition valve MDV and or an automatic diluent valve ADV to provide such additional gas Inan exemplary embodiment depressing button 118 e g towards mouthpiece connector 102 may press against dia phragm 164 thereby pivoting lever arm 160 and causing second stage regulator valve assembly 158 to allow respira tion gas to flow into the interior of main housing 100 via external connection 112 In rebreather mode this may add diluent gas from the external source to the breathing loop and thereby may act as an MDV In bail out mode this may act as a purge button and may supply sufficient gas to the interior of main housing 100 to displace residual fluid or gas in the main housing 100 Displaced residual fluid such a saliva and or fluid which has entered the loop from outside such as sea water or gas may be discharged to the ambient environment via exhaust diaphragm 174 An exemplary mouthpiece supply valve 20 may perform ADV functions With the mouthpiece supply valve 20 in rebreather mode if gas is lost from or compressed within the rebreather s respiration loop the pressure within the interior of main housing 100 may be less than ambi
45. outhpiece supply valve 20 in rebreather mode overpressure valve plate 404 holds overpressure valve sealing ring 408 pressed against the surface surrounding bottom opening 175 by overpressure valve spring 406 Thus exhaust diaphragm 174 is not fluid icly connected to the interior of the main housing 100 If the pressure within the interior ofthe main housing 100 becomes sufficient to overcome the force of overpressure valve spring 406 overpressure valve plate 404 holding overpressure valve sealing ring 408 will unseat from the surface surrounding bottom opening 175 This will fluidicly connect exhaust dia phragm 174 with the interior of the main housing 100 and exhaust diaphragm 174 will allow excess gas and or residual fluid such a saliva and or fluid which has entered the loop from outside such as sea water within main housing 100 to vent to the ambient environment Once the excess pressure has been vented exhaust diaphragm 174 and overpressure valve plate 404 will shut In an exemplary embodiment adjustment knob 162 may allow the user to control second stage regulator valve 158 to vary its operation in rebreather mode In rebreather mode adjustment knob 162 may vary the supply pressure of the externally supplied gas as utilized by the ADV and MDV functions In bail out mode tensioning spring 2 is bypassed so the adjustment knob 162 does not vary the operation of second stage regulator valve 158 In some exemplary embodiments variou
46. ple embodiment computer 306 may be programmed to compare the signals received from individual sensors 312 314 316 to determine whether one of the sensors 312 314 316 has failed For example if computer 306 determines that sensor 312 is providing data inconsistent with the data received from sensors 314 316 computer 306 may be pro grammed to disregard the data from sensor 312 In such circumstances computer 306 may act upon data received from the operational sensors In an exemplary embodiment one or more computers 302 304 306 may provide inputs to watchdog timer 318 An exemplary watchdog timer 318 may be programmed to reset upon receipt of one or more predetermined inputs from one or more of the computers 302 304 306 Computers 302 304 306 may be programmed to provide a reset signal when sensed conditions are normal and or computers 302 304 306 may be programmed to provide no signal or an abnormal signal when sensed conditions are abnormal The watchdog timer 318 may be programmed such that if the predetermined inputs associated with normal conditions are not received prior the watchdog timer 318 timing out the watchdog timer 318 may send a signal to an automatic actuator 320 which may be operatively coupled to BOV release rod 146 For example if the watchdog timer 318 times out because it has not received one or more predetermined inputs e g reset signals from one or more of computers 302 304 306 watch dog timer 318
47. pressure within the interior housing is less than an ambi ent pressure an exhaust valve arranged to selectively vent the interior of the housing when the pressure within the interior of the housing is greater than the ambient pressure an overpressure valve fluidicly interposing the interior of the housing and the exhaust valve amovable actuator operatively connected to the inlet valve the outlet valve and the overpressure valve and a mode selector arranged to shift the actuator from a first position associated with a first mode to a second position associated with a second mode wherein in the first position the actuator allows operation of the inlet valve and the outlet valve such that the inlet valve opens when a pressure within the inlet tube is greater the pressure within the interior of the housing the inlet valve shuts when the pressure in the interior of the housing is greater than the pressure within the inlet tube the outlet valve opens when the pressure in the interior of the housing is greater than a pressure in the outlet tube and the outlet valve shuts when the pressure in the outlet tube is greater than the pressure in the interior of the housing wherein in the first position the overpressure valve is spring biased shut and 30 40 45 50 55 20 wherein in the second position the actuator is operative to maintain the inlet valve shut the outlet valve shut and the overpressure valve substantiall
48. puting devices separate from computing devices arranged to operate and or control the rebreather device In general computing devices 302 304 306 may comprise any device operative to provide a signal to logic device 318 based upon one or more param eters sensed by sensors 308 310 312 314 316 Although some of the exemplary embodiments described herein may include a compliant mouthpiece 102A coupled to mouthpiece connector 102 it is within the scope of the dis closure to adapt various exemplary embodiments for use with full face masks breathing helmets and other life support devices as would be apparent to one of skill in the art For example a valve housing 136 having an alternative shape may be utilized when mouthpiece supply valve 20 is adapted for use with a full face mask US 8 196 581 B2 19 The present disclosure contemplates that various gas con centration chemical reaction and or temperature sensors may be used to determine if the gas renovation functions are being performed correctly in a rebreather In addition if fluid enters the loop it may be desirable to incorporate a device to remove the excess fluid while maintaining the seal and integ rity of the breathing loop In accordance with the description herein exemplary embodiments may provide manual diluent valve automatic diluent valve overpressure relief valve excess fluid ejection and or bail out valve functions all in a single light weight compact devic
49. r of the housing and the exhaust valve US 8 196 581 B2 23 a pressurized gas supply regulator mounted to the housing and arranged to selectively supply a pressurized gas to the interior of the housing aninlet outlet valve assembly mounted within the housing the inlet outlet valve assembly including a valve rod having a first end and a second end a one way inlet valve mounted to the first end of the valve rod a one way outlet valve mounted to the second end of the valve rod and a spring arranged to bias the valve rod towards the sec ond end and an actuator operatively coupled to the valve rod and includ ing a base portion the base portion being arranged to selectively restrict and allow gas flow between the inte rior of the housing and the exhaust valve using the over pressure valve wherein the inlet outlet valve assembly is axially slidable within the housing between a first position and a second position the first position being towards the first end and the second position being towards the second end and wherein the housing includes at least one of a ring and a shoulder associated with each of the inlet valve and the outlet valve the ring or shoulder being arranged to hold the respective valve shut when the inlet outlet valve assembly is in the second position 34 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 33 further com prising a mode selector arranged to shift the inlet outlet valve assembly between the first posit
50. s and may include one or more side openings 333 see FIG 11 allowing pressurized gas to exit the regulator valve housing 301 into the interior of the mouth piece supply valve main housing 100 External connection 112 may be coupled to a hose connected to a high pressure gas cylinder via a high pressure regulator reducing device e g a first stage regulator which may provide pressurized gas at a pressure of about 150 psi above ambient External connection 112 may be threadedly joined to regulator valve housing 301 and an o ring 303 my provide a sealed interface In an exemplary embodiment an orifice 304 may be mounted within the external connection 112 In an exemplary embodiment the axial position of the orifice 304 may be threadedly adjustable allowing for tuning of the second stage regulator valve assembly 158 Inan exemplary embodiment regulator inlet valve 306 is a biased piston type valve and may include a soft seating end surface 335 on the end facing towards and selectively engag ing the orifice 304 opening Regulator inlet valve 306 may be mechanically coupled to lever arm 160 such that regulator inlet valve 306 moves longitudinally away from orifice 104 to the right in FIG 13 when the lever arm 160 is depressed towards regulator valve housing 301 thereby allowing pres surized gas to enter the regulator valve housing 301 When lever arm 160 returns to its initial position regulator inlet valve 306 returns to its position
51. s holes adapted to receive screws may include coil inserts which may allow metal screws such as machine screws to be received in the holes without stripping threads Such coil inserts may be advantageous in embodiments including a main housing 100 formed of plastic As discussed above an exemplary embodiment may be shifted from rebreather mode to bail out mode by moving mode selector 108 into alignment with slot 110 and allowing BOV spring 150 to retract BOV release rod 146 In some exemplary embodiments a minimal amount of externally applied energy may be required to shift the mouthpiece sup ply valve 20 from rebreather mode to bail out mode due to the action of BOV spring 150 and or other springs biasing BOV release rod 146 and or valve rod 120 towards the rebreather position For example mouthpiece supply valve 20 may be shifted from rebreather mode to bail out mode by merely tripping or unlatching mode selector 108 In some exem plary embodiments an automatic actuator may act upon mode selector 108 and or BOV release rod 146 in a similar manner n exemplary automatic actuator may operate in response to one or more conditions sensed by one or more sensors such as one or more gas concentration sensors chemical reaction sensors temperature sensors and the like Referring to FIG 15 an exemplary automatic actuation system may include one or more for example three com puters 302 304 306 which may receive signals from o
52. shut by overpressure plate spring 406 In addition extension 418 of actuator 186 holds secondary tension lever arm 315 towards adjustment knob 162 thereby increasing the differential pressure setpoint of secondary regulator valve assembly 158 as discussed below Anexemplary mouthpiece supply valve 20 may be shifted into bail out mode from rebreather mode by rotating mode selector into alignment with slot 110 BOV release rod spring 150 pulls BOV release rod 146 into its bail out position towards outlet port 105 Slot 196 on BOV release rod 146 pulls actuator 186 into its bail out position towards outlet port 105 Engagement portion 190 of actuator 186 pulls valve rod 120 into its bail out position towards outlet port 105 which holds inlet and outlet mushroom valves 114 116 against shoulders 113 115 respectively which maintains them shut In addition base portion 192 of actuator engages overpressure plate 404 overcoming the force of overpressure plate spring 406 and opening overpressure plate 404 This fluidicly connects exhaust valve diaphragm 174 and the inte rior of the main housing 100 In addition extension 418 of actuator 186 allows secondary tension lever arm 315 to return to its generally perpendicular initial position which decreases the differential pressure setpoint for secondary regulator valve assembly 158 as discussed below Shifting from bail out mode into rebreather mode occurs in the same manner but in the opposite
53. sition corresponding with the second position of the actuator Ina detailed embodiment the mode selector may be manu ally operable by a user In a detailed embodiment manual operation of the mode selector may include translation and rotation of the mode selector In a detailed embodiment the mode selector may be automatically operable in response to a sensed condition In a detailed embodiment the mode selec tor may be manually operable by the user between its first position and its second position and the mode selector may be automatically shiftable from its first position to its second position in response to the sensed condition In a detailed embodiment the sensed condition may be associated with at least one of a partial pressure of a constituent of the respira tion gas a pressure a temperature and a component failure Ina detailed embodiment a mouthpiece supply valve may include an automatic actuator which may include at least one of a solenoid a pneumatic actuator a squib a thermal reten tion device and a piezo crystal actuator In a detailed embodiment the inlet valve and the outlet valve may be in fluidic communication with a rebreather In a detailed embodiment the exhaust valve may include an exhaust valve diaphragm interposing the interior of the housing and an ambient environment In a detailed embodiment the supply gas regulator may be operable manually via a button and automatically by a supply gas regulator
54. t mouthpiece supply valve 20 to an external source of respiration gas such a compressed gas cylinder 204 see FIG 14 As will be described in detail below a purge button 118 provided on valve housing 136 and mechanically linked to lever arm 160 on the regulator valve assembly 158 may be used to actuate the lever arm 160 on the regulator valve assembly 158 thus manually causing flow from the external source of respiration gas into the mouthpiece supply valve 20 US 8 196 581 B2 9 An exemplary mouthpiece supply valve 20 may include two mushroom type check valves inlet mushroom valve 114 and outlet mushroom valve 116 respectfully mounted within the inlet and outlet ports 103 105 of housing 100 in series with the mouthpiece connection 102 fluidicly between them Mushroom valves 114 116 may be mounted within main housing 100 on rod 120 which extends axially between the inlet and outlet ports 103 and 105 and through the center of the housing 100 Mushroom valve 114 allows gas flow into the main housing through the inlet port but does not allow gas flow in the opposite direction while mushroom valve 116 allows gas flow out from the main housing through the outlet port but does not allow gas flow in the opposite direction Spiders 124 126 also referred to as mushroom valve mem brane retainers may be mounted to rod 120 against mush room valves 114 116 respectively on the upstream side of such mushroom valves Spiders 124 126 may b
55. th at least one ofa partial pressure of a constitu ent of the respiration gas a pressure a temperature and a component failure In a detailed embodiment the logic device may include a watchdog timer and the computer signal may include a reset signal when the sensor signal is associated with a normal condition In a detailed embodiment the at least one computer may include at least two computers and the at least one sensor may include at least one sensor associated with each ofthe at least two computers In a detailed embodiment the at least one sensor may include a plurality of sensors the plurality of sensors being associated with a respective plurality of computers the plu rality of computers being operative to provide respective computer signals to the logic device and the logic device may produce the logic device signal based at least partially upon the computer signals received from the plurality of comput ers US 8 196 581 B2 7 In a detailed embodiment the logic device may be pro grammed to disregard computer signals associated with com puters that are determined to be inoperative BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The detailed description refers to the following figures in which FIG 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary mouthpiece supply valve FIG 2 is a front elevation view of an exemplary mouth piece supply valve FIG 3 is a plan view of an exemplary mouthpiece supply valve FIG 4 is a left ele
56. the housing and the exhaust valve using the overpressure valve In a detailed embodiment the inlet outlet valve assembly may be axially slidable within the housing between a first position anda second position the first position being towards the first end and the second position being towards the second end In a detailed embodiment the housing may include at least one ofaring anda shoulder associated with each ofthe inlet valve and the outlet valve the ring or shoulder being arranged to hold the respective valve shut when the inlet outlet valve assembly is in the second position Ina detailed embodiment a mouthpiece supply valve may include a mode selector arranged to shift the inlet outlet valve assembly between the first position and the second position In a detailed embodiment the mode selector may be arranged US 8 196 581 B2 5 to simultaneously actuate the overpressure valve to restrict and allow gas flow between the interior of the housing and the exhaust valve In a detailed embodiment a mouthpiece supply valve may include a spring biased release rod the mode selector may be coupled to the release rod the actuator may be coupled to the release rod and the valve rod may be coupled to the actuator In a detailed embodiment the release rod and the valve rod may be arranged substantially in parallel In a detailed embodiment the release rod may be biased towards its second position by a release rod spring and the release
57. tuator including a base portion a valve rod operatively coupled to the actuator and shiftable between a first position and a second position the valve rod having a first end and a second end an inlet mushroom valve mounted to the first end of the valve rod the inlet mushroom valve being arranged to allow a respiration gas to flow from the rebreather into the interior of the housing via an inlet tube when the valve rod is in its first position and to prevent the respiration gas from flowing from the inlet tube into the interior of the housing when the valve rod is in its second position an outlet mush room valve mounted to the second end of the valve rod the outlet mushroom valve being arranged to allow a respiration gas to flow from the interior of the housing to the rebreather via an outlet tube when the valve rod is in its first position and to prevent the respiration gas from flowing from the interior of the housing into the outlet tube when the valve rod is in its second position an exhaust valve mounted to the housing and arranged to vent the interior of the housing to an ambient environment an overpressure valve mounted to the housing and fluidicly interposing the interior of the housing and the exhaust valve the overpressure valve being spring biased shut when the actuator is in its first position and the overpres sure valve fluidicly connecting the exhaust valve to the inte rior of the housing when the actuator is in its second posit
58. unted to forward opening port 101 of main housing 100 One or more holes 138 through valve housing 136 may align with one or more holes 140 in main housing 100 which may be adapted to receive one or more screws 142 O ring 166 may facilitate a sealed interface between valve housing 136 and the forward opening port 101 main housing 100 Valve housing 136 may include a first lateral passage 144 extending therethrough which may be adapted to receive a BOV release rod 146 BOV release rod 146 may be axially slidable within first lateral passage 144 using mode selector 108 which may be concentrically mounted thereto BOV release rod 146 may be adapted to receive BOV spring 150 oneor more o rings 152 which may prevent fluid ingress into valve housing 136 mode selector 108 BOV screw 154 and BOV washer 402 BOV spring 150 may be operative to assist in shifting rod 120 and BOV release rod 146 between rebreather and bail out modes as discussed below and BOV spring 150 may prevent BOV release rod from stopping at an intermediate position between its rebreather mode position and its bail out mode position An exemplary valve housing 136 may include a second lateral passage 156 below the first lateral passage 144 which may be adapted to receive a second stage regulator valve assembly 158 Second stage regulator valve assembly 158 um 0 a 5 20 35 40 45 50 60 10 may receive pressurized gas from an external source via e
59. ust ment boot towards the orifice may press the first valve spring towards the regulator valve and permits engagement of the secondary tension piston with the regulator valve Ina detailed embodiment a regulator valve assembly may include an adjustment knob threadedly engaged with the valve spring adjustment boot the adjustment knob being operative to compress the secondary tension spring In an aspect a mouthpiece supply valve control system may include at least one sensor operative to produce a sensor signal associated with a sensed condition at least one com puter operatively connected to the at least one sensor for producing a computer signal associated with the sensor sig nal a logic device operatively connected to the at least one computer for receiving the computer signal and an automatic actuator operatively connected to the logic device The auto matic actuator may be operatively coupled to a mouthpiece supply valve the mouthpiece supply valve being selectable between at least a first mode and a second mode The auto matic actuator may be operative to shift the mouthpiece sup ply valve from the second mode to the first mode upon receipt of a logic device signal from the logic device In a detailed embodiment the automatic actuator may include at least one of a solenoid a pneumatic actuator a squib a thermal retention device and a piezo crystal actuator In a detailed embodiment the sensed condition may be associated wi
60. vation view of an exemplary mouthpiece supply valve FIG 5 is cross sectional view along line 5 5 in FIG 2 FIG 6 is a cross sectional view along line 6 6 in FIG 2 FIG 7 is a cross sectional view along line 7 7 in FIG 4 FIG 8 is a cross sectional view along line 8 8 in FIG 4 FIG 9 is a cross sectional view along line 9 9 in FIG 7 FIG 10 is a cross sectional view along line 10 10 in FIG 9 FIG 11 is a perspective view ofan exemplary second stage regulator valve assembly FIG 12 is an elevation view of an exemplary second stage regulator valve assembly FIG 13 is a cross sectional view along line 13 13 in FIG 12 FIG 14 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary mouth piece supply valve installed in an exemplary rebreather sys tem and FIG 15 is a block diagram of an exemplary automatic actuation system DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present disclosure is direct to self contained breathing apparatus and more particularly to mouthpiece supply valves for use with rebreather type self contained breathing apparatus Exemplary embodiments may include a multi function mouthpiece supply valve also referred to as a dive surface valve DSV which provides respiration gas from a gas mixing and cleaning apparatus to a user in a rebreather mode also referred to as SCR CCR mode An exemplary mouthpiece supply valve may also be operable in a bail out mode also referred to as BOV mode in which the user is provided with resp
61. way from its respective shoulder 113 thereby allowing inlet mushroom valve 114 to open when the pressure within main housing 100 is less than the pressure in inlet tubing 104 Similarly with rod 120 in the rebreather position outlet mushroom valve 116 is held away from its respective shoul der 115 thereby allowing outlet mushroom valve 116 to open when the pressure within main housing 100 is greater than the pressure in outlet tubing 106 FIGS 6 and 7 show the rod 120 in the bail out position An exemplary mouthpiece supply valve 20 may operate in rebreather mode as follows A user may inhale respiration gasses through the mouthpiece connected to mouthpiece con nector 102 Due to the pressure differential across inlet mush room valve 114 inlet mushroom valve 114 may open and outlet mushroom valve 116 will remain shut thereby allow ing the user to inhale respiration gasses from the rebreather s gasrenovation components via inlet tubing 104 The user may then exhale respiration gasses through the mouthpiece con nected to the mouthpiece connector 102 Due to the pressure differential across inlet mushroom valve 114 inlet mushroom valve 114 may shut Similarly due to the pressure differential across outlet mushroom valve 116 outlet mushroom valve 116 may open thereby allowing the user to exhale respiration gasses to the rebreather s gas renovation components via outlet tubing 106 Inhalation and exhalation may be repeated as desired by
62. xternal connection 112 and second stage regulator valve assembly 158 may include a lever arm 160 which may be operatively connected to an internal valve assembly and an adjustment knob 162 In an exemplary embodiment a high pressure reduction regulator first stage regulator may inter pose the external source of gas and external connection 112 and may reduce the supplied gas pressure to approximately 150 psi above ambient pressure for example Second stage regulator valve assembly 158 may be operative to further reduce the externally supplied gas pressure to approximately ambient pressure and second stage regulator valve assembly 158 may be adjusted using adjustment knob 162 In an exem plary embodiment second stage regulator valve assembly 158 may include a dual tension second stage regulator as described below An exemplary valve housing 136 may have a forward opening mount 135 adapted to receive a purge button assem bly 137 which may act upon lever arm 160 of second stage regulator valve assembly 158 where the purge button assem bly 137 includes in nested construction a diaphragm 164 positioned on an annular shoulder 139 circumscribing the forward opening mount 135 front plate 168 positioned on the annular shoulder 139 over the diaphragm purge button 118 positioned over the front plate 168 and including an actuator projection 119 extending through the open hub of the front plate 168 and contacting diaphragm 164 purge button spr
63. y open 2 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 1 wherein the inlet valve is a mushroom valve the outlet valve is a mushroom valve and the inlet valve and the outlet valve are mounted to an axially slidable valve rod which is operatively coupled to the actuator the valve rod having a first position corre sponding to the first position ofthe actuator and a second position corresponding to the second position of the actuator 3 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 2 wherein the valve rod is biased towards its second position corresponding with the second position of the actuator 4 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 1 wherein the supply gas regulator receives pressurized gas from a com pressed gas source via a first stage regulator 5 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 1 wherein the mode selector is connected to the actuator by an axially slid able release rod 6 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 5 wherein the release rod is axially slidable between a first position corre sponding to the first position of the actuator and a second position corresponding to the second position ofthe actuator and wherein the release rod is biased towards its second position corresponding with the second position of the actua tor 7 The mouthpiece supply valve of claim 6 wherein the release rod is biased towards its second position by a release rod spring and wherein the release rod spring is operative to prevent the release rod fr

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