Patent ID: 8733344
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: A62B,B63C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A respiration gas-supply valve assembly for use with a rebreather-type self-contained breathing apparatus, comprising: at least one sensor operative to produce a sensor signal associated with a sensed condition of at least one of a respiration gas-supply valve assembly and a connected rebreather-type apparatus; at least one computing device operatively connected to the at least one sensor for producing an output signal associated with the sensor signal; and a mode selection assembly, including an actuator operatively connected to the computing device; wherein the mode selection assembly is operatively coupled to one or more fluid-flow valves of the respiration gas-supply valve assembly, the mode selection assembly being selectable from at least a first mode in which the one or more fluid-flow valves involve the rebreather-type apparatus as a primary breathable gas source to the respiration gas-supply valve assembly to a second mode in which the one or more fluid-flow valves involve a gas source other than the rebreather-type apparatus as the primary breathable gas source to the respiration gas-supply valve assembly; wherein the mode selection assembly is operative to configure the one or more fluid-flow valves from the first mode to the second mode based upon receipt of the output signal from the computing device; wherein the one or more fluid-flow valves includes a secondary regulator valve assembly fluidically provided between the other gas source and the respiration gas-supply valve assembly; and wherein the mode selection assembly is configured to automatically adjust the secondary regulator valve assembly from a first differential pressure setpoint in the first mode to a second differential pressure setpoint in the second mode, the first differential setpoint being higher than the second differential setpoint.