Breathing apparatus structure with two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head

A breathing apparatus structure with a two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head is provided, which includes an air bottle head mounted at an outlet end of a spare air bottle and an inhalation mouthpiece, so as to provide an air at a suitable pressure to a diver or drowning person for emergency use. The air bottle head is sequentially provided with an air bottle head switch, a high pressure reducing valve, and a low-pressure valve connected in series on an air passage thereof. Thus, an air leakage of a high-pressure air in the air bottle can be avoided when the high-pressure air is not used, and the service life of elastic elements of the low-pressure valve can also be prolonged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a breathing apparatus structure with a two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head, and more particularly to a two-stage spare air bottle head structure having an air bottle head switch, a high pressure reducing valve, and a low-pressure valve, which can reduce the pressure of an high-pressure air in an air bottle when entering the low-pressure valve, so as to avoid the air leakage of the high-pressure air in the air bottle when not being used, thereby prolonging the service life of elastic elements of the low-pressure valve and achieving a desirable performance in usage.

2. Related Art

Generally, a conventional diver or life jacket (e.g., a life jacket of an aircraft pilot) is equipped with an air bottle spared for emergency use, which includes a spare air bottle, an air bottle head mounted at an outlet end of the air bottle and used for adjusting an air pressure, and an inhalation mouthpiece disposed in a manner of extending outwards from an regulator valve of the air bottle head, thereby being formed into a breather structure for providing an air at a suitable pressure to a diver or drowning person for emergency use.

As for conventional breathing apparatus structures with spare air bottle heads, for example, in a conventional structure (as shown inFIGS. 1-3) disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,982, an air bottle head60mounted at an outlet end on the top of an air bottle10includes a body601and a housing602. The body601is provided with a connector61, a barometer62, a safety bolt63, a supply valve64, a plug65, and a regulator valve66thereon. Furthermore, a breathing chamber603in communication with an air outlet661of the regulator valve66is formed between an upper end of the body601and the housing602. The housing602is provided thereon with a diaphragm604in contact with a pressing rod662of the regulator valve66, and is further provided with an inhalation mouthpiece70in communication with the breathing chamber603on a sidewall thereof. In addition, the barometer62, the safety bolt63, and the supply valve64are respectively communicated with an air passage611of the connector61at a lower end of the body601, communicated with a connecting hole of the plug65on one side via a connecting hole within the supply valve64(as shown inFIG. 3), and then communicated with a connecting hole of the regulator valve66via an air passage651within the connecting hole of the plug65. The above conventional structure is characterized in that: a safety lock641is used to ensure that a valve642in the supply valve64is pressed against a closed position under an elastic force of a spring643, so as to prevent the high-pressure air from flowing out of the air bottle10along an air passage644; when the safety lock641is released to release the elastic force of the spring643in the supply valve64, the valve642of the supply valve64is opened to allow the high-pressure air in the air bottle10to be delivered to the regulator valve66via the plug65and the passage651thereof. Afterwards, when a user inhales by using the inhalation mouthpiece70connected to an outer end of the breathing chamber603of the air bottle head, the diaphragm604on the housing602is used to press against the pressing rod662of the regulator valve66to open the regulator valve66, thus enabling the air in the air bottle10to be delivered to the inhalation mouthpiece70for breathing use.

The structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,982 has the following disadvantages. 1. The valve642in the supply valve64is pressed under the forces of the safety lock641and the spring643, so as to prevent the high-pressure air from flowing out of the air bottle10. However, when the high-pressure air at a pressure of about 3000 psi applies a pressure to the spring643continuously for a long time, an elastic fatigue easily occurs to the spring643, and the high-pressure air may also directly enter the regulator valve66and cause an elastic fatigue of a spring663in the regulator valve66, thereby resulting in element damage, air leakage, as well as reduction of the service life of the spare air bottle. 2. When the supply valve64is opened to allow the high-pressure air in the air bottle to flow into the regulator valve66, it may also result in an elastic fatigue of the spring663in the regulator valve66, and the service life and throttling effect of the regulator valve66are also influenced. 3. When the air in the air bottle10is insufficient or has been used up, the air bottle10cannot be reused since an air cannot be supplemented into the air bottle10, thereby resulting in a waste of resources.

The above structure also has other disadvantages. Referring toFIG. 1, the inhalation mouthpiece70is perpendicularly protruded from a sidewall surface of the air bottle head60. Thus, in practice, when a user keeps the inhalation mouthpiece70in mouth for use, the body of the air bottle10is too close to the breast of the user and thus affects the user in lowering the head, which fails to meet the ergonomic requirements and hinders the use. Referring toFIG. 2, the safety bolt63is disposed within the breathing chamber603of the air bottle head60. Thus, when the temperature or air pressure of the air bottle exceeds a threshold value and an adjustment needs to be performed to avoid bursting of the air bottle, the diaphragm604on the housing602needs to be dissembled in order to perform the adjustment, thereby causing great inconvenience and even safety risks if the pressure cannot be adjusted in real time.

In consideration of the disadvantages of the above conventional breathing apparatus structure with a spare air bottle head in terms of structure and use, the conventional structure can be further improved and needs to be further improved. Through profound studies and based on years of personal experiences in manufacturing and designing in this field, the inventor eventually works out a novel breathing apparatus structure with a two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is mainly directed to a breathing apparatus structure with a two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head, in which a high-pressure air that flows from an air bottle into a breathing chamber sequentially passes through an air bottle head switch, a high pressure reducing valve, and a low-pressure valve, so as to facilitate the control and effectively provide an air at a suitable pressure for use, and supplement an air into the air bottle to enable the air bottle to be reused.

The present invention is also directed to a breathing apparatus structure with a two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head, in which a high-pressure air in an air bottle is completely blocked by an air bottle head switch, so as to avoid unnecessary air leakage, thereby prolonging the service life of the spare air bottle.

The present invention is further directed to a breathing apparatus structure with a two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head, in which an air bottle head switch is used to block a high-pressure air in an air bottle, so as to prevent a high pressure reducing valve from being subjected to a pressure continuously for a long time and thus avoid an elastic fatigue of the springs therein. Furthermore, the high pressure reducing valve is also used to reduce the pressure, so as to prevent a low-pressure valve from being directly subjected to the pressure of the high-pressure air and further avoid the elastic fatigue of the springs therein, thereby prolonging the service life of the high pressure reducing valve and the low-pressure valve.

The present invention is further directed to a breathing apparatus structure with a two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head, in which a safety bolt is disposed perpendicular to a side surface of a body of an air bottle head and protruding there-from for the ease of operation, and a screen is disposed between an outlet end of an air bottle and a connector of the air bottle head to provide clean air and prevent impurities from entering the air bottle to damage the elements.

The present invention is further directed to a breathing apparatus structure with a two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head, in which an inhalation mouthpiece on one side of a housing of an air bottle head is designed to be inclined upwards by a certain angle for the ease of use.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a breathing apparatus structure with a two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head, which includes an air bottle head mounted at an outlet end of a spare air bottle and used for adjusting an air pressure, and an inhalation mouthpiece disposed in a manner of extending outwards from a low-pressure valve of the air bottle head, so as to provide an air at a suitable pressure to a diver or drowning person for emergency use. The air bottle head is mainly provided thereon with a connector, an air-filling head, a safety bolt, an air bottle head switch, a high pressure reducing valve, and a low-pressure valve. The air bottle head switch, the high pressure reducing valve, and the low-pressure valve are sequentially disposed and connected in series on an air passage of the air bottle head for connecting the outlet end of the air bottle and the inhalation mouthpiece.

In the above structure, the connector is protruded downwards from a bottom of the air bottle head and is threaded to the outlet end of the air bottle.

The air-filling head is screwed to a connecting hole on one side surface of the air bottle head, in which the connecting hole is provided with a passage at a center thereof, and the passage is in communication with a passage in the connector.

The safety bolt is screwed to a connecting hole on one side surface of the air bottle head close to one side of the air-filling head, in which the connecting hole is provided with a passage at a center thereof, and the passage is in communication with the passage in the connector.

The air bottle head switch is screwed to a connecting hole on one side surface of the air bottle head close to the other side of the air-filling head, in which the connecting hole is provided with a first passage and a second passage therein. Particularly, the first passage is located at an eccentric position of the connecting hole and is in communication with the passage of the connector, and the second passage is located at a center of the connecting hole, which is plugged upon being pressed against by a threaded plug at an inner end of the air bottle head switch, and is opened or closed by rotating an operating rod to loosen or tighten the threaded plug.

The high pressure reducing valve is disposed on a connecting hole of the air bottle head between the air bottle head switch and the safety bolt, in which the connecting hole is provided with a first passage and a second passage therein. Particularly, the first passage is located at a center of the connecting hole, and is in communication with the second passage of the air bottle head switch, which is opened or closed under the control of a piston of the high pressure reducing valve. The second passage is located at an eccentric position of the connecting hole.

The low-pressure valve is screwed to a connecting hole on a top surface of the air bottle head and is in communication with the second passage of the high pressure reducing valve, and has a pressing rod for controlling a piston of the low-pressure valve to be opened or closed.

With the above structure of the present invention, the air bottle head switch is turned off to block the high-pressure air in the air bottle from entering the high pressure reducing valve, thus avoiding an air leakage of the high-pressure air in the air bottle when the high-pressure air is not used. In addition, when the air bottle head switch is turned on, the pressure of the high-pressure air in the air bottle is firstly reduced through the high pressure reducing valve, and then the high-pressure air enters the low-pressure valve, which is ready for breathing use. Therefore, elastic elements within the high pressure reducing valve and the low-pressure valve will not be subjected to the pressure of the high-pressure air for a long time, thereby prolonging the service life of the elastic elements of the high pressure reducing valve and the low-pressure valve, achieving the optimal performance, and further bringing other convenient subordinate efficacies in usage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to make the structures, apparatuses, and features of the present invention more comprehensible, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring toFIGS. 4-7, a breathing apparatus structure with a two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head according to an embodiment includes: an air bottle head20mounted at an outlet end of a spare air bottle10and used for adjusting an air pressure, and an inhalation mouthpiece30disposed in a manner of extending outwards from a low-pressure valve26of the air bottle head20, so as to provide an air at a suitable pressure to a diver or drowning person for emergency use. The air bottle head20is mainly provided with a connector21, an air-filling head22, a safety bolt23, an air bottle head switch24, a high pressure reducing valve25, and a low-pressure valve26thereon. The air bottle head switch24, the high pressure reducing valve25, and the low-pressure valve26are sequentially disposed and connected in series on an air passage of the air bottle head20for connecting the outlet end of the air bottle10to the inhalation mouthpiece30.

As known from the above structure and embodiment, the connector21is protruded downwards from a bottom of the air bottle head20and is threaded to the outlet end of the air bottle10, and a screen27is disposed between the connector21and the outlet end of the air bottle10(as shown inFIG. 5).

The air-filling head22is screwed to a connecting hole201on one side surface of the air bottle head20(as shown inFIG. 6). The connecting hole201is provided with a passage221at a center thereof, and the passage221is in communication with a passage211in the connector21, so that the structure is enabled to be reused by supplementing air and is more practical since the air is supplemented without passing through the air bottle head switch24. In addition, in this embodiment, a barometer40is provided on one side of the air-filling head22and screwed to a connecting hole202of the air bottle head20. The connecting hole202is in communication with the connecting hole201of the air-filling head22, so as to monitor the air pressure in the air bottle10at any time.

The safety bolt23is screwed to a connecting hole203on one side surface of the air bottle head20close to one side of the air-filling head22, in which the connecting hole203is provided with a passage231at a center thereof, and the passage231is in communication with the passage211in the connector21(as shown inFIG. 6). As such, when the air pressure in the air bottle10is too high, the pressure can be immediately adjusted and reduced, so as to prevent the air bottle10from bursting.

The air bottle head switch24is screwed to a connecting hole204on one side surface of the air bottle head20close to the other side of the air-filling head22, in which the connecting hole204is provided with a first passage241and a second passage242therein (as shown inFIGS. 5 and 7). The first passage241is located at an eccentric position (at a lower part) of the connecting hole204and is in communication with the passage211of the connector21. The second passage242is located at a center of the connecting hole204, which is plugged upon being pressed against by a threaded plug243at an inner end of the air bottle head switch24, and is opened or closed by rotating an operating rod244to loosen or tighten the threaded plug243.

The high pressure reducing valve25is disposed on a connecting hole205of the air bottle head between the air bottle head switch24and the safety bolt23, in which the connecting hole205is provided with a first passage251and a second passage252therein (as shown inFIG. 7). The first passage251is located at a center of the connecting hole205and is in communication with the second passage242of the air bottle head switch24, which is opened or closed under the control of a piston253of the high pressure reducing valve25. The second passage252is located at an eccentric position of the connecting hole205.

The low-pressure valve26is screwed to a connecting hole206on a top surface of the air bottle head20and is in communication with the second passage252of the high pressure reducing valve25(as shown inFIG. 7), and has a pressing rod261in contact with a diaphragm above a housing28of the air bottle head (as shown inFIG. 5) for controlling a piston262of the low-pressure valve26to be opened or closed.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, in this embodiment, the housing28is provided on the air bottle head20, such that the low-pressure valve26is wrapped in the housing28to form a breathing chamber207. The inhalation mouthpiece30is protruded outwards from a sidewall surface of the housing28and inclined upwards (preferably inclined by about 10°), which is in communication with the breathing chamber207, and thus the inhalation mouthpiece30has a preferred ergonomic design and is thus convenient for a user to keep it in mouth for use. Furthermore, as shown in the above embodiment, a configuration that the inhalation mouthpiece30is directly attached to the air bottle head20on a top end of the air bottle10is a small spare air bottle apparatus, and thus, such structure can be placed in a bag80(as shown inFIG. 8), which is convenient for being carried along and placed in practice.

In another embodiment shown inFIG. 9, the present invention may also be configured as follows: an extension pipe29extends from a top surface of the air bottle head20to an external inhalation mask50, and the inhalation mask50is also formed therein with a breathing chamber equivalent to that shown inFIG. 5, a low-pressure valve within the breathing chamber, and an inhalation mouthpiece in communication with the breathing chamber (internal structures are omitted inFIG. 9).

With the above structure of the present invention, a handle is used to rotate the operating rod244to tighten the threaded plug243of the air bottle head switch24to press against the second passage242, so as to block the high-pressure air in the air bottle10from entering the high pressure reducing valve25via the second passage242, thereby avoiding an air leakage of the high-pressure air in the air bottle10via the high pressure reducing valve25when the high-pressure air is not used. In addition, when the air bottle head switch24is turned on, the high-pressure air in the air bottle10firstly enters the high pressure reducing valve25via the second passage242of the air bottle head switch24and the first passage251of the high pressure reducing valve25for a first pressure reduction, and then enters the low-pressure valve26via the second passage252of the high pressure reducing valve25, which is ready for breathing use. Thus, the high-pressure air can be completely blocked from leaking via the air bottle head switch24in the present invention. Therefore, elastic elements within the high pressure reducing valve25and the low-pressure valve26will not be subjected to the pressure of the high-pressure air for a long time, so that the service life of the elastic elements of the high pressure reducing valve25and the low-pressure valve26is prolonged. Moreover, unnecessary air leakage can be avoided when the high-pressure air is not being used, thus prolonging the service life of the spare air bottle.

Referring toFIG. 6, in the present invention, the safety bolt23is disposed in a manner of being perpendicular to and protruded from a side surface of a body of the air bottle head20, so as to eliminate the disadvantage of a conventional structure with a safety bolt disposed within a housing of the air bottle head, thus facilitating the operation. A screen27is disposed between the outlet end of the air bottle10and the connector21of the air bottle head20(as shown inFIG. 5) for filtering impurities, so as to provide clean air and protect the elements.

The above embodiments of the breathing apparatus structure with the two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head are only two feasible embodiments among a number of feasible embodiments, so the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

In view of the above, the present invention, entitled “breathing apparatus structure with two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head”, can indeed achieve the anticipated objectives and efficacies of the present invention. Also, no identical items or techniques has been published or used before the present invention is applied, so the present invention meets the patent requirements. Therefore, the applicant files for a utility model patent according to the provisions of the Patent Act.