Patent Publication Number: US-9849314-B2

Title: Breathing apparatus with illuminated connection

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/910,187, filed Nov. 29, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The following information is provided to assist the reader in understanding technologies disclosed below and the environment in which such technologies may typically be used. The terms used herein are not intended to be limited to any particular narrow interpretation unless clearly stated otherwise in this document. References set forth herein may facilitate understanding of the technologies or the background thereof. The disclosure of all references cited herein are incorporated by reference. 
     A self-contained breathing apparatus (“SCBA”) is a device used to enable breathing in environments which are immediately dangerous to life and health (sometimes referred to as “IDLH” environments). For example, firefighters wear an SCBA when fighting a fire. The SCBA typically has a harness or carrier system including a backplate supporting an air tank which is connected to a facepiece, all of which are worn or carried by the user. The tank typically contains air or oxygen-containing breathing gas under high pressure (for example, 2200-5500 psi or 15,168 to 37921 kPa) and is connected to a first stage regulator which reduces the pressure to about 80-100 psi or 552 to 689 kPa. The SCBA usually has a second stage regulator that has an inlet valve which controls the flow of air for breathing between the air tank and the facepiece. Typically, the inlet valve controls the flow of air through the second state regulator in response to the respiration of the user. Such respiration-controlled regulator assemblies are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,821,767 and 5,016,627. 
     Under the 2002 edition of NFPA 1981 (Standard on Open Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Fire and Emergency Services), manufacturers must include a Rapid Intervention Crew/Universal Air Coupling (RIC/UAC), sometimes referred to herein as a universal air coupling or UAC in SCBAs to be in compliance for firefighting. The UAC allows a cylinder that is low on air to be “transfilled” from another, secondary cylinder regardless of the manufacturer thereof. After the transfilling process, each cylinder may, for example, have an equal amount of air. The UAC must be permanently fixed to the SCBA within four inches of the threads of the SCBA cylinder valve. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a breathing system includes a tank for pressurized breathing gas, at least one regulator comprising a connection to which the tank is attachable, a universal air connector in fluid connection with the connection, and at least one light source, the light source, when illuminated, providing a guide to connect a connector in fluid connection with a secondary air supply (such as a secondary air tank) to the universal air connector to supply breathing gas to the tank. The breathing system may, for example, include a first stage regulator comprising the connection and a second stage regulator in fluid connection with the first stage regulator. 
     In a number of embodiments, the breathing system further includes a controller in operative connection with the at least one light source. The controller is operative to place the light source in an on state. The breathing system may further include a pressure sensor in operative connection with the controller. The pressure sensor is in fluid connection with the tank. The controller places the light source in the on state upon receiving a signal from the pressure sensor indicating that a pressure in the tank is at or below a predetermined first pressure. In a number of embodiments, the controller places the light source in an off state upon receiving a signal form the pressure sensor indicating the pressure in the tank is at or above a predetermined second pressure. In a number of other embodiments, the controller places the light source in an off state at a predetermined period of time after receiving a signal from the pressure sensor indicating the pressure in the tank is at or above a predetermined second pressure. The predetermined second pressure may, for example, be greater than or equal to the predetermined first pressure. In a number of embodiments, the predetermined second pressure is equal to the predetermined first pressure. 
     The at least one light source may, for example, project light which is incident upon the universal air connector. The at least one light source may be positioned upon a portion of the universal air connector. The at least one light source may also be positioned in the vicinity of the universal air connector. 
     In a number of embodiments, the at least one light source is spaced from the universal air connector and projects light which is incident upon the universal air connector. The at least one light source may, for example, be positioned no more than 12 inches (0.3048 meters) from the universal air connector, no more than 6 inches (0.1524 meters) from the universal air connector, no more than 4 inches (0.1016 meters) from the universal air connector or no more than 3 inches (0.0762 meters) from the universal air connector. In a number of embodiments, the at least one light source is positioned in the range of approximately 2 to 4 inches from the universal air connector. 
     In another aspect, a method includes providing a breathing system comprising a tank for pressurized breathing gas; at least one regulator comprising a connection to which the tank is attached and a universal air connector in fluid connection with the connection; and illuminating at least one light source operatively connected to the breathing system to provide a guide to connect a connector in fluid connection with a secondary air supply (for example, a second air tank) to the universal air connector to supply breathing gas to the tank. 
     The present devices, systems, and methods, along with the attributes and attendant advantages thereof, will best be appreciated and understood in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) hereof 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cutaway view of a portion of a backplate of the carrier system of  FIG. 1  including electronic circuitry and the UAC. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the backplate of the carrier system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a portion of another embodiment of a backplate. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of a portion of another embodiment of a backplate. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or the like in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     Furthermore, described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, et cetera. In other instances, well known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obfuscation. 
     As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a light source” includes a plurality of such light sources and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth, and reference to “the light source” is a reference to one or more such light sources and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a breathing system  10  hereof such as an SCBA. In the illustrated embodiment, breathing system  10  includes a facepiece  100  to be worn by a user. Facepiece  100  forms a sealed volume surrounding the nose and mouth of the user into which breathing gas in introduced. In that regard, facepiece  100  includes a regulator interface portion  110  of facepiece  100  to place facepiece  100  in fluid connection with a second stage pressure regulator assembly  300  so that pressurized air can be supplied from a pressurized air tank  400  via high-pressure hosing  350 . A facepiece suitable for use in breathing system  10  is described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0160245 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,256,420, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Likewise, a second stage pressure regulator suitable for use in connection therewith is described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0160245 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,256,420. 
     Pressurized air tank  400  is supported on and strapped to a harness or carrier system  500  that is worn by the user of system  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, carrier system  500  includes a backplate  510  to support tank  400  and strapping (not shown) to connect backplate  510  to the user. A tank strap  405  (for example, a metal strap) assists in retaining tank  400  in connection with backplate  510 . A valve  410  provides air from pressurized tank  400  to a connector  520  in fluid connection with a first stage regulator  700  via a connector  520   a  in fluid connection with connector  520  and a connector  710  (see, for example,  FIGS. 2 ) in fluid connection with first stage regulator  700 . As described above, tank  400  may, for example, contain air or oxygen-containing breathing gas under high pressure (for example, in the range of 2200-4500 psi). First stage regulator  700  reduces the pressure to, for example, about 80 psi. Breathing gas leaves first stage regulator  700  via a connector  720  and flows to inlet  310  of second stage regulator  300  via high pressure hosing  350  (a portion of which is shown  FIG. 1 ). 
     As described above, breathing system  10  includes a Rapid Intervention Crew/Universal Air Coupling or UAC  800 . As, for example, illustrated in  FIG. 2C , UAC  800  is in fluid connection with connector  710  and, thereby, in fluid connection with tank  400  when tank  400  is in fluid connection with connector  710 . UAC  800  thereby allows tank  400 , when low on air/breathing gas, to be “transfilled” from another source of pressurized breathing gas such as another cylinder (for example, secondary tank  400   a  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) regardless of the manufacturer thereof. Tank  400  can also, for example, be filled from a compressor of from a cascade system (including, a plurality of cylinders). Firefighters, however, inherently work in conditions of low visibility resulting from smoke and airborne debris associated with fires and other emergency conditions. Moreover, the turnout gear and gloves worn by firefighter can greatly reduce the manual dexterity of a rapid intervention crew member trying to locate UAC  800 . Thus locating (both visually and tactilely) a UAC and connecting to the UAC by a rapid intervention crewmember can often be very difficult. 
     In a number of embodiments hereof, the position of UAC  800  is made readily locatable, even under conditions of poor visibility by lighting or illuminating at least a portion of UAC  800  or the vicinity of UAC  800 , either directly or indirectly. The illumination provides a guide for a person other than the user of breathing system  10  (for example, a rapid intervention crewmember) to locate and connect to UAC  800  to fill/transfill tank  400  via a secondary tank  400   a  (see,  FIG. 1 ). In that regard, tank  400   a  (or another source of breathing gas) has a universal connector (represented by arrow C in  FIG. 1 ) which connects to UAC  800  to fill/transfill UAC  800 . 
     As, for example, illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a light source  900 , may be positioned on or in operative connection with carrier system  500  to illuminate at least a portion of UAC  800 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , light source  900  is positioned within a power module and electronics assembly, referred to herein as electronics assembly  530 . In a number of embodiments, light source  900  shines through a translucent panel  542  of a compartment  540  enclosing a portion of electronics assembly  530  to illuminate at least a portion of UAC  800 . 
     Light source  900  is in electronic connection with circuitry including, for example, a printed circuit board  550 , which is in electrical connection (via a connector  552 ) with a power source including, for example, one or more batteries  554  positioned within a battery compartment  556 . In the illustrated embodiment, the illumination of light source  900  (for example, on/off switching) is controlled as a function of the pressure of the breathing gas in tank  400 . Illuminating light source  900  only during a low pressure state may, for example, assist in conserving battery power. In the illustrated embodiment, a pressure sensor or transducer  560  is in fluid connection with connector  520  and thereby with tank  400 . Transducer is also in electrical connection with the circuitry of circuit board  550 , including, for example, a controller system including, for example, one or more processors  570 . (for example, a microprocessor). 
     In a number of embodiments, signals of measured pressure are transmitted from pressure sensor  560  to microprocessor  570 . Microprocessor  570  controls light source  900  such that light source  900  is illuminated when the pressure in tank  400  is determined to be at or below a certain predefined level. For example, light source  900  may be illuminated when the measured pressure of tank  400  is at or below a low pressure limit (or in a low-pressure state) as, for example, defined by a measured pressure in the range of 25-33% of pressure of the tank  400  when full. 
     The illumination of light source  900  also provides an indication to persons other than the user of a low-pressure condition of tank  400 . In a number of embodiments, a periodic pulsing of light source  900  and a frequency of such pulsing may, for example, be used to provide information to persons other than the user related to the measured pressure of tank  400 . For example, light source  900  may pulse slowly upon a low pressure state first being sensed (for example, at a pressure level of 33%). The frequency of pulsing may, for example, be increased as measured pressure decreases until a critical pressure level is reached at which point light source  900  may be illuminated continuously. 
     In a number of embodiments, light source  900  remains continuously illuminated after sensing the predetermined low pressure state. Other light sources, such as light sources  930  and  940  may, for example, be used to provide information to persons other than the user regarding the pressure level of tank  400 . Color and/or frequency of pulsation of light sources  930  and  940  may, for example, be used to provide information regarding the measure pressure level. 
     As described above, light source  900  illuminates at least a portion of UAC  800  to make UAC  800  readily locatable even under conditions of poor visibility. Once again, the illumination provides a guide for a person other than the user of breathing apparatus  10  to locate and connect to UAC  800 . In a number of embodiments, light source  900  remains illuminated until tank  400  is brought to a predetermined pressure (for example, at a “second” predetermined pressure above the pressure defining the low-pressure state or at the “first” predetermined pressure, which defines the low-pressure state), at which point light source  900  is turned to an off state until the low-pressure state is once again sensed. In other embodiments, light source  900  may remain illuminated for, for example a period of time (for example, a predetermined period of time such as 30-60 seconds) after the first predetermined pressure (that is, the pressure defining the low-pressure state) is measured to provide the person transfilling tank  400  (for example, a member of a rapid intervention crew) guidance when disconnecting the connector of the filling tank from UAC  800 . In general, transfilling or filling processes (from, for example, a secondary tank, a cascade system or a compressor system) occur relatively quickly and are typically accomplished within 30-90 seconds after connecting to UAC  800 . Providing illumination from light source  900  for 30-60 seconds after the first predetermined pressure state is reached provides sufficient time to end the transfilling or filling process and disconnect from UAC  800 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of backplate  510  wherein a portion of UAC  800  includes a light source  900   a , which operates in a manner similar to light source  900  as described above. In the illustrated embodiment, light source  900   a  is positioned on a portion of UAC  800  rearward of the portion thereof that cooperates with connector C in forming a connection therewith. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of backplate  510  wherein an area in the vicinity of UAC  800  includes a light source  900   b , which is illuminated in a manner similar to light source  900  as described above. Light source,  900   b  may but need not illuminate a portion of UAC  800 . By illuminating the vicinity of UAC  800 , light source  900   b  provides a guide for a person such as a member of a rapid intervention crew to connect connector C to UAC  800 . In the illustrated embodiment, light source  900   b  has an annular shape and is positioned around a base of UAC  800 . As is clear to one skilled in the art, many other configurations of one or more light sources may be used to provide guidance to a person or persons trying to connect a connector to UAC  800 . 
     In general light sources such as light sources  900 ,  990   a  and/or  900   b , which provide guidance to connect and disconnect to UAC  800 , preferably provide white light at sufficient luminosity to provide such guidance in low visibility conditions. In general, light source  900  is positioned no more than 12 inches (0.305 meters) away from UAC  800 . In a number of embodiments, light source  900  is positioned no more than 6 inches (0.152 meters), no more than 4 inches (0.102 meters), or no more than 3 inches (0.0.076 meters) away from UAC  800 . 
     The foregoing description and accompanying drawings set forth a number of representative embodiments at the present time. Various modifications, additions and alternative designs will, of course, become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing teachings without departing from the scope hereof, which is indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes and variations that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.