Patent Abstract:
A self-contained breathing device for use in fighting fires comprising a hood for covering a wearer&#39;s head, a membrane for sealing the hood to create a breathing chamber inside the hood, and a source of oxygen disposed inside the hood. The source of oxygen is connected to the user by a conduit inside of the hood, and another conduit directs user-exhaled carbon dioxide to the source of oxygen. The breathing device includes a visual indicator inside of the hood that reacts to the presence of a gas within the hood and providing visual feedback to the user based on a quantity of said gas present in the hood.

Full Description:
CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This continuation-in-part application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/546,115 filed Jul. 11, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Self-contained breathing equipment or oxygen masks are well known in the art as a tool for fighting fires in an enclosed structure. A portable oxygen mask that can provide a steady and controlled stream of oxygen while maintaining a weight that allows for freedom of movement is a necessity when fighting fire. This need is never more prevalent than in the confined and pressurized environment of an aircraft. An aircraft fire presents many additional dangers due to its pressurized compartments and the presence of oxygen in large quantities. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a reliable and compact oxygen mask that is light weight and well suited for all closed environments, and particularly those of an aircraft. 
         [0003]    One difficulty with present masks, or protective breathing equipment (“PBE”) as they are known, is that it is difficult or sometimes impossible to determine when the oxygen or carbon dioxide levels are approaching dangerous levels. Sometimes in the excitement of fighting a fire, the adrenaline will cause the user to extend the firefighting activities until becoming light-headed or passing out, causing a significant danger to the user. Since it cannot be easily determined whether the unit is still operating correctly, the user in many cases may prematurely remove the mask and replace it before being able to return to fighting the fire. If there were a reliable way for the user to monitor the oxygen and carbon dioxide, this would ensure the safe functional use of the PBE and it would allow the user to wear the unit for the maximum duration. 
         [0004]    In view of this difficulty, the new version of the FCC crewmember PBE regulation (TSO-C116a) requires “failure of the unit to operate or to cease operation must be readily apparent to the user. This must be accomplished with aural and/or visual warning that also must activate at gas supply exhaustion.” The present invention addresses this issue, by making proper operation more apparent or discernible, thereby meeting this portion of TSO-C116a. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,488 to Schwichtenberg et al. discloses a chemical oxygen generator breathing device that seeks to achieve a level of availability of oxygen and aims to optimize the consumption of oxygen. However, the Schwichtenberg device is complex, expensive, and only deals with oxygen, not other gases. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention can be applied to a safety breathing apparatus that is especially suited for use in an aircraft, and provides a source of oxygen for a minimum of fifteen minutes to the user and provides a simple indicator of the operability of the device. The present invention can be used by air crew in the event of an emergency to fight cabin fires and provides the user with oxygen for about 15 minutes. The present invention further provides an indicator to assure the user of the operating status of the PBE. The present invention employs a film that comprises an indicator for oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels. This indicator film would be installed or attached on the inside of the crew member&#39;s PBE. The indicator provides the user with an immediate visual determination of the oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an elevated rear perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view, cut away, to show the airflow of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; in normal operation; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an example of a visual indicator showing the oxygen level in the reacted state (left) and then after exposure to UV light, the unreacted (reset) state (right); 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are examples of visual indicators for showing varying levels of oxygen and CO2 levels inside the mask; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a side view showing the adjustment mechanism; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the present invention, located on the visor. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    The protective breathing equipment, or PBE, of the present invention is generally shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A hood  20  is sized to fit over a human head  15 , and includes a membrane  25  that the head  15  is slipped into and forms a seal to prevent gases or smoke from entering the breathing chamber  30 . Behind the user&#39;s head  15  is an oxygen generating system 40 described in more detail below. An oronasal mouthpiece  45  allows oxygen to enter through a one-way inhalation valve  55 , while carbon dioxide expelled from the user is routed back to the oxygen generating system  40  via an exhalation duct  50 . Oxygen is produced in a chemical reaction and is communicated from the oxygen generating system  40  through an inhalation duct   60  to the mouthpiece  45  or the breathing chamber  30  generally. 
         [0014]    During operation, the user exhales into the oronasal mouthpiece  45 . The exhaled breath travels through the exhalation duct 50 and enters a canister  62  containing KO 2  (potassium superoxide). The exhaled carbon dioxide and water vapor are absorbed and replacement oxygen is released according to the reaction below: 
         [0015]    Oxygen Generation: 2KO 2 +H 2 O→2KOH+1.5O 2  
       2KO 2 +CO 2 →K 2 CO 3 +1.5O 2          
 
         [0017]    Carbon Dioxide Removal: 2KOH+CO 2 →K 2 CO 3 +H 2 O
       KOH+CO 2 →KHCO 3          
 
         [0019]    The regenerated oxygen gas passes through the inhalation duct  60  and enters the main compartment, or breathing chamber  30 , of the hood  20 . The interior hood volume above the neck seal membrane  25  serves as the breathing chamber  30 . When the user inhales, the one-way inhalation valve  55  allows the regenerated gas to enter the oronasal mouthpiece  45  and thus travel to the respiratory tract of the user. The breathing cycle will continue until the KO 2  canister   62  is exhausted. 
         [0020]    According to the present invention, an indicator would be visible from inside the mask  20  that will provide a status of the oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels within the PBE as the device is operating. Technology that evaluates the oxygen levels and carbon dioxide levels are known in the art. For example, oxygen indicators can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,325,974 and 4,504,522, as well as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/037512. For carbon dioxide indicators, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,338,822 and 5,326,531, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/045608A. 
         [0021]    A gas sensitive ink or film may be attached to the inside of a crew member PBE within the visible periphery of the user. In a preferred embodiment, there are two indicators inside the PBE. The first indicator detects the presence of oxygen (+30%), and rapidly changes color when a threshold value is reached or surpassed. The second indicator detects the presence of carbon dioxide (&gt;4%) and also quickly turns from one color to another. Alternatively, the indicators can have words change color on the strips (i.e. “oxygen” or “remove hood”). The indicators thus provide the user with an immediate method to determine the oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels without removing the apparatus.  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate examples of visual indicators that can be used with the present invention. 
         [0022]    For use on an aircraft, the PBE of the present invention is preferably vacuum sealed and stored at designated locations within the aircraft. The PBE can quickly be donned in the event of a cabin fire by air crew in order to combat the fire. The present invention is particularly well suited to protect the user from the hazards associated with toxic smoke, fire and hypoxia. The hood  20  has a visor  180  to protect the user&#39;s eyes and provides a means for continued breathing with a self-contained oxygen generating system  40 . In a preferred embodiment, the system has a minimum of 15 minutes of operational life and is disposed of after use. 
         [0023]    The PBE hood operation is described in more detail below. During the donning sequence, the user actuates a chlorate starter candle  70  by pulling the adjustment straps  90  in the direction indicated by arrows  95 , thereby securing the oronasal mouthpiece  45  against the user&#39;s face. The chemical reaction of the starter candle  70  is shown below: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    The small chlorate candle  70  (starter candle) produces about 8 liters of oxygen in 20 seconds by the chemical decomposition of sodium chlorate. This candle  70  is mounted to the bottom of the KO2 canister  62 . The starter candle  65  is preferably actuated by pulling a release pin  75  that is deployed automatically by a lanyard  80  when the user adjusts the straps  90  that tension the oronasal mouthpiece against the user&#39;s face. The gas of the starter candle  70  discharges into the KO 2  canister  62  on the side where exhaled breath enters the canister from the exhalation duct  50 . Some of the oxygen from the starter candle  70  provides an initial fill of the exhalation duct, while the bulk of this oxygen travels through the KO 2  canister  62  and fills the main compartment   30  of the hood  20 . 
         [0024]    One of the challenges in current technology is lack of any indication regarding the remaining useful duration of the PBE after it has been activated. In addition, the operational duration is dependent upon the workload performed by the user, which is dependent on the breathing rate. If the PBE is used to the point of its limit, then as the CO 2  levels rise, the user&#39;s breathing becomes more labored, in addition, the ensuing collapse of the hood  20  can be uncomfortable at a minimum and frightening in a panic situation. The invention described herein allows the user to first know that the device is working as expected, and subsequently alert the user so she or he can retire to a safe zone to remove the device once gas levels become problematic. Although the indication of the failure to operate is not a new requirement, the present invention is a more precise means and provides a current status of the operation to the user, as such it provides an advanced warning that the unit is nearing the end of its useful operation. 
         [0025]    Intelligent, smart, or diagnostic inks respond to their environment by exhibiting a change in, for example, color or luminescence intensity. Specific environmental parameters can be monitored, such as temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration, and carbon dioxide concentration. The basic operating principle is that the compound used changes color in the presence and proportion of oxygen typically via the reduction oxidation (redox) mechanism. The range of materials used to do this is quite extensive, but only one specific type is described below for brevity. 
         [0026]    The indicator may comprise an ink having a catalyzed thin film (nano particles) of a transition metal oxide, but alternatively may be formed by four more common constituents: an aqueous dispersion of a semiconductor (TiO 2 ), a sacrificial electron donor (triethanolamine), an aqueous solutions of a redox indicator dye (methylene blue), and an encapsulating polymer (hydroxyethylcellulose). The TiO 2  particles create electron-hole pairs when exposed to UV light. The electrons reduce the dye, causing it to be bleached, and the holes oxidize the triethanolamine. Polymer encapsulation allows the dye to be spin-coated onto plastic, metal, paper, or other surfaces. In one preferred embodiment, a solvent-based, irreversible oxygen indicator ink is used, comprising semiconductor photocatalyst nanoparticles, a solvent-soluble redox dye, mild reducing agent and polymer. 
         [0027]    The ink loses its color rapidly (&lt;30 s) upon exposure to the UVA light and remains colorless in an low oxygen concentration atmosphere, returning to its original color (blue) upon exposure to the appropriate concentration of oxygen. In the latter step, the rate of color recovery is proportional to the level of oxygen concentration. The film is reversible and can be returned to its white/clear color by UV activation. 
         [0028]    As part of the present invention, the ink or film is designed to be an indicator that is adhered to the inside of a crew member PBE. In a preferred embodiment, there will be a single or a plurality of indicators inside the PBE, one for oxygen  105  and one for carbon dioxide  110 . Instead of the indicators just being a colored strip, it is possible to have text or a scale/spectrum color change on the strips. For example, the “text” shows the operation mode, and could even outline the scale for CO 2  and the scale for O 2  (See  FIG. 4   a,b ). The scale would be produced as the levels change (i.e. more or less of the scale becomes colored). In this way, the wearer is provided information about the consumption of oxygen or the remaining capacity of the unit. The benefit is that this invention provides the user with an immediate and continuous way to determine the status of the oxygen supply. It also allows the PBE user to wear the unit longer if needed because the oxygen generation of the assembly is continuously monitored. It further provides an immediate indication of an improperly fitted or damaged hood (leakage). 
         [0029]    The exhaustion of the KO 2  canister  62  results in a loss of active oxygen generation capability, coupled with a rapid increase in internal temperature and release of moisture into the hood. Previously, the loss of oxygen generating capability resulted in a gradual reduction of the interior volume of the hood  20 . The hood  20  would need to collapse around the wearer&#39;s head   15 ; and as a result inhalation would become increasingly difficult, indicating that the hood  20  should be removed. The rapid rise in temperature inside the hood reinforced this indication. The present invention alleviates the subjective nature of determining the depletion of the oxygen generation chemicals because the user would have a visual indication of the amount of O 2  and CO 2  within the hood  20 . This, in turn, will allow users to use the hood safely for the maximum amount of time and then retire into a safe zone to remove the hood. 
         [0030]    The present invention has been described in a general manner, but the foregoing description and included drawings are not intended to be limiting in any manner. One of ordinary skill in the art would envision many modifications and substitutions to the embodiments described herein, and the invention is intended to incorporate all such modifications and substitutions. Therefore, the scope of the invention is properly evaluated by the words of the claims appended hereto, and not strictly to any described embodiment or embodiment depicted in the drawings.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0