Patent ID: 7789101

Claim:
A centralized flow control unit for oxygen flow regulation in a system that supplies emergency oxygen to passengers and cabin attendants in commercial airlines, comprising: an oxygen inlet; an actuation poppet assembly comprising an actuation valve having an actuation inlet and an actuation outlet, the actuation inlet of said actuation valve being in fluid communication with said oxygen inlet and including an actuation valve seat, the actuation valve further having an inlet side and a solenoid side, the inlet side of the actuation valve engaging an actuation spring configured to bias the inlet side against the actuation valve seat; an actuation solenoid engaging the actuation valve, said actuation solenoid being configured to force said actuation valve against said actuation spring and thereby open said actuation valve upon receipt of an actuation signal; a reset solenoid engaging the actuation valve, said reset solenoid being configured to release said actuation valve upon receipt of a reset electric signal, thereby allowing said actuation spring to bias said actuation valve against said actuation valve seat and thereby close said actuation valve; a regulator poppet assembly comprising a regulator valve having a regulator inlet and a regulator outlet, said regulator inlet being in fluid communication with said actuator outlet of said actuation valve; an oxygen outlet in fluid communication with said regulator outlet, said oxygen outlet having an oxygen outlet pressure; and means for biasing said regulator valve toward the open state with a force that is a function of the oxygen outlet pressure and the ambient air pressure.