US3707078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fail-safe liquid oxygen to gaseous oxygen conversion system
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-10
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Granted: 1972-12-26
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Expires: 1991-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A fail-safe system for supplying oxygen to a breathing regulator operated upon demand by a recipient. A liquid oxygen storage vessel has an outlet port connected to its inlet port through a build-up circuit. As the liquid oxygen flows through the build-up circuit it is converted from a liquid to a gas through the effect of thermal energy. As a result of the liquid to gas conversion, a high internal pressure is created in the build-up circuit. A pressure responsive member placed in the build-up circuit will interrupt the flow when the pressure reaches a predetermined value during the active operation of the system. A supply circuit connected to the build-up circuit transmits the oxygen as a gas to operate the breathing regulator. A first solenoid in response to an electrical signal controls a flow control valve connected in the build-up circuit. An operational switch on the panel regulator supplies the electrical signal to the first solenoid, opening the control valve. As the valve opens, a latching shaft controlled by a second solenoid engages a notch on the plunger of the flow control valve to hold the valve open. The flow control valve will remain open until an operational closing signal is communicated to the second solenoid. Upon receiving the signal, the second solenoid moves the latching shaft away from the notch permitting a resilient member to close the fluid flow outlet port to the build-up circuit. To prevent excessive pressure in the build-up circuit when the first solenoid closes the flow control valve, a by-pass valve is utilized to provide an escape to the atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Cramer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:55
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C9/00; F17C9/02; A; A61; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/10; A61M2202/00; A61M2202/02; A61M2202/0208; A61M2202/03; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0602; F17C2203/0612; F17C2203/0626; F17C2203/0629; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2205/0332; F17C2205/0352; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/011; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2223/04; F17C2223/042; F17C2223/046; F17C2223/047; F17C2225/00; F17C2225/01; F17C2225/0107; F17C2225/0123; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/0636; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
A fail-safe system for supplying a gas to a regulator in a breathing system in response to a breathing demand of an operator, said system comprising: a liquid storage vessel having a liquid port and a gaseous port; a pressure build-up circuit connecting said liquid port to said gaseous port, the liquid in said storage vessel being converted from a liquid to a gas by thermal energy upon flowing from said liquid port to said gaseous port through said buildup circuit; a supply circuit with a connection connected to said build-up circuit and said regulator, said supply circuit converting said liquid to a gas, said supply circuit delivering said gas to said regulator at a rate necessary to maintain a physiological level for said operator; pressure responsive means located in said build-up circuit downstream from said supply circuit connection for interrupting the flow of said liquid in said build-up circuit when the fluid pressure therein caused by the liquid to gas conversion reaches a predetermined value, said pressure responsive means thereby correspondingly limiting the pressure of the gas transmitted to said regulator through said supply circuit; by-pass means located in said build-up circuit for venting excessive fluid pressure in said liquid storage vessel to atmosphere; and control means located in said build-up circuit downstream from said pressure responsive means, said control means being latched to an opened position for permitting fluid flow in said build-up circuit to create a fluid pressure therein in response to an electrical operational signal being communicated from said regulator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
A fail-safe system for supplying a gas to a regulator in a breathing system in response to a breathing demand of an operator, said system comprising: a liquid storage vessel having a liquid port and a gaseous port; a pressure build-up circuit connecting said liquid port to said gaseous port, the liquid in said storage vessel being converted from a liquid to a gas by thermal energy upon flowing from said liquid port to said gaseous port through said buildup circuit; a supply circuit with a connection connected to said build-up circuit and said regulator, said supply circuit converting said liquid to a gas, said supply circuit delivering said gas to said regulator at a rate necessary to maintain a physiological level for said operator; pressure responsive means located in said build-up circuit downstream from said supply circuit connection for interrupting the flow of said liquid in said build-up circuit when the fluid pressure therein caused by the liquid to gas conversion reaches a predetermined value, said pressure responsive means thereby correspondingly limiting the pressure of the gas transmitted to said regulator through said supply circuit; by-pass means located in said build-up circuit for venting excessive fluid pressure in said liquid storage vessel to atmosphere; and control means located in said build-up circuit downstream from said pressure responsive means, said control means being latched to an opened position for permitting fluid flow in said build-up circuit to create a fluid pressure therein in response to an electrical operational signal being communicated from said regulator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
149 words
The fail-safe system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said control means includes: a housing having a chamber located therein with an inlet port connected to said pressure responsive means and an outlet port connected to said pressure build-up circuit leading to said gaseous port of the storage vessel; a plunger retained in a bearing wall in said chamber, said plunger having a valve face on one end and a notch on the other end; first resilient means secured to said plunger for urging said valve face into sealing engagement with a seat of said housing to prevent fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port; and first solenoid means surrounding said plunger having an electrical circuit connected to an activation section of an operational switching means for said regulator, said first solenoid moving said face away from said seat upon energization by said electrical operational signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The fail-safe system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said control means further includes: a shaft retained in a bearing wall adjacent the other end of said plunger; and second resilient means secured to said shaft for urging one end of said shaft toward said plunger, said one end of the shaft engaging the notch end of said plunger to hold the valve face away from the seat upon deactivation of said first solenoid means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
The Fail-safe system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said control means further includes: second solenoid means surrounding said shaft having an electrical circuit connected to a deactivation portion of the switching means of said regulator, said second solenoid means receiving an electrical signal from a deactivation section of said switch member being operated upon by an operator, said electrical signal causing said second solenoid means to move said shaft away from said plunger permitting said first resilient means to position said valve face against said seat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The fail-safe system, as recited in claim 4, wherein said switching means of said regulator includes: an interconnected circuit between the activation and deactivation sections for transmitting an electrical signal to said control means corresponding to an operational signal from an operator to said regulator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The fail-safe system, as recited in claim 5, wherein said control means further includes: override means secured to said plunger for permitting manual movement of said valve face away from said seat causing said shaft to engage said notch and thereby allow fluid to flow from the inlet port to the outlet port in said build-up circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The fail-safe system, as recited in claim 6, wherein said control means further includes: release means secured to said shaft for permitting manual disengagement of said shaft with said notch to allow the valve face of the plunger to seat and prevent fluid flow in said build-up circuit through said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The fail-safe system, as recited in claim 7, wherein the electrical circuits for the first and second solenoid includes: plug-in means for connecting the regulator with the control means having a lock pin which snaps into a slot to assure proper alignment of the circuits and the corresponding solenoids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The fail-safe system, as recited in claim 8, wherein said supply circuit includes: connector means for opening a check valve upon joining said supply circuit with said build-up circuit to permit said gas to freely flow to the regulator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-26 | 1976-06-26 | 1976-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-26 | 1980-06-26 | 1980-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-26 | 1984-06-26 | 1984-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |