Warning and protective device

Claim 2

A warning and protection apparatus comprising: (a) a first gas supply line; (b) pressure responsive means communicable with said first gas supply line; (c) a second gas supply line; (d) first valve means disposed in said second gas supply line; (e) connection means connecting said pressure responsive means to said first valve means in a manner such that said first valve means closes upon said pressure responsive means experiencing a pressure below a predetermined level in said first gas supply line; (f) first gas reserve storage means; (g) second valve means actuable in the event of said pressure responsive means experiencing a pressure below said predetermined level to place said first gas reserve storage means in communication with said first gas supply line; and (h) audible gas operable alarm means communicable with said first gas supply line and said first gas reserve storage means upon said pressure responsive means experiencing pressure below said predetermined level.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a first chamber connected to said first gas supply line, and wherein said pressure responsive means is disposed within said first chamber.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pressure responsive means comprises a flexible diaphragm defining part of the wall of said first chamber and a biassing means to bias said diaphragm toward the interior of said first chamber.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said biassing means comprises a coil spring mounted to engage that side of said diaphragm remote from the interior of said fist chamber.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the compression of said spring is adjustable whereby the bias on said diaphragm may be adjusted to maintain the diaphragm in a substantially planar configuration when the pressure within said first chamber is at or above said predetermined level.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 1 or 5 further comprising a second chamber in said second gas supply line having inlet and outlet connections and wherein said first valve means is located in said second chamber between said inlet and outlet connections.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inlet to said second chamber includes an orifice and said first valve means comprises a second flexible diaphragm defining part of the wall of said second chamber, the axis of said orifice being substantially perpendicular to the plane of said second diaphragm, and said orifice being spaced from said diaphragm by a predetermined amount so that upon elastic deformation thereof said second diaphragm will contact and seal said orifice.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the diaphragm in said second chamber is mounted substantially parallel to the diaphragm in said first chamber.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said connection means is disposed between the two said diaphragms and adapted to function so that deflection of the diaphragm in said first chamber by the bias of said spring will result in deflection of the second diaphragm toward said orifice.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said connection means comprises a pair of coaxial pushrods.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least one of said pushrods is provided with a striker plate.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further comprising an intermediate chamber situated between said first and second chambers, said at least one striker plate is adapted for translational movement within said intermediate chamber and said intermediate chamber is communicable with said first chamber and said first gas reserve storage means when the pressure of gas within said first chamber is below said predetermined level.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said intermediate chamber is communicable with said first chamber through a port means concentric with and spaced around one of said pushrods leading from said intermediate gas chamber to the diaphragm in said first chamber and a valve seat is provided around the entrance of said port in said intermediate chamber so that the reserve side of the striker plate provided on that pushrod will seat on said valve seat and close said port when the gas within said first chamber is above said predetermined level.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said second valve means is actuable by a striker plate.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said audible alarm means comprises a gas operated whistle connected to said intermediate chamber.

Claim 17

Warning and protection apparatus comprising: means defining a body member; a first chamber within said body member, said first chamber being connectable to a first gas supply line; pressure responsive means within said first chamber; a second chamber within said body member, said second chamber having an inlet for connection to a second gas supply line and an outlet for connection to a second gas delivery line; first valve means within said second chamber for controlling the flow of gas between said inlet and outlet; connection means operatively disposed between said first valve means and said pressure responsive means; a reserve gas storage reservoir communicable with said first gas supply line; and an audible gas operable alarm means communicable with said first gas supply line and said reserve gas storage reservoir, the construction and arrangement being such that in use upon said pressure responsive means experiencing a pressure in said first chamber below a predetermined level, said first valve means is actuated to halt the flow of gas between said inlet and said outlet, said reserve gas storage reservoir is placed in communication with said first gas supply line and said audible alarm is placed in communication with said first gas supply line and said reserve gas storage reservoir.

Claim 18

Warning and protection apparatus comprising: means defining a body member; a first chamber within said body member, said first chamber being connectable to a first gas supply line; pressure responsive means within said first chamber; a second chamber within said body member, said second chamber having an inlet for connection to a second gas supply line and an outlet for connection to a second gas delivery line; first valve means within said second chamber for controlling the flow of gas between said inlet and outlet; connection means operatively disposed between said first valve means and said pressure responsive means; a reserve gas storage reservoir communicable with said first gas supply line; and an audible gas operable alarm means communicable with said first gas supply line and said reserve gas storage reservoir, the construction and arrangement being such that in use upon said pressure responsive means experiencing a pressure in said first chamber below a predetermined level, said first valve means is actuated to halt the flow of gas between said inlet and said outlet, said reserve gas storage reservoir is placed in communication with said first gas supply line and said audible alarm is placed in communication with said first gas supply line and said reserve gas storage reservoir.