US5361591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable life support system
Assignee: Oceaneering International Inc
•
Filing: 1992-04-15
•
Granted: 1994-11-08
•
Expires: 2012-04-15
Abstract
Abstract The invention in its preferred embodiment is a portable life support system providing the wearer of a garment with temperature regulation and a breathable atmosphere using cryogenic technology. Wherein a liquid cryogen is vaporized by heat exchange with the wearers body and the vaporized cryogen is delivered to the wearer as a breathable atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce D. Caldwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:43
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C9/00; F17C9/02; F17C9/04; A; A41; A41D; A41D13/00; A41D13/002; A41D13/005; A41D13/0053; A62; A62B; A62B17/00; A62B7/00; A62B7/06; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0104; F17C2201/0109; F17C2201/03; F17C2201/032; F17C2201/05; F17C2201/058; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/01; F17C2205/0103; F17C2205/0111; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0338; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/011; F17C2221/014; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/031; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/03; F17C2227/0302; F17C2260/00; F17C2260/03; F17C2260/031; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/02; F17C2270/025; F17C2270/07; F17C2270/0781
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A portable life support system, comprising: a liquid cooled garment; an orientationally independent dewar for containing liquid cryogen; means for circulating liquid cryogen from said dewar in heat exchange relation with the cooling liquid so as to cool the wearer of the garment and vaporize the liquid cryogen; and means for delivering vaporized cryogen to the wearer of said garment for breathing purposes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A portable life support system, comprising: a liquid cooled garment; an orientationally independent dewar for containing liquid cryogen; means for circulating liquid cryogen from said dewar in heat exchange relation with the cooling liquid so as to cool the wearer of the garment and vaporize the liquid cryogen; and means for delivering vaporized cryogen to the wearer of said garment for breathing purposes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The portable life support system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanging means comprises: an insulated housing; a loop for circulating the cooling liquid through the interior of the garment and the housing; and means for circulating liquid cryogen through the housing intermediate the source and the delivering means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The portable life support system of claim 2, wherein the delivering means includes a loop for recirculating vaporized cryogen to the wearer of said garment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The portable life support system of claim 1, wherein said orientationally independent dewar is a positive expulsion dewar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The portable life support system of claim 4, wherein said positive expulsion dewar is externally charged.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The portable life support system of claim 4, wherein said positive expulsion dewar is self-pressurizing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The portable life support system of claim 1, wherein said means for delivering vaporized cryogen is an open circuit system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The portable life support system of claim 1, wherein said means for delivering vaporized cryogen is a semi-closed circuit system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A portable life support system, comprising: a liquid cooled garment; an orientationally independent dewar for containing and delivering liquid cryogen; and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the cooling liquid and the liquid cryogen delivered from the containing and delivering means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A portable life support system, comprising: a liquid cooled garment; an orientationally independent dewar for containing and delivering liquid cryogen; and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the cooling liquid and the liquid cryogen delivered from the containing and delivering means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The portable life support system of claim 9, wherein said orientationally independent dewar is a positive expulsion dewar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The portable life support system of claim 10, wherein said positive expulsion dewar is externally charged.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The portable life support system of claim 10, wherein said positive expulsion dewar is self-pressurizing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A portable life support system, comprising: a liquid cooled garment through which cooling liquid may be circulated; a source of liquid cryogen; means for delivering liquid cryogen from said source at a varying rate in heat exchange relation with the cooling liquid to cool the cooling liquid, thereby varyingly regulating the temperature of the cooling liquid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
A portable life support system, comprising: a liquid cooled garment through which cooling liquid may be circulated; a source of liquid cryogen; means for delivering liquid cryogen from said source at a varying rate in heat exchange relation with the cooling liquid to cool the cooling liquid, thereby varyingly regulating the temperature of the cooling liquid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A portable life support system as in claim 13, wherein the circulation rate of the liquid cryogen is correlated to the respiration rate of the system user to regulate the temperature of the cooling liquid as the system user's respiration rate varies.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A portable life support system as in claim 14, wherein the liquid cryogen is vaporized and the delivering means includes an open-demand breathing loop.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A portable life support system as in claim 13, wherein the liquid cryogen is vaporized and the delivering means includes a semi-closed breathing loop.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A portable life support system as in claim 13, wherein the cooling liquid, when circulated, is circulated at a constant rate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A portable life support system as in claim 13, wherein said source is an orientationally independent dewar.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
82 words
A portable life support system, comprising: a liquid cooled garment through which cooling liquid may be circulated; a source of liquid cryogen; means for circulating liquid cryogen from said source in heat exchange relation with the cooling liquid to cool the cooling liquid and vaporize the liquid cryogen; and means for delivering vaporized cryogen to the wearer of said garment for breathing purposes, said delivering means delivering vaporized cryogen at a varying rate, thereby varyingly regulating the temperature of the cooling liquid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
82 words
A portable life support system, comprising: a liquid cooled garment through which cooling liquid may be circulated; a source of liquid cryogen; means for circulating liquid cryogen from said source in heat exchange relation with the cooling liquid to cool the cooling liquid and vaporize the liquid cryogen; and means for delivering vaporized cryogen to the wearer of said garment for breathing purposes, said delivering means delivering vaporized cryogen at a varying rate, thereby varyingly regulating the temperature of the cooling liquid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A portable life support system as in claim 19, wherein the delivery rate of the liquid cryogen is correlated to the respiration rate of the system user to regulate the temperature of the cooling liquid as the system user's respiration rate varies.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A portable life support system as in claim 20, wherein the delivering means includes an open-demand breathing loop.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A portable life support system as in claim 19, wherein the delivering means includes a semi-closed breathing loop.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A portable life support system as in claim 19, wherein the cooling liquid, when circulated, is circulated at a constant rate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
A portable life support system as in claim 19, wherein said source is an orientationally independent dewar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2945354A
Cited
US2990695A
Cited
US3263433A
Cited
US3232066A
Cited
US3064448A
Cited
US3117426A
Cited
US3112724A
Cited
US3227208A
Cited
US3345641A
Cited
US3343536A
Cited
US3378063A
Cited
US3807396A
Cited
US3635216A
Cited
US3570481A
Cited
US3648289A
Cited
US3730178A
Cited
US3797262A
Cited
US3831594A
Cited
FR2227879A1
Cited
US3984222A
Cited
US4024730A
Cited
US4172454A
Cited
US4286439A
Cited
US4133376A
Cited
US4299091A
Cited
US4459822A
Cited
US4339927A
Cited
US4425764A
Cited
US4580411A
Cited
US4633125A
Cited
US4951660A
Cited
US4838270A
Cited
US4727255A
Cited
US4783853A
Cited
US4854128A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-07 | 1998-05-09 | 1998-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-07 | 2002-05-09 | 2002-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-07 | 2006-05-09 | 2006-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |