Oxygen breathing device with integrated flexible buffer

Abstract

The invention relates to an oxygen breathing device, comprising a casing, said casing accommodating in a non-activated condition an oxygen source, in particular a chemical oxygen generator or an oxygen pressure tank, a starter device for initiating a flow of oxygen out of said oxygen source, a buffer connected to said oxygen source, said buffer being adapted to temporarily store oxygen produced in said oxygen source, at least one oxygen mask connected via an oxygen supply line to said buffer wherein a flexible buffer is provided in the oxygen breathing device and connected to the oxygen source.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an oxygen breathing device, comprising: a box housing an oxygen source in an inactive state, specifically a chemical oxygen generator or an oxygen pressure tank; a device for starting the flow of oxygen from the oxygen source A starter device; a buffer connected to said oxygen source, said buffer adapted to temporarily store oxygen generated in said oxygen source; at least one oxygen mask connected to said buffer through an oxygen supply line. Another aspect of the invention is a method of providing oxygen to passengers of an aircraft in an emergency situation. Background technique [0002] Such oxygen breathing devices are used to provide oxygen to passengers in an aircraft in emergency situations such as depressurization of the aircraft cabin. In this case, the passenger is generally provided with an oxygen mask by opening the cover of a box housing the components of such an oxygen breathing apparatus arranged in the...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

But these units are bulky and cumbersome, thus increasing the weight and required space of modern commercial aircraft

[0007] However, a problem associated with the oxygen supply system described above is that controlling the oxygen flow takes into account the desire for a compact design of the display system

However, the chemical reaction leading to oxygen generation is often not controlled to produce a continuous flow of oxygen, but is more likely to produce a pulsating flow with a short pulsation frequency or possibly an unstable flow throughout the generation of oxygen Periods of higher or lower oxygen generation can occur at the beginning, middle or end of a chemical reaction throughout the process

Likewise, the oxygen flow from the pressure tank may experience such a pulsating flow, where the control valve used to control said flow causes this pulsation, or where, due to a steady decrease in internal pressure after the release of oxygen, during the entire oxygen supply period flow rate is discontinuous

Moreover, mechanical influences such as shaking, vibration, acting on the entire oxygen supply system may produce such pulsating flow phenomena, or, changes in the voltage or current of the electrical energy supply system used to control the oxygen flow may cause such pulsating

In particular, in emergency situations, such mechanical or electrical influences may exist and thus negatively affect the oxygen supply to passengers

[0008] A general problem associated with such emergency oxygen supply systems for passengers on board is that in modern commercial aircraft large quantities of this oxygen must be provided the fact that the supply system

In practice, however, two or three passengers are provided via separate masks from a common source of oxygen. The total weight of an emergency oxygen unit and the space required to deploy such a unit in an aircraft cabin is due to its weight and the required cabin size. Space greatly affects the overall performance of the aircraft

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