Breathing Mask Pneumatically Balanced Valves High-Pressure Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional breathing masks and valves are limited in their range of environmental use and fail to reliably and accurately provide breathing fluid to a user's respiratory system, especially in high-pressure environments like hyperbaric chambers, and require excessive effort for valve activation.
Innovation Solution
A breathing mask design incorporating pneumatically-balanced exhaust and demand valves with separate diaphragm assemblies that reduce the effort required for activation, along with a diverter to improve fluid flow and efficiency, allowing reliable operation in a wide range of environments, including those simulating diving depths of up to 450 meters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional valves are used in breathing masks, then the structure is simple, but the reliability is poor in high-pressure environments and excessive effort is required for activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic balancing mechanisms where balanced ports allow pressure equalization across the diaphragm. This pneumatic design reduces the force required to activate valves while maintaining reliable operation in high-pressure environments up to 450 meters diving depth simulation
Solution Approach 2:
The balanced exhaust valve uses a pneumatic counterbalancing system where pressure applied through balanced ports creates a counterforce that offsets the diaphragm spring force. This counterweight mechanism significantly reduces the activation effort required while ensuring reliable valve operation under varying pressure conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional valves are used in breathing masks, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different environmental conditions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic balancing system with balanced ports and pressure equalization chambers enables the valves to adapt to a wide range of environmental pressures, from surface level to simulated diving depths of 450 meters, while maintaining consistent performance
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system incorporates dynamic pressure equalization where the balanced ports allow pressure to equalize across diaphragms during operation. This dynamic adaptation enables reliable function across varying environmental conditions without requiring multiple specialized valve designs
3Measurement precision
If conventional valves are used in breathing masks, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the precision of breathing fluid delivery is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic balancing mechanism provides precise control of breathing fluid delivery by equalizing pressure across the diaphragm. The balanced ports and pressure chambers enable accurate response to user respiratory demands while maintaining manufacturability through standardized components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design significantly reduces the effort needed to open or close valves, enhances reliability, and improves the mask's ability to efficiently supply and exhaust fluid, ensuring effective operation in diverse environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second diaphragms can be configured to move in response to a change in pressure within the inner volume during inhalation and exhalation by a user
Implementation Method 2
The balanced exhaust valve and demand valve can be configured to selectively flow fluid therethrough in a hyperbaric chamber simulating a diving depth of 450 m
Data Source
AI summary
A breathing mask is disclosed, as well as a valve and a diverter that can be used within a breathing mask. The breathing mask can include a body, a respiratory interface, a balanced exhaust valve, and an inlet valve. The body can include an inlet and an exhaust. The respiratory interface can be configured to provide fluid communication between each of the inlet and the exhaust, and a user's respiratory system. The balanced exhaust valve can be configured to selectively flow fluid between the exhaust and the respiratory interface. The inlet valve can be configured to selectively flow fluid between the inlet and the respiratory interface. The valve can be a balanced exhaust valve with a fixed balance chamber. The diverter can include a tubular diverter body, a breathing port, an exhaust port, a demand port, and a diverter wall.