Aircraft Crew Respiratory Mask Cradle for Five-Second Donning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiratory equipment for aircraft crew members is uncomfortable to wear for long periods and impractical for preventive use, failing to meet the requirement of being donned in five seconds or less with a single hand, especially at high altitudes.
Innovation Solution
A respiratory system featuring a head armature with a cradle and retention mechanism that detachably connects to a respiratory mask assembly, allowing it to be positioned in a stand-by or use configuration, providing quick donning and comfort, with options for standalone use or attachment to the head armature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing respiratory equipment is designed for emergency use only, then it can be donned quickly, but it is uncomfortable to wear for long periods and cannot be used in preventive mode
Solution Approach 1:
The respiratory system is divided into separate modular components: a head armature and a respiratory mask assembly that can be detached. This segmentation allows the mask to be quickly attached or removed from the head armature, enabling both rapid emergency deployment and comfortable prolonged wear by adjusting the configuration between attached and detached states.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism enables dynamic reconfiguration of the system. The respiratory mask assembly can transition between being attached to the head armature (for emergency use) and being detached (for comfortable prolonged wear or preventive mode), allowing the device to adapt to different operational requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If respiratory equipment is made detachable for preventive wear, then comfort and practicality improve, but the complexity of the retention mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention mechanism is extracted as a separate functional component that enables the detachable connection between the head armature and respiratory mask assembly. This extraction allows the mask to be easily removed for preventive wear or comfort, while the retention mechanism provides the necessary attachment functionality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism serves multiple functions: it attaches the respiratory mask assembly to the head armature for emergency use, allows detachment for preventive wear or comfort, and provides a universal connection interface that works with both components. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the added versatility.
3Reliability
If the respiratory mask assembly is always attached to the head armature, then emergency oxygen supply is ready, but comfort during prolonged wear is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The head armature is pre-configured with the retention mechanism and can quickly receive the respiratory mask assembly in emergency situations. The preliminary preparation of the head armature structure allows for rapid attachment of the mask assembly when emergency oxygen supply is needed, while allowing detachment when comfort is the priority.
Data Source
AI summary
A head armature for a respiratory system includes a cradle and a retention mechanism. The cradle is configured to receive a respiratory mask assembly in a stand-by position. The retention mechanism is configured to detachably connect the respiratory mask assembly with the head armature such that the respiratory mask assembly is movable from the stand-by position to a use position while connected to the head armature and such that the respiratory mask assembly is selectively detachable from the head armature in a stand-alone configuration whereby the respiratory mask assembly is disconnected from the head armature. In the use position, the respiratory mask assembly is configured to provide oxygen to a user. The head armature is configured to be worn on a head of the user such that the cradle is between the respiratory mask assembly and the user's head when the respiratory mask assembly is in the stand-by position.