Emergency Oxygen Supply Device with Parallel Shut-off Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency oxygen supply devices in aircraft lack control over oxygen release and supply pressure, which is not adaptable to cabin pressure or flight altitude, and are either bulky, heavy, or dependent on electrical power, leading to potential failure in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A compact and lightweight emergency oxygen supply device with parallel conduit lines and electrically actuatable shut-off valves, including NO and NC functions, controlled by an electronic device that adjusts oxygen flow based on cabin pressure, altitude, and temperature, ensuring continuous oxygen supply even without electricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanically or pneumatically actuated pressure regulators are used to control oxygen supply, then oxygen supply control is achieved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical and pneumatic pressure regulators with electrically actuatable shut-off valves controlled by an electronic control device. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical components, significantly reducing device weight and size while maintaining oxygen supply control capability through electronic actuation based on cabin pressure and flight altitude parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control device adjusts oxygen flow by changing the actuation state of shut-off valves based on varying parameters such as cabin pressure, flight altitude, and temperature. This allows dynamic control of oxygen supply without requiring heavy mechanical pressure regulation components, achieving lightweight design while maintaining adaptive control.
2Weight of moving object
If electrically operated regulation units are used to reduce size and weight, then device compactness is improved, but dependency on electrical energy supply increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrical control system into multiple independent shut-off valves with different functions (NO and NC). This segmentation ensures that if one valve or control channel fails, other valves can still provide oxygen supply. The parallel arrangement of multiple conduit lines with different valve types creates redundancy, reducing dependency on any single electrical component while maintaining compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates both NO-function and NC-function shut-off valves in parallel conduit lines as a preemptive measure against electrical failures. This dual-configuration ensures that at least one valve type will remain functional during electrical disturbances or component failures, providing beforehand protection against total system failure while maintaining a compact, lightweight structure.
3Quantity of substance
If chemical oxygen generators are used as oxygen sources, then oxygen supply is provided, but control over oxygen release and supply pressure is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical oxygen generators with compressed gas containers (oxygen pressure tanks) combined with electrically actuatable shut-off valves. This substitution enables electronic control of oxygen release timing, rate, and pressure through the control device that responds to cabin pressure and altitude parameters, eliminating the fixed release profile of chemical generators while maintaining reliable oxygen supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from the static, fixed-profile oxygen release of chemical generators to a dynamic control system using electrically actuatable valves. The control device can dynamically adjust valve actuation timing and duration based on real-time parameters such as cabin pressure, flight altitude, and temperature, enabling adaptive oxygen supply control while using compact compressed gas storage.
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 solution provides a controlled, efficient, and reliable oxygen supply that adapts to changing conditions, ensuring adequate oxygen delivery while reducing the device's size and weight, and maintaining basic oxygen flow during electrical failures.
Implementation Method 1
The control device (20) has a solenoid valve (16, 18) arranged in each of the conduit lines (5, 6, 7), with which the individual conduit lines (5, 6, 7) can be opened and closed in a cycled manner
Data Source
AI summary
An emergency oxygen supply device for an aircraft comprises an oxygen pressure tank, and at least one oxygen mask which is conductively connected thereto. At least two electrically actuatable and activatable shut-off valves which are arranged parallel to one another are arranged in the conduit from the oxygen pressure tank to the at least one oxygen mask. Of these shut-off valves, at least one shut-off valve has an NO-function and at least one shut-off valve an NC-function.