Emergency Breathing Assembly With Lever Release and Safety Pin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable breathing apparatuses are complex and time-consuming to operate in emergency situations, requiring users to fumble with valves, which can lead to delays in escaping hazardous environments.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained breathing apparatus with a simple, manually operated design featuring a cylinder, manifold, release valve, lever, safety pin, and Mylar bags, allowing for immediate and efficient delivery of breathable air without the need for complex valve operations, utilizing a closed system with a micro orifice and one-way valve to conserve oxygen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex valve arrangement is used in the breathing apparatus, then the oxygen supply control can be improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users must fumble with knobs and valves in panic situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex valve control system from the breathing apparatus and replaces it with a simple lever-actuated release mechanism. The lever directly opens the air cylinder valve without requiring multiple knobs or complex sequencing, thereby maintaining reliability while dramatically improving ease of operation during emergency use.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex system of multiple valves and knobs to control oxygen flow, the patent inverts the approach by using a single lever that directly actuates the main release valve. This inversion simplifies the control mechanism while maintaining effective oxygen supply management.
2Ease of operation
If a manual lever system is used to activate the release valve, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability may worsen due to potential accidental activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a safety pin that must be removed before the lever can activate the release valve. This preliminary action (removing the safety pin) prevents accidental activation while maintaining the simplicity of the lever mechanism for intentional activation during emergencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety pin acts as an intermediary element between the lever and the release valve mechanism. It physically blocks the lever from actuating the valve unless the pin is first removed, thereby preventing accidental activation while preserving the simplicity of the overall system.
3Weight of moving object
If a portable breathing apparatus is designed with minimal components, then the weight is reduced, but the duration of action may worsen due to limited air supply capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a high-pressure air cylinder with a lever-actuated release mechanism that efficiently delivers breathable air. The pneumatic system allows for a compact, lightweight design while maintaining sufficient air supply duration through optimized pressure regulation and flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the balance between cylinder pressure, volume, and flow rate parameters to achieve the desired duration of action while minimizing weight. By adjusting these parameters, the apparatus provides sufficient breathable air for emergency evacuation without excessive weight.
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 apparatus provides a quick and reliable source of breathable air, extending the user's survival time in hazardous environments by up to five minutes, while being portable, lightweight, and cost-effective, making it suitable for emergency situations such as fires and chemical spills.
Implementation Method 1
a micro orifice arranged in the manifold, wherein the micro orifice is configured to lower pressure of the breathable air supplied from the manifold to the mouthpiece
Implementation Method 2
the one-way valve is configured to allow flow of the excess exhaled air from the manifold to the outside environment once the one or more bags are filled to capacity and to prevent backflow thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A self-contained breathing apparatus for providing breathable air in emergency situations is disclosed. The breathing apparatus comprises a cylinder containing a supply of breathable air therein; a manifold adapted to be removably coupled to the cylinder; a release valve provided internally within the cylinder such that the release valve, when depressed, causes the cylinder to release the breathable air into the manifold; a lever arranged on the manifold and coupled with the release valve such that pressing of the lever causes depression of the release valve; a safety pin arranged with the manifold such that the safety pin, in a preset position, prevents pressing of the lever, wherein the safety pin needs to be moved from the preset position to allow pressing of the lever; and a mouthpiece disposed in fluid communication with the manifold to receive the breathable air therefrom.