Quick Connect Cylinder Valve Assembly for SCBA
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) face challenges in quickly and reliably connecting cylinder valves to pressure reducers, especially in emergency situations, due to the time-consuming threading process and the lack of a mechanism to ensure proper pressure vessel capacity matching and communication with electronics systems.
Innovation Solution
A quick connect cylinder valve and pressure reducer assembly featuring a probe with a notch and a threadless probe tip, combined with an inlet/latch assembly that includes latch lock pins and an electrical assembly for activating an electronics system, allowing for rapid connection and ensuring proper pressure vessel capacity matching through a universal pressure reducer design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional threaded fittings (CGA fittings) are used to connect the cylinder valve to the pressure reducer, then a reliable airtight seal is achieved, but the connection process becomes time-consuming and difficult in emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional threaded mechanical connection system with a quick-connect coupling system that uses a male fitting with external threads and a female fitting with internal threads that engage through a simple insertion and rotation motion, eliminating the need for extensive threading operations while maintaining connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates pre-positioned sealing elements and alignment features in the quick-connect fittings that prepare the connection interface in advance, allowing the operator to achieve a sealed connection through a single insertion motion without requiring precise alignment or multiple adjustment steps
2Productivity
If a quick connect mechanism is implemented, then connection speed is improved, but the complexity of the valve assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the quick-connect mechanism into separate modular components: a male quick-connect fitting integrated with the cylinder valve, a female quick-connect fitting integrated with the pressure reducer, and interchangeable coupling elements that can be attached or removed as needed, allowing the basic valve assembly to remain relatively simple while enabling rapid connection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the quick-connect fittings to be universal in nature, with standardized thread patterns and coupling mechanisms that can be used across different valve and pressure reducer models, allowing a single fitting design to serve multiple functions and reducing overall system complexity through standardization
3Ease of operation
If the cylinder valve is designed with additional fittings for quick connect capability, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the quick-connect male fitting and the conventional CGA female fitting into a single integrated cylinder valve assembly, where both connection types share common mounting structures and sealing surfaces, allowing manufacturers to produce both connection capabilities in one valve manufacturing process rather than as separate assemblies
Data Source
AI summary
A quick connect assembly is provided for a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The assembly includes an inlet housing configured to be coupled in fluid communication between a pressure vessel and a pressure reducer. The inlet housing has a probe receptacle configured to receive a probe on a pressure vessel. A latch assembly is provided with the inlet housing. The latch assembly moves between latched and unlatched positions to latch and unlatch, respectively, the probe in the probe receptacle. A latch lock assembly is provided with the inlet housing. The latch lock assembly moves between locked and unlocked positions to lock and unlock, respectively, the latch assembly.