# US 10,441,826 B2 · Airflow control valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,826 B2 - Document ID: US10441826B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/382,150 - Filed: 2013-02-13 - Published: 2015-03-26 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-29 - Assignees: Joseph Anthony Griffiths - Applicants: Joseph Anthony Griffiths - Inventors: Philip Dunn; Tamas Palinkas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441826B2 ## CPC - A62B 7/04: and lung-controlled oxygen or air valves - A61M 39/223: {Multiway valves} - A62B 9/02: Valves {(non-return valves mounted in breathing masks or helmets A62B18/10)} - A62B 18/02: Masks (gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06) - A62B 18/084: {Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets} - A62B 18/10: Valves - F16K 11/0716: {with fluid passages through the valve member (F16K11/0704, F16K11/0708, F16K11/0712 take precedence)} - F16K 17/0473: {Multiple-way safety valves} - A61M 2039/224: {of the slide-valve type} - Y10T 137/86485: Line condition change responsive release of valve - Y10T 137/86702: With internal flow passage - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An airflow control valve (20) for use in a breathing apparatus (10) to control a flow of air from a pressurized air supply to a respirator. The valve comprises an inlet port (31) for connection to a pressurized air supply, and first (32) and second (33) outlets. The valve is configurable between a first position in which the inlet port is in restricted fluid communication with the first outlet to allow a restricted flow of air from the inlet port to the first outlet and in which the second outlet is sealed from the inlet port and, a second position in which the inlet port is in substantially unrestricted fluid communication with the second outlet to allow an unrestricted flow of air from the inlet port to the second outlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An airflow control valve for use in a breathing apparatus to control a flow of air from a pressurized air supply to a respirator, wherein the airflow control valve comprises: a valve housing defining a piston chamber; a piston received within the piston chamber, comprising a hollow bore that runs through the piston; an inlet port for connection to a pressurized air supply, and first and second outlets, wherein the airflow control valve is configurable between: a first position in which the inlet port is in restricted fluid communication with the first outlet to allow a first flow of air from the inlet port, via the hollow bore of the piston, to the first outlet and in which the second outlet is sealed from the inlet port and, a second position in which the inlet port is in fluid communication with the second outlet to allow a second flow of air from the inlet port, via the hollow bore of the piston, to the second outlet, and wherein the first flow of air is more restricted than the second flow of air. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The airflow control valve according to claim 1, wherein the first outlet is sealed from the inlet port when the airflow control valve is configured in the second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The airflow control valve according to claim 1, wherein the airflow control valve includes a third outlet and is configured such that, in the first position, the inlet port is in fluid communication with the third outlet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The airflow control valve according to claim 3, wherein the airflow control valve is configured such that, in the second position, the inlet port is sealed from the third outlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The airflow control valve according to claim 3, wherein the airflow control valve is configurable to a third position in which the inlet port is in restricted fluid communication with the first outlet and the inlet port is sealed from the second outlet and/or a third outlet; said airflow control valve further comprising: a fourth outlet, wherein the fourth outlet is in fluid communication with the third outlet when the airflow control valve is configured in the second position, and the fourth outlet is sealed from the third outlet when the airflow control valve is configured in the first position and the third position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The airflow control valve according to claim 5, wherein the piston is slidable with the piston chamber between the respective positions and further comprises: a plug member configured to block the fourth outlet when the piston is in the first and third positions and to open the fourth outlet to allow flow of air therethrough when the piston is in the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The airflow control valve according to claim 5, wherein the piston is slidable within the piston chamber between the respective positions; wherein the valve housing comprises a passage of restricted cross-sectional area which is in fluid communication with the first outlet and the piston chamber, and which is configured to allow the first flow of air from the inlet port to the first outlet when the valve is in the first position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The airflow control valve according to claim 7, wherein said passage is a second passage and the valve housing further comprises first and third passages configured to fluidly communicate the inlet port with the third and second outlets respectively when the piston is in the first and second positions respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The airflow control valve according to claim 1, wherein the airflow control valve is configurable to a third position in which the inlet port is in restricted fluid communication with the first outlet and the inlet port is sealed from the second outlet and/or a third outlet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The airflow control valve according to claim 9, wherein the third position is intermediate the first and second positions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The airflow control valve according to claim 1; wherein the airflow control valve is configured to a third position in which the inlet port is in restricted fluid communication with the first outlet and the inlet port is sealed from the second outlet and/or a third outlet; configured such that the airflow control valve is movable between the first, second and/or third positions in dependence of air pressure within the airflow control valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The airflow control valve according to claim 1, wherein the piston is slidable within the piston chamber between the respective positions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The airflow control valve according to claim 12, wherein the inlet port, the first outlet, and the second outlet are formed in the valve housing in fluid communication with the piston chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The airflow control valve according to claim 13 wherein the hollow bore is in fluid communication with the inlet port. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The airflow control valve according to claim 14, wherein the piston comprises: a piston shaft and a piston head, wherein the hollow bore extends along a longitudinal axis of the piston shaft and a portion of the piston head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The airflow control valve according to claim 14, wherein the piston includes a plurality of channels formed therein in fluid communication with the hollow bore and extending to an outer surface of the piston, and which are configured to selectively fluidly communicate the inlet port and the hollow bore with the outlets in the valve housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The airflow control valve according to claim 16, wherein the piston comprises a first channel configured to fluidly communicate the inlet port with a third outlet via the hollow bore when the piston is in the first position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The airflow valve according to claim 17, wherein the piston comprises a second channel configured to fluidly communicate the inlet port with the first outlet via the hollow bore when the airflow control valve is in the first position, and to fluidly communicate the inlet port with the second outlet via the hollow bore when the piston is in the second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The airflow control valve according to claim 18, wherein the second channel is in the restricted fluid communication with the first outlet via the hollow bore when the piston is in an intermediate position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The airflow control valve according to claim 12, further comprising: a coil spring configured to bias the piston towards the first position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The airflow control valve according to claim 20, wherein the piston comprises a plurality of piston surfaces configured such that pressurized air supplied to the inlet port can act upon one or more of the piston surfaces to exert a force against the coil spring. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The airflow control valve according to claim 21, wherein the valve is configured so that the piston slides from the first position to a third position when air pressure acting on a first piston surface reaches a first pre-determined value. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The airflow control valve according to claim 22, wherein the airflow control valve is configured so that the piston slides, from the third position, into the second position when air pressure acting on a second piston surface reaches a second pre-determined value. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The airflow control valve according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensing valve fluidly connected to the first outlet and configured to close when an air pressure at the first outlet reaches a pre-determined threshold pressure. ### Claim 25 A breathing apparatus comprising: a respirator; and an airflow control valve to control the flow of air from a pressurized air supply to the respirator, wherein the airflow control valve comprises: a valve housing defining a piston chamber, a piston received within the piston chamber, comprising a hollow bore that runs through the piston, an inlet port for connection to the pressurized air supply, and first and second outlets connected to the respirator, wherein the airflow control valve is configurable between: a first position in which the inlet port is in fluid communication with the first outlet to allow a first flow of air from the inlet port, via the hollow bore of the piston, to the respirator via the first outlet and in which the second outlet is sealed from the inlet port and, a second position in which the inlet port is in fluid communication with the second outlet to allow a second flow of air from the inlet port, via the hollow bore of the piston, to the respirator via the second outlet, and wherein the first flow of air is more restricted than the second flow of air. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The breathing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the airflow control valve is configured such that when in the second position, the first outlet is sealed from the inlet port. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The breathing apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising: an inflatable harness configured to secure the respirator to a wearer's head, the airflow control valve further being configured to control the flow of air from a supply to the inflatable harness. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The breathing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the airflow control valve further comprises: a third outlet connected to the inflatable harness, wherein the inlet port is in fluid communication with the harness when the airflow control valve is in the first position and wherein the inlet port is sealed from the inflatable harness when the control valve is in the second position. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The breathing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the airflow control valve is configurable to a third position in which the inlet port is in restricted fluid communication with the respirator via the first outlet and the inlet port is sealed from the second outlet and/or a third outlet.