# US 11,896,856 B2 · High pressure air cylinders for use with self-contained breathing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,856 B2 - Document ID: US11896856B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/854,172 - Filed: 2022-06-30 - Published: 2022-10-20 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-25 - Assignees: Scott Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Scott Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Jerry A. Phifer; William E. Parson; Ronald B. Mele - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896856B2 ## CPC - A62B 7/02: with compressed oxygen or air - A62B 9/022: {Breathing demand regulators (SCUBA diving regulators B63C11/22)} - A62B 9/04: Couplings; Supporting frames - A62B 18/02: Masks (gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06) - F17C 1/00: Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge (pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 {; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00}) - F17C 2201/0128: spherical or elliptical - F17C 2270/025: Breathing - 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) - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) ## Abstract A self-contained breathing apparatus includes an air cylinder pressurized to about 5500 psi, wherein the air cylinder is compatible with infrastructure used in conjunction with the air cylinder. The self-contained breathing apparatus also includes a first regulator valve for reducing air pressure from the air cylinder to a predetermined level. A second regulator valve is also provided for reducing the air pressure from the predetermined level to a level suitable for use by an operator, wherein air is supplied from the second regulator valve to the operator via a mask. The self-contained breathing apparatus further includes a frame for supporting the air cylinder on the back of the operator. Other embodiments are described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compressed gas cylinder for a self-contained breathing apparatus, the cylinder including a pressure volume portion for containing a volume of gas pressurized to a service pressure of between about 5,000 psig and about 6,000 psig, the pressure volume portion having a length, a diameter, and a water volume; wherein the pressure volume portion defines an operational parameter of the cylinder, the operational parameter being a relationship between free air capacity of the cylinder in liters and a rated service time in minutes, the operational parameter comprising one of: 1200 liters of free gas and 30 minutes of rated service time; 1800 liters of free gas and 45 minutes of rated service time; 2400 liters of free gas and 60 minutes of rated service time; and 3000 liters of free gas and 75 minutes of rated service time; wherein at least one of the length and the diameter of the pressure volume portion is at least slightly less than at least one of a corresponding length and diameter of a compressed gas cylinder for a self-contained breathing apparatus having a service pressure of about 4500 psig; and wherein the length and diameter of the pressure volume portion provide a weight reduction of from about 5% to about 12% as compared to a compressed gas cylinder for a self-contained breathing apparatus having a service pressure of about 4500 psig. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the compressed gas cylinder has a radius of 3.27 inches or less to minimize rotational inertia on a user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the pressure volume portion provides a rotational inertia effect to the user that is substantially less than a rotational inertia effect than a compressed gas cylinder for a self-contained breathing apparatus having a service pressure of about 4500 psig. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the weight of the pressure volume portion is substantially less than a weight of a compressed gas cylinder for a self-contained breathing apparatus having a service pressure of about 4500 psig. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein for the operational parameter comprising one of: 1200 liters of free gas and 30 minutes of rated service time, the length of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 17.3 inches; 1800 liters of free gas and 45 minutes of rated service time, the length of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 19.5 inches; 2400 liters of free gas and 60 minutes of rated service time, the length of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 20.3 inches; and 3000 liters of free gas and 75 minutes of rated service time, the length of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 21.0 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein for the operational parameter comprising one of: 1200 liters of free gas and 30 minutes of rated service time, the diameter of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 4.7 inches; 1800 liters of free gas and 45 minutes of rated service time, the diameter of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 5.4 inches; 2400 liters of free gas and 60 minutes of rated service time, the diameter of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 6.1 inches; and 3000 liters of free gas and 75 minutes of rated service time, the diameter of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 6.8 inches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein for the operational parameter comprising one of: 1200 liters of free gas and 30 minutes of rated service time, the weight of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 6.6 pounds; 1800 liters of free gas and 45 minutes of rated service time, the weight of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 9.0 pounds; 2400 liters of free gas and 60 minutes of rated service time, the weight of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 11.6 pounds; and 3000 liters of free gas and 75 minutes of rated service time, the weight of the pressure volume portion is no greater than about 12.5 pounds. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the service pressure is between about 5,400 psig and about 6,000 psig. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the service pressure is between about 5,000 psig and about 5,600 psig. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the service pressure is between about 5,600 psig and about 6000 psig. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the service pressure is about 5500 psig. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 1, wherein the pressure volume portion is constructed using at least one of aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, and fiberglass wrapped aluminum or steel. ### Claim 13 A compressed gas cylinder for a self-contained breathing apparatus, the cylinder including a pressure volume portion for containing a volume of gas pressurized to a service pressure of between about 5,000 psig and about 6,000 psig, the pressure volume portion having a length, a diameter, a wall thickness, and a water volume; wherein the pressure volume portion defines an operational parameter of the cylinder, the operational parameter being a relationship between free air capacity of the cylinder in liters and a rated service time in minutes, the operational parameter comprising one of: 1200 liters of free gas and 30 minutes of rated service time; 1800 liters of free gas and 45 minutes of rated service time; 2400 liters of free gas and 60 minutes of rated service time; and 3000 liters of free gas and 75 minutes of rated service time; wherein for the operational parameter comprising one of: 1200 liters of free gas and 30 minutes of rated service time, the wall thickness is about 0.322 inches; 1800 liters of free gas and 45 minutes of rated service time, the wall thickness is about 0.337 inches; 2400 liters of free gas and 60 minutes of rated service time, the wall thickness is about 0.362 inches; and 3000 liters of free gas and 75 minutes of rated service time, the wall thickness is about 0.398 inches; and wherein for the operational parameter comprising one of: 1200 liters of free gas and 30 minutes of rated service time, the weight of the pressure volume portion is between about 5.7 pounds and about 6.6 pounds; 1800 liters of free gas and 45 minutes of rated service time, the weight of the pressure volume portion is between about 7.8 pounds and about 9.0 pounds; 2400 liters of free gas and 60 minutes of rated service time, the weight of the pressure volume portion is between 10.0 pounds and about 11.6 pounds; and 3000 liters of free gas and 75 minutes of rated service time, the weight of the pressure volume portion is about 12.5 pounds. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 13, wherein at least one of the length and the diameter of the pressure volume portion is at least slightly less than at least one of a corresponding length and diameter of a compressed gas cylinder for a self-contained breathing apparatus having a service pressure of about 4500 psig. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 13, wherein the weight of the pressure volume portion is substantially less than a weight of a compressed gas cylinder for a self-contained breathing apparatus having a service pressure of about 4500 psig. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 13, wherein the wall thickness comprises a combination of at least an inner liner and a shell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The compressed gas cylinder of claim 13, wherein the pressure volume portion is constructed using at least one of aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, and fiberglass wrapped aluminum or steel.