US 12,466,635 B2 · Hydration system adapted for use in CBRN environments

Abstract

A hydration system maintains a ready supply of hydrating fluid within a sealed system that protects against contamination of the fluid supply and of the user in a CBRN environment. The system includes a fluid container having a removable cap that is equipped with a pressurization system that pressurizes the inside of the fluid container. Pressure inside of the fluid container drives the hydrating fluid, such as water, to an outlet in the cap and onward to a shuttle valve. In an exemplary embodiment, the shuttle valve has an inlet configured for fluid connection to the pressurized container, an outlet configured for connection to a supply line to the user's protective mask, and an intermediate port for connection to a personal hydration carrier carried by the user. The shuttle valve allows for filing of the user's individual water carrier and drinking of that fluid from the water carrier without exposing the hydrating fluid to the CBRN environment, and without requiring the user to disconnect their mask from the system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A hydration system, comprising:

a pressurization system attached to a cap configured for removable attachment to a fluid container, the cap having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the bottom side of the cap is configured for sealing engagement against an inlet/outlet opening of the fluid container, the pressurization system further comprising:
a pressure manifold having at least one manifold inlet on a bottom side of the pressure manifold;
an air cartridge removably attached to said at least one manifold inlet;
a pressure regulator affixed to the manifold and attached to the bottom side of the cap, said pressure regulator having an outlet;
a valve on the bottom side of the cap, said valve having a valve inlet in fluid communication with said outlet on said pressure regulator, and a valve outlet opening to a space below the bottom side of the cap;
a fluid outlet extending through the cap;
and
a hose attached to the fluid outlet at the bottom side of the cap;
and
a shuttle valve in fluid communication with said fluid outlet.

7 more elements

A hydration system, comprising:

a fluid supply container having a cap and a pressurization system on an underside of said cap, the pressurization system having a removable source of compressed air and a valve in fluid communication with said source of compressed air, wherein said valve is configured to selectively direct said compressed air to an interior of said fluid supply container to pressurize fluid in said container;
a fluid outlet extending through the cap and configured to direct pressurized hydrating fluid in said fluid supply container through said fluid outlet to a fluid supply line;
and
a shuttle valve configured for fluid communication with said fluid supply line, said shuttle valve having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said shuttle valve further comprising:
a fluid supply line receiver at said first end of said shuttle valve body configured to engage said fluid supply line;
a first fluid port at said second end of said shuttle valve body;
an intermediate port between said first end of said shuttle valve body and said second end of said shuttle valve body;
and
a piston moveable in said shuttle valve body from a first position sealing said fluid supply line receiver at said first end of said shuttle valve body and enabling fluid communication between said first fluid port at said second end of said shuttle valve body and said intermediate fluid port, to a second position sealing said first fluid port at said second end of said shuttle valve body and enabling fluid communication between said fluid supply line receiver at said first end of said shuttle valve body and said intermediate port.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hydration system adapted for use in CBRN environments

Life of this patent

Hydration system adapted for use in CBRN environments

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20