Method and system for providing breathable air in a closed circuit
OwnerJulian Ross, Steve Dunfordinventors
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Abstract
The present invention provides for a closed circuit breathing unit comprising a reservoir bag, oxygen source, CO2 scrubber, and actuation device. The oxygen source and an exit from the scrubber may be fluidly connected to the reservoir bag. The reservoir bag may be attached to a mouthpiece to provide inhalation air. Expired air may be exhaled through the mouthpiece and directed to an inlet for the scrubber. As a user breathes normally, expired air is scrubbed of excess CO2, mixed with generated oxygen, and delivered to the user for inhalation within a closed circuit. Additionally, the oxygen source and the scrubber may be replaced and/or replenished without compromising or interrupting a breathing cycle.
Claims25
A system for producing vital air, the system comprises:
- a reservoir;
- an oxygen source configured to catalytically produce a gas that comprises oxygen;
- a scrubber configured to remove CO2 from a gas, producing recycled air;
- a breathing interface configured to accept expired air from a user and to provide the vital air to the user;
- an actuation device;
- wherein the actuation device is operated to commence production of the oxygen;
- wherein the oxygen source provides oxygen to the reservoir;
- wherein the scrubber receives the expired air from the breathing interface and provides the recycled air to the reservoir;
- and
- wherein the breathing interface receives the vital air from the reservoir.
A system for producing life-sustaining air, the system comprises:
- a reservoir;
- an oxygen source configured to catalytically produce a gas that comprises oxygen;
- a scrubber configured to remove CO2 from a gas, producing recycled air;
- a housing configured to removably contain the oxygen source and the scrubber;
- a breathing interface configured to accept expired air from a user and to provide inhalation air to the user;
- an actuation device;
- wherein operation of the actuation device commences production of the oxygen;
- wherein the oxygen source provides oxygen to the reservoir;
- wherein the scrubber receives the expired air from the breathing interface and provides the recycled air to the reservoir;
- wherein the inhalation air is produced from combining the recycled air and the oxygen within the reservoir;
- and
- wherein the reservoir provides the inhalation air to the breathing interface.
An apparatus for producing vital air, the apparatus comprises:
- an oxygen source configured to catalytically produce a gas that comprises oxygen;
- a scrubber configured to remove CO2 from a gas, producing recycled air;
- an actuation device configured to initiate production of the oxygen;
- and
- a housing configured to removably contain the oxygen source and the scrubber.
An apparatus for producing life-sustaining air, the apparatus comprises:
- an oxygen source configured to produce a gas that comprises oxygen;
- wherein the oxygen source comprises:
- an oxidizing material;
- a catalyst;
- water;
- and
- an additive to alter a phase-transition point of the water;
- a scrubber configured to remove CO2 from expired air, producing recycled air;
- a housing configured to removably contain the oxygen source and the scrubber;
- an actuation device configured to commence production of the oxygen;
- wherein the expired air is provided to the scrubber;
- and
- wherein the recycled air and the oxygen are provided to an apparatus user.
A method for using a rebreather system, in which the method comprises:
- placing a first rebreather cartridge within a housing;
- coupling an oxygen source and a scrubber of the first rebreather cartridge to a breathing reservoir;
- coupling a mouthpiece to the breathing reservoir and the scrubber of the first rebreather cartridge;
- commencing oxygen generation by the oxygen source of the first rebreather cartridge via an actuation device;
- placing the mouthpiece on a breathing passageway of a user;
- exhaling expired air into the mouthpiece;
- removing excess CO2 from the expired air using the scrubber of the first rebreather cartridge, producing recycled air;
- mixing the recycled air and the generated oxygen within the breathing reservoir;
- inhaling the mixture of the recycled air and the generated oxygen via the mouthpiece;
- and
- replacing the first rebreather cartridge with a second rebreather cartridge.
A method for producing vital air, the method comprises:
- initiating generation of oxygen from an oxygen source via an actuation device;
- exhaling into a scrubber configured to remove CO2 from expired air, the scrubber producing recycled air;
- mixing the oxygen and the recycled air in a reservoir;
- and
- inhaling the mixture of oxygen and recycled air from the reservoir via a breathing apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.