Energy harvesting for the electronic regulation of oxygen flow
AssigneeB/E Aerospace, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Elliott, Duane Davis, Kevin Booze
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for powering an oxygen regulation, metering, or control device for an aircraft's emergency oxygen supply system. A passenger safety unit includes a flow control device connected to a supply of oxygen, and an energy harvesting device that converts waste energy to electrical energy that may be stored in an energy storage device. The control of the oxygen flow is powered using the energy storage device using electrical energy obtained from the waste energy.
Claims13
A method for powering an oxygen regulation, metering, or control device for an aircraft's emergency oxygen supply system, comprising:
- providing a passenger safety unit in proximity with a passenger, the passenger safety unit including a flow control device;
- connecting a supply of oxygen to the flow control device;
- providing an energy harvesting device in proximity with the passenger safety unit, the energy harvesting device converting energy selected from vibration, heat, and light to electrical energy;
- storing the electrical energy obtained from the energy harvesting device in an energy storage device;
- and
- powering the flow control device using the energy storage device when said flow control device is needed.
An oxygen flow control system for an aircraft emergency oxygen supply system to a passenger, comprising:
- an energy harvesting device for converting environmental energy into electrical energy;
- a circuit control board coupled to the energy harvesting device;
- an electrical energy storage device for storing electrical energy generated from the energy harvesting device;
- a gas pressure sensor for detecting aircraft cabin air pressure;
- a passenger safety unit for receiving a signal from the gas pressure sensor, and initiating an oxygen flow to a passenger upon reception of a selected signal from the gas pressure sensor, a control of the flow of the oxygen flow powered by the electrical energy storage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.