Heat reclaimer for demand regulator

In a pressure regulator for use in breathing apparatus wherein said regulator includes a housing, a diaphragm within said housing dividing the housing interior into a first chamber open to ambient and a second chamber, a breathing passage leading from said second chamber and adapted to be in communication with the mouth of the user for breathing therethrough, exhalation valve means operatively associated with said second chamber for exhausting from said second chamber gas exhaled by the user, a supply passage leading to said second chamber and adapted for connection to a source of pressurized gas and a valve mechanism for controlling the supply of pressurized gas to said second chamber comprising a valve in said supply passage having an outlet port leading into said second chamber and a valve actuator connected to said valve and operatively associated with said diaphragm for operating said valve in response to changes in the pressure differential between said first and second chambers, the improvement comprising:

• a heat conducting element in said second chamber having a first portion so located to receive heat from the user's breath and having a second portion connected in heat transferring relation to said valve mechanism whereby heat is transferred from the user's breath to said valve for preventing freeze-up of said valve mechanism under cold ambient conditions, said second portion of said heat conducting element having sufficient surface contact with said valve mechanism to transfer heat to said valve in an amount sufficient for preventing said freeze-up, said second portion of said heat conducting element contacting said valve mechanism at a location spaced from said valve outlet port a sufficient distance so as not to influence the flow of pressurized gas from said valve outlet port to said breathing passage and said outlet port of said valve being oriented with respect to said heat conducting element so as to direct the flow of pressurized gas away from said heat conducting element.