Processes and devices for regulating the oxygen partial pressure of the gas mixture of the respiratory circuit of a diver
AssigneeLaboratories de Mecaniques Appliquees "Lama"
InventorYves Le Masson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Regulation of the oxygen partial pressure in the closed respiratory circuit of a diver. A sample of the gas mixture of the circuit is continuously taken and is passed into the monitor chamber (2) where its oxygen partial pressure is measured and an electrical control signal is generated if the measured pressure falls below a reference value. The signal is used to trigger an injection to the diver (4) of a defined amount of an oxygen-rich gas mixture. Application to dives in deep water.
Claims21
A process for regulating the oxygen partial pressure of a gas mixture in a respiratory circuit of a diver, the diver being provided with a closed circuit breathing apparatus connected to a remotely located monitor chamber in which there is a pressure equal to or close to atmospheric pressure, said process comprising:
- (a) continuously removing a sample of the gas mixture of the respiratory circuit of the diver;
- (b) passing said sample into the monitor chamber where it expands, the partial oxygen pressure of the sample being determined therein, and an electrical control signal being produced when the pressure determined falls below a reference value;
- and
- (c) using the control signal for triggering an injection of a defined and preset amount of an oxygen-rich gas mixture to the respiratory circuit of the diver, the sample from the respiratory circuit being passed to the monitor chamber by a capillary conduit so that the variation in the oxygen partial pressure at the outlet from the capillary conduit reproduces the variation in the pressure at the inlet of the capillary conduit and, therefore, in the respiratory circuit, with a delay, the section of the capillary conduit being so selected as to limit the duration of the transfer of the sample along the capillary conduit.
A process for regulating the oxygen partial pressure of a gas mixture in a respiratory circuit of a diver, the diver being provided with a closed circuit breathing apparatus connected to a remotely located monitor chamber in which there is a pressure equal to or close to atmospheric pressure, the breathing apparatus of the diver comprising a chamber in which the diver is disposed and which contains a gas mixture which is breathed by the diver, said chamber being a hyperbar chamber disposed in a location forming the monitor chamber and intended to simulate the diving depth, said process comprising:
- (a) continuously removing a sample of the gas mixture of the respiratory circuit of the diver;
- (b) passing said sample into the monitor chamber where it expands, the partial oxygen pressure of the sample being determined therein, and an electrical control signal being produced when the pressure determined falls below a reference value;
- and
- (c) using the control signal for triggering an injection of a defined and preset amount of an oxygen-rich gas mixture to the respiratory circuit of the diver.
A process for regulating the oxygen partial pressure of a gas mixture in a respiratory circuit of a diver, the diver being provided with a closed circuit breathing apparatus connected to a remotely located monitor chamber in which there is a pressure equal to or close to atmospheric pressure, said gas mixture being prepared in a submerged chamber forming a diving chamber connected to the monitor chamber which is disposed on board a surface vessel, said process comprising:
- (a) continuously removing a sample of the gas mixture of the respiratory circuit of the diver;
- (b) passing said sample into the monitor chamber where it expands, the partial oxygen pressure of the sample being determined therein, and an electrical control signal being produced when the pressure determined falls below a reference value;
- and
- (c) using the control signal for triggering an injection of a defined and preset amount of an oxygen-rich gas mixture to the respiratory circuit of the diver.
A device for regulating the oxygen partial pressure of a gas mixture in a respiratory circuit of a diver, the diver being provided with a closed circuit breathing apparatus connected to a submarine having a monitor chamber provided therein maintained at a pressure close to atmospheric pressure, said device comprising:
- a closed circuit respiratory device carried by a diver;
- means in the monitor chamber for measuring the oxygen partial pressure of the gas mixture of the respiratory circuit and for supplying a control signal when said pressure falls belows a reference value;
- a capillary gas conduit extending between said respiratory device and said means for measuring;
- means carried by the submarine for preparing a defined amount of an oxygen-rich gas;
- a gas supply conduit connecting the respiratory device to the submarine;
- and
- means associated with the means for measuring for injecting said defined amount into said supply conduit under the control of said control signal.
A device for regulating the oxygen partial pressure of a gas mixture in a chamber containing a diver, the diver breathing the gas mixture when the chamber is submerged, said apparatus comprising:
- a first chamber for containing a diver;
- a monitor chamber spaced from said first chamber having a pressure equal to or close to atmospheric pressure maintained therein;
- means disposed in said monitor chamber for measuring the oxygen partial pressure of the gas mixture in said first chamber and for supplying a control signal when the measured partial pressure falls below a reference value;
- a capillary gas conduit for interconnecting said first chamber and said means for measuring;
- a gas supply conduit which opens into said first chamber containing the diver;
- and
- means for preparing a defined amount of an oxygen-rich gas and for injecting said amount into said supply conduit under the control of said control signal.
A device for regulating the oxygen partial pressure of a gas mixture in a respiratory circuit of a diver, said gas mixture being prepared in a submerged chamber forming a diving chamber connected to a monitor chamber disposed on board a surface vessel, said device comprising:
- a closed circuit breathing device worn by the diver and containing the respiratory circuit;
- a monitor chamber disposed on board a surface vessel and in which the pressure is close to atmospheric pressure;
- means disposed in the monitor chamber for measuring the oxygen partial pressure of the gas mixture of said breathing device and for supplying a control signal when said pressure falls belows a reference value;
- a capillary gas conduit connecting said breathing device and said means for measuring;
- a submerged diver chamber connected to said monitor chamber;
- and
- a gas supply conduit connecting said diver chamber and said breathing device, said diver chamber being provided with means for preparing a defined amount of an oxygen-rich gas and for injecting said defined amount into the gas supply conduit under the control of said control signal.
A device for regulating the oxygen partial pressure of a respiratory circuit of a diver comprising:
- a submarine having a monitor chamber formed therein maintained at a pressure close to atmospheric pressure;
- a respiratory circuit for supplying a gas mixture to a diver, the respiratory circuit being carried by the diver and including means for removing carbon dioxide from the gas mixture and means for storing the gas mixture;
- a capillary gas conduit connecting said respiratory circuit and said monitor chamber;
- means connected to said capillary gas conduit disposed in said monitor chamber for measuring the oxygen partial pressure of the gas mixture in the respiratory circuit and for supplying a control signal when the measured partial pressure falls below a reference value;
- gas supply means carried by said submarine for preparing a defined amount of an oxygen-rich gas;
- a gas supply conduit connecting said gas supply means and said respiratory circuit;
- and
- means responsive to said control signal for injecting said defined amount of the oxygen-rich gas into the gas supply conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.