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US 5,040,528 AGranted
Autonomous breathing system for underwater diver's headgear
OwnerWilbur J. O'Neillinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A breathing system is described for underwater diving system which is particularly useful in emergency, "bailout" situations where the diver's external support is terminated. The invention is particularly characterized by a gas recirculation and purification system which is entirely contained within the helmet and which functions to purify and recirculate exhaled gas within the helmet and to preserve heat generated by the reaction whereby CO.sub.2 is purged from exhaled gas. The invention, further, conserves human respiratory heat by minimizing breathing gas exposure to cold surfaces.
Claims15
An underwater diver's headgear comprising
- 1. an outer helmet
- 2. an inner liner adapted to fit in spaced relationship within said helmet
- 3. a neck dam means to prevent ingress of water into or egress of gas out of the headgear
- 4. means connected to an external supply for providing supplemental gas to said headgear
- 5. gas recirculation means entirely contained within the interior of said headgear for removing CO.sub.2 from exhausted gas within said helmet, conserving respiratory heat, and providing heat to the interior environment of the headgear, said gas recirculation means comprising a mouthpiece for receiving exhausted gas from the diver using the helmet, ducting means connected to said mouthpiece for conveying said exhausted gas to a purification means containing a chemically reactive absorbent for removing CO.sub.2 from said gas by means of an exothermic reaction which produces heat which is dispelled from said purification means into the environment of the helmet along with recirculating gas from which the CO.sub.2 has been removed;
- said recirculation means being shaped to conform to and fit within space provided in the upper dome of the helmet between said liner and the upper interior surface of the helmet.
3 more elements
An underwater diver's headgear comprising
- 1. an outer helmet
- 2. a neck dam means to prevent ingress of water into or egress of gas out of the headgear.
- 3. means connected to an external supply for providing supplemental gas to said headgear
- 4. two way gas recirculation means entirely contained within the interior of said headgear for removing CO.sub.2 from exhausted gas within said helmet, conserving respiratory heat, and providing heat to the interior environment of the headgear, said gas recirculation means comprising a mouthpiece for providing breathing gas to and removing exhausted gas from the diver using the helmet, ducting means connected to said mouthpiece for conveying said gas to and from a purification means containing a chemically reactive absorbent for removing CO.sub.2 from said gas by means of an exothermic reaction which produces heat which is dispelled from said purification means into the environment of the helmet along with recirculating gas from which the CO.sub.2 has been removed;
- said recirculation means being shaped to conform to and fit within said helmet.
2 more elements
An underwater diver's headgear comprising
- 1. an outer helmet
- 2. a neck dam means to prevent ingress of water into or egress of gas out of the headgear.
- 3. means connected to an external supply for providing supplemental gas to said headgear
- 4. gas recirculation means entirely contained within the interior of said headgear for removing CO.sub.2 from exhausted gas within said helmet, conserving respiratory heat, and providing heat to the interior environment of the headgear, said gas recirculation means comprising a mouthpiece for providing breathing gas to and removing exhausted gas from the diver using the helmet, ducting means connected to said mouthpiece for receiving exhausted gas from the diver using the helmet, ducting means connected to said mouthpiece for conveying said exhausted gas to a purification means containing a chemically reactive absorbent for removing CO.sub.2 from said gas by means of an exothermic reaction which produces heat which is dispelled from said purification means into the environment of the helmet along with recirculating gas from which the CO.sub.2 has been removed;
- said recirculation means being shaped to conform to and fit within said helmet.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.