US 5,488,946 A · Emergency breathing device for opening cartridges

Abstract

An emergency breathing device has a manifold with two threaded receivers for holding compressed air cartridges and two parallel bores. A first bore holds a primary plunger. A collar on the plunger rests on a nylon seal, which is supported on a ledge between the relatively small lower bore and the larger upper bore. A drive spring surrounds an upper portion of the primary plunger and bears against the collar. A housing receives and abuts the spring, and slides an upper part of the plunger through an axial bore in the housing. Detent pins extend through radial bores in the housing. Detent springs urge the detent pins outward. The plunger has a recess which receives semi-spherical inner ends of the detent pins when the plunger is pushed upward against drive spring force. A bell-shaped cap has a bevelled lower edge and a cylindrical inner surface, which presses the detent pins inward against detent spring force. Spring fingers of a cap retainer mounted inside the cap engage a knob on the top of the housing to hold the cap on the housing. A downward-urged indicator pin extends through a central hole in the cap-and is extended upward into a pull ring by an upper end of the plunger. Pulling sharply on the ring pulls the cap from the housing and releases the detents. The drive spring drives a plunger downward, and a bevelled cutter point on the tapered lower end of the plunger punctures the compressed air cartridge. An air pressure indicator in the side of the manifold uses air pressure to slide a pressure indicator pin outward. A spring moves the pressure indicator pin inward when pressure decreases in the manifold.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An emergency breathing device compressed air release assembly, comprising a manifold having threaded receivers for receiving compressed air cartridges, and having first and second bores aligned respectively with the receivers, a primary plunger fitted within the first bore, a collar extending outward from the plunger and an annular seal on a ledge in the first bore for limiting travel of the collar and plunger, a drive spring positioned within the first bore and contacting the collar for driving the plunger toward the first receiver, a cutter point on the plunger for piercing a seal at an end of a first gas cartridge in the first receiver, a housing overlying the manifold and aligned with the first bore and holding an upper end of the drive spring and slidably receiving an upper end of the plunger, fasteners connecting the housing to an upper end of the manifold, detent pins positioned radially in the housing, springs connected between the housing and the detent pins for urging the detent pins outward to an inoperative position, the plunger having a detent pin-receiving recess for aligning with the detent pins upon compression of the plunger drive spring, a cap having an inner surface for contacting outer surfaces of the detent pins and urging the detent pins inward against detent spring forces for engaging the plunger recess with inner ends of the detent pins, a pull ring connected to the cap for pulling the cap off the detent pins and for allowing the detent springs to force the detent pins outward, releasing the plunger for allowing the plunger to be driven downward by the drive spring into cartridge seal-piercing position.

An emergency breathing device which comprises:

a) a manifold comprising a bore having a proximal end and a distal end;
b) a receiver adapted for attaching a compressed air cartridge thereto, the receiver aligned with the distal end of the bore in sealed fluid communication therewith;
c) a plunger located within the bore, the plunger and bore adapted to permit limited axial travel of the plunger within the bore, the plunger comprising a cutting point at a distal end thereof for piercing a gas cartridge in the receiver, the plunger further comprising a detent pin-receiving recess at a proximal end thereof;
d) a drive spring within the bore for driving the plunger toward the distal end of the bore;
e) a housing attached to the manifold and aligned with the proximal end of the bore, the housing supporting an upper end of the drive spring for enabling movement of the plunger with respect to the manifold and housing, the housing slidably receiving an upper end of the plunger;
f) a detent pin positioned radially in the housing and movable between an operative position in which the detent pin engages with the detent pin-receiving recess when the plunger drive spring is compressed for locking the plunger toward the proximal end of the bore, and an inoperative position in which the plunger is released, the detent pin being spring loaded forurging the detent pin into the inoperative position;
g) a cap comprising an inner surface for contacting an outer surface of the detent pin for preventing movement of the detent pin to the inoperative position;
and
h) means for releasing the detent pin from the cap for allowing the detent spring to move to the inoperative position and releasing the plunger, whereby the released plunger is urged toward the distal end of the bore, the cutter penetrating a seal of the cartridge.

6 more elements

An emergency breathing device which comprises:

a) a manifold comprising first and second bores, each bore having a proximal end and a distal end;
b) first and second receivers, each receiver adapted for attaching a compressed air cartridge thereto, each receiver aligned with a respective bore in sealed fluid communication therewith at the distal end thereof;
c) a primary plunger located within the first bore, the primary plunger and first bore adapted to permit limited axial travel of the primary plunger within the first bore, the primary plunger comprising a cutter point at a distal end thereof for piercing a seal of a first gas cartridge in the first receiver, the primary plunger comprising a detent pin-receiving recess at a proximal end thereof;
d) a drive spring within the first bore for driving the primary plunger toward the distal end of the first bore;
e) a housing attached to the manifold and aligned with the first bore at the proximal end thereof, the housing supporting an upper end of the drive spring for enabling movement of the primary plunger with respect to the manifold and housing, the housing slidably receiving an upper end of the plunger;
f) at least one detent pin positioned radially in the housing and movable between an operative position in which the detent pin engages with the detent pin-receiving recess when the plunger drive spring is compressed for locking the primary plunger toward the proximal end of the first bore, and an inoperative position, each detent pin being spring loaded formoving the detent pin radially outward into an inoperative position;
g) a cap comprising an inner surface for contacting an outer surface of the detent pin for preventing movement of the detent pin to the inoperative position;
and
h) means for pulling the cap off the detent pins for allowing the detent springs to move to the inoperative position, thereby releasing the primary plunger for allowing the plunger to drive downward and for the cutter to penetrate the seal of the first cartridge.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Emergency breathing device for opening cartridges

Life of this patent

Emergency breathing device for opening cartridges

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19