Apparatus for providing a conditioned airflow inside a microenvironment and method

A breathing apparatus, which comprises:

• a) supply means for a compressed, breathable gas, wherein the compressed gas is characterized as having been refrigerated prior to use;
• b) respirator means connected to the supply means to deliver the breathable gas to the user at a breathable temperature to support the user's total respiratory requirements;
• c) conduit means including a diverter means disposed intermediate the supply means and the respirator means to divert a portion of the compressed, breathable gas to an ejector means to expand the diverted portion of the compressed, breathable gas to create a motive gas stream and to concomitantly lower the temperature of the ejector means;
• d) venturi means associated with the ejector means for receiving the motive gas stream to in turn create a reduced pressure zone at the venturi means;
• e) housing means provided with an opening for admitting air outside of the housing means therein, wherein the reduced pressure zone causes the outside air to flow over and contact the ejector means to cool and dehumidify the outside air and thereby provide a conditioned airflow;
• and
• f) discharge means in airflow communication with the combined conditioned airflow and the motive gas stream to discharge them into the microenvironment to cool and dehumidify the user with the reduced pressure zone at the venturi means serving to continuously draw outside air through the opening into the housing means to continuously contact the ejector means and provide the conditioned airflow.

A breathing apparatus, which comprises:

• a) supply means for a compressed, breathable gas;
• b) respirator means connected to the supply means to deliver he breathable gas to the user to support the user's total respiratory requirements;
• c) conduit means including a diverter means disposed intermediate the supply means and the respirator means to divert a portion of the compressed, breathable gas to an ejector means to expand the diverted portion of the compressed, breathable gas to create a motive gas stream and to concomitantly lower the temperature of the ejector means;
• d) venturi means associated with the ejector means for receiving the motive gas stream to in turn create a reduced pressure zone at the venturi means;
• e) housing means provided with an opening for admitting air outside of the housing means therein, wherein the reduced pressure zone causes the outside air to flow over and contact the ejector means to cool and dehumidify the outside air and thereby provide a conditioned airflow;
• and
• f) discharge means in airflow communication with the combined conditioned airflow and the motive gas stream to discharge them into the microenvironment to cool and dehumidify the user with the reduced pressure zone at the venturi means serving to continuously draw outside air through the opening into the housing means to continuously contact the ejector means and provide the conditioned airflow.

A method of providing a conditioned airflow within a microenvironment independent of the user's breathing requirements, comprising:

• a) providing a container means holding a compressed gas;
• b) refrigerating the compressed gas;
• c) providing an air conditioning apparatus including:
• the container means holding the compressed gas;
• a housing means provided with an opening for admitting air outside of the housing therein;
• and an ejector means provided inside the housing means and in fluid flow communication with the container means;
• d) moving the refrigerated, compressed gas from the container means and through the ejector means to expand the compressed gas to provide a motive gas stream and to concomitantly lower the temperature of the ejector means;
• e) supplying the motive gas stream to a venturi means to create a reduced pressure zone at the venturi means;
• f) causing the reduced pressure zone to draw air outside of the housing means therein to flow over and contacting the ejector means at the lower temperature to cool and dehumidify the outside air and thereby provide the conditioned airflow;
• and
• g) directing the combined conditioned airflow and the motive gas stream into the microenvironment to cool the user.

A method of providing a breathable gas stream to a user to support the user's total respiratory requirements while simultaneously providing a conditioned airflow within a microenvironment, comprising:

• a) providing a breathing apparatus including:
• supply means for a compressed, breathable gas, wherein the compressed gas is characterized as having been refrigerated prior to use;
• housing means having an opening or admitting air outside of the housing means wherein;
• and an ejector means provided inside the housing means and in fluid flow communication with the supply means;
• b) moving the compressed, breathable gas from the supply means to a respirator means worn by the user at a breathable temperature thereby supplying the user's total respiratory requirements;
• c) diverting a portion of the compressed, breathable gas to the ejector means disposed intermediate the supply means and the respirator means thereby expanding the diverted portion of the compressed, breathable gas at the ejector means to concomitantly lower the temperature of the ejector means and creating a motive gas stream delivered to a venturi means associated with the ejector means which in turn creates a reduced pressure zone inside the housing means at the venturi means, the reduced pressure zone inducing outside air to flow through the opening into the housing means flowing over and contacting the ejector means to cool and dehumidify the outside air and thereby provide a conditioned airflow;
• and
• d) expelling the combined conditioned airflow and the motive gas stream from the housing means with the reduced pressure zone at the venturi means continuously drawing outside air through the opening into the housing means to continuously contact the ejector means and providing the conditioned airflow.

A method of providing a breathable gas stream to a user to support the user's total respiratory requirements while simultaneously providing a conditioned airflow within a microenvironment, comprising:

• a) providing a breathing apparatus including:
• supply means for a compressed, breathable gas;
• housing means having an opening for admitting air outside of the housing means therein;
• and an ejector means provided inside the housing means and in fluid flow communication with the supply means;
• b) moving the compressed, breathable gas from the supply means to a respirator means worn by the user thereby supplying the user's total respiratory requirements;
• c) diverting a portion of the compressed, breathable gas to the ejector means disposed intermediate the supply means and the respirator means thereby expanding the diverted portion of the compressed, breathable gas at the ejector means to concomitantly lower the temperature of the ejector means and creating a motive gas stream delivered to a venturi means associated with the ejector means which in turn creates a reduced pressure zone inside the housing means at the venturi means, the reduced pressure zone inducing outside air to flow through the opening into the housing means flowing over and contacting the ejector means to cool and dehumidify the outside air and thereby provide a conditioned airflow;
• and
• d) expelling the combined conditioned airflow and the motive gas stream from the housing means with the reduced pressure zone at the venturi means continuously drawing outside air through the opening into the housing means to continuously contact the ejector means and providing the conditioned airflow.