Method and apparatus for revitalizing exhaled air
AssigneeLife Support Technologies, Inc.
InventorsVladimir Victorovich Abramov, Robert M. Hamilton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A canister containing one or more working compounds formed of a peroxide and/or superoxide of one or more metals of the alkali and alkaline-earth metal groups such as KO.sub.2 and CaO.sub.2 and a moisture releasing material such as wetted activated charcoal is utilized to replenish the oxygen and absorb the carbon dioxide in exhaled air. The canister may be used in a closed or semi-closed circuit breathing system worm by a user such as a fireman, miner etc.
Claims33
A method of treating exhaled air to reduce the CO.sub.2 content thereof and to increase the O.sub.2 content thereof comprising the steps of:
- a) passing the exhaled air through a peroxide and/or superoxide of one or more metals of the groups consisting of the alkali and alkaline-earth metals to reduce the CO.sub.2 content and increase the O.sub.2 content;
- and
- b) adding moisture to the air resulting from the previous step to reduce the temperature thereof.
A cartridge for revitalizing exhaled air comprising:
- a) a container having an inlet for receiving air having excess CO.sub.2 and diminished O.sub.2 content and an outlet through which the revitalized air passes;
- b) a first bed containing a porous working compound formed of a peroxide and/or superoxide of one or more metals of the alkali and alkaline-metal groups disposed within the container to contact the air as it flows from the inlet to the outlet;
- and
- c) a second bed containing a moisture-releasing material disposed in the container downstream from the first bed.
In an apparatus for enhancing the quality of breathable gas the combination comprising:
- a) a canister having an gas inlet for receiving gas of excess CO.sub.2 and diminished O.sub.2, a gas outlet through which the gas of enhanced breathable quality passes and first and second compartments disposed between the inlet and outlet thereof in that order,
- b) a porous compound of peroxide and/or superoxide of one or more metals of the alkali and alkaline-earth metals disposed within the first compartment to contact the gas as it flows from the inlet to the second compartment and reduce the carbon dioxide and increase the oxygen content thereof;
- and
- c) a porous moisturizing material disposed in the second compartment to contact the gas as it flows from the first compartment to the outlet and extract heat therefrom.
A closed circuit breathing system for maintaining the quality of a person's exhaled air at acceptable levels for rebreathing for an extended time period comprising:
- a) a rebreather bag adapted to be coupled to the person's airway to provide a closed circulating path for the person's exhaled and inhaled air;
- b) a canister disposed within the bag when the bag is coupled to the person's airway, the canister having an inlet port for receiving the exhaled air, an outlet port for providing breathable air for inhalation;
- c) a porous working compound and a moisturizing material disposed in the canister in that order between the inlet and outlet ports;
- d) the working compound containing peroxides and/or superoxides of one or more metals of the alkali and alkaline-earth metals;
- e) one of the inlet and outlet ports of the canister being in fluid communication with the interior of the bag;
- and
- f) means including a check valve adapted to selectively connect the person's airway to the other port during one of the exhalation and inhalation modes and to connect the airway to the bag interior during the other mode whereby exhaled air is passed through the canister before being inhaled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.