U.S. patent number 3,628,531 [Application Number 05/031,700] was granted by the patent office on 1971-12-21 for balanced-breathing pressure suit with helmet and hand-operated control valve.
Invention is credited to Leonard Harris.
United States Patent |
3,628,531 |
Harris |
December 21, 1971 |
BALANCED-BREATHING PRESSURE SUIT WITH HELMET AND HAND-OPERATED
CONTROL VALVE
Abstract
The invention is directed toward improved breathing comfort for
an aviator subjected to rarified atmosphere at high altitudes. It
employs a vest or jerkin which can be fitted by zipper over a
passive pressure unit. The vest has secured to its interior a
bladder which extends from front thigh up over the shoulder to the
rear thigh position. A standard form of helmet is hermetically
sealed to the neckline of the vest. Oxygen under pressure is
introduced into the bladder and the helmet through a hand-operated
valve which may be secured to the vest. This valve has three
positions, (1) "Off," (2) "Fill" and (3) "Mission Complete" and has
a single tubing to the helmet and a double tubing to the bladder.
One of the latter is employed for supplying the bladder with gas.
The other of the double tubing contains a pressure-operated check
valve which closes the passage between the helmet and the bladder
in the event of bladder failure. The aviator would normally turn
the valve, first to position (1) to supply the helmet with oxygen
and to exhaust the interior of the bladder. He would then turn to
position (2) which continues the oxygen supply to the helmet, and
in addition, would fill the bladder with oxygen at a pressure as
would make breathing more comfortable as the higher altitudes are
reached. In the event that the bladder becomes punctured with flake
or shrapnel and therefore unable to retain the gas, the valve is
moved to position (3) to cause the oxygen, in excess of that
necessary for the helmet, to escape to ambient atmosphere through
the check valve.
Inventors: |
Harris; Leonard (San Antonio,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
21860936 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/031,700 |
Filed: |
April 24, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/202.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A62B
17/00 (20130101); B64D 10/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B64D
10/00 (20060101); A62B 17/00 (20060101); A62b
007/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/142.5,1R,1A,28,30,30.2,142.6 ;2/2.1A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Mitchell; J. B.
Claims
I claim:
1. In combination a pressure suit for an aviator comprising an
inner stretchable fabric garment which is adapted to lie next to
the skin of the aviator; an outer nonstretchable garment covering
at least a portion of said inner garment; a flexible rubberlike
expansible bladder interposed between the garments; a helmet
hermetically attached to said outer garment; means including a
rotatable valve attached to the outer garment and operable by the
aviator for controlling the amount of gas admitted to the bladder
and for supplying the bladder and said helmet with breathable gas
at a pressure as to cause the bladder to expand inwardly against
the inner expansible garment when the atmosphere becomes rarified
as higher altitudes are reached; said rotatable valve means having
three positions (1) in which oxygen is supplied to the helmet while
connecting the bladder to ambient air, (2) in which oxygen is
supplied to the helmet and the bladder and (3) in which the oxygen
is supplied to the helmet and the bladder, with a check valve means
connected in the bladder supply line responsive to a predetermined
differential pressure between the helmet and bladder for shutting
off the gas supply to the bladder while maintaining the gas
pressure in the helmet in the case of bladder rupture.
2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 and in which each of the
inner and outer garments is porous and a closure member extending
along the front portion of the outer garment in order to don the
same, said bladder having front split portions and extending along
opposite sides of the closure member from the front thigh portion
up over the shoulder portion on the respective sides of the closure
member, said split bladder portions merging into a single unit from
the shoulder down to the rear thigh portion.
3. The combination set forth in claim 2 and in which said bladder
is constituted of rubberized elastic material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In an attempt to alleviate the discomfort of breathing at high
altitudes, the prior art has developed pressure suits to which a
helmet is hermetically attached. Oxygen is introduced into the suit
and helmet. Suits of this type are usually made in coverall form of
two thicknesses of garment, one within the other. The outer garment
is airtight except some provision is made for ventilation and is
made of a nonstretchable material. The inner garment is of a
rubberized character so as to be expandable and contractable and
usually lies next to the bare skin of the aviator. Oxygen at about
5 to 10 pounds p.s.i.a. is admitted to the space between the two
thicknesses of fabric and also to the attached helmet. As the plane
reaches high altitudes and the ambient air becomes rarified, the
oxygen within the suit expands and since the outer garment is held
in restraint, i.e., inextensible, the inner garment is caused to
press inwardly against the body of the aviator in a degree
dependent on the difference in pressure between the contained
oxygen and the ambient air. This inward pressure, particularly in
the thorax or torso portion of the body assists the aviator to
exhale and therefore to breathe more easily at the higher
altitudes. The interior of the helmet is connected by a tubing to
the space between the inner and outer garments. The main
disadvantage of the suit of the coverall type, i.e., two garments
overlying one another, is that the suit provides additional
pressure in the rarified atmosphere, not only to the regions of the
chest but also to other parts of the body where the inward pressure
may not be necessary and to that extent is wasted. Moreover, should
any part of the inner or outer garment be ruptured in any manner,
such as by flak or shrapnel, the pressure exerted by the inner
garment against the body would be immediately lost as would also
the supply of oxygen to the helmet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an improved aviator's suit
which would be pressurized over only limited portions of the suit
in order to reduce the vulnerable area to rupture by flak and
consequent loss of gas pressure.
Another object is to provide a double thickness aviator's suit in
which the outer garment prevents the inner garment from expanding
outwardly and extends over only the torso portion of the inner
garment whereby the latter is caused to press inwardly against a
limited portion of the aviator's body and provide greater comfort
when breathing in a rarified atmosphere.
Another object is to provide an improved three position valve for
use in connection with a bladder-containing pressure suit and by
which the filling of the bladder and helmet is controlled and the
gas to the bladder is immediately cutoff upon rupture of that
member without disturbing the passage of gas to the helmet.
These objects are attained in brief by providing a suit of single
thickness material made in the form of a coverall and employing a
jerkin or vest which surrounds only the upper part of the suit. The
jerkin is secured to the suit and a bladder containing oxygen is
interposed between the inner suit and the jerkin. The long coverall
suit is made of an elastic material such as neoprene rubber and the
vest or jerkin is made of a flexible and inextensible material such
as Dacron. A valve is attached to the vest and is under the control
of the aviator, the valve having three positions (1) in which
oxygen is admitted to the helmet while permitting the bladder to
exhaust to ambient, (2) continuing the pressure to the helmet and
allowing the bladder to fill with oxygen and (3) prevent the escape
of gas from the helmet when the bladder becomes ruptured.
Other objects and features will be apparent as the specification is
perused in connection with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an aviator's basic pressure suit
to which the improved bladder-containing jerkin and the improved
valve have been applied.
FIGS. 2 to 4 represent enlarged sectional views of an improved gas
control valve used in connection with a bladder and helmet and
having three different positions, regulated by the aviator.
FIG. 5 depicts a vertical sectional view through the valve and
taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 shows a side view of the basic or foundation suit and the
surrounding jerkin or vest with the improved control valve in
place.
FIG. 7 depicts a view considerably enlarged, and in perspective, of
the bladder accessory which is attached to the interior surface of
the jerkin.
FIG. 8 represents a cross-sectional view taken along line 8--8 in
FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a similar view taken along line 9--9 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 depicts a rear view of the vest showing the relative
position of the bladder (in dotted line) contained within the
vest.
Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, a foundation suit 1 of
standard construction is employed and made of a rubberized cloth
material such as sold under the name of Neoprene. The material is
highly elastic and the suit, when in use, lies preferably next to
the bare skin of the aviator. The suit extends, as indicated at 2,
down to the boots (not shown) and also to the gloves 3 of the
person. The weave of the suit material is sufficiently loose as to
obtain as much natural ventilation as possible. There is a large
vertical opening (not shown) at the front portion of the suit for
donning purposes. This opening is closed by a zipper (not
shown).
A vest or jerkin 4 is fitted over the suit 1 according to my
invention and which extends down almost to the knee indicated at 5
and well beyond the crotch 6. The front of the vest, almost its
entire length, is provided with an opening closed by zipper 7 to
allow the aviator to don the vest. The latter is provided with arm
holes at 8 and is attached by snaps (not shown) at this position to
the sleeves 1 of the foundation suit. The lower edges of the leg
portions 5 of the vest are similarly attached to the legs of the
underneath garment 1. The vest is made of a closely woven fabric to
keep out moisture and is made of a polymer such as Dacron, which is
strictly inextensible, i.e., it can neither expand nor contract
when subjected to a contained gas pressure. In order to provide for
natural ventilation, wedge-shaped inserts 9 of loosely woven Dacron
cloth may be provided at the side seams of the vest as seen in FIG.
6, these inserts extending from just below the arm openings to the
bottom of the vest. The inserts cooperate with the porous character
of the foundation suit 1 to provide ample ventilation of the double
thickness garment. The vest can be donned by the aviator similar to
a short overcoat after the bladder referred to hereinafter has been
placed in position between the two garments.
The upper end of the vest terminates in a standard metal neck bank
10 of the usual construction and is provided with screw threads
(not shown) for receiving the circular-threaded portion of a helmet
11 made of a transparent plastic material.
In accordance with one aspect of my invention, there is positioned
within the vest or jerkin a bladder structure generally indicated
at 12 and made preferably of a rubberized plastic material such as
Neoprene. Thus, the bladder has the facility of expansibility and
is closely woven so as to be completely air and moisture proof. The
member takes on a split form, as seen in FIG. 7, having two spaced
portions 13, 14, which merge into a single piece portion 15 at the
upper right hand position as seen in the FIGURE. Dividing the
bladder in the manner stated becomes necessary in view of the
position of the longitudinal opening in the vest closed by the
zipper 7. The bladder constitutes a double-walled unit in which the
walls are spaced apart as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 and joined together
at their edges to leave flat margins. The margin portions can be
sewed as indicated by the short lines 16 without penetrating the
interior space of the bladder. The bladder is placed in position
within the vest such that the split portions 13, 14 extend on
opposite sides of the zippered opening 7 and while in separate form
pass around the shoulder of the vest finally merging into one piece
down the back of the vest as indicated by the dotted lines 18 in
FIG. 10.
As stated hereinbefore, the purpose of the bladder 12, when filled
with gas under pressure, is to apply pressure against the vest 4
which in view of its inextensive character causes the inner surface
of the bladder to expand toward the body and thus press the inner
garment against the thorax or torso of the aviator. This force
becomes greater as the ambient air pressure becomes less due to the
higher altitudes and the inward pressure increases (Boyles Law) in
accordance with the rarification of the air to keep the breathing
comfort of the aviator at an optimum condition. For controlling the
admission of breathable gas, such as oxygen, to the bladder, and in
accordance with another aspect of my invention, a valve device 19,
as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, is employed. The device is carried on a
flat plate 20 of plastic material which is sewn or cemented to the
exterior surface of the vest 4 at a position as can readily be
reached by the aviator. A ring 21 of plastic material is secured to
the plate 20, this ring being provided with openings in the valve
which receive tubing 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26. Conduit 22 is connected
to a source of oxygen (not shown) at 5 to 10 pounds p.s.i.a. for
supplying the helmet through the conduit 23. The tubing 25 is
connected to a check valve 27 as indicated in FIG. 2, the purpose
of which will be described hereinafter. The tubing 24 provides an
escape for the trapped gas in the bladder to ambient atmosphere
through an angularly shaped passageway 28 formed within the rotor
of the valve and the tubing 26. The rotor, designated at 29,
carries a knob 30 (FIG. 5) and is rotatably held in any suitable
manner against the plate 20. Thus, by turning the knob, the rotor
can be turned within certain limits to any one of the three
positions seen in FIGS 2, 3 and 4 respectively and thus control the
emptying of stale gas from the bladder as well as admitting fresh
oxygen to the bladder and the helmet. The rotor 29 has countersunk
compartments 31 which are segmentally shaped, and also a radially
extending opening 32, as well as the angularly shaped passageway 28
formed in the upraised portions. The depth of the countersunk
portions are such as to leave a wall 33 of substantial thickness
(FIG. 5) at the inner end or bottom of the rotor.
The flat portion of the ring 21, at the position of the tubing 22
bears the word "source" and midway between the ends of the upraised
segment 34, there is the mark "Off" to which the arrow 35 on the
segment is pointed (FIG. 2). The term "Fill" is applied to the ring
opposite from the far edge of the segment 34. The term "Mission
Complete" or its abbreviation MC is applied midway between the
upraised segments 34 and 35 while "helmet" is applied at the
position of the tubing 23. The term "Bypass" is applied near the
tubing 24 and "Ambient" is applied near the angularly shaped
passageway 28. The direction of movement of the oxygen flowing
through the "source" opening, then through the compartment 31 to
the helmet is indicated by the arrows. The direction of movement of
the gas trapped in the bladder at the beginning of the operation is
also shown by an arrow at the positions marked "Bypass" and
"Ambient."
The second or position No. 2, as shown in FIG. 3, is used manually
to inflate the chest bladder when desired to improve the breathing
comfort of the aviator while retaining ventilation within the suit.
In that position, the oxygen causes the bladder to expand and in
view of the rigid restraint imposed by the inextensibility of the
vest, the bladder presses inwardly against the thorax portion of
the body. Whereas in the first and second positions of the rotor,
the conduit 24 is in communication with the bladder to vent the
stale gas, when the rotor is turned to position 3, illustrated in
FIG. 4, the vent through the tubing 26 is closed and as to whether
the bladder will receive gas through the passageway 32 will depend
on the condition of the check valve 27. The latter is of standard
construction including the use of a tension spring 36 and a ball
valve 37 which cooperate to cutoff the flow of gas through the
tubing 25 to the bladder when the back pressure on the valve, i.e.,
produced by the pressure of any gas contained in the bladder,
becomes less than a predetermined amount. Thus, assuming that the
bladder is punctured by flak or shrapnel so that the member cannot
retain any gas pressure, in that event, the pressure within the
compartment 31 which supplies the helmet with oxygen overcomes the
tension of the spring 36 to allow the ball to close the conduit 25.
Thus, even though the bladder is no longer supplied with the oxygen
on account of the rupture, the helmet is still supplied with
breathable gas and the remaining supply of oxygen is conserved in
that a portion of it will not be dissipated through the torn
bladder. This action would allow the aviator more time in which to
complete his mission even though greater effort might be imposed
upon him to breathe. However, the valve would normally be placed in
position 2 unless there is a strong likelihood that the bladder
would be ruptured, in which case the valve would be moved to
position No. 3. This third position of the valve is therefore aptly
termed "Mission Complete" or simply "MC," to which the arrow on the
rotor is pointed in FIG. 4.
From the foregoing, it is evident that I have disclosed an oxygen
supply system, employing a manually adjustable valve and bladder
contained within a vest and which normally overlies an ordinary
foundation garment for providing more breathing balance, and when
necessary automatically cuts off the oxygen supply to the bladder
in the event of rupture from whatever cause.
While I have shown the valve, as attached to the exterior surface
of the vest or jerkin, it is obvious that it could be placed in any
other suitable position within reach of the aviator. As long as the
bladder is able to retain the gas, the latter will expand in the
rarified atmosphere and in accordance with Boyle's Law will exert a
commensurate pressure on the thorax region of the aviator to make
breathing more comfortable for him.
* * * * *