US3147761A - Regulator for underwater breathing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1964 l s. G. LEcocQ REGULATOR'FOR UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1961 .gef

United States Patent O 3,147,761 REGULATR FR UNDERWATER BREATIHNG APPARATUS Samuel G. Lecocq, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Sportsways, luc., Paramount, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Dec. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 160,515 1 Claim. (Cl. 137-453) The present invention relates generally to underwater breathing apparatus, and is more panticularly concerned with unitized apparatus for regulating the delivery of a breathable fluid from a bottled or other pressurized fluid source, and which includes a lreserve valve.

It is an object of the herein described invention to provide in a single housing an improved unitary rst stage regulator in combination with a reserve valve mechanism, which is mountable at the bottle source and has a single hose air delivery connection; and which incorporates optional connections for use with a surface air supply, pressure gauge, safety relief and auxiliary devices generally.

A further object is to provide a unitary first stage regulator device in which the pressure regulating means yand associated reserve valve mechanism are contained within a housing having an integrally formed attaching yoke which extends laterally at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the housing, the regulating means having a fluid supply inlet connection within the confines of the yoke, the inlet connection being under control of the reserve valve mechanism.

Still another object is to provide combined regulator and reserve valve unit of the character described having a fluid receiving connector which may be connected with a surface air supply source.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a regulator and reserve valve unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view including a transverse section through the housing of the unit, taken substantially on line 2 2 of FIG. l; and

FIG.3 isl a longitudinal section through the housing of the regulator portion of the unit, taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 to disclose the operative relationship of the pressure regulating mechanism therein.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes the regulator mechanism of the present unit is shown as comprising generally a body structure lll of Z-part construction, one of these parts including a generally cylindrical portion 11 which is integrally formed with a tapering end portion 11a extending from one side. Extending from the other side of the cylindrical portion is a cylindrical end portion 11b. The body structure as thus described houses the pressure regulating means which in this case constitute the rst stage of pressure reduction. The cylindrical portion 11 and the associated end portions 11a and 11b are in axial alignment and cooperate to form an elongate housing.

The unit is arranged to be removably attached to suitable connectors associated with the bottle for pressurized breathable fluid by means of a yoke member 12 which is integrally formed with the cylindrical portion 11 of the body structure and projects at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the body structure 1), the yoke providing an opening 13 for receiving the bottle connector (not shown) therein. A manually operable yoke "Ice screw 14 permits connection of the regulator unit with the bottle connector.

Internally, Vthe body structure is provided within the cylindrical portion 11 with a transverse wall 15 which forms a separating partition between a chamber 16 within the end portion 11a, and a chamber 17 cooperatively formed by the cylindrical portions 11 and 11b.

Communication between the chamber 16 and chamber 17 is provided by means of a plurality of passageways 18 formed in the wall 15 and extending between the adjacent ends of the chambers. A transversely extending passageway 19 connects with one or more of the passageways 18 and has its ends communicating with axially aligned connection ports 20 and 21. The connection port 20 provides a connection for a single hose 22 by which fluid may be delivered to a regulator second stage. The connection port 21 is in communication through a passageway 22' with a connection port 23 located on the same side and adjacent to the connection port 20. The ports 21 and 23 are adapted to optionally receive a closure plug 24 or a relief valve 26 as will be described subsequently. When the relief valve is mounted in the port 23, the port 21 is free for connection with a surface air supply which may be delivered directly to the hose 22, or connection to other auxiliary devices.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connection port 23 is closed by the plug 24 while the connection port 21 is shown as being connected with a safety relief valve assembly as generally indicated at 26. The relief valve includes' a tubular valve body 27 which is provided at one end with a multi-sided head portion 28, and at its other end with a restricted flow passage 29. The valve body is adapted to be threadedly mounted within the connection port 21. Housed within the valve body is a valve member 30 which is supported for axial movement within the valve body. The valve member carries a valve disc insert 31 having valving relation with the adjacent end of the flow passage 29. The valve member is biased towards seated position by means of a compression spring 32, one end of this spring bearing against the valve member, and the other end of the spring bearing against an adjustable i bushing 33 threadedly mounted within the head portion 28 and having a discharge passage 34 therein. The safety relief valve is designed to open at approximately to 200 pounds pressure.

The chamber 16 houses the high pressure valve mechanism for controlling the high pressure fluid received into the chamber through a passageway 35 which connects the chamber with a fluid inlet port 36 containing a lter 37. The inlet port 36 is contained within the yoke 12 wherein it is removably connected with the source of bottled fluid.

The inner end of the chamber 16 is tted with an annular valve seat 38 which is peripherally sealed by a sealing ring 39 and contains a central axial flow passage 40. The discharge end of the passage 40 communicates with one or more of the passageways 18 while the inlet end thereof is in valving relation with an annular valve disc 41 carried by a reciprocably mounted valve 42, this valve having peripheral flow passages 43 extending longitudinally of its outer surface. The valve 42 is biased towards a seating position by means of a compression valve spring 44 having one end bearing against the valve and its other bearing against a closure plug 44 having threaded engagement with the tapering end portion 11a at the outermost end of theV chamber 16.

As further shown in FIG. 3, the chamber 17 is provided with a transversely extending diaphragm Vl5 of llexible material, this diaphragm having its peripheral margin clampingly engaged between a shoulder in the body structure and the innermost end of the cylindrical portion 11b.

The diaphragm centrally carries a plate member 46 which is positioned on one side of the diaphragm and is provided with a central stem 47 adapted to extend through the diaphragm and coact with a retaining nut 48 to secure a washer 49 in clamping relation with the plate member 46.

The diaphragm separates the chamber 17 into an inner compartment 17a, and an outer compartment 17b. The compartment 17a is in communication with passageways llS and subject the associated side of the diaphragm 45 t fluid pressure existing within the passageway 19. The compartment l7b houses a coiled spring Si) having one end bearing against the washer 49 and its opposite end against an adjusting bushing l having threaded engagement with the adjacent wall of the cylindrical portion 1lb. The bushing 51 has a central opening 52 so that the compartment ll'ib will be at the same pressure as the surrounding medium and subject the associated side of the diaphragm 45 thereto. An operative connection is obtained between the diaphragm 4S and valve 42 by means of a push rod 53, one end of the push rod bearing against the plate member 46, and the other end of the rod bearing against the seating end of the valve ft2. Thus, the regulating eiiect of the valve 4t2 is controlled in response to differential pressures acting on the diaphragm 45, and as controlled by the pressure of the surrounding medium.

As shown in FIG. 3, the body structure 1t) is provided with another connection port which is physically positioned adjacent the connection port 21 and is shown as being closed by a plug 54. This connection port communicates through a restricted passageway (not shown) with the interior of chamber 16. Removal of the plug 54 permits this port to be connected with a pressure gauge for indicating bottle Huid pressure.

Referring again to FIG. 2 the cylindrical body portion 11 contains an integral outwardly projecting arm portion 55 which cooperates with the body portion 11 to form a housing for the reserve valve mechanism which will now be described.

The passageway 35, as it leaves the fluid inlet port 36, enters a chamber 56 through a valve seat 57, and thence communicates with the high pressure chamber 16. The valve seat 57 is operatively associated with a valve member 58 reciprocably movable in the chamber 56, the valve member including a stem 59 which is reciprocably mounted within a bearing member 60. The valve member S8 has a valve washer 61 adapted to be positioned in seated and unseated relation with respect to the valve seat 5T The valve member 58 is normally biased towards seated position by means of a compression spring 62 having one end in engagement with the valve member and its other end in engagement with the bearing member.

The outermost end of the stem 59 projects beyond the bearing member 60 and is swivelly connected with a cam member 63. The cam member has the form of a substantially rectangular block having a V-shaped edge 64 arranged to seat in one position of the cam in a 'V-groove 65 in the adjacent face of the bearing member 60. In this position of the cam, the valve member 58 may be moved into a seating position with respect to the seat 57 by the action of the compression spring 62. Upon rotation of the cam member 63 through an angle of 90, the `V-shaped edge 64 is adapted to seat in a shallow V-groove 66 which serves as a detent to releasably retain the cam in this position. It will be observed that in moving the cam to carry the V-shaped edge 64 from the deeper `V-groove 65 to the shallow V-groove 66 will move the cam outwardly. This action moves the stem 59 so as to carry the valve member S8 to unseated position against the action of the compression spring 62. In the unseated position, the chamber 16 is conneced with the inlet port 36. Under normal operation of the reserve valve, the cam will be positioned with the `tl-shaped edge 64 disposed in the V- groove 65. The compression spring 62 is so constructed as to spring load the valve, but permits its opening under a predetermined fluid pressure, for example, 300 p.s.i. Thus,

as long as the tank or associated shutoi valve is open and the tank pressure is above 300 p.s.i., the reserve valve 58 will remain open so as to supply fluid from inlet port 36.

However, as soon as the fluid pressure falls below the predetermined pressure, the reserve valve 58 closes to disconnect the supply of uid. It is then necessary, in order to reestablish the supply to the chamber 56 at the lower pressure, to rotate the cam member 63 to the position in which the V-shaped edge 64 will be disposed in the V- groove 66.

Provision is made for rotating the cam member 63 by providing an arm 67 which is rotatably supported within a seal nut 68 mounted in the outer end of the body arm portion 55. The inner end of the arm 67 is forked to provide spaced arms 69 and 70 for straddling the cam member 63 and permit sliding movement of the cam therebetween as the arm 67 is rotated. The outermost end of the arm 67 is fitted with a manually operable lever arm 7l or other suitable manually operable means such as a knob. rl`he arm, knob or other means is arranged with a stop pin 72 which is movable between a pair of abutment projection 73 formed on the adjacent end of the body arm portion 55, these projections being in relation so as to terminate the movement of the cam member 63 at the positions wherein the V-shaped edge 64 will be respectively seated in the V-groove 65 and V-groove 66. The outer end of the lever arm 71 has an opening 74 whereby a rod may have its end coupled to the lever arm so as to facilitate operation of the reserve valve from a position removed from the lever arm.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the speciiic form shownor uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claim.

I claim:

A pressure regulator and reserve valve mechanism unit for underwater breathing apparatus, comprising:

(A) an elongate generally tubular body structure;

(B) a transverse partition between the body ends separating the structure into compartments,

(a) one of said compartments having an inlet connection for fluid under pressure, and an access closure member at the bottom end of said body structure,

(b) and the other having a connection with the exterior of said structure;

(C) an outlet fluid flow passageway in said partition extending transversely to the axis of said structure. and having connections on opposite sides of said body structure at its respective ends for a uid yconductor,

(a) said passageway having communication with each of said compartments;

(D) a valve seat in said one of said compartments;

(E) valve means wholly contained within said one of said compartments including a valve member and spring biasing it towards said seat to control the communication to said one of said compartments, said valve and spring being accessible and removable through said access by removal of said closure member;

(F) a diaphragm in the other of said compartments subjected on one side to external pressure and on its other to pressure in said passageway;

(G) a push rod connecting said diaphragm and the valve member;

(H) spring means normally biasing said diaphragm in a direction tending to move said valve away from said seat;

(I) reserve valve means extending generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said body structure for controlling iiow through said inlet connection for iluid under pressure to said one of said References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Paasche Apr. 16, 1946 Morrison Apr. 14, 1953 Cupp Sept. 25, 1956 Senesky Nov. 18, 1958 Hagger Oct. 4, 1960 Kimes Jan. 30, 1962

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