Pneumatic air systems for use onboard aircraft include a compressor configured to receive air from an air supply and increase a pressure of said received air to generate compressed air, a heat exchanger configured to receive the compressed air as a first working fluid and a treating air as a second working fluid, the heat exchanger configured to convert the compressed air to compressed and temperature treated air, one or more aircraft systems configured to receive the compressed and temperature treated air, and a surge prevention circuit arranged to prevent surge of air at the compressor, wherein the surge prevention circuit comprises a mechanical valve that is actuated based on a detected pressure within a sense line operably coupled to the mechanical valve.

Redundant electrochemical systems and methods for vehicles are described. The systems include a first electrochemical device located at a first position on the vehicle wherein the first electrochemical device is configured to generate at least one of inert gas, oxygen, and electrical power and a second electrochemical device located at a second position on the vehicle wherein the second electrochemical device is configured to generate at least one of inert gas, oxygen, and electrical power. The first electrochemical device is configured to operate in a first mode during normal operation of the vehicle and a second mode when the second electrochemical device fails, wherein in the second mode, the first electrochemical device provides the at least one of inert gas, oxygen, and electrical power for at least one vehicle critical system of the vehicle.

An activation assembly for a sealed container includes a striker, a detent, and a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire connected to the detent. The SMA wire may move the detent from a first position to a second position relative to the striker based on activation of the SMA wire where, in the first position, the detent is engaged with the striker, and, in the second position, the detent is disengaged from the striker and the striker is movable from a stowed position to a deployed position.

Apparatus for supplying oxygen to a vehicle user, comprising a source of pressurized respiratory gas containing oxygen-enriched air, a flow-regulating and/or pressure-regulating unit, and at least one mask provided for supplying gas to the respiratory tract of said user, the regulating unit comprising at least one inlet connected to the source and at least one outlet connected to the mask, the regulating unit being configured to regulate the flow and/or the pressure of the respiratory gas supplied to the mask according to the respiratory demand of the user, the apparatus comprising at least one sensor measuring the pressure and/or the flow of respiratory gas delivered by the regulating unit to the mask, and an electronic data storage and processing unit configured to receive the measurements from the at least one sensor and to calculate, from these measurements, the frequency of the gas flows supplied to the mask and corresponding to the respiratory frequency of the user, to compare this calculated frequency against a threshold frequency and, when this calculated frequency is greater than the threshold frequency, to generate an audible and/or visual and/or vibratory warning signal.

An oxygen generator outlet manifold assembly that includes an outlet manifold and an end cover. The outlet manifold includes a main body portion with inner and outer surfaces and at least a first hose connector that includes an outlet defined therein extending from the main body portion. The main body portion defines a main body portion interior that includes a connection opening defined in the inner surface, a ring chamber, a flow space and a distribution chamber. An annular ring is positioned in the main body portion chamber interior and separates the ring chamber from the distribution chamber. The end cover includes a generator outlet portion extending therefrom that is received in the connection opening. The generator outlet portion includes an outlet valve having an open and a closed state and includes an interior chamber that cooperates with the ring chamber to define an outlet chamber. An oxygen flow path is defined through the open valve, to the outlet chamber, through the flow space, through the distribution chamber and to the outlet of the first hose connector.

An activation assembly for a sealed container includes a striker, a detent, and a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire connected to the detent. The SMA wire may move the detent from a first position to a second position relative to the striker based on activation of the SMA wire where, in the first position, the detent is engaged with the striker, and, in the second position, the detent is disengaged from the striker and the striker is movable from a stowed position to a deployed position.

An oxygen pressure relief and ventilation system includes a flow fuse fluidly coupled downstream of a pressure regulator. The pressure regulator is operatively coupled to an oxygen tank, and the oxygen tank is located in an unpressurized compartment of an aircraft. A pressure relief valve is fluidly coupled downstream of the flow fuse. A ventilation pathway fluidly couples the unpressurized compartment with a pressurized compartment. The flow fuse and the pressure relief valve are configured to cooperatively mitigate downstream flow of pressurized oxygen if the pressure regulator fails. The ventilation pathway is configured to allow air from the pressurized compartment to pass through to the unpressurized compartment for diluting a concentrated oxygen in the unpressurized compartment.

An apparatus is disclosed that includes an aircraft or repurposed aircraft or fuselage having a cabin capable of pressurization, a way to pressurize the cabin whether by built in machinery or external apparatus, a way to deliver oxygen to a plurality of persons in the cabin, a source of hyperbaric oxygen, a pressure gauge or regulator configured to measure or regulate a pressure of the hyperbaric oxygen or the aircraft, a plurality of face or head coverings configured to provide the hyperbaric oxygen to persons or patients in need thereof, and an optional exhaust system configured to remove gas(es) from the face or head coverings without releasing the gas(es) into the cabin. Each of the face or head coverings includes a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and one or more seals adapted to contain oxygen in the face or head covering at a pressure greater than 1 atm. A related kit and a related method of treating persons with hyperbaric oxygen are also disclosed.

An oxygen supply system includes a container housing having a container door, a latch controller coupled to a latch of the container door and configured to control the latch to releasably open the container door, a microcontroller coupled to the latch controller and configured to output a first latch deployment signal to the latch controller to cause the latch controller to open the latch, a pressure sensor coupled to the latch controller and configured to output a second latch deployment signal to the latch controller to cause the latch controller to open the latch, and an energy storage coupled to the microcontroller and the pressure sensor and configured to supply the microcontroller and the pressure sensor with electrical energy. The microcontroller includes built-in test equipment (BITE) configured to monitor and test the operability of one or more of the microcontroller, the latch controller, the pressure sensor and the energy storage.

A retention system for use within a molecular sieve unit includes a perforated plate having a top face and bottom face. The perforated plate is configured to be positioned atop a packed sieve bed proximate an outlet end cap of the molecular sieve unit. A skirt is coupled to the bottom face of the perforated plate and a biasing member is configured to engage the outlet end cap and the top face of the perforated plate. The biasing member urges the perforated plate against the packed sieve bed. The biasing member may be one or more wave springs thereby reducing the risk of losing sufficient biasing force against the perforated plate. In the event that a sufficient biasing force is lost, the skirt may operate as a failsafe so as to minimize or prevent tilting of the perforated plate within the housing.