Bi-Directional Regulator System for Simultaneous High-Pressure Filling and Low-Pressure Depleting of Gas Tank

Abstract

An attachable, detachable pressure reducing regulator for use with a primary high-pressure gas source, wherein the high-pressure chamber of said regulator includes a secondary gas IN portal, with a one-way valve, through which the primary container source may be refilled from an external gas source, via the high-pressure chamber of the said regulator, either independently of or concurrently during its use as a pressure reducing regulator.

Claims

1. A gas pressure reducing regulator for use with a primary high-pressure source of breathable gas; whereby said regulator comprising a housing with a means for attaching said housing to a primary high-pressure container-based source of gas; whereby said high-pressure source depletes its supply by delivering said gas through a series of chambers that reduce the high-pressure to a lower pressure; wherein the first of said chambers is a high-pressure chamber that operates at a pressure in equilibrium with said primary gas source, and said high-pressure chamber has a secondary portal with a one way valve, to which a secondary high-pressure gas source of equal or greater pressure than the primary gas source may flow into and through said high-pressure chamber, into the said primary high-pressure container.

2. The gas pressure reducing regulator of claim 1, further comprising a low-pressure chamber following said high-pressure chamber, for reducing said high-pressure to a lower predetermined pressure level suitable for breathing and enervation of tools and devices.

3. The low-pressure chamber of claim 2, further comprising a method of reducing said high-pressure to a lower predetermined level that is pressure adjusted by ambient pressure level to a suitable lower pressure for breathing and enervation of tools and devices.

4. The high-pressure chamber of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of gas out portals for measuring the pressure level within said high-pressure chamber, said primary and secondary gas sources.

5. The low-pressure chamber of claim 1, further comprising of a plurality of gas out portals for dispensing said pressure reduced gas for breathing and enervation of tools and devices.

Description

PRIOR ART

[0046] U.S. Pat. No. 7,686,032 B2
First Stage scuba diving regulator having an intermediate pressure spring protected from ice-induced blockage
U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,022 A
In-line First Stage air pressure regulator for use in scuba diving
An in-line air pressure regulator for scuba diving is designed to augment an independent air supply system in the event of a failure of the primary pressure regulator.

U.S. RE36223 E

[0047] First Stage scuba regulator
A First Stage pressure regulator for use with a High-Pressure source of breathable gas includes a housing and either a yoke arrangement for connection to the conventional U.S. High-Pressure gas source or a DIN connection for coupling to a European-type gas source.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,189 A
First Stage scuba regulator
A yoke for attaching a tank valve to an inlet fitting of the regulator has a threaded base ring telescoped over the inlet fitting, the base ring engaging a lead screw journalled on the base of the fitting. Rotation of the lead screw moves the yoke to clamp or release the tank valve.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,140 A Environmental First Stage scuba regulator
A First Stage scuba regulator operates to supply breathable air at a pressure of say, about 125 psi above ambient to a Second Stage demand regulator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,407 A First Stage pressure regulator with flow around seat
A First Stage pressure regulator for use with a High-Pressure source of breathable gas includes a housing and means for attaching the housing to a High-Pressure source of breathable gas.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,368 A First reducing stage for a two-stage regulator
First reducing stage for a two-stage regulator, including a nozzle connected by a yoke and a clamping screw to an inlet, a pressure chamber, and a shutoff member that slides, guided by a piston or by a diaphragm, inside the pressure chamber.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,860 A Pressure regulator for underwater breathing apparatus
The First Stage regulator of a two-stage underwater breathing apparatus utilizes an imperforate force transfer mechanism to automatically increase the rate at which breathing air is delivered from a High-Pressure supply to the Second Stage regulator as the diver descends in the water.

CONCLUSION

[0048] To the best knowledge of the Inventor, no prior art exists wherein the High-Pressure chamber of a source tank mountable the First Stage regulator, contains a second unrestricted High-Pressure gas IN Port, with one-way valve, for the direct connection of an alternative, High-Pressure gas source, in order to provide a simultaneous, real-time method of replenishing the High-Pressure tank onto which the removeable First Stage regulator is connected, while simultaneously operating as a standard First Stage regulator, attached to the on/off valve of a High-Pressure tank-based gas source.

SUMMARY

[0049] The invention is an innovative new method of delivering breathing gas to a User working in an adverse environment. It: 1) reduces the size and complexity of the equipment required, 2) reduces the possible points of failure, and opportunity for User error, 3) automates the process of determining the pressure required by a Second Stage regulator to delivery ambient pressure adjusted breathing gas to the User, 4) allows for a post adverse-environment entry connection of a Secondary Gas supply, 5) provides for the seamless refilling of a tank based gas source by a remote based gas source, concurrently with the standard operating procedure of reducing a High-Pressure Gas IN source to a Low-Pressure Gas OUT Portal, that is properly adjusted to the ambient pressure of the User.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

System Diagram

[0050] The drawing is a schematic of the system, for supplying breathing gas from a High-Pressure secondary external source, into a High-Pressure Primary Gas source, through the High-Pressure Chamber of a First Stage regulator. All pressure reducing regulators have a High-Pressure Chamber. Said chamber is attached to the on/off valve, which controls existent or non-existent flow of air from the High-Pressure gas source (normally a cylinder). The specifications for this system, are independent of the regulator design that controls the air flow after it exits the High-Pressure chamber. The instant invention pertains only to the High-Pressure chamber of any pressure reducing regulator. The following description details each of the nine (9) features and functions shown in the Drawing 1 (with annotations) and Drawing 2 (without annotations.) Is any High-Pressure gas source, but most commonly is a cylinder or tank, containing High-Pressure gas. [0051] 1. Is a High-Pressure On/Off valve, used to determine the existent/nonexistent flow of gas into and out of the High-Pressure cylinder. The gas passes from the cylinder, through the Primary Gas IN Port, into the High-Pressure Chamber. In the instant invention, it also allows the reverse; for the cylinder to receive incoming gas from the High-Pressure Chamber. [0052] 2. High-Pressure Chamber. This chamber is connected, via the On/Off Valve (#2), to the Primary Gas source gas cylinder (#1), through the “NON-Restricted” Primary Gas IN Port of the High-Pressure Chamber. [0053] 3. Check Valve allows the flow of gas, through a new, Secondary Gas IN Port (#5). The one-way valve allows the flow of gas from any secondary source to enter (but not exit) the High-Pressure Chamber (#3). Exclusive of the direction of flow, this is an NON-Restricted port. It allows an equally unrestricted (as the Primary Gas IN Port) gas to flow into (but not out of) the High-Pressure Chamber. [0054] 4. Secondary High Pressure Gas IN Port, for delivery of gas from any external High Pressure source. [0055] 5. High-Pressure Gas OUT Port. This port is a highly flow-restricted Gas OUT Port. It commonly is used to connect pressure sensing devices, that do not require gas flow, to operate the sensor. [0056] 6. Pressure Adjusting Chamber. Designed in a variety of different ways, this chamber reduces the gas exiting the High-Pressure Gas Chamber, into the Intermediate/Low-Pressure Chamber. The common purpose of this chamber is to adjust the variable source pressure (arriving from the High-Pressure Chamber) to a suitable Gas OUT Port pressure, that is adjusted, relative to the ambient operating pressure of the device. For Second Stage regulators, this commonly is 125-150 psi, above the ambient pressure. This chamber has a port (#8), that allows the chamber to sense the ambient pressure in which it is operating. [0057] 7. Ambient Pressure Port, allows the Pressure Adjusting Chamber to know the ambient pressure in which the regulator is operating. [0058] 8. Low-Pressure Chamber. This chamber commonly has multiple Low-Pressure Ports, to which multiple “Low-Pressure Devices” may be connected and enervated. Said devices may be for connection to Second Stage Regulators, for breathing, or Buoyance Control Devices or Exposure Suit Control, or gas pressure operated tools, such as safety alarms. [0059] 9. Low-Pressure Gas OUT Ports. Multiple ports for connecting Low-Pressure devices.