Emergency oxygen device with improved activation lanyard arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to an emergency oxygen device for passenger of an aircraft, including a chemical oxygen generator including a chemical oxygen source and an activation unit for initiating a chemical reaction of the chemical oxygen source producing oxygen, at least two oxygen masks each connected with the chemical oxygen generator for receiving an oxygen fluid flow from the chemical oxygen generator after the activation unit has initiated the chemical reaction, and a mechanical activation assembly for activating the activation unit. The activation unit is activated by a mechanical force exerted onto an activation element of the activation unit and the mechanical activation assembly includes for each of the at least two oxygen masks a first mechanical connection from the activation element to a fixation element releasably mounted to the emergency oxygen device and a second mechanical connection from the fixation element to the oxygen mask.

Claims

1. An emergency oxygen device for a passenger of an aircraft, comprising: (a) an oxygen source; (b) an activation unit (i) comprising (A) an activation element, (B) an activation pin configured to be pulled out of the activation element, and (C) an activation line configured to effect the pulling of the activation pin out of the activation element and (ii) configured to initiate oxygen flow from the oxygen source when the activation pin is pulled out of the activation element; (c) an oxygen mask connected to the oxygen source and in fluid communication with the oxygen source at least when the activation pin is pulled out of the activation element; (d) a first lanyard having a first end connected to the oxygen mask; (e) a fixation plug (i) inserted into a wall of a casing of the emergency oxygen device (ii) connected to an opposing second end of the first lanyard, and (iii) movable out of the wall when a passenger first pulls on the oxygen mask or the first lanyard, wherein the activation line is not moved when the fixation plug is moved out of the wall; and (f) a second lanyard connecting the fixation plug to the activation line; wherein the second lanyard has a first end attached to the fixation plug and a second end attached to the activation line; the second lanyard is configured to move the activation line when tensioned by the passenger during a second pull of the mask or the first lanyard so as to effect the pulling of the activation pin out of the activation element.

2. The emergency oxygen device of claim 1 in which the oxygen source is a chemical oxygen generator having opposed first and second ends.

3. The emergency oxygen device of claim 2 further comprising a guide element (i) positioned at the second end of the chemical oxygen generator and (ii) to which the activation line is connected.

4. The emergency oxygen device of claim 3 further comprising a central oxygen tube connecting the oxygen mask to an oxygen exit opening at the first end of the chemical oxygen generator.

5. The emergency oxygen device of claim 1 in which the fixation plug comprises: (a) a rounded end; and (b) an elastomeric ring element.

6. The emergency oxygen device of claim 5 in which the fixation plug is configured for insertion into, and removal from, a casing (i) in which the oxygen mask is stored prior to use and (ii) having a bore in the wall into which the fixation plug is inserted and from which the fixation plug is removed.

7. The emergency oxygen device of claim 1 further comprising a ring element (i) coupling the second lanyard to the activation line and (ii) configured to slide along the activation line.

8. An emergency oxygen device for a passenger of an aircraft, comprising: (a) an oxygen source; (b) an activation unit (i) comprising (A) a movable activation element configured to initiate oxygen flow from the oxygen source when moved; (B) an activation pin configured to be pulled out of the activation element, and (C) an activation line configured to effect the pulling of the activation pin out of the activation element and (ii) configured to initiate oxygen flow from the oxygen source when the activation pin is pulled out of the activation element; (c) an oxygen mask connected to the oxygen source and in fluid communication with the oxygen source at least when the activation pin is pulled out of the activation element and oxygen is flowing from the oxygen source; (d) a first connector comprising a first lanyard having a first end mechanically connected to the oxygen mask; (e) a fixation element comprising a fixation plug (i) inserted into a wall of a casing of the emergency oxygen device (ii) connected to an opposing second end of the first connector, and (iii) movable out of the wall when a passenger first pulls on the oxygen mask or the first connector, wherein the activation line is not moved when the fixation plug is moved out of the wall; and (f) a second connector comprising a second lanyard mechanically connecting the fixation element to the activation element; wherein the second lanyard has a first end attached to the fixation plug and a second end attached to the activation line; the second lanyard is configured to move the activation element when tensioned by the passenger during a second pull of the mask or the first lanyard so as to effect initiation of oxygen flow from the oxygen source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A preferred embodiment of the invention is described referring to the Figures. In the Figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective partial view showing an oxygen generator and parts of the lanyard device for activating said generator,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view of an emergency oxygen device according to the invention including the parts shown in FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 2, and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective side elevational view of a detail of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the emergency oxygen device according to the invention comprises in a preferred embodiment a single chemical oxygen generator 10 and three oxygen masks 20a,b,c. The oxygen masks are arranged in series beside the chemical oxygen generator 10 along a line extending approximately in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chemical oxygen generator.

(7) The chemical oxygen generator and the three oxygen masks are usually stored in a casing (not shown) and hold in position inside that casing.

(8) Each oxygen mask is connected via a first lanyard 21a,b,c to a fixation plug 30a,b,c. The length of this first lanyard 21a,b,c determines the level to which the oxygen masks fall out of the casing in case of an emergency situation.

(9) The fixation plug 30a,b,c is inserted into a bore in the upper wall of the casing. The fixation plug comprises a rounded end 31a to facilitate insertion into said bore and an elastomeric ring 32a element effecting a frictional and form locking fixation of the plug inside said bore. By a slight deformation of said elastomeric ring it is possible to pull out the fixation plug out of the bore if a pulling force is exerted via said first lanyard by the passenger pulling the oxygen mask to himself.

(10) A second lanyard 22a,b,c for each oxygen mask connects each fixation plug 30a,b,c to an activation line 40. The second lanyards are coupled to said activation line 40 via a ring element 23a,b,c which may slide along the length of the activation line 40. Whereas the first lanyard 21a,b,c is arranged in a slack loop within the casing, the second lanyard is connecting the fixation plug and the activation line via a straight connecting line under a slight tension.

(11) The activation line 40 is connected at a first end 11 of the chemical oxygen generator to a central exit opening and at an opposed second end 12 of the chemical oxygen generator to a guide element 13. The activation line thus extends from the first to the second end along the oxygen generator and is guided under a slight tension along the side wall of the oxygen generator.

(12) As soon as a tensional force via the pulling of the masks to the passenger effects the release of the fixation plugs and is then further applied to the second lanyard, this tensional force is increased by the lever arrangements of the second lanyards 22a-c versus the activation line 40 and effects a pulling force and movement of said activation line via said guide element 13. The activation line 40 by this effects a pulling out of an activation pin 14 from a central activation element 15 thus releasing said activation element and starting a short exothermic reaction which is sufficient to initiate the chemical reaction inside the oxygen generator. This starting effect can be achieved by any of the three second lanyards if one of the passengers pulls the mask downwards or towards himself.

(13) As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the central exit opening at the first end 11 of the chemical oxygen generator 10 directs the oxygen flow into a central oxygen tube 50 having three connecting elements 50a-c for connecting to oxygen hoses (not shown). These oxygen hoses are attached to the connecting elements on their first end and are connected to oxygen bags 60a-c attached to each oxygen mask at the second end to direct oxygen flow from the chemical oxygen generator to each of the three oxygen masks.