An Altitude Simulation Assembly

Abstract

An altitude simulation assembly for an environmental chamber includes: at least one ambient air inlet; an air compressor downstream of said ambient air inlet for compressing the ambient air; at least one gas separation means downstream of the air compressor for separating the compressed air into hypoxic gas and hyperoxic gas; and, at least one fluid flow control means in fluid communication with the at least one gas separation means, for controlling the flow of hypoxic gas and hyperoxic gas to the environmental chamber. The at least one fluid flow control means is in fluid communication with at least one outlet port for supplying hypoxic gas from the gas separation means to the at least one outlet port, and hyperoxic gas from the gas separation means to the at least one outlet port. The fluid flow control means controls the oxygen concentration of gas to the environmental chamber.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An altitude simulation assembly for an environmental chamber, the altitude simulation assembly comprising: at least one ambient air inlet; an air compressor downstream of said at least one ambient air inlet for compressing ambient air into compressed air; at least one gas separation means downstream of the air compressor for separating the compressed air into hypoxic gas and hyperoxic gas; and, a fluid flow control means in fluid communication with the at least one gas separation means, for controlling the flow of hypoxic gas and hyperoxic gas to the environmental chamber, the fluid flow control means being in fluid communication with at least one outlet port for supplying hypoxic gas from the at least one gas separation means to the at least one outlet port and hyperoxic gas from the at least one gas separation means to the at least one outlet port, said fluid flow control means controlling the oxygen concentration of gas to the environmental chamber.

17. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 16, wherein the fluid flow control means comprises at least one electrically activated valve.

18. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 17, wherein the at least one outlet port includes a first outlet port and a second outlet port and the electrically activated valve is operatively connected the first outlet port for supplying hypoxic gas to the environmental chamber and the second outlet port for supplying hyperoxic gas to the environmental chamber.

19. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 17, wherein the electrically activated valve is a solenoid valve configured to move between a first position and a second position, whereby in a first position the solenoid valve is configured to supply hypoxic gas to the environmental chamber and in a second position the solenoid valve is configured to supply hyperoxic gas to the environmental chamber.

20. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 16, wherein the air compressor is in fluid communication with an air cooling means for condensing water vapor in the compressed air.

21. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 20, wherein the air cooling means comprises a fan-cooled radiator.

22. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 20, wherein the air cooling means is in fluid communication with a water removal filter for removing condensed water vapor from the compressed air.

23. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 22, wherein the water removal filter incorporates an automatic drain for releasing condensed water vapor that has been retained in the filter.

24. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 16, wherein the at least one gas separation means comprises at least one hollow fiber membrane.

25. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 16, wherein in fluid communication with the at least one outlet port is at least one respiratory filter for removing contaminants from the hypoxic and/or hyperoxic gas.

26. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 16, wherein the at least one outlet port is in fluid communication with a fluid delivery pipe.

27. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 16, wherein the fluid flow control means is controlled by a control device, said control device comprising a control panel and display.

28. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 27, wherein the fluid flow control means is operatively connected to at least one oxygen sensor, the at least one oxygen sensor being configured to sense an oxygen level at a location within the environmental chamber.

29. An altitude simulation assembly according to claim 16, wherein the fluid flow control means is configured to supply a variable concentration of oxygen to the environmental chamber to alter a simulated altitude within said environmental chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of one embodiment of an altitude simulation assembly for delivering hypoxic gas and/or hyperoxic gas to an environmental chamber;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows the flow diagram of FIG. 1, with one embodiment of gas separation means in fluid communication with at least one electrically activated valve, configured to deliver hypoxic gas and hyperoxic gas to the environmental chamber through separate outlet ports;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of gas separation means in fluid communication with at least one electrically activated valve, configured to deliver hypoxic gas and hyperoxic gas to the environmental chamber through the same outlet port; and,

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of fluid flow control means, where the at least one electrically activated valves comprise a solenoid valve.

[0035] In the figures like references denote like or corresponding parts.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, an altitude simulation assembly 1 comprises an air compressor 4 that draws in ambient air 6 through an ambient air inlet 3, compresses this ambient air stream 6 to form compressed air 7 and provides this compressed air 7 to a gas separation means 5. The gas separation means 5 separates the compressed air 7 into hypoxic gas 8 and hyperoxic gas 9, which are passed to a flow control device that provides one or other to the chamber according to that required within an environmental chamber 2. The gas separation means 5 delivers the hypoxic gas 8 and/or hyperoxic gas 9 to the environmental chamber 2 through at least one outlet port 11.

[0037] The altitude simulation assembly 1 supplies air to the environmental chamber 2 with a specific concentration of oxygen. This alters the overall oxygen level within the environmental chamber 2 to simulate a different altitude within the environmental chamber 2. Reducing the concentration of oxygen of the air within the environmental chamber 2, raises the simulated altitude within the environmental chamber 2. Increasing the concentration of oxygen of the air within the environmental chamber 2, lowers the simulated altitude within the environmental chamber 2. The gas separation means 5 is controlled to allow for this change in simulated altitude.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of gas separation means 5 when in fluid communication with at least one electrically activated valve 12. Shown in this figure are a pair of electrically activated valves 12. These electrically activated valves 12 operate as the fluid flow control means 10 and are configured to control the hypoxic gas 8 and the hyperoxic gas 9 being emitted by the gas separation means 5. In this embodiment each electrically activated valve is configured to control either the flow of hypoxic gas 8 or hyperoxic gas 9 to the environmental chamber 2. Each electrically activated valve 12 is in fluid communication with a vent 16 to vent any waste gas to the atmosphere 17 external to the environmental chamber 2.

[0039] The hypoxic gas 8 and hyperoxic gas 9 are supplied to the environmental chamber 2 through two separate outlet ports 11, a first outlet port 13 configured to supply hypoxic gas 8 to the environmental chamber 2 and a second outlet port 14 configured to supply hyperoxic gas 9 to the environmental chamber 2.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a further arrangement of gas separation means 5 fluidly connected to a pair of electrically activated valves 12, configured to control the concentration of oxygen within the air flow that is supplied to the environmental chamber 2, whereby only one outlet port 11 supplies either hypoxic gas 8 or hyperoxic gas 9 to the environmental chamber 2. The first outlet port 13 is configured to supply waste gas through a vent 16 and to the atmosphere 17. The electrically activated valves 12 are operated so that either hypoxic gas 8 or hyperoxic gas 9 are passed to the environmental chamber 2 via the port 11 and the gas other than that being supplied to the environmental chamber 2 is passed to the atmosphere 17.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a further arrangement where the fluid flow control means may comprise a single unit with at least one solenoid valve 15 operating as the electrically activated valves 12. It may also comprise a rotary valve that is motor driven, not shown. The solenoid valve 15 may also be replaced by other activated valves, that include, but are not restricted to, pneumatic valves.

[0042] Entry into the environmental chamber may be through a single, dual, plurality of arrangement of fluid delivery pipes, or similar ducting that allows for sufficient environmental chamber 2 distribution. The altitude simulation assembly 1 allows a considerable variance of altitude to be simulated within the environmental chamber 2, ranging from sea level to the altitude experienced at the top of the highest peak of a mountain range such as Mount Everest.

[0043] The system will likely be controlled by a control device, with control panel provided with a plurality of controls or buttons, a display, and in electrical communication with at least one oxygen sensor. There may be a plurality of oxygen sensors placed throughout the environmental chamber 2 to enable a reading of the overall oxygen concentration of air within the environmental chamber 2 to be determined. The control device may be programmed to interpret the data and control the fluid flow control means accordingly.