Oxygen emergency supply device
View Patent ↗An oxygen emergency supply device for an aircraft includes an oxygen pressure vessel, which is in fluid connection with at least one oxygen mask. Means for closing and opening the oxygen pressure vessel, means for pressure reduction, a pressure regulation device, and a flow throttle are provided in the conduit connection between the oxygen pressure vessel and the oxygen mask. The oxygen emergency supply device further includes a control device. A controllable shut-off valve forms the means for closing and opening the oxygen pressure vessel, the means for pressure reduction and a part of the pressure regulation device.
1. An oxygen emergency supply device for an aircraft comprising:
a pressure vessel configured to contain oxygen under pressure;
a shut-off valve connected at its input side to the pressure vessel and connected at its exit side to an oxygen delivery conduit in fluid communication with an oxygen mask;
a pressure sensor which measures a pressure at the exit side of the shut-off valve; and
a control device which receives the pressure measurement from the pressure sensor,
wherein, in response to said pressure measurement said control device causes a voltage having alternating time intervals of on and off to be applied to said shut-off valve such that, during the on time intervals, the oxygen is allowed to flow from said pressure vessel to the oxygen delivery conduit, and during the off time intervals, the pressure prevailing in the pressure vessel causes said shut-off valve to block the flow of oxygen from said pressure vessel to the oxygen delivery conduit such that no oxygen from the pressure vessel flows to the oxygen mask, and
wherein a magnitude of the voltage applied to said shut-off valve is directly proportional to the prevailing pressure of the pressure vessel.
2. The oxygen emergency supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the control device further responds to an ambient pressure sensor.
3. The oxygen emergency supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the shut-off valve has a form of an adjustable return valve.
4. The oxygen emergency supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the shut-off valve is electrically controlled.
5. The oxygen emergency supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the shut-off valve has a form of a seat valve.
6. The oxygen emergency supply device according to claim 5 , wherein the shut-off valve has a form of a ball-seat valve.
7. The oxygen emergency supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the shut-off valve has an opening force directly proportional to an inner pressure of the oxygen pressure vessel.
8. The oxygen emergency supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the shut-off valve has a redundant design and comprises two throughput paths, each one of the paths being closed by a separate valve body.
9. The oxygen emergency supply device of claim 1 , wherein the shut-off valve includes a ferromagnetic valve body, a valve seat and an electromagnet, and the alternating voltage is applied to the electromagnet and causes the valve body to alternately contact and separate from the valve seat.