On-board generation of oxygen for aircraft pilots

摘要

The present invention provides a system and method for supplying and managing oxygen suited for use on-board an aircraft for providing breathable oxygen to pilots and cockpit crew. Components of the system work together to optimize oxygen utilization while reducing costs from maintenance and added weight of traditional pressurized gaseous cylinders. Components include a rapid oxygen supply for immediate use in emergency situations, an on-board oxygen generator (OBOG), a controller, a pulsed oxygen delivery subsystem that detects inhale/exhale phases and adapts to physiological requirements, and a breathing mask for each pilot and cockpit crew member.

主权项

1. A system for providing regulated flow of oxygen, for a pilot or a cockpit crew member on an aircraft, comprising:
a first on-board oxygen supplier configured to supply oxygen during an initial stage, said first on-board oxygen supplier including a combination of a pressurized oxygen cylinder and a chemical oxygen generator; at least one first oxygen source sensor connected to said first on-board oxygen supplier configured to determine an available oxygen volume and an oxygen concentration of oxygen in said first on-board oxygen supplier; a second on-board oxygen supplier configured to supply oxygen during a subsequent stage, wherein the second on-board oxygen supplier comprises a combination of a molecular sieve oxygen generator incorporating pressure swing adsorption, and at least one of a ceramic oxygen generator incorporating a solid electrolyte oxygen separator, and a pressure swing adsorption oxygen generator; a second oxygen source sensor connected to said second on-board oxygen supplier configured to determine an oxygen concentration of oxygen supplied by said second on-board oxygen supplier; a pulsed oxygen delivery subsystem connected to the first on-board oxygen supplier by a first feed line and connected to the second on-board oxygen supplier by a second feed line and configured to receive oxygen supplied by said first on-board oxygen supplier and said second on-board oxygen supplier; a first oxygen usage sensor disposed in said first feed line connected between said first on-board oxygen supplier and said pulsed oxygen delivery subsystem, said first oxygen usage sensor being configured to measure a rate of usage of oxygen from said first on-board oxygen supplier; a second oxygen usage sensor disposed in said second feed line connected between said second on-board oxygen supplier and said pulsed oxygen delivery subsystem, said second oxygen usage sensor being configured to measure a rate of usage of oxygen from said second on-board oxygen supplier; and a controller configured to control the first on-board oxygen supplier and the second on-board oxygen supplier based on the rates of usage of oxygen from said first and second on-board oxygen suppliers, said available oxygen volume and oxygen concentration in said first on-board oxygen supplier, and said oxygen concentration of oxygen supplied by said second on-board oxygen supplier.