AIRCRAFT AIRCREW LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS

摘要

Oxygen-enriched breathable gas for breathing by aircrew is delivered by an on-board oxygen generating system 11 utilizing molecular sieve adsorber beds 12. The breathable gas is compressed by a compressor 17 and supplied by way of an appropriately switched two-way valve 25 to a plenum storage tank 30 from which it is withdrawn for breathing by aircrew during normal flight operations. The two-way valve may be switched by electronic control means 15 to connect the compressor with an aircrew seat mounted emergency storage bottle 40 when breathable gas of maximum oxygen concentration is being delivered by the OBOGS and the pressure in the emergency storage bottle is sensed to have fallen below a designated value. This reduces the system servicing requirements and minimizes the size of the system components, in particular the adsorber beds.