Diaphragm assembly for the demand regulator of a breathing apparatus

Abstract

A diaphragm assembly for the demand regulator of a breathing apparatus utilizes a diaphragm that gradually flattens down against a conical platform so as to reduce the effective sensing area. Advantageously the diaphragm is used in conjunction with an aspirator opening adjusted for maximum aspiration effect at low flow rates. At increased flow rates the reduced sensing area compensates for increased aspiration, insuring stable operation. The diaphragm periphery cooperates with the conical platform outer edge to serve as the regulator exhaust valve.

Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown or described, the applicant claims: 
     
       1. A diaphragm assembly for use with a demand regulator having a housing and a flow control valve situated in a valve housing within said regulator housing, said assembly comprising: a diaphragm situated within said regulator housing to sense inhalation demand, said diaphragm being operatively linked to said flow control valve,   a stationary symmetric conical platform mounted within said regulator housing, said platform having a central opening, said diaphragm being positioned so that its link extends through said central opening and so that upon displacement in response to reduced pressure in said regulator housing said diaphragm will gradually substantially geometrically uniformly seat against said stationary conical platform, thereby reducing the effective sensing area of the diaphragm in uniform proportion to the diaphragm displacement, said displacement in response to reduced pressure opening said flow control valve, and   an aspirator in said valve housing, said aspirator being set to maximize the aspiration effect at low mass flow rates.   
     
     
       2. A diaphragm assembly according to claim 1 wherein said diaphragm is circular and slightly concave, and has a shaft that is connected to the diaphragm central region and is linked to said flow control valve so as to open said valve as said diaphragm is displaced toward said platform in response to reduced pressure in said housing. 
     
     
       3. A diaphragm assembly for use with a demand regulator having a housing and a flow control valve within said housing, said assembly comprising: a diaphragm situated within said housing to sense inhalation demand, said diaphragm being operatively linked to said control valve,   a stationary symmetric conical platform mounted within said housing, said platform having a central opening, said diaphragm being positioned so that its link extends through said central opening and so that upon displacement in response to reduced pressure in said housing said diaphragm will gradually, substantially geometrically uniformly seat against said stationary conical platform, thereby reducing the effective sensing area of the diaphragm in uniform proportion to the diaphragm displacement, said displacement in response to reduced pressure opening said flow control valve, and   an aspirator, said aspirator being set to maximize the aspiration effect at low mass flow rates,   said flow control valve being situated in a valve housing inside said regulator housing,   said aspirator comprising a collar forming a portion of said valve housing and having an aspirator opening therethrough, said collar being integrally connected to a member external to said regulator housing to permit external adjustment of the position of the aspirator opening. .[.4. A diaphragm assembly for use with a demand regulator having a housing and a flow control valve within said housing, said assembly comprising:   a diaphragm situated within said housing to sense inhalation demand, said diaphragm being operatively linked to said flow control valve, and   a stationary symmetric conical platform mounted within said housing, said platform having a central opening, said diaphragm being positioned so that its link extends through said central opening and so that upon displacement in response to reduced pressure in said housing said diaphragm will gradually, substantially geometrically uniformly seat against said stationary conical platform, thereby reducing the effective sensing area of the diaphragm in uniform proportion to the diaphragm displacement, said displacement in response to reduced pressure opening said flow control valve,   the portion of said regulator housing that contains said diaphragm having at least one opening to permit fluid flow into the region behind said diaphragm,   the periphery of said diaphragm resting on the outer rim of said platform and being displaceable rearwardly away from said platform, to permit the   
     
     
        exhaust of exhaled gases..]. 5. A diaphragm assembly for use with a demand regulator having a housing and a flow control valve within said housing, said assembly comprising: a diaphragm situated within said housing to sense inhalation demand, said diaphragm being operatively linked to said flow control valve,   a platform mounted within said housing so that upon displacement in response to reduced pressure in said housing said diaphragm will gradually, substantially geometrically uniformly seat against said platform, thereby reducing the effective sensing area of the diaphragm in uniform proportion to the diaphragm displacement,   the portion of said regulator housing which contains said diaphragm having at least one opening to permit fluid flow into the region behind said diaphragm, the periphery of said diaphragm resting on the outer rim of said platform and being displaceable rearwardly thereof to permit the exhaust of exhaled gases, and wherein   said housing includes a generally cylindrical seat on the opposite side of said diaphragm from said platform, said seat having a diameter less than about half that of said diaphragm, and a rigid disc .[.attached to said shaft.]. .Iadd.coupled to said diaphragm .Iaddend.on the same side of said diaphragm as said platform, the diameter of said disc being about the same as said seat, said .[.diaphragm and.]. disc resting against .Iadd.said diaphragm and supported by .Iaddend.said seat when said regulator is in the quiescent state.Iadd., and   an aspirator in said housing, said aspirator being settable to maximize the   
     
     
        aspiration effect at low mass flow rates.Iaddend.. 6. A diaphragm assembly according to claim 5 together with a purge button mounted to said regulator housing and positioned to displace said diaphragm .[.off of said seat.]. .Iadd.and operate said flow control valve .Iaddend.when said purge 
     
     
        button is depressed. 7. In a demand regulator for a breathing apparatus, the improvement comprising, a regulator body,   a valve mounted within said body for controlling the flow of breathable air from a source to a user in response to inhalation demand,   a diaphragm housing attached to said body, there being a partition between the interior of said body and the interior of said diaphragm housing,   a conical platform formed in said partition, there being a concentric circular opening in said partition at the center of said platform, the periphery of said platform forming a ledge projecting from said partition,   a diaphragm floatingly mounted in said diaphragm housing, the center of said diaphragm being attached to a shaft that extends through said opening and is operatively linked to said valve, the periphery of said diaphragm overlying the ledge of said conical platform, whereby reduced pressure within said body causes said diaphragm to move toward said opening, thereby causing said valve to open, said diaphragm gradually flattening against said conical platform so as to reduce the effective area of the diaphragm as the pressure decreases, the peripheral portion of said diaphragm bending away from said platform ledge due to excess pressure within said regulator body so as to provide an exhaust path for exhaled gases.Iadd., and   an aspirator cooperating with said diaphragm and being settable to maximize   
     
     
        the aspiration effect at low mass flow rates.Iaddend.. 8. A demand regulator according to claim 7 wherein said .[.valve.]. .Iadd.aspirator .Iaddend.has an aspirator opening through which breathable gas flows when the valve is open, said aspirator opening being positioned so that maximal aspiration effect is achieved at low flow rates, the decreased pressure in said regulator body resultant from aspiration at higher flow rates causing said diaphragm to flatten further against said platform so that the effective sensing area is reduced, whereby stable operation is achieved at 
     
     
        all flow rates. 9. A demand regulator according to claim 8 wherein said aspirator opening is formed in an aspirator collar that is attached to said body and includes a cap situated externally to said body, rotation of said cap changing the radial position of said aspirator opening so as to 
     
     
        facilitate external adjustment of the aspiration effect. 10. In a demand regulator having a housing, a mouth-piece and a flow control valve situated in a valve housing within said regulator housing, the improvement comprising: a stationary truncated conical platform situated within said regulator housing and attached thereto,   a diaphragm situated within said regulator housing on the opposite side of said conical platform from said flow control valve, said diaphragm moving toward said stationary conical platform in response to reduced pressure within said regulator housing resulting from inhalation through said mouthpiece, said diaphragm gradually, substantially geometrically uniformly seating against said conical platform during such motion in response to reduced pressure, so that the effective sensing area of the diaphragm is reduced, said diaphragm being operatively linked to said flow control valve to open said valve when said diaphragm is moved toward said platform, and wherein   said valve housing has an aspirator opening through which breathable gas flows directly toward said mouthpiece when said flow control valve is open, said aspirator opening being positioned so that maximal aspiration effect is achieved at low flow rates, the decreased pressure in said regulator body resultant from aspiration at higher flow rates causing said diaphragm to flatten further against said platform so that the effective sensing area is further reduced, whereby stable operation is achieved at all flow rates. .Iadd.11. In a scuba regulator second stage of the type having a housing and a flow control valve situated within said housing to control the flow of breathable gas from a source to a mouthpiece, said second stage also having a diaphragm situated within said housing and linked to said flow control valve to operate the same in response to sensed inhalation demand, the improvement wherein:   said housing includes a member separating the interior of said housing into two regions, a first region containing said flow control valve and a second region containing said diaphragm, said separating member having a central opening through which extends a link connecting said diaphragm to said flow control valve,   said housing having at least one exhaust opening extending from said second region to the exterior of said housing,   a generally annular flared member attached to said separating member about said central opening and extending into said second region,   said diaphragm being flexible and being in peripheral rim contact with said annular flared member when said diaphragm is in the quiescent state, said annular flared member having an annular edge at its outermost extremity and said diaphragm having a bead at its outmost extremity, said bead of the diaphragm overhanging said annular edge at its periphery, inhalation causing movement of said diaphragm toward said first region to cause concomitant opening of said flow control valve, said diaphragm being sufficiently flexible so that upon exhalation at least a portion of the periphery of said diaphragm is displaced away from said rim contact with said annular flared member so as to provide an exhaust path for exhaled gases from said first region to said second region through the separation between said displaced diaphragm periphery and said annular flared member, and thence through said exhaust opening to the exterior of said housing. .Iaddend.