초록 ▼

Aircraft passengers who require a therapeutic oxygen supply independently of the prevailing cabin pressure, as distinguished from an emergency oxygen supply that depends on an inadequate cabin pressure, can breath therapeutic oxygen and/or emergency oxygen depending on the situation, through the sam

Aircraft passengers who require a therapeutic oxygen supply independently of the prevailing cabin pressure, as distinguished from an emergency oxygen supply that depends on an inadequate cabin pressure, can breath therapeutic oxygen and/or emergency oxygen depending on the situation, through the same therapeutic oxygen masks. For this purpose a control accessible to the crew is used to connect a therapeutic oxygen supply to the emergency oxygen distribution system of the aircraft, whereby the source of oxygen is used either partially for therapeutic purposes or fully for emergency purposes.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An oxygen supply system for a passenger aircraft, said system comprising at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) accessible to passengers, an emergency oxygen supply first subsystem (EOS) including a first oxygen source (1), a therapeutic oxygen supply second subs

What is claimed is: 1. An oxygen supply system for a passenger aircraft, said system comprising at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) accessible to passengers, an emergency oxygen supply first subsystem (EOS) including a first oxygen source (1), a therapeutic oxygen supply second subsystem (TOS) including a second oxygen source (1′, 22), a first oxygen conduit (EOC) connecting said first oxygen source (1) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), a second oxygen conduit (TOC) connecting said second oxygen source (1′, 22) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), controllable valve means in at least one of said first and second oxygen conduits (EOC, TOC) for connecting said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask selectively to one of said first subsystem (EOS) and said second subsystem (TOS), a control (16, 26) connected to said second subsystem (TOS) for activating said second subsystem (TOS), whereby said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask is selectively usable in said first subsystem and in said second subsystem, wherein said controllable valve means comprises pressure responsive valves (9, 10) for switching between said first subsystem (EOS) and said second subsystem (TOS) so that oxygen is supplied to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) from said first oxygen source (1) when a cabin pressure in said passenger aircraft falls below a predetermined cabin pressure threshold value, and so that oxygen is supplied to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) from said second oxygen source (1′, 22) when said cabin pressure rises above said predetermined cabin pressure threshold value. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one oxygen distribution bank (ODB), and oxygen outlets (8) connected to said at least one oxygen distribution bank (ODB), wherein said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask is connectable to a respective at least one of said oxygen outlets (8), and wherein said pressure responsive valves include a first pressure responsive valve (9) connecting said first oxygen conduit (EOC) to one end of said at least one oxygen distribution bank (ODB) and to said first subsystem (EOS), and a second pressure responsive valve (10) connecting said second oxygen conduit (TOC) to an opposite end of said at least one oxygen distribution bank (DB) and to said second subsystem (TOS). 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said second oxygen source of said second subsystem (TOS) comprises a portable oxygen generator (22) connected to said second oxygen conduit (TOC) for providing a therapeutic oxygen supply to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said portable oxygen generator (22) comprises a plurality of generators (22′) connected in parallel to each other to form an oxygen generator battery. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vent (23) connected to said second subsystem (TOS). 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second oxygen source comprises a battery of oxygen generators (22, 22′), and further comprising a conduit (27′) with a shut-off valve (27) interposed between and selectively connecting at least one of said oxygen generators of said second subsystem to said first subsystem. 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure control member (14) interposed between and connecting said second oxygen source (1′) to said second oxygen conduit (TOC) for supplying therapeutic oxygen with a constant operating pressure into said second oxygen conduit (TOC), wherein said pressure control member (14) is a pressure reducer. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure indicator (18) operatively connected to said second oxygen source (1′) of said second subsystem. 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an excess pressure control valve (19) operatively connected to said second subsystem (TOS) for releasing excess pressure from said second subsystem (TOS). 10. An oxygen supply system for a passenger aircraft, said system comprising at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) accessible to passengers, an emergency oxygen supply first subsystem (EOS) including a first oxygen source (1), a therapeutic oxygen supply second subsystem (TOS) including a second oxygen source (1′, 22), a first oxygen conduit (EOC) connecting said first oxygen source (1) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), a second oxygen conduit (TOC) connecting said second oxygen source (1′, 22) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), controllable valve means in at least one of said first and second oxygen conduits (EOC, TOC) for connecting said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask selectively to one of said first subsystem (EOS) and said second subsystem (TOS), a control (16, 26) connected to said second subsystem (TOS) for activating said second subsystem (TOS), and a pressure control member (14) interposed between and connecting said second oxygen source (1′) to said second oxygen conduit (TOC) for supplying therapeutic oxygen with a constant operating pressure into said second oxygen conduit (TOC), whereby said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask is selectively usable in said first subsystem and in said second subsystem, wherein said second oxygen source comprises an oxygen bottle or tank connected to said second oxygen conduit (TOC) for providing a therapeutic oxygen supply, and wherein said controllable valve means is a shut-off valve (13) positioned in said second oxygen conduit (TOC), said shut-off valve (13) being operatively connected to said control (16) for selectively opening and closing said second oxygen conduit (TOC) through said control (16). 11. An oxygen supply system for a passenger aircraft, said system comprising at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) accessible to passengers, an emergency oxygen supply first subsystem (EOS) including a first oxygen source (1), a therapeutic oxygen supply second subsystem (TOS) including a second oxygen source (1′, 22), a first oxygen conduit (EOC) connecting said first oxygen source (1) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), a second oxygen conduit (TOC) connecting said second oxygen source (1′, 22) to said at least one oxygen breathing mask (OM), controllable valve means in at least one of said first and second oxygen conduits (EOC, TOC) for selectively connecting said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask to one of said first subsystem (EOS) and said second subsystem (TOS), and a control (16, 26) connected to said second subsystem (TOS) for activating said second subsystem (TOS), whereby said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask is selectively usable in said first subsystem and in said second subsystem, wherein said first oxygen source (1) and said second oxygen source (1′) comprise oxygen tanks or bottles (1, 1′), and further comprising a common filling line (3, 3′) connected to said oxygen tanks or bottles, and a common filling port (2) connected to said common filling line (3, 3′). 12. An oxygen supply system for a passenger aircraft, said system comprising at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) accessible to passengers, an emergency oxygen supply first subsystem (EOS) including a first oxygen source (1), a therapeutic oxygen supply second subsystem (TOS) including a second oxygen source (1′, 22), a first oxygen conduit (EOC) connecting said first oxygen source (1) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), a second oxygen conduit (TOC) connecting said second oxygen source (1′, 22) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), controllable valve means in at least one of said first and second oxygen conduits (EOC, TOC) for selectively connecting said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask to one of said first subsystem (EOS) and said second subsystem (TOS), a control (16, 26) connected to said second subsystem (TOS) for activating said second subsystem (TOS), a pressure control member (14) connecting said second oxygen source (1′) to said second oxygen conduit (TOC) for supplying therapeutic oxygen with a constant operating pressure into said second oxygen conduit (TOC), whereby said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask is selectively usable in said first subsystem and in said second subsystem, a vent (23) connected to said second subsystem (TOS), and a vent line (5, 5′) connecting said vent (23) to said first subsystem (EOS) and to said second subsystem (TOS), said vent line leading outside of said passenger aircraft for venting both said first and second subsystems in common through said vent line. 13. An oxygen supply system for a passenger aircraft, said system comprising at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) accessible to passengers, an emergency oxygen supply first subsystem (EOS) including a first oxygen source (1), a therapeutic oxygen supply second subsystem (TOS) including a second oxygen source (1′, 22), a first oxygen conduit (EOC) connecting said first oxygen source (1) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), a second oxygen conduit (TOC) connecting said second oxygen source (1′, 22) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), controllable valve means in at least one of said first and second oxygen conduits (EOC, TOC) for selectively connecting said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask to one of said first subsystem (EOS) and said second subsystem (TOS), a control (16, 26) connected to said second subsystem (TOS) for activating said second subsystem (TOS), a pressure control member (14) connecting said second oxygen source (1′) to said second oxygen conduit (TOC) for supplying therapeutic oxygen with a constant operating pressure into said second oxygen conduit (TOC), whereby said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask is selectively usable in said first subsystem and in said second subsystem, a vent (23) connected to said second subsystem (TOS), and an air bleed line (24), and wherein said vent (23) is connected to said air bleed line (24). 14. An oxygen supply system for a passenger aircraft, said system comprising at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) accessible to passengers, an emergency oxygen supply first subsystem (EOS) including a first oxygen source (1), a therapeutic oxygen supply second subsystem (TOS) including a second oxygen source (1′, 22), a first oxygen conduit (EOC) connecting said first oxygen source (1) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), a second oxygen conduit (TOC) connecting said second oxygen source (1′, 22) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), controllable valve means in at least one of said first and second oxygen conduits (EOC, TOC) for selectively connecting said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask to one of said first subsystem (EOS) and said second subsystem (TOS), a control (16, 26) connected to said second subsystem (TOS) for activating said second subsystem (TOS), a pressure control member (14) connecting said second oxygen source (1′) to said second oxygen conduit (TOC) for supplying therapeutic oxygen with a constant operating pressure into said second oxygen conduit (TOC), whereby said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask is selectively usable in said first subsystem and in said second subsystem, and a heat compensator (12) or heat exchanger operatively arranged for cooperation with said pressure control member which is a pressure reducer for maintaining the temperature of said second oxygen source in a safe range when filling said second oxygen source. 15. An oxygen supply system for a passenger aircraft, said system comprising at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) accessible to passengers, an emergency oxygen supply first subsystem (EOS) including a first oxygen source (1), a therapeutic oxygen supply second subsystem (TOS) including a second oxygen source (1′, 22), a first oxygen conduit (EOC) connecting said first oxygen source (1) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), a second oxygen conduit (TOC) connecting said second oxygen source (1′, 22) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), controllable valve means in at least one of said first and second oxygen conduits (EOC, TOC) for selectively connecting said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask to one of said first subsystem (EOS) and said second subsystem (TOS), a control (16, 26) connected to said second subsystem (TOS) for activating said second subsystem (TOS), a pressure control member (14) connecting said second oxygen source (1′) to said second oxygen conduit (TOC) for supplying therapeutic oxygen with a constant operating pressure into said second oxygen conduit (TOC), whereby said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask is selectively usable in said first subsystem and in said second subsystem, and a closeable test outlet (20) operatively connected to said second subsystem (TOS) for testing said second subsystem for leaks. 16. An oxygen supply system for a passenger aircraft, said system comprising at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) accessible to passengers, an emergency oxygen supply first subsystem (EOS) including a first oxygen source (1), a therapeutic oxygen supply second subsystem (TOS) including a second oxygen source (1′, 22), a first oxygen conduit (EOC) connecting said first oxygen source (1) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), a second oxygen conduit (TOC) connecting said second oxygen source (1′, 22) to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), controllable valve means in at least one of said first and second oxygen conduits (EOC, TOC) for selectively connecting said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask to one of said first subsystem (EOS) and said second subsystem (TOS), a control (16, 26) connected to said second subsystem (TOS) for activating said second subsystem (TOS), whereby said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask is selectively usable in said first subsystem and in said second subsystem, wherein said second oxygen source comprises a battery of oxygen generators (22, 22′), and further comprising a conduit (27′) with a shut-off valve (27) selectively connecting at least one of said oxygen generators of said second subsystem to said first subsystem, a common gas vent line (23) connected in common to said oxygen generators, and a common air bleed line (24) connected in common to said oxygen generators. 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising at least one oxygen distribution bank (ODB), and oxygen outlets (8) connected to said at least one oxygen distribution bank (ODB), wherein said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) is connectable to a respective at least one of said oxygen outlets (8), said first oxygen conduit (EOC) connects said first subsystem (EOS) to said at least one oxygen distribution bank (ODB), said second oxygen conduit (TOC) connects said second subsystem (TOS) to said first oxygen conduit (EOC), and said controllable valve means further comprise a pressure controllable valve (11) between said first oxygen conduit (EOC) and said second oxygen conduit (TOC). 18. An oxygen supply system for a passenger aircraft, said system comprising at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM) accessible to passengers, an oxygen supply system (EOS) including a supplemental oxygen supply source sufficient for emergency oxygen supply purposes when a cabin pressure falls below a predetermined cabin pressure threshold value and for therapeutic oxygen supply purposes when a cabin pressure is in a normal range above said predetermined cabin pressure threshold value, a first oxygen conduit (EOC) connecting said supplemental oxygen supply source to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), a second oxygen conduit (TOC) connecting said supplemental oxygen supply source to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask (OM), a valve arrangement including at least one pressure responsive valve arranged in at least one of said first and second oxygen conduits (EOC, TOC) and adapted to pressure-responsively connect said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask to said supplemental oxygen supply source selectively through said first oxygen conduit (EOC) when said cabin pressure in said passenger aircraft is below said predetermined cabin pressure threshold value and through said second oxygen conduit (TOC) when said cabin pressure is above said predetermined cabin pressure threshold value, and a control (16, 26) adapted to activate said supplemental oxygen supply source, whereby said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask is selectively usable both for said emergency oxygen supply purposes through said first oxygen conduit (EOC) and for said therapeutic oxygen supply purposes through said second oxygen conduit (TOC), further comprising an excess pressure control valve (19) operatively connected to said second oxygen conduit (TOC) for releasing excess pressure from said second oxygen conduit (TOC). 19. The oxygen supply system of claim 18, wherein said control is cabin pressure responsive for partially activating said oxygen supply source when said cabin pressure is in said normal range and for fully activating said oxygen supply source when said cabin pressure drops below said predetermined cabin pressure threshold value. 20. A method of supplying oxygen through a plurality of oxygen breathing masks to a plurality of passengers in a passenger cabin of a passenger aircraft, comprising the steps: a) making available a supply of oxygen from an oxygen source arrangement; b) sensing a cabin pressure of air in said passenger cabin; c) in response to activation of a control member indicating that at least one ill passenger among said passengers requires therapeutic oxygen, when said cabin pressure is above a minimum normal cabin pressure threshold level, supplying oxygen from said oxygen source arrangement to said at least one ill passenger through at least one of said oxygen breathing masks allocated to said at least one ill passenger; and d) automatically in response to said cabin pressure falling below said minimum normal cabin pressure threshold level, supplying oxygen from said oxygen source arrangement to said plurality of passengers through said plurality of oxygen breathing masks. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said at least one of said oxygen breathing masks allocated to said at least one ill passenger is at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask. 22. The method according of claim 21, wherein said plurality of oxygen breathing masks further includes plural emergency oxygen breathing masks in addition to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask, and wherein said oxygen is supplied to said at least one therapeutic oxygen breathing mask and to said plural emergency oxygen breathing masks in said step d). 23. The method according of claim 20, wherein in said step c), said activation of said control member is performed manually by a crew member of said passenger aircraft. 24. In a passenger aircraft including a passenger cabin, an oxygen distribution conduit, plural emergency oxygen masks connected to said conduit and arranged in said passenger cabin, an oxygen supply arrangement, and an automatic emergency oxygen supply regulating arrangement interposed between and adapted to connect said oxygen supply arrangement selectively to said conduit so as to selectively supply emergency oxygen to said conduit and to said plural emergency oxygen masks via said emergency oxygen supply regulating arrangement and said conduit automatically in response to a cabin pressure of air in said passenger cabin falling below a minimum cabin pressure threshold, an improvement comprising at least one therapeutic oxygen supply tap connected to said conduit, at least one therapeutic oxygen mask respectively adapted to be connected to said at least one therapeutic oxygen supply tap, and a manually actuatable therapeutic oxygen supply control arrangement interposed between and adapted to connect said oxygen supply arrangement selectively to said conduit so as to selectively supply therapeutic oxygen to said conduit and to said at least one therapeutic oxygen mask via said therapeutic oxygen supply control arrangement and said conduit in response to manual actuation of said therapeutic oxygen supply control arrangement, and wherein said improvement is so adapted so that said at least one therapeutic oxygen mask is able to receive said therapeutic oxygen through said therapeutic oxygen supply control arrangement via said conduit in response to the manual actuation of said therapeutic oxygen supply control arrangement, and said at least one therapeutic oxygen mask is able to receive said emergency oxygen through said emergency oxygen supply regulating arrangement via said conduit when the cabin pressure is below the minimum cabin pressure threshold. 25. The improvement in the passenger aircraft according to claim 24, wherein said manually actuatable therapeutic oxygen supply control arrangement comprises a shut-off valve interposed between said oxygen supply arrangement and said conduit, a manually operable control member connected for actuation signal transmission to said shut-off valve, and a pressure limiter interposed in series with said shut-off valve between said oxygen supply arrangement and said conduit. 26. The improvement in the passenger aircraft according to claim 24, wherein said automatic emergency oxygen supply regulating arrangement comprises at least one pressure-responsive valve adapted to be automatically regulated responsive to the cabin pressure. 27. The improvement in the passenger aircraft according to claim 24, wherein said oxygen supply arrangement comprises an emergency oxygen supply that is connected to said automatic emergency oxygen supply regulating arrangement, and a therapeutic oxygen supply that is distinct from said emergency oxygen supply and that is connected to said manually actuatable therapeutic oxygen supply control arrangement. 28. The improvement in the passenger aircraft according to claim 24, further comprising an excess pressure control valve operatively connected to said therapeutic oxygen supply control arrangement and adapted to release excess pressure from said therapeutic oxygen supply control arrangement.