US 12,187,393 B2
Low pressure surface supplied air system and method
John Craig Colborn, Magnolia, TX (US)
Assigned to Setaysha Technical Solutions LLC, Magnolia, TX (US)
Filed by Setaysha Technical Solutions LLC, Magnolia, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/498,394.
Application 18/498,394 is a continuation of application No. 17/566,982, filed on Dec. 31, 2021, granted, now 11,814,146.
Application 17/566,982 is a continuation of application No. 16/100,058, filed on Aug. 9, 2018, granted, now 11,225,309, issued on Jan. 18, 2022.
Application 16/100,058 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/018802, filed on Feb. 22, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/299,119, filed on Feb. 24, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2024/0059384 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B63C 11/20 (2006.01); B63C 11/14 (2006.01); B63C 11/18 (2006.01); B63C 11/22 (2006.01)
CPC B63C 11/202 (2013.01) [B63C 11/14 (2013.01); B63C 11/18 (2013.01); B63C 11/20 (2013.01); B63C 11/2227 (2013.01); B63C 11/207 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system to provide breathable air to a submerged diver comprising:
a) a floating pump assembly comprising:
1) a buoyant element; and
2) a pump coupled to the buoyant element, the pump having a pump inlet fluidly coupled to the atmosphere and a pump outlet, and being adapted to provide breathable air at the pump outlet at first volumetric flow rate and a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure by no more than 25 psi;
b) a breathable air regulator assembly comprising:
1) a regulator chamber having a regulator inlet and a regulator outlet;
2) a mouthpiece fluidly coupled to the regulator chamber and having a breathing aperture adapted for use by the submerged diver for inhalation and exhalation; and
3) a pressure sensor to sense pressure changes within the regulator chamber associated with inhalation and exhalation by the submerged diver, and adapted to provide a real-time regulator pressure signal indicative of the pressure changes in the regulator chamber;
c) tubing having a proximal end coupled to the pump outlet and a distal end coupled to the regulator inlet, and adapted to transmit breathable air from the pump to the regulator chamber for breathing by the submerged diver; and
d) a breathable air determination unit to determine when breathable air is needed by the submerged diver based on the real-time regulator pressure signal; and
e) a pump controller to control the operation of the pump in providing breathable air to the submerged diver when breathable air is needed by the submerged diver.
 
16. A system to provide breathable air to a submerged diver, comprising:
a) a pump having a pump inlet fluidly coupled to the atmosphere and a pump outlet, wherein the pump is adapted to provide pressurized breathable air at the pump outlet at a first volumetric flow rate and a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure by no more than 25 psi;
b) a breathable air regulator assembly comprising:
1) a regulator chamber having a regulator inlet and a regulator outlet;
2) a mouthpiece fluidly coupled to the regulator chamber and having a breathing aperture adapted engage a mouth of the submerged diver for inhalation and exhalation;
3) a pressure sensor to sense pressure changes within the regulator chamber associated with breathing by the submerged diver, and adapted to provide a regulator pressure signal indicative of the pressure changes;
c) tubing having a proximal end coupled to the pump outlet and a distal end coupled to the regulator inlet, and adapted to transmit breathable air from the pump to the regulator chamber for breathing by the submerged diver;
d) non-transitory, computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
1) determine when breathable air is needed by the submerged diver based on the regulator pressure signal; and
2) control the operation of the pump to provide breathable air to the submerged diver based on the regular pressure signal.