First stage scuba regulator

Abstract

A first stage pressure regulator for use with a high pressure source of breathable gas includes a housing and either a yoke arrangement for connection to the conventional U.S. high pressure gas source or a DIN connection for coupling to a European-type gas source. First and second pressure-regulated outlets are provided and independently regulated in order to provide from a single high pressure source dual intermediate pressure air for delivery to second stage regulators. In combination with second stage regulators, a system is provided which has enhanced safety features.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A first stage pressure regulator for use with a high pressure source of breathable gas, said first stage pressure regulator comprising: a housing   means for attaching said housing to a high pressure source of breathable gas;   a first pressure regulated outlet;   a second pressure regulated outlet;   first mean disposed within said housing for delivery to said first pressure regulated outlet a supply of breathable gas at a pressure lower than the high pressure source;   second means, disposed within said housing and operationally independent from said first means, for delivering to said second pressure regulated outlet a supply of breathable gas at a pressure lower than the high pressure source; and   first spring means for biasing said first piston in order to effect a first regulated valve opening between the first piston open end means and the fixed valve seat member and second spring means for biasing said second piston in order to effect a second regulated valve opening between the second piston open end means and the fixed valve seat member.   
     
     
       2. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 1 further comprising a single valve seat member fixed within said housing, said first means comprising a first piston having a hollow center in fluid communication with said first pressure regulated outlet and open end means for sealing said first piston against one side of the fixed valve seat member and said second means comprising a second piston having a hollow center in fluid communication with said second pressure regulator outlet and open end means for sealing said second piston against another side of the fixed valve seat member. 
     
     
       3. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 2 further comprising first secondary spring means for adjusting the amount of bias provided by the first spring means in order to regulate a pressure of the supply of breathable gas available from said first pressure regulated outlet and second secondary spring means for adjusting the amount of bias provided by the second spring means in order to regulate the pressure of a supply of breathable gas available from said second pressure regulating outlet. 
     
     
       4. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 1 further comprising first body menu rotatably mounted to said housing, for supporting said first pressure regulated outlet and second body means rotatably mounted to said housing, for supporting said second pressure regulating outlet. 
     
     
       5. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 4 wherein the first and second secondary spring means each comprise a screw means accessible from outside of said first and second body means respectively, for changing compression of the first and second secondary spring means. 
     
     
       6. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 5 further comprising a plurality of first pressure regulated outlets disposed in said first body means and a plurality of second pressure regulated outlets disposed in said second body means. 
     
     
       7. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 6 further comprising at least one high pressure outlet attached to said housing and in direct fluid communication with the high pressure source of breathable gas. 
     
     
       8. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 7 further comprising a plurality of high pressure outlets rotatably attached to said housing and in direct fluid communication with the high pressure source of breathable gas. 
     
     
       9. A first stage pressure regulator for use with a high pressure source of breathable gas, said first stage pressure regulator comprising: a housing;   means for attaching said housing to a high pressure source of breathable gas;   first body means attached to said housing for providing plurality of first pressure regulated outlets;   second body means attached to said housing for providing a plurality of second pressure regulated outlets;   first means for delivering to said plurality of first pressure regulated outlets a supply of breathable gas at a pressure lower than the high pressure source;   second means, operationally independent from said first means for delivery to said plurality of second pressure regulated outlets a supply of breathable gas at a pressure lower than the high pressure source; and   first spring mean for biasing said first piston in order to effect a first regulated valve opening between the first piston open end means and the fixed valve seat member and second spring means for biasing said second piston in order to effect a second regulated valve opening between the second piston open end means and the fixed valve seat member.   
     
     
       10. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 9 wherein said first body means and said second body means are rotatably attached to said housing. 
     
     
       11. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 10 further comprising a single valve seat member fixed within said housing, said first means comprising a first piston having a hollow center in fluid communication with said first pressure regulated outlet and open end means for sealing said first piston against one side of the fixed valve seat member and said second means comprising a second piston having a hollow center in fluid communication with said second pressure regulator outlet and open end means for sealing said second piston against another side of the fixed valve seat member. 
     
     
       12. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 11 further comprising first secondary spring means for adjusting the amount of bias provided by the first spring means in order to regulate a pressure of the supply of breathable gas available from said first pressure regulated outlet and second secondary spring means for adjusting the amount of bias provided by the second spring means in order to regulate the pressure of a supply of breathable gas available from said second pressure regulating outlet. 
     
     
       13. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 12 wherein the first and second secondary spring means each comprise a screw means accessible from outside of said first and second body means respectively, for changing compression of the first and second secondary spring means. 
     
     
       14. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 13 further comprising at least one high pressure outlet attached to said housing and in direct fluid communication with the high pressure source of breathable gas. 
     
     
       15. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 14 further comprising a plurality of high pressure outlets rotatably attached to said housing and in direct fluid communication with the high pressure source of breathable gas. 
     
     
       16. A first stage pressure regulator for use with a high pressure source of breathable gas, said first stage pressure regulator comprising: a housing;   means for attaching said housing to a high pressure source of breathable gas;   outlet means for delivering a supply of breathable air, at a pressure lower than said high pressure source, to a second stage regulator;   a valve seat member fixed within said housing;   a piston having a hollow center in fluid communication with said outlet means and open end means for seating said piston against the fixed valve seat member;   spring means for biasing said piston in order to effect a regulated valve opening between said open end means and the fixed valve seat; and   secondary spring means for adjusting the amount of bias provided by said spring means in order to regulate the pressure of the supply of breathable gas at a pressure lower than said high pressure source.   
     
     
       17. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 16 further comprising body means rotatably mounted to said housing, for supporting said outlet means. 
     
     
       18. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 17 wherein the secondary spring means comprises screw means accessible from outside of said body mean for changing compression of the secondary spring means. 
     
     
       19. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 18 further comprising a plurality of outlet means disposed in said body means. 
     
     
       20. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 19 further comprising at least one high pressure outlet attached to said housing and in direct fluid communication with the high pressure source of breathable gas. 
     
     
       21. The first stage pressure regulator according to claim 20 further comprising a plurality of high pressure outlets rotatably attached to said housing and in direct fluid communication with the high pressure source of breathable gas. 
     
     
       22. A SCUBA regulator system for use with a single high pressure source of breathable gas, the system comprising: a single first stage pressure regulator having first and second pressure regulated outlets, said single first stage pressure regulator being adapted for connection to said single high pressure source of breathable gas and including means for independently delivering to said first and second pressure regulated outlets a supply of breathable gas at an intermediate pressure, said intermediate pressure being lower than the pressure of the single high pressure source of breathable gas; and   two second statue pressure regulator means for receiving intermediate pressure breathable air from the first and second pressure regulated outlets and delivering breathable air to at least one mouthpiece at a pressure suitable for a SCUBA diver.   
     
     
       23. The system according to claim 22 further comprising means for connecting one of the two second stage pressure regulator means to the first pressure regulated outlets and another of the two second stage pressure regulator outlets to the second pressure regulated outlets. 
     
     
       24. The system according to claim 23 further comprising means for connecting both of the two second stage pressure regulator means to both the first and second pressure regulated outlets. 
     
     
       25. The SCUBA regulator system according to claim 24 wherein said single first stage pressure regulator comprises a housing and a valve seat member fixed therein, and said means for independently delivering breathable gas to said first and second pressure regulated outlet comprising a first piston having a hollow center in fluid communication with said first pressure regulated outlet and open end means for sealing said first piston against one side of the fixed valve seat member and a second piston having a hollow center in fluid communication with said second pressure regulated outlet and open end means for sealing said second piston against another side of the fixed valve seat member. 
     
     
       26. The SCUBA regulator system according to claim 25 wherein said single first stage regulator further comprises first spring means for biasing said first piston in order to effect a first regulated valve opening between the first piston open end means and the fixed valve seat member and second spring means for biasing said second piston in order to effect a second regulated valve opening between the second piston open end means and the fixed valve seat member. 
     
     
       27. The SCUBA regulator system according to claim 26 wherein said single first stage pressure regulator further comprises first secondary spring means for adjusting the amount of bias provided by the first spring means in order to relate a pressure of the supply of breathable gas available from said first pressure regulated outlet and second secondary spring means for adjusting the amount of bias provided by the second spring means in order to regulate the pressure of a supply of breathable gas available from said second pressure regulating outlet. 
     
     
       28. The SCUBA regulator system according to claim 27 wherein said single first stage pressure regulator further comprises first body means rotatably mounted to said housing, for supporting said first pressure regulated outlet and second body means rotatably mounted to said housing, for supporting said second pressure regulating outlet. 
     
     
       29. The SCUBA regulator system according to claim 28 wherein the first and second secondary spring means each comprise a screw means accruable from outside of said first and second body means respectively, for changing compression of the first and second secondary spring means. 
     
     
       30. The SCUBA regulator system according to claim 29 wherein said single first stage pressure regulator further comprises at least one high pressure outlet attached to said housing and in direct fluid communication with the high pressure source of breathable gas. .Iadd. 
     
     
       31.  A freeze resistant first stage pressure regulator for use with a high pressure source of breathable gas, the regulator comprising: a housing;   means for attaching said housing to a high pressure source of breathable gas;   a pressure regulated outlet;   a valve seat;   a piston;   spring means for biasing said piston in order to effect a regulated valve opening between the piston and the valve seat and provide a pressure regulated supply of breathable gas to said pressure regulated outlet, said spring means, piston and valve seat being sealed within said housing;   antifreeze fluid means, sealed within said housing, for preventing icing and corrosion of the spring means and piston; and   pressure transfer means, disposed in a wall of said housing and in fluid communication with said antifreeze fluid means, for equalizing pressure between ambient water and said antifreeze fluid means. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       32.  The freeze resistant first stage pressure regulator according to claim 31 wherein said pressure transfer means comprises a movable piston disposed with one side thereof exposed to said antifreeze fluid means and another side exposed to said ambient water. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. In a first stage SCUBA pressure regulator having a housing with a spring chamber and a spring disposed therein for providing a pressure regulated supply of air, an improvement comprising: antifreeze fluid means, sealed within said spring chamber, for excluding contact of said spring with ambient water; and   pressure transfer means, disposed in a wall of said spring chamber and in fluid communication with said antifreeze fluid means, for equalizing pressure between the ambient water and said antifreeze liquid means. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. The regulator improvement according to claim 33 wherein said pressure transfer means comprises a movable piston disposed with one side thereof exposed to said antifreeze fluid means and another side exposed to said ambient water. .Iaddend.