Oxygen module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9751629-B2
Application number	US-201213553934-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2012
Priority date	Jan 21, 2010
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A flexible oxygen supply system which can easily be adapted to different seat layouts and which is significantly improved with regard to test and maintenance possibilities. An oxygen module includes an oxygen source, a mask and a tube between the oxygen source and a mask. The oxygen module further includes fastening elements for fastening in a supply duct of an aircraft, and a locking element by means of which the cover of the oxygen module can be locked.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oxygen module for supplying oxygen to passengers of an aircraft, the aircraft comprising a supply duct, a releasable lining flap having a closed state that encloses the oxygen module in the supply duct and having an open state to expose the oxygen module, the oxygen module comprising:
an outer housing comprising a locking tab;
an oxygen source;
a mask;
a tube between the oxygen source and the mask;
a fastening element for fastening the oxygen module in the supply duct of the aircraft; and
a releasable cover including a locking element, the locking element being movable between a test configuration and an operation configuration;
wherein the locking element is configured to engage the locking tab of the outer housing in response to movement of the locking element into the test configuration with the releasable lining flap in the closed state, wherein engagement of the locking element with the locking tab locks the cover of the oxygen module to the outer housing in a closed position; and
wherein the locking element is configured to disengage the locking tab of the outer housing in response to movement of the locking element into the operation configuration, wherein disengagement of the locking element from the locking tab unlocks the cover of the oxygen module from the outer housing to enable opening of the cover in response to opening of the lining flap from the closed state to the open state.

2. The oxygen module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a release element attached between the oxygen module and the lining flap in such a way that the cover of the oxygen module opens when the lining flap is opened beyond a predetermined degree.

3. The oxygen module according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening element is formed in such a way that the oxygen module is displaceable within the supply duct.

4. The oxygen module according to claim 1 , wherein the oxygen module further comprises a plurality of masks and tubes.

5. The oxygen module according to claim 1 , wherein the oxygen module further comprises a plurality of oxygen sources.

6. An oxygen supply duct assembly comprising:
a releasable lining flap having a closed state that encloses an oxygen module in a supply duct and having an open state to expose the oxygen module;
a fastening structure; and
the oxygen module including an outer housing comprising a locking tab, an oxygen source, a mask, and a tube between the oxygen source and the mask, the oxygen module having a releasable cover including a locking element that is movable from a first position to a second position while the releasable lining flap is in the closed state, the locking element configured to engage the locking tab of the outer housing in response to movement of the locking element into the second position, wherein engagement of the locking element with the locking tab locks the cover of the oxygen module to the outer housing in a closed position to prevent the cover of the oxygen module from opening during testing of a release of the lining flap, and the locking element configured to disengage the locking tab of the outer housing in response to movement of the locking element from the second position to the first position, wherein disengagement of the locking element from the locking tab unlocks the cover of the oxygen module from the outer housing to enable automatic opening of the cover in response to opening of the lining flap from the closed state to the open state;
wherein the fastening structure positions the oxygen module in the longitudinal direction of the supply duct and secures it in the supply duct with a fastening element.

7. The oxygen supply duct assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising:
an actuation element that actuates the locking element of the oxygen module.

8. The oxygen supply duct assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a release element attached between the oxygen module and the lining flap in such a way that the cover of the oxygen module opens when the lining flap is opened beyond a predetermined degree.

9. The oxygen supply duct assembly according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a connecting element on the lining flap, for connecting the release element of the oxygen module to the connecting element when the oxygen module is inserted in the oxygen supply duct and the lining flap is not opened beyond the predetermined degree.

10. The oxygen supply duct assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the oxygen module further comprises a plurality of masks and tubes.

11. The oxygen supply duct assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the oxygen module further comprises a plurality of oxygen sources.

12. The oxygen supply duct assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a supply duct into which the oxygen module is inserted.

13. An aircraft comprising:
an oxygen supply duct including a releasable lining flap and a fastening structure; and
an oxygen module having an outer housing comprising a locking tab, a releasable cover including a locking element having a first position and a second position;
wherein, when the locking element is in the first position, the locking element is disengaged from the locking tab of the outer housing and disengagement of the locking element from the locking tab unlocks the cover of the oxygen module from the outer housing to enable opening of the cover together with the lining flap in response to opening of the lining flap;
wherein, when the locking element is in the second position, the locking element is engaged with the locking tab of the outer housing and engagement of the locking element with the locking tab locks the cover of the oxygen module to the outer housing in a closed position during testing of releasing of the lining flap;
wherein the locking element is movable from the first position into the second position while the lining flap is closed; and
wherein the fastening structure is formed so that the oxygen module is positionable in the longitudinal direction of the supply duct and secured in the supply duct via a fastening element.

14. The aircraft according to claim 13 , further comprising:
an actuation element that actuates the locking element of the oxygen module.

15. The aircraft according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a release element attached between the oxygen module and the lining flap in such a way that the cover of the oxygen module opens when the lining flap is opened beyond a predetermined degree.

16. The aircraft according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a connecting element on the lining flap, for connecting the release element of the oxygen module to the connecting element when the oxygen module is inserted in the oxygen supply duct and the lining flap is not opened beyond a predetermined degree.

17. The aircraft according to claim 13 , wherein the oxygen module further comprises a plurality of oxygen sources, a plurality of masks and a plurality of tubes, with a respective one of the plurality of tubes coupled between a respective one of the plurality of oxygen sources and a respective one of the plurality of masks.

Assignees

• Lang Dorothee
• Wittkugel Jorinde
• Schineis Jennifer
• Umlauft Sebastian
• Vogt Thomas
• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Lang Dorothee
• Wittkugel Jorinde
• Schineis Jennifer
• Umlauft Sebastian
• Vogt Thomas

Classifications

• B64D11/00 Primary

  Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64D2231/025

  Oxygen masks; Mask storages; Features related to mask deployment · CPC title