Simple hard cover secures and protects the two most critical parts of an underwater Emergency Breathing Device (EBD), the purge button and mouthpiece.
Life vests worn by maritime helicopter crews worldwide are equipped with an EBD in the event the aircraft is forced to ditch. The breathing regulator on the EBD is hung on the front of the vest by a soft rubber regulator cover. However, the soft cover does not protect the regulator body or more importantly, the purge button.
Left exposed, the purge button can be either inadvertently or negligently pressed by those who wear the vest. Over time, this slowly depletes usable air pressure. If left undetected, this could very well render the EBD useless when needed most. This issue presents a serious life-threatening situation.
This new hard cover design securely houses and protects the entire mouthpiece and over 75% of the regulator body. To deter unnecessary access to the purge button, the cover also offers a tamper-evident solution. This will reveal if the purge button has been accessed or interfered with since the last maintenance inspection.
| Technology Category | Emergency Prevention & Response |
| Stage of Development | Prototype |
| Inventor(s) |
William G. Thompson |
| US Patent number | US11,219,789; US11,369,814 |
| Partnerships Sought | License |
| DHS Component | U.S. Coast Guard |
| Contact Information | T2C@hq.dhs.gov |
For a more detailed description download the PDF below.
| Attachment | Ext. | Size | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protective Cover for Emergency Breathing Device Regulator | 1.06 MB | 10/10/2023 |