Abstract: A method of monitoring health of an oxygen concentrator assembly within an onboard oxygen generating system (OBOGS) operable to produce an oxygen enriched gas is provided. The OBOGS includes a controller, a plurality of molecular sieve beds for producing the oxygen enriched gas, and a mechanical system for selectively communicating an inlet air to a subset of the plurality of molecular sieve at a given time. The method includes monitoring the health of the overall OBOGS and the mechanical system to determine whether one or more of the molecular sieve beds and/or the oxygen concentrator assembly need to be serviced.

Abstract: A control system for an onboard oxygen generating system (OBOGS) includes a gain control communicatively coupled to an oxygen sensor configured to measure an oxygen concentration outputted from the OBOGS. The gain control selectively switches between unbalanced and balanced bed cycling modes of the OBOGS to produce a target oxygen concentration based on demand. A corresponding method includes providing a gain control communicatively coupled to an oxygen sensor configured to measure an oxygen concentration outputted from the OBOGS, controlling the OBOGS to operate in the unbalanced bed cycling mode when a low demand is placed on the OBOGS whereby the gain control provides a short bed cycle and a corresponding long cycle of a fixed cycle time, and switching the OBOGS to operate in the balanced bed cycling mode when a high demand is placed on the OBOGS. The balanced bed cycling mode operates at a decreased bed cycle time.

Abstract: An onboard rebreathing loop system resident on an aircraft for providing oxygen to aircraft personnel includes a ceramic oxygen generating system (COGS) module configured to receive an inlet air and output a high purity oxygen (O2) gas into a breathing loop and a carbon dioxide (CO2) scrubber module configured to receive exhaled air from the aircraft personnel and output a CO2-scrubbed air into the breathing loop. The high purity O2 gas and CO2-scrubbed air are mixed to form a mixed gas having a partial pressure of O2 suitable for breathing by the aircraft personnel. The onboard rebreathing loop system may further include an odor removal module, an air temperature and/or humidity control module to condition the mixed gas before breathing by the aircraft personnel, and a gas sensor module to confirm the partial pressure of O2 within the mixed gas before breathing by the aircraft personnel.

Abstract: An aerial refueling system utilizes the full drogue-probe coupling event as a control parameter for hose control. A variety of different types of signal sending and signal receiving devices may be used to indicate a coupling event between the drogue and probe. A positive coupling signal may serve to trigger a hose reel actuator to take up slack in the hose 16.

Abstract: A method of monitoring health of an oxygen concentrator assembly within an onboard oxygen generating system (OBOGS) operable to produce an oxygen enriched gas is provided. The OBOGS includes a controller, a plurality of molecular sieve beds for producing the oxygen enriched gas, and a mechanical system for selectively communicating an inlet air to a subset of the plurality of molecular sieve at a given time. The method includes monitoring the health of the overall OBOGS and the mechanical system to determine whether one or more of the molecular sieve beds and/or the oxygen concentrator assembly need to be serviced.

Abstract: A control system for an onboard oxygen generating system (OBOGS) includes a gain control communicatively coupled to an oxygen sensor configured to measure an oxygen concentration outputted from the OBOGS. The gain control selectively switches between unbalanced and balanced bed cycling modes of the OBOGS to produce a target oxygen concentration based on demand. A corresponding method includes providing a gain control communicatively coupled to an oxygen sensor configured to measure an oxygen concentration outputted from the OBOGS, controlling the OBOGS to operate in the unbalanced bed cycling mode when a low demand is placed on the OBOGS whereby the gain control provides a short bed cycle and a corresponding long cycle of a fixed cycle time, and switching the OBOGS to operate in the balanced bed cycling mode when a high demand is placed on the OBOGS. The balanced bed cycling mode operates at a decreased bed cycle time.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the bed health of a molecular sieve bed within a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system includes an oxygen sensor coupled to an outlet of the PSA system. The oxygen sensor measures an oxygen concentration of an output air produced by the molecular sieve bed. A controller is in communication with the oxygen sensor and records a series of oxygen concentrations over time. The controller is configured to determine bed health based upon the series of recorded oxygen concentrations.

Abstract: An onboard rebreathing loop system resident on an aircraft for providing oxygen to aircraft personnel includes a ceramic oxygen generating system (COGS) module configured to receive an inlet air and output a high purity oxygen (O2) gas into a breathing loop and a carbon dioxide (CO2) scrubber module configured to receive exhaled air from the aircraft personnel and output a CO2-scrubbed air into the breathing loop. The high purity O2 gas and CO2-scrubbed air are mixed to form a mixed gas having a partial pressure of O2 suitable for breathing by the aircraft personnel. The onboard rebreathing loop system may further include an odor removal module, an air temperature and/or humidity control module to condition the mixed gas before breathing by the aircraft personnel, and a gas sensor module to confirm the partial pressure of O2 within the mixed gas before breathing by the aircraft personnel.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the bed health of a molecular sieve bed within a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system includes an oxygen sensor coupled to an outlet of the PSA system. The oxygen sensor measures an oxygen concentration of an output air produced by the molecular sieve bed. A controller is in communication with the oxygen sensor and records a series of oxygen concentrations over time. The controller is configured to determine bed health based upon the series of recorded oxygen concentrations.

Abstract: A system for detecting and alleviating pilot hypoxia is provided. The system includes an oxygen generator adapted to be powered by a power supply. The oxygen generator is in communication an oxygen delivery device where the oxygen delivery device is adapted to deliver supplemental oxygen to a pilot. A control module is in communication with the oxygen generator and the power supply. A hypoxia detection device is in communication with the control module wherein the control module causes one or both of the oxygen generator and the oxygen delivery device to increase an amount of oxygen being delivered to the pilot upon detection of pilot hypoxia. The hypoxia detection device may include a pupillometer and a luminometer and/or a flash generator.

Abstract: An aerial refueling system utilizes the full drogue-probe coupling event as a control parameter for hose control. A variety of different types of signal sending and signal receiving devices may be used to indicate a coupling event between the drogue and probe. A positive coupling signal may serve to trigger a hose reel actuator to take up slack in the hose 16.

Abstract: An aerial refueling system utilizes the full drogue-probe coupling event as a control parameter for hose control. A variety of different types of signal sending and signal receiving devices may be used to indicate a coupling event between the drogue and probe. A positive coupling signal may serve to trigger a hose reel actuator to take up slack in the hose 16.

Abstract: An air drying system for OBOGS is provided. The system comprises a bypass valve having an opened state and a closed state. The bypass valve is in fluid communication with an air inlet providing pressurized air. A dryer unit is configured to produce dried air when the bypass valve is in the closed state. An OBOGS unit produces oxygen enriched air while a purge valve has an opened state and a closed state. When the bypass valve is its closed state, the purge valve is in its opened state thereby directing a portion of the dried air to the oxygen generating system unit and a portion of the dried air to the dryer unit. When the bypass valve is its open state the pressurized air passes directly to the OBOGS unit.

Abstract: A system for detecting and alleviating pilot hypoxia is provided. The system comprises an oxygen generator adapted to be powered by a power supply. The oxygen generator is in communication an oxygen delivery device where the oxygen delivery device is adapted to deliver supplemental oxygen to a pilot. A control module is in communication with the oxygen generator and the power supply. A hypoxia detection device is in communication with the control module wherein the control module causes one or both of the oxygen generator and the oxygen delivery device to increase an amount of oxygen being delivered to the pilot upon detection of pilot hypoxia. The hypoxia detection device may be comprised of a pupillometer and a luminometer and/or a flash generator.

Abstract: An air drying system for OBOGS is provided. The system comprises a bypass valve having an opened state and a closed state. The bypass valve is in fluid communication with an air inlet providing pressurized air. A dryer unit is configured to produce dried air when the bypass valve is in the closed state. An OBOGS unit produces oxygen enriched air while a purge valve has an opened state and a closed state. When the bypass valve is its closed state, the purge valve is in its opened state thereby directing a portion of the dried air to the oxygen generating system unit and a portion of the dried air to the dryer unit. When the bypass valve is its open state the pressurized air passes directly to the OBOGS unit.

Abstract: An aerial refueling system utilizes the full drogue-probe coupling event as a control parameter for hose control. A variety of different types of signal sending and signal receiving devices may be used to indicate a coupling event between the drogue and probe. A positive coupling signal may serve to trigger a hose reel actuator to take up slack in the hose 16.

Abstract: A method of determining liquid absorption of an aggregate comprises providing a shaker apparatus, a vacuum source and a container; placing a sample of the aggregate in the container; adding liquid to the container sufficient to reach a calibration mark on the container; weighing the sample and liquid; mounting the container to the shaker apparatus; connecting the vacuum source to the container; agitating the sample and liquid with the shaker apparatus; applying a vacuum to the sample and liquid with the vacuum source; after the agitation and vacuum steps, adding liquid to the container sufficient to again reach the calibration mark on the container; again weighing the sample and liquid; and subtracting the initial weight of the sample and liquid from the final weight of the sample and liquid in order to determine the liquid absorption of the aggregate.

Abstract: A method of determining liquid absorption of an aggregate comprises providing a shaker apparatus, a vacuum source and a container; placing a sample of the aggregate in the container; adding liquid to the container sufficient to reach a calibration mark on the container; weighing the sample and liquid; mounting the container to the shaker apparatus; connecting the vacuum source to the container; agitating the sample and liquid with the shaker apparatus; applying a vacuum to the sample and liquid with the vacuum source; after the agitation and vacuum steps, adding liquid to the container sufficient to again reach the calibration mark on the container; again weighing the sample and liquid; and subtracting the initial weight of the sample and liquid from the final weight of the sample and liquid in order to determine the liquid absorption of the aggregate.

Abstract: A method of determining liquid absorption of an aggregate comprises providing a shaker apparatus, a vacuum source and a container; placing a sample of the aggregate in the container; adding liquid to the container sufficient to reach a calibration mark on the container; weighing the sample and liquid; mounting the container to the shaker apparatus; connecting the vacuum source to the container; agitating the sample and liquid with the shaker apparatus; applying a vacuum to the sample and liquid with the vacuum source; after the agitation and vacuum steps, adding liquid to the container sufficient to again reach the calibration mark on the container; again weighing the sample and liquid; and subtracting the initial weight of the sample and liquid from the final weight of the sample and liquid in order to determine the liquid absorption of the aggregate.

Abstract: A water purification system for purifying water flowing through a water flow path. The system includes a water purification device having an inlet and an outlet in the water flow path and at least one interior volume communicating with the inlet and outlet. A purification medium is disposed within the interior volume of the water purification device. A flow control system is provided controlling a volume of purified water dispensed from the outlet. The flow control system includes an input device configured to allow a user to input a desired volume of purified water to be dispensed from the outlet and a sensing device coupled with the electronic input device and operative to determine the volume of purified water being dispensed from the outlet. A flow regulation device is coupled with the flow control system and operative to stop the discharge of purified water at the outlet upon reaching the desired volume of purified water.