For some time I have had a portable oxygen system with a 22 cubic foot bottle. For solo work it was great - simply strap it in the back seat. But with two passengers the bottle had to move. Moving to either baggage compartment was the only choice, but three things concerned me: 1) Emergency shut off of the system 2) Removability and 3) individual control of the front and rear seat oxygen supply. #1 was the greatest concern in the event of fire. My solution was to manufacture a pulley replacing the valve knob, a cable to rotate the valve, and an emergency handle in the cockpit. #2 was solved by CNC manufacture of two Delrin mounts with hose clamps to carry the bottle. The rear of the mounts are inserted under "footman's loops), while the front of the mounts are held by CamLock fasteners. #3 was solved by using individual Mountain High "GlowMeter" volume controls front and rear to supply the cannulae. The links to the photographs are:
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff469/gear1van/o2systeminstalled2.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff469/gear1van/partsoxygensystem1.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff469/gear1van/o2systeminstalled4.jpg
Not shown is the small spring that goes behind the shutoff handle. The spring provides a slight tension on the cable to retain it on the pulley.
I believe that this solution would be usable in both front and rear baggage compartments, but if it is installed in the rear baggage compartment it interferes with my wife?s suitcase. In the front, the cable routing and handle are easy to accomplish, and I can still get my duffle bag in the front baggage compartment.
If anyone is interested in building such a system, the machinist that built the pulley and mounts would be happy to create more. He is free to use the drawings that I provided to build the parts for any Vans AirForce member. Please send a PM and I will put you into contact with him. My bottle is 4.375? in diameter, but I can easily modify the drawing for any diameter bottle. There would be no charge for the drawings ? consider it my ?pay it forward? for all of the help that I have received from VAF. Simply pay the machinist for his work.
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff469/gear1van/o2systeminstalled2.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff469/gear1van/partsoxygensystem1.jpg
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff469/gear1van/o2systeminstalled4.jpg
Not shown is the small spring that goes behind the shutoff handle. The spring provides a slight tension on the cable to retain it on the pulley.
I believe that this solution would be usable in both front and rear baggage compartments, but if it is installed in the rear baggage compartment it interferes with my wife?s suitcase. In the front, the cable routing and handle are easy to accomplish, and I can still get my duffle bag in the front baggage compartment.
If anyone is interested in building such a system, the machinist that built the pulley and mounts would be happy to create more. He is free to use the drawings that I provided to build the parts for any Vans AirForce member. Please send a PM and I will put you into contact with him. My bottle is 4.375? in diameter, but I can easily modify the drawing for any diameter bottle. There would be no charge for the drawings ? consider it my ?pay it forward? for all of the help that I have received from VAF. Simply pay the machinist for his work.