Navy Fighter Pilots Tolerate Higher-G Maneuvers Thanks To Oxygen Regulator Bellows

Low Spring-Rate Sensor Applies Positive Pressure Breathing For G with Quick, Consistent Response

Maneuvering for position in air-to-air combat, fighter pilots able to pull more G (the force of gravity) without losing consciousness have a powerful advantage. A leading manufacturer of pneumatic components and oxygen systems found a way to increase that advantage and save the U.S. Navy money. Engineers at Carleton Technologies Inc., in Orchard Park, New York, designed an aircrew oxygen regulator that automatically applies positive pressure for breathing under G. With fewer parts than previous devices performing similar functions, the regulator costs about one-fourth as much as its predecessors and has proven reliable in service. At the heart of the responsive, lightweight regulator design is a low spring-rate electrodeposited nickel bellows from Servometer® - PMG, LLC, in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.