Self-serviceable filter for an oxygen generating device
OwnerJames H. Youngblood, Michael S. McClaininventors
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Abstract
An oxygen generating device includes a housing, an inlet formed in the housing, a compressor, and a sieve module. The device further includes a self-serviceable filter disposed between the compressor and the sieve module. The method for generating an oxygen-enriched gas includes introducing a feed gas into the oxygen generating device via the inlet, compressing the feed gas via the compressor, filtering the compressed feed gas by removing at least one contaminant from the feed gas via the self-serviceable filter, introducing the filtered feed gas into the sieve module, and generating the oxygen-enriched gas from the filtered feed gas.
Claims21
An oxygen generating device, comprising:
- a housing;
- an inlet formed in the housing and configured to receive a feed gas including oxygen, nitrogen, and at least one contaminant;
- a compressor;
- a sieve module including at least one sieve bed configured to generate an oxygen-enriched gas for a user by adsorbing nitrogen from the compressed feed gas via a nitrogen-adsorption process;
- and
- a self-serviceable filter disposed in the oxygen generating system between the compressor and the sieve module, the self-serviceable filter being configured to remove at least a portion of the at least one contaminant from the compressed feed gas.
A method of generating an oxygen-enriched gas for a user via an oxygen generating device, the oxygen generating device including a housing including a sieve module disposed therein, wherein the sieve module includes at least one sieve bed having a nitrogen-adsorbing material disposed therein and configured to adsorb nitrogen from a feed gas introduced into the at least one sieve bed, the feed gas including at least nitrogen, oxygen, and at least one contaminant, the method comprising:
- introducing the feed gas into the oxygen generating device via an inlet;
- compressing the feed gas via a compressor;
- filtering the compressed feed gas by removing the at least one contaminant from the compressed feed gas via a self-serviceable filter, the self-serviceable filter being disposed in the oxygen generating device between the compressor and the sieve module;
- introducing the filtered feed gas into the sieve module;
- and
- generating the oxygen-enriched gas from the filtered feed gas.
A method of servicing a self-serviceable filter of an oxygen generating device, the oxygen delivery device further including a housing having a sieve module disposed therein, the sieve module including at least one sieve bed configured to adsorb nitrogen from a feed gas compressed via a compressor, the method comprising:
- providing a receptacle formed in the housing, the receptacle including a support disposed therein and including a previously installed filter disposed in the support, whereby the previously installed filter is accessible to a user:
- by opening a door in the housing;
- or without having to remove at least a portion of the housing;
- or combinations thereof;
- removing the previously installed filter from the support by turning the filter about a quarter of a complete revolution in a first direction, thereby disengaging the previously installed filter from the support;
- and
- inserting a replacement filter in the support by turning the replacement filter about a quarter of a complete revolution in a second direction opposed to the first direction;
- wherein the self-serviceable filter is disposed in the oxygen generating device between the compressor and the sieve module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.