Compact oxygen concentrator
AssigneeGreene & Kellogg, Inc.
InventorNorman R. McCombs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A machine for concentrating the oxygen in air, especially for medical purposes utilizing a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technique. The machine includes a combination of features to provide an extremely light weight reliable and compact device, which operates at a low noise level, and is especially suited for home use.
Claims64
A vessel for an adsorbent bed for use in a PSA machine comprising a first pipe of predetermined length, comprising the body of said vessel, a second pipe of a predetermined length shorter than said first pipe and positioned within said first pipe to create an annular space between said first and second pipes, means to close both ends of said first pipe, one of said end closing means for said first pipe also closing one end of said second pipe, said one end closing means comprising a cap member having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of said first pipe, means to sealingly mount said cap members on both of said one ends of said first and second pipes, and means to permit a flow of gas in and out of said vessel through said cap member communicating separately and directly with each of said annular space and the space inside said second pipe, whereby the functional length of an adsorbent bed in said vessel is substantially equal to twice the length of said first pipe and the physical length of said vessel is substantially equal to the length of said first pipe.
In a machine for separating a component gas out of a mixture of gases using a PSA technique, said machine including a gas compressor, means for deadening the sound of the gas intake to said compressor, and said sound deadening means comprising an intake hose having a predetermined length and a predetermined diameter both selected to minimize said sound of said gas being taken into said compressor.
A front handle module for a cabinet for a compact PSA machine, said machine being adapted to stand on the floor in use, said cabinet comprising a front wall positioned substantially vertically, means to mount said handle module in said front wall, said handle module comprising a pair of walls recessed inwardly into the cabinet space and located at substantially 90 degrees to each other and at substantially 45 degrees to said front wall of said cabinet and with one of said walls upwardly facing and the other of said walls downwardly facing, and means to mount substantially all of the controls of said machine in said upwardly facing wall when said machine is positioned on the floor for use.
A cabinet for a compact PSA machine comprising means dividing the space within said cabinet into at least a first space and a second space, motor/compressor means mounted in said first space, insulating means lining substantially all of the inside surfaces of said cabinet defining said first and second spaces, means to permit the entry of a stream of ambient air into said second space, said means defining said first and second spaces including an opening to permit the flow of said stream of ambient air from said first space into said second space, fan means in said second space to drive said stream of ambient air out of said first space, and said motor/compressor being located in said first space with respect to the opening between said first and second spaces and with respect to said air inlet opening means in said second space such that the sound of said motor/compressor must take a torturous path before being able to exit from said cabinet.
A system of fabricating a compact machine for separating a gas out of a mixture of gases utilizing a PSA technique, the combination comprising a plurality of prefabricated modules to fabricate said machine;
- said modules including a cabinet module, an adsorbent bed module, an electrical deck module on which are mounted a substantial number of the components needed to carry out the PSA cycle performed by said machine, and a front handle module in which is mounted substantially all of the user operated controls needed to operate said machine;
- and means to assemble all of said various modules together to thereby simplify the manufacture of said machine.
An electrical control circuit for a PSA machine which comprises a compressor, at least one vessel containing a bed of adsorbent material, and a plurality of solenoid valves to control the gas flows into and out of said at least one vessel;
- means to connect at least one of said solenoid valves into said machine in such a manner that a gas flow through said at least one absorbent bed and solenoid valve will exhaust to atmosphere in one position of said solenoid valve, a time delay means connected in series circuit with the electrical portion of said at least one solenoid valve and said time delay means being so arranged that said solenoid valve vents the output of said compressor for a period of time equal to the time delay built into said time delay means when said compressor is first started up, whereby said compressor is permitted to reach operating speed under a no load condition, and whereby said at least one solenoid valve is then normally controlled by other portions of said control circuit during continuing operation of said machine after said time delay at start up has timed out.
A system for mounting a motor/compressor in a compact cabinet for a PSA machine, and for safely securing said motor/compressor for shipment, means defining a space within said cabinet to house said motor/compressor, a layer of foam plastic insulating material on the lowermost wall of said cabinet defining said motor/compressor space, plate means secured to the underside of said motor/compressor, said motor/compressor via said plate means normally resting of its own weight only on said layer of foam plastic material, said system comprising bolt means mounted on said lowermost wall of said cabinet defining said motor/compressor space and extending through a suitably formed opening in said plate means, and manually operated securing means cooperable with said bolt means for securing said plate with said compressor mounted thereof in position in said motor/compressor space in said cabinet for shipment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.