Back to results
US 9,956,370 B2Granted
Oxygen concentrator apparatus and method having flow restricted coupling of the canisters
AssigneeInova Labs, Inc.
InventorsWilliam R. Wilkinson, Allan Sten Westersten, J. David Shockley, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oxygen concentrator may rely on a pressure swing adsorption process to produce an oxygen enriched gas stream from canisters filled with granules capable of separation of oxygen from an air stream. The adsorption process uses a cyclical pressurization and venting of the canisters to generate an oxygen enriched gas stream. The oxygen concentrator system may include one or more flow restrictors to allow controlled release of oxygen enriched gas between the canisters.
Claims11
A breathing apparatus for concentrating oxygen, comprising:
- at least a first canister and a second canister;
- an adsorbent in the first canister and the second canister, wherein the adsorbent at least partially separates nitrogen from oxygen as air is passed through the first and/or second canister;
- at least one compressor coupled to the first canister and the second canister, wherein at least one compressor, during use, sends air through compressor tubing into the first canister and the second canister;
- a manifold comprising manifold tubing coupling at least one compressor to the first canister and the second canister;
- and
- an additional plastic molded manifold coupled to the first and second canisters, wherein the additional plastic molded manifold comprises one or more molded channels to convey oxygen between the first canister and the second canister;
- wherein at least a portion of the first canister, a portion of the second canister and a portion of the manifold are molded together to form a single molded component, wherein at least a portion of the manifold tubing is in the form of at least one molded channel in the molded component;
- and
- wherein one or more of the molded channels in the additional plastic molded manifold define a first air pathway between the first canister and the second canister, the first air pathway comprising a first valve and a first flow restrictor;
- wherein one or more of the molded channels in the additional plastic molded manifold define a second air pathway between the first canister and the second canister, the second air pathway comprising a second valve and a second flow restrictor;
- and
- wherein the first air pathway and the second air pathway are operable to convey oxygen from the first canister to the second canister.
9 more elements
A method of concentrating oxygen, comprising:
- transferring air into a first canister or a second canister of a breathing apparatus, from at least one compressor through a manifold of the breathing apparatus comprising manifold tubing coupling the at least one compressor to the first canister and the second canister, wherein:
- at least a portion of the first canister, at least a portion of the second canister, and a portion of the manifold are molded together to form a single molded component, wherein at least a portion of the tubing is in the form of at least one molded channel in the molded component;
- wherein the breathing apparatus further comprises at least one additional plastic molded manifold coupled to the first and second canisters, wherein the additional plastic molded manifold comprises one or more molded channels to convey oxygen between the first canister and the second canister;
- one or more of the molded channels in the additional plastic molded manifold define a first air pathway between the first canister and the second canister, the first air pathway comprising a first valve and a first flow restrictor;
- one or more of the molded channels in the additional plastic molded manifold define a second air pathway between the first canister and the second canister, the second air pathway comprising a second valve and a second flow restrictor;
- and
- the first air pathway and the second air pathway are operable to convey oxygen from the first canister to the second canister;
- passing air through a first canister, wherein the first canister contains an adsorbent that at least partially separates nitrogen from oxygen as air is passed through the first canister;
- receiving oxygen from the first canister;
- passing air through a second canister, wherein the second canister contains an adsorbent that separates nitrogen from oxygen as air is passed through the second canister;
- and
- receiving oxygen from the second canister.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.