Molecular sieve abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing
an in-line molecular sieve conversion kit for generating oxygen
from the atmosphere which includes an elongated tube filled with
separating material, pressurized air from the atmosphere introduced
into the tube and conduits exiting from the tube carrying the oxygen
to the point of use. An auxiliary spirally wound reservoir tube
for storing pressurized atmospheric air to aid in the removal of
nitrogen from the separating tube through a solenoid operated valve.
Molecular sieve claims
I claim:
1. A kit for providing any in-line molecular sieve apparatus for
separating oxygen from pressurized atmospheric air which comprises:
a sieve bed containing material for separating oxygen from the
atmosphere; compressor means for pressurizing atmospheric air; a
first conduit means for carrying said pressurized atmospheric air;
to said sieve bed; filter means located in said conduit for filtering
said pressurized atmospheric air; pressure regulating means between
said filter means and said sieve bed; a second conduit means in
the form of a spirally wound tube connected to said first conduit
means; first check valve and flow regulator means inserted into
said second conduit means; upstream and downstream closure caps
provided on said sieve bed; upstream closure cap having a first
port for introducing pressurized atmospheric air from said first
conduit means into the seive bed material; an elongated hollow tubular
rod interconnecting said upstream and downstream closure caps; second
ports connecting the downstream side of said sieve bed to the hollow
portion of said connecting rod; a third port connecting said upstream
hollow portion of said elongated hollow tubular rod to a third conduit
means located between a solenoid valve and upstream closure cap;
a fourth conduit means for carrying oxygen from said second conduit
means at the downstream end of said sieve bed through a second pressure
regulator means; and through second check valve and flow regulator
means; a fifth conduit means connecting said solenoid valve with
said fourth conduit means; a neubulizer inserted into said fifth
conduit means between said solenoid valve and said fourth conduit
means; and a timer for actuating said solenoid valve at selected
intervals.
Molecular sieve description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of this invention is primarily in the placement of a
portable oxygen separating sieve bed in a simplified kit form at
the point of use of the oxygen, while utilizing a pressurizing source
of atmospheric air of a conventional unit.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In previous years, it has been cumbersome and expensive to bring
Molecular Sieve Beds into the proximity of the patient or ultimate
user of the separated oxygen.
Devices such as the Monaghan M515 IPPB machine and other life supporting
ventilator systems have had to have received their oxygen from wall
outlets or oxygen tanks. This source of oxygen was not always readily
available in remote places where such equipment is usable. Such
equipment was always difficult to use in autos, buses, trucks or
planes.
Uses other human patient needs are always not readily available
because of the absence of such tanks or wall outlets.
Thus, the use oxygen using equipment has always been an expensive
and cumbersome problem in the field of medicine and industry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In summary, this invention is a direct approach to the problems
stated in the background comments.
The Applicant has studied the problem and has suceeded in eliminating
the problem in many areas of the medical and industrial segments
of our society.
Applicant has devised an apparatus in the form of a kit that can
be adapted to existing art in such a manner that the supply of oxygen
is now capable of being brought to the site in a simplified and
inexpensive manner.
It is therefore an object of this invention to utilize existing
compressed air sources to furnish the air under pressure in order
to result in a supply of oxygen.
A further object of this invention is to simplify existing molecular
sieve beds to a fraction of the elements and cost of such beds.
Anotherr object of this invention is to utilize several types of
material, depending on the particular need, in the sieve bed portion
of his apparatus.
Yet other objects and advantages of this invention will become
more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the
following detailed specification together with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the IN-LINE MOLECULAR SIEVE BED
CONVERSION KIT of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic view of the various components
of the invention of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the sieve bed of FIGS. 1 and
2;
FIG. 4 is a timing chart of the time intervals through a typical
cycle of the sieve bed; and
FIG. 5 is a comparative chart.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 there
is shown an assembled kit of the invention. The reference numeral
10 generally designates the overall system and its components.
A source of compressed air 12 such as can be supplied from many
sources and equipment is generally provided with a coupling means
14.
The kit assembly is provided with a coupling joining means from
a line 16. This line brings the compressed air through a filter
18 into a pressure regulator 20. The pressure can be indicated on
a visible gauge 22.
Regulated air then is directed through an electrically operated
solenoid valve 24 to various conduits as selected by a timer and
control unilt schematically shown in FIG. 2.
Compressed air leaving regulator valve 20 is introduced into sieve
bed tube through line 26. The atmospheric air then passes through
sieve bed material 62 toward the downstream end of tube 30. A flexible
conduit, which is formed in the form of a spirally wound coil 32
is connected into line 26 and is provided with a check valve 34',
regulator valve 34 and then joins conduit 31 at the downstream
end of the tube 30. When the solenoid valve 24 is actuated to allow
pressure of atmospheric air to enter the sieve bed and the spiral
reservoir, separated oxygen is forced through pressure regulator
36 check valve 38' and regulator 38 into line 42 and to the point
of use for such oxygen. The solenoid valve 24 then is actuated by
the timer control 50 to allow the stored-up pressure atmospheric
air in reservoir 32 to push out the separated nitrogen through exit
conduit 28 and to atmosphere through port 24' in the solenoid valve.
This cycle is indicated in the graph 70 of FIG. 4. The solenoid
valve also allows pressurized oxygen to pass through neubulizer
40 to be added to the exit line 42. An alternate form of neubulizer
is shown in FIG. 2 at 90 just to show that a selected type can
be inserted at that point, if desired.
This arrangemetn uses atmospheric air that is under pressure and
comes from the reservoir within the spirally wound tube 32 rather
than using oxygen to cleanse the system of nitrogen, as was done
in prior art. This puts more usable oxygen to the point of use.
Referring now to FIG. 3 it can be seen that the upstream end of
the sieve tube is designated by the reference numeral 52. The exit
end of the tube is shown at 54 while the tube 56 most probably
made of glass, is held in compression between said ends against
seal rings 58. The ends of the tube are held together by means of
a threaded rod 64. Threaded rod has a port 66 formed therethrough.
Port 68 brings the pressurized air into the bed of material 62.
A port 63 is provided to be used to wash the nitrogen that had been
separated from the air out of the tube. The sequence of this timing
is shown in the chart of FIG. 4.
At the downstream end of the hollow rod 64 are ports 68 which allow
the oxygen to be exited into line 31.
FIG. 5 is a chart indicating parameters of compressor flow and
pressure that can be utilized by the applicants until (indicated
as the LAMELLI unit).
It is to be understood that the embodiments shown are by no means
attemping to limit the variations possible without leaving the scope
of the invention. |