Patent ID: 6740146
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
An oxygen concentrator, comprising:a) first and second chambers, b) stationary molecular sieve members communicating one with each of said chambers for stripping nitrogen from air, each sieve member having an air inlet side and an oxygen enriched air outlet side for providing an oxygen enriched air output, c) air inlets communicating one with each of said chambers on said air inlet side of the corresponding molecular sieve member, d) oxygen enriched air outlets communicating one with each of said chambers adjacent said outlet side of the corresponding molecular sieve member, e) a fixed volume space between said outlet side of each sieve member and the corresponding oxygen enriched air outlet for storing a portion of the oxygen enriched air issued from the outlet side of said sieve member for back-flushing oxygen enriched air back through the sieve member to remove nitrogen therefrom, f) outlet passageway means communicating with each of said oxygen enriched air outlets for delivering oxygen enriched air, g) one-way valve means in each of said outlet passageway means for preventing return of oxygen enriched air to each of said fixed spaces, h) piston means reciprocative in each of said first and second chambers for moving air through the corresponding molecular sieve members selectively in a nitrogen stripping direction and a reverse back-flushing direction, and i) exhaust outlets communicating one with each of said chambers on said air inlet side of the corresponding molecular sieve member for exhausting nitrogen rich air from said chambers.