Patent ID: 6190441
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A sieve bed assembly for separating air from the ambient environment into a concentrated gas component, the system comprising:a first housing component having a first sieve chamber defined therein, the first sieve chamber being adapted to contain a material for separating air from the ambient environment into a concentrated gas component;a second housing component having a second sieve chamber defined therein, the second sieve chamber being adapted to contain a material for separating air from the ambient environment into a concentrated gas component; anda supply housing component having a supply chamber defined therein for receiving air from the ambient environment and for communicating the air to the first and the second sieve chambers, wherein the supply housing component is thermally coupled to at least one of the first housing component and the second housing component, and wherein the supply chamber includes an air inlet for receiving air that is disposed a distance apart from where the supply chamber fluidly communicates with either one of the first and the second sieve chambers enabling the supply housing component and at least one of an associated first or second housing component to act as a heat exchanger for cooling the air received at the air inlet.