Patent ID: 7517385
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: F16K,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of providing fluid flow control in a gas separation device for separating oxygen gas from air, comprising: providing a gas separation device for separating oxygen gas from air, the gas separation device including a flow control mechanism with a valve assembly, the valve assembly including a motor, a valve body, a plunger in the valve body rotatably and reciprocally driven by the motor, the valve body including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a flow chamber therebetween, the flow chamber including a flow chamber wall and a flow chamber outlet, the plunger including a flexible member that rotates and reciprocates within the flow chamber outlet with rotation and reciprocation of the plunger to provide variable flow control therethrough, the flexible member including a lip seal that rotatably and reciprocally engages the flow chamber wall during rotation and reciprocation of the plunger and flexible member to provide a seal therebetween; separating oxygen gas from air using the gas separation device and controlling product flow in a flow control mechanism using the valve assembly by: supplying fluid flow to the fluid inlet of the valve assembly; providing variable flow control in the valve assembly through reciprocation of the flexible member in the flow chamber outlet; sealably engaging the flow chamber wall with the lip seal of the flexible member to prevent fluid flow therebeween.