Manifold assembly

A manifold assembly used to control the flow of oxygen in an oxygen concentrator system The manifold assembly provides a series of internal pathways which receive a primary and secondary relief valves via external orifices. The manifold reduces the number of component connections and potential leak paths for control and monitoring of process media.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of process flow manifolds. More particularly, embodiments of the invention are directed to a manifold used to regulate process flow which reduces potential leak paths while providing easy connection assembly.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Oxygen concentrators utilize a process by which oxygen is separated from ambient air and stored either as a gas or in liquid form. One method used to separate oxygen from air is through the use of pressure swing absorption systems. These systems utilize molecular sieve beds for separating the ambient air gas mixture into a nitrogen component and an oxygen component. The gas or liquid is then stored under pressure requiring the need for various pressure relief and check valves to ensure that pressure within such a system does not exceed hazardous levels. Regardless of the method used to obtain concentrated oxygen, leaks between various components including storage media must be minimized. In addition, many oxygen concentrators are portable such that an ambulatory patient carries or roles an oxygen tank from which a flow of oxygen is supplied.

As noted above, oxygen concentrator systems utilize a series of connector assemblies and valves to direct, store and release oxygen to a patient. Typically, these components are discrete and require attachment to one another using, for example, threaded connections and Teflon® tape. The more discrete components utilized, the longer it takes to assemble the system, the more space required to house the components, and the higher the number of potential leak paths. In addition, mobile oxygen concentrators are susceptible to collisions which may damage these connector assemblies and components thereby jeopardizing the integrity of the stored oxygen. Generally, the more components employed in such assemblies the more connections required and the more testing required to ensure against leaks. Thus, there is a need for a gas flow subassembly used in an oxygen concentrator that is compact and easy to assemble with limited leak path potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a manifold assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the manifold assembly accommodate the flow of process media to and from a storage container. The manifold assembly includes a manifold body having a plurality of orifices. A plurality of pathways are disposed within the body where each of the pathways is associated with at least one of said orifices. A primary relief valve assembly is mounted within a first of the plurality of orifices. The relief valve assembly is associated with a first one of the pathways within the manifold body. A solenoid valve is mounted in a third of the plurality of orifices associated with a third one of the pathways within the manifold body. The solenoid valve controls the flow of media to the storage container. A secondary relief valve assembly is mounted within a second of the plurality of orifices and is associated with a second one of the pathways within the manifold body. The said secondary relief valve provides relief of the process media to the storage container via the solenoid valve.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a manifold assembly10having a housing or body15with a plurality of orifices as described below. The body15is configured to receive a plurality of valves and fittings and provides a contained pathway system within the manifold to connect various orifices, pathways and devices. In this manner, a plurality of connections between various primary and secondary relief valves as well as multiple leak path connections between components within an oxygen concentrator system is avoided.

Manifold body15is defined by a top surface11, first side wall12, opposing side wall13(shown inFIG. 3), end wall14and opposing end wall14A. Mounting plates16and17having respective mounting bores16A and17A are used to retain the manifold in a desired position. The interior of manifold body15has a plurality of pathways to connect various components thereby reducing the number of leak path opportunities there between. Generally, solenoid valve25is mounted in orifice25awhich extends into body15from top surface11to control the flow of process media, for example gaseous oxygen to the various components. Solenoid25may be a three (3) way valve which provides connection paths between connector assembly60, fitting assembly70, bleed line24and relief valve40. Solenoid valve25may be a typical solenoid which includes a wire coil that opens and closes a mechanical valve based on the application of electric current. In this configuration, electric power is supplied by wiring harness20via power cable attachment21. As will be described in more detail below, the path from connection assembly60through solenoid valve25connects the path from connection assembly60to bleed line24, fitting assembly70and secondary relief valve40. Solenoid valve25also controls the connection of fitting assembly70to a cryostat storage container via orifice70A.

A check valve is defined by spring61, piston62, seal63and inlet fitting64. Connector assembly60includes this check valve as well as filter65and compression fitting66. Connector assembly60is disposed within a pathway of manifold15and connected to a media storage tank via compression fitting66. Check valve62prevents media from flowing back toward this media storage tank. The process media for this particular manifold15is gaseous oxygen, but alternative media forms may also be accommodated. Orifice72areceives fitting72which is used to vent unwanted media away from connector assembly60, extends through manifold body15and aligns with an outlet of threaded portion66aof fitting66.

Generally, there are two (2) pressure relief valve assemblies40and50disposed within manifold body15via orifices40A and50A respectively. Pressure relief valve assembly40is a secondary relief valve and is defined by seal42, piston43, spring44, spring chamber45and diffuser46and is disposed within manifold body15via orifice40A. Valve assembly40may be normally in a shut position where set spring44and spring chamber45provide a relief path at pressure values based on a particular application. Secondary relief valve assembly40provides a connection with solenoid valve25and the input to a cryostat storage container via fitting assembly70. Relief valve assembly50is the primary relief valve and is disposed within manifold body15via orifice50a. Primary relief valve assembly50is defined by seal51, piston52, spring53, spring chamber54and fitting55. Primary relief valve assembly50may set spring53and spring chamber54to a particular psi rating depending on the particular application. Primary relief valve assembly50provides connections through manifold body15between connector assembly80from the cryostat storage container and vent fitting73via orifice73A. The vent fitting73may be used to provide pressure information related to the cryostat storage tank connected between fitting assemblies70and80. In this manner, primary relief valve assembly50and secondary relief valve assembly40may be configured with various pressure ratings. However, by way of example only, in an oxygen concentrator application where oxygen is separated from ambient air, liquefied and stored, primary pressure relief valve assembly50may be set between to 20 to 30 psi and secondary pressure relief valve assembly4—may be set between 30 to 40 psi.

FIG. 2is a cut away side view of manifold assembly10taken along lines A-A illustrating the placement of connector assembly60and secondary relief valve40within manifold body15. Solenoid valve25has an inlet26and outlet27which extend downward from the top surface11of manifold body15. Inlet26and outlet27provide a connection between connector assembly60and first relief valve assembly40. In addition, bleed line24located on the top portion of solenoid25provides a connection between connector assembly60and an external vent which may be, for example, ambient air or tied back to primary relief valve50via fitting55. In particular, inlet26provides a pathway connection with connector assembly60and solenoid valve25and outlet27provides a pathway connection with solenoid valve25and secondary relief valve assembly40. As mentioned earlier, the check valve within connector assembly60prevents reverse flow of gas away from solenoid25. When wiring harness20supplies power to solenoid valve25, the solenoid valve either opens or closes. Solenoid valve25may provide a relief pathway formed from connector assembly60to secondary relief valve40. Solenoid valve may provide a relief path between connector assembly60and fitting assembly70. Similarly, solenoid valve may provide a relief path between connector assembly60, bleed line24and secondary relief valve40.

FIG. 3is a cut away cross sectional view taken along lines B-B of manifold body15shown inFIG. 1with the various components positioned within their respective pathways in accordance with the present invention. As described earlier, fitting assembly80is connected to a cryostat storage tank at one end and to primary relief valve50at the other end through manifold body15. Orifice73areceives vent fitting73which is used to vent a portion of gas away from fitting assembly80. Vent fitting assembly73extends through manifold body15from top surface11and aligns with an outlet45A of spring chamber45. Vent fitting73supplies gaseous media to an external sensor which is used to provide measuring and monitoring information associated with the condition of the cryostat tank. A connection is formed within the pathways of manifold body15between primary relief valve50and fitting assembly80. In particular, quad ring51is disposed between piston52and first end81of assembly80. A channel82provides a connection from the cryostat tank through fitting80to primary relief valve50. In this manner, increased pressure detected from the cryostat tank and measured from vent fitting73may be supplied to primary relief valve50and vented externally.