Abstract:
An adapter is provided for adapting an absorber container ( 4 ) to a breathing system. A seal ( 405 ) is employed that has sealing surfaces ( 55, 56, 57 ), which extend in a jacket area ( 34 ) of a valve crater ( 15 ), which limits an outer gas channel. The seal ( 405 ) is provided between the absorber container ( 4 ) and the adapter.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2007 050 853.2 filed Oct. 24, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to an adapter for adapting an absorber container to a breathing system, with a first gas channel  12  and with a second gas channel  14 , which extend into the connection area between the absorber container  4  and the adapter. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Absorber containers filled with breathing lime are used in anesthesia devices or even diving equipment to bind the CO 2  (carbon dioxide) contained in the expired air. Disposable absorbers are frequently used. Further advantages arise from the use of a disposable absorber for the user: direct contact with the breathing lime is avoided during the handling of the absorber container, and there is no exposure to dust. The utilization of the absorber filling is also improved and cost savings are thus achieved, since it is possible to replace the absorber at any time, for example, also during an operation, so that an absorber can be used until the filling is used up completely. As an alternative, refillable absorber containers are used as well. Refilling is then preferably carried out via the bottom, the cover or laterally via the jacket surface of an absorber container. 
     The absorber container must be able to be replaced simply and rapidly, without respiration being compromised. An absorber of the type mentioned in the introduction appears, for example, from DE 197 29 739 A1. 
     An absorber container is usually arranged on the existing absorber mount of a breathing system by means of an adapter and optionally an intermediate plate. The interface at the absorber mount of the breathing system or the interface at the intermediate plate forms, together with the interface at the adapter, for example, a bayonet catch. After the two interfaces are fitted into each other and the interfaces are subsequently twisted in relation to one another, the breathing system and the adapter are braced with one another in a gas-tight manner. The absorber container is preferably connected to the adapter via a pivotable mounting plate with integrated spring-loaded latch. The mounting plate has, for example, guide grooves for this for receiving corresponding guide webs of the absorber container. If the mounting plate can be pivoted into an oblique position of approximately 30° in relation to the horizontal, the absorber container will slide by itself into its end position, which is defined by a milled recess in the mounting plate. The spring-loaded latch closes by pivoting the absorber container with the mounting plate against the adapter. A gas-tight connection between the adapter and the absorber container is of particular importance here. 
     Flat packings, which are buttoned into the adapter and are fastened by undercuts on a cylindrical inner bushing of the adapter, are known in this connection. The flat packings seal flush, flatly and on the front side against cylindrical pipe sockets of the absorber container, and they are also called sealing craters. Unevennesses, contamination due to lime dust or damage to the front surfaces of the sealing craters may lead to leaks. 
     Inner flat packings are also located on a spring-loaded valve body, which establishes the gas connection between the absorber container and the breathing system during the locking operation. For example, the absorber container is unlocked by pressing a specially marked point of the mounting plate with a finger, and the gas connection between the breathing system and the absorber container is interrupted. At the same time, a bypass is established within the adapter via the spring-loaded valve body, and the gas connection to the environment is interrupted. Respiration takes place in this position without the absorber being switched on. 
     Another difficulty lies in the fact that strong forces are needed to lock the adapter and the absorber container, because tolerances in the dimensions of the individual components must be absorbed by corresponding deformations of the flat packings. This leads to increased wear and, as a consequence of this, to premature failure of the flat packings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A basic object of the present invention is to improve an absorber container and an adapter of the type such that the connection system between the breathing system and the absorber container makes possible a gas-tight connection in a simple manner. A basic object of the present invention is especially to perfect an adapter as well as an absorber container with adapter such that leaks at the seals of the connection system will be avoided. 
     The adapter according to the present invention for adapting an absorber container to a breathing system comprises:
     a first gas channel and a second gas channel, which extend in the connection area between the absorber container and the adapter;   a valve means in the line of the gas channels, which has a seal, which either seals the gas channels against the valve means such that the absorber container is cut off from the line of the gas channels, or seals the gas channels against the valve means such that the absorber container is located in the line between the first gas channel and the second gas channel, and is characterized in that   the sealing comprises sealing surfaces, which extend at an angle to the front surface of the absorber container.   

     In the context of the invention, “at an angle to the front surface of the absorber container” means in connection with the present invention at an angle greater than 10°, preferably greater than 30° and especially preferably greater than 45° relative to the front surface of the absorber container. 
     The advantage of the adapter according to the present invention is essentially its sealing properties, which are improved by the fact that, for example, not only is an inner and/or outer valve crater of the absorber container in contact with a seal on the front side, but another partial surface, e.g., a jacket surface of the valve crater, at right angles to the front surface of the absorber container, and/or a recessed surface, which is formed as an extension of the valve crater, are designed as sealing surfaces. The sealing surface thus comprises a plurality of partial surfaces sloped or offset in relation to one another, which leads to improved sealing properties. 
     The partial surfaces may also be divided such that a first partial surface is the front side of a valve crater and another partial surface lies on the jacket surface of the valve crater. Providing a plurality of partial surfaces on the jacket surface, which are assigned to individual sealing lips, is also within the scope of the present invention and is especially preferred. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first gas channel is designed as an inner gas channel and the second gas channel as an outer gas channel arranged concentrically thereto. 
     In addition, it is also advantageous if the sealing surface comprises a sealing crater extending on the front surface to the absorber container and a sealing lip that is in contact with the jacket surface of the sealing crater. 
     The sealing crater on the absorber container is especially a valve crater of the valve means. A ring-shaped inner valve crater has, for example, a mean diameter of 22 mm (millimeters) in this case, and the internal diameter and the external diameter equal 20 mm and 24 mm, respectively. A ring-shaped outer valve crater has, for example, a mean diameter of 42 mm, and the internal diameter and the external diameter are 40 mm and 44 mm, respectively. The height of the crater, measured from the top side of the absorber container, preferably equals 5.5 mm. The recessed surface joins in a ring-shaped manner from the outside and is located preferably 2.5 mm below the top side of the absorber container, so that the height of the crater in relation to the recessed surface is 8 mm. The recessed surface has an internal diameter of 44 mm and an external diameter of 60.5 mm, and the outer jacket surface of the recessed surface is preferably sloped by 60° in relation to the front surface of the absorber container in the area of the external diameter. 
     The sealing lips may be in contact with a jacket surface of the sealing crater and/or with a surface recessed on the front side and/or with the front surface of a sealing crater. 
     In principle, various seals may be combined in one adapter or one absorber container. For example, a plurality of sealing lips may be in contact with an outer sealing crater, and an inner sealing crater may be part of a conventional flat packing and designed as a sealing surface on the front side. 
     It may be possible to do without seals with sealing lips made of elastomers if, for example, a spring-loaded valve body and a valve crater with suitable surface properties meet bluntly and the pressure conditions on the two sides of the seal do not stress this seal strongly. 
     In addition, it is especially advantageous if the sealing crater is designed with a ring-shaped form with rounded edges and if more than one sealing lip is in contact with the jacket surface of a sealing crater. In particular, a recessed surface is extended on the front side towards the absorber container in order to arrange a plurality of sealing lips thereon. 
     The object of the present invention is also accomplished by an absorber container for adaptation to a breathing system, which comprises an adapter according to one of the above-described embodiments. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be explained below on the basis of the attached drawings. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a longitudinal section of an absorber container with a connected adapter in the locked position; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a longitudinal section of the absorber container with adapter from  FIG. 1  in the pivoted-off position; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view into the absorber container from  FIG. 1  with inner and outer valve craters; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic partial view of a cross section of the absorber container from  FIG. 1  when viewed in direction B from  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a profile view showing an embodiment of a sealing ring; 
         FIG. 6  is a profile view showing another embodiment of an sealing ring; 
         FIG. 7  is a profile view showing another embodiment of a sealing ring; 
         FIG. 8  is a profile view showing another embodiment of a sealing ring; 
         FIG. 9  is a profile view showing another embodiment of a sealing ring; and 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic partial view of a cross section of the absorber container with a sealing ring in a profile view. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in particular,  FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a longitudinal section of an absorber container  4  with a connected adapter  1  in the locked position. Adapter  1  has a housing  5  with a connecting branch  6  for connection to a breathing system, not shown more specifically in  FIG. 1 . To connect the absorber container  4  to the adapter  1 , the absorber container  4  is pushed into a mount  3  and pivoted in the direction of the adapter  1 , which has already taken place in  FIG. 1 . The absorber container  4  has an inner gas channel  12  with an inner valve crater (valve seat)  13  and an outer gas channel  14  arranged concentrically thereto with an outer valve crater (valve seat)  15 . The inner gas channel  12  describes the path of flow from the breathing system to the absorber container  4  with the connected adapter  1  in the locked position, and the outer gas channel  14  describes the path of flow from the absorber container  4  back to the breathing system with the connected adapter  1  in the locked position. 
     The inner gas channel  12  extends within the adapter  1  through the interior space of a valve means  2 . A first sealing ring  16 , which has an outer sealing lip  17  directed towards the absorber container  4  and an inner sealing lip  18 , is located on the underside of a guide sleeve  7  for receiving the valve means  2 . A wall section  21  of the housing of the valve means  2  is provided at its free end, which extends in the direction of the absorber container  4 , with a second sealing ring  22 . 
     When the absorber container  4  is connected to the adapter  1 , the outer sealing lip  17  of the first sealing ring  16  is in contact with the outer valve crater  15 , and the second sealing ring  22  is in contact with the inner valve crater  13 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of a longitudinal section of the absorber container  4  with adapter  1  from  FIG. 1  in the pivoted-down position. Identical reference numbers will be used below for the same components as in  FIG. 1 . 
     The path of flow extends within the adapter  1  through the interior space of the valve means  2 . The inner sealing lip  18  of the first sealing ring  16  is in contact from the outside with the housing of the valve means  2 . The inner sealing lip  18  and the housing of the valve means  2  form a sealing area to interrupt the flow of gas from the absorber container  4  when the absorber container  4  is not connected to the adapter  1 . A sealing lip  26  is in contact with a valve body  25  on the top side of the valve means  2 . The sealing lip  26  and valve body  25 , which is pressed against the sealing lip  26  via a compression spring  27 , form another sealing area in order to interrupt the flow of gas to the absorber container  4 . In the position of the absorber container  4  shown in  FIG. 2 , the path of flow extends through free spaces within the adapter  1  to the outer gas channel  14  via the inner gas channel  12 , without taking the path via the absorber container  4 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a schematic view into the absorber container  4  with the inner valve crater  13  and the outer valve crater  15 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a schematic partial view of a cross section of the absorber container  4  in the direction of view B from  FIG. 3  with an inner valve crater  13  and an outer valve crater  15 . The outer valve crater  15  has a front surface  33  and a jacket surface  34 , which is joined outwardly in an annular pattern by a recessed surface  35  on the top side  36  of the absorber container  4 . The outer jacket surface of the recessed surface  35  is sloped by 60° in relation to the top side  36  of the absorber container in the area of the external diameter. 
       FIGS. 5 through 9  are views of different sealing rings  401 ,  402 ,  403 ,  404 ,  405  with sealing lips  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  in profile. The sealing rings  401 ,  402 ,  403 ,  404 ,  405  are the first sealing ring  16 . Sealing lips  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  are the outer sealing lip  17 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a sealing ring  401  with a sealing lip  50  located at the bottom in a profile view. 
       FIG. 6  shows, alternatively, a sealing ring  402  with the sealing lip  50  located on top in a profile view. 
       FIG. 7  shows, in another variant, a sealing ring  403  with a ring-shaped sealing lip  51  located on top and with a ring-shaped sealing lip  53  located at the bottom in a profile view. 
       FIG. 8  shows, in an additional variant, a sealing ring  404  with a sealing lip  51  located at the top, with a sealing lip  52  located in the middle and with a sealing lip  53  located at the bottom in a profile view. Sealing lips  51 ,  52 ,  53  are all in contact with the jacket surface  34  of the outer valve crater  15 . 
       FIG. 9  shows, in another variant, a sealing ring  405  with a sealing lip  51  located at the top, with a sealing lip  52  located in the middle, with a sealing lip  53  located at bottom, and with a lower sealing lip  54 , which are each of a ring-shaped design, in a sectional view. 
       FIG. 10  shows the sealing ring  405  according to  FIG. 9  in cooperation with the outer valve crater  15  of absorber container  4 . The sealing lips  51 ,  52 ,  53  are in contact here with partial surfaces  55 ,  56 ,  57  of the jacket surface  34  of the outer valve crater  15 . The lower sealing lip  54  is located at another partial surface  58  within the recessed surface  35 . 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 APPENDIX 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 Adapter 
                 34 
                 Jacket surface 
               
               
                 2 
                 Valve means 
                 35 
                 Recessed surface 
               
               
                 3 
                 Mount 
                 36 
                 Top side 
               
               
                 4 
                 Absorber container 
                 401, 402, 403, 404, 405 
                 Sealing ring 
               
               
                 5 
                 Housing 
                 50 
                 Sealing lip 
               
               
                 6 
                 Connecting branch 
                 51 
                 Sealing lip located at top 
               
               
                 7 
                 Guide sleeve 
                 52 
                 Sealing lip located in the middle 
               
               
                 12 
                 Inner gas channel 
                 53 
                 Sealing lip located at bottom 
               
               
                 13 
                 Inner valve crater 
                 54 
                 Sealing lip on recessed surface 
               
               
                 14 
                 Outer gas channel 
                 55, 56, 57 
                 Partial surfaces of the jacket surface 
               
               
                 15 
                 Outer valve crater 
                 58 
                 Partial surface 
               
               
                 16 
                 First sealing ring 
               
               
                 17 
                 Outer sealing lip 
               
               
                 18 
                 Inner sealing lip 
               
               
                 21 
                 Wall section 
               
               
                 22 
                 Second sealing ring 
               
               
                 25 
                 Valve body 
               
               
                 26 
                 Sealing lip 
               
               
                 27 
                 Compression spring 
               
               
                 33 
                 Front surface