Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/8668767
Timestamp: 2019-11-12 20:57:17
Document Index: 328172411

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2007297814', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 07837126', 'Application No. 2007297814', 'Application No. 2008242696', 'Application No. 07837126', 'Application No. 08746446', 'Application No. 200880021148', 'Application No. 200780034658', 'Application No. 200780034658', 'Application No. 200880021148', 'Application No. 200780034658']

US Patent for Product gas concentrator and method associated therewith Patent (Patent # 8,668,767 issued March 11, 2014) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Filamentary Or Filar FormUS Patent for Product gas concentrator and method associated therewith Patent (Patent # 8,668,767)
Apr 21, 2008 - Invacare Corporation
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/913,056, filed Apr. 20, 2007, and 60/968,273, filed Aug. 27, 2007. This application is related to co-pending U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/258,480, filed Oct. 25, 2005 and Ser. No. 11/522,683, filed Sep. 18, 2006. This application is also related to co-pending International (PCT) Patent Application Numbers PCT/US07/18468, filed Sep. 18, 2006 and (application number to be assigned), filed this same day. The contents of all above-identified patent application(s) and patent(s) are fully incorporated herein by reference.
In another embodiment, the apparatus includes first and second sieve tanks arranged to separate one or more adsorbable components from a pressurized source gaseous mixture in alternating and opposing pressurization and purging cycles to form the concentrated product gas and a controller in operative communication with the first and second sieve tanks to selectively control the pressurization and purging cycles over a plurality of predetermined altitude ranges while maintaining an acceptable purity level for the concentrated product gas.
In still another embodiment, the apparatus includes an input device to select a first desired output setting for the concentrated product gas, a product gas source to provide the concentrated product gas for dispensing, a pressure sensor monitoring a pressure of the concentrated product gas, a conserver valve including an output connection associated with a user, a vent connection associated with a vent port, and a gas connection associated with the concentrated product gas, wherein the output connection is switched from the vent connection to the gas connection and vice versa, and a controller in operative communication with the input device and pressure sensor to selectively switch the conserver valve to selectively dispense the concentrated product gas based at least in part on the selected output setting and monitored pressure.
FIG. 3H is a detail view of the upper portion of sieve bed and product tank assembly 206. Seal member 322 includes a plurality of recesses 326, 328, and 330, for example, for receiving the ends of sieve bed portion 300 and product tank portion 302. Each recess is walled and includes top portions 332, 334, and 336, for example. Top portions 332, 334, and 336 of seal member 322 are received within recesses 338, 340, and 342, for example, of end cap 304. End cap 304 recesses 338, 340, and 342, for example, are formed by walls that project from end cap 304. When end cap 304 is secured to sieve bed portion 300 and product tank portion 302 via fasteners, end cap 304 and sieve bed portion 300 and product tank portion 302 compress seal member 322 thereby providing a gas-tight seal. End cap 306 and seal member 324 are similarly configured. As described above, seal members 322 and 324 can be omitted and recesses 338, 340 and 342 in end cap 304 can be made to form a gas-tight seal.
Referring to now to FIGS. 3I-3L, and more particularly to FIG. 3J, perspective views of an alternate end cap design 350 is shown. End cap 350 differs from the previously described end cap 304 in that it includes an integrated sound attenuator or muffler. Whereas the embodiment of FIG. 2 includes discreet sound attenuators or mufflers 216 and 218, the embodiment of end cap 350 integrates a sound attenuator or muffler into its structure.
As shown in FIG. 3J, end cap 350 includes a body having a sieve bed/product tank interface portion 352. Interface portion 352 also serves as a base from which muffler portion 354 extends. Also extending from interface portion 352 is a mounting boss 356. A muffler block 358 is housed within muffler portion 354 and a perforated exhaust cap 360 closes muffler portion 354. Mounting boss 356 accepts a fastener that passes through exhaust cap 360 and muffler block 358. Alternative means for securing these components can also be utilized.
End cap 350 further includes an input port 362 and a fitting 364 that may be attached to it. End cap 350 also includes an input port 365 to the muffler portion 354. Input port 365 is connected to muffler portion 354 through passageway 367. In this manner, gases exhausted from the sieve bed are input through port 365 and passageway 367 into muffler portion 354. The gases are then exhausted by muffler portion 354 through perforated end cap 360.
EXAMPLE 1 HAM Pressure Threshold for Flow LAM Pressure HAM Pressure Bleed Valve Setting Set-Point (psig) Set-Point (psig) Ratio Activation (psig)
1 9.0 7.88 .55 4.33 2 12.5 10.94 .60 6.56 3 16.5 14.44 .65 9.38 4 19.0 16.63 .70 11.64 5 23.5 20.56 .75 15.42
EXAMPLE 2 HAM Pressure Threshold for Flow LAM Pressure HAM Pressure Bleed Valve Setting Set-Point (psig) Set-Point (psig) Ratio Activation (psig)
1 9.0 7.88 .90 7.09 2 12.5 10.94 .90 9.84 3 16.5 14.44 .90 12.99 4 19.0 16.63 .90 14.96 5 23.5 20.56 .90 18.51
a valve assembly to selectively provide an adjustable flow between the first and second sieve tanks, wherein the valve assembly includes a plurality of flow paths between the first and second sieve tanks; and
a controller in operative communication with the input device and valve assembly to selectively control at least two flow paths between the first and second sieve tanks of the valve assembly based at least in part on the desired output setting such that the flow between the first and second sieve tanks for at least one output setting is different from the flow between the first and second sieve tanks for at least one other output setting in relation to corresponding pressurization cycles, the controller comprising: logic for opening a first flow path of one of the at least two sieve tank flow paths to allow a bleed flow of product gas from the pressurizing sieve tank to the purging sieve tank to assist regeneration of the purging sieve tank; and logic for opening a second flow path of another of the at least two sieve tank flow paths to allow an equalization flow between the sieve tanks when the pressurizing sieve tank is near the end of the pressurizing cycle and the purging sieve tank is near the end of the purging cycle.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, the valve assembly comprising:
a bleed valve in series with the first orifice to selectively provide the bleed flow between the first and second sieve tanks;
3. The apparatus of claim 2, the valve assembly further comprising:
4. The apparatus of claim 2, the valve assembly further comprising:
a pressure equalization valve in parallel with the series combination of the first orifice and bleed valve to selectively provide the equalization flow between the first and second sieve tanks;
wherein the controller selectively controls the valve assembly based at least in part on the first timer and the adjustable bleed delay period for at least one output setting is different from the adjustable bleed delay period for at least one other output setting in relation to corresponding pressurization cycles; and
wherein the controller selectively controls the valve assembly based at least in part on the second timer and the adjustable bleed duration period for at least one output setting is different from the adjustable bleed duration period for at least one other output setting in relation to corresponding pressurization cycles.
wherein the controller is in operative communication with the pressure sensor and selectively controls the valve assembly based at least in part on the detected pressure in relation to a bleed pressure threshold, the bleed pressure threshold for at least one output setting being different from the bleed pressure threshold for at least one other output setting in relation to corresponding pressurization cycles; and
wherein the controller selectively controls the valve assembly based at least in part on the timer and the adjustable bleed duration period for at least one output setting is different from the adjustable bleed duration period for at least one other output setting in relation to corresponding pressurization cycles.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two sieve tank flow paths selectively allow gas to flow from one sieve tank to the other sieve tank via one or more of the at least two sieve tanks without preventing the flow of concentrated product gas to a user.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two sieve tank flow paths selectively allow gas to flow from one sieve tank to the other sieve tank via one or more of the at least two sieve tank flow paths while allowing the flow of concentrated product gas to a user.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two sieve tank flow paths comprise:
a bleed flow path comprising a bleed valve in series with a first orifice to selectively provide a bleed flow of product gas from the pressurizing sieve tank to the purging sieve tank to regenerate the purging sieve tank; and
an equalization flow path comprising a pressure equalization valve in parallel with the series combination of the bleed valve and the first orifice to selectively equalize pressure between the sieve tanks when the pressurizing sieve tank is near the end of the pressurizing cycle and the purging sieve tank is near the end of the purging cycle.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the product gas flow through the bleed flow path is less than the product gas flow through the equalization flow path.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, the controller further comprising:
logic for opening the first flow path and the second flow path simultaneously for a predetermined time.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly further includes an output flow path to provide concentrated product gas to a user independent of the at least two sieve tank flow paths.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least two sieve tank flow paths and the output flow path each have separate parallel portions.
14. An apparatus for providing a concentrated product gas, comprising:
a valve assembly to selectively provide an adjustable flow between the first and second sieve tanks, wherein the valve assembly includes: state A to provide a bleed rate flow path between the first and second sieve tanks; and state B to provide a pressure equalization flow path between the first and second sieve tanks; and
a controller in operative communication with the input device and valve assembly to selectively control the bleed rate flow path and the pressure equalization flow path of the valve assembly based at least in part on the desired output setting such that the flow between the first and second sieve tanks for at least one output setting is different from the flow between the first and second sieve tanks for at least one other output setting in relation to corresponding pressurization cycles, the controller comprising: logic for opening the bleed rate flow path to allow a bleed flow of product gas from the pressurizing sieve tank to the purging sieve tank to assist regeneration of the purging sieve tank; and logic for opening the pressure equalization flow path to allow an equalization flow between the sieve tanks when the pressurizing sieve tank is near the end of the pressurizing cycle and the purging sieve tank is near the end of the purging cycle.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, the valve assembly comprising a plurality of valves to selectively provide an adjustable flow between the first and second sieve tanks.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, the valve assembly comprising:
a bleed valve in series with a first orifice associated with state A to selectively provide the bleed flow between the first and second sieve tanks;
17. The apparatus of claim 16, the valve assembly comprising:
a pressure equalization valve associated with state B in parallel with the series combination of the bleed valve and the first orifice to selectively provide the equalization flow between the first and second sieve tanks;
18. An apparatus for providing a concentrated product gas, comprising:
means for variably restricting an adjustable flow between the first and second sieve tanks; and
a controller in operative communication with the input device and means for variably restricting to selectively control at least two flow paths between the first and second sieve tanks of the means for variably restricting based at least in part on the desired output setting such that the flow between the first and second sieve tanks for at least one output setting is different from the flow between the first and second sieve tanks for at least one other output setting in relation to corresponding pressurization cycles, the controller comprising: logic for opening a first flow path of one of the at least two sieve tank flow paths to allow a bleed flow of product gas from the pressurizing sieve tank to the purging sieve tank to assist regeneration of the purging sieve tank; and logic for opening a second flow path of another of the at least two sieve tank flow paths to allow an equalization flow between the sieve tanks when the pressurizing sieve tank is near the end of the pressurizing cycle and the purging sieve tank is near the end of the purging cycle.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, the means for variably restricting comprising a plurality of valves to selectively provide an adjustable flow between the first and second sieve tanks.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, the means for variably restricting comprising:
a bleed valve in series with a first orifice to selectively provide the bleed flow between the first and second sieve tanks;
21. The apparatus of claim 20, the means for variably restricting comprising:
a pressure equalization valve in parallel with the series combination of the bleed valve and the first orifice to selectively provide the equalization flow between the first and second sieve tanks;
22. An apparatus for providing a concentrated product gas, comprising:
a bleed valve to selectively provide a bleed flow between the first and second sieve tanks separate from an equalization flow between the first and second sieve tanks;
a controller in operative communication with the input device and bleed valve to selectively control the bleed valve based at least in part on the desired output setting such that the flow between the first and second sieve tanks for at least one output setting is different from the flow between the first and second sieve tanks for at least one other output setting in relation to corresponding pressurization cycles, the controller comprising: logic for opening a first flow path of one of the at least two sieve tank flow paths to allow the bleed flow of product gas from the pressurizing sieve tank to the purging sieve tank to assist regeneration of the purging sieve tank; and logic for opening a second flow path of another of the at least two sieve tank flow paths to allow the equalization flow between the sieve tanks when the pressurizing sieve tank is near the end of the pressurizing cycle and the purging sieve tank is near the end of the purging cycle.
a first orifice in series with the bleed valve between the first and second sieve tanks.
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Patent Publication Number: 20080257145
Inventors: Thomas B. Sprinkle (Rocky River, OH), William J. Daniels (Wadsworth, OH), Thomas A. Drobnak (Olmsted Township, OH), David G. Felty (Parma, OH), Valentine A. Hodos (Cleveland, OH), Martin J. Fabian (Bay Village, OH), Samuel J. Shelnutt (North Ridgevile, OH), Jonathon R. Olszewski (Elyria, OH)
Application Number: 12/106,861
Current U.S. Class: Filamentary Or Filar Form (96/96); Pressure Sensing Means (96/113); With Means For Regenerating Solid Sorbent (96/130); Regulation Of Separated Constituent Discharge (96/408); Pressure Measuring Means (96/421); Gas Flow Rate Measuring Means (96/422); Gas Flow Rate Modified (95/22); Gas Flow Rate Sensed (95/23); Plural Pressure Varying Steps (e.g., Pressure Swing Adsorption, Etc.) (95/96); And Regeneration (95/148); Means For Removing Substance From Respiratory Gas (128/205.12); Means For Removing Substance From Respiratory Gas (128/205.27)