Method and apparatus for controlling the atmosphere of an essentially closed space

• US 5,860,857 A
• Filed: 05/13/1996
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AGA AB (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: AGA AB (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Rusko, Heikki, Wasastjerna, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOLES, DEREK
• Application Number:
  US08/557,069
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 454/254, 454/256, 454/338
• US Class Current: 454/338
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/02 with artificial climate; with means to maintain a desired pressure, e.g. for germ-free rooms dust-free laboratory rooms B01L1/04; decompression arrangements B63C11/32; arrangements or adaptations in aircraft B64D13/00; air-conditioning in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 11/00 Devices for reconditioning breathing air in sealed rooms chemical purification, disinfection, or sterilisation of air A61L; in aircraft or submarines, insofar as they influence the construction of the vehicle or are influenced by its construction B63B, B64D, respectively; air-conditioning in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/14 specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2213/006 under hypoxy conditions, i.e. oxygen supply subnormal
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/76 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/12 characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for regulating the atmosphere in a substantially closed sports/exercise space (1) or an animal shelter (11), especially in terms of partial oxygen pressure. In the method, the normal atmosphere of said space (1; 11) is admixed with nitrogen for the creation of a desired low-oxygen (oxygen content <appr. 21%) atmosphere, said low-oxygen atmosphere corresponding to partial oxygen pressure in the air at a certain altitude above sea level. Alternatively, said normal atmosphere is admixed with oxygen for the creation of a desired high-oxygen (oxygen content>appr. 21%) atmosphere. Said mixing of nitrogen or oxygen with air is carried out at normal air pressure.

Claims

1. A method for regulating an atmosphere in a substantially closed space on ground level, comprising the steps of supplementing a normal atmosphere of said space with nitrogen or with a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, the supplement of nitrogen or said mixture in said normal atmosphere being used to create a desired low-oxygen atmosphere, said low-oxygen atmosphere corresponding to partial oxygen pressure in the air at a certain altitude above sea level, in which method said mixing of nitrogen or said mixture of nitrogen and oxygen with air is carried out at local ambient air pressure.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein nitrogen or said mixture of nitrogen and oxygen is directly blown into said closed space for adjusting the air therein to a desired oxygen content and pre-mixed air corresponding to said desired oxygen content is blown into said space for adjusting the atmosphere and maintaining the adjusted atmosphere.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises maintaining the atmosphere in motion within said space, whereby the atmosphere can be maintained essentially homogeneous.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the atmosphere is kept in motion by means of fans for creating a desired wind at a desired location in said space.

5. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the method further comprises maintaining the atmosphere in motion within said space, whereby the atmosphere can be maintained essentially homogeneous.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the atmosphere is kept in motion by means of fans for creating a desired wind at a desired location in said space.

7. A sports/exercise space having regulatable atmosphere and/or wind conditions, wherein said space is designed as a substantially closed space and provided with fan elements for blowing nitrogen or a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen into said space for adjusting an atmosphere within said space to a desired oxygen content and for producing a desired wind speed in said space, wherein the space is maintained at local ambient air pressure.

8. A space as set forth in claim 7, wherein said space is further provided with elements for producing a desired humidity condition and/or temperature.

9. A space as set forth in claim 7, wherein said space is further provided with monitoring elements for monitoring and correcting the space atmosphere.

10. A space as set forth in claim 7, wherein said space is defined by a fixed structure.

11. A space as set forth in claim 8, wherein said space is defined by a movable tunnel which is provided with transfer/hoist elements and fitted inside a larger sports/exercise hall.

15. A space as set forth in claim 8, wherein said space is further provided with monitoring elements for monitoring and correcting its atmosphere whenever necessary.

17. A space as set forth in claim 9, wherein said space is defined by a movable tunnel, which is provided with transfer/hoist elements and fitted inside a larger sports/exercise hall.

18. A space as set forth in claim 10, wherein said space is defined by a movable tunnel, which is provided with transfer/hoist elements and fitted inside a larger sports/exercise hall.

12. An animal shelter having a space with a regulatable atmosphere, wherein said space is designed as a substantially closed space and provided with elements for blowing nitrogen or a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen into said space for adjusting the atmosphere of said space to a desired low-oxygen content atmosphere, said low-oxygen content atmosphere corresponding to partial oxygen pressure in the air at a certain altitude above sea level, wherein the space is maintained at local ambient air pressure.

13. A space as set forth in claim 12, wherein said space is further provided with elements for producing a desired humidity condition and/or temperature.

14. A space as set forth in claim 12, wherein said space is further provided with monitoring elements for monitoring and correcting its atmosphere whenever necessary.

16. A space as set forth in claim 13, wherein said space is further provided with monitoring elements for monitoring and correcting its atmosphere whenever necessary.

19. A sports/exercise space where the atmosphere can be adjusted to a desired oxygen content by supplementing nitrogen or a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen in desired amounts to create a desired atmosphere in the space, wherein the space is defined by a transferable/hoistable and/or collapsible tunnel, and fans are provided for blowing nitrogen or said mixture into the space for creating a desired downwind/headwind, and that the supplement of nitrogen or said mixture is carried out at local ambient air pressure.

20. A space as set forth in claim 19, wherein said space is disposed within a larger sports/exercise hall.