Oxygen concentrator and test apparatus
First Claim
1. In an oxygen concentrator comprisinga plurality of molecular sieve beds for alternately receiving atmospheric air for selectively adsorbing nitrogen therefrom to increase the oxygen concentration of an oxygen enriched product gas recovered therefrom,a reservoir for receiving said product gas from said sieve beds and flow control means for selecting the withdrawal rate of said product gas from said reservoir,a compressor including means for providing line voltage for operating said compressor, anda valve cooperating with said compressor for alternately charging said sieve beds with atmospheric air and timing means for switching said valve to alternately charge said sieve beds according to a timing cycle, the improvement comprising(a) flow rate sensing means independent of said flow control means for sensing the rate of withdrawal of product gas from said reservoir and for communicating the sensed rate of withdrawal of said product gas to a modem,(b) oxygen sensing means for sensing the oxygen concentration in said oxygen enriched product gas and for communicating the sensed oxygen concentration in said product gas to a modem,(c) a modem for receiving quantitative signals communicated from said flow rate sensing means and said oxygen sensing means and for transmitting said signals to a remote test apparatus, and(d) a remote test apparatus in telephonic communication with said modem for receiving transmitted signals from said modem and having means for displaying the flow rate and oxygen concentration of said product gas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved oxygen concentrator assembly includes a microprocessor and cooperating means for monitoring or sensing functions and performance of various components of the concentrator. A test apparatus having means for selecting any of the functions monitored by the microprocessor is connected to the concentrator and displays the selected monitored functions for diagnosing performance levels and component problems or failures.
160 Citations
26 Claims
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1. In an oxygen concentrator comprising
a plurality of molecular sieve beds for alternately receiving atmospheric air for selectively adsorbing nitrogen therefrom to increase the oxygen concentration of an oxygen enriched product gas recovered therefrom, a reservoir for receiving said product gas from said sieve beds and flow control means for selecting the withdrawal rate of said product gas from said reservoir, a compressor including means for providing line voltage for operating said compressor, and a valve cooperating with said compressor for alternately charging said sieve beds with atmospheric air and timing means for switching said valve to alternately charge said sieve beds according to a timing cycle, the improvement comprising (a) flow rate sensing means independent of said flow control means for sensing the rate of withdrawal of product gas from said reservoir and for communicating the sensed rate of withdrawal of said product gas to a modem, (b) oxygen sensing means for sensing the oxygen concentration in said oxygen enriched product gas and for communicating the sensed oxygen concentration in said product gas to a modem, (c) a modem for receiving quantitative signals communicated from said flow rate sensing means and said oxygen sensing means and for transmitting said signals to a remote test apparatus, and (d) a remote test apparatus in telephonic communication with said modem for receiving transmitted signals from said modem and having means for displaying the flow rate and oxygen concentration of said product gas.
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7. In an oxygen concentrator comprising
a plurality of molecular sieve beds for alternately receiving atmospheric air for selectively adsorbing nitrogen therefrom to increase the oxygen concentration of a product gas recovered therefrom, a reservoir for receiving said product gas from said sieve beds and flow control means for selecting the withdrawal rate of said product gas from said reservoir, a compressor including means for providing line voltage for operating said compressor, and a valve cooperating with said compressor for alternately charging said sieve beds with atmospheric air and timing means for switching said valve to alternately charge said sieve beds according to a timing cycle, the improvement comprising: -
(a) flow rate sensing means independent of said flow control means for sensing the flow rate of product gas from said reservoir and means for communicating the sensed flow rate to a microprocessor, (b) an oxygen sensor for measuring the oxygen concentration of said product gas and means for communicating the sensed oxygen concentration to a microprocessor, (c) a microprocessor cooperating with said flow rate sensing means and said oxygen sensor for receiving quantitative signals therefrom and memory means for storing the last determined product gas flow rate and sensed oxygen concentration, and (d) a testing apparatus removably connected with said microprocessor having digital display means for displaying data received from said microprocessor, and means for selecting test data from said microprocessor to be displayed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In an oxygen concentrator for increasing the oxygen concentration of a gaseous mixture comprising a valve having a first position for charging atmospheric air under pressure from a compressor into a molecular sieve bed and selectively adsorbing nitrogen therefrom to produce an oxygen enriched gaseous product and a second position in which desorbed nitrogen is released from said sieve bed, a reservoir for receiving said gaseous product from said sieve bed and flow control means for selecting the withdrawal rate of said product gas from said reservoir, the improvement comprising:
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(a) flow rate sensing means independent of said flow control means for sensing the flow rate of gaseous product withdrawn from said reservoir and means for communicating the sensed flow rate to a microprocessor, (b) oxygen sensor for sensing the oxygen concentration of said gaseous product and means for communicating the measured oxygen concentration to a microprocessor, (c) a microprocessor cooperating with said flow rate sensing means and said oxygen sensor for receiving quantitative signals therefrom and memory means for storing the last determined gaseous product flow rate and sensed oxygen concentration, and (d) a testing apparatus removably connected with said microprocessor having selective digital display means for displaying the gaseous product flow rate and sensed oxygen concentration received from said microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification