JP2005324980A - Oxygen enrichment equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oxygen enrichment equipment to solve a harmful effect due to water droplets condensed in the passage of an oxygen enrichment equipment, and to improve usability by using a secondary battery as an electric power source. <P>SOLUTION: This oxygen enrichment equipment is provided with a first operation mode of discharging the oxygen-enriched air to the outside of the equipment body 1, a second operation mode of discharging air except the oxygen-enriched air to the outside of the equipment body 1 by switching over an air passage switching means 26 after the first operation mode, a secondary battery 23 as an electric power source for these modes, a memory means 21 storing residual capacity information of the secondary battery, and a control means 24 for switching the first and the second operation modes in response to the information from the memory means and the voltage information of the secondary battery. The equipment obtains oxygen-enriched air by the first operation mode while draining water droplets condensed in the passage of the oxygen-enriched air to the outside of the equipment body by the second operation mode to solve the harmful effect due to the water droplet. At the same time, usability is improved because it can be available anywhere since a secondary battery is used as the electric power source. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an oxygen enricher that provides a user with so-called oxygen enriched air obtained by using an oxygen enrichment means.

A conventional oxygen enricher includes an apparatus main body that generates oxygen-enriched air by concentrating oxygen in the air, and an oxygen discharge unit connected thereto, and the oxygen discharge unit is located at the mouth portion of the human body. Thus, oxygen can be inhaled (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-63067

  However, in the conventional oxygen enricher, dew condensation occurs in the middle of the path through which oxygen-enriched air is sent from the apparatus main body to the oxygen discharge unit, and the condensed water droplets are discharged from the oxygen discharge unit as they are. However, there is a problem that the condensed water droplets are sucked together with the oxygen-enriched air. In addition, there is a problem that water droplets remain as they are in the path to the oxygen discharge unit, causing generation of mold and bacteria.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, eliminates the harmful effects caused by water droplets condensed in the path of oxygen-enriched air, and improves the usability by using a secondary battery as a power source. The purpose is to provide a machine.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, the oxygen enricher of the present invention includes a first operation mode in which oxygen-enriched air obtained by the oxygen enrichment means is sucked by the suction means and discharged out of the apparatus main body, After the first operation mode, the air flow path switching means is switched, the second operation mode in which air other than oxygen-enriched air is sucked by the suction means and discharged out of the apparatus main body, and two of these power sources Secondary battery, storage means for storing the remaining capacity information of the secondary battery, and control means for switching between the first operation mode and the second operation mode according to the information of the storage means and the voltage information of the secondary battery It is equipped with.

  Thereby, oxygen-enriched air is obtained in the first operation mode, and water droplets condensed in the route of the oxygen-enriched air can be discharged outside the apparatus main body in the second operation mode, thereby eliminating the adverse effects caused by the water droplets. It is something that can be done. At the same time, since the secondary battery is used as the power source, the usability can be improved regardless of the place of use.

  The oxygen enricher of the present invention eliminates the harmful effects caused by water droplets condensed in the path of oxygen-enriched air and improves the usability by using a secondary battery as a power source.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first operation mode in which oxygen-enriched air obtained by the oxygen enrichment means is sucked by the suction means and discharged out of the apparatus main body, and an air flow path switching means after the first operation mode. The second operation mode in which air other than oxygen-enriched air is sucked by the suction means and discharged out of the apparatus main body, the secondary battery as the power source, and the remaining capacity information of the secondary battery By providing an oxygen enricher comprising storage means for storing, and control means for switching between the first operation mode and the second operation mode in accordance with information on the storage means and voltage information on the secondary battery, Oxygen-enriched air is obtained in the first operation mode, and water droplets condensed in the oxygen-enriched air path can be discharged out of the apparatus main body in the second operation mode, thereby eliminating the adverse effects caused by the water droplets. . At the same time, since the secondary battery is used as the power source, the usability can be improved regardless of the place of use.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, the control means controls the first operation mode and the second operation mode to operate and stop for a preset time period, respectively, and the remaining battery level. In some cases, the switching from the first operation mode to the second operation mode is prioritized without waiting for a predetermined time set in advance, thereby reliably discharging condensed water or the like in the second operation mode.・ Can be dried.

  In the third invention, in particular, in the second invention, when switching from the first operation mode to the second operation mode is performed without waiting for a predetermined time set in advance, this is displayed on the display means. By displaying the information, the user can know the remaining battery level of the secondary battery, so that the usability can be improved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the third aspect of the present invention, the display unit displays the display unit continuously for a predetermined time after the operation stop, so that the user can display the display unit after the oxygen enricher stops. It can be seen that the reason for the stop is that the battery capacity has been exhausted. For example, it can be recognized that the battery must be charged before the next use, and the usability can be improved.

  In particular, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the control means switches the first operation mode to the second operation mode after the first predetermined time operation, thereby changing the second predetermined mode. When the remaining battery level is low, the control is switched to the second operation mode preferentially after the elapse of the third predetermined time without waiting for the first predetermined time, and this is changed to the fourth predetermined after the operation is stopped. By continuously displaying the time and display on the display means, the user will recognize that the remaining battery level will soon be exhausted by continuing to display to the user that the remaining battery level will soon be exhausted. It is easy.

  In a sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the voltage information of the secondary battery stored in the storage means includes a battery voltage change amount (ΔV / Δt) per unit time. The control means switches the operation mode in consideration of the battery voltage characteristics during operation that changes depending on the battery temperature by repeating the charging / discharging cycle by correcting the switching judgment from the current voltage information change of the secondary battery. Since it can be controlled, for example, even if the battery characteristics change due to aging or temperature change, it is possible to reliably discharge and dry condensed water or the like in the second operation mode.

  In particular, the seventh aspect of the present invention includes the driving operation means for starting and stopping the operation in any one of the first to sixth aspects, and the control means can accept only the stop operation after determining that the remaining battery level is low. Thus, it is possible to prevent the user from using the remaining battery power necessary for the second operation mode for the oxygen enrichment operation.

  In the eighth invention, in particular, in the seventh invention, when a driving start operation is performed from the driving operation means, if the storage means has judgment storage information indicating that the battery level is low, the driving is not accepted and the fourth predetermined time is not accepted. By continuously displaying on the display means until after the elapse of time, so-called battery deterioration due to squeezing out discharge of the battery can be prevented.

  According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, the apparatus main body is provided with an external power supply connecting means, and the secondary battery can be charged by the external power supply connecting means and the stored information in the storage means is erased by charging. By doing so, a new operation can be started again by charging the secondary battery.

  In the tenth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the seventh or eighth aspect of the invention, even if the storage means has judgment storage information indicating that the remaining battery level is low, the current secondary battery voltage information is not less than a predetermined voltage. In some cases, the operation is started according to the operation start operation from the operation means, for example, the secondary battery is fully charged after the user removes the secondary battery with a low battery level from the device main body. When the battery is replaced, the control means can accept the operation start operation from the operation operation means and start the oxygen enrichment operation.

  In an eleventh aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the fifth to tenth aspects of the invention, when the control means detects that the current voltage information of the secondary battery is the end voltage, the third predetermined time has elapsed. In addition, since the immediate operation is stopped without waiting for the second operation mode, the control unit cannot secure the battery power in the second operation mode due to a sudden change in the charge / discharge characteristics of the secondary battery. If it is determined, the operation can be stopped without performing so-called overdischarge of the battery leading to battery deterioration.

  In a twelfth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the fifth to eleventh aspects of the invention, it is provided with operation detection means for detecting the operation state of the suction means, and the control means is current voltage information of the secondary battery and operation detection means By determining whether the remaining battery level is low based on the information from the battery, the battery voltage determination is performed to determine whether the remaining battery level is low when an abnormality in the operating state of the suction unit, for example, a decrease in the rotational speed is detected. The stored value of the storage means can be updated so that the switching determination is performed earlier in the next operation than in the previous operation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
1 to 4 show an oxygen enricher according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  1 and 2, the apparatus body 1 of the oxygen enricher is provided with oxygen enriching means 28 for increasing the concentration of oxygen and generating so-called oxygen enriched air. Oxygen-enriched air generated by the oxygen-enriching means 28 is discharged from the discharge port 7 through the tube 3, the tank 5, the tube 4, and the headset 6. The headset 6 is worn near the head when the user sucks oxygen-enriched air using an oxygen enricher. By the way, the oxygen-enriching means 28, like oxygen, has a water vapor permeability larger than that of nitrogen and is operated in an atmosphere having a high humidity. The oxygen-enriched air discharged from the oxygen-enriching means 28 contains a large amount of water vapor. Therefore, the tank 5 that is a liquid pool is disposed in the middle of the tubes 3 and 4 so that water vapor is not discharged from the discharge portion 7 as condensed water.

  The oxygen-enriched film unit constituting the oxygen-enriching means 28 is composed of an organic polymer flat film and utilizes the difference in the speed of molecules passing through the film, so that oxygen is better than nitrogen in the air. Therefore, so-called oxygen-enriched air having a relatively high oxygen concentration is obtained. In ordinary air, the proportion of oxygen is about 21% (nitrogen is about 79%), but in the oxygen-enriched air after passing through the oxygen-enriching means 28 in the present embodiment, the proportion of oxygen is about 30. % (Nitrogen about 70%).

  The suction means 25 for discharging the oxygen-enriched air generated by the oxygen enrichment means 28 from the discharge port 7 is driven and controlled by the control means 24. The suction means 25 uses a bellows pump having a high pressure during operation in order to increase the flow rate of oxygen-enriched air against the passage pressure loss of the oxygen-enriched membrane unit of the oxygen-enriching means 28.

  The air flow path switching means 26 that is switched by a drive signal from the control means 24 is such that the air sucked by the suction means 25 is oxygen-enriched air that has passed through the oxygen-enriching means 28 and the air intake port 27 independently of this. The normal air from is switched. That is, the air flow path switching unit 26 sucks the oxygen-enriched air obtained by the oxygen-enriching unit 28 by the suction unit 25 and discharges the oxygen-enriched air outside the apparatus main body 1 and the first operation mode. After that, the second operation mode in which air other than oxygen-enriched air is sucked by the suction means 25 and discharged out of the apparatus main body 1 is switched.

  The secondary battery 23 as a power source can supply power consumed by the apparatus main body 1, and the DC plug 9 of the AC adapter 8 that converts commercial AC power supplied by the power cord 10 into DC power is provided in the apparatus main body. When it is connected to one jack 11, it is charged with DC power by the control means 24. The driving operation means 22 for starting and stopping the operation is detected by the control means 24 when the user operates the driving operation means 22, and the air flow switching means 26 and the suction means 25 are driven to enrich the oxygen. The operation or the air blowing operation, that is, the first operation mode and the second operation mode are started. Further, the control unit 24 can display the driving state on the display unit 20 to notify the user of the driving state. Similarly, the operation is stopped by operating the driving operation means 22.

  The storage means 21 composed of a non-volatile memory that retains the stored contents even when the power is turned off stores information on the discharge voltage characteristics of the secondary battery 23, and the control means 24 determines the secondary battery 23 from the information. The battery remaining capacity can be calculated / estimated, and can be rewritten by the control means 24. The stored information in the storage means 21 is erased by charging.

  The operation of the oxygen enricher configured as described above will be described.

  When the operation means 22 is operated by the user and the control means 24 detects that the oxygen enrichment operation is started, the control means 24 consumes the electric power of the secondary battery 23 to thereby turn the air flow path switching means 26. Is switched so that the oxygen enrichment means 28 can be aspirated by the suction means 25, and the oxygen enrichment operation for driving the suction means 25 is started (first operation mode). The oxygen-enriched air generated by the oxygen-enriching means 28 is sucked by the suction means 25 through the air flow path switching means 26 and discharged from the discharge port 7 through the tube 3, the tank 5, the tube 4, and the headset 6. The As described above, when the secondary battery 23 is sufficiently charged, the control means 24 performs the oxygen enrichment operation for the first predetermined time. By the way, during the oxygen enrichment operation, the oxygen enrichment of the air flow path switching means 26, the suction means 25, the tubes 3, 4, the tank 5, the headset 6 and the like by the water vapor generated from the oxygen enrichment means 28 as described above. Condensation occurs on the inner surface of the air flow path.

  Next, after the first predetermined time has elapsed, the control means 24 switches the air flow path switching means 26 so that the suction means 25 sucks normal air from the air intake port 27, and the air blowing operation for driving the suction means 25 is performed. Is started (second operation mode). In the air blowing operation, normal air from the air intake port 27 is sucked by the suction unit 25 through the air flow path switching unit 26, and discharged from the discharge port 7 through the tube 3, the tank 5, the tube 4, and the headset 6. At this time, the air flow path switching means 26 generated and adhered during the oxygen enrichment operation and the dew condensation water on the inner surface of the tube 3 are discharged into the tank 5 and dried, and the inside of the air flow path of the tube 4, the headset 6 and the discharge port 7. Dry the condensed water. When the secondary battery 23 is sufficiently charged, the control unit 24 performs the air blowing operation for the second predetermined time and then stops.

  Incidentally, the tank 5 is detachably disposed, and the condensed water accumulated in the tank 5 can be discarded by the user by removing the tank 5.

  As described above, the water droplets condensed in the oxygen-enriched air supply path are dried and discharged to prevent the user from sucking the condensed water together with the oxygen-enriched air.

  By the way, in the switching of the operation mode described above, the secondary battery 23 is charged with a sufficient amount of power for performing the oxygen enrichment operation for the first predetermined time and further performing the air blowing operation for the second predetermined time. (Refer to (1) in FIG. 4).

  Next, operation control when the secondary battery 23 is not charged with a sufficient amount of power will be described with reference to (2) of FIG.

  The voltage of the secondary battery 23 decreases, for example, as shown by the characteristic A in FIG. 3 with the power consumption due to the operation of the oxygen enricher. In the storage means 21, the voltage value of the secondary battery 23 corresponding to the remaining charge power required for performing the air blowing operation for the second predetermined time is used as the switching determination voltage VS, and overdischarge and oxygen of the secondary battery 23 are detected. The voltage value at the limit of ensuring the operation performance of the enrichment machine is defined as the end voltage VE, and further, the battery voltage change amount ΔVc per unit time of the part C in the characteristic A of FIG. 3 until the switching judgment voltage VS of the secondary battery 23 is reached. / Δt is stored. Here, ΔVc / Δt is a voltage change amount that the voltage of the secondary battery 23 will decrease to a value substantially equal to the switching determination voltage VS in the third predetermined time.

  When the control means 24 determines that the battery voltage change amount ΔV / Δt per unit time of the secondary battery 23 is equal to ΔVc / Δt in the storage means 21 after the oxygen enrichment operation is started, the display means 20 displays a low battery level. Is displayed. After the third predetermined time (2d to 2b in FIG. 4 (2)) has elapsed after the start of the low battery level display, or the battery voltage of the secondary battery 23 becomes equal to the switching determination voltage VS. If it judges that it was, it will stop after performing 2nd predetermined time (2b-2c of FIG. 4 (2)) ventilation operation. The low battery level display on the display means 20 ends after the fourth predetermined time (2c to 2e in FIG. 4 (2)) has elapsed after the blower operation is stopped.

  Next, operation control when the amount of charge power of the secondary battery 23 is small will be described with reference to (3) of FIG.

  When the control means 24 detects that the battery voltage of the secondary battery 23 is lower than the switching determination voltage VS immediately after the oxygen enricher starts operation, the control means 24 does not wait for the first and third predetermined times and performs the air blowing operation. Is displayed on the display means 20 and the battery voltage of the secondary battery 23 is determined to be equal to or lower than the end voltage VE, the second predetermined time has elapsed (see FIG. The air blowing operation is stopped without waiting for 4 (3) 3a to 3c). The display of no remaining battery power on the display means 20 ends after the fourth predetermined time (3c to 3e in FIG. 4 (3)) has elapsed after the air blowing operation has been stopped.

  Next, the operation control after the control unit 24 determines that the remaining battery level is low will be described.

  The control unit 24 stores in the storage unit 21 the determination that the remaining battery level is low. When the driving operation is started by the driving operation means 22 by the user, the control means 24 confirms the battery remaining amount information in the storage means 21 without starting the operation, and without the remaining battery amount for the fourth predetermined time. Only a message to the effect is displayed on the display means 20. The user confirms the display of no remaining battery power to connect the DC plug 9 of the AC adapter 8 to the jack 11 of the apparatus main body 1 to charge the secondary battery 23 in the apparatus main body 1. The control unit 24 detects that the charging operation has been performed, starts charging the secondary battery 23 and deletes the remaining battery level information in the storage unit 21. Thereafter, when the user performs an operation start operation with the operation operation means 22, the control means 24 starts the oxygen enrichment operation.

  By the way, if the control means 24 determines that the battery level is low during the oxygen enrichment operation, the control means 24 can accept only the stop operation among the operation operations operated from the operation operation means 22, and the operation start operation is By disabling it, the secondary battery 23 is prevented from being used for so-called overdischarge by the operation by the user. In addition, the control unit 24 includes an operation state detection unit (not shown) that detects the operation state of the suction unit 25, so that, for example, the performance for the rotation speed of the suction unit 25 to perform the oxygen enrichment operation and the air blowing operation. If the secondary battery voltage value at that time is stored in the storage unit 21 as the switching determination voltage VS or the final voltage VE, operation control that leads to performance improvement and securing at the next operation can be realized. .

  Further, due to the characteristic change of the secondary battery 23 due to repeated charging / discharging or long-term charging / discharging, the battery voltage change during operation is steep in the latter half of the operation (discharge) as shown by characteristic B in FIG. If the control means 24 detects that the voltage falls to (D part), it is possible to easily change the switching determination voltage VS and the end voltage VE.

  As described above, the oxygen enricher according to the present invention eliminates the harmful effects caused by water droplets condensed in the path of oxygen-enriched air and improves the usability by using a secondary battery as a power source. For example, it is useful as an oxygen enricher for portable use.

The block diagram which shows the oxygen enricher in embodiment of this invention The perspective view which shows the whole structure of the oxygen enrichment machine A graph showing an example of voltage change of a secondary battery during operation of the oxygen enricher Timing chart showing the operating state of the oxygen enricher

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 7 Discharge port 20 Display means 21 Storage means 22 Operation operation means 23 Secondary battery 24 Control means 25 Suction means 26 Air flow path switching means 27 Air intake port 28 Oxygen enrichment means

Claims (12)

A first operation mode in which oxygen-enriched air obtained by the oxygen-enriching means is sucked by the suction means and discharged out of the apparatus main body, and the air flow path switching means is switched after the first operation mode to enrich the oxygen. A second operation mode in which air other than air is sucked by the suction means and discharged out of the apparatus main body, a secondary battery as these power sources, a storage means for storing the remaining capacity information of the secondary battery, An oxygen enricher comprising control means for switching between the first operation mode and the second operation mode in accordance with the information in the storage means and the voltage information of the secondary battery. The control means controls the first operation mode and the second operation mode so that the first operation mode and the second operation mode are respectively stopped for a predetermined time, and from the first operation mode to the second operation mode when the remaining battery level is low. The oxygen enricher according to claim 1, wherein the switching is preferentially switched without waiting for a predetermined time. The oxygen enrichment according to claim 2, wherein when the switching from the first operation mode to the second operation mode is switched without waiting for a predetermined time set in advance, this is displayed on the display means. Machine. The oxygen enricher according to claim 3, wherein the display means displays continuously for a predetermined time after the operation is stopped. The control means controls the first operation mode to switch to the second operation mode after the first predetermined time operation and operates for the second predetermined time, and does not wait for the first predetermined time when the battery level is low. 5. The first operation mode is switched to the second operation mode preferentially after elapse of the third predetermined time, and this is continuously displayed on the display means for the fourth predetermined time after the operation is stopped. An oxygen enricher as described in 1. 6. The voltage information of the secondary battery stored in the storage means includes a battery voltage change amount (ΔV / Δt) per unit time, and corrects the switching determination from the current voltage information change of the secondary battery. The oxygen enricher according to any one of the above. The oxygen enricher according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising driving operation means for starting and stopping the operation, wherein the control means can accept only the stop operation after determining that the remaining battery level is low. When the operation starting operation is performed from the driving operation means, if the storage means has judgment storage information indicating that the remaining battery level is low, the operation is not accepted and the display means is continuously displayed until after the fourth predetermined time has elapsed. 8. The oxygen enricher according to 7. 2. The oxygen enricher according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body is provided with an external power supply connection means, and the external power supply connection means can charge the secondary battery and the stored information in the storage means is erased by charging. Even if there is judgment storage information indicating that the battery level is low in the storage means, if the current secondary battery voltage information is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage, the driving operation means performs driving according to the driving start operation. The oxygen enricher according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the oxygen enricher is started. The control means, when detecting that the current voltage information of the secondary battery is the end voltage, stops the immediate operation without waiting for the elapse of the third predetermined time and the second operation mode. The oxygen enricher of any one of 10-10. The operation detection means for detecting the operation state of the suction means is provided, and the control means determines whether the remaining battery level is low from the current voltage information of the secondary battery and information from the operation detection means. The oxygen enricher according to item.

Images