JP2006166996A - Oxygen concentrator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oxygen concentrator for realizing stable operation, by further effectively cooling a compressor. <P>SOLUTION: This oxygen concentrator 10 has sucking parts 225 and 226 for sucking nitrogen from the atmosphere, an air compressor 222 for sending compressed air into the sucking parts 225 and 226, and a fan 304 for cooling the air compressor 222, and generates oxygen gas of the oxygen concentration higher than the atmosphere with the atmosphere as a raw material, and is arranged with the fan 304 on the lower side of the air compressor 222. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator, and more particularly to an oxygen concentrator used for home medical care.

  Conventionally, medical oxygen concentrators have been widely used in home therapy for respiratory diseases. There are various types of oxygen concentrators for medical use. Currently, adsorbents such as zeolite are used to adsorb nitrogen in the atmosphere to generate gas with high oxygen concentration (hereinafter referred to as oxygen gas). Generally, an adsorption type oxygen concentrator is used. The high-concentration oxygen gas generated by the oxygen concentrator is supplied to the nostril and oral cavity of a patient with low spontaneous breathing ability by a cannula or mask connected to the oxygen concentrator.

Such an oxygen concentrator generally has a built-in compressor (see Patent Document 1). This is because a medium such as zeolite has a property of adsorbing nitrogen from compressed air and releasing the adsorbed material at atmospheric pressure. A general oxygen concentrator is provided with a cooling fan for cooling such a compressor.
JP-A-5-154200

  However, in the conventional oxygen concentrator, the cooling fan is disposed above the compressor. And it was the structure which blows wind on the upper part of a compressor. For this reason, only a portion that is exposed to the wind can be cooled, and the temperature of the portion that is not exposed to the wind may be abnormally high. In addition, the wind blown by the cooling fan did not come out of the outlet well and could not be cooled effectively by convection around the compressor. Or, air may escape from the joints of the case to generate sound.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and has as its main object to provide an oxygen concentrator that more effectively cools the compressor and realizes stable operation. It is.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an adsorption part that adsorbs nitrogen from the atmosphere, an air compressor that compresses the atmosphere and sends compressed air to the adsorption part, and a fan that cools the air compressor, The oxygen concentrator generates oxygen gas having a higher oxygen concentration than the atmosphere using the atmosphere as a raw material, wherein the fan is installed below the air compressor.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

(Configuration of oxygen concentrator)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an oxygen concentrator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The oxygen concentrator 10 is a device that extracts only oxygen from the air taken in by the intake filter 221 and supplies it to the user by a cannula.

  The intake filter 221 is composed of, for example, a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter or the like, and is disposed at an air intake port as a raw material gas of oxygen gas to remove dust, dust, etc. in the air, and then to the air compressor 222. Supply. The air compressor 222 compresses and outputs the air that has passed through the intake filter 221 to a predetermined pressure, and also functions as a vacuum pump that exhausts air from the adsorption towers 225 and 226. The electromagnetic valve 223 is provided to control whether compressed air from the air compressor 222 is sent to the adsorption towers 225 and 226 or exhaust from the adsorption towers 225 and 226 is discharged to the outside through the exhaust muffler 224. Yes. The exhaust muffler 224 is an exhaust port used when compressed air output from the air compressor 222 is not supplied to the adsorption towers 225 and 226.

  Adsorption towers (sheap heads) 225 and 226 generate gas having a high oxygen concentration by adsorbing components other than oxygen from compressed air. For example, an adsorbent of nitrogen is enclosed. As the adsorbent enclosed in the adsorption towers 225 and 226, for example, a zeolite-based adsorbent can be used. In addition, although the structure using two adsorption towers is shown in the example of FIG. 1, the number of adsorption towers may be one or three or more.

  The electromagnetic valve 227 operates as a one-way valve that allows oxygen gas to pass only in the direction of the product tank 228 when the compressor 222 is operated as a compressed air supply source in the adsorption process. The oxygen gas that has passed through the adsorption towers 225 and 226 is sent to the product tank 228. The product tank (holding tank) 228 accumulates the oxygen gas generated in the adsorption towers 225 and 226.

  The pressure regulator 230 adjusts the pressure so that the oxygen gas accumulated in the product tank 228 at a high pressure is supplied to the humidifier 110 at a pressure suitable for supply to the user. A pressure transducer 212 is connected to the output line of the product tank 228 and detects the oxygen gas pressure from the product tank 228.

  The oxygen concentration sensor 231 detects the oxygen concentration of the supplied oxygen gas. The flow rate setting device 232 supplies oxygen gas to the humidifier 110 at a flow rate according to the setting of a flow rate setting button (not shown) provided on the operation unit 180 operated by the user. Since adsorbents typified by zeolite-based adsorbents also adsorb moisture, oxygen gas supplied from the product tank 228 is often dried. When oxygen gas is supplied to the user's nose and mouth in a dry state, the inside of the nose and mouth is dried. Therefore, the humidifier 110 supplies the user with appropriate humidity before supplying the oxygen gas.

  Connected to the oxygen outlet 250 is a supply device (for example, a cannula) for guiding oxygen gas from the oxygen concentrator to the mouth and nose of the user. The flow rate of the oxygen gas that actually flows out of the oxygen concentrator is displayed by the CPU 231 on the display unit 150 having an LED display or a liquid crystal display.

  Further, the pressure monitoring transducer 242 detects the oxygen gas pressure near the oxygen outlet connector 250 and outputs it to the CPU 231. The oxygen outlet connector 250 is a discharge port through which oxygen gas generated by the oxygen concentrator is output. The oxygen outlet connector 250 is equipped with a cannula or an extension tube. For example, when the cannula bends in the middle and closes the flow path, the detected pressure of the pressure monitoring transducer 242 increases, and an abnormal cannula is detected. Is possible.

  The control board 210 is a board on which components related to the control of the oxygen concentrator are mounted. The power supply detection circuit 211 detects the power supply state, and the pressure transducer 212 detects the oxygen gas pressure accumulated in the product tank 228. And a CPU 213 for controlling the operation of each component in accordance with a control procedure stored in a built-in ROM (not shown).

  The CPU 213 switches the electromagnetic valve 223 and controls the air compressor 222, operates the compressor 222 as a supply source of compressed air to the adsorption towers 225 and 226 in the adsorption process, and adsorbs the adsorption towers 225 and 226 in the desorption regeneration process. Operates as a vacuum pump that discharges nitrogen adsorbed to the agent to the atmosphere. Furthermore, the time for operating the compressor 222 can also be controlled. By controlling the solenoid valve 223 and the compressor 222 so that one of the adsorption towers 225 and 226 is used for the adsorption step and the other is used for the desorption and regeneration step, it is possible to generate oxygen gas efficiently and stably.

  Further, the CPU 213 inputs detection values detected by the oxygen concentration sensor 231 and the pressure monitoring transducer 242 to detect an abnormality and notify the abnormality.

  The display unit 150 can display, for example, an LED display or a liquid crystal display, and displays the operating status of the apparatus, the presence / absence of an abnormality, and the content. The display unit 150 may include an audio output device such as a speaker. Visual and auditory output on the display unit 150 is performed under the control of the CPU 231.

  The operation unit 180 includes, for example, a rotary switch, a button, and the like, and is used by a user to give an instruction to the oxygen concentrator. The CPU 231 controls the operation of the oxygen concentrator according to the operation of the operation unit 180.

  Next, the overall layout of the oxygen concentrator 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the oxygen concentrator 10.

  The oxygen concentrator 10 of the present embodiment has a thin rectangular shape as a whole, and is substantially square when viewed from the front. The lower part of the oxygen concentrator 10 is an oxygen gas generation unit 20 that houses a compressor 222, adsorption towers 225 and 226, a product tank 228, and the like. Further, the upper part is a lid 30 and is connected to the case of the oxygen gas generator 20 by a hinge provided on the back side.

  In addition, an intake port 301 with a filter that takes in air outside the oxygen concentrator 10 into the inside thereof is provided on the front surface of the oxygen concentrator 10.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where the case and the lid 30 of the oxygen gas generation unit 20 are removed. In the oxygen concentrator 10, the right side of the front is a compressor chamber that houses the compressor 222. In the upper part of the compressor chamber, there are provided an intake filter 221 and a foam 302 in which a flow path for guiding the air taken from the intake port 301 to the intake filter 221 is formed. In this figure, the foam 302 is shown in a transparent manner for easy understanding. The foam 302 is integrally formed by injection molding using foamed polypropylene having sound absorbing properties. Since the foam 302 does not have a bottom due to restrictions due to its manufacturing method, the plate 305 provided on the bottom side constitutes a part of the flow path. Here, a metal plate is used as the plate 305, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the plate 305 may be formed using foamed polypropylene and bonded to the foam 302. The plate 305 is provided with a hole for sending air to the compressor chamber side in addition to a hole for passing the intake filter 221. The foam 302 is also formed with a flow path that guides the air taken from the intake port 301 into the compressor chamber.

  The air from the intake filter 221 is guided into the compressor 222 through the silencer 303 and compressed. And the air compressed with the compressor 222 is sent to either of the two adsorption towers 225 and 226 arrange | positioned at the front left side. A product tank 228 is laid out horizontally on the adsorption towers 225, 226, and oxygen gas generated through the adsorption towers 225, 226 is stored in the product tank 228.

  A fan 304 is provided below the compressor 222. The fan 304 is provided for sucking air around the air compressor 222 and discharging the air around the air compressor 222 to the outside of the oxygen concentrator 10 through a flow path in the bottom 306 of the oxygen concentrator 10. As a result, air is sent from the hole provided in the plate 305 to the compressor chamber, passes through the periphery of the compressor 222, takes heat away from the compressor 222, and effectively removes the heated air from the oxygen concentrator 10. Can be discharged. The fan 304 is attached downward and sucks air from the bottom surface side of the oxygen concentrator 10.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a flow path inside the foam 302. As described above, the foam 302 has no bottom and has an opening 302a on the ceiling. Air from the intake port 301 is guided to the intake filter 221 through the flow path A, and is guided to the compressor chamber through the flow path B. On the contrary, the compressor noise is guided to the outside of the oxygen concentrator 10 through the flow path A and the flow path B. However, since the foam 302 has a sound absorbing property, it exits from the intake port 301. Noise can be attenuated by

  On the other hand, FIG. 5 is a view showing a case 307 forming a flow path and a compressor chamber formed in the foam 302. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of only the foam 302 and the compressor chamber case 307 taken out from the oxygen concentrator 10 and seen obliquely. The case 307 is shown in a transparent manner so that the shape of the foam 302 can be seen. Yes.

  The case 307 has two metal plates 307 a and 307 b surrounding the side surface of the foam 302 and the compressor 222. Rubber is affixed to the inner wall of the case 307 that houses the compressor 222 and is further covered with a sponge. Thereby, the noise of the compressor 222 can be prevented from leaking outside through the wall. Note that the same sound-absorbing foam material as the foam 302 may be attached to the inner wall of the case 307 that houses the compressor 222. Alternatively, the case 307 itself that accommodates the compressor 222 may be integrally formed of a sound absorbing foam material.

  As described in FIG. 4, the flow path A and the flow path B are formed inside the foam 302. The flow path A is for guiding the air from the intake port 301 to the intake filter 221. A leg portion of the intake filter 221 is inserted into a hole 305 a provided in the plate 305. The air that has passed through the flow path A flows upward from the opening 302 a of the foam 302 and is sent into the intake filter 221 from the upper surface of the intake filter 221.

  On the other hand, the other holes 305b to 305d provided in the plate 305 are for letting the air sucked from the intake port 301 out into the compressor chamber. In particular, 305 c and d are located directly above the compressor 222.

  Next, the fan 304 and its exhaust path will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing only the components that form the fan 304 and its flow path, as viewed from the back side of the oxygen concentrator 10.

  In FIG. 6, air that has flowed into the compressor chamber from holes 305 b to 305 d provided in the plate 305 flows from the upper side to the lower side around the compressor 222 and is sucked into the fan 304 from the lower surface side of the fan 304. The fan 304 has a mechanism for discharging air sucked from the lower surface side to the side surface side. Since the downward duct 308 is provided at the outlet on the side of the fan 304, the air discharged from the fan 304 flows into the bottom 306 of the oxygen concentrator 10 through the duct 308. As shown in FIG. 6, a flow path (arrow) from the outlet of the duct 308 to the exhaust port 306a is formed at the bottom 306 of the oxygen concentrator 10, and the air sucked in by the fan 304 passes through the flow path. Then, it is discharged out of the oxygen concentrator 10 from the exhaust port 306a.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the fan is installed downward below the compressor, convection around the compressor can be prevented, and the compressor can be cooled without being affected by the sealing degree of the compressor chamber. . In addition, by installing the fan downstream, it is possible to separate the fan that is a sound generation source from the intake port, and to reduce leakage of the fan sound from the intake port.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the whole structure of the oxygen concentrator concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the oxygen concentrator concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the oxygen concentrator concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow path formed in the foam of the oxygen concentrator concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the foam and case of the oxygen concentrator concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the cooling fan and its flow path of the oxygen concentrator concerning embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Oxygen concentrator 20 Oxygen gas production | generation part 30 Cover body 222 Air compressor 301 Inlet 302 Foam 304 Fan 306 Bottom

Claims (4)

An adsorption part for adsorbing nitrogen from the atmosphere;
An air compressor that compresses the atmosphere and sends the compressed air to the adsorption part;
A fan for cooling the air compressor;
Have
An oxygen concentrator that generates oxygen gas having a higher oxygen concentration than the atmosphere using air as a raw material, wherein the fan is installed below the air compressor.   The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the fan sucks air around the air compressor and discharges the air outside the oxygen concentrator.   2. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the fan sucks air around the air compressor and discharges the air to the outside of the oxygen concentrator through a duct provided at a bottom of the oxygen concentrator.   The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the fan is attached downward and sucks air from a bottom surface side of the oxygen concentrator.

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