JP2591591B2 - Oxygen-enriched gas supply device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an oxygen-enriched gas supply apparatus using a flow control means and a flow display means having a specific structure. More specifically, the present invention has improved flow control means that is easy to manufacture and easy to operate during flow control, and is stable with simple operation, especially for medical or other breathing improvement or reinforcement. To supply an oxygen-enriched gas.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, oxygen therapy for supplying oxygen from an oxygen cylinder to respiratory disease patients has been performed. Recently, oxygen-enriched air obtained by concentrating oxygen in the air is used. Oxygen therapy has been developed, and its treatment has been gradually spread. In these oxygen therapies, when supplying gas such as oxygen or oxygen-enriched air to a patient's nasal cavity or the like, it is necessary to adjust the flow rate to a predetermined value.

In addition to such medical applications, there are numerous demands for controlling the flow rates of gases such as air and nitrogen, such as the supply of industrial gaseous raw materials and the aeration of fermentation and wastewater treatment. There are many requests to control

In general, a flow meter is selected by taking advantage of its characteristics depending on its primary pressure, flow rate range, fluid conditions, such as a differential pressure type, a hot wire type, an ultrasonic type, an area type, a vortex type, and the valve is used by using this measurement signal. There is a so-called automatic flow control device in which the flow is controlled in an orthodox manner.

As another method, there is a manual method in which a control valve is manually moved while measuring a flow rate, and the flow rate is measured by using the above-described measuring device or, more simply, by using a rotor meter. It is usually implemented using a control valve such as a needle valve.

[0006] The former automatic flow control device is inevitably expensive in price, and the latter is inexpensive. Especially when used for personal consumption goods, the former cannot be applied from an economic viewpoint. For this reason, the latter manual method is adopted, but the rotor meter is rather unsuitable for general consumers because the ball swings and the setting is troublesome and the flow rate reading is quite difficult.

[0007] In other words, there are two main demands for this by ordinary consumers: the flow rate can be easily displayed, the display is of a digital type, and the flow rate can be set with one touch.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an oxygen-enriched gas supply apparatus using an improved flow rate adjusting means which meets the demands of such general consumers. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved oxygen-enriched gas supply device having a flow control means which is easy to manufacture and has good reproducibility, and in which the flow rate can be easily set and read even during use. is there.

[0009]

The inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive studies in order to achieve the above object, and as a result, have found that a thin plate-like material provided with through holes by a method which is easy to manufacture by mass production such as etching and has a high processing accuracy. It has been found that it is very effective to set the flow rate using this method, and has arrived at the present invention.

That is, the present invention provides a means for generating an oxygen-enriched gas having an oxygen concentration higher than that of air, a supply means for using the oxygen-enriched gas for use, and a method for adjusting the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas. In the oxygen-enriched gas supply device provided with the flow rate adjusting means and the flow rate display means, the flow rate adjusting means has an inlet for the oxygen-enriched gas, an outlet for the gas, and a plurality of independent through holes. Wherein the inflow port and the outflow port of the fluid are communicated with each other through the through-hole to allow the fluid to flow through the through-hole, so that the flow rate of the fluid is adjusted. An object of the present invention is to provide an oxygen-enriched gas supply device characterized by displaying a flow rate of a fluid corresponding to the through hole through which the fluid flows in the flow rate adjusting means.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of a preferred embodiment of the gas flow rate adjusting means of the present invention. That is, in the flow rate adjusting means shown in the figure, a rotatable switching main shaft 2 is mounted in a main body housing 1, and a cylindrical room structure 3 is provided on the switching main shaft. A plurality of relatively large holes 6 are formed in the support 5) of the thin plate-shaped member 4. Furthermore, on the inner surface of the circumferential portion 5,
Thin stainless steel (SUS) provided with a large number of independent through holes 7 with different hole diameters by etching or the like
(That is, a thin plate-shaped member) 4 is fitted. The SUS plate is located at a position where each of the through holes coincides with the hole 6 of the circumferential portion 5, and at least the SUS plate 4 is circumferentially held so as to maintain airtightness around the hole 6 of the circumferential portion. It is desirable that it be attached in close contact or adhesion with the surface of the portion 5. As a method for fixing the SUS plate 4, a ring of tetrafluoroethylene or the like may be inserted inside. Further, it is desirable to provide packing members 8 and 9 so that airtightness between the main body housing 1 and the switching main shaft 2 is maintained. In such gas flow control means, gas is introduced from the gas inlet 10,
The gas passes through the selected through hole 7 of the SUS plate 4 and the corresponding hole 6 in the circumferential portion, and flows out of the gas outlet 11. Thereby, the gas adjusted to the flow rate of the gas corresponding to the hole diameter of the through hole 7 flows out to the outlet 11 side. If the switching spindle 2 is rotated to select another through-hole 7 and the digital display of the flow rate corresponding to each through-hole 7 is displayed on the disk member 15, the switching spindle can be changed to a predetermined position with a single touch. The flow rate can be adjusted to the digital display, and very simple operation becomes possible. The digital display is LE
There are a display panel with D, a type in which a rotary encoder is attached to a shaft, and a rotation angle is recognized by a pulse, and the rotation angle is digitally displayed.

Further, a variable throttle means 1 is provided at the gas inlet.
2, the flow rate range can be variably adjusted and the flow rate of the through hole 7 can be adjusted. By using the through hole 7 on the SUS plate and the throttle means 12 for adjusting the primary pressure, it is possible to manufacture the flow rate adjusting means in all ranges with high accuracy and high reproducibility. The throttle means 12 shown in the drawing is screwed into and out of its position in the axial direction of the hole, and
It adjusts the flow resistance of the fluid flowing in from the.

By using the primary pressure adjusting throttle means, it is possible to adjust the flow rate adjusting means using a plurality of through holes provided in a member which is not necessarily a thin plate member.

Therefore, in addition to processing the through-hole in the SUS plate, by mounting various kinds of chips having the through-hole in advance, it is possible to provide a switchable flow rate control means with much more flexibility.
The benefits are insignificant because they can be provided easily and cheaply. FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment, and it goes without saying that the gas flow rate adjusting means of the present invention includes other means.

FIG. 2 also shows a plurality of independent through holes 7 which can be incorporated in the gas flow control means illustrated in FIG.
Although the thin plate-like member 4 having a thickness of about 0.05 mm and having the above is shown, the flow rate adjusting means of the present invention may have another shape.

The material of the plate-shaped member in the present invention is not particularly limited, and can be selected in consideration of mechanical strength, corrosion resistance and the like according to the purpose of use. In the case of the flow rate adjusting means for the oxygen-enriched gas supply device to be described later, stainless steel which is hardly oxidized and has appropriate mechanical strength is most preferable, but other metals such as copper and plastics are used. Can be.

The thickness of the thin plate member of the present invention is preferably from 10 to 1000 μm, more preferably from 10 to 300 μm.
μ, particularly 20 to 150 μ, is particularly desirable because the mechanical strength is appropriately maintained and processing such as etching can be easily performed with good reproducibility.

The shape of the plate member is not particularly limited, but is preferably a disk shape, a belt shape, or the like. In particular, the belt shape shown in FIG. 2 has an area for providing a large number of through holes. This is practically desirable because it is possible to secure the size and to make the whole compact. Regarding the size of multiple through holes,
The flow resistance or pressure loss during the passage of gas may be the same or different, but in practice the different ones can cover a wider flow rate range and can be clogged by using large holes. This is preferable because the generation is easily prevented. Also, the shape of the through-hole may be any shape, but it is preferable that the circumference is rounded, and in particular, the shape closer to a substantially perfect circle is easier to stabilize the flow state of the fluid, and the reproducibility during production Good.

The method of forming the through-holes may be any method, but in the case of a thin plate-like member, an etching process, an etching process by a photochemical reaction, or the like is preferable.

Preferably, the thin plate member is attached to a support member provided with a hole larger than the through-hole at a corresponding position, and is rotated together with the support member. In this case, the thin plate-shaped member is attached to the upstream side of the flow of the fluid, and the airtightness with the main body housing is maintained by the packing member or the like on the support surface on the opposite side of the plate-shaped member. And is effective in preventing clogging of the penetrating portion.

As a mechanism for switching the switching main shaft, for example, the cross-sectional shape of a part of the switching main shaft is made polygonal, and the notching steel balls 16 are combined so that the switching angle is fixed and fixed at a predetermined position. It is effective. The method of rotating the switching spindle may be a manual method, or it may be electrically rotated by attaching a drive motor to the shaft.

[0023] The oxygen-enriched gas supply device of the present invention comprises, in addition to the oxygen-enriched gas generating means and the supply means for using the oxygen-enriched gas, a flow control means for adjusting the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas. And a flow rate adjusting means as described above. The oxygen-enriched gas generating means refers to a means for generating oxygen-enriched air having a higher oxygen concentration than air or a gas mainly composed of oxygen. Specific examples thereof include an oxygen enricher for obtaining oxygen-enriched air from air, such as an adsorption-type oxygen enricher and a membrane-type oxygen enricher, and a means for obtaining oxygen gas from an oxygen cylinder and liquid oxygen. Those using seeds or those obtained by combining them are mentioned. As described above, the oxygen-enriched gas referred to in the present invention means oxygen-enriched air or oxygen gas.

As a specific example of the adsorption-type oxygen enricher, which is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, one or more adsorbent beds filled with an adsorbent for selectively adsorbing nitrogen gas are provided. Compressor means for flowing pressurized air into the adsorbent bed, and conduit means in an enricher for taking out oxygen-enriched air from the adsorbent bed and passing it to an outlet, An enricher in which one or more adsorbent beds are operated so as to repeat a pressurized-depressurized cycle by one or alternately.

The specific structure of the membrane oxygen enricher, which is another preferred embodiment of the oxygen enricher of the present invention, is described below.
That is, as the enricher, a fan means for taking in the atmosphere, a module comprising a number of membrane cells configured to allow the atmosphere to pass through the surface of the gas selectively permeable membrane and to allow oxygen-enriched air to permeate, Vacuum pump means for keeping the membrane back side of the cell at a pressure lower than the atmosphere and extracting oxygen-enriched air from the module, and an enricher for flowing the extracted oxygen-enriched air to the outlet of the enricher One provided with an inner conduit means. Among such generating means, an adsorption-type oxygen enricher is most suitable for the oxygen-enriched gas supply device of the present invention.

The oxygen-enriched gas supply apparatus of the present invention comprises such an oxygen-enriched gas generating means, a supply means for using the enriched body for use, and a flow meter for the enriched gas of the type described above. It is provided with. The supply means may be of any type, and specific examples include a nasal cannula type and a mask type in which the tip of a thin tube is inserted into the nasal cavity. In some cases, it may be a simple conduit means such as a tube. The lower limit of the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas supplied from such a supply means is 0.1 liter / liter when an oxygen enricher is used as the generation means.
min, more preferably 0.5 liter / min, and particularly preferably 1 liter / min.
It is preferably 0 liter / min, more preferably 8 liter / min, particularly preferably 6 liter / min.

The oxygen-enriched gas supply device according to the present invention comprises:
When the gas generating means generates an enriched gas pressurized more than necessary, it is desirable to provide a pressure reducing means between the generating means and the flow rate adjusting means. In particular, when a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen enricher is used, the pressure on the inlet side of the flow rate control means tends to fluctuate. Therefore, it is necessary to provide two pressure reducing means in series on the upstream conduit means. desirable. Further, it is preferable to provide a filter means on the upstream side of the conduit means connected to the gas inlet of the flow rate control means, particularly preferably immediately upstream thereof, to prevent clogging of the through hole in the flow rate control means. As such a filter means,
A disinfection filter may be used also to prevent bacteria from entering.

[0028]

According to the flow rate adjusting means of the present invention, a highly accurate flow rate adjusting means whose manufacturing method is simple and reproducibility is sufficiently ensured can be easily obtained. There is an advantage that the digital type can be easily performed and the display of the flow rate can be easily confirmed by eyes. Further, the flow rate adjusting means of the present invention has the advantages that the thickness of the member of the through hole in which the flow path is narrowed is small, so that clogging hardly occurs and high reproducibility of the flow rate can be obtained.

Further, the oxygen-enriched gas supply device of the present invention, by incorporating the flow rate adjusting means having the above-mentioned advantages, allows the flow rate to be switched by a simple operation of a one-touch type, and the digital display in which the flow rate display is easy to see. In addition, there is an advantage that troubles caused by the flow rate adjusting means can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of a gas flow rate adjusting means used in an apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a thin plate-like member having a large number of through holes used in the flow rate adjusting means of FIG.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An oxygen-enriched gas generating means having an oxygen concentration higher than that of air, a supply means for using the oxygen-enriched gas for use, and a flow rate adjusting means for adjusting a flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas. Means, and an oxygen-enriched gas supply device provided with a flow rate display means, wherein the flow rate adjusting means has an inlet for the oxygen-enriched gas, an outlet for the gas, and a plurality of independent through-holes having a thickness of 0.1 mm. A plate-like member having a size of from 1 to 1 mm is provided, and a hole larger than the through hole is attached to a supporting member provided at a corresponding position, and the gas inlet and the gas outlet communicate with each other through the through hole. The flow rate of the gas is adjusted by flowing the gas through the through hole, and the flow rate display means displays the flow rate of the gas corresponding to the through hole through which the gas flows in the flow rate adjusting means. It is characterized by that Oxygen-enriched gas supply device. (2) The flow rate adjusting means controls the flow of the oxygen-enriched gas.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a flow path restricting means on the mouth side.
2. The oxygen-enriched gas supply device according to item 1. (3) The means for generating the oxygen-enriched gas is an adsorbed acid
Elemental enrichers, membrane oxygen enrichers, oxygen cylinders, and liquid oxygen
With at least one oxygen generator with a built-in
The oxygen-enriched gas supply device according to claim 1. 4. An oxygen-enriched gas generating means having an oxygen concentration higher than that of air, a supply means for using the oxygen-enriched gas for use, and a flow rate adjusting means for adjusting a flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas. Means and an oxygen-enriched gas supply device provided with a flow rate indicating means, wherein the flow rate adjusting means has a plurality of independent through holes each having a different flow resistance when passing the oxygen-enriched gas. A cylindrical belt-shaped member having a diameter of from 1 to 1 mm, the member being attached to a support having a hole penetrating at least in a portion corresponding to the through hole, by rotating the member together with the support. The gas inlet and the gas outlet communicate with each other through the through hole to adjust the flow rate, and the flow rate display means corresponds to the through hole through which the gas flows in the flow rate adjusting means. Displays the gas flow rate An oxygen-enriched gas supply device characterized in that: 5. The flow control device according to claim 4 , wherein the flow control device is provided with a flow restrictor on the inlet side of the oxygen-enriched gas.
2. The oxygen-enriched gas supply device according to item 1. 6. The oxygen-enriched gas generating means uses at least one of an adsorption-type oxygen enricher, a membrane-type oxygen enricher, an oxygen cylinder, and an oxygen generator containing liquid oxygen. The oxygen-enriched gas supply device according to claim 4 .