JPH07172804A - Adsorption-type oxygen concentrator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an adsorption-type oxygen concentrator which is small-sized, compact and lightweight by simplifying the pipeline around a compressor. CONSTITUTION:This adsorption oxygen concentrator is provided with a suction line 1, an oxygen feed line 3 interposed with an oxygen adsorption tank 2, an exhaust line 4, two compressors 5 and 6 and a five-way valve 7, and the compressors 5 and 6 are connected to the valve 7 in parallel. An inlet A of the valve 7 on the compressor side is connected to the intermediate part of a suction-side pipe 20 with which the suction chambers 9 and 10 of compressors 5 and 6 are communicated to each other, and the outlet B of the valve 7 on the compressor side is connected to the intermediate part of a discharge-side pipe 24 with which the discharge chambers 12 and 13 of the compressors 5 and 6 are communicated to each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an adsorption-type oxygen concentrator, and more particularly to an adsorption-type oxygen concentrator which can be made compact, compact and lightweight.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, it is said that the number of patients suffering from respiratory tracheal diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis tends to increase. There is an oxygen inhalation method. With the oxygen inhalation method,
Oxygen gas or oxygen-enriched air is inhaled by a patient, and an oxygen gas cylinder has been conventionally used as a supply source of the oxygen gas or oxygen-enriched air. In recent years, oxygen-enriched gas is separated from the air. Since the development of oxygen concentrators, it has become increasingly popular due to its convenience in use and ease of maintenance.

There are mainly two types of oxygen concentrators, a membrane type oxygen concentrator using an oxygen selective permeable membrane and an adsorption type oxygen concentrator using an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen or oxygen. However, the present invention seeks to add improvements to the adsorption-type oxygen concentrator. As a conventional adsorption-type oxygen concentrator, for example, as shown in the circuit diagram of FIG.
An oxygen supply passage 103 with an adsorption tank 102 interposed, an exhaust passage 104, two compressors 105 and 106, and a five-way valve 107 are provided, and outside air is introduced through the intake passage 101 and the five-way valve 107. The compressed air is sucked into the compressors 105 and 106 and the compressed air is compressed.
The gas is discharged from 106 to the oxygen supply passage 103 through the five-way valve 107, and the nitrogen adsorbent in the adsorption tank 102 adsorbs nitrogen to obtain a gas having a high oxygen concentration.

In addition, since the nitrogen adsorbent whose treatment capacity has been lowered by the adsorption of nitrogen is activated and reused, the five-way valve 10
7 to switch the gas in the adsorption tank 102 to the five-way valve 107.
It is configured such that the nitrogen is taken back from the adsorbent by being sucked into the compressors 105 and 106 through the compressors 105 and 106 and discharged into the atmosphere from the five-way valve 107 and the exhaust passage 104 from the compressors 105 and 106.

As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 14, two compressors
105 and 106 are arranged coaxially, and the compressor side outlet A of the five-way valve 107 is connected to the intake chamber 109 of the first-stage compressor 105 from the outer end side via a pipe 108 made of nylon, for example. The intake chamber 109 of the first-stage compressor 105 is connected to the intake chamber 111 of the second-stage compressor 106 via an intake-side pipe 110.

The discharge chamber 112 of the first-stage compressor 105 is connected to the discharge chamber 114 of the second-stage compressor 106 via another discharge-side pipe 113, and is connected to the outside of the second-stage compressor 105. The compressor side inlet B is connected to the end of the five-way valve 105 via a pipe 115 made of copper, for example.

[0007]

That is, the length of the circuit that returns from the five-way valve 107 to the five-way valve 107 via each of the compressors 105 and 106 is the length of the pipe 108 and that of the first-stage compressor 105. Intake chamber 10
9 or the length of the discharge chamber 112, the length of the intake pipe 110 or the length of the discharge pipe 113, the intake chamber 11 of the second-stage compressor 106
1 or the total length of the discharge chamber 114 and the length of the pipe 115, which is very long and has a large flow path resistance.

Therefore, the compressors 105 and 106 intervene,
Since the pipes 108 and 115 are connected to the outer ends of the compressors 105 and 106, the pipes are complicated as a whole, which is disadvantageous in terms of weight reduction and compactness.
An object of the present invention is to solve such problems and to provide a compact adsorption-type oxygen concentrator by simplifying piping around a compressor.

[0009]

According to the present invention, an intake passage, an oxygen supply passage with an oxygen adsorption tank interposed, an exhaust passage, and 2
In order to achieve the above object, an adsorbing type oxygen concentrator including two compressors and a five-way valve, and two compressors connected in parallel to the five-way valve is provided with the following means. ing.

That is, the compressor side inlet of the above-mentioned five-way valve is connected to the middle part of the intake side pipe which communicates the intake chambers of both compressors, and the discharge side pipe which communicates the discharge chambers of both compressors is connected. The compressor side outlet of the five-way valve is connected to the intermediate portion.

[0011]

According to the present invention, with such a configuration, the flow path length from the five-way valve to the intake chamber of each compressor and the flow path length from the discharge chamber of each compressor to the five-way valve are shortened. ,
As the flow path resistance decreases, these flow paths are provided between both compressors.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it is apparent from the present specification and the accompanying drawings. It extends broadly to the true intended scope of the invention. As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 1, an adsorption-type oxygen concentrator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an intake passage 1, an oxygen supply passage 3 with an adsorption tank 2 interposed, an exhaust passage 4, and two units. Of the five-way valve 7, the intake passage 1 is provided at the intake port P of the five-way valve 7, the oxygen supply passage 3 is provided at the first discharge port R1, and the exhaust passage is provided at the second discharge port R2. 4 are respectively connected.

Further, the intake side chambers 9 and 10 of the respective compressors 5 and 6 are connected in parallel to the compressor side outlet A of the five-way valve 7 via a branch passage 8, and the collecting passage 11 is connected to the compressor side inlet B. Each compressor 5 through
Six discharge chambers 12 and 13 are connected in parallel. Five-way valve 7 above
2 has two switching valves 15 and 16 in a valve box 14 as shown in the respective configuration diagrams of FIGS. 2 and 3, and the first switching valve 15 includes a compressor side inlet B and a first discharge port R1. And the second outlet R2, and the second switching valve 16 is configured to switch the inlet P and the first outlet R1 to the compressor outlet A.

The switching valves 15 and 16 are driven by solenoids 17 and 18, respectively. The suction port P, the compressor-side outlet A, the compressor-side inlet B, the first discharge port R1 and the second discharge port R2 of the five-way valve 7 are all opened on the lower surface of the valve box 14, as shown in FIG. This valve box 14
Lower surface of the compressor, intake chambers 9 and 10 of both compressors 5 and 6, and discharge chambers
A block 19 installed between 12 and 13 is provided.

As shown in the vertical sectional front view of FIG. 5, in the block 19, there is a distribution chamber 21 into which an intake side pipe 20 for communicating the intake chambers 9 and 10 of both compressors 5 and 6 is inserted. An outlet passage 22 is formed on the upper surface of the block 19 at a position corresponding to the outlet A on the compressor side and is opened to the distribution chamber 21, and the inside of the intake pipe 20 is formed at an intermediate portion of the intake pipe 20. An intake-side vent hole (23) that connects the space and the distribution chamber (21) is formed.

Further, as shown in the vertical side view of FIG. 6, a collecting chamber 25 in which a discharge side pipe 24 for communicating the discharge chambers 12 and 13 of both compressors 5 and 6 is inserted into the block 19 is provided.
And an outlet passage 26 that opens at a position corresponding to the compressor-side inlet B on the upper surface of the block 19 and that opens at the collecting chamber 25.
And a discharge-side vent hole 27 that connects the internal space of the discharge-side pipe 24 and the collecting chamber 25 is formed in the middle of the discharge-side pipe 24.

Further, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 7 and the exploded perspective view of FIG. 8, an intake connection path 28 for connecting the intake path 1 to the intake port P and a first discharge port R1 are provided in the block 19. An oxygen supply connection passage 29 connected to the oxygen supply passage 3 and an exhaust connection passage 30 connecting the second discharge port R2 to the exhaust passage 4 are formed. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
A muffler 33 in which a filter 31 and a check valve 32 are connected in series is connected to the terminal of the.

Since this adsorption type oxygen concentrator is constructed as described above, the flow path length from the five-way valve 7 to the intake chambers 9 and 10 of the compressors 5 and 6 and the compressors 5 and 6 respectively. Discharge chamber 12
The flow path length from 13 to the five-way valve 7 is significantly shorter than the conventional example, and the flow path resistance is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to use each compressor 5 and 6 with a small capacity and a small size, and it is possible to make the whole compact, lightweight and compact.

Further, these flow paths do not project outside the both compressors 5 and 6, and both the compressors 5 and 6 and the five-way valve 7 are provided.
Since it is provided in the block 19 provided between, the overall size can be made smaller, lighter and more compact. Furthermore, the assembling of the respective parts is simplified, the cost can be reduced, and the protrusions of the flow passages connecting the five-way valve 7 and the compressors 5 and 6 can be eliminated, so that another object collides with the flow passages. Can be prevented from breaking.

In this embodiment, the passage connecting the outlet A on the compressor side to the intake chambers 9 and 10 of both compressors 5 and 6 and the discharge chambers 12 and 13 of each compressor 5 and 6 are connected to the compressor side. Although the passage connected to the inlet B is branched in the block 19, the compressor side outlet A is provided in the block 19 for each compressor 5.
6 two intake side passages that are individually connected to the intake chambers 9 and 10 and two discharge side passages that individually connect the discharge chambers 12 and 13 of both compressors 5 and 6 to the compressor side inlet B. However, the passage that connects the compressor-side outlet A to the intake chambers 9 and 10 of both compressors 5 and 6 and the passage that connects the discharge chambers 12 and 13 of each compressor 5 and 6 to the compressor-side inlet B are five-way. It may be branched at the joint between the valve 7 and the block 19.

In an adsorption type oxygen concentrator according to another embodiment of the present invention, the sectional views of FIGS. 9 and 10 and the plan view and the drawing of FIG.
As shown in the exploded perspective view of 12, the intake chamber of each compressor 34/35
Intake side pipe 38 that connects 36 and 37 to each other, and each compressor
Discharge side pipe that connects the discharge chambers 39 and 40 of 34 and 35
41 and 41 are each formed by a T-shaped tube. A block 42 is provided above the intake side pipe 38 and the discharge side pipe 41, and the compressor side outlet A of the five-way valve 43 is provided in the block 42.
And an inlet side passage 45 that vertically penetrates the block 42 at two positions corresponding to the inlet side pipe 38 and the compressor side inlet B, respectively.
The branch part 46 of the discharge side pipe 41 is connected to the inlet side passage 45.
Each 47 is fitted in an airtight manner.

In the figure, reference numeral 48 is an intake connection path, and 49
Is an oxygen supply connection path and 50 is an exhaust connection path. Other configurations, operations and effects of this embodiment are the same as those of the above-mentioned one embodiment, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted here to avoid duplication.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the compressor side outlet of the five-way valve is connected to the middle portion of the intake side pipe that communicates the intake chambers of both compressors, and both compressors are connected. By connecting the compressor side outlet of the above five-way valve to the middle part of the discharge side pipe that communicates between the discharge chambers of the above, the flow path length from the five-way valve to the intake chamber of each compressor and the discharge of each compressor The flow path length from the chamber to the five-way valve becomes short, the flow path resistance becomes small, and these flow paths are provided between both compressors.

As a result, it is possible to make the whole compact, lightweight and compact by using a compact compressor having a small capacity.
By eliminating the protrusion of the flow path, the overall size can be made smaller, lighter and more compact. In addition, assembling each component is simplified, cost can be reduced, and the protrusion of the flow path connecting the compressor and the five-way valve can be eliminated, so that the flow path is not broken due to collision with other objects. It can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a five-way valve when supplying oxygen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a five-way valve during regeneration of an adsorbent according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a main part of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an essential part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional front view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an essential part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A ... Compressor side outlet B ... Compressor side inlet 1 ... Intake passage 2 ... Adsorption tank 3 ... Oxygen supply passage 4 ... Exhaust passage 5, 6 ... Compressor 7 ... Five-way valve 9, 10 ... Intake chamber 12, 13 ... Discharge chamber 19 ... Block 20 ... Intake side pipe 21 ... Distribution chamber 22 ... Outlet passage 23 ... Intake side ventilation hole 24 ... Discharge side pipe 25 ... Collecting chamber 26 ... Inlet passage 27 ... Intake side ventilation hole 34, 35 ... Compressor 43 ... 5-way valve 36, 37 ... Intake chamber 39, 40 ... Discharge chamber 38 ... Intake side pipe 41 ... Discharge side pipe 42 ... Block 44 ... Outlet side passage 45 ... Inlet side passage 46 ... Branch portion 47 ... Collecting portion

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. One or more adsorbent beds filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing oxygen or nitrogen, a pump means connected to the adsorbent beds, and oxygen-enriched air from the adsorbent beds. An adsorption-type oxygen concentrator for extracting oxygen-enriched air from raw material air, comprising tank means for storing, varying the pressure in the adsorption bed by the pump means, and repeating the adsorption step and the desorption step, An integrated multiple-type poppet-type valve that can be automatically operated is provided in the middle of a conduit means for connecting the pump means and the adsorption bed so that the adsorption step and the desorption step are repeated. The multiple poppet type valve has a structure in which pump means has two compressor parts driven by one electric motor, and has pipe means for connecting respective intake chambers and discharge chambers. An adsorption type oxygen concentrator, wherein the pump means and the pump means are connected in the middle of the connecting pipe means. 2. In the adsorption step, after the raw material air supplied to the adsorption bed passes through the multiple poppet type valve, it enters the intake chamber of the pump means and is compressed and discharged from the discharge chamber to the multiple poppet type valve. Is supplied to the adsorption bed through the adsorbent bed and is discharged from the adsorbent bed during the desorption process through the multiple poppet type valve into the intake chamber, and from the discharge chamber through the multiple poppet type valve. In the adsorption type oxygen concentrator having a flow path to be discharged to the outside of the system, the connection between the multiple poppet type valve and the pump means is in the middle of a connecting pipe means connecting a substantially shortest distance. The adsorption type oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein 3. The adsorption type oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the connecting pipe means connecting the multiple poppet type valve and the pump means connecting a substantially shortest distance is T-shaped.