JPH07255850A - Oxygen concentrator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a sufficient sound eliminating effect without lengthening a passage length by arranging sound insulating plates in inflow-discharge passages of the atmosphere, similarly obtain a sound eliminating effect even by installing a sound eliminating duct by using a dead space of a device under surface, and downsize the whole device. CONSTITUTION:Sound insulating plates 10 and 11 which are formed by sticking a sound absorbing material to a sound insulating material and have plural through holes, are arranged in one or both of an atmosphere inflow passage 25 and an atmosphere discharge passage 26 of a pressure variation absorbable oxygen concentrator. Or a sound eliminating duct 2 which has plural passages and has a sound insulating plate 13 in the passage is installed on an outside under surface of a bottom plate of a device outer shell 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical oxygen concentrator for use in oxygen therapy, in which oxygen is inhaled by a patient with respiratory illness, and more specifically, operating noise of a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator. The present invention relates to an improvement for the purpose of reducing

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A medical oxygen concentrator is used near the bedside of a patient regardless of whether it is day or night. Therefore, it is strongly required that the patient and his / her family have low noise. . The pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator generally produces a lot of noise, and in order to reduce the noise, a soundproof housing is doubled, a particularly loud sound source is housed inside the soundproof housing, and a noise and vibration source is generated. Vibration of the electric motor and compressed air supply means is prevented by using anti-vibration rubber and springs, and sound waves from the sound source are sealed with double sound insulation walls, and the mass is increased to improve the sound insulation of the sound insulation walls. A method is known in which a sound absorbing material is attached to the inner wall surface to absorb sound energy to reduce noise.

These are methods of reducing the vibration of the housing and reducing the sound transmitted from the wall surface. However, since these sound sources include those that consume power and generate heat, they are used for cooling. Cooling air is required. For this reason, an air intake and a heated exhaust air outlet are indispensable to the soundproof housing, but noise is emitted to the outside through this inlet and outlet, so it is also very important to prevent this. That is.

When the sound emitted from the air inlet and the air outlet becomes louder than the sound transmitted through the wall, it becomes more important to lower the noise level of the entire apparatus. Regarding the reduction of noise in the air flow path, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-29601 discloses a method shown in FIGS.
No. 4 publication discloses the method shown in FIG.
No. 4007, a similar method, that is, a method of giving a large number of bends to the air inflow passage and the air outflow passage, lengthening the passage, and providing a sound absorbing material on the inner surface of the bend to reduce noise It is shown.

On the other hand, it goes without saying that the smaller and lighter the device, the easier it is to carry for patients, hospitals, or people who carry or install the device. However, in the above-described method in which the number of times the air passage is bent and the road length is lengthened, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 29601/1990, the length of the air inflow road and the air discharge passage are increased. It is necessary to make each of the lengths a distance equal to or greater than the minimum value of the length between the opposite ends of the surface forming the outer shell of the device, and as a result, the passage volume of the device with respect to the steel equipment housing is reduced. The size of the device becomes large, the size of the device becomes large, and the weight of the device becomes large, which may be far from the previous demand for small size and light weight.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to remedy the above-mentioned drawbacks and to equalize the noise level of the prior art without long air intake / exhaust passages and without diminishing the function of the oxygen concentrator. It is intended to provide the following oxygen concentrator.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems That is, the present invention has been completed as a result of earnest research to achieve such an object, and a double-layered soundproof structure is provided in an outer shell housing made of soundproof material. In order to perform the sound generation, a first soundproof box accommodating a sound source electric motor, compressed air supply means, automatic valve (suction filter, oxygen-depleted gas outlet), and a communication opening to the first soundproof box. A second soundproof box that is connected to the air conditioner and that houses a fan unit that sends in cold air, and an atmosphere inflow passage is provided between the air intake port of the second soundproof box and the atmosphere intake port provided on the outer shell surface. An air discharge passage is provided between the air outflow opening of the first soundproof box and the air discharge opening provided on the outer shell surface, and at least one sound insulating plate is provided in one or both of these passages. And the air outlet is located outside the device. Open to the housing bottom, it is characterized in that it is coupled to an external muffler duct. Although two soundproof boxes are provided here, the fan means is also the first
There is no problem even if it is housed in the soundproof box of No. 1 and has one soundproof box structure.

The sound deadening duct is an effective use of the space between the bottom surface and the ground or the floor, which is created by the casters mounted under the bottom surface of the outer shell, and is a sound insulating material in contact with the bottom surface of the outer shell. The sound absorbing material is provided on the inner surface of the atmosphere passage. Further, at least one sound insulating plate is provided in the passage in the sound deadening duct.

The sound insulating material is assumed to have a sound transmitted through a wall surface made of the material of -6 dB (A) or less. Examples of such a material include a metal plate having a plate thickness of 0.7 mm or more, a wood plate having a considerable plate thickness for each specific gravity, a resin plate, and the like.

The sound insulation plate of the present invention is a sound insulation material having a sound absorbing material attached to one or both surfaces thereof and a plurality of through holes provided therein. The shape of the through holes is not particularly limited, but a circular shape or a rectangular shape is preferable in manufacturing. . The ratio of the total area of the penetrating part to the total area is 0.7 to 0.07, and it is better to be small from the viewpoint of noise reduction, but the total area of the penetrating hole is the same as the passage hole for cooling air or exhaust air. Therefore, an area is required that does not increase the pressure loss of the fan means. It has been experimentally found that the air flow velocity in the opening area is preferably 10 m / sec or less from the relationship between the fan power ratio and the pressure loss. When using a centrifugal blower type fan, usually 2 to 6 m /
Second is most suitable, and it is preferable to set the opening area to satisfy this. As for the through holes provided in the sound insulation plate, it is more effective in terms of noise reduction when a plurality of through holes are smaller than one.

An example of the sound absorbing material is a continuous polyurethane foam material, and may be glass wool, felt or the like. The sound absorbing member is provided with a hole having substantially the same shape as that of the hole provided in the sound insulating member, and the sound absorbing member and the sound insulating member are joined to each other so that the openings can be ventilated to form a sound insulating plate.

The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a medical oxygen concentrator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which an atmosphere inflow passage and an atmosphere discharge passage are clearly shown. 2 shows the structure of a soundproof box housed in the outer shell of the device, and FIG.
Shows the structure of the sound insulation plate, (a) is a plan view, (b)
Is a sectional view. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these.

The medical oxygen concentrator of the present invention has a structure in which the cooling air is introduced into the outer shell (1) through the atmospheric air inlet (30), and the taken in air is the atmospheric inflow passage (2).
5) through the inlet (12) into the chamber (31) having the adsorption bed (4) and the buffer tank (5) of the pressure swing adsorption type oxygen concentrator, and through the chamber (31) the outlet (7). ), It flows out to the room on the opposite side of the room (31).

The soundproof box shown in FIG. 4 is housed in the room on the opposite side of the room (31). That is, a sound source such as an electric motor, compressed air supply means, and an automatic valve for sending / shutting off compressed air to / from the adsorption bed (4) or for performing decompression exhaust from the adsorption bed (4) are housed. The soundproof box (1) of No. 1 and the second soundproof box (14) which is connected to the soundproof box (16) and houses the fan means are housed, and the air of the outlet (7) and the air of the second soundproof box (14) are stored. It is located opposite the inlet (17) and cooling air flows in. By the fan means (15) in the second soundproof box, the air taken in from the air suction port (17) is sent to the first soundproof box (16) through the communication opening (29).

In the first soundproof box, as shown in FIG. 4, an air compression means (19) in which an electric motor and a compressed air supply means are integrated is housed, and this operation vibration is caused. It is configured so as to be supported by a spring (20) so as to prevent vibration from being transmitted to the soundproof box and the outer shell, and the above-mentioned automatic valve is housed as indicated by (21). These consume electric power, and kinetic energy is converted into heat energy to generate heat. On the other hand, the air taken into the compressed air supply means also generates heat due to adiabatic compression and its temperature rises, so these heat energy is heat-exchanged by the cooling air, and the warmed air becomes the air outflow opening (1
It is discharged from 8).

This is open to the air outlet (8) shown in FIG. 1, passes through the air outlet passage (26), and flows out through the air outlet (9) provided on the outer shell surface. It is desirable that the exhaust gas flowing out from the air discharge port (9) is further silenced by passing through an external silencing duct attached to the outer lower surface of the outer casing bottom plate of the device.

A sound absorbing material is provided on the wall surfaces in the air inflow passage (25) and the air exhaust passage (26). As shown in FIG. 1, a sound insulating plate (10-1, 10-2, 10-3) is provided in the air inflow passage (25), and a sound insulating plate (11-1) is also provided in the air exhaust passage (26). , 11-
2, 11-3) are provided.

The sound insulating plate (11) used in the present invention is
As shown in FIG. 3, the sound insulating material (23) has a structure in which a sound absorbing material (24) is attached to one surface or both surfaces thereof and a plurality of through holes (22) are provided. The sound absorbing material (24) is a sound insulating material (2
Although it is preferable to mount it on both sides of 3), it may be mounted on one side, in which case it is preferable to mount it on the windward side of the air flow.
The shape of the through hole (22) is not limited, but it is preferable that the through hole (22) has a circular shape or a quadrangular shape in view of manufacturing.

Through holes (2) for the entire surface of the sound insulation plate (11)
It is preferable that the ratio of the total area of 2) is small from the viewpoint of the sound deadening effect. However, since the through hole serves as a passage for cooling air or warmed air, the cross section and the total area of the opening are naturally restricted. is there. In addition, there is a relationship with the number of sound insulation plates provided in the passage, and if the number of sound insulation plates increases, the air flow resistance increases and becomes the air resistance of the fan means used, and the fan means that can obtain the necessary wind pressure against the pressure loss. Will be required.
That is, the heat energy generated in the equipment required for the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator is determined from the aspect of the function that satisfies the required specifications for the apparatus, the air volume required for cooling this heat energy is determined, and the sound insulation plate It is necessary to use a fan means capable of generating an air volume at a required wind pressure (pressure loss) against the air resistance determined by the total area of the holes and the number of installed holes. From the viewpoint of sound deadening effect, it is better to use a plurality of small holes as the through holes of the sound insulating plate, rather than one large hole that fills the required area.

The sound absorbing material attached to the sound insulation plate of the present invention has a greater sound deadening effect when it is thicker, and the larger the number of sound insulation plates, the greater the sound deadening effect. Further, although the sound insulating plate may be attached to the passage at a right angle, it may be possible to obtain a good result by providing a certain angle due to the relationship between the sound wave reflection and the sound absorbing material. The angle is preferably in the range of 90 ± 60 °.

The fan means to be used is preferably a centrifugal blower type fan means which can obtain a wind pressure from a propeller fan because a bent air passage and a sound insulating plate are provided to obtain a sound deadening effect. By using this, the wind velocity flowing through the through-hole portion of the sound insulating plate is 10 m / sec or less, preferably 2 m to 6 m / sec. Also, it is preferable that the number of sound insulating plates is smaller if the required sound insulating effect is obtained, because air resistance of ventilation decreases.
It is suitable to install in the range of four sheets, and it may be used in combination with a conventionally known means by bending, or one of the inflow or discharge passage may be formed by bending means and one by sound insulation plate means. May be. However, the sound insulating plate means has the effect of shortening the atmospheric passage length as compared with the bending means.

That is, although depending on the size structure of the sound insulation plate, in the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator of the structure shown in FIG. 1 using the centrifugal blower type fan, the sound insulation plates are arranged at a pitch of 30 to 100 mm. When it is used, the noise reduction effect is excellent, the passage length can be shortened, and the size and weight of the device can be reduced. If the number of sheets is increased, it is necessary to determine the sound deadening effect, the cooling capacity, the fan capacity, and the like by mutually considering such as increasing the opening area of the sound insulating plate to reduce the wind loss.

Next, the muffling duct will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the muffler duct (2) for use in the present invention is attached to the outer bottom surface of the outer shell bottom plate of the oxygen concentrator, and particularly, the bottom of the apparatus and the floor formed by the casters (3). The space between them (dead space) is effectively used in an attempt to muffle the device.

As shown in FIG. 4, a partition wall (41) is provided in a tray-shaped housing (40) made of a sound insulating material, and the atmosphere passage is divided into a plurality of passages as shown in FIG. 4 (a). Or
The atmosphere passage is bent as shown in FIG. Partition wall (4
1) The sound absorbing material is attached to the inner surface including the surface,
It may be attached and fixed to the lower surface of the bottom plate of the device as it is,
A sound absorbing material or a sound insulating material with a sound absorbing material lined is attached as a lid to the upper surface of the housing (40), and this is attached directly to the lower surface of the bottom plate of the device or with a gap. The housing (40) is provided with a discharge port (43) on the side surface, and when the lid is attached to the upper surface, the inflow port (42) is provided at a position corresponding to the atmospheric discharge port (9) on the bottom surface of the device.

Further, in the air passage of the noise reduction duct (2),
As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, a plurality of sound insulation plates are
By providing and installing the partition wall, a more excellent silencing effect can be obtained. (13-1, 13-2) in FIG.
Indicates the sound insulation plate attached in this way. still,
Regarding the intervals and angles at which the sound insulating plates are installed, the atmosphere inflow passage (25) and the atmosphere discharge passage (26) in the device described above
You can think in the same way as in.

[0026]

EXAMPLES Next, test data in Examples will be shown. The value of noise varies greatly due to reflected sound, background noise, etc., depending on the conditions of the room to be measured. Therefore, in a noise measurement room with a background noise of 25 dB (A) or less, measure 1 m in front of the center of the device and Compared with. However, all the devices to be measured are based on the structure of the oxygen concentrator shown in FIG. 1, and the atmosphere inflow passage side is provided with three sound insulating plates to enhance the sound deadening effect, and only the atmosphere exhaust passage side has the condition. I changed and compared. The exhaust passage cross-sectional area was the same.

[Embodiment 1] The atmosphere discharge passage (2
6) (passage length 250 mm), sound insulation plate 2 with a porosity of 35%
I installed a sheet. [Embodiment 2] Atmosphere exhaust passage of FIG.
No sound insulation plate was provided in 6), and the sound deadening duct (2) having the structure shown in FIG. 4 (c) was attached to the outer lower surface of the outer shell of the device. Three sound insulating plates with a porosity of 35% were installed in the muffling duct. [Comparative Example 1] In the atmosphere discharge passage (26) of Fig. 1, two protruding plates were provided alternately at the top and bottom, respectively, to bend the passage. [Comparative Example 2] Measurement was made without a sound insulating plate in the air discharge passageway (26) of FIG.

The results of these measurements are summarized in Table 1. Compared with the conventional method of bending the atmosphere passage by using the sound insulating plate or the sound deadening duct according to the present invention,
It can be seen that the same or higher muffling effect can be obtained.

[0029]

[Table 1]

[0030]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION By providing a sound insulating plate in the air inflow passage and the air exhaust passage of the oxygen concentrator, it is possible to obtain a sufficient silencing effect without increasing the passage length, and the outer shell housing of the device. Even if a sound deadening duct is attached to the outer lower surface of the bottom plate, the same excellent sound deadening effect can be obtained. As a result, the atmosphere inflow / outflow passage can be simplified and the entire device can be downsized. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a medical oxygen concentrator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a soundproof box housed in the outer shell of the oxygen concentrator.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sound insulation plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a muffling duct according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a bent atmospheric passage of a conventional oxygen concentrator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Outer Shell 2 Sound Ducting Duct 7 Outlet 8 Air Outlet 9 Atmosphere Outlet 10, 11, 13, 44 Sound Insulation Plate 12, 42 Inlet 14 Second Soundproof Box 16 First Soundproof Box 17 Air Inlet 18 Air Outflow opening 22 Through hole 23 Sound insulation material 24 Sound absorption material 40 Housing 41 Partition wall 43 Discharge port

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akira Sato 7-17-8 Hatigasaki, Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Basically, an adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent which selectively adsorbs moisture and nitrogen gas in the atmosphere, and a compressed air supply means driven by an electric motor for supplying compressed air to the adsorption bed. In the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator configured as described in (1), a device forming a sound source such as an electric motor, a compressed air supply means, an automatic valve, and a cooling air are provided in a housing forming an outer shell of the oxygen concentrator. A soundproof box containing fan means for feeding air is provided, and an air inflow passage is provided between the air intake port of the soundproof box and the air intake port provided on the outer shell surface of the housing. An atmosphere discharge passage is provided between the atmosphere discharge port provided on the shell surface and at least one sound insulating plate is provided at one or both of these passages, and the atmosphere discharge port is the outer shell of the apparatus. Opening on the bottom of the housing An oxygen concentrator that is characterized by: 2. A sound insulating plate, wherein a sound absorbing material is attached to one or both sides of the sound insulating material and a plurality of through holes are provided, and the ratio of the total area of the through holes to the total area of the sound insulating plate is 70 to 70. 7
The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the oxygen concentrator is%. 3. A plurality of sound insulating plates are provided in one or both of the air inflow passage and the air exhaust passage, respectively, each having a thickness of 30 to 100 mm.
3. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oxygen concentrator is installed at an interval of 90 ± 60 degrees with respect to the circulation direction of the atmosphere. 4. A sound deadening duct formed of a plurality of passages provided with a sound absorbing material, which is connected to the air outlet, is attached to an outer lower surface of an outer shell bottom plate of the apparatus. Item 2. The oxygen concentrator according to Item 1. 5. A partition wall is provided in a housing made of a sound insulating material,
3. An air passage that is bent or divided into a plurality of passages is formed, an exhaust gas inlet is provided on the upper surface, a discharge outlet is provided on the side surface, and a sound absorbing material is attached to the inner surface, and the atmosphere passage is provided in the atmosphere passage. A sound deadening duct for an oxygen concentrator, characterized in that a plurality of sound insulating plates described in (1) are installed at intervals. 6. Oxygen according to claim 1, characterized in that the silencer duct according to claim 5 is attached to the outside lower surface of the outer casing bottom plate of the device so as to communicate with the atmosphere discharge port. Concentrator.