Oxygen concentrator

0001The invention relates to an oxygen concentrator for Use in medical respiratory therapy, the components as at least one of a Housing surrounding the compressor and at least one fed from the compressor and inside the housing having arranged filter element which retains nitrogen permeable and oxygen, and at which a separate compressor room within the housing is arranged for the compressor and wherein the compressor loosely on bearing blocks within the compressor room is erected.

0002Such oxygen concentrators are in the field medical uses to treat patients with breathing air to provide that a higher relative to the ambient air having oxygen content. In view of increasingly increasing demands on the simplification of assembly and disassembly operations and respect of Improvements in sound and vibration damping can the previously known devices, not all of them meet set requirements.

0003Similar requirements in the field of manufacturing Devices of the data processing could, according to EP-B-0 546 211 are met by providing a computer chassis was prepared from a foam in which the used electronic components by positive engagement being held. An immediate application of this approach proven in the field of medical technology however, not be sufficient.

0004From US-A-46 67 669 already an oxygen concentrator known, a plurality of components and wherein the provided via a controller Inspiratory and exhalation phases are affected.

0005In DE-A-22 44 887 a breathing mask is described, in which a foam-like material is used to make a contour adaptation to the face of the patient. By contour adjustment, a high sealing capability be achieved.

0006From US-A-48 25 863 it is known a ventilator so designed that a case of two concentric formed housing parts. The housing halves are of a foamed material together connected without this material but components within the housing supports.

0007DE 100 95 40 344 A1 describes a ventilator, the a special pressure history at the patient's breathing generated. can during the overpressure phase the patient take an increased amount of oxygen. Of the Pressure curve is a suitable controllable blower generated which is driven by a motor.

0008From US-A-4,378,982 it is already known, a Oxygen with a compressor and a to construct filter element, said filter element Nitrogen and retains permeable to oxygen is. The compressor is within a separate compressor room disposed within the housing and the Compressor room loosely placed on bearing blocks. The Housing is sound dampening panels with foamed Material provided.

0009From US-A-4,342,573 is another oxygen concentrator known, which provided with a compressor is. The compressor is in a separate compressor room arranged. To reduce noise is the compressor room lined with plates made of a foamed material, In order to achieve a sound insulation.

0010Object of the present invention is to provide an oxygen concentrator of the aforementioned type in such a way form that improved properties during production and subsequent use are provided.

0011This object is achieved in that at least some of which is arranged within the housing supported components of a foamed carrier are that, in addition at least two other foamed Covering against the carrier for enclosing boundaries of the components and that the carrier in extends substantially vertically.

0012By using the support of a foamed Material is allowed also in the medical field, Components only by positive engagement to holders. Due to the special medical requirements and the design features of Oxygen has been found that for covering and reliable mounting of the components at least two other foamed cover elements are required with a border to the substrate. The carrier can thus in the range of two mutually remote from mounting surfaces with components be equipped so that at least two spaced- separable mounting areas are provided.

0013A particularly good sound and vibration insulation is caused by the fact that a within the housing arranged separate compressor room for the compressor is.

0014To ensure a high Nutzluftqualität is proposed that separate flow paths for cooling air and useful air are arranged.

0015A particularly good installation and serviceability can be caused by that the carrier with three separate cover elements is provided.

0016To support a smooth operation with cyclic regeneration phases is proposed that the carrier supports two filter elements.

0017A long-term operability can thereby support be that within the filter elements molecular filter with granulatartigem filter material for Stickstoffanlagerung are arranged. Specifically, Granules based on zeolite used.

0018To implement a control is proposed that the filter elements are controlled by valves.

0019A filter regeneration can thereby performed be that for the regeneration of the filter material a provided temporary backflow to Stickstoffausspülung is.

0020To provide sufficient security of supply constant pressure level is proposed that the filter elements having a collecting are connected.

0021A simple assembly and disassembly is supported by that the support and the cover elements of at least one belt are braced together.

0022A further reduction of mechanical connecting parts can take place in that the housing via a handle connected to the carrier.

0023A very effective end of the regeneration process in the filter area is supported by the fact that the Valves with a controller for presetting a at least temporarily simultaneous opening for backwashing are connected.

0024The vibration damping can also be assisted be that the compressor loosely on bearing blocks within the compressor room is situated.

0025A further improvement in ease of assembly is effected in that the support substantially perpendicular having disposed mounting surfaces into which the used to be supported elements in the horizontal direction are.

0026To further optimize the noise reduction, it is proposed that ventilation ducts for cooling air outlet in Region of a back part are guided to the outside.

0027An expedient flow guidance is that at least one of the air ducts beneath the compressor runs in a base plate.

0028Also, the noise reduction can be supported by be that the air ducts in Ausströmungsbereich an output labyrinth for noise insulation lead.

0029An expedient combination of materials to provide sufficient mechanical strength and a simultaneous good noise and vibration damping is that the carrier and the cover of a foam material having a density in the range of 40 g / l are made up to 60 g / l.

0030In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention shown schematically. Show it:<dl tsize="6"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>A rear view of the oxygen concentrator with the housing removed and removed Back shell,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a front perspective view of the oxygen concentrator according to FIG. 1 with its cover Housing and removed front shell,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a greatly enlarged cross-section in the region a transition of the housing in a grip part and</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a simplified pneumatic diagram of used pneumatic components.</dd></dl>

0031Fig. 1 shows in a rear view of the installation situation in the region of a support (1). The support (1) holds with respect to their longitudinal axes substantially vertically arranged filter elements (2) at a Gas flow through nitrogen restrain. For example it is possible, the filter elements (2) with a to provide a substantially cylindrical housing shape and the air to be separated by means of valves (3) in a Head area of ​​the filter elements (2) supply. downstream end and is air enriched with oxygen via connecting lines (4) in the region of a The collecting container (5) guided, also cylindrical can be constructed.

0032The filter elements (2) can be formed, that arranged in its interior a granular material is, at the Nitrogen at a flow accumulates and causes the oxygen to pass. Especially suitable are materials based on zeolite.

0033The support (1) comprises for mounting of the filter elements (2) and the collecting container (5) trough-shaped recesses on. A clamping the filter elements (2) in the trough-shaped recesses can clamping tongues (6) take place. The carrier (1) extends with a base substantially vertically, so that the Erten salary components used in the horizontal direction can be removed and.

0034In a bottom portion of the carrier (1) opens into a Base plate (7), preferably in one piece with the is formed carrier (1). The base plate (7) has arranged in recesses (8) the wheels (9), identified by Radgestellen pivotable (10) are supported.

0035Through the base plate (7) extending therethrough Ventilation ducts (11) for cooling air in the region of Reconciliation in an environment with a labyrinthine Ausströmungsstruktur provided for noise reduction are.

0036Above the collection container (5) is a pressure reducing valve (13) arranged further from the support (1) a Fan (14) for generating a required Cooling air flow through the ventilation channels (11) through supported.

0037The valves (3), preferably as a three-two-way valves are formed on the input side via tubing to a fine filter and an upstream Coarse filter for restraint of air pollution connected. When valves (3), for example, also 5-3-way valves or valves with Center position are used. On the output side have the valves (3) a compound to mufflers on.

0038Via a suitable control of the valves (3), it is possible alternate activation of the two make filter elements (2). After deactivation one of the filter elements (2) takes place in this The filter element (2) a partial backflow of air, so that in the filter element (2) retained nitrogen again discharged and released to the environment becomes. Through this regeneration principle is to Passing through each alternating work cycle again provided the initial course of state, so that Servicing is largely superfluous. Especially it is not necessary for the filter elements (2) replaced due to increasing nitrogen accumulation.

0039In the vertical direction above are in the carrier (1) Headband (15) embedded, the one for mounting in Fig. 3 are shown the handle (16). Of the Handle (16) for a placement of a non- Housing shown in the support (1) mounted and connects to a corresponding attachment to Carrier (1) with the outer housing.

0040From the perspective view in Fig. 2 it can be seen that within a delimited space compressor (17) a compressor (18) is arranged. Of the Compressor room extends above the base plate (7). The compressor is no separate mounting on Bearing blocks (19) and also by positive locking fixed.

0041From the illustration is also seen that in the rear part of the carrier (1) with the content Erten Components is covered by a back part (20). Above the compressor (18) extends from a Support (1) removable cover shell (21), the control panel (22).

0042Due to the arrangement of the compressor (18) in a separate Compressor chamber (17) and the bearing on the Bearing blocks (19) is a very good sound and Vibration isolation provided. Cooling elements (23) flows around the cooling air flowing through the ventilation channels (11) can pass to escape into the environment. The from the filter elements (2) provided with Oxygen-enriched air into separate air lines separated out by the cooling air.

0043The support (1), the covering (21), the back part (20) and an unillustrated cover member for the compressor chamber (17) are held together by straps, which are provided with quick-release fasteners and in Depressions (24) are guided. It can thereby a very fast assembly and disassembly are supported.

0044From the illustration in FIG. 2 can also be seen, that the carrier (1), the back part (20) the covering shell (21) and the closure shell for the compressor room (17) have a step-shaped contour, order for a joining together a self-alignment perform. There is thus a well-defined and reproducible mounting position provided.

0045From the enlarged cross-sectional view in Fig. 3 it can be seen that the handle (16) via a screw (25) is connected to the headband (15). The connection is made by a touch down of the housing (26) on the support (1) and the cover elements. thus Through this connection a fixing of Housing (26) relative to the carrier (1) caused. Below the handle (16) is a recessed grip (27) arranged to provide a carrying and handling of the device to support.

0046Fig. 4 shows the essential pneumatic assembly. Of the Compressor (18) is driven by a motor (28) driven and compacted previously a coarse filter and a Fine filter supplied initiated ambient air. The output of Compressor (18) is provided with a pressure relief valve (29) connected and supplied via the valves (3), the filter elements (2). The filter elements (2) are non-return valves (30) connected to the collecting container (5). In addition, a bridge with a Flushing nozzle (31) is provided. An output of the collecting (5) is connected to the pressure reducer (13). At a backflushing of the filter elements (2) to remove the accumulated nitrogen after appropriate Activation of the valves (3) there is a Silencing the flowing air through an exhaust silencer (32).

0047In one implementation of the back-flushing for the removal of nitrogen a simultaneous opening of the Valves (3) for coupling via the flushing nozzle (31) for approximately one second. This period is usually for a regeneration of the filter material sufficiently.

0048One of the valves (3) are in this case a compound with the compressor (18) free and the flushing filter element (2) associated with the valve (3) performs a connection the exhaust muffler (32).

0049A further sound insulation can be carried out in that the compressor (18) ambient air supplied by two offset introduced into the intake tubes flowing therethrough. A sound attenuation in the field of blow-off air For example, with open-cell foam or felt supported. The respective Material selection can in adapting to the present Noise spectrum occur.

0050As the material of the bearing blocks (19) of the compressor (18) is, for example, a closed cell Polyurethane in question. prevent the bearing blocks (19) a direct transmission of vibrations of the compressor (18) on the foam material of the support (1) and the covering used. The inner contour of the Compressor chamber (17) is determined by the dimensioning of the selected used foamed members so that relatively the compressor (18) a maximum clearance of 5 mm present. This are relative movements between controls the components and damage in a Action of accelerations avoided.

0051A typical density for the foamed material of the Carrier (1) and of the cover is 40 g / l to 60 g / l. The material used for these components, for example, expanded polypropylene, expanded Polyethylene or polystyrene can be used.