Apparatus and method for mixing gases

Claim 1

An apparatus for mixing gases with each other, said apparatus comprising at least two channels (1,2) for flowing a gas therein and regulating elements (10,11) fitted in these channels for controlling a flow progressing in the channels, characterised in that one channel (2) includes a restricting element (12) connected for a gas passing therethrough, said restricting element being mechanically linked through the intermediary of a coupling assembly (15) to regulating element (10) included in the other channel such that the operations of regulating element (10) and restricting element (12) are linked to each other.

Claim 3

An apparatus as set forth in either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical coupling between restricting element (12) and regulating element (10) included in different channels (1,2) is effected through the intermediary of a shaft (20) connected to regulating element (10) and shaft (34) connected to restricting element (12).

Claim 4

An apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operation of said shaft (20) connected to regulating element (10) and said shaft (34) connected to restricting element (12) is effected through the intermediary of a third shaft (50).

Claim 5

An apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shafts (20,34,50) are provided with gears (47,48,49), the motion of one gear controlling two other gears, the size of a flow port included both in restricting element (12) and in regulating element (10) changing as a result of said motion.

Claim 6

An apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said channel (2) extending from a gas source includes said restricting element (12) between regulating element (11) and gas source (4).

Claim 7

An apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that between said regulating element (11) and restricting element (12) located in series in said channel (2) extending from gas source (4) there is connected a channel (6) carrying a gas from another gas source (5).

Claim 8

An apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said regulating element (10 and/or 11) is a needle valve.

Claim 9

An apparatus as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said restricting element (12) is a needle valve.

Claim 11

A method for combining gases together at a desired ratio, said gases flowing in at least two different channels (1,2), characterized in that prior to combining the flows, a flow is adjusted in one channel (1) to a suitable level by means of a regulating element (10) but the action of this same adjustment procedure also serves to restrict at the same time a gas flow progressing in the other channel (2) by means of a restricting element (12) to a maximum value preset therefor, as said restricting element (12) in the second channel and said regulating element (10) in the first channel are mechanically linked to each other, said maximum value being dependent on a flow accepted in said first channel (1), and furthermore, if necessary, said regulating element (11) located in series with restricting element (12) is used to separately control a flow progressing in second channel (2) and having its maximum value set by means of restricting element (12), during the adjustment of a flow progressing in the second channel, to be less than this maximum value.

Claim 14

A method as set forth in any of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that during the adjustment of a flow in one channel (1) the change from a maximum flow value accepted in the other channel (2) occurs in the same direction.

Claim 15

A method as set forth in any of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that said regulating element (10,11) is a needle valve.

Claim 16

A method as set forth in any of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that said restricting element (12) is a needle valve.

Claim 17

A method as set forth in any of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that one channel carries a flow of an oxygen containing gas and the other a flow of a nitrous oxide containing gas.