System for enriching inhalable air with oxygen

Abstract

Abstract A SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING OXYGEN ENRICHED AIR TO A RECIPIENT. CONTAMINANTS CARRIED BY AIR FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE ARE REMOVED BY A FILTER MEMBER. THIS FILTERED AIR IS TRANSPORTED TO A HUMIDIFICATION CHAMBER WHERE THE WATER VAPOR IS REDUCED TO A DESIRED AMOUNT. THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR AND CRYSTALS OF BARIUM OXIDE ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY RAISED TO A DESIRED TEMPERATURE. THIS HEATED AIR IS THEN PRESSURIZED AND BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH THE BARIUM OXIDE WHERE SOME OF THE AIR WILL REACT WITH THE BARIUM OXIDE TO FORM BARIUM PEROXIDE. THE UNREACTED AIR AND NITROGEN GIVEN UP BY THE REACTION IS RETURNED BY A CONDUIT TO THE HUMIDIFICATION CHAMBER WHERE EXCESS WATER VAPOR IS PICKED UP AND RETURNED TO THE ATMOSPHERE. AFTER A PREDETERMINED TIME, COMMUNICATION OF THE PRESSURIZED AIR WITH THE BARIUM OXIDE IS PREVENTED AND THE PRESSURE AROUND THE BARIUM PEROXIDE IS REDUCED BY A VACUUM. WHEN THE PRESSURE HAS BEEN REDUCED SUFFICIENTLY, THE BARIUM PEROXIDE WILL REVERT TO BARIUM OXIDE BY RELEASING OXYGEN. THE RELEASED OXYGEN IS CONDENSED AND STORED IN A RESERVOIR. A DILUTION REGULATOR HAS ONE INLET PORT CONNECTED TO THE CONDUIT CARRYING THE UNREACTED AIR AND NITROGEN AND A SECOND INLET PORT CONNECTED TO THE OXYGEN RESERVOIR. A VALVE MEMBER LOCATED IN THE DILUTION REGULATOR, WHICH IS RESPONSIVE TO A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE, WILL PROPORTION THE OXYGEN WITH THE UNREACTED AIR TO MAINTAIN THE PHYSIOLOGICAL LEVEL FOR THE RECIPIENT.

Inventors

• 👤 R Cramer
• 👤 J Henneman

Bibliographic Details