US5335426A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for thermal regeneration of molecular sieve material used in oxygen concentrators
Assignee: Respironics Inc
•
Filing: 1992-09-22
•
Granted: 1994-08-09
•
Expires: 2012-09-22
Abstract
Abstract Water contamination is purged from molecular sieve material used in oxygen concentrators by heating the molecular sieve material to a temperature in the range of approximately 450° to 950° F., and subjecting the molecular sieve material to a stream of dry sweep gas having a dew point in the range of approximately -80° to -100° F. In the preferred embodiment, the molecular sieve material is contained in a vessel and heated by means of a number of heating elements. In addition, a flow of dry sweep gas is produced by at least two drying chambers containing a desiccating material. A first valve assembly alternately cycles the sweep gas through the first drying chamber and then through said second drying chamber. A second valve assembly routes a portion of the sweep gas leaving the active drying chamber to the vessel, and routes the remainder of the sweep gas through the remaining drying chamber(s) to purge water from the desiccating material contained therein during the temporal portions of the cycle when each drying chamber is not supplying sweep gas to the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard W. Settlemyer
- 👤 William A. Johnson
- 👤 Robert L. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:05
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J20/00; B01J20/30; B01J20/34; B01J20/3408; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/26; B01D53/261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for thermal regeneration of molecular sieve material contaminated with water comprising: a vessel for containing a quantity of said molecular sieve material; means for heating said molecular sieve material within said vessel to a temperature in the range of approximately 450° to 950° F. a first drying chamber containing a desiccating material; at least a second drying chamber containing a desiccating material; means for alternately cycling a flow of sweep gas through said first drying chamber to said vessel, and then through said second drying chamber to said vessel, said sweep gas entering said vessel having a dew point in the range of approximately -80° to -100° F.; and means for alternately purging water from said desiccating material in said drying chambers during that portion of said cycle when each drying chamber is not supplying sweep gas to said vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for thermal regeneration of molecular sieve material contaminated with water comprising: a vessel for containing a quantity of said molecular sieve material; means for heating said molecular sieve material within said vessel to a temperature in the range of approximately 450° to 950° F. a first drying chamber containing a desiccating material; at least a second drying chamber containing a desiccating material; means for alternately cycling a flow of sweep gas through said first drying chamber to said vessel, and then through said second drying chamber to said vessel, said sweep gas entering said vessel having a dew point in the range of approximately -80° to -100° F.; and means for alternately purging water from said desiccating material in said drying chambers during that portion of said cycle when each drying chamber is not supplying sweep gas to said vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vessel is heated to a temperature of approximately 550° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sweep gas comprises air.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sweep gas comprises nitrogen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for purging water from said desiccating material in said drying chambers comprises: means for routing a first portion of said sweep gas leaving the drying chamber to said vessel; means for routing a second portion of said sweep gas through the remaining drying chambers to purge water from said desiccating material contained therein; and means for alternately cycling the flow of said second portion of said sweep gas through said drying chambers so that water is purged from said desiccating material in said drying chambers during that portion of said cycle when each drying chamber is not supplying sweep gas to said vessel.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for thermal regeneration of molecular sieve material contaminated with water comprising: a vessel for containing a quantity of said molecular sieve material; means for heating said molecular sieve material within said vessel to a temperature in the range of approximately 450° to 950° F.; a compressor for compressing a flow of sweep gas; a condenser for cooling said compressed sweep gas to cause condensation of water from said sweep gas; a water separator for separating said water from said sweep gas; a first drying chamber containing a desiccating material; at least a second drying chamber containing a desiccating material; a first valve for alternately cycling a flow of sweep gas from said water separator through said first drying chamber and then through said second drying chamber; and a second valve for routing a first portion of said sweep gas leaving the drying chamber to said vessel, and routing a second portion of said sweep gas through the remaining drying chambers to purge water from said desiccating material contained therein during that portion of said cycle when each drying chamber is not supplying sweep gas to said vessel, said sweep gas entering said vessel having a dew point in the range of approximately -80° to -100° F.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for thermal regeneration of molecular sieve material contaminated with water comprising: a vessel for containing a quantity of said molecular sieve material; means for heating said molecular sieve material within said vessel to a temperature in the range of approximately 450° to 950° F.; a compressor for compressing a flow of sweep gas; a condenser for cooling said compressed sweep gas to cause condensation of water from said sweep gas; a water separator for separating said water from said sweep gas; a first drying chamber containing a desiccating material; at least a second drying chamber containing a desiccating material; a first valve for alternately cycling a flow of sweep gas from said water separator through said first drying chamber and then through said second drying chamber; and a second valve for routing a first portion of said sweep gas leaving the drying chamber to said vessel, and routing a second portion of said sweep gas through the remaining drying chambers to purge water from said desiccating material contained therein during that portion of said cycle when each drying chamber is not supplying sweep gas to said vessel, said sweep gas entering said vessel having a dew point in the range of approximately -80° to -100° F.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said sweep gas comprises air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said sweep gas comprises nitrogen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said vessel is heated to a temperature of approximately 550° F.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2434419A
Cited
US2642955A
Cited
US3621585A
Cited
US3756961A
Cited
US4251923A
Cited
US4570360A
Cited
US4656757A
Cited
US4601114A
Cited
US4870760A
Cited
US4858335A
Cited
US4784672A
Cited
US4974337A
Cited
US4971606A
Cited
US5213769A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-08 | 1998-02-07 | 1998-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-08 | 2002-02-07 | 2002-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-08 | 2006-02-07 | 2006-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |