Abstract: A mass oxygen distribution system (“MODS”) for mass delivery and distribution for of breathing oxygen has a mobile unit that stores a large amount of on board LOX and controls distribution of oxygen from the enclosure at safe pressure to one or more patient end users. An on board oxygen converter source within the enclosure stores preferably up to 75-liters of LOX, ready to be volatilized to provide gaseous oxygen for many hours. The enclosure being supported by wheeled support members, allowing the enclosure to be moved to and through premises where mass distribution to said one or more end users is required and quickly put into use. LOX in the pressurized vessel is provided to one of a dual set of vaporizers converts the liquid oxygen to cold gaseous breathing oxygen. A dual coil heat exchanger warms the cold breathing oxygen to safe breathing temperature. A warning system monitors temperature and pressure of the breathing oxygen.

Abstract: A system for compactly safely storing and delivering oxygen has a plurality of elements interconnected by fluid lines and includes a liquid oxygen tank, a filler valve and a vent valve. The new system also includes a differential pressure gauge located between and in communication with the fill valve and the vent valve to permit monitoring the pressure differential in the system so that selective adjustments can be made in a timely and controlled manner to maintain the pressure within the system during filling at an optimum level. The system also has at least one pressure relief valve, a heat exchanger, a fluid pressure regulator, an oxygen flow control outlet and a phase selector valve, to thereby permit automatic selection as a function of pressure of whether oxygen supplied from the tank to the heat exchanger will be supplied as either a liquid or a gas.

Abstract: A fluid pressure relief valve provides automatic venting of a high pressure source to an area of lower pressure in response to pressure build-up of the source. The valve includes a valve body in which a recess is provided, a passage providing communication between one end of the recess and the source. A poppet is oriented for movement with respect to the recess and includes a sealing element adapted to close the other end of the recess by sealing engagement with the valve body. A spring urges the poppet toward sealing engagement. The poppet has ports proximate the sealing element which are covered when the sealing engagement is maintained but are uncovered progressively with movement of the poppet out of sealing engagement. If the source pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold level, the poppet is driven increasingly away from the sealing engagement with increase in pressure of the source for progressively uncovering the ports in response to dynamic impact upon the poppet by fluid flow through the valve.

Abstract: A valve actuator provides preselected automatic spring-powered actuation of a rotary-actuated valve in response to fire, or other occurrence of a specific exigent type. The actuator is secured to a valve having a shaft extending from the valve body and rotatable through a predetermined rotational extent, e.g. 90.degree., for moving a valve element between open and shut portions. The actuator comprises a coiled or spiral torsion spring in an enclosure protectively covering the spring. One end of the spring is secured relative to the cover. A coupling is operatively connected to the other end of the spring and biased by spring force for being drivingly rotated for valve actuation. A camming arrangement holds the coupling against rotation by camming force against the spring force, a releasable link being operatively interconnected with the camming arrangement for maintaining the camming force.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating oxygen by the pressure swing method includes a plurality of grouped vessels each having a molecular sieve bed, a first port of each vessel providing oxygen-enriched effluent from the bed and a second port permitting alternate pressurization and purging of the bed. A novel rotary control valve includes a housing around which the vessels are grouped, having an operating shaft driven by a constant speed rotor. First and second chambers within the housing spaced along the shaft have respective pressure and purge valve control rotors which are turned by the shaft. Pressurized air is provided to the first chamber by an air inlet, a purge gas outlet discharging purge gases from the second chamber. Passages extending between the chambers are spaced at equal intervals around the shaft axis and are respectively interconnected with the vessel second ports.