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: 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.

Abstract: A cryogenic circuit which comprises a tank for the liquid and vapor phase of the cryogen; there being a flow control valve connected at opposite ends to the liquid and vapor sides of said tank with a check valve being interposed between said vapor side and said flow control valve. The flow control valve contains a single outlet orifice directly connected to the vapor inlet. A valve arrangement is interposed between the liquid inlet of the said flow control valve and its single outlet; said valve arrangement comprising a ball valve with associated components between same and the liquid inlet to cause said valve to operate as a control valve and with a spring bearing against the upper side of said ball to adapt same for check valve usage when the associated control valve components are withdrawn under predetermined pressure conditions.