Abstract: According the present invention, an oxygen enriched gas is generated by adsorbing and removing nitrogen gas from air with an oxygen concentrating apparatus which conducts the steps of (1) pressurizing one of the adsorption cylinders by directing the compressed air; (2) removing the oxygen enriched gas from said one of the adsorption cylinders to the output conduit; (3) reducing the pressure in said one of the adsorption cylinders by directing the oxygen enriched gas into one of the other adsorption cylinders to increase the pressure in the one of the other adsorption cylinders; (4) evacuating the internal gas out of said one of the adsorption cylinders; and (5) increasing the pressure in said one of the adsorption cylinders by directing the oxygen enriched gas into said one of the adsorption cylinders from one of the other adsorption cylinders in which the pressure is decreased in step (3).

Abstract: An oxygen-concentrating equipment comprising an oxygen-concentrating means for separating oxygen from air and concentrating the oxygen, a humidifying means for humidifying the oxygen-concentrated air produced by said oxygen-concentrating means, and an oxygen-supplying means for supplying the humidified oxygen-concentrated air to a user, characterized in that said humidifying means has at least a cation-conducting solid electrolyte membrane equipped with electrodes on both the sides of the membrane and an electric source for applying an electric current to said electrodes.

Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator system adapted to be readily transported by a user includes a rechargeable energy source and a concentrator powered by the energy source. The concentrator converts ambient air into concentrated oxygen gas for the user and includes a plurality of adsorption beds and a rotary valve assembly. The rotary valve assembly is relatively rotatable with respect to the plurality of adsorption beds to provide valving action for selectively transferring fluids through the plurality of adsorption beds for converting ambient air into concentrated oxygen gas for the user. The ratio of adiabatic power to oxygen flow for the concentrator is in the range of 6.2 W/LPM to 23.0 W/LPM.

Abstract: An oxygen-concentrating equipment comprising an oxygen-concentrating means for separating oxygen from air and concentrating the oxygen, a humidifying means for humidifying the oxygen-concentrated air produced by said oxygen-concentrating means, and an oxygen-supplying means for supplying the humidified oxygen-concentrated air to a user, characterized in that said humidifying means has at least a cation-conducting solid electrolyte membrane equipped with electrodes on both the sides of the membrane and an electric source for applying an electric current to said electrodes.

Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator system adapted to be readily transported by a user includes a rechargeable energy source and a concentrator powered by the energy source. The concentrator converts ambient air into concentrated oxygen gas for the user and includes a plurality of adsorption beds and a rotary valve assembly. The rotary valve assembly is relatively rotatable with respect to the plurality of adsorption beds to provide valving action for selectively transferring fluids through the plurality of adsorption beds for converting ambient air into concentrated oxygen gas for the user. The ratio of adiabatic power to oxygen flow for the concentrator is in the range of 6.2 W/LPM to 23.0 W/LPM.