Fluid Flow Sensing Means Patents (Class 96/110)
  • Patent number: 11192060
    Abstract: A portable gas separator assembly utilizing carbon molecular sieve absorbents or elements to separate a compressed air stream to extract nitrogen and oxygen molecules. Components of the assembly include at least two charging towers so that one tower can be charged with compressed gas while the other of the at least two towers is purged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: JDL TECH USA LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Lentini
  • Patent number: 11058991
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption drying unit which includes at least one of a sensor (46?) for the ambient temperature to which the drying unit is exposed, and a sensor (46) for the temperature of the gas stream in the inlet line (2) to the unit, and the threshold value for the humidity of the gas stream in the outlet line (42) is determined dependent on the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventors: Gavin L. Urwin, Jamie Lamb, Christopher T. Hoodless
  • Patent number: 9011582
    Abstract: Disclosed is an oxygen enrichment that can follow changes in adsorption performance in response to changes in the temperature of the usage environment and can reduce power consumption. The oxygen enrichment device has a purge step control means that controls a purge step time to increase/decrease the length of a purge step so as to maximize the oxygen concentration by changing opening/closing timing of a flow-channel switching means while the oxygen enrichment device is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Teijin Pharma Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Ando, Hisashi Kiriake
  • Patent number: 8972096
    Abstract: A method and device for detecting the blocking of a bleed valve (4) of a gasoline vapor filter (3) for a vehicle internal combustion engine (1), the method includes a step of controlling the maintenance of the internal combustion engine at a constant non-idle speed during a start or pre-stop phase, and at least one sequence of the following steps when maintaining the constant speed of the internal combustion engine: a step of changing the state of the bleed valve (4), a step of measuring at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine associated with the mixture fed into the engine, a step of comparing the values of the parameter measured before and after the change of state of the bleed valve and of determining if the variation of the parameter is greater than a pre-determined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Thierry Collet
  • Patent number: 8958941
    Abstract: A method for detecting the blockage of the purge valve (4) of a vapor filter (3) for a hybrid fuel drive vehicle including at least one internal combustion engine (1) and one electric generator/motor, includes a step of making the electric motor drive the internal combustion engine (1) so as to keep the internal combustion engine (1) at a constant speed, during a start-up phase or a phase preliminary to stopping, and at least one sequence of the following steps during this time that the internal combustion engine is kept at a constant speed: a step of opening the purge valve (4); a step of measuring at least one operating parameter of the electric motor; a step of comparing the values of the measured parameter before and after opening the purge valve (4) and of determining whether the variation in the parameter is above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Thierry Collet
  • Patent number: 8951339
    Abstract: A system for compressing and drying a gas generally includes a compressor having multiple stages of compression and a dryer. The compressor includes a first heat exchanger and an after-cooler each of which utilizes a fan. A sensor is provided downstream of the after-cooler. The fan and sensor are in communication with the controller. A final stage compressed gas outlet of the compressor provides hot compressed gas to the regenerative portion of the dryer. Utilization of the final stage compressed gas for regeneration while also utilizing the compressor's after-cooler provides gas which is sufficiently hot to regenerate desiccant in the dryer and allows the communication between the sensor, the controller and compressors to remain intact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Henderson Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry D. Henderson, Charles A. Henderson
  • Publication number: 20140338600
    Abstract: An exhausting apparatus includes an exhaust pump configured to extract unreacted precursor in a process chamber and vent the unreacted precursor out of the exhaust pump, and a first material supplier configured to supply a first material into the exhaust pump. The first material is adsorbable on an interior surface of the exhaust pump to prevent the unreacted precursor from being adsorbed on the interior surface of the exhaust pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-Cheol LEE, Beom-Seok KIM, Suk-JIn CHUNG, Geun-Kyu CHOI
  • Patent number: 8840712
    Abstract: An evaporative emission control system includes a fuel tank, a canister, a normally-closed control valve, a filler pipe, and a breather pipe. The fuel tank is to store fuel. The canister is to adsorb evaporative fuel generated in the fuel tank. The normally-closed control valve is provided in a vapor passage connecting the fuel tank to the canister. The fuel is delivered to the fuel tank through the filler pipe. The breather pipe includes a communicating passage, an opening, and at least one hole. The communicating passage connects the fuel tank to the filler pipe. The opening is provided at a first end of the breather pipe in the fuel tank. The opening is located below a predetermined fuel level in the fuel tank. The at least one hole is located above the predetermined fuel level in the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitamura, Koichi Hidano, Ayumu Horiba, Masakazu Kitamoto, Yoshikazu Kaneyasu
  • Publication number: 20140260966
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the introduction of an additive to a contaminated gas stream. An additive introduction system uses a compressor and carbon dioxide separator to provide a treated carrier gas for introduction of an alkaline additive to a contaminated gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Martin A. Dillon, Gregory M. Filippelli
  • Publication number: 20140190348
    Abstract: Systems and methods associated with providing a concentrated product gas utilizing a vacuum swing adsorption process are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes first and second sieve beds, a scavenger pump, and a controller. In one embodiment, the method includes: separating one or more adsorbable components from a source gaseous mixture via first and second sieve beds in alternating and opposing filling and purging cycles of a vacuum swing adsorption process to form the concentrated product gas and pressurizing the concentrated gas for delivery to a user. Other embodiments include selectively controlling a variable restrictor based at least in part on a desired output setting to selectively provide flow between the first and second sieve beds such that the flow for at least one output setting is different from the flow for at least one other output setting in relation to corresponding filling cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph B. Richey, II, William J. Daniels
  • Patent number: 8758480
    Abstract: A Pressure Swing Adsorption filtration that separates a first set of particles and a second set of particles to produce a purified gas output can be monitored in real-time. A sentinel component can provide real-time in situ tracking of a parameter associated with the PSA filtration and dynamically adjusts the PSA filtration based upon the real-time tracked parameter. The real-time monitoring of the parameter further enables maintenance of equipment utilized with the PSA filtration as well as equipment down-the-line that utilize the purified gas output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Torosoleil, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Wellesley Heston Turnbull, Sunit Srivastava
  • Publication number: 20140165828
    Abstract: A dehydrator for dehydrating air supplied to a power related or mechanical device includes a first container configured to hold a desiccant, a first heater arranged with the first container configured to heat the desiccant in the first container, a second container configured to hold a desiccant, and a second heater arranged with the second container configured to heat the desiccant in the second container. The dehydrator further includes a conduit configured to selectively connect one of the first container and the second container to the power related or mechanical device and a controller configured to selectively operate one of the first heater and the second heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: WAUKESHA ELECTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Arthur MARTIN, John PRUENTE
  • Publication number: 20140013953
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air purification device for vehicles and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a DOR (Direct Ozone Reduction) system which suppresses deterioration in purifying function of the ozone purifier. Ozone purification rate of activated carbon correlates with probability that gas is contacted with the radiator. Also, wind velocity of the gas passing through a radiator correlates with car speed. Therefore, the ozone purification rate of the activated carbon correlates with the car speed, The grill shutter 22 is controlled in fully open condition when the car speed is within an area faster than Speed A shown in FIG. 6. When the car speed is slower than Speed A, the grill shutter 22 is controlled in closed condition as shown in FIG. 2 (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sugimoto, Yoshihisa Shinoda
  • Patent number: 8551229
    Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is removed from a hydrogen rich gas stream using adsorbents having a low loss of carbon dioxide adsorption capacity upon sulfur loading including high purity silica gels, titania or highly cross-linked, non-chemically reactive resins. The adsorbents may be used to adsorb both carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, or may be used as a guard bed upstream of a separate carbon dioxide adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Timothy Christopher Golden, Robin Joyce Maliszewskyj, Edward Landis Weist, Jr., Robert Quinn, Erin Marie Sorensen
  • Publication number: 20130233168
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing a product gas are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one separation bed to separate adsorbable components from a gas source, a valving means to selectively direct gas from the gas source to the at least one separation bed, at least one sensing device associated with the at least one separation bed to sense the progress of an adsorption zone within the separation bed, and a controller. The controller includes logic to read the output of the at least one sensing device and control the gas separation process based on the progress of the adsorption zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Joseph B. Richey, II, William J. Daniels
  • Publication number: 20130160643
    Abstract: A self-cleaning sorbent injection lance includes a lance arm, a lance outlet connected to a sorbent arm, a sorbent inlet connected to the lance arm, an air control valve connected to the lance arm, and a electrical valve control connected to the air control valve. The sorbent inlet provides sorbent material passing through the lance arm. The electrical valve control opens the air control valve when receiving an electrical signal, so that compressed air is supplied to the injection lance for cleaning sorbent material clogged in the lance arm and lance outlet without taking the self-cleaning sorbent injection lance off-line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: AMEREX ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Herman W. PILATS
  • Publication number: 20130074689
    Abstract: A device for adsorption treatment of a fluid or fluid stream, comprising a container for receiving adsorber material, wherein the container has a fluid inlet opening and a fluid outlet opening, and two fluid connection devices, wherein one of the fluid connection devices is provided at the fluid inlet opening and the other one of the fluid connection devices is provided at the fluid outlet opening, wherein the fluid connection devices are locked in a fluid-tight manner and are designed in such a way that they can each be connected to a fluid line connector and unlocked and, if they are connected to the respective fluid line connector they can be unlocked or are unlocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Anfang, Christian Hamel, Norbert Modl
  • Publication number: 20130061755
    Abstract: An adsorber with minimal dead volume especially suited to reverse-flow applications comprises: a) an adsorber body; b) a first head engaged with said adsorber body; c) a first conduit extending from outside said head to at least partially through said head; and d) a first valve in flow communication with said first conduit controlling fluid flow along a flow path extending from the first valve and through the adsorber body. The adsorber is especially suited for use in a process for swing adsorption separation processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Frederick, John W. Fulton, JR., Robert F. Tammera, Richard A. Huntington
  • Patent number: 8377180
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus which stably provides highly concentrated oxygen to a patient, regardless of an environmental temperature and/or a highly concentrated oxygen gas flow rate. The present invention is an oxygen concentrator characterized in that an oxygen concentration sensor detecting a concentration of the oxygen gas produced by the oxygen concentrator, a temperature sensor measuring an environmental temperature and/or a flow rate sensor are provided, a control increasing/decreasing a supply airflow volume of the compressed air supply device based on a detected oxygen concentration detected value to maintain an oxygen concentration at a predetermined concentration is performed, and a control device is switched based on a value measured by the temperature sensor and/or flow rate sensor of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Teijin Pharma Limited
    Inventors: Akihiro Maeda, Makoto Ando
  • Patent number: 8376000
    Abstract: A gasoline vapor treating system includes a single hydrocarbon filter apparatus interconnected to a fuel tank having a range of vapor pressures therein, said filter apparatus receiving hydrocarbon vapors from said tank for one vapor pressure in said fuel tank and said filter apparatus delivering air and hydrocarbon vapor to said tank from said filter responsive to another vapor pressure in said tank lower than said one vapor pressure, said filter operated serially between hydrocarbon loading and hydrocarbon unloading cycles without reference to any other hydrocarbon removal apparatus. A balance nozzle includes a mechanism to mechanically operate a vapor valve therein before the fuel valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: John Matthew Gray, Timothy M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 8337599
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator in which a pulsation detection device for detecting pulsation of oxygen supplied and a control device for controlling an amount of air supplied from a compressor based on the detection results in a pressure swing adsorption-type oxygen concentrator, which is equipped with an adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen relative to oxygen, the compressor for supplying air to the adsorption bed, a channel switching valve to repeat in a constant timing an adsorption step, in which air is supplied from the compressor to the adsorption bed to isolate concentrated oxygen and a desorption step, in which the adsorption bed is evacuated to regenerate the adsorbent and a flow rate measuring device for determining a supply flow rate of concentrated oxygen produced and an amount of oxygen produced is controlled by a feedback with a flow rate sensor by itself after paying attention to variation of a product flow rate caused by sup
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Teijin Pharma Limited
    Inventor: Hisashi Kiritake
  • Patent number: 8262784
    Abstract: A regenerative adsorption gas dryer has a wet gas inlet, first and second drying towers, and a dried gas outlet. The inlet, towers and outlet are arranged such that, in use, a flow of purge gas regenerates an off-stream one of the towers, while a stream of wet gas from the wet gas inlet enters an on-stream one of the towers to exit that tower as a stream of dried gas which then continues to the dried gas outlet. The roles of the off-stream and on-stream towers are reversible. The dryer further has a first check valve for controlling a stream of dried gas between the first drying tower and the dried gas outlet, and a second check valve for controlling a stream of dried gas between the second drying tower and the dried gas outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Walker Filtration Limited
    Inventors: Brian Walker, Peter Carney
  • Publication number: 20120210873
    Abstract: An exhaust gas processing apparatus for processing a mixed gas discharged from a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is provided with: an adsorption separation unit for separating a monosilane gas that requires abatement and a hydrogen gas that does not require abatement by allowing the mixed gas to pass through and then by mainly adsorbing the monosilane gas among a plurality of types of gases contained in the mixed gas; a heating unit for desorbing the monosilane adsorbed onto the adsorption separation unit; a silane gas abatement unit for abating a monosilane gas desorbed from the adsorption separation unit; and a hydrogen gas discharge unit for discharging a hydrogen gas separated from the mixed gas by the adsorption separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Samura, Tai Ohuchi, Tsuyoshi Asano, Takashi Okabe
  • Publication number: 20120192711
    Abstract: A fluidized reactor system for removing impurities from a gas and an associated process are provided. The system includes a fluidized absorber for contacting a feed gas with a sorbent stream to reduce the impurity content of the feed gas; a fluidized solids regenerator for contacting an impurity loaded sorbent stream with a regeneration gas to reduce the impurity content of the sorbent stream; a first non-mechanical gas seal forming solids transfer device adapted to receive an impurity loaded sorbent stream from the absorber and transport the impurity loaded sorbent stream to the regenerator at a controllable flow rate in response to an aeration gas; and a second non-mechanical gas seal forming solids transfer device adapted to receive a sorbent stream of reduced impurity content from the regenerator and transfer the sorbent stream of reduced impurity content to the absorber without changing the flow rate of the sorbent stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Gunnar Henningsen, Teddy Merrill Knowlton, John George Findlay, Jerry Neal Schlather, Brian S. Turk
  • Publication number: 20120174783
    Abstract: A method and system for removing gaseous contaminants from a gas stream by contacting the gas stream with a wash solution and regenerating the wash solution in a regeneration system for future use in removing gaseous contaminants from the gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Leister, Barath Baburao, Frederic Vitse
  • Patent number: 8197580
    Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is removed from a hydrogen rich gas stream using adsorbents having a low loss of carbon dioxide adsorption capacity upon sulfur loading including high purity silica gels, titania or highly cross-linked, non-chemically reactive resins. The adsorbents may be used to adsorb both carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, or may be used as a guard bed upstream of a separate carbon dioxide adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Timothy Christopher Golden, Robin Joyce Maliszewskyj, Edward Landis Weist, Jr., Robert Quinn, Erin Marie Sorensen
  • Publication number: 20120132070
    Abstract: A dew point temperature sensor detects and sends the dew point temperature of the supply air to a dry area, as a supply air dew point temperature, to a controller. The controller has a speed of rotation of the regenerating side fan (the regenerating air flow rate) to control, and determines a control value (the regenerating air flow rate) that causes the supply air dew point temperature to go to a target dew point temperature, and determines a supply air processing pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value in accordance with this control value (where if the control value is in the direction of reducing the regenerating air flow rate, the supply air processing pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value is increased). Note that what is controlled is the speed of rotation of the desiccant rotors, or the exit temperatures of the air heated by the hot water coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: YAMATAKE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiko Matsuba, Naofumi Ushioda, Yoshitaka Takakura
  • Publication number: 20110277630
    Abstract: Systems and methods for initiating startup of PSA assemblies in hydrogen-processing assemblies, which may include a hydrogen-generation assembly and/or a fuel cell stack. The systems and methods include startup procedures that provide for pressurization of the adsorbent beds of the PSA assembly without the need for a stored quantity or other supply of purified hydrogen gas. The systems and methods additionally or alternatively include startup procedures that restrict or even prevent contamination of portions of the PSA assembly, hydrogen storage devices and/or accumulator tanks with an impure gas stream and/or decrease accumulation of the impure gas stream therein. This impure gas stream may be the mixed gas, reformate, or other gas stream that is intended to be purified by the PSA assembly when the PSA assembly is in its hydrogen-purifying operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: IDATECH, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Charles Greenough
  • Publication number: 20110232483
    Abstract: An oxygen generator includes a stationary unit and a portable unit. The portable unit includes a compressor, molecular sieves, controllable valves and an enriched gas storage chamber. The stationary unit includes a compressor having a greater capacity than a capacity of the portable compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Bernhard Lewis Haberland, Joseph Thomas Dolenski, Jeremy Blair, Donald Kenneth Griffin, Marvin Norman Zeigler, Gerry Dean Richardson
  • Publication number: 20110197769
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a method of minimizing wear of a rotary valve. The method can include regulating a velocity of the rotary valve having a controller for communicating one or more fluids to and from an adsorption zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Matthew W. Acker, Jeffrey M. Borek
  • Patent number: 7981194
    Abstract: An air drying arrangement for a commercial vehicle is provided having two or more desiccant canisters arranged in parallel on a single air dryer body. The arrangement may include an coupling device that attaches to the body and allows the two or more desiccant containing canisters to mount to the device. The arrangement may be configured to balance the flow of air to each of the desiccant containing canisters when drying air and/or when regenerating the desiccant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Fred W. Hoffman, Leonard A. Quinn
  • Publication number: 20110154986
    Abstract: A high efficiency gas concentrating apparatus includes an air compressor for supplying high pressure air, first and second adsorption towers that are disposed above the air compressor and communicating with the air compressor to adsorb nitrogen and concentrate oxygen as the high pressure air is alternately supplied thereto, first and second concentrating passages that are disposed above the respective first and second adsorption towers to discharge the concentrated oxygen, and a cleaning tank that is disposed between the first and second concentrating passages to receive a portion of the concentrated oxygen from one of the first and second adsorption towers, temporarily store the received concentrated oxygen therein, and alternately remove adsorbed nitrogen by supplying the temporarily concentrated oxygen to the other of the first and second adsorption towers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicants: OXUS CO., LTD, Sogang University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Tae Soo Lee, Yoon Sun Choi, Seung Kwon Oh, Shin Kyu Han
  • Publication number: 20110120301
    Abstract: Information used for creating an adsorption isostere of a substance to be measured in a measuring system (container) is obtained by repeating alternately a first control step of changing temperature or pressure of the measuring system by a fixed amount by adjusting a gas amount supplied to/discharged from the measuring system, and a second control step of changing pressure or temperature of the measuring system by adjusting the gas amount supplied to/discharged from the measuring system until a gas adsorption amount of the substance to be measured becomes the same as before execution of the first control step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicants: SHINSHU UNIVERSITY, BEL JAPAN, INC.
    Inventors: Taku IIYAMA, Kazuyuki NAKAI
  • Patent number: 7947109
    Abstract: A powered air purifying respirator and method for directing a forced flow of air to a wearer. A battery operatively powers a fan fluidly coupled with the air flow path which exhibits, in some circumstances, a passivation. A voltage delay sensing circuit, operatively coupled to the battery, provides an indication related to the passivation. A signal may provide an indication to a user of the passivation of the power source. A correction circuit may correct such passivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: T. Mick Sayers, Desmond T. Curran
  • Patent number: 7866315
    Abstract: An oxygen concentrator comprises a plurality of adsorbent columns, each having an inlet, an outlet and abed of adsorbent material. The oxygen concentrator also includes a vacuum pump for removing separated nitrogen rich gas from the column inlets, a control valve for controlling flow of fluids in and out of the columns, and a breakthrough sensor for signaling the position of a mass transfer zone (MTZ), the breakthrough sensor controlling operation of the control valve as a function of the breakthrough sensor signal. An electric control module (ECM) receives the signal from the breakthrough sensor, and adjusts the control valve based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: VBox, Incorporated
    Inventors: Theodore W. Jagger, Nicholas P. Van Brunt, John A. Kivisto, Perry B. Lonnes
  • Publication number: 20100275775
    Abstract: An active wheel desiccant dehumidifier is controlled for improved energy savings by modulating operation characteristics including process air flow, reactivation air flow, temperatures, and wheel rotation in response to changing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicants: BRY-AIR, INC, BRY-AIR (ASIA) PVT. LTD.
    Inventors: William C. Griffiths, Deepak Pahwa, Rajan Sachdev
  • Publication number: 20100242734
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus which stably provides highly concentrated oxygen to a patient, regardless of an environmental temperature and/or a highly concentrated oxygen gas flow rate. The present invention is an oxygen concentrator characterized in that an oxygen concentration sensor detecting a concentration of the oxygen gas produced by the oxygen concentrator, a temperature sensor measuring an environmental temperature and/or a flow rate sensor are provided, a control increasing/decreasing a supply airflow volume of the compressed air supply device based on a detected oxygen concentration detected value to maintain an oxygen concentration at a predetermined concentration is performed, and a control device is switched based on a value measured by the temperature sensor and/or flow rate sensor of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Teijin Pharma Limited
    Inventors: Akihiro Maeda, Makoto Ando
  • Publication number: 20100212505
    Abstract: A regenerative adsorption gas dryer has a wet gas inlet, first and second drying towers, and a dried gas outlet. The inlet, towers and outlet are arranged such that, in use, a flow of purge gas regenerates an off-stream one of the towers, while a stream of wet gas from the wet gas inlet enters an on-stream one of the towers to exit that tower as a stream of dried gas which then continues to the dried gas outlet. The roles of the off-stream and on-stream towers are reversible. The dryer further has a first check valve for controlling a stream of dried gas between the first drying tower and the dried gas outlet, and a second check valve for controlling a stream of dried gas between the second drying tower and the dried gas outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: WALKER FILTRATION Limited
    Inventors: Brian Walker, Peter Carney
  • Publication number: 20100071698
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator in which a pulsation detection device for detecting pulsation of oxygen supplied and a control device for controlling an amount of air supplied from a compressor based on the detection results in a pressure swing adsorption-type oxygen concentrator, which is equipped with an adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen relative to oxygen, the compressor for supplying air to the adsorption bed, a channel switching valve to repeat in a constant timing an adsorption step, in which air is supplied from the compressor to the adsorption bed to isolate concentrated oxygen and a desorption step, in which the adsorption bed is evacuated to regenerate the adsorbent and a flow rate measuring device for determining a supply flow rate of concentrated oxygen produced and an amount of oxygen produced is controlled by a feedback with a flow rate sensor by itself after paying attention to variation of a product flow rate caused by sup
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Teijin Pharma Limited
    Inventor: Hisashi Kiritake
  • Publication number: 20100011955
    Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is removed from a hydrogen rich gas stream using adsorbents having a low loss of carbon dioxide adsorption capacity upon sulfur loading including high purity silica gels, titania or highly cross-linked, non-chemically reactive resins. The adsorbents may be used to adsorb both carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, or may be used as a guard bed upstream of a separate carbon dioxide adsorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Timothy Christopher Golden, Robin Joyce Maliszewskyj, Edward Landis Weist, JR., Robert Quinn, Erin Marie Sorensen
  • Publication number: 20090255403
    Abstract: As an apparatus to prevent the excess adsorption of oxygen molecules caused by excess supply of raw material air and the reduction in the level of generated oxygen caused by concentration of argon, which occur when a predetermined value of an oxygen supply flow rate is in a low flow rate zone, to suppress the electric power consumption and to stably drive a compressor, the present invention provides an oxygen concentrator that is a pressure swing adsorption-type oxygen concentrator equipped with; at least one adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen relative to oxygen, an air supply device to supply compressed air to the adsorption bed, a flow channel switching device to repeat at a predetermined timing an adsorption step to supply air from the air supply device to the adsorption bed to isolate concentrated oxygen and a desorption step to depressurize the adsorption bed to regenerate the adsorbent therein, and a flow rate setting device to set a volume of concentrated
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Teijin Phama Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuru Uchiyama, Katsushi Fujimoto, Makoto Ando
  • Publication number: 20090235816
    Abstract: A filtering apparatus (50) for removing noxious gases from an environment including: a source of compressed gas (60) connected to a regulating valve (62) to regulate a supply of compressed gas; at least one airflow device (5) including a compressed gas inlet (10) for receiving gas from the supply of compressed gas at greater than ambient atmospheric pressure, the gas inlet (10) being operably connected to the regulating valve (62); and a permeable noxious gas filter (55) arranged in gaseous communication with the airflow device (5); wherein the supply of compressed gas to the airflow device (5) causes the airflow device (5) to draw ambient air (64) from the environment through a primary intake (42), thereby generating a flow of air through the noxious gas filter (55) and causing the substantial removal of noxious gases from the flow of air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Anthony FARRUGIA, Ernest James Benson, David Ian Holm
  • Patent number: 7566358
    Abstract: A carbon canister to adsorb hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon air mixture in a UST system to prevent fugitive emissions due to overpressurization. The carbon canister has an inlet port at one end coupled to the UST system. An outlet port on the opposite end of the canister is connected to a flow-limiting orifice with a known calibrated flow rate that vents in a controlled fashion to the atmosphere. When UST pressure rises slightly above ambient pressure, fuel vapors and air from the UST system enters, via the inlet port, into the canister, where hydrocarbons are adsorbed onto the surface of the activated carbon. The cleansed air vents through the controlled flow outlet port to atmosphere, thereby preventing excessive positive pressure from occurring in the UST system. The activated carbon is purged of hydrocarbons by means of reverse air flow caused by negative UST pressures that occur during periods of ORVR vehicle refueling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Veeder-Root Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Hart, Kent Reid
  • Patent number: 7533872
    Abstract: An oxygen generator including: a humidifier tank moves up and down according to a horizontal movement of an adjustment knob so that the humidifier tank can be readily detachable, and thus a user can securely and conveniently use the oxygen generator without any water leakage from the humidifier tank during an operation of the oxygen generator. Also, it is possible to reduce noise due to driving of a compressor, noise due to the nitrogen exhaustion, and noise due to driving of a fan portion when the oxygen generator operates, to display purity information about the discharged oxygen, sensed by an oxygen sensor, as a digitalized numerical value on a display portion so that a user may readily recognize a current oxygen purity, and to drive the compressor at a low power consumption based on a discharge flow rate of oxygen and thereby reduce the power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Oxus Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Soo Lee, Yoon Sun Choi, Young Duck Kim
  • Publication number: 20080202337
    Abstract: A feed gas drying system is described for a PSA or VPSA oxygen concentrator. A membrane dryer is inserted into the feed gas path to the concentrator absorbent beds, such that the moisture in the feed gas is directed to a part of the dryer exposed to the concentrator exhaust, thus achieving efficient operation of the membrane dryer with no loss of concentrator feed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Brenton Taylor, Peter Hansen
  • Patent number: 7407528
    Abstract: The method serves for operating an air fractionization installation for obtaining oxygen on board an aircraft, with at least two molecular sieve chambers. A part mass flow of the oxygen obtained in the respective adsorbing molecular sieve chamber is supplied for flushing a desorbing molecular sieve chamber. The quantity of the flushing oxygen led to the desorbing molecular sieve chamber is controlled by way of this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: DAe Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rittner, Rüdiger Meckes, Jürgen Pfennig
  • Publication number: 20080110340
    Abstract: An air drying arrangement for a commercial vehicle is provided having two or more desiccant canisters arranged in parallel on a single air dryer body. The arrangement may include an coupling device that attaches to the body and allows the two or more desiccant containing canisters to mount to the device. The arrangement may be configured to balance the flow of air to each of the desiccant containing canisters when drying air and/or when regenerating the desiccant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Fred W. Hoffman, Leonard A. Quinn
  • Patent number: 7090474
    Abstract: A diaphragm pump which overcomes the problem of diaphragm failure due to overfill of the oil transfer chamber. An overfill preventive element in the form of a mechanical stop, a fully closed coil spring, or a valve system, or alternatives are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Wanner Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Eugene Lehrke, Richard D. Hembree
  • Patent number: 7011693
    Abstract: A PSA unit for purifying hydrogen in a fuel processor system. The PSA unit employs rotary valves that cycle the pressurization of vessels, including an adsorbent, between a high pressure state and a low pressure state. The purified hydrogen is released from the vessels through a purified gas output port when the vessels are in the high pressure state and the impurities are released through an exhaust port when the vessels are in the low pressure state. The PSA unit also employs a mass flow control device and a pressure sensor in the purified gas output port. A controller receives a pressure signal from the pressure sensor, and controls the flow through the mass flow control device and the speed of the rotary valves so that the proper pressure is maintained at the hydrogen output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kiran Mallavarapu, John B Ruhl, Craig S. Gittleman
  • Patent number: 6960246
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating an oxygen enhanced gas by removing nitrogen gas from air, includes a compressor, absorption columns for removing the nitrogen gas from the pressurized air supplied from the compressor, a flow rate measuring device provided downstream of the absorption columns, a manner of measuring ultrasonic oxygen concentration that includes a manner of generating a correction coefficient for a ratio between oxygen and argon gases contained in the oxygen enhanced gas based on the flow rate of the oxygen enhanced gas measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventor: Naotoshi Fujimoto