Litton Systems, Inc.

Carleton Life Support Systems Inc.

Other

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Tuan Q Cao

Russell F Hart

Gary Neal Byrd

Victor P Crome

Lyle Berkenbosch

Craig L Schledewitz

Scott R Sehlin

Timothy Raleigh

Zhonglin Wu

Courtney Joseph Monzyk

Richard W Hradek

Charles Bradley Hager

David N Alftine

William P Myers

Steven D Jinks

William David Molis

Richard Kent Frantz

An electronic controller () controls the operation of an electrochemical oxygen generating system () producing a desired gas. The product gas is fed to a storage unit () or a regulator () and pulsing valve () controlling the gas flow to a user. A two-stage system () combines a low pressureand a high pressure () gas generating subsystems. The low pressure subsystem () uses IMAT's () to pump oxygen from ambient air to generate a low-pressure. The high pressure subsystem () uses IMAT's () to pump oxygen to high-pressure oxygen storage devices ().

Oxygen generator with storage and conservation modes

An ionically conductive ceramic element () comprises a plurality of tubes () each having interior () and exterior () surfaces and closed () and open () ends. A tube support () receives open tube ends (). A first electrically conductive coating () is formed on the exterior tube surfaces (). A second coating () is formed on the interior tube surfaces (). A bottom electrically conductive stripe () makes electrical connections between second coatings () on the interior tube surfaces (). A top electrically conductive stripe () creates electrical connections between first coatings () on the exterior tube surfaces (). The top and bottom stripes are connected such that at least one stripe () on the top is electrically connected to at least one stripe () on the bottom.

IMAT modules with serial conductive stripes

An over () for a gas generating system (C) of the type that includes an interior chamber (), heating elements (), at least one gas generating module () mounted within the interior chamber (), an air inlet () providing an input source of air, and a product gas outlet () includes an air amplifier member () that is mounted within the interior chamber (). The air amplified () generates an amplification of the air flow characteristics of the input source of air as the input air is introduced into the interior chamber () of the oven (). The amplification promotes the oven air recirculation improving thermal uniformity and air distribution inside the oven ().

Ceramic oxygen generating oven

A gas cylinder charging system includes (1) at least two gas inlet ports and (2) at least two gas outlet ports, (3) a gas compressor having an input port and an output port, where the input port selectively receives gas from a gas inlet port and selectively transfers the gas to a gas outlet port, and (4) a controller, receiving status signals and transmitting control signals, and connected to and controlling the gas compressor. A method aspect of filling a gas cylinder using the described cylinder charging system further including an input/output selector valve for selecting one of the gasses to transfer to the gas cylinder, includes the following steps. A gas cylinder is connected to one of the cylinder connectors. A user manipulates the selector valve selecting the gas to be transferred to the gas cylinder and activates the cylinder charging system filling the gas cylinder with the selected gas.

Deployable oxygen charging system

An oxygen concentrator system includes at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system and a plenum subsystem. The at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces oxygen-enriched air which is outputted to both the oxygen concentrator system output and to a plenum chamber within the plenum subsystem. The plenum chamber is trickle charged with the oxygen-enriched air when the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces an excess amount of oxygen-enriched air. Should the demand for oxygen-enriched air exceed the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system, additional oxygen-enriched air is provided by the plenum chamber until such time that the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system exceeds the demand of oxygen-enriched air. At that time, oxygen-enriched air is no longer provided by the plenum chamber but rather the plenum chamber is again trickle charged.

Oxygen concentrator system

An oxygen concentrator system with altitude compensation includes at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system and a plenum subsystem. The at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces oxygen enriched product which is outputted to both the oxygen concentrator system output and to a plenum chamber within the plenum subsystem. The plenum chamber is trickle charged with the oxygen enriched product when the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces an excess amount of oxygen enriched product. Should the demand for oxygen enriched product exceed the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system, additional oxygen enriched product is provided by the plenum chamber until such time that the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system exceeds the demand for oxygen enriched product. At that time, oxygen enriched product is no longer provided by the plenum chamber but rather the plenum chamber is again trickle charged. A monitor/controller having an absolute pressure transducer controls the cycle times of the oxygen concentrator subsystem in accordance with an ambient barometric pressure measured by the absolute pressure transducer.

Oxygen concentrator system with altitude compensation

The invention relates generally to ceramic oxygen generating modules, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling a duty cycle for each of a plurality of ceramic oxygen generating modules in a modular ceramic oxygen generating system.

Method of controlling a modular ceramic oxygen generating system

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for supplying gas at a first pressure and at a second pressure. The apparatus includes a gas generating system having a gas generating system outlet. A flow switch is in communication with the gas generating system outlet and has an outlet thereof forming a gas outlet at the first pressure. A pressure regulator is in communication with the gas generating system outlet for regulating gas flowing to the gas outlet at the first pressure. A solenoid valve is electrically controlled by the flow switch and is in communication with the gas generating system outlet and has a solenoid valve outlet. A pressure intensifier is in communication with the solenoid valve for raising the pressure of the gas generated by the gas generating system for output to an outlet at a second pressure.

Gas generating system with multi-rate charging feature

Apparatus for measuring concentration of oxygen includes a plurality of status displays, identifying concentration status relative to a plurality of thresholds, an alarm for immediate and prominent identification of status relative to a threshold of particular significance, and a quantitative display indicative of an actual concentration. Although measurements are performed and results are indicated relative to a number of thresholds, only a single calibration procedure is required, using only a single calibration gas. The apparatus is calibrated by adjusting a circuit parameter of one of the circuit components to vary a sensed output value to correspond to a narrow range surrounding the known concentration of the calibration gas. Both the circuit parameter and the actually sensed output value are stored. In a monitoring operation, the circuit parameter is retrieved to reset the circuit component to its calibrated setting. The monitored unknown value of concentration is scaled based on a value in a look-up table and on the actually sensed output value of the calibration process. An interpolation between values of the look-up table is then used to identify a concentration corresponding to the scaled value.

Method and apparatus for monitoring oxygen concentration

A method of controlling an oxygen concentrator having a first sieve bed operated over successive control periods according to a duty cycle for alternately pressurizing and flushing the first sieve bed and a second sieve bed operated over the successive control periods according to a reciprocal of the duty cycle is disclosed. The duty cycle and the reciprocal duty cycle are adjusted during every second one of the successive control periods to change the pressurizing relative to the flushing of the first sieve bed and to change the flushing relative to the pressurizing of the second sieve bed, for reducing concentration of oxygen produced. The duty cycle and the reciprocal duty cycle are adjusted during remaining control periods to change the flushing relative to the pressurizing of the first sieve bed and to change the pressurizing relative to the flushing of the second sieve bed, such that water vapor is purged from the first and second sieve beds after pressurizing thereof. A pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) subsystem performance check is disclosed. This test is performed as part of a maintenance BIT (Built-In-Test) function. After verifying that the oxygen sensor accuracy is acceptable using prior art techniques, a set of bleed valves are opened to load the oxygen concentrator at a specific flow. The oxygen concentration is then checked via the sensor to determine whether the PSA subsystem is operating to within a predetermined concentration level.

Oxygen concentrator with beds' duty cycle control and self-test

A gas analysis apparatus using multiple orifices of preselected sizes to attain a calculated gas mixing ratio for diluting an oxygen sample to a concentration less than 95% prior to application to a limiting current oxygen sensor. The apparatus comprises a regulator for regulating the pressures of incoming flows of air and oxygen sample to be measured, a valve for allowing the concentration of the air sample to oxygen sample to be measured, and a system for calculating the air sample/oxygen sample mixing ratio based on the known air sample concentration and then, based on the known air concentration and calculated mixing ratio, calculating the unknown sample concentration from the output of the oxygen sensor.

Apparatus for high oxygen concentration measurement using limiting

Apparatus for monitoring gaseous oxygen concentration that includes an oxygen sensor for providing an electrical sensor signal that varies as a function of oxygen concentration at the sensor. Processor circuitry compares oxygen concentration indicated by the sensor signal to at least one threshold level, and indicates when such oxygen concentration at the sensor departs from such threshold concentration level. The apparatus is calibrated by exposing the sensor to a calibration gas having an oxygen concentration equal to the desired threshold concentration level, and storing in the processor circuitry electrical indicia indicative of operating characteristics of the sensor at such threshold oxygen concentration level. When the apparatus is thereafter employed for monitoring a gas of undetermined oxygen concentration, the operating characteristics of the sensor reflected by the sensor output signal are compared to the prestored indicia for determining when oxygen concentration at the sensor crosses the threshold concentration level.

Monitoring gaseous oxygen concentration

In an oxygen concentrator which is intended for aircraft use, a booster compressor is used to increase the pressure of the product gas from the concentrator in order to increase the amount of the gas which can be stored in a plenum. The booster includes two moving pistons which are rigidly linked together and a series of check valves which control the flow of gases through the compressor. One of the pistons is driven by air from the rotary valve in the concentrator, and the other piston compresses the product gas for delivery to the plenum. A small sample of concentrator product gas is monitored by an oxygen sensor for oxygen concentration. Once the oxygen concentration has reached an acceptable level the booster compressor fills the plenum with product gas. Thereafter, if oxygen concentration of product gas delivered to the crew from the concentrator falls below the concentration which is required at a particular altitude, the product gas stored in the plenum is delivered to the crew. The oxygen sensor monitors the concentrator output product gas to the breathing regulator when the stored plenum gas is not being used.

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Davenport, IA, United States of America

Tuan Q Cao