US2122897A - Apparatus for dispensing compressed gases - Google Patents

Description

July 5, 1938. c. c. STRAW APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING COMPRESSED GASES Fi led May 25, 1936' @222 9 Tm I 3 W RNEYS ATTO Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING COM- PRESSED GASES Clay 0. Straw, Ansonville, Pa., assignor to Oxygen Equipment and Service 00., Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Illinois Application May 25, 1936, Serial No. 81,642

9 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful irriproveinents in apparatus for dispensing compressed gases and more especially to such improvements applied to a portable, self-contained apparatus of the kind described, such as an oxygenservice set.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation perspective of an apparatus embodying. the invention, and p 7 Fig. 2 is a section plan on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Objects of the invention are to provide a selfcontained, self-protecting package, complete in itself and ready for dispensing the gas by simply placing the package on a support and opening the lid or cover, the apparatus being then ready for use by merely turning on the gas and applying the inhaler to the patient or user; to provide a rigid protecting casing positionable on one end, and openable to stand firmly in position, the compressed gas cylinder, meter, and associated parts beingfixed to and suspended from the upper part of the interior of the casing; to provide a casing of the kind described, with a dispensing yoke fixed to and suspended from the upper part of, the interior of the casing, a compressed gas cylinder being suspended from the yoke and connected to supply gas through the yoke, the cylinder being readily insertible in and removable from the yoke While the case stands open.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, showing an oxygen service set, a two-part casing has Walls of strong, rigid material, the two parts being hinged together along one Vertical side edge as by hinges 2, the case being adapted to rest on one end, and when opened, as shown in Fig. l, the two parts, resting on the floor, table or other support, constitute a firm and stable support and housing for the actual apparatus. A suitable handle 3 is provided at the top so that the closed casing may be readily handled and carried in an upright position.

Within one part of the casing the gas dispensing apparatus is fixed and suspended so that it is'readily and simply accessible for use and so that the gas cylinders may be readily removed and inserted to renew the gas supply. As embodied, a strong and firm plate I, preferably of metal, extends along the back of the casing for almost its complete length and is firmly fixed to the casing by suitable fastenings such as rivets 8. Fixed to plate 1 near its upper end by means of a nut 6 threaded on a stud bolt 9, fixed to and extending from the plate, is a double gas dispensing fixture I0. This fixture has two oppositely extending pipe arms II and I2, each arm terminating in a yoke or apertured frame I3, adapted to receive and hold in suspension a gas cylinder with its outlet in communication with the pipe arm II or I2.

For the purpose of facilitating the insertion and removal of the gas containers, the yokes I3 are rotatably mounted on the ends of the pipes II and I2 with a gas tight fit for the containers. As embodied (Fig. 2), the yoke is mounted on the pipe within a flange I4 fixed to the end of the pipe. A resilient apertured gasket I5 is socketed within and projects from the flange I4 and provides a resilient, tight seal with the gas opening in the top of the container. Cylinders I1 and I8 containing, and adapted to dispense, compressed gas, may be of well known form and adapted to coact with the rotatable yokes 13. The cylinders are accordingly shown with squared, internally-apertured neck projections I9, adapted to fit against the resilient gaskets I5 in the outer ends of piped arms II or I2, with the interior apertures communicating, as shown in Fig. 2. Mounted in the exterior end of the yokes I3 are pointed, screw-threaded bolts 20, having handles 2|. The points of screw bolts 20 register with indentations in and press against the outer faces of the squared necks I9 of the gas cylinders and hold the cylinders firmly suspended with the conduits open into the dispensing fixture. The gas cylinders have the usual valve 22, whereby one cylinder can be kept closed while the other cylinder is supplying gas.

An exhausted gas cylinder can be easily and quickly replaced by loosening the clamping screw 20, swinging the bottom end outwardly and withdrawing the cylinder. The fresh cylinder can be quickly and readily inserted in like manner. This structure and manner of operation will also permit the emergency use of gas containers which are too long to go inside the case, as the gas outlet can be inserted and fixed within the yoke with the container in inclined position extending out in front of the case.

The dispensing fixture is equipped with a valve 25 and a pipe 26 leading into the meter 21, which is shown as a bubbling or sight feed control meter, which indicates the litres per minute of gas discharged. The pipe 26 discharges into a pipe 28 within the closed glass jar 21, and pipe '28 is apertured beneath the water and calibrated to indicate the volume of gas being discharged. A flexible tube 32 communicates with the upper part of sealed jar 21 of the flow rate meter, and

conducts away the gas delivered into the jar by pipe 28. An inhaler 33 is connected to the other end of tube 32, the inhaler being applied to the patient in the usual manner.

Means are provided for holding the containers firmly in position. A spacing block 30 is fixed to the casing fioor and wall between the bottom ends of the two gas containers, and a cross piece 3! is fixed to the bottom of the other part, which is the lid or closure, of the casing and presses resiliently against the bottom ends of the gas containers when the casing is closed, as shown in Fig. 2. The casing lid is fitted with receptacles 34 for holding various appliances, and a hook 35 to hold the inhaler 33, the flexible tube 32 being also stored in the lid.

To put the device into use it is only necessary to open the case, open the valves as required and apply the inhaler, as all the apparatus is always in place within the casing and is protected by the casing. Any gas cylinder can be removed by simply rotating it slightly with its yoke I 3 on its suspension on the pipe arm, and loosening the clamping screw, and the new cylinder is inserted in place in like manner. When no longer required, the inhaler may be hung up, the tube stored, and the casing lid closed and locked.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1, An apparatus for dispensing compressed gas including in combination an enclosing casing, a dispensing fixture fixed to said casing near its upper end, said fixture having a pipe arm extending therefrom, a yoke rotatably mounted on the end of the pipe arm, a compressed gas container suspended within said yoke, and a gas tight connection between said gas container and pipe arm.

2. An apparatus for dispensing compressed gas including in combination an enclosing casing, a dispensing fixture fixed to said casing near its upper end, said fixture having a pipe arm extending therefrom, a yoke rotatably mounted on the end of the pipe arm, a compressed gas container suspended within said yoke, a gas tight connection between said gas container and pipe arm, and screw means mounted insaid yoke and pressing said container to suspend it in the yoke and maintain said gas tight connection.

3. An apparatus for dispensing compressed gas including in combination a rigid casing adapted to rest on an end thereof, a dispensing fixture fixed to said casing near its opposite end, said fixture having pipe arms extending therefrom, a rotatable yoke mounted on the end of each of said pipe arms, a gas tight fixture at the end of each pipe arm, and means for holding a gas container suspended in each of the rotatable yokes and for. pressing it against said gas tight fixture.

4. An apparatus for dispensing compressed gas including in combination an enclosing casing, having a closure, a dispensing fixture fixed within said casing, means for rotatively suspending a gas container from said fixture, and means carried by said closure for resiliently pressing the gas container in position when said closure is closed.

5. An apparatus for dispensing compressed gas including in combination a rigid casing adapted to rest on an end, a supporting base plate fastened to an interior wall of said casing, and extending over a substantial part of the wall, a dispensing fixture fixed to said base plate within the casing, a compressed gas cylinder suspended from said dispensing fixture, a gas conduit from said cylinder to said fixture, a valve in said fixture, a gas flow rate indicating meter supported from said fixture, a conduit delivering gas from said fixture to said meter, and an inhaler tube to take the metered gas from said fiow indicating meter.

6. An apparatus for dispensing compressed gas including in combination a rigid casing adapted to rest on an end, a supporting base plate fastened to an interior wall of said casing and extending over a substantial part of the wall, a dispensing fixture fixed to said base plate within the casing, an intake gas pipe fixed to and extending from said fixture, a compressed gas cylinder suspended from said pipe and connected thereto to supply gas to the fixture, a valve in said fixture, a pipe fixed to and extend ing from said fixture, a gas flow rate indicatmg meter supported from said pipe and receiving gas therethrough from said fixture, and an inhaler tube to take the metered gas from said flow indicating meter.

7. An apparatus for dispensing compressed gas including in combination a rigid casing adapted to rest on end, a dispensing fixture fixed to the interior of said casing near one end thereof and contained within the casing, a compressed gas cylinder connected to deliver gas to said dispensing fixture and located entirely within the casing, a valve in said dispensing fixture, a gas fiow rate indicator including a closed vessel for receiving gas from said fixture, and an inhaler tube connected to receive the metered gas from said vessel.

8. An apparatus for dispensing compressed gas including in combination a rigid case adapted to rest on an end, a supporting base plate fastened centrally to an interior wall of said casing and extending over a substantial part of the wall, a dispensing fixture fixed to said base plate within the casing, gas pipes extending outwardly from said fixture at either side, each pipe being fitted with means for taking a, compressed gas cylinder to supply gas into said fixture, a gas fiow indicating meter receiving gas from said fixture, and an inhaler tube to take the metered gas from said fiow indicating meter.

9, An apparatus for dispensing compressed gas including in combination a rigid casing adapted to rest on end, a supporting base plate fastened to an interior wall of said casing and extending over a substantial part of said wall, a dispensing fixture and a compressed gas cylinder and connection for supplying gas from the cylinder to the dispensing fixture, all suspended from said plate, a gas flow rate indicator receiving gas from said fixture, and an inhaler tube for conveying gas from said indicator.

CLAY C. STRAW.

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