US3747598A - Flow conditioner - Google Patents
Flow conditioner Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3747598A US3747598A US00034114A US3747598DA US3747598A US 3747598 A US3747598 A US 3747598A US 00034114 A US00034114 A US 00034114A US 3747598D A US3747598D A US 3747598DA US 3747598 A US3747598 A US 3747598A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- flow
- layers
- heat
- moisture
- matrix
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 76
- 230000000241 respiratory effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 230000003434 inspiratory effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims description 39
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- URGAHOPLAPQHLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium aluminosilicate Chemical class [Na+].[Al+3].[O-][Si]([O-])=O.[O-][Si]([O-])=O URGAHOPLAPQHLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 9
- 230000001172 regenerating effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 210000000056 organ Anatomy 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 33
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 31
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 31
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 31
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 11
- 230000008093 supporting effect Effects 0.000 description 10
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000029058 respiratory gaseous exchange Effects 0.000 description 5
- 210000002345 respiratory system Anatomy 0.000 description 5
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000011149 active material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 210000002268 wool Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dioxygen Chemical compound O=O MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000000306 component Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000003750 conditioning effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002808 molecular sieve Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000006213 oxygenation reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 3
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000274 adsorptive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000003610 charcoal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000009189 diving Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001976 improved effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003134 recirculating effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001179 sorption measurement Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012935 Averaging Methods 0.000 description 1
- KFVPJMZRRXCXAO-UHFFFAOYSA-N [He].[O] Chemical compound [He].[O] KFVPJMZRRXCXAO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003190 augmentative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002457 bidirectional effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000031018 biological processes and functions Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036760 body temperature Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002939 deleterious effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002274 desiccant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001882 dioxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003973 paint Substances 0.000 description 1
- RLLPVAHGXHCWKJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N permethrin Chemical compound CC1(C)C(C=C(Cl)Cl)C1C(=O)OCC1=CC=CC(OC=2C=CC=CC=2)=C1 RLLPVAHGXHCWKJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000012805 post-processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001737 promoting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002344 surface layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010792 warming Methods 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/10—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
- A61M16/1045—Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
- A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
- A62B9/00—Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus
- A62B9/003—Means for influencing the temperature or humidity of the breathing gas
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
- B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
- B63C11/02—Divers' equipment
- B63C11/18—Air supply
- B63C11/22—Air supply carried by diver
- B63C11/24—Air supply carried by diver in closed circulation
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2202/00—Special media to be introduced, removed or treated
- A61M2202/02—Gases
- A61M2202/0208—Oxygen
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2202/00—Special media to be introduced, removed or treated
- A61M2202/03—Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
Definitions
- a respiratory gas flow conditioner for providing biologically required heat and moisture to gas flows for a respiring user has high thermal efficiency and low resistance to respiratory flow.
- the flow conditioner comprises a cylindrically shaped, hollow, high surface area heat and moisture regenerator having a relatively large orifice at one longitudinal end. Exhaled gases having relatively high heat and moisture content pass into the orifice, expand omnidirectionally, pass uniformly through the regenerative material comprising the sides of the cylinder and give out heat and moisture thereto;
- inspiratory gases at relatively low humidity and temperature take up the moisture and heat retained by the regenerator and pass to the respiratory organs of the user at biologically desirable humidity and temperature levels.
- This invention relates to means for treating fluid flows, particularly for conditioning and improving gas flows in life support systems where gases flow to and from a respiring user.
- SCUBA selfcontained underwater breathing apparatus
- a highly sophisticated system recently developed and the subject of patent application Ser. No. 623,616 (filed Mar. 13, I967), assigned to the assignee of the present invention, utilizes a recirculating gas flow whose oxygen content is maintained at a desired level by passage in contact with a liquid oxygen source at cryogenic temperatures.
- the incoming gas supplied to the user is generally dry and cold partially because of its initial condition when it is injected into the respiratory gas flow and partly because of its passage through the long conduit distance between the surface and the diver, during which passage heat is lost to the undersea enironment whose temperature may range below 50 F. Heat is similarly lost from the expired gas flows in the passage of the flows through the conduits to the surface.
- SCUBA systems also encounter such problems.
- the SCUBA system may inject oxygen gas at a fixed rate necessary to compensate for oxygen consumed by the diver and maintain mass balance by expulsion to the environment of some expiratory flow, thus losing heat and moisture.
- Oxygen added to the system gas flow is generally at the environment temperature and is of relatively low humidity.
- a cryogenic system requires removal of heat and moisture from the system gas flow preliminarily to passage of the flow through the liquid oxygen supply for reoxygenation.
- Hyperefficient heat exchangers are utilized to return the system gas flow to biological temperatures; however, under all conditions improvement in performance can be expected with decrease of the heat transfer load ona heat exchange element and under some circumstances this may prove critical.
- heat and moisture may be supplied to com pensate for respiratory heat and moisture requirements.
- Bulky and heavy apparatus may be required for such heat and moisture conditioning, comprising for example sensors or other regulator means as well as relatively complex injection means.
- Such apparatus is not only costly and complex but is inefficient from a system point of view since at one point heat and moisture in the expiratory flow from the user are expelled from the system and at another point heat and moisture are added with the aid of cumbersome apparatus.
- a further source of inefficiency in life support systems is in their mouthpiece that is, structures which immediately connect the respiratory system of the user to external life support elements.
- Such mouthpieces generally comprise merely passive conduits for the passage of the life supporting as flows incoming to, and outgoing from the users respiratory system.
- a flow conditioner comprising a regenerator matrix for transferring usable components, such as heat and moisture, from one fluid flow to another in regenerative fashion.
- a regenerator matrix is disposed within a mouthpiece connecting the respiring user with external life support ing elements.
- the matrix may comprise extended filamentary surfaces for removing usable contents from one gas flow by contact through conduction, absorption, adsorption or condensation; retaining the com-ponents; and surrendering them to another contacting gas flow.
- the matrix is disposed in exchange relation with the gas flow path and may be heat or moisture active or active with respect to other flow components.
- the matrix surfaces may be compacted together or extended over a substantial length.
- An further aspect of the invention relates to the provision of highly efficient means for extracting, retaining, and adding heat and moisture.
- Folded wire mesh layers may be arrayed to define at least one hollow cylinder having a small orifice and presenting a large surface for heat and moisture transfer and retention while comprising a low impedance path for gas flow. Gas passing along or through the mesh layers to the orifice tends to expand and contact the mesh uniformly, promoting efficient heat distribution.
- the regenerator matrix volume may receive bidirectional flows, whereas in another system opposite flows may be directed through different parts of the matrix.
- an improved mouthpiece structure includes a pair of flow conditioners, each comprising a hollow fluted cylinder of multilayered heat conductive mesh having hygroscopic surface layers.
- the cylinders are disposed adjacent the mouthpiece orifice within and along the gas flow conduit, and are of short length but extremely high surface area. The interior ends of the cylinders are closed, so that inspiratory and expiratory gases pass relatively uniformly through the available surface area of the conditioners between the mouthpiece and the conduit.
- a bypass arrangement may be disposed to provide freer flow when high flow rates are needed.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram and schematic representation of a life support system utilizing a flow conditioner in accordance with the invention
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view, simplified and partially broken away, of a flow conditioner in accordance with the invention
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the flow conditioner of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2;
- FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the flow conditioner of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of temperature vs. position along a regenerator matrix, useful in explaining operation of flow conditioners in accordance with the invention
- FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a portion of an alternative flow conditioner in accordance with the invention.
- FIG. 7 is a simplified sectional view of yet another flow conditioner in accordance with the invention.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a flow conditioner in accordance with the invention, operating with a gas flow system.
- a utilization system 10 is connected to an external flow path system 12 through flow paths including an inlet-outlet conduit system 13 and a flow conditioner 14 (described in detail below).
- the conditioner 14 may generally be disposed at any system point between the utilization system 10 and an oxygen source 24 (discussed below), but for a life support system is preferably adjacent, or integral with the inlet-outlet conduit system 13.
- the oxygen source 24 may be included in the system as with a conventional SCUBA or in the life support system of copending application Ser. No. 623,616. Alternatively, the oxygen source 24 may comprise an environment containing life supporting levels of oxygen.
- a gas mixture is exhausted from the utilization system 10 (one or a group of users in a life support system) and passes in contact with the conditioner 14, which includes passive elements for retaining selected constituents or properties of the gas flow, retaining the constituents, and adding the constituents to a subsequent gas flow incoming to the conditioner 14.
- the conditioner 14 includes passive elements for retaining selected constituents or properties of the gas flow, retaining the constituents, and adding the constituents to a subsequent gas flow incoming to the conditioner 14.
- these are shown generally as a heat active means 16 and a moisture active means 18, although these may be advantageously combined, or other types of flow constituents may be transferred by such means.
- a pre-oxygenation system 20 may be disposed between the utilization system 10 and the oxygen source 24.
- the pre-oxygenation system 20 comprises a heat exchanger 22reducing temperature of the exhaust gas flow from the biological range to the near cryogenic range-and a desiccant chamber 23 for removing moisture from the flow.
- the demands upon the preoxygenation system 20 are substantially lessened by the heat and moisture transferring means 16, 18 in the flow conditioner 14.
- the preoxygenation means may operate differently, as in the conventional SCUBA, or such means may not be used, as in systems drawing oxygen from the environment.
- the oxygen source may comprise a cryogenic processor (as in the invention of the copending application cited above wherein an oxygen liquid vapor system 28, maintained at a desired temperature by a cryogen 30, adds oxygen to the appropriate partial pressure), an arrangement for adding oxygen as in the conventional SCUBA, or merely the environment, among others.
- a post-oxygenation system 26 may be disposed between the utilization system 10 and the oxygen source 24 for operating upon the oxygenated gas flow prior to entry into the conditioner 14 (in the cryogenic system, the post-processing system 26 comprises a post-processor for warming the processed flow to biological temperature and contains a heat exchanger 32 in thermal relation with the heat exchanger 22 for the purpose).
- Total gas pressure including oxygen and inert gas partial pressures is maintained by appropriate means varying with the specific system.
- the inert gas may be continuously added with the oxygen.
- complete recirculating systems like the cryogenic processor system, routine loss of inert gas does not occur and adjustment of partial pressure to changed conditions is effected by conventional valve, sensor and storage arrangements.
- non-oxygen supplying systems connected with the atmosphere of course, no such inert gas problems arise.
- the gas flow then passes to the utilization system 10 through the flow conditioner l4 and the inlet-outlet system 13.
- flow conditioner 14 flow constituents such as heat and moisture removed from the flow by the means l6, l8 and retained therein are surrendered to the incoming gas mixture.
- the path taken by the flow through the oxygen source 24 may be viewed as the principal path.
- usable flow constituents such as heat or moisture which would otherwise have been discarded from the outgoing exhaust flow and omitted from, or subsequently readded from external sources to the incoming oxygenated flow, are instead extracted from the exhaust flow, retained and surrendered to the incoming flow for reuse without passing through the principal path in cluding other elements of the system.
- the flow conditioner M which transfers particular flow constituents between the respective flows, comprises a shunt flow path and storage only for these flow constituents such as heat and moisture.
- the shunt path bypasses or is parallel to the principal flow path, and other flow constituents are not diverted. As indicated above the principal path need not be closed.
- flow conditioners in accordance with the invention comprise shunt paths for particular flow constituents
- such flow conditioners comprise purely passive elements operating through contact with system gas flow and utilizing basic physical and chemical prin' ciples and processes without the complexities of structural requirements imposed upon active elements, as shown below.
- FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate in detail an example of a flow conditioner in accordance with the invention, as used for an underwater life support application.
- a flow conditioner 14 enclosed by a housing 34 is connected with external elements including an oxygen source (not shown) and a user (not shown), through a conduit system 35, for respiratory gas flows (the conduit system 35 may, of course, be of any appropriate shape and is shown as T-shaped for clarity).
- the conditioner 14 comprises a pair of adjacent heat and moisture active flow conditioner regenerator matrices 36, 38.
- the conduit system 35 includes a principal cross-arm conduit 40 having colinear and communicating ends for receiving and transmitting inspiratory and expiratory flows respectively, associated system elements not being shown.
- a base leg conduit 42 which comprises a respiratory passage extending from the cross-arm conduit 40 and terminating in a divers mouthpiece 44, including a breathing orifice 45 and comprising a fluid connection to the respiratory system of the diver.
- a base leg conduit 42 which comprises a respiratory passage extending from the cross-arm conduit 40 and terminating in a divers mouthpiece 44, including a breathing orifice 45 and comprising a fluid connection to the respiratory system of the diver.
- Other arrangements permitting inflow and outflow of gas to the respiratory system of the user in operative relation to the flow conditioner 14 may also be employed in accordance with the invention.
- the matrices 36, 38 may, for example, be disposed transversely or longitudinally within the mouthpiece 44 in the absence of a respiratory passage 45.
- the matrices 36, 38 are of cylindrical form, and disposed axially within and along the base leg conduit 42 as best seen in the perspective and sectional views of FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively.
- the matrices are preferably disposed axially as shown, but may also be in other orientations with respect to the mouthpiece or the respiratory flows, e.g., transversely.
- the cylindrical matrices 36, 38 comprise multi-layer bodies having their central axes spaced apart but parallel to the central axis of the base leg conduit 42.
- the matrices 36, 38 are alike in this example, although they may be of different sizes and shapes for particular installations (they may, for instance, comprise packs of stacked screens). Each is shown as peripherally multi-fluted or corrugated longitudinally to maximize operative surface area and minimize bulk.
- the matrices comprise separate layers 39 in contacting and conforming relation to one another to define the porous-walled, fluted cylindrical shape.
- the layers 39 are mounted at their opposite ends in mountings 46, 48, the mounting 46 being adjacent the orifice 45 and fixed to the inner wall of the base leg conduit 42 and having an open central portion.
- the mounting 48 at the free end of the matrix 36 comprises a transverse closure member and is hermetically sealed to the layers 39, blocking gas flow from entering the matrix cavity directly from the conduit 40.
- each mesh layer 39 of a given matrix 36 comprises in this example a fine woven screen of highly heat conductive material, such as copper.
- the filaments of the screen are coated with a hygroscopic layer of an activated molecular sieve material 50, such as activated charcoal.
- an activated molecular sieve material 50 such as activated charcoal.
- approximately 10 layers 39 of 200 mesh copper screen were employed in the flow conditioner, which was designed for operation at approximately 600-foot depth and with a helium-oxygen mixture.
- a desired total surface area of the matrix 36 was provided within a 0.8 inch diameter section approximately 1 inch long. This configuration was suffi' cient in surface area and total volume to permit operation with a pressure drop of approximately 0.1 inch of water or less.
- the total volume of the matrix 36 is preferably substantially smaller than the average volume of the average breath of the diver, to avoid problems related to mixing of inspiratory and expiratory flows, and may preferably range between 10-100 cc.
- inspiratory flow passes from one side of the cross-arm conduit 40 to the mouthpiece 44 through the matrices 36, 38, and expiratory flows are directed again through the matrices 36, 38 to the other end of the cross-arm conduit 40.
- These flows pass essentially radially through the porous layers 39 of the matrices 36, 38 and are distributed evenly over their entire surface areas.
- One way or check valves may be disposed in the conduits or elsewhere for flow control in the system.
- the regenerator matrices 36, 38 are in operative heat and moisture relation with the respiratory gas flows. Heat is transferred through condensation. Moistureis transferred through condensation and evaporation accompanying the heat transfer, and through the separate action of the molecular sieve. In underwater operation, where extremely high pressures are involved and where the oxygen supply for respiration is cold and dry, both heat and moisture are rapidly extracted from the outgoing expiratory flows by the matrices 36, 38. Moisture is absorbed by the molecular sieve material 50, and moisture condenses upon the layers 39 throughthe cooling of the gas flow. The heat and moisture are thus diverted intoa separate shunt path that does not act upon other flow constituents of the gas, and are retained or stored by the matrix for surrender to a subsequent incoming flow.
- the subsequent inspiratory flow enters the cross-arm conduit 40, and absorbs heat and moisture retained by the matrices 36, 38.
- Heat extracted by the matrices 36, 38 is evenly distributed over the mesh layers 39 because of their high thermal conductivity and because of the expansion of the gases to occupy the entire cavity in which the matrices 36, 38 are contained, and thus to contact substantially all of the mesh layers 39.
- Heat exchange with a surrounding gas is therefore highly efficient, and augmented by heat transfer along the length of the layers 39.
- Pressure drop is extremely small because of the thinness of the layers 39 (for the 200 mesh screen previously referred to, the total thickness of 10 layers was approximately 0.040 inch).
- the invention has been discussed within the context of life support and particularly as related to temperature and humidity. Such particular aspects are not necessary to the invention which may be employed generally and may be active with respect to heat or moisture singly or in combination, or to other properties.
- regenerator matrix 36 is preferably of coated wire mesh, it may comprise other configurations allowing intimate intermingling of the gas flow and the matrix elements such as various arrangements of spatially separated filamentary elements-woven or unwovenapertures in an otherwise integral structure, as well as intermingled, or separated, adjoining layers of porous or permeable moisture and heat active materials or a single moisture and heat active material. Fluid permeable materials such as copper wool may be utilized also.
- the activated molecular sieve material 50 may comprise heat treated activated charocal or other well known comparable materials.
- the sieve 38 is disposed upon the mesh 37 by conventional procedures as by applying a charcoal-containing paint or applying finely divided charcoal to an adhesive coated upon the mesh 37.
- the adsorptive process may be relatively unimportant. In situations, however, where such differentials do not exist or where the temperature at the oxygen source is higher than the body temperature of the user, the adsorptive process may become more significant.
- the interaction of the moisture content of the respiratory gas flow with the regenerator matrix 36 is essentially analogous to that of the heat content in accordance with well known principles of thermodynamics and chemistry; thus, moisture is retained and surrendered by the matrix 36 in a manner similar to that described above for heat, and the matrix 36 serves as a regenerator for moisture as well as heat.
- regenerator matrix 36 is not confined to usein situations where the source of life supporting gas is at a lower temperature of humidity level than required for biological processes.
- the regenerator matrix 36 may be used in situations where there is a difference in any direction of the characteristics of the oxygen source from biologically favorable levels of temperature and humidity.
- the regenerator matrix 36 with the molecular sieve material 50 operates as described above with respect to the mositure content of the respiratory gas flow while operating in a reverse manner with respect to thermal content of the respiratory gas flow.
- FIG. 6 depicts another specific example of a flow conditioner in accordance with the invention.
- Alternating layers 52, 54 of moisture active and heat active materials respectively are disposed adjacent one another, to form a regenerator matrix 56.
- the layers 52 are shown to comprise separated filaments or mesh of a hygroscopic moisture active material such as fibrous carbon or leached silica.
- the layers 54 as in the example of FIG. 4, comprise filaments or mesh of highly heat conductive material such as copper.
- the disposition and configuration of the layers 52, 54 are similar to those of FIG. 4.
- the layers 52, 54 are thermally insulated from the housing and may be removably connected thereto.
- FIG. 6 The operation of the example of FIG. 6 is similar to that of the example of FIG. 4 except that here the respiratory gas flows pass through twice as many separate mesh layers in each respiratory cycle as in the previous example, and the storage effects take place in different elements.
- a flow conditioner 60 may be positioned at a remote location between a mouthpiece 62 and a processor system or other life support means or oxygen source 64.
- the term remote does not indicate that a substantial spacing is necessarily required, only that the flow conditioner 60 may be disposed somewhere along a preexisting or specially adapted inspiratory conduit 66 and expiratory conduit 68 instead of being disposed adjacent to or as a part of a mouthpiece apparatus.
- the flow conditioner 60 comprises a housing 70 containing a matrix 72 comprising a plurality of heat conductive elements, specifically a mass of copper wool.
- Bypass conduits 74, 76 shunt the housing 70, each conduit including a pressure responsive valve 78.
- the bypass valve 78 may be set adjustably to respond to any desired pressure differential across it, to open so as to permit free flow in response to a selected pressure differential.
- Check valve 80 insures proper flow direction of the regenerating flows. It should be noted that the bypass arrangement may be employed with the mouthpiece regenerator as such.
- the primary function of flow conditioning is effected within the separate inspiratory conduit 66 and expiratory conduit 68 by the copper wool body 72.
- Heat taken into the mass 72 during the expiratory cycle is readily conducted throughout the mass within the housing 70, and given up to the inspiratory flow.
- Moisture is accumulated within the copper wool mass 72, migrating on successive exhalations into the region of the inspiratory conduit 66.
- a substantially greater storage volume is made available for both heat and moisture retention and-release, and the structure not only provides an interchange between the incoming and outgoing flows but an averaging or integration of the characteristics of the flows.
- a housing having a fluid sealing connection adapted to be connected to a user and defining an orifice for passage of said respiratory gases to and from said user;
- a flow conditioner comprising at least one thermal regenerator matrix comprised of a permeable material, said matrix defining at least one cylinder having a central cavity and defining an orifice at one longitudinal end thereof and including means providing a transverse seal at the other longitudinal end thereof, said cylinder being disposed axially and internally with respect to the housing, said cylinder and said seal being spaced from said housing whereby gas is allowed to flow through said matrix along the inner walls of said housing and past said seal.
- said at least one matrix comprises a plurality of adjacently disposed layers of highly heat conductive filaments configured in a peripherally multi-fluted cylinder having a central cavity.
- said at least one matrix has a total volume of approximately l0-l00 cc and wherein the thickness of said plurality of layers comprises approximately 0.040 inch, and said layers comprise copper wire screen of approximately 200 mesh, there being at least 10 layers thereof.
- said flow conditioner comprises a pair of like adjacent cylinders disposed axially with respect to the gas flows, and including an open end adjacent said orifice and a closed interior end, such that gas flows pass substantially radially through the layers thereof with respect to the central axis of each cylinder, and substantially uniformly across the entire surface area of each cylinder, and wherein in addition said hygroscopic means is substantially uniformly disposed on all said layers and comprises activated charcoal powder and means adhesively binding said powder to said layers.
Abstract
A respiratory gas flow conditioner for providing biologically required heat and moisture to gas flows for a respiring user has high thermal efficiency and low resistance to respiratory flow. The flow conditioner comprises a cylindrically shaped, hollow, high surface area heat and moisture regenerator having a relatively large orifice at one longitudinal end. Exhaled gases having relatively high heat and moisture content pass into the orifice, expand omnidirectionally, pass uniformly through the regenerative material comprising the sides of the cylinder and give out heat and moisture thereto; inspiratory gases at relatively low humidity and temperature take up the moisture and heat retained by the regenerator and pass to the respiratory organs of the user at biologically desirable humidity and temperature levels.
Description
United States Patent [1 1 Cowans July 24, 1973 FLOW CONDITIONER [76] Inventor: Kenneth W. Cowans, 3118 Patricia Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90064 [22] Filed: May 4, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 34,114
[52] US. Cl 128/142, 128/147, 128/203,
128/212 [51] Int. Cl A62b 7/06 [58] Field of Search 128/142, 142.2, 142.6,
128/l45.8, 146-1467, 212, 147, 142.3, 203, 202; 55/387, 484, 516, 518, 529, DIG. 33,
DIG. 35
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,610,038 9/1952 Phillips 128/202 X 3,333,585 8/1967 Barghini et a1. 128/146.2 X 3,107,669 10/1963 Gross 128/212 X 3,326,214 6/1967 McCoy 128/212 3,099,987 8/1963 Bartlett, Jr 128/212 X 3,491,754 l/1970 Weese 128/212 3,142,549 7/1964 Klusewitz et a1... l28/146.6 X
3,102,537 9/1963 Bartlett, Jr 128/146.5 2,269,461 1/1942 Lehmberg 128/146.
FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 85,055 4/1955 Denmark 128/212 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerG. F. Dunne Attorney-Fraser & Bogucki [57] ABSTRACT A respiratory gas flow conditioner for providing biologically required heat and moisture to gas flows for a respiring user has high thermal efficiency and low resistance to respiratory flow. The flow conditioner comprises a cylindrically shaped, hollow, high surface area heat and moisture regenerator having a relatively large orifice at one longitudinal end. Exhaled gases having relatively high heat and moisture content pass into the orifice, expand omnidirectionally, pass uniformly through the regenerative material comprising the sides of the cylinder and give out heat and moisture thereto;
inspiratory gases at relatively low humidity and temperature take up the moisture and heat retained by the regenerator and pass to the respiratory organs of the user at biologically desirable humidity and temperature levels.
5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented July 24, 1973 UTILIZATION SYSTEM INLET- OUTLET SYSTEM F LOW CONDITIONER HEAT ACTIVE MEANS I I I I I I I I EXHAUST GIIS FLOW
ALL-MW T5 Sheets-Shoet'I POST- oxmmmou SYSTEM 26 T I HEAT EXCHANGER I52 I I i L .I
INSPIRATORY GAS omen Pounce v "I 24 I HEAT 1 EXCHANGE RELATION DESIGOANT I" I I 1 I I HEAT EXCHANGER LT. .J PRE-OXYGENAT on svsm INVENTOR.
ATTORNEYS Patented July 24, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TEMPERATURE GRADIENT OF COOLED FLOW TEMPERATURE OF REGENER- ATOR TEMPERATURE GRADTENT OF HEATED FLOW LENGTH ALONG REGENERATOR 52 ffiziiiii \5 INVENTOR.
6 KENNETH W. COWANS ATTORNEYS Patented July 24, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet (5 FIG. 7
FIG. 4
w fg J INVlz'N'I'OR.
KENNETH W. COWANS ATTORNEYS 1 FLOW CONDITIONER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to means for treating fluid flows, particularly for conditioning and improving gas flows in life support systems where gases flow to and from a respiring user.
2. Description of the Prior Art Means for supporting respiration in hostile environments have assumed increasing importance particularly because of increasing scientific, industrial, and military activity relating to undersea, high altitude, and contaminated environments. Undersea exploration, for example, has recently assumed substantial scientific and economic significance. In undersea operations, life support systems have been developed to a substantial level of sophistication with respect to the function of supplying oxygen for divers respiration. An example of such a life support system is the traditional deep sea diver system wherein the oxygen supply is maintained on the surface, and oxygen is pumped down to the diver through a conduit system extending through substantial depths. Expiratory exhaust gases are pumped through the conduit system to the environment and expelled from the system. The more recently developed selfcontained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) utilizes an oxygen supply carried by the diver. A highly sophisticated system recently developed and the subject of patent application Ser. No. 623,616 (filed Mar. 13, I967), assigned to the assignee of the present invention, utilizes a recirculating gas flow whose oxygen content is maintained at a desired level by passage in contact with a liquid oxygen source at cryogenic temperatures.
During all of this development and across a broad spectrum of systems exemplified by the classical deep sea divers system, the SCUBA system, and the cryogenic system, users have generally had to accept the fact that the life supporting gas mixture supplied to the diver deviates substantially from biologial requirements of heat and moisture content. Such deviation may have deleterious effects ranging from simple inconvenience and minor efficiency loss to substantial danger to the health and safety of the diver, who may be losing substantial quantities of biologically vital heat and moisture with every breath. At suboceanic depths of 300 feet, this type of heat loss may account for 20-30 percent of total heat loss by the divers body.
In the conventional deep sea diving system, the incoming gas supplied to the user is generally dry and cold partially because of its initial condition when it is injected into the respiratory gas flow and partly because of its passage through the long conduit distance between the surface and the diver, during which passage heat is lost to the undersea enironment whose temperature may range below 50 F. Heat is similarly lost from the expired gas flows in the passage of the flows through the conduits to the surface. SCUBA systems also encounter such problems. The SCUBA system may inject oxygen gas at a fixed rate necessary to compensate for oxygen consumed by the diver and maintain mass balance by expulsion to the environment of some expiratory flow, thus losing heat and moisture. Oxygen added to the system gas flow is generally at the environment temperature and is of relatively low humidity. A cryogenic system, on the other hand, requires removal of heat and moisture from the system gas flow preliminarily to passage of the flow through the liquid oxygen supply for reoxygenation. Hyperefficient heat exchangers are utilized to return the system gas flow to biological temperatures; however, under all conditions improvement in performance can be expected with decrease of the heat transfer load ona heat exchange element and under some circumstances this may prove critical. In the conventional SCUBA and deep sea diving systems heat and moisture may be supplied to com pensate for respiratory heat and moisture requirements. Bulky and heavy apparatus may be required for such heat and moisture conditioning, comprising for example sensors or other regulator means as well as relatively complex injection means. Such apparatus is not only costly and complex but is inefficient from a system point of view since at one point heat and moisture in the expiratory flow from the user are expelled from the system and at another point heat and moisture are added with the aid of cumbersome apparatus.
Similar problems, arising from the deviation of inspired life supporting gases from biological norms for optimum performance and safety, are experienced by those within environments having adequate oxygen content to support life but deviating substantially from biological standards of temperature and humidity. Such environments are encountered, for example, in desert and Arctic regions or by firefighters in the course of their activities. Continuing inspiration from the atmosphere in such environments may result in serious damage to the respiratory system and other organs of the user through exposure to the extremes of temperature and humidity of the environment.
A further source of inefficiency in life support systems is in their mouthpiece that is, structures which immediately connect the respiratory system of the user to external life support elements. Such mouthpieces generally comprise merely passive conduits for the passage of the life supporting as flows incoming to, and outgoing from the users respiratory system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objectives and purposes of the present invention are realized, in a gas flow system connecting a respiring user and external elements, by a flow conditioner comprising a regenerator matrix for transferring usable components, such as heat and moisture, from one fluid flow to another in regenerative fashion. Preferably such a regenerator matrix is disposed within a mouthpiece connecting the respiring user with external life support ing elements. The matrix may comprise extended filamentary surfaces for removing usable contents from one gas flow by contact through conduction, absorption, adsorption or condensation; retaining the com-ponents; and surrendering them to another contacting gas flow. The matrix is disposed in exchange relation with the gas flow path and may be heat or moisture active or active with respect to other flow components. The matrix surfaces may be compacted together or extended over a substantial length.
When life supporting gases are added at temperature and humidity levels falling below biological levels heat is removed through conduction by the matrix from expired respiratory gases flowing in contact with the matrix. Heat is retained by the matrix and surrendered by conduction to the cold life support gases incoming to the user. Moisture is removed from the expired flow by condensation, adsorption and absorption, retained, and surrendered to the incoming dry gas mixture, in an analogous manner.
An further aspect of the invention relates to the provision of highly efficient means for extracting, retaining, and adding heat and moisture. Folded wire mesh layers may be arrayed to define at least one hollow cylinder having a small orifice and presenting a large surface for heat and moisture transfer and retention while comprising a low impedance path for gas flow. Gas passing along or through the mesh layers to the orifice tends to expand and contact the mesh uniformly, promoting efficient heat distribution. In one form of the system, the regenerator matrix volume may receive bidirectional flows, whereas in another system opposite flows may be directed through different parts of the matrix.
Another aspect of the invention relates to an improved divers mouthpiece incorporating at least one regenerator matrix to utilize efficiently, and for a significant function, mouthpiece volume that otherwise would serve only as a passive conduit for flows of life supporting gases. In a specific example, an improved mouthpiece structure includes a pair of flow conditioners, each comprising a hollow fluted cylinder of multilayered heat conductive mesh having hygroscopic surface layers. The cylinders are disposed adjacent the mouthpiece orifice within and along the gas flow conduit, and are of short length but extremely high surface area. The interior ends of the cylinders are closed, so that inspiratory and expiratory gases pass relatively uniformly through the available surface area of the conditioners between the mouthpiece and the conduit. Separately or in conjunction with the flow conditioner system, a bypass arrangement may be disposed to provide freer flow when high flow rates are needed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram and schematic representation of a life support system utilizing a flow conditioner in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view, simplified and partially broken away, of a flow conditioner in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the flow conditioner of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the flow conditioner of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of temperature vs. position along a regenerator matrix, useful in explaining operation of flow conditioners in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a portion of an alternative flow conditioner in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 7 is a simplified sectional view of yet another flow conditioner in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a flow conditioner in accordance with the invention, operating with a gas flow system. A utilization system 10 is connected to an external flow path system 12 through flow paths including an inlet-outlet conduit system 13 and a flow conditioner 14 (described in detail below). The conditioner 14 may generally be disposed at any system point between the utilization system 10 and an oxygen source 24 (discussed below), but for a life support system is preferably adjacent, or integral with the inlet-outlet conduit system 13. The oxygen source 24 may be included in the system as with a conventional SCUBA or in the life support system of copending application Ser. No. 623,616. Alternatively, the oxygen source 24 may comprise an environment containing life supporting levels of oxygen. A gas mixture is exhausted from the utilization system 10 (one or a group of users in a life support system) and passes in contact with the conditioner 14, which includes passive elements for retaining selected constituents or properties of the gas flow, retaining the constituents, and adding the constituents to a subsequent gas flow incoming to the conditioner 14. In the life support context these are shown generally as a heat active means 16 and a moisture active means 18, although these may be advantageously combined, or other types of flow constituents may be transferred by such means.
A pre-oxygenation system 20 may be disposed between the utilization system 10 and the oxygen source 24. In systems in accordance with the invention disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 623,616 cited above, the pre-oxygenation system 20 comprises a heat exchanger 22reducing temperature of the exhaust gas flow from the biological range to the near cryogenic range-and a desiccant chamber 23 for removing moisture from the flow. Thus, the demands upon the preoxygenation system 20 are substantially lessened by the heat and moisture transferring means 16, 18 in the flow conditioner 14. In other life support systems the preoxygenation means may operate differently, as in the conventional SCUBA, or such means may not be used, as in systems drawing oxygen from the environment.
The flow then circulates to the oxygen source 24, which comprises means for maintaining the respiratory gas flow at a life supporting concentration of oxygen.
In specific examples, the oxygen source may comprise a cryogenic processor (as in the invention of the copending application cited above wherein an oxygen liquid vapor system 28, maintained at a desired temperature by a cryogen 30, adds oxygen to the appropriate partial pressure), an arrangement for adding oxygen as in the conventional SCUBA, or merely the environment, among others. A post-oxygenation system 26 may be disposed between the utilization system 10 and the oxygen source 24 for operating upon the oxygenated gas flow prior to entry into the conditioner 14 (in the cryogenic system, the post-processing system 26 comprises a post-processor for warming the processed flow to biological temperature and contains a heat exchanger 32 in thermal relation with the heat exchanger 22 for the purpose). Total gas pressure, including oxygen and inert gas partial pressures is maintained by appropriate means varying with the specific system. In partial recirculation systems the inert gas may be continuously added with the oxygen. In complete recirculating systems, like the cryogenic processor system, routine loss of inert gas does not occur and adjustment of partial pressure to changed conditions is effected by conventional valve, sensor and storage arrangements. In non-oxygen supplying systems connected with the atmosphere, of course, no such inert gas problems arise.
The gas flow then passes to the utilization system 10 through the flow conditioner l4 and the inlet-outlet system 13. In the flow conditioner 14, flow constituents such as heat and moisture removed from the flow by the means l6, l8 and retained therein are surrendered to the incoming gas mixture.
The path taken by the flow through the oxygen source 24 may be viewed as the principal path. Thus, usable flow constituents such as heat or moisture which would otherwise have been discarded from the outgoing exhaust flow and omitted from, or subsequently readded from external sources to the incoming oxygenated flow, are instead extracted from the exhaust flow, retained and surrendered to the incoming flow for reuse without passing through the principal path in cluding other elements of the system. In effect the flow conditioner M, which transfers particular flow constituents between the respective flows, comprises a shunt flow path and storage only for these flow constituents such as heat and moisture. The shunt path bypasses or is parallel to the principal flow path, and other flow constituents are not diverted. As indicated above the principal path need not be closed.
Though flow conditioners in accordance with the invention comprise shunt paths for particular flow constituents, such flow conditioners comprise purely passive elements operating through contact with system gas flow and utilizing basic physical and chemical prin' ciples and processes without the complexities of structural requirements imposed upon active elements, as shown below.
FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate in detail an example of a flow conditioner in accordance with the invention, as used for an underwater life support application. A flow conditioner 14 enclosed by a housing 34 is connected with external elements including an oxygen source (not shown) and a user (not shown), through a conduit system 35, for respiratory gas flows (the conduit system 35 may, of course, be of any appropriate shape and is shown as T-shaped for clarity). The conditioner 14 comprises a pair of adjacent heat and moisture active flow conditioner regenerator matrices 36, 38. The conduit system 35 includes a principal cross-arm conduit 40 having colinear and communicating ends for receiving and transmitting inspiratory and expiratory flows respectively, associated system elements not being shown. Also included in the conduit system 35 is a base leg conduit 42 which comprises a respiratory passage extending from the cross-arm conduit 40 and terminating in a divers mouthpiece 44, including a breathing orifice 45 and comprising a fluid connection to the respiratory system of the diver. Other arrangements permitting inflow and outflow of gas to the respiratory system of the user in operative relation to the flow conditioner 14 may also be employed in accordance with the invention. The matrices 36, 38 may, for example, be disposed transversely or longitudinally within the mouthpiece 44 in the absence of a respiratory passage 45. In the example shown, the matrices 36, 38 are of cylindrical form, and disposed axially within and along the base leg conduit 42 as best seen in the perspective and sectional views of FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively. The matrices are preferably disposed axially as shown, but may also be in other orientations with respect to the mouthpiece or the respiratory flows, e.g., transversely. As shown also in FIG. 4, the cylindrical matrices 36, 38 comprise multi-layer bodies having their central axes spaced apart but parallel to the central axis of the base leg conduit 42. The matrices 36, 38 are alike in this example, although they may be of different sizes and shapes for particular installations (they may, for instance, comprise packs of stacked screens). Each is shown as peripherally multi-fluted or corrugated longitudinally to maximize operative surface area and minimize bulk. The matrices comprise separate layers 39 in contacting and conforming relation to one another to define the porous-walled, fluted cylindrical shape. In one specific matrix 36, the layers 39 are mounted at their opposite ends in mountings 46, 48, the mounting 46 being adjacent the orifice 45 and fixed to the inner wall of the base leg conduit 42 and having an open central portion. The mounting 48 at the free end of the matrix 36 comprises a transverse closure member and is hermetically sealed to the layers 39, blocking gas flow from entering the matrix cavity directly from the conduit 40.
Referring now specifically to FIG. 4, each mesh layer 39 of a given matrix 36 comprises in this example a fine woven screen of highly heat conductive material, such as copper. The filaments of the screen are coated with a hygroscopic layer of an activated molecular sieve material 50, such as activated charcoal. In the particular example being discussed, approximately 10 layers 39 of 200 mesh copper screen were employed in the flow conditioner, which was designed for operation at approximately 600-foot depth and with a helium-oxygen mixture. A desired total surface area of the matrix 36 was provided within a 0.8 inch diameter section approximately 1 inch long. This configuration was suffi' cient in surface area and total volume to permit operation with a pressure drop of approximately 0.1 inch of water or less. The total volume of the matrix 36 is preferably substantially smaller than the average volume of the average breath of the diver, to avoid problems related to mixing of inspiratory and expiratory flows, and may preferably range between 10-100 cc.
In the specific example of operation of the flow conditioner in conjunction with a cryogenic life support system, therefore, inspiratory flow passes from one side of the cross-arm conduit 40 to the mouthpiece 44 through the matrices 36, 38, and expiratory flows are directed again through the matrices 36, 38 to the other end of the cross-arm conduit 40. These flows pass essentially radially through the porous layers 39 of the matrices 36, 38 and are distributed evenly over their entire surface areas. One way or check valves (not shown) may be disposed in the conduits or elsewhere for flow control in the system. i
The regenerator matrices 36, 38 are in operative heat and moisture relation with the respiratory gas flows. Heat is transferred through condensation. Moistureis transferred through condensation and evaporation accompanying the heat transfer, and through the separate action of the molecular sieve. In underwater operation, where extremely high pressures are involved and where the oxygen supply for respiration is cold and dry, both heat and moisture are rapidly extracted from the outgoing expiratory flows by the matrices 36, 38. Moisture is absorbed by the molecular sieve material 50, and moisture condenses upon the layers 39 throughthe cooling of the gas flow. The heat and moisture are thus diverted intoa separate shunt path that does not act upon other flow constituents of the gas, and are retained or stored by the matrix for surrender to a subsequent incoming flow. The subsequent inspiratory flow enters the cross-arm conduit 40, and absorbs heat and moisture retained by the matrices 36, 38. Heat extracted by the matrices 36, 38 is evenly distributed over the mesh layers 39 because of their high thermal conductivity and because of the expansion of the gases to occupy the entire cavity in which the matrices 36, 38 are contained, and thus to contact substantially all of the mesh layers 39. Heat exchange with a surrounding gas is therefore highly efficient, and augmented by heat transfer along the length of the layers 39. Pressure drop is extremely small because of the thinness of the layers 39 (for the 200 mesh screen previously referred to, the total thickness of 10 layers was approximately 0.040 inch).
For specificity, the invention has been discussed within the context of life support and particularly as related to temperature and humidity. Such particular aspects are not necessary to the invention which may be employed generally and may be active with respect to heat or moisture singly or in combination, or to other properties.
Though the regenerator matrix 36 is preferably of coated wire mesh, it may comprise other configurations allowing intimate intermingling of the gas flow and the matrix elements such as various arrangements of spatially separated filamentary elements-woven or unwovenapertures in an otherwise integral structure, as well as intermingled, or separated, adjoining layers of porous or permeable moisture and heat active materials or a single moisture and heat active material. Fluid permeable materials such as copper wool may be utilized also.
The activated molecular sieve material 50 may comprise heat treated activated charocal or other well known comparable materials. The sieve 38 is disposed upon the mesh 37 by conventional procedures as by applying a charcoal-containing paint or applying finely divided charcoal to an adhesive coated upon the mesh 37.
Where large temperature differentials exist, the adsorptive process may be relatively unimportant. In situations, however, where such differentials do not exist or where the temperature at the oxygen source is higher than the body temperature of the user, the adsorptive process may become more significant. The interaction of the moisture content of the respiratory gas flow with the regenerator matrix 36 is essentially analogous to that of the heat content in accordance with well known principles of thermodynamics and chemistry; thus, moisture is retained and surrendered by the matrix 36 in a manner similar to that described above for heat, and the matrix 36 serves as a regenerator for moisture as well as heat.
It should be noted that the regenerator matrix 36 is not confined to usein situations where the source of life supporting gas is at a lower temperature of humidity level than required for biological processes. The regenerator matrix 36 may be used in situations where there is a difference in any direction of the characteristics of the oxygen source from biologically favorable levels of temperature and humidity. For example, where the oxygen source-as in the desert environment-is at an elevated temperature level and a depressed humidity level, the regenerator matrix 36 with the molecular sieve material 50 operates as described above with respect to the mositure content of the respiratory gas flow while operating in a reverse manner with respect to thermal content of the respiratory gas flow.
FIG. 6 depicts another specific example of a flow conditioner in accordance with the invention. Alternating layers 52, 54 of moisture active and heat active materials respectively are disposed adjacent one another, to form a regenerator matrix 56. The layers 52 are shown to comprise separated filaments or mesh of a hygroscopic moisture active material such as fibrous carbon or leached silica.
The layers 54, as in the example of FIG. 4, comprise filaments or mesh of highly heat conductive material such as copper. The disposition and configuration of the layers 52, 54 are similar to those of FIG. 4. The layers 52, 54 are thermally insulated from the housing and may be removably connected thereto.
The operation of the example of FIG. 6 is similar to that of the example of FIG. 4 except that here the respiratory gas flows pass through twice as many separate mesh layers in each respiratory cycle as in the previous example, and the storage effects take place in different elements.
In a different arrangement in accordance with the invention as shown in FIG. 7, a flow conditioner 60 may be positioned at a remote location between a mouthpiece 62 and a processor system or other life support means or oxygen source 64. The term remote does not indicate that a substantial spacing is necessarily required, only that the flow conditioner 60 may be disposed somewhere along a preexisting or specially adapted inspiratory conduit 66 and expiratory conduit 68 instead of being disposed adjacent to or as a part of a mouthpiece apparatus. In this arrangement, the flow conditioner 60 comprises a housing 70 containing a matrix 72 comprising a plurality of heat conductive elements, specifically a mass of copper wool. Bypass conduits 74, 76 shunt the housing 70, each conduit including a pressure responsive valve 78. The bypass valve 78 may be set adjustably to respond to any desired pressure differential across it, to open so as to permit free flow in response to a selected pressure differential. Check valve 80 insures proper flow direction of the regenerating flows. It should be noted that the bypass arrangement may be employed with the mouthpiece regenerator as such.
In the operation of the system of FIG. 7, the primary function of flow conditioning is effected within the separate inspiratory conduit 66 and expiratory conduit 68 by the copper wool body 72. Heat taken into the mass 72 during the expiratory cycle is readily conducted throughout the mass within the housing 70, and given up to the inspiratory flow. Moisture is accumulated within the copper wool mass 72, migrating on successive exhalations into the region of the inspiratory conduit 66. Thus, a substantially greater storage volume is made available for both heat and moisture retention and-release, and the structure not only provides an interchange between the incoming and outgoing flows but an averaging or integration of the characteristics of the flows.
The invention is not to be considered to be confined in scope or construction to the specific examples illustrated above but rather is to be considered to embrace all variations and modifications within the scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for adjusting the temperature and humidity levels of respiratory gas flows for a respiring user 9 successively expelling expiratory gases and inspiring inspiratory gases, said apparatus comprising:
a housing having a fluid sealing connection adapted to be connected to a user and defining an orifice for passage of said respiratory gases to and from said user; and
a flow conditioner comprising at least one thermal regenerator matrix comprised of a permeable material, said matrix defining at least one cylinder having a central cavity and defining an orifice at one longitudinal end thereof and including means providing a transverse seal at the other longitudinal end thereof, said cylinder being disposed axially and internally with respect to the housing, said cylinder and said seal being spaced from said housing whereby gas is allowed to flow through said matrix along the inner walls of said housing and past said seal.
2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one matrix comprises a plurality of adjacently disposed layers of highly heat conductive filaments configured in a peripherally multi-fluted cylinder having a central cavity.
3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said at least one matrix has a total volume of approximately l0-l00 cc and wherein the thickness of said plurality of layers comprises approximately 0.040 inch, and said layers comprise copper wire screen of approximately 200 mesh, there being at least 10 layers thereof.
4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 including hy.- groscopic means having an extended surface for moisture exchange with said gas flows, said hygroscopic means comprising an activated molecular sieve mate rial coating upon at least one of said plurality of layers.
5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said flow conditioner comprises a pair of like adjacent cylinders disposed axially with respect to the gas flows, and including an open end adjacent said orifice and a closed interior end, such that gas flows pass substantially radially through the layers thereof with respect to the central axis of each cylinder, and substantially uniformly across the entire surface area of each cylinder, and wherein in addition said hygroscopic means is substantially uniformly disposed on all said layers and comprises activated charcoal powder and means adhesively binding said powder to said layers.
Attest:
Egg? UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE 5 T CERTIFICATE ()F CQRRLCTIQN Patent No. 3,747,593 Dated July 24, 1973 Inventor-(8) Kemn th w (o m-me 7 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:
Column 2 line 35 after "mouthpiece" and before "that" insert a comma line 39 for "as" read -gas Column 3, line 4, after "An" and before "aspect" delete "further". t Column 7, line- 33, for "sieve 38" read --sieve material 50--; line 34, for "mesh 37" read '--mesh layers 39"; line 37, for
"mesh 37" read "mesh layers 39--.
Signed and sealed this 5th day of February 1974 (SEAL) EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ,RENE D. TECTMEYER Attesting Officer "Acting Commissioner of Patent
Claims (5)
1. Apparatus for adjusting the temperature and humidity levels of respiratory gas flows for a respiring user successively expelling expiratory gases and inspiring inspiratory gases, said apparatus comprising: a housing having a fluid sealing connection adapted to be connected to a user and defining an orifice for passage of said respiratory gases to and from said user; and a flow conditioner comprising at least one thermal regenerator matrix comprised of a permeable material, said matrix defining at least one cylinder having a central cavity and defining an orifice at one longitudinal end thereof and including means providing a transverse seal at the other longitudinal end thereof, said cylinder being disposed axially and internally with respect to the housing, said cylinder and said seal being spaced from said housing whereby gas is allowed to flow through said matrix along the inner walls of said housing and past said seal.
2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one matrix comprises a plurality of adjacently disposed layers of highly heat conductive filaments configured in a peripherally multi-fluted cylinder having a central cavity.
3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said at least one matrix has a total volume of approximately 10-100 cc and wherein the thickness of said plurality of layers comprises approximately 0.040 inch, and said layers comprise copper wire screen of approximately 200 mesh, there being at least 10 layers thereof.
4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 including hygroscopic means having an extended surface for moisture exchange with said gas flows, said hygroscopic means comprising an activated molecular sieve material coating upon at least one of said plurality of layers.
5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said flow conditioner comprises a pair of like adjacent cylinders disposed axially with respect to the gas flows, and including an open end adjacent said orifice and a closed interior end, such that gas flows pass substantially radially through the layers thereof with respect to the central axis of each cylinder, and substantially uniformly across the entire surface area of each cylinder, and wherein in addition said hygroscopic means is substantially uniformly disposed on all said layers and comprises activated charcoal powder and means adhesively binding said powder to said layers.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US3411470A | 1970-05-04 | 1970-05-04 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3747598A true US3747598A (en) | 1973-07-24 |
Family
ID=21874391
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00034114A Expired - Lifetime US3747598A (en) | 1970-05-04 | 1970-05-04 | Flow conditioner |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3747598A (en) |
Cited By (49)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3964478A (en) * | 1974-07-19 | 1976-06-22 | Georg Kropfhammer | Inhaler apparatus |
USD246671S (en) * | 1975-12-15 | 1977-12-13 | Cerniway Leon A | Mouthpiece block for underwater breathing apparatus |
USRE29613E (en) * | 1973-07-19 | 1978-04-18 | Inhaler apparatus | |
US4090513A (en) * | 1975-03-20 | 1978-05-23 | Termuo Corporation | Heat and moisture exchanging device for respiration |
US4136691A (en) * | 1976-04-30 | 1979-01-30 | Oy Kontekla | Respiration mask |
US4196728A (en) * | 1978-09-01 | 1980-04-08 | Granite Alfred D | Breathing apparatus |
US4201206A (en) * | 1978-09-18 | 1980-05-06 | Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada, As Represented By The Minister Of National Defence | Heat receiver for divers |
EP0011847A1 (en) * | 1978-11-29 | 1980-06-11 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Device for heating and moistening a breathing gas |
FR2461504A1 (en) * | 1979-07-21 | 1981-02-06 | Draegerwerk Ag | AIR HEATER HUMIDIFIER FOR BREATHERS |
US4294242A (en) * | 1980-03-31 | 1981-10-13 | Kinergetics, Inc. | Survival system |
US4356820A (en) * | 1980-08-18 | 1982-11-02 | Sherwood-Selpac Corporation | Heat reclaimer for demand regulator |
US4441494A (en) * | 1981-03-02 | 1984-04-10 | Montalbano Anthony | Cold weather breathing device |
FR2539306A1 (en) * | 1983-01-17 | 1984-07-20 | Inst Gornospasatelnogo Dela | INSULATING RESPIRATORY DEVICE |
DE3538850A1 (en) * | 1984-11-26 | 1986-06-05 | Vsesojuznyj naučno-issledovatel'skij institut gornospasatel'nogo dela, Doneck | MOISTURE AND HEAT EXCHANGER FOR BREATHING APPARATUS WITH CHEMICALLY BONDED OXYGEN |
US4829997A (en) * | 1988-02-18 | 1989-05-16 | University Of Victoria | Portable heat exchanger for inhalation rewarming |
US5386825A (en) * | 1993-05-20 | 1995-02-07 | Bates; Charles W. | Respiratory breathing filter apparatus and method |
US5438978A (en) * | 1993-09-23 | 1995-08-08 | Weh, Inc. | Device for enhancing moisture content of inspired air in a closed respiratory system |
US5465781A (en) * | 1992-10-29 | 1995-11-14 | Elastek, Inc. | Elastomer bed |
US5617913A (en) * | 1992-10-29 | 1997-04-08 | Elastek, Inc. | Elastomer bed for heating and moisturizing respiratory gases |
US5701891A (en) * | 1995-12-01 | 1997-12-30 | Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated | Olefin heat and moisture exchanger |
US5727616A (en) * | 1995-10-27 | 1998-03-17 | Edentec | Elastomeric heat exchanger bed |
US5992413A (en) * | 1997-12-24 | 1999-11-30 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Heat and moisture exchanger and generator |
US6095135A (en) * | 1998-07-10 | 2000-08-01 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for providing benefits to respiratory gases |
US6105576A (en) * | 1998-10-14 | 2000-08-22 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for treating respiratory gases including liquid trap |
US6201223B1 (en) | 1996-08-23 | 2001-03-13 | Respironics, Inc. | Humidification control unit and method of manufacturing same |
WO2001095965A1 (en) * | 2000-06-14 | 2001-12-20 | Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US6363930B1 (en) | 1998-07-10 | 2002-04-02 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for providing heat/moisture to respiratory gases |
US6394084B1 (en) | 1996-07-16 | 2002-05-28 | Respironics, Inc. | Humidification unit, method of making same, and ventilatory system using such a humidification unit |
US20020072700A1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2002-06-13 | Mantell Robert R. | Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air |
US6415788B1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2002-07-09 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for treating respiratory gases including liquid trap |
US6440103B1 (en) * | 1999-03-17 | 2002-08-27 | Surgijet, Inc. | Method and apparatus for thermal emulsification |
US6745766B2 (en) * | 2000-03-29 | 2004-06-08 | Mallinckrodt Holdings B.V. | Heat and moisture exchanger |
US7047970B2 (en) * | 2000-04-18 | 2006-05-23 | Kao Corporation | Mask |
US20060157056A1 (en) * | 2005-01-18 | 2006-07-20 | Burk Marc A | Heat and moisture exchange device for respiratory therapy |
US20060237018A1 (en) * | 2000-06-14 | 2006-10-26 | Mcauley Alastair E | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US20080101856A1 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2008-05-01 | Clawson Burrell E | Assemblies for coupling two elements and coupled assemblies |
US20090020124A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2009-01-22 | Gary James Roth | Permeable membrane water dissipation device |
US20090020116A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2009-01-22 | Gary James Roth | Water dissipation device with capillary action |
US20090301475A1 (en) * | 2008-06-05 | 2009-12-10 | Neil Alex Korneff | Heat and moisture exchange unit |
US20090301476A1 (en) * | 2008-06-05 | 2009-12-10 | Neil Alex Korneff | Heat and moisture exchange unit |
US20090301477A1 (en) * | 2008-06-05 | 2009-12-10 | Brian William Pierro | Heat and moisture exchange unit with check valve |
US20100012127A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2010-01-21 | Teleflex Medical Incorporated | Water Dissipation Device and Method |
US20100059060A1 (en) * | 2006-11-20 | 2010-03-11 | Filtoro Aktiebolag | Small size breathing protective device arranged to be held in the users mouth. |
US8211052B1 (en) | 2006-07-13 | 2012-07-03 | Lexion Medical Llc | Charged hydrator |
US8950188B2 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2015-02-10 | General Electric Company | Turning guide for combustion fuel nozzle in gas turbine and method to turn fuel flow entering combustion chamber |
US10794794B2 (en) | 2018-08-02 | 2020-10-06 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Flow conditioner |
US10960165B2 (en) | 2017-07-10 | 2021-03-30 | Teleflex Medical Incorporated | Moisture removal and condensation and humidity management apparatus for a breathing circuit |
US11471636B2 (en) | 2015-04-15 | 2022-10-18 | Medline Industries, Lp | Moisture removal and condensation and humidity management apparatus for a breathing circuit |
US11865264B2 (en) | 2016-10-19 | 2024-01-09 | Medline Industries, Lp | Moisture removal and condensation and humidity management apparatus for a breathing circuit |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2269461A (en) * | 1939-11-02 | 1942-01-13 | American Optical Corp | Respirator |
US2610038A (en) * | 1949-03-29 | 1952-09-09 | Loyal G Goff | Thermal respirator |
US3099987A (en) * | 1961-03-07 | 1963-08-06 | Jr Roscoe G Bartlett | Respiratory apparatus |
US3102537A (en) * | 1961-03-07 | 1963-09-03 | Jr Roscoe G Bartlett | Respiratory apparatus |
US3107669A (en) * | 1960-04-14 | 1963-10-22 | George E Gross | Apparatus for conditioning inhalant gases and vapors |
US3142549A (en) * | 1961-10-31 | 1964-07-28 | Electric Storage Battery Co | Respirator and a disposable pre-filter |
US3326214A (en) * | 1963-10-10 | 1967-06-20 | Perma Pier Inc | Breath warmer apparatus |
US3333585A (en) * | 1964-12-14 | 1967-08-01 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Cold weather face mask |
US3491754A (en) * | 1965-04-20 | 1970-01-27 | Harry Swartz | Methods and apparatus for facilitating respiration |
-
1970
- 1970-05-04 US US00034114A patent/US3747598A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2269461A (en) * | 1939-11-02 | 1942-01-13 | American Optical Corp | Respirator |
US2610038A (en) * | 1949-03-29 | 1952-09-09 | Loyal G Goff | Thermal respirator |
US3107669A (en) * | 1960-04-14 | 1963-10-22 | George E Gross | Apparatus for conditioning inhalant gases and vapors |
US3099987A (en) * | 1961-03-07 | 1963-08-06 | Jr Roscoe G Bartlett | Respiratory apparatus |
US3102537A (en) * | 1961-03-07 | 1963-09-03 | Jr Roscoe G Bartlett | Respiratory apparatus |
US3142549A (en) * | 1961-10-31 | 1964-07-28 | Electric Storage Battery Co | Respirator and a disposable pre-filter |
US3326214A (en) * | 1963-10-10 | 1967-06-20 | Perma Pier Inc | Breath warmer apparatus |
US3333585A (en) * | 1964-12-14 | 1967-08-01 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Cold weather face mask |
US3491754A (en) * | 1965-04-20 | 1970-01-27 | Harry Swartz | Methods and apparatus for facilitating respiration |
Cited By (79)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USRE29613E (en) * | 1973-07-19 | 1978-04-18 | Inhaler apparatus | |
US3964478A (en) * | 1974-07-19 | 1976-06-22 | Georg Kropfhammer | Inhaler apparatus |
US4090513A (en) * | 1975-03-20 | 1978-05-23 | Termuo Corporation | Heat and moisture exchanging device for respiration |
USD246671S (en) * | 1975-12-15 | 1977-12-13 | Cerniway Leon A | Mouthpiece block for underwater breathing apparatus |
US4136691A (en) * | 1976-04-30 | 1979-01-30 | Oy Kontekla | Respiration mask |
US4196728A (en) * | 1978-09-01 | 1980-04-08 | Granite Alfred D | Breathing apparatus |
US4201206A (en) * | 1978-09-18 | 1980-05-06 | Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada, As Represented By The Minister Of National Defence | Heat receiver for divers |
EP0011847A1 (en) * | 1978-11-29 | 1980-06-11 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Device for heating and moistening a breathing gas |
FR2461504A1 (en) * | 1979-07-21 | 1981-02-06 | Draegerwerk Ag | AIR HEATER HUMIDIFIER FOR BREATHERS |
US4355636A (en) * | 1979-07-21 | 1982-10-26 | Dragerwerk Ag | Humdifier and heater for air to be inhaled for connection to an inhalation conduit of a respirator |
US4294242A (en) * | 1980-03-31 | 1981-10-13 | Kinergetics, Inc. | Survival system |
US4356820A (en) * | 1980-08-18 | 1982-11-02 | Sherwood-Selpac Corporation | Heat reclaimer for demand regulator |
US4441494A (en) * | 1981-03-02 | 1984-04-10 | Montalbano Anthony | Cold weather breathing device |
FR2539306A1 (en) * | 1983-01-17 | 1984-07-20 | Inst Gornospasatelnogo Dela | INSULATING RESPIRATORY DEVICE |
DE3538850A1 (en) * | 1984-11-26 | 1986-06-05 | Vsesojuznyj naučno-issledovatel'skij institut gornospasatel'nogo dela, Doneck | MOISTURE AND HEAT EXCHANGER FOR BREATHING APPARATUS WITH CHEMICALLY BONDED OXYGEN |
US4771770A (en) * | 1984-11-26 | 1988-09-20 | Vsesojuzny Nauchno-Issledovatelsky Institut Gornospasatelnogo Dela | Moisture and heat exchange device for an oxygen self-contained breathing apparatus |
US4829997A (en) * | 1988-02-18 | 1989-05-16 | University Of Victoria | Portable heat exchanger for inhalation rewarming |
US5465781A (en) * | 1992-10-29 | 1995-11-14 | Elastek, Inc. | Elastomer bed |
US5617913A (en) * | 1992-10-29 | 1997-04-08 | Elastek, Inc. | Elastomer bed for heating and moisturizing respiratory gases |
US5386825A (en) * | 1993-05-20 | 1995-02-07 | Bates; Charles W. | Respiratory breathing filter apparatus and method |
US5438978A (en) * | 1993-09-23 | 1995-08-08 | Weh, Inc. | Device for enhancing moisture content of inspired air in a closed respiratory system |
US5727616A (en) * | 1995-10-27 | 1998-03-17 | Edentec | Elastomeric heat exchanger bed |
US5701891A (en) * | 1995-12-01 | 1997-12-30 | Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated | Olefin heat and moisture exchanger |
US6394084B1 (en) | 1996-07-16 | 2002-05-28 | Respironics, Inc. | Humidification unit, method of making same, and ventilatory system using such a humidification unit |
US6877510B2 (en) | 1996-07-16 | 2005-04-12 | Respironics, Inc. | Unit for adjusting humidification |
US6557551B2 (en) | 1996-07-16 | 2003-05-06 | Respironics, Inc. | Unit for adjusting humidification |
US6201223B1 (en) | 1996-08-23 | 2001-03-13 | Respironics, Inc. | Humidification control unit and method of manufacturing same |
US5992413A (en) * | 1997-12-24 | 1999-11-30 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Heat and moisture exchanger and generator |
US6095135A (en) * | 1998-07-10 | 2000-08-01 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for providing benefits to respiratory gases |
US6363930B1 (en) | 1998-07-10 | 2002-04-02 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for providing heat/moisture to respiratory gases |
US6105576A (en) * | 1998-10-14 | 2000-08-22 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for treating respiratory gases including liquid trap |
US6440103B1 (en) * | 1999-03-17 | 2002-08-27 | Surgijet, Inc. | Method and apparatus for thermal emulsification |
US6415788B1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2002-07-09 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for treating respiratory gases including liquid trap |
US20040216739A1 (en) * | 2000-03-29 | 2004-11-04 | Massimo Fini | Heat and moisture exchanger |
US6745766B2 (en) * | 2000-03-29 | 2004-06-08 | Mallinckrodt Holdings B.V. | Heat and moisture exchanger |
US6968841B2 (en) * | 2000-03-29 | 2005-11-29 | Mallinckrodt Holdings B.V. | Heat and moisture exchanger |
US7047970B2 (en) * | 2000-04-18 | 2006-05-23 | Kao Corporation | Mask |
US20030154978A1 (en) * | 2000-06-14 | 2003-08-21 | Gradon Lewis George | Breathing assistance apparatus |
WO2001095965A1 (en) * | 2000-06-14 | 2001-12-20 | Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US6951218B2 (en) | 2000-06-14 | 2005-10-04 | Fisher & Paykel Health Care Limited | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US20030196659A1 (en) * | 2000-06-14 | 2003-10-23 | Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US8602029B2 (en) | 2000-06-14 | 2013-12-10 | Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US8613279B2 (en) | 2000-06-14 | 2013-12-24 | Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US8100126B2 (en) | 2000-06-14 | 2012-01-24 | Mcauley Alastair Edwin | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US20090223520A1 (en) * | 2000-06-14 | 2009-09-10 | Mcauley Alastair Edwin | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US20060237018A1 (en) * | 2000-06-14 | 2006-10-26 | Mcauley Alastair E | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US9707368B2 (en) | 2000-06-14 | 2017-07-18 | Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US10052444B2 (en) | 2000-06-30 | 2018-08-21 | Northgate Technologies Inc. | Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air |
US20100163044A1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2010-07-01 | Mantell Robert R | Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air |
US20070107726A1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2007-05-17 | Northgate Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air |
US8091546B2 (en) | 2000-06-30 | 2012-01-10 | Northgate Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air |
US7762251B2 (en) | 2000-06-30 | 2010-07-27 | Northgate Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air |
US8955511B2 (en) | 2000-06-30 | 2015-02-17 | Northgate Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air |
US20060033223A1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2006-02-16 | Northgate Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air |
US6976489B2 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2005-12-20 | Northgate Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air |
US7647925B2 (en) | 2000-06-30 | 2010-01-19 | Northgate Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air |
US20020072700A1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2002-06-13 | Mantell Robert R. | Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air |
US7594509B2 (en) | 2005-01-18 | 2009-09-29 | Teleflex Medical Incorporated | Heat and moisture exchange device for respiratory therapy |
US20060157056A1 (en) * | 2005-01-18 | 2006-07-20 | Burk Marc A | Heat and moisture exchange device for respiratory therapy |
US8211052B1 (en) | 2006-07-13 | 2012-07-03 | Lexion Medical Llc | Charged hydrator |
US20080101856A1 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2008-05-01 | Clawson Burrell E | Assemblies for coupling two elements and coupled assemblies |
US7993071B2 (en) | 2006-10-25 | 2011-08-09 | Burrell E. Clawson | Assemblies for coupling two elements and coupled assemblies |
US8397726B2 (en) * | 2006-11-20 | 2013-03-19 | Filtoro Aktiebolag | Small size breathing protective device arranged to be held in the users mouth |
US20100059060A1 (en) * | 2006-11-20 | 2010-03-11 | Filtoro Aktiebolag | Small size breathing protective device arranged to be held in the users mouth. |
US20090020124A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2009-01-22 | Gary James Roth | Permeable membrane water dissipation device |
US8236081B2 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2012-08-07 | Teleflex Medical Incorporated | Permeable membrane water dissipation device |
US8252081B2 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2012-08-28 | Teleflex Medical Incorporated | Water dissipation device and method |
US20100012127A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2010-01-21 | Teleflex Medical Incorporated | Water Dissipation Device and Method |
US8105410B2 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2012-01-31 | Teleflex Medical Incorporated | Water dissipation device with capillary action |
US20090020116A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2009-01-22 | Gary James Roth | Water dissipation device with capillary action |
US8561606B2 (en) | 2008-06-05 | 2013-10-22 | Carefusion 2200, Inc. | Heat and moisture exchange unit |
US20090301477A1 (en) * | 2008-06-05 | 2009-12-10 | Brian William Pierro | Heat and moisture exchange unit with check valve |
US20090301476A1 (en) * | 2008-06-05 | 2009-12-10 | Neil Alex Korneff | Heat and moisture exchange unit |
US20090301475A1 (en) * | 2008-06-05 | 2009-12-10 | Neil Alex Korneff | Heat and moisture exchange unit |
US8950188B2 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2015-02-10 | General Electric Company | Turning guide for combustion fuel nozzle in gas turbine and method to turn fuel flow entering combustion chamber |
US11471636B2 (en) | 2015-04-15 | 2022-10-18 | Medline Industries, Lp | Moisture removal and condensation and humidity management apparatus for a breathing circuit |
US11865264B2 (en) | 2016-10-19 | 2024-01-09 | Medline Industries, Lp | Moisture removal and condensation and humidity management apparatus for a breathing circuit |
US10960165B2 (en) | 2017-07-10 | 2021-03-30 | Teleflex Medical Incorporated | Moisture removal and condensation and humidity management apparatus for a breathing circuit |
US10794794B2 (en) | 2018-08-02 | 2020-10-06 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Flow conditioner |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3747598A (en) | Flow conditioner | |
US3807396A (en) | Life support system and method | |
DE2644305C3 (en) | Heat and gas protection suit | |
US4048993A (en) | Humidity exchanger in an apparatus for respiration and anasthesia | |
US4294242A (en) | Survival system | |
US5255674A (en) | Portable heating and humidifying device | |
US4327717A (en) | Humidity exchanger for a breathing apparatus | |
US20040060444A1 (en) | Device for providing microclimate control | |
US5662161A (en) | Breathing gas cooling and heating device | |
JPH02257966A (en) | Aspirator for supplying suction gas to user | |
US20070055325A1 (en) | Apparatus and methods for providing a flow of a heat transfer fluid in a microenvironment | |
PT838013E (en) | EBULIDOR-ABSORBER WITH SOLID SORBY, PROCESS FOR ITS MANUFACTURING AND FRIGORIFIC DEVICE THAT USES IT. | |
US20060277933A1 (en) | Sorption cooling systems, their use in personal cooling applications and methods relating to the same | |
US3099987A (en) | Respiratory apparatus | |
DE3045110C1 (en) | Refrigeration device for heat protection systems in heat protection | |
GB2048080A (en) | Respirators | |
US4635629A (en) | Breathing apparatus | |
US4491130A (en) | Emergency respirator | |
DE3302114A1 (en) | COLD PROTECTION SUIT WITH RESPIRATORY DEVICE | |
US20030199804A1 (en) | Anesthetic filter arrangement | |
US3000191A (en) | Portable apparatus for body protection in enclosed wearing apparel | |
US20040149288A1 (en) | Breathing equipment with a circuit for breathing gas | |
US3385293A (en) | Closed circuit breathing apparatus | |
US4188947A (en) | Breathing device having a coolant chamber | |
CA2808206C (en) | Rebreather vest |