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Apparatus for generating oxygen by the pressure swing method includes a plurality of grouped vessels each having a molecular sieve bed, a first port of each vessel providing oxygen-enriched effluent from the bed and a second port permitting alternate pressurization and purging of the bed. A novel ro

Apparatus for generating oxygen by the pressure swing method includes a plurality of grouped vessels each having a molecular sieve bed, a first port of each vessel providing oxygen-enriched effluent from the bed and a second port permitting alternate pressurization and purging of the bed. A novel rotary control valve includes a housing around which the vessels are grouped, having an operating shaft driven by a constant speed rotor. First and second chambers within the housing spaced along the shaft have respective pressure and purge valve control rotors which are turned by the shaft. Pressurized air is provided to the first chamber by an air inlet, a purge gas outlet discharging purge gases from the second chamber. Passages extending between the chambers are spaced at equal intervals around the shaft axis and are respectively interconnected with the vessel second ports. Each of the rotors has a valve port adapted to communicate between the respective chamber and each of the passages in succession upon rotation of the rotors. A gas-tight seal is provided between these passages and opposed surfaces of the rotors. The valve ports are presented in angular relationship to one another and to said passages to cause pressurized air to be provided successively to the vessels while permitting purge gases to flow from the non-pressurized vessels. The vessels are sequentially pressurized and subsequently purged in cyclic manner as the shaft rotates.

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For use in a system for oxygen generation including a plurality of vessels each containing a molecular sieve bed and each having a first port for providing an oxygen-enriched effluent from the bed and a second port for alternate pressurizing and purging of the bed, rotary control valve apparatus com

For use in a system for oxygen generation including a plurality of vessels each containing a molecular sieve bed and each having a first port for providing an oxygen-enriched effluent from the bed and a second port for alternate pressurizing and purging of the bed, rotary control valve apparatus comprising a valve housing, a shaft rotatably journalled in said housing and adapted for being driven for rotation, said housing providing first and second chambers spaced along the length of said shaft, respective pressure and purge control valve rotors carried by said shaft for rotation within the respective chambers, said valve housing including a pressurized air inlet communicating with said first chamber for admitting pressurized air thereto, and a purge gas outlet communicating with said second chamber for discharging of purge gases therefrom, said housing providing a plurality of passages extending between said chambers, said passages corresponding in number to said vessels and extending within said housing in lengthwise relationship between said first and second chambers, said passages being spaced at equal intervals around the axis of rotation of said shaft, said housing including a plurality of ports communicating with respective ones of said passages and adapted for being interconnected with respective second ports of said vessels, each of said rotors comprising a valve port adapted to provide communication between the respective chamber and each of said passages in succession upon rotation of said rotors by said shaft, said rotor valve ports being presented in angular relationship to one another and to said passages for causing pressurized air to be provided successively through at least one of said passages to a corresponding vessel while permitting purge gases to flow through at least one other of said passages from a corresponding vessel for first pressurizing and subsequently purging said vessels in cyclic manner upon rotation of said shaft, the valve port of said purge control valve rotor being of greater relative dimension than the valve port of said pressure control vave rotor to cause communication by said purge control valve rotor with respective ones of said passages for a proportionately greater time than said pressure control valve rotor port, said ports being positioned angularly relative to one another for permitting only one of said ports to be in communication with any given one of said passages, said purge control valve rotor port being of sufficient angular dimension for providing communication concomitantly with at least two of said passages whereby purging of a corresponding two of said vessels may overlap during a single revolution of said shaft.