초록 ▼

A cross-over valve (24) alternately supplies compressed air from a source of compressed air (A) to a pair of beds (26, 28) filled with a molecular sieve material. An oxygen rich gas component separated from the compressed air by the molecular sieve beds is channeled to a separated gas reservoir (C).

A cross-over valve (24) alternately supplies compressed air from a source of compressed air (A) to a pair of beds (26, 28) filled with a molecular sieve material. An oxygen rich gas component separated from the compressed air by the molecular sieve beds is channeled to a separated gas reservoir (C). To use the oxygen in the reservoir, the compressed air is directed against a barrier, such as bellows (52), located within the separated gas reservoir to compress the oxygen rich gas component held therein. The oxygen rich gas component is then supplied at this elevated pressure to welding or other downstream equipment. In this manner, the oxygen separator may operate sixteen hours to provide a supply of oxygen for an eight hour shift. The oxygen is supplied to the downstream equipment at a higher pressure which is increased over and above the supply pressure from the oxygen separation device.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of supplying a selected gaseous component at a first relatively high pressure, the method comprising: supplying a gaseous mixture at a second, relatively high pressure; separating the selected gaseous component from the mixture and supplying the separated, selected gaseous component to a se

A method of supplying a selected gaseous component at a first relatively high pressure, the method comprising: supplying a gaseous mixture at a second, relatively high pressure; separating the selected gaseous component from the mixture and supplying the separated, selected gaseous component to a separated gas reservoir at a first, relatively low pressure; after receiving the selected gaseous component in the reservoir, contracting the effective volume of the gaseous reservoir under motive force supplied by the gaseous mixture such that the pressure of the selected gaseous component is increased to the first relatively high pressure; removing the motive force of the gaseous mixture allowing the effective volume of the gaseous reservoir to expand and the pressure of the gaseous component therein to decrease such that additional selected gaseous component at the first, relatively low pressure is received therein; cyclically repeating the effective volume contracting and expanding steps such that the pressure of the selected gaseous component is cyclically increased to the first relatively high pressure.