초록 ▼

A gas blender comprising a plenum for mixing gases, at least one flow valve, an oxygen sensor, a microprocessor, and driver circuits. The inlet gas port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a supply of a desired gas and the flow valve is disposed between the supply of gas and the inlet of th

A gas blender comprising a plenum for mixing gases, at least one flow valve, an oxygen sensor, a microprocessor, and driver circuits. The inlet gas port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a supply of a desired gas and the flow valve is disposed between the supply of gas and the inlet of the plenum. At least one driver circuit adjusts the flow valves to change the gas flow rate therethrough and, accordingly, the rate at which gas enters into the plenum. The oxygen sensor measures the percentage composition of oxygen exiting from, or inside, the plenum and generates an output based on the measured percentage composition of oxygen. The microprocessor controls the percentage composition of oxygen exiting from the plenum and is electrically coupled to the output of the oxygen sensor. The microprocessor compares the output of the oxygen sensor to a predetermined level of oxygen and generates a response signal based on the comparison, which is communicated to the driver circuits. The driver circuits are electrically coupled to both the microprocessor and the flow valves and adjust the flow valve so that the percentage composition of oxygen exiting the plenum is maintained at the predetermined level. The blender of the present invention may also include a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the outlet of the plenum.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A gas blender, comprising:a. a plenum for mixing gases having a plurality of inlet gas ports and an outlet gas port, each inlet gas port being adapted to be in fluid communication with a supply of a desired gas;b. a plurality of regulating means for adjusting gas flow rat

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A gas blender, comprising:a. a plenum for mixing gases having a plurality of inlet gas ports and an outlet gas port, each inlet gas port being adapted to be in fluid communication with a supply of a desired gas;b. a plurality of regulating means for adjusting gas flow rate into the plenum, each regulating means being disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with one respective inlet gas port of the plenum so that each regulating means is adapted to regulate the flow of the supply of gas in fluid communication with the respective inlet gas port;c. gas composition sensing and signal generating means, disposed in fluid communication with the outlet gas port of the plenum, for measuring the percentage composition of a desired gas exiting from the plenum, wherein the gas composition sensing and signal generating means generates an output based on the measured percentage composition of the desired gas;d. a ventilator that generates a ventilator flow signal based on a total flow demand of the ventilator;e. comparing means for controlling the percentage composition of the desired gas exiting from the plenum, the comparing means being responsive to the ventilator flow signal of the ventilator and the output of the gas composition sensing and signal generating means, wherein the comparing means compares the output of the gas composition sensing and signal generating means to a predetermined level of the desired gas composition, evaluates the ventilator flow signal and generates a response signal based on the comparison; andf. feedback means, responsive to the response signal of the comparing means, for adjusting at least one of the regulating means so that the percentage composition of the desired gas in fluid communication with the output port of the plenum is maintained at the predetermined level.