초록 ▼

An automatic shut off circuit for controlling the flow of a gas through a gas separation system is disclosed. The gas separation system includes a gas separation module for separating nitrogen from air, and a non-electric automatic shut off circuit for controlling the delivery of air to the gas sepa

An automatic shut off circuit for controlling the flow of a gas through a gas separation system is disclosed. The gas separation system includes a gas separation module for separating nitrogen from air, and a non-electric automatic shut off circuit for controlling the delivery of air to the gas separation module. The non-electric automatic shut off circuit includes a pneumatically operated valve that enables or inhibits a flow of air to the gas separation module, and a pneumatic pressure switch operatively coupled to the pneumatically operated valve, wherein the pneumatic pressure switch monitors a pressure indicative of a demand for nitrogen, and the pneumatic pressure switch commands the pneumatically operated valve to enable or inhibit the flow of air based on the monitored pressure.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A gas separation system for separating one or more components from a plurality of gas components, comprising: a gas separator; an inlet operatively coupled to said gas separator for providing the plurality of gas components to the gas separator, and an outlet operatively coup

What is claimed is: 1. A gas separation system for separating one or more components from a plurality of gas components, comprising: a gas separator; an inlet operatively coupled to said gas separator for providing the plurality of gas components to the gas separator, and an outlet operatively coupled to said gas separator for providing a separated gas component from the separator; and a non-electric automatic shut off circuit for controlling delivery of the plurality of gas components to the inlet, said circuit including i) a pneumatically operated valve coupled to said inlet and operative to enable or disable flow of the plurality of gas components to the inlet, and ii) a pressure switch coupled to said outlet and operative to monitor a gas pressure at said outlet, said pressure switch operatively coupled to said valve, wherein based on the monitored gas pressure, said pressure switch non-electrically commands said valve to enable or inhibit the flow of the plurality of gas components. 2. The gas separation system of claim 1, wherein the gas separator includes at least one permeable membrane for separating the one or more components from the plurality of components. 3. The gas separation system of claim 2, further comprising: at least one filter to remove contaminants from the the plurality of gas components; a flow control valve to regulate the rate of flow of the one or more components out of the at least one permeable membrane; a back pressure control valve to maintain constant downstream pressure in the system; a check valve to restrict a direction of flow of the one or more components in a single direction; a storage vessel to store the one or more components; and a dispensing station to dispense the one or more components from the system. 4. The gas separation system of claim 3, wherein the at least one filter is a coalescing filter. 5. A gas separation system for separating one or more components from a plurality of gas components, comprising: a gas separator; and a non-electric automatic shut off circuit for controlling the delivery of the plurality of gas components to the gas separator, wherein the non-electric automatic shut off circuit comprises: a pneumatically operated valve that enables or inhibits a flow of the plurality of components to the gas separator, and a pneumatic pressure switch operatively coupled to the pneumatically operated valve, wherein the pneumatic pressure switch monitors a pressure indicative of a demand for the one or more components, and the pneumatic pressure switch commands the pneumatically operated valve to enable or inhibit the flow of the plurality of components based on the monitored pressure wherein the pneumatic pressure switch comprises: an inlet for receiving the one or more components; an outlet or expelling the one or more components, said outlet being operatively coupled to the pneumatically operated valve; a pressure chamber coupling the inlet to the outlet; and a signal pressure switch, said signal pressure switch enabling the one or more components to enter the inlet, fill the pressure chamber and exit via the outlet upon a pressure of the one or more components exceeding a threshold pressure, and inhibiting the one or more components from entering the inlet, pressure chamber and outlet upon the pressure of the one or more components being below the threshold pressure. 6. The gas separation system of claim 5, wherein when the pneumatic pressure switch inhibits the one or more components from entering the inlet, substantially all of the one or more components remaining in the outlet and pressure chamber are expelled from the pneumatic pressure switch through a vent. 7. The gas separation system of claim 6, wherein the signal pressure switch comprises a moveable shaft and a ball valve, the ball valve capable of interfacing with both the moveable shaft and a valve seat of the inlet, wherein the moveable shaft applies a force to the ball valve that tends to push the ball valve into the valve seat, thereby preventing the one or more components from entering the pressure chamber. 8. The gas separation system of claim 7, wherein an interface between the movable shaft and a wall of the vent permits the one or more components within the pressure chamber and the outlet to enter the vent and bleed out of the pneumatic pressure switch. 9. A gas separation system for separating one or more components from a plurality of gas components, comprising: a gas separator; and a non-electric automatic shut off circuit for controlling the delivery of the plurality of gas components to the gas separator, wherein the non-electric automatic shut off circuit comprises: a pneumatically operated valve that enables or inhibits a flow of the plurality of components to the gas separator, and a pneumatic pressure switch operatively coupled to the pneumatically operated valve, wherein the pneumatic pressure switch monitors a pressure indicative of a demand for the one or more components, and the pneumatic pressure switch commands the pneumatically operated valve to enable or inhibit the flow of the plurality of components based on the monitored pressure wherein the command to inhibit the flow of the plurality of components comprises the one or more components, said one or more components being under pressure and applied to the pneumatically operated valve via a control conduit coupled between the pneumatically operated valve and the pneumatic pressure switch. 10. The gas separation system of claim 9, wherein the command to enable the flow of the plurality of components comprises substantial removal of the pressurized one or more components from the pneumatically operated valve. 11. The gas separation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of components comprise compressed air and the one or more components comprise nitrogen, said nitrogen being extracted from the compressed air. 12. The gas conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of components comprise compressed air and the one or more components comprise dry air, said dry air being extracted from the compressed air. 13. A method for controlling a flow of a plurality of components into a gas separation system and providing one or more components therefrom, said gas separation system including a gas separator, an inlet operatively coupled to said gas separator for providing the plurality of gas components to the gas separator, and an outlet operatively coupled to said gas separator for providing a separated gas component from the separator, and a non-electric automatic shut off circuit for controlling delivery of the plurality of gas components to the inlet, said circuit including i) a pneumatically operated valve coupled to said inlet, and ii) a pressure switch coupled to said outlet, the method comprising: using the pressure switch to non-electrically monitor a pressure at the outlet; based on the monitored outlet pressure, non-electrically and automatically commanding the valve to enable or inhibit the flow of the plurality of gas components to the gas separator. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein non-electrically monitoring the pressure in the gas separation system includes non-electrically monitoring a pressure indicative of a demand for the one or more components. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein non-electrically and automatically commanding the valve to enable or inhibit includes non-electrically enabling the flow of the plurality of components to the gas separator when the monitored pressure is below a threshold pressure; and non-electrically inhibiting the flow of the plurality of components to the gas separator when the monitored pressure is above a threshold pressure. 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: using a first threshold pressure for enabling the flow of the plurality of components; and using a second threshold pressure for inhibiting the flow of the plurality of components, wherein the second threshold pressure is different from the first threshold pressure.