GB2334805A

GB2334805A - Oxygen dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2334805A
Application number: GB9909514A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dominic Adam Simler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-24
Filing date: 1999-04-26
Publication date: 1999-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-26
Also published as: GB2334805B; GB9909514D0

Abstract

An oxygen dispenser for dispensing substantially pure oxygen or highly oxygen enriched air comprises an oxygen concentrator 2 or an oxygen/oxygen-enriched air-containing cylinder in fluid communication with a dispenser outlet 5 via pipework 4 and a flow control valve to control flow of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air to the dispenser outlet 5. The flow control valve 15 under the control of a controller the dispenser unit futher having a card reader 8 for a mag-stripe, swipe card, smart card or similar or a receiver for credit tokens or other data credit input means whereby credit units may be input to the dispenser controller to dispense oxygen or oxygen enriched air. The outlet 5 may comprise a socket to which a nasal cannula or a tube leading to an oxygen mask may be detachably coupled.

Description

OXYGEN DISPENSER Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an oxygen dispenser and more particularly although not necessarily exclusively to oxygen vending systems.

Background to the Invention The benefits of inhaling substantially pure oxygen to compensate for hypoxia are becoming increasingly broadly appreciated. Most commonly, individuals suffer from hypoxia following high levels of exertion in a relatively poorly ventilated environment.

Such might be the case in a bar or night club particularly but may arise in a health club or other environment. Indeed, in cities where there is a very high level of atmospheric polution from, for example, car exhausts access to substantially pure oxygen or oxygenenriched air may be an important factor in maintenance of good health.

Existing sources of substantially pure oxygen supply are conventionally simple oxygen cylinder based systems which have a manual valve for dispensing of the oxygen by an attendant. This system is, however, impractical for widespread usage and it is impractical to dispense individual oxygen cylinders to users.

It is a general objective of the present invention to provide an oxygen dispensing system that is versatile, being suitable for installation in any of a wide range of different environments and usable in an efficient and economic manner.

Summarv of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided an oxygen dispenser for dispensing substantially pure oxygen or highly oxygen enriched air, which dispenser comprises an oxygen concentrator or an oxygen/oxygen-enriched air-containing cylinder in fluid communication with a dispenser outlet via pipework, a flow control valve to control flow of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air to the dispenser outlet, the flow control valve being under the control of a controller, the dispenser unit further having a card reader for a mag-stripe, swipe card, smart card or similar or a receiver for credit tokens or other credit data input means whereby credit units may be input to the dispenser controller to dispense oxygen or oxygen enriched air.

The valve is preferably a solenoid-operated valve and it may suitably be operated by the controller to dispense a predetermined volume of oxygen or oxygen enriched air for each unit of credit input by card or token or other means.

The card is preferably a coded magnetic stripe (mag-stripe) card which may have the one or more credits on the card deleted following use.

In addition to having the automated control of the valve to dispense oxygen or oxygen enriched air in response to the credit data input by the card, tokens or other means, the unit preferably also has means operable by the user to alter flow rate and/or to switch off flow of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air. The dispenser unit suitably has a dispenser outlet to which a nasal or other dispensing cannula or dispensing mask may be fitted for each dispensing operation and which may be automatically cut off from further oxygen or oxygen-enriched air dispensing supply when the mask or cannula is detached from the dispenser outlet.

In contrast to incorporating one or more oxygen cylinders, the dispenser suitably incorporates an oxygen concentrator, providing a substantially inexhaustible supply of oxygen-enriched air.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 to 4 are, respectively, a perspective view, a front elevation view, a rear elevation view and a side part sectional view of an oxygen dispenser embodying the invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating components of a conventional oxygen concentrator.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the Figures, the oxygen dispenser comprises a floor standing steel cabinet 1 housing an oxygen concentrator module 2 which is positioned within the cabinet 1 with its air inlet vents exposed to receive air flow from corresponding air inlet vents 3, 3' in the cabinet 1.

The outlet of the oxygen concentrator 2 has delivery pipework 4 coupled to it and extending upwardly towards a dispensing outlet 5 of the dispenser unit.

Part way along the length of the pipework 4 is a solenoid-operated-valve 21 that is adapted to open or close the pipework to permit or stop flow of the oxygen enriched air to the dispenser outlet 5.

Further along the pipe 4 and before the dispenser outlet 5 the pipework 4 enters a flow meter section 8 that is externally manually adjustable by the user to control the rate of flow of oxygen-enriched air during use.

The dispenser outlet 5 comprises a socket to which a nasal cannula or tube leading to an oxygen mask is detachably coupled, in use.

This dispenser outlet 5 is adapted to automatically cut off flow of the oxygen enriched air when the cannula/oxygen mask tube is detached from the dispenser outlet 5.

Delivery of oxygen enriched air from the oxygen concentrator 2 to the dispenser outlet 5 is initiated by activation of the solenoid valve 21 when the electronic controller 7 of the unit registers that one or more appropriate credits have been entered into the dispenser by the user. This is suitably done by inserting a swipe or mag-stripe card into a card reader 8 in the user interface at the upper front of the cabinet. Credit data may also be input by cursor keys, a numeric or alphanumeric keypad 20. Such data may involve a unique user code. A small video display 9 confirms to the user that he has properly supplied the required credit(s) and may indicate how many credits he has remaining and/or the remaining volume or duration of oxygen-enriched air supply that he may receive.

The controller having confirmed that there is a supply of oxygen at a suitable pressure will select an appropriate dispenser outlet 5 if there are several, flash an adjacent indicator, and on confirmation by the user that he has connected himself to the system and is ready, the controller will then deliver a fixed flow of oxygen, for example four litres/minute via a solenoid valve for a pre determined time period or as required by the user.

For medical purposes, the swipe card may be encoded with data or signals that correspond to the medical requirements of the individual. This may restrict the duration or rate of supply of oxygen enriched air or possibly enhance it. The card may be of socalled smart card type and capable of logging details such as the parameters of each session of use of the dispenser so that the use and more particularly the nature of the use may be monitored over time.

The normal rate of delivery of oxygen or oxygen enriched air is generally four litres per minute and suitably for a duration of a few minutes. The user may manually adjust flow via the flow meter or the flow may be adjusted for him automatically in accordance with any details pre-programmed onto his card.

With reference to Figure 5, the oxygen concentrator module comprises an inner casing 10 within which is housed a compressor 11 to draw in air and supply it to an oxygen accumulator 12 via sieve beds 13 and filters 14 for particulates. The oxygen enriched air or substantially pure oxygen in the accumulator is then delivered to an outlet 15 via a bacterial filter 16, flow meter 17 and check valve 18. A pressure regulator 19 at the oxygen accumulator 12 maintains the gas within the appropriate pressure levels.

These components of the concentrator 2 may be assembled within the cabinet 1 without use of a separate inner casing 10 and may be configured in any suitable combination.

For multiple users it may be desirable to use, for example, twin concentrators 2 of 5 litres per minute maximum output to serve 3 dispenser outlets in a single dispenser unit 1.

Further refinements to the system may be to incorporate, for example, delivery of fragrance chemical into the supply of oxygen or oxygen enriched air. This may add the benefits of aromatherapy to the existing benefits of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. - An oxygen dispenser for dispensing substantially pure oxygen or highly oxygen enriched air, which dispenser comprises an oxygen concentrator or an oxygen/oxygenenriched air-containing cylinder in fluid communication with a dispenser outlet via pipework, a flow control valve to control flow of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air to the dispenser outlet, the flow control valve being under the control of a controller the dispenser unit futher having a card reader for a mag-stripe, swipe card, smart card or similar or a receiver for credit tokens or other credit data input means whereby credit units may be input to the dispenser controller to dispense oxygen or oxygen enriched air.
2. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve is a solenoidoperated valve,
3. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the valve may be operated by the controller to dispense a predetermined volume of oxygen or oxygen enriched air for each unit of credit input.
4. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dispenser has a card reader for a coded magnetic card.
5. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the dispenser deletes the one or more credits on the card following use.
6. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein in addition to having the automated control of the valve to dispense oxygen or oxygen enriched air in response to the credit data input means, the dispenser also has means operable by the user to alter rate of flow or to switch off flow of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air.
7. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the dispenser unit has a dispenser outlet to which a nasal or other dispensing cannula or dispensing mask may be fitted for each dispensing operation.
8. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in claim 7 wherein the dispenser outlet may be automatically cut off from further oxygen or oxygen-enriched air dispensing supply when the mask or cannula is detached from the dispenser outlet.
9. An oxygen dispenser as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

9. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dispenser incorporates an oxygen concentrator as the source of oxygen or oxygen enriched air.

10. An oxygen dispenser as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An oxygen dispenser for dispensing substantially pure oxygen or highly oxygen enriched air which dispenser comprises an oxygen concentrator in fluid communication with a dispenser outlet via pipework, a flow control valve to control flow of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air to the dispenser outlet, the flow control valve being under the control of a controller the dispenser unit futher having a card reader for a mag-stripe, swipe card, smart card or similar or a receiver for credit tokens or other credit data input means whereby credit units may be input to the dispenser controller to dispense oxygen or oxygen enriched air.

2. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve is a solenoidoperated valve, 3. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the valve may be operated by the controller to dispense a predetermined volume of oxygen or oxygen enriched air for each unit of credit input.

4. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dispenser has a card reader for a coded magnetic card.

5. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the dispenser deletes the one or more credits on the card following use.

6. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein in addition to having the automated control of the valve to dispense oxygen or oxygen enriched air in response to the credit data input means, the dispenser also has means operable by the user to alter rate of flow and/or to switch off flow of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air.

7. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the dispenser unit has a dispenser outlet to which a nasal or other dispensing cannula or dispensing mask may be fitted for each dispensing operation.

8. An oxygen dispenser as claimed in claim 7 wherein the dispenser outlet is automatically cut off from further oxygen or oxygen-enriched air dispensing supply when the mask or cannula is detached from the dispenser outlet.