Patent · US Expired

System and method for operating a respirator compressor system under low voltage conditions

US5368019A · kind A · utility

167Cited by
24References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 16, 1992
Grant dateNov 29, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 16, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF04B2205/063
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The system and method for operating an AC respirator compressor system at substantially subnormal line voltages includes a compressor, an accumulator, a solenoid unload or dump valve used to reduce the pressure at the outlet of the compressor, a check valve located downstream from the solenoid, a relief valve, a pressure sensor, and an AC voltage sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the compressor constantly supplies compressed air to the ventilator system, monitoring the accumulator pressure and activating the solenoid unload valve as required to maintain an acceptable range of pressure in the accumulator. In another preferred embodiment the compressor system can also be operated in an intermittent, or standby mode, to supply compressed air as needed. The respirator compressor system can maintain an acceptable range of pressure in the accumulator even during periods of low AC line voltage by monitoring both the accumulator pressure and the AC line supplying voltage to the respirator compressor system, and modulating the action of the solenoid unload valve to achieve low AC voltage operation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.