Oxygen concentration system utilizing pressurized air

Claim 2

An oxygen concentration system for producing oxygen from pressurized air, said system comprising: an electrochemical oxygen generator having an outer surface and selectively extracting oxygen from air by an electrochemical reaction; inner and outer enclosures, said generator being concentrically received within said inner enclosure said inner enclosure being concentrically received within said outer enclosure; and, inner and outer annuli, said inner annulus formed between said generator and said inner enclosure and said outer annulus formed between said inner enclosure and said outer enclosure, air being heated in said generator and being directed to said inner annulus, air in said outer annulus being cooler than air in said inner annulus.

Claim 3

The oxygen generation system of claim 1 further comprising: an annular housing interposed between said inner annulus and said generator, said housing comprising insulation to retain heat generated by said generator within said housing.

Claim 4

The oxygen generation system of claim 1 wherein air in said outer annulus flows in the same direction as air in said inner annulus.

Claim 5

The oxygen generation system of claim 1 wherein air in said outer annulus flows in the opposite direction as air in said inner annulus.

Claim 6

The oxygen generation system of claim 1 wherein said system operates independent of orientation.

Claim 7

The oxygen generation system of claim 1 further comprising: heating means for heating said generator.

Claim 8

The oxygen generation system of claim 6 wherein said heating means is a rod extending co-axially within said generator, said rod being heated by means of an electric current.

Claim 9

An oxygen concentration system for producing oxygen from pressurized air, said system comprising: an electrochemical oxygen generator, said generator having an outer surface and selectively extracting oxygen from air by an electrochemical reaction; a first enclosure having a top end and a bottom end and an inward surface and an outward surface, said generator contained within said first enclosure; a second enclosure having a top end and a bottom end and an inward surface and an outward surface, said first enclosure contained within said second enclosure; a third enclosure having a top end and a bottom end and an inward surface and an outward surface, said second enclosure contained within said third enclosure; a first annulus formed between said outer surface of said generator and said inner surface of said first enclosure; a second annulus formed between said outward surface of said first enclosure and said inward surface of said second enclosure; a third annulus formed between said outward surface of said second enclosure and said inward surface of said third enclosure; and, an orifice in said third enclosure near said top end of said third enclosure, pressurized air entering orifice said and travelling downwardly in said third annulus, upward in said first annulus, and downward in said second annulus, and exiting said oxygen concentration system through said second annulus.

Claim 10

An oxygen concentration system for producing oxygen from pressurized air, said system comprising: an electrochemical oxygen generator, said generator having an outer surface and selectively extracting oxygen from air by an electrochemical reaction; a first enclosure having a top end and a bottom end and an inward surface and an outward surface, said generator contained within said first enclosure; a second enclosure having a top end and a bottom end and an inward surface and an outward surface, said first enclosure contained within said second enclosure; a third enclosure having a top end and a bottom end and an inward surface and an outward surface, said second enclosure contained within said third enclosure; a first annulus formed between said outer surface of said generator and said inner surface of said first enclosure; a second annulus formed between said outward surface of said first enclosure and said inward surface of said second enclosure; a third annulus formed between said outward surface of said second enclosure and said inward surface of said third enclosure; and, an orifice in said third enclosure near said top end of said third enclosure, pressurized air entering orifice said and travelling downwardly in said third annulus, upward in said first annulus, and downward in said second annulus, and exiting said oxygen concentration system through said second annulus.

Claim 11

The oxygen concentration system of claim 8 wherein said second enclosure is made of a thermally non-insulating material.

Claim 12

The oxygen concentration system of claim 9 wherein the air entering said third annulus is cooler than the air in said second annulus, said second enclosure transferring heat from air in said second annulus to air in said third annulus.

Claim 13

The oxygen concentration system of claim 8 wherein said third annulus contains the coolest air of air within said oxygen generation system.

Claim 14

The oxygen concentration system of claim 8 further comprising: ports extending between said third annulus to said first annulus, said ports isolating air in said ports from air within said second annulus.

Claim 15

The oxygen concentration system of claim 8 wherein said ports extend through said first and second enclosures at a point adjacent said bottom end of said third enclosure.

Claim 16

The oxygen concentration system of claim 8 further comprising: an inner upper dome covering said top end of said second enclosure, said inner upper dome having inward and outward surfaces, said inward surface being reflective.

Claim 17

The oxygen concentration system of claim 8 further comprising: an outer upper dome comprising said top end of said third enclosure, an apex of said outer upper dome comprising an orifice.

Claim 18

The oxygen concentration system of claim 8 further comprising: an inner bottom dome covering said bottom end of said second enclosure, said inner bottom dome having inward and outward surfaces, said inward surface being reflective.

Claim 19

The oxygen concentration system of claim 8 further comprising: an outer bottom dome comprising said bottom end of said third enclosure, an apex of said outer upper dome comprising an orifice.

Claim 20

The oxygen concentration system of claim 15 further comprising: a source of pressurized air connected to said orifice so that pressurized air enters said orifice and travels through said third annulus to said ports.

Claim 21

An oxygen generation system suitable for replenishing oxygen storage cylinders on aircraft, said system comprising: a plurality of electrochemical oxygen generators, said generators being arranged in a hexagonal array and selectively producing oxygen from air by an electrochemical reaction, said generators having an outer surface; a first enclosure, said first enclosure having top and bottom ends and inward and outward surfaces, said plurality of generators received within said first enclosure, said first enclosure being thermally insulated to keep heat generated by said generators within said first enclosure, said top end of said first enclosure being open, said bottom end comprising an outer bottom dome, an apex of said outer bottom dome comprising an orifice, a second enclosure having top and bottom ends and inward and outward surfaces, said first enclosure being concentrically received within said second enclosure, said top end comprising an inner upper dome, said inner upper dome being non-insulating and having a reflective surface; a third enclosure having top and bottom ends and inward and outward surfaces, said second enclosure being concentrically received within said third enclosure, said top end of said third enclosure comprising an outer upper dome, an apex of said outer upper dome terminating in an orifice; a first annulus formed by said outer surface of said plurality of generators and said inward surface of said first enclosure; a second annulus formed by said outward surface of said first enclosure and said inward surface of said second enclosure; a third annulus formed by said outward surface of said second enclosure and said inward surface of said third enclosure; and, ports connecting said third annulus to said first annulus, said ports extending through holes in said first and second enclosures, said ports being aerodynamically shaped so as to reduce losses within said second annulus, said ports having fins extending into said second annulus to transfer heat from air in said second annulus to said port, said port having fins extending inwardly into said port to transfer heat from said port to air in said port.

Claim 22

An oxygen generation system suitable for replenishing oxygen storage cylinders on aircraft, said system comprising: a plurality of electrochemical oxygen generators, said generators being arranged in a hexagonal array and selectively producing oxygen from air by an electrochemical reaction, said generators having an outer surface; a first enclosure, said first enclosure having top and bottom ends and inward and outward surfaces, said plurality of generators received within said first enclosure, said first enclosure being thermally insulated to keep heat generated by said generators within said first enclosure, said top end of said first enclosure being open, said bottom end comprising an outer bottom dome, an apex of said outer bottom dome comprising an orifice, a second enclosure having top and bottom ends and inward and outward surfaces, said first enclosure being concentrically received within said second enclosure, said top end comprising an inner upper dome, said inner upper dome being non-insulating and having a reflective surface; a third enclosure having top and bottom ends and inward and outward surfaces, said second enclosure being concentrically received within said third enclosure, said top end of said third enclosure comprising an outer upper dome, an apex of said outer upper dome terminating in an orifice; a first annulus formed by said outer surface of said plurality of generators and said inward surface of said first enclosure; a second annulus formed by said outward surface of said first enclosure and said inward surface of said second enclosure; a third annulus formed by said outward surface of said second enclosure and said inward surface of said third enclosure; and, ports connecting said third annulus to said first annulus, said ports extending through holes in said first and second enclosures, said ports being aerodynamically shaped so as to reduce losses within said second annulus, said ports having fins extending into said second annulus to transfer heat from air in said second annulus to said port, said port having fins extending inwardly into said port to transfer heat from said port to air in said port.

Claim 23

The oxygen concentration system of claim 12 wherein the ports are angled to tangentially introduce air into said first enclosure.