Fluid handling – With indicator – register – recorder – alarm or inspection means – Fluid pressure responsive indicator – recorder or alarm
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2001-11-20
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm
C073S744000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318407
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present inventions relate generally to the field of gas pressure regulators, and more specifically to a gas pressure regulator that includes a rugged or integral gauge.
Regulators are used to regulate the supply of many different gases for many different applications. One particularly important regulator application is oxygen pressure regulation in the healthcare field. Therefore, the inventions will be discussed in connection with oxygen regulators. It should be understood, however, that the present inventions are not limited to the healthcare field and are not limited to use with any particular gas, such as oxygen, but rather may be used with a wide variety of gases.
Regulators are designed to reduce a high source pressure to a working level. Portable tanks, also referred to as bottles, are typically used as oxygen sources in the healthcare field. Pressures in the tank can be as high as approximately 2200 p.s.i.g. in the U.S. and can reach approximately 3000 p.s.i.g. in Europe. Working pressures for oxygen for healthcare applications are normally approximately 50 p.s.i.g. in the U.S. and normally range between approximately 45 p.s.i.g. to 60 p.s.i.g. in Europe. In addition to reducing the source pressure to a working pressure, regulators also regulate the flow rate at which the oxygen is delivered. Two types of regulators are common: fixed flow regulators, which provide a multiple number of fixed flow rates from which a user may select, and variable flow regulators which allow infinite adjustment of the flow rate. Because fixed flow regulators are simple to use, they are mostly used in portable applications, such as in ambulances and home care. Variable flow regulators, on the other hand, are normally used in hospitals, outpatient and acute-care facilities and the like, where precise control over flow is important. Both types of regulators are typically supplied with a gauge for monitoring the gas source. When used with oxygen bottles, the gauge may indicate the source pressure, which provides an indirect indication of the amount of gas left in a bottle, or the gauge may directly indicate the amount of gas left in a bottle in a manner similar to an automobile gasoline gauge, i.e., by indicating empty, ¼, ½, ¾, or full.
Because fixed flow regulators are used in portable applications, durability is important. One problem that has plagued known portable regulators is damage to the gauge used to monitor the source pressure. Known regulators have gauges that typically protrude from the regulator body, making them susceptible to impact damage. Some known regulator arrangements attempt to protect the gauge from impact by encasing the gauge in a material such as rubber in order to decrease the severity of an impact. Another approach to this problem is to encase the gauge in a protective shield. Approaches such as these, while effective in protecting the external components of the gauge from shock to various degrees, are not as effective in protecting the internal components of the gauge. Most gauges in use today, such as the Bourdon-type gauge, have delicate internal components which may be damaged due to excessive vibration and/or impact to the regulator body as well as to the gauge itself. Even completely encapsulating the gauge with a protective shield cannot fully protect the internal components of such gauges.
Accordingly, there is a need for a regulator suitable for portable applications with a gauge that can better withstand vibration and impact.
SUMMARY
The foregoing disadvantages are alleviated to a great extent by the inventions described herein which provide a pressure regulator utilizing a gauge having rugged internal components. In one embodiment, the gauge has a low profile and is mounted to the regulator body. In another embodiment, the gauge is integral with the regulator body. In one preferred embodiment, the gauge includes a pressure pin and a bias, such as a spring. One side of the pressure pin communicates directly with the source pressure and is urged by the source pressure to move the pressure pin in a first direction, while the other side of the pressure pin is at a known pressure, such as ambient or atmospheric pressure, and is urged by the bias to move the pressure pin in a second direction opposed to the first direction. An indication of the position of the pressure pin is sensed by a user and is used to determine the source pressure or level. In one aspect, the indicator is a pointer or indicator mounted to move in response to movement of the pressure pin and mounted so that its position is visible (i.e., sensed by sight) to the user. In another aspect, the pressure pin is arranged lengthwise inside the regulator and a disc or other shaped indicator is mounted on the end of the pressure pin. A lens is provided such that the edge of the disc (or other indicator) is visible to a user. A calibrated scale indicating the amount of gas in the bottle is provided such that the position of the disc (or other indicator) with respect to the scale will indicate an amount of gas left in the bottle.
In one aspect, the bias is linear such that displacement of the disc varies linearly with the amount of gas in the bottle.
One object is to provide an impact-resistant gauge suitable for use with portable gas sources such as oxygen bottles.
Another object is to provide a gauge that is integral with a regulator body, thereby protecting the gauge from impact damage.
A further object is to provide a low profile gauge that is mounted directly to a regulator body, thereby protecting the gauge from impact damage.
These and other objects and advantages may be best understood with reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, the appended claims, and the several drawings attached hereto.
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Notification of Transmittal of the International Search Report or the Declaration for PCT/US99/30394, Apr. 6, 2000.
Flotech Inc.: “The New Diamond Line Regulator”; Nov. 16, 1998.
Boger David L.
Kohn Gabriel S.
Kroupa Kevin
Michaely Charles
Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.
Dickstein , Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky, LLP
Rivell John
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