US3255751A

US3255751A - Device for introducing and circulating a gas under pressure into an enclosure

Info

Publication number: US3255751A
Application number: US143485A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bouet Bernard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-10-10
Filing date: 1961-10-06
Publication date: 1966-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 1983-06-14
Also published as: FR1278001A

Description

B. BOUET 3,255,751 DEVICE FOR INTRODUCING AND CIRCULATING A GAS June 14, 1966 UNDER PRESSURE INTO AN ENCLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 6, 1961 INVENTOR Eff/V1480 50057" June 14, 1966 B. BOUET 3,255,751

DEVICE FOR INTRODUCING AND CIRCULATING A GAS UNDER PRESSURE INTO AN ENCLOSURE Filed 061; e, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I 35/94/4160 30067 BY ,QWIJM ATTORNEYS United States Patent I 3,255,751 DEVICE FOR INTRODUCING AND CIRCULATING A GAS UNDER PRESSURE INTO AN ENCLOSURE Bernard Bouet, 65 Rue La Boetie, Paris, France Filed Oct. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 143,485 Claims priority, application France, Oct. 10, 1960,

840,704 Claims. 01. 128-204 The present invention relates to a device for introducing a gas under pressure into an enclosure and for circulating it therein under a predetermined pressure. A device according to the invention comprises a source of gas at a pressure at least equal to the predetermined pressure, means for connecting said source to an enclosure at least whilst said predetermined pressure remains unattained therein, and a blower the delivery and suction ends of which communicate with said enclosure at least when said predetermined pressure is attained therein.

Such a device enables an atmosphere of predetermined characteristics to be created within an enclosure and to be maintained economically under easily controllable conditions. A device according to the invention further enables a closed-circuit physical and chemical treatment of substances disposed in said enclosure to be conducted under the most favourable conditions, but it is particularly well suited for use with physical therapy appliances and notably for such treatments as are designed to eliminate unwanted fat by perspiration.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the gas circulating in the enclosure passes through means for monitoring at least one of the gas characteristics,examples being the temperature, the relative humidity, or the proportion of at least one active substance .(such as oxygen, for instance) contained in said gas.

In a device according to the invention, the blower may also constitute the source of gas under pressure, in which case switching means are provided to place the suction end of the blower in communication with an outside supply of gas during such time as said predetermined pressure is not attained in the chamber, and with the interior of the enclosure after said pressure is reached. The switching means may comprise a single valve which selectively obturates the ports through which the suction end of the blower communicates with the interior of the enclosure and with the outside source of gas respectively, biasing means being provided to continuously urge said valve towards the position wherein the port communicating with the enclosure is obturated. These valve biasing means are tared so that switching should take place when the predetermined pressure is reached in the enclosure. In an alternative method of construction, the switching means may comprise two valves the biasing means for which are tared differently, the first valve controlling communication with the outside supply ,of gas and opening in response to the underpressure created by the blower suction effect when the second valve is closed, whilst the second valve controls communication with the enclosure and opens under the combined effect of the predetermined pressure required within said enclosure and the underpressure prevailing at the suction end of the blower when the first valve is open. At least one of said valve urging means may be of the magnetic type.

The gas used may be ordinary atmospheric air or some gas such as oxygen, or may even be a gaseous mixture; it may furthermore be charged, if necessary, with active substances such as substances dispersed in the aerosol state.

The enclosure may consist of a rigid box or an inflatable envelope made of resilient material, an example being a perspiration bag. In the latter application, in particular, it will be found of advantage for the means used Patented June 14, 1966 to control one at least of the component parts of the device to be located within said enclosure in order that the user may be able to control, at will, the conditions prevailing within the enclosure during treatments.

The invention will be better understood from the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example and not of limitation, several alternative embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings filed herewith:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic views of two alternative embodiments of the invention, in which blower suction is controlled by a single valve;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a fourth embodiment.

of the invention, using a blower comprising two control valves, and

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration showing a patient using an inflatable perspiration bag equipped with the device shown in- FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the device illustrated comprises an enclosure 1 within which is disposed a blower 2 the suction and delivery ends of which communicate directly with the inside of said enclosure. A second blower 4, arranged externally, sucks in air from outside and delivers it into the enclosure 1 through a pipe 3.

When the blower 4 is set in operation it delivers air into the enclosure 1 until the pressure therein is equal to the maximum delivery pressure. At that point, the blower 4 operates virtually under zero output conditions and only delivers air if and when the pressure in the enclosure 1 drops (through a leakage, a ditference in temperature, condensation, 'etc.). In contradistinction, the internal blower 2 maintains a constant air circulation inside the enclosure 1, virtually regardless of the pressure prevailing.

In the device shown in FIG. 2, the single blower consists of a turbine 5 the delivery end of which communicates with the enclosure 1 and the suction end with a valve unit 6. Said valve unit 6 houses a valve 7 having dual operative faces adapted to selectively obturate a seat 8 surrounding a vent port or a seat 9 surrounding a port which communicates with a pipe debou-ching into the enclosure 1. A spring 11 constantly urges the valve 7 into the position wherein the pipe 10 is sealed off. A permanent magnet 41 arranged in the region of the seat 9 attracts the valve 7 which, to that end, is made of some magnetic metal. A section of the suction pipe 10 is immersed in a tank 12 which is filled with a liquid maintained at the required temperature. An injection pipe 13 debouches into the delivery end of the turbine 5 and allows injection, into the enclosure 1, of the desired fluid, examples of which are oxygen or a chemically active aerosol.

When inoperative, the valve 7 is applied against the seat 9 and obturates the pipe 10, thereby preventing communication between the inside of enclosure 1 and the suction end of the turbine 5, which is consequently vented by virtue of the valve 7 being lifted off its seat 8. When the turbine 5 is started up air under pressure penetrates into the enclosure 1 and, when the pressure prevailing therein reaches a predetermined value sufficient to thrust away the valve 7 cooperating with the outlet end of the pipe 10, said valve 7 is applied against its seat 8, thereby cutting off communication with the open air and ensuring closed-circuit operation through the pipe 10, the turbine 5 and the enclosure 1. In the event of a pressure drop in the enclosure 1, the valve 7 lifts off its seat 8 and allows make-up air to penetrate until the predetermined pressure is re-established. Should the pressure drop when the turbine is halted, the valve 7 is again applied against the seat 9, whereupon the device is once more in the inoperative configuration.

The device illustrated in FIG. 3 likewise comprises a single blower 14 the delivery end of which is connected to the enclosure 1 via a pipe 15 inside which is arranged an electrical heating resistor 16, a single valve 17 is accommodated in a valve unit 18 at the suction end of said blower 14. The valve 17 is adapted to pivotally occupy either of two positions, one of which is shown in solid lines and corresponds to the inoperative position wherein said valve 17 seals off the end of a pipe 19 which communicates with the inside of the enclosure 1 through the medium of a multiple-element filter 20; in the other position, shown in chain-dotted lines, the valve 17 seals oif the end of a further pipe 42 connected to an outside supply of gas. A coil spring (not shown) constantly urges the valve 17 into its inoperative position, shown in solid lines. A source of electric power 21 is connected across the motor 22 of blower 14 and the resistor 16 via

contactors

23 and 24 arranged inside the enclosure 1. An operator inside the enclosure 1 is thus able to control start-up of the blower 14 and the temperature rise in the gas delivered into said enclosure 1. The elements of the filter 20 retain foreign matter contained in the air circulating in a closed circuit. These filter elements can if necessary be impregnated with some reactive substance such as quicklime should it be desired to eliminate carbon dioxide gas, or with some hygroscopic substance such as silica gel should it be desired to eliminate humidity.

The device as hereinbefore described operates in the same fashion as that illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the device shown in FIG. 4, the blower 25 is disposed wholly within the enclosure 1 and air is sucked in by a turbine with radial blades 26 through an axial suction pipe 27. A first valve 28 vents the said pipe 27 when a sufficient depression is created by the blower 25 in the pipe 27, whilst a second valve 29 places the said pipe 27 in communication with the enclosure 1 as soon as the pressure therein reaches a value suflicient for said valve 29 to open. At that point, the depression inside the pipe 27 drops to a value below that required for opening of the valve 28, so that the latter closes and air consequently circulates in a closed circuit inside the enclosure 1.

In the application of the invention as ilustrated in FIG.

5, a patient 30 is placed inside a plastic bag 31 which fits sealingly round his neck through the pressure exerted by an inflatable strip 32. The blower 25 is disposed at one end of the bag 31, thus ensuring a circulation of air under pressure within the enclosure 31. An electrical heating resistor placed inside the tube 27 allows this air to be heated to the required temperature. A control box 33 allows the patient to control the current fed to the heating resistor and the speed of the blower 25 at will from inside the bag 31. I

It is to be clearly understood that, without departing from the scope of the invention, manymodifications to suit the particular application envisaged'and which are fully accessible to the specialist in the art may be made to the embodiments described hereinabove with reference to the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for introducing a gas under pressure into an enclosure and for circulating it therein while main taining a predetermined pressure within said enclosure, said device comprising an enclosure, a blower having an inlet and outlet, said outlet being permanently connected to the interior space of said enclosure, the delivery pressure of said blower being higher than said predetermined pressure; valve means movable between a first position in which the inlet of said blower is connected to a gas source outside of said enclosure, and a second position in which said blower inlet is connected to said interior space; and means maintaining said valve means in said first position only when the pressure in said interior space is lower than said predetermined pressure.

2. A device for introducing a gas under pressure into an enclosure and for circulating it therein while maintaining a predetermined pressure within said enclosure, said device comprising an enclosure, a blower having an inlet and outlet, said outlet being permanently connected to the interior space of said enclosure, the delivery pressure of said blower being higher than said predetermined pressure; a valve movable between a first position wherein the inlet of said blower is connected to a gas source, and a second position wherein said blower inlet is connected to said interior space, said valve being exposed in said first position to the pressure prevailing in said interior space, said pressure tending to urge said valve towards said second position; and biasing means urging said valve towards said first position and being adapted to maintain said valve in said first position when the pressure built up by said blower in said interior space is lower than said predetermined pressure.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 and including means for conditioning said gas.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3, wherein said conditioning means comprise temperature controlling means arranged in the path of said gas between said inner space of the enclosure and said blower inlet.

5. The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein said conditioning means comprise injection means adapted to inject a selected substance into said gas, and arranged in the path of said gas between said blower outlet and said inner space of the enclosure.

6. A device for introducing a gas under pressure into an enclosure and for circulating it therein while maintaining a predetermined pressure within said enclosure, said device comprising an enclosure, a blower having an inlet and outlet, said outlet being permanently connected to the interior space of said enclosure, the delivery pressure of said blower being substantially higher than said predetermined pressure; a valve made of magnetic material and movable between a first position wherein the inlet of said blower is connected to a gas source and a second position wherein said blower inlet is connected to said interior space, said valve being exposed insaid first position to the pressure prevailing in said interior space, said pressure tending to urge said valve towards said second position; a biasing spring urging said valve towards said first position; and a magnet arranged adjacent the location of said valve in said first position and cooperating with said spring to maintain said valve in said first position when the pressure built in said interior space is lower than said predetermined pressure.

7. A device for introducing a gas under pressure intoan enclosure and for circulating it therein while maintain ing a predetermined pressure within said enclosure, said device comprising an enclosure, a blower having an inlet and outlet, said outlet being permanently connected to the interior space of said enclosure, the delivery pressure of said blower being higher than said predetermined pressure; a first valve disposed between the inlet of said blower and a gas source, and responsive to the under pressure produced at said blower inlet to move from a closed position to an opened position in which said first valve connects said inlet to said gas source; first biasing means urging said first valve towards its closed position in which said first valve disconnects said inlet from said source; a second valve disposed between said blower inlet and said interior space, and responsive to the joint etfects of said under-pressure and the pressure in said interior space to move from a closed position to an opened position in which said second valve connects said inlet to said interior space; second biasing means urging said second valve towards its closed position in which said second valve disconnects said inlet from said interior space, said first and second biasing means being adapted to maintain said second valve in a closed position while allowing said first valve to occupy its opened position when the pressure built up by said blower in said interior space is lower than said predetermined pressure, and to maintain said first valve in its closed position while allowing said second valve to move into its opened position when the pressure built up by said blower in said interior space attains a value equal to said predetermined pressure.

8. In combination, an enclosure, a device for introducing conditioned gas under pressure into said enclosure and for circulating saidgas therein while maintaining it at a predetermined pressure within said enclosure, said device comprising a blower having an inlet and outlet and driven by an electric motor, said blower having its outlet permanently connected to the inner space of said enclosure, and the delivery pressure of said blower being substantially higher than said predetermined pressure; valve means for connecting the inlet of said blower to a source of gas outside of said enclosure when the pressure built up by said blower in said inner space is lower than said predetermined pressure, and for connecting said blower inlet to said inner space while disconnecting said inlet from said source when the pressure built in said inner space is equal to said predetermined pressure; means for conditioning said gas; and control means for controlling said electric motor and said conditioning means.

9. The combination claimed in claim 8, wherein said conditioning means comprise electric heating means arranged in the path of said gas between said blower outlet and said inner space of the enclosure.

10. The combination claimed in claim 9, wherein said conditioning means comprise filter means arranged in the path of said gas between said inner space of the enclosure and said blower inlet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 261,598 7/1882 Goldberg 128-367 X 1,224,180 5/1917 Lake M 128-204 1,434,103 10/1922 Lest-2mg 128-204 X 1,694,858 12/1928 Landon 128-367 1,951,904 3/1934 Garshelis 128400 X 2,276,371 3/1942 Cooper 128204 X 2,302,023 11/1942 Glasser 128204 2,353,906 7/1944 Kirschbaum 128-204 2,772,421 12/1956 Friend 128370 X 2,905,071 9/1959 Krueger 98-15 2,986,989 6/1961 Mauldin 98-15 FOREIGN PATENTS 123,557 6/1931 Austria.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

BRODER, Examiners.

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR INTRODUCING A GAS UNDER PRESSURE INTO AN ENCLOSURE AND FOR CIRCULATING IT THEREIN WHILE MAINTAINING A PREDETERMINED PRESSURE WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING AN ENCLOSURE, A BLOWER HAVING AN INLET AND OUTLET, SAID OUTLET BEING PERMANENTLY CONNECTED TO THE INTERIOR SPACE OF SAID ENCLOSURE, THE DELIVERY PRESSURE OF SAID BLOWER BEING HIGHER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED PRESSURE; VALVE MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH THE INLET OF SAID BLOWER IS CONNECTED TO A GAS SOURCE OUTSIDE OF SAID ENCLOSURE, AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH SAID BLOWER INLET IS CONNECTED TO SAID INTERIOR SPACE; AND MEANS MAINTAINING SAID VALVE MEANS IN SAID FIRST POSITION ONLY WHEN THE PRESSURE IN SAID INTERIOR SPACE IS LOWER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED PRESSURE.