FLOAT-CONTROLLED VALVE ARRAY HAVING REDUNDANTLY ACTING FLOAT BODIES

Abstract

A float-controlled valve array including a valve assembly having a conduit, a valve seat formation through which the conduit passes, and a valve body formation which is movable between a closed position in which the conduit is closed and an open position in which a flow through the conduit is possible; the valve array further including a first and a second float body having a first and a second buoyancy volume portion, respectively, wherein the first and the second float bodies are articulated pivotally on a first and a second joint, respectively, so that during specified normal operation, each float body is movable along a buoyancy axis between a lowered position and a buoyant position, and wherein the first float body and the second float body are each coupled to the valve body formation in such a way that the valve body formation is in the closed position when at least one of the float bodies is in the buoyant position, and is in the open position when both float bodies are in the lowered position; the buoyancy volume portions of the two float bodies are mutually spaced apart at a distance orthogonal to the buoyancy axis in the lowered position, wherein at least one joint is located in a body spacing region between the two buoyancy volume portions.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A float-controlled valve array, comprising a valve module with a duct, a valve seat formation penetrated through by the duct, and a valve body formation, where the valve body formation is displaceable relative to the valve seat formation between a closure position in which the duct is closed through physical abutment of the valve body formation against the valve seat formation, and a passage position in which the valve body formation is arranged with a separation from the valve seat formation such that flow through the duct is possible, where the valve array further comprises a first float body with a first buoyancy volume section and a second float body with a second buoyancy volume section, where the first float body is articulated in a swiveling manner at a first joint and where the second float body is articulated in a swiveling manner at a second joint such that in normal operation each float body is moveable along a buoyancy axis parallel to the gravitational direction between a sinking position and a buoyancy position, where the first and the second float body is each coupled in such a way with the valve body formation that the valve body formation is in the closure position when at least one of the float bodies is in the buoyancy position, and is in the passage position when both float bodies are in the sinking position, wherein when regarding the two float bodies in their respective sinking position as a reference state, the respective buoyancy volume sections of the two float bodies are arranged with separation from one another which is orthogonal to the buoyancy axis, where in a body separation region between the two buoyancy volume sections there is located at least one joint and/or where in a joint separation region between two joints there is located at least one buoyancy volume section.

17. The valve array according to claim 16, wherein in the reference state both joints are located in the body separation region.

18. The valve array according to claim 16, wherein at least one joint located in the body separation region is arranged in a height extension region extending along the buoyancy axis, in which in the reference state there also extend the two buoyancy volume sections.

19. The valve array according to claim 16, wherein a first virtual swivel axis about which the first float body is articulated in a swiveling manner at the first joint and a second virtual swivel axis about which the second float body is articulated in a swiveling manner at the second joint lie in a common virtual extension plane.

20. The valve array according to claim 19, wherein in the reference state the virtual extension plane intersects a buoyancy volume section of the first and of the second float body.

21. The valve array according to claim 19, wherein the virtual extension plane is oriented orthogonally to the buoyancy axis.

22. The valve array according to claim 16, wherein the valve module comprises a valve housing at which the duct is configured, where each joint comprises a float body-side joint section and a bearing-side joint section interacting with the float body-side joint section, where the bearing-side joint section of at least one joint is configured at the valve housing.

23. The valve array according to claim 22, wherein the valve housing is configured in one or two parts.

24. The valve array according to claim 19, wherein the first buoyancy volume section lies closer to the second swivel axis than to the first swivel axis and/or that the second buoyancy volume section lies closer to the first swivel axis than to the second swivel axis.

25. The valve array according to claim 24, wherein a coupling of the first float body with the valve body formation lies in a region between the first and the second swivel axis and/or that a coupling of the second float body with the valve body formation lies in a region between the first and the second swivel axis.

26. The valve array according to claim 16, wherein the first and the second float body are configured identically.

27. The valve array according to claim 26, wherein the first and the second float body are arranged twisted relative to one another about a transfer axis parallel to the buoyancy axis.

28. The valve array according to claim 16, wherein the valve seat formation comprises a first valve seat and a second valve seat with a separation from the former, where both valve seats are penetrated through by the duct, and that the valve body formation comprises a first valve body and a second valve body moveable relative to it, where the first valve body is coupled with the first float body for common movement and can be brought into physical abutment against the first valve seat, and where the second valve body is coupled with the second float body for common movement and can be brought into physical abutment against the second valve seat.

29. A humidification device for a respiratory device, comprising a container with a filling volume, where the container exhibits an inlet aperture through which respiratory gas be introduced into the filling volume, and exhibits an outlet aperture through which respiratory gas can be channeled out of the filling volume, where the humidification device includes a valve array according to claim 16, where the duct of the valve array is a supply duct for introducing fluid into the container.

30. The humidification device according to claim 29, wherein the container exhibits a container bottom and a side-wall arrangement sticking out from the container bottom, where for at least one of the float bodies the separation of its buoyancy volume section from the section of the side-wall arrangement located next to it is smaller than the separation from the buoyancy volume section of the respective other float body.

31. The humidification device according to claim 29, wherein the container exhibits a container bottom and a side-wall arrangement sticking out from the container bottom, wherein for both of the float bodies the separation of its buoyancy volume section from the section of the side-wall arrangement located next to it is smaller than the separation from the buoyancy volume section of the respective other float body.

32. The humidification device according to claim 29, wherein the volume taken up by the two float bodies comes to no more than 20% of the filling volume of the container.

33. The humidification device according to claim 30, wherein the volume taken up by the two float bodies comes to no more than 15% of the filling volume of the container.

34. The humidification device according to claims 29, wherein in normal use with a buoyancy axis oriented in parallel to the gravitational direction, the first and the second float body are configured and arranged in such a way that when using demineralized water at a temperature of 20° C. as a reference fluid for filling the container, the filling quantity which is needed for the first float body to reach its buoyancy position differs from the filling quantity which is needed for the second float body to reach its buoyancy position by no more than 10% based on the larger of the two filling quantities.

35. The humidification device according to claims 32, wherein in normal use with a buoyancy axis oriented in parallel to the gravitational direction, the first and the second float body are configured and arranged in such a way that when using demineralized water at a temperature of 20° C. as a reference fluid for filling the container, the filling quantity which is needed for the first float body to reach its buoyancy position differs from the filling quantity which is needed for the second float body to reach its buoyancy position by no more than 5% based on the larger of the two filling quantities.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which forms a part hereof and wherein:

[0043] FIG. 1: A rough schematic perspective view of a respiratory device with an embodiment according to the invention of a humidification device,

[0044] FIG. 2: A rough schematic perspective view of the humidification device of FIG. 1,

[0045] FIG. 3: The humidification device of FIG. 2 with partly cut-away side-wall arrangement and partly cut-away valve module,

[0046] FIG. 4: An embodiment according to the invention of a valve array of the present application, as used for example in the humidification device of FIGS. 2 and 3, with each of the float bodies in the buoyancy position,

[0047] FIG. 5: The valve array of FIG. 4 in the sinking position as reference state, and

[0048] FIG. 6: The humidification device of FIGS. 2 and 3 when observed from below with the bottom of the device omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0049] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the same, in FIG. 1, a respiratory device is labelled generally by 10. The respiratory device 10 exhibits a touchscreen 12 as an input/output device, which is connected for data transmission with a control device arranged in the housing of the respiratory device 10. The respiratory device 10 exhibits in its housing a fan, with which ambient air is aspirated as a respiratory gas via an inlet 14 on the back. Alternatively, however, the respiratory gas can also be mixed out of various gases which are connected with the respiratory device by means of connectors.

[0050] In the lower front half of the respiratory device 10 there is arranged a humidification device 16 which serves for the humidification of the respiratory gas before it is conveyed towards a patient via a ventilation tube 18.

[0051] The humidification device 16 comprises a container 20, in which fluid, normally water, can be filled. The fluid filled in the container 20 evaporates and/or vaporizes respectively where the respiratory gas flowing through the container 20 mixes with the evaporated and/or vaporized fluid respectively. Thereby the respiratory gas leaves the container 20 through the ventilation tube 18 with a quantitatively higher absolute humidity than it was conveyed into the container 20. The ventilation tube 18 is depicted shortened in FIG. 1 only with its two longitudinal end sections. A middle section of the ventilation tube 18 is not depicted.

[0052] In FIG. 1 the respiratory device 10 and with it the humidification device 16 is in a normal operational state, in which a flat setting-up surface of the respiratory device 10 is oriented orthogonally to the gravitational direction g.

[0053] A marking 22 on the front of the container 20 indicates the maximum filling level which the fluid in the filling volume 24 (see FIG. 3) of the container 20 should not exceed.

[0054] Fluid from a reservoir not depicted in FIG. 1 can be introduced into the filling volume 24 of the container 20 via a supply line 26. The supply line 26 is depicted in FIG. 1 not in use, by way of example as a tube roll. The supply line 26 exhibits at its longitudinal end which is remote from the container 20 a coupling formation 28, for example a pierce coupling 28, with which the lumen of the supply line 26 can be connected with a stocked fluid. The coupling formation 28 allows in a way which is known per se the admixture of additives, such as for instance drugs, to the fluid flowing in the supply line 26.

[0055] The supply line 26 is coupled at its longitudinal end which is near to the container 20 with a passage opening 30 in the container wall 32, such that fluid flowing from the fluid reservoir through the supply line 26, normally gravity-driven, can reach the filling volume 24 of the container 20.

[0056] Via a recessed handle 34 at the front of the container 20, the container 20 can be removed from an insert recess 36 in the respiratory device 10 and inserted back into it.

[0057] As FIG. 3 shows, there connects on the inside of the container wall 32 at the passage opening 30 a duct component 38, in which a duct 40 is configured which conveys the fluid supplied by the supply line 26 to a valve array 42 and, depending on the operational state of the valve array 42, through the latter. The duct component 38 is depicted in FIG. 3 cut along a sectional plane parallel to the buoyancy axis A and orthogonal to the swiveling axes S1 and S2 elucidated further below, in order to show the duct 40. In a middle region of the duct component 38, a piece is cut out of it due to its curvature about an axis of curvature parallel to the buoyancy axis A.

[0058] In FIGS. 2 and 3 there is besides depicted the outlet aperture 44, through which the respiratory gas flowing through the filling volume 24 emerges from the container 20. FIG. 3 shows the inlet aperture 46, through which the respiratory gas flows into the filling volume 24.

[0059] The container wall 32 comprises a side-wall arrangement 32a and an essentially planar bottom 32b. The side-wall arrangement 32a is preferably molded from a thermoplastic synthetic in an injection molding process. The bottom 32b is made from metal and exhibits a higher thermal conductivity than in the side-wall arrangement 32a. The insert recess 36 of the respiratory device 10 exhibits at its underside a heating device, which when the humidification device 16 is inserted in the insert recess 36 is in heat-transmitting contact with the preferably metallic bottom 32b in order to input heat with the shortest possible time delay and with the smallest possible losses into the fluid which in the operational reference state accumulates at the bottom 32b. In the operational reference state of the humidification device 16, the bottom 32b of the container 20 is oriented essentially orthogonally to the gravitational direction g, such that a fluid level of a fluid which is filled in the filling volume 24 is aligned essentially in parallel to the bottom 32b.

[0060] The valve array 42 comprises a valve module 43 with a valve seat formation 48 penetrated through by the duct 40 and with a valve body formation 50 which is moveable relative to the valve seat formation 48 and which interacts with the valve seat formation 48 in order to electively close or open the duct which penetrates through the valve seat formation 48.

[0061] In the normal operational state the duct 40 penetrates through the valve seat formation 48 in parallel to the gravitational direction g, which is why preferably the valve body formation 50 is likewise moveable relative to the valve seat formation 48 in parallel to the gravitational direction g. In principle, preferably the valve body formation 50 is moveable relative to the valve seat formation 48 in parallel to the direction in which the duct 40 penetrates through the valve seat formation 48.

[0062] The valve array 42 exhibits as actuators of the valve body formation 50 a first float body 52 and a second float body 54. The two float bodies 52 and 54 are configured identically and are merely arranged so as to be oriented differently in the filling volume 24. The two float bodies are convertible to each other in a virtual manner through rotation by 180° about a transfer axis Ub which is orthogonal to the bottom 32b (s. FIG. 6).

[0063] The first float body 52 is mounted in an articulated manner at a first joint 56 about a first swivel axis S1. The first float body 52 exhibits with a separation from the first swivel axis S1 a buoyancy volume section 52a, which is connected with the joint 56 via a connecting section 52b. The connecting section 52b is configured as a framework-like bridge section. The buoyancy volume section 52a occupies the main volume of the first float body 52 and in interaction with a fluid accommodated in the filling volume 24 makes for the greatest part of the buoyancy provided by the first float body 52. The buoyancy volume section 52a moves between its operating positions depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5: buoyancy position (FIG. 4) and sinking position (FIG. 5), along a buoyancy axis A which in the normal operational state of the valve array 42 proceeds in parallel to the gravitational direction g. Since the buoyancy volume section 52a really unavoidably executes a circular path about the first swivel axis S1, the trajectory of the buoyancy volume section 52a also exhibits between its operating positions a movement component orthogonal to the buoyancy axis A, which however in the first place does not contribute to the displacement of the valve body formation and which in the second place is quantitatively negligibly small in comparison with the movement component along the buoyancy axis A.

[0064] As can be clearly discerned in FIG. 3, the first buoyancy volume section 52a lies close to the section of the side-wall arrangement 32a which is nearest to it. The first buoyancy volume section 52a lies closer to the section of the side-wall arrangement 32a which is nearest to it than to a perpendicular bisector penetrating through the bottom 32b at its centroid of area, which proceeds orthogonally to the bottom 32b and thereby parallel to the buoyancy axis A. The perpendicular bisector proceeds in FIG. 3 in a plane parallel to the buoyancy axis A lying at the middle of the separation between the first swivel axis S1 and the second swivel axis S2. A fortiori, each buoyancy volume section 52a and 54a is situated respectively closer to the section of the side-wall arrangement 32a which is nearest to it than to the respective other buoyancy volume section 52a or 54a, as the case may be.

[0065] The second float body 54 is swivel-mounted about the second swivel axis S2 in an analogous manner to the first float body 54 about the first swivel axis S1. Because of the identical configuration, the second float body 54 exhibits a buoyancy volume section 54a which is connected with a second joint 58 through a connecting section 54b configured as a framework-like bridge formation. “Framework-like” means in this context that the bridge formation exhibits longitudinal and transverse struts connected with one another. In order to achieve a statically stable bridge formation, the longitudinal and transverse struts form either triangle or square frameworks.

[0066] The structure of the valve module 43 is elucidated in further detail by reference to FIG. 4. The valve seat formation 48 exhibits a first valve seat 48a and a second valve seat 48b configured along the buoyancy axis A with a separation from the latter. The two valve seats 48a and 48b are configured at the duct component 38, which also forms a valve housing 60. The first valve seat 48a exhibits by way of example a negative conical abutment surface, the second valve seat 48b a positive conical abutment surface. Both valve seats 48a and 48b are penetrated through by the duct 40.

[0067] The valve body formation 50 exhibits a first valve body 50a, which in the depicted example is configured as pin-shaped, and exhibits a second valve body 50b moveable relative to the former, which in the depicted example is configured as tube-shaped. The first valve body 50a exhibits a positive conical abutment surface for interacting with the negative conical abutment surface of the first valve seat 48a. The second valve body 50b exhibits a negative conical abutment surface for interacting with the positive conical abutment surface of the second valve seat 48b. The valve body formation 50 exhibits besides a soft-elastic membrane 62, which in order to increase the imperviousness of the valve module 43 in the closure position shown in FIG. 4 spans both valve bodies 50a and 50b. Both valve bodies 50a and 50b are predominantly displaceable along the buoyancy axis A.

[0068] The first valve body 50a is coupled in an articulated manner with the first float body 52, in the depicted example with its connecting section 52b, such that a movement of the first connecting section 52b along the buoyancy axis A effects a displacement of the first valve body 50a between the closure position shown in FIG. 4 and the passage position shown in FIG. 5.

[0069] The second valve body 50b is likewise coupled in an articulated manner with the second float body 54, in the depicted example with its connecting section 54b, such that a movement of the second connecting section 54b along the buoyancy axis A effects a displacement of the second valve body 50b between the closure position shown in FIG. 4 and the passage position shown in FIG. 5. In this process it is sufficient if one of the two valve body 50a or 50b is displaced into its closure position for the duct 40 to be closed to a fluid through-flow.

[0070] The valve array 42 is designed in such a way that the joint axes 64 and 66 of the connections (see FIG. 6) of the first valve body 50a with the first connecting section 52b and/or of the second valve body 50b with the second connecting section 54b respectively proceed coaxially when each float body 52 and 54 is situated in at least one identical end position out of sinking position and buoyancy position. The coaxial joint axes 64 and 66 are then arranged equidistantly to the swiveling axes S1 and S2.

[0071] The valve array 42 is further designed in such a way that the float bodies 52 and 54 are arranged essentially diametrically to the parallel buoyancy axis (A). In other words: when the joint axes 64 and 66 span a virtual reference plane parallel to the buoyancy axis (A), one float body is situated on one side of the virtual reference plane and the other float body on the other side of the virtual reference plane.

[0072] Out of the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a arranged with a separation a (s. FIG. 5) from one another, the first buoyancy volume section 52a lies nearer to the second swivel axis S2 and the second buoyancy volume section 54a lies nearer to the first swivel axis S1. The coupling points of the two valve body 50a and 50b with the float bodies 52 and 54 lie in the extension region of the two connecting sections 52b and 54b, which is located between the two swiveling axes S1 and S2.

[0073] The joints 56 and 58 are formed between the float bodies 52 and 54 respectively and the valve housing 60. In the depicted example there is configured at the float bodies 52 and 54 respectively as injection-molded components a stub shaft as a float body-side joint section (see stub shaft 56a in FIG. 3 and the stub shafts 56a and 58a in FIG. 6). In the valve housing 60 there is configured as a bearing-side joint section a recess which accommodates the respective stub shaft.

[0074] In FIG. 5, the valve array 42 is depicted in its sinking position and hence in the reference state used in the descriptive introduction for its elucidation. The buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a exhibit on the outside of their bottoms small projections, with which the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a rest on the preferably flat bottom 32b of the container 20. The small projections ensure that the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a can be underwashed by fluid in the filling volume 24 even in the sinking position, such that even the smallest fluid quantities effect buoyancy at the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a.

[0075] Between the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a there is situated a body separation region 67, in which in the depicted embodiment example both joints 56 and 58 are arranged. The body separation region 67 extends orthogonally to the buoyancy axis A beyond the separation a which exists between the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a. Through the arrangement of the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a with a separation a from one another, each buoyancy volume section 52a and 54a can be arranged at an edge region of the filling volume 24, i.e. near a section of the side-wall arrangement 32a, which considerably increases in an advantageous manner the sensitivity of the valve array 42 to a tilting of the humidification device 16 about a tilt axis which is orthogonal both to the buoyancy axis A and to the direction of the separation a.

[0076] When both float bodies are in the sinking position, the joints 56 and 58 and the swiveling axes S1 and S2 defined by them are situated in a common height extension region 68 of the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a which is bounded below by a plane 68a and above by a plane 68b. The two planes 68a and 68b are osculating planes orthogonal to the buoyancy axis A at the undersides and the topsides respectively of the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a. This arrangement of joints 56 and 58 relative to the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a positively driven by them makes for advantageous kinematics of the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a with a significantly larger movement component along the buoyancy axis A than orthogonally to it. For the same reason of achieving an advantageous kinematics of the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a, the swiveling axes S1 and S2 are arranged in a common virtual plane 70 which intersects the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a at least when these are in the sinking position. As FIG. 4 shows, however, this is also the case when the buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a are in the buoyancy position. The virtual extension plane 70 is oriented orthogonally to the buoyancy axis A and hence orthogonally to the drawing plane of FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0077] Since the individual height extension regions of the two buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a are identical regarding dimension and position, exactly two planes, an upper and a lower, suffice for determining the common height extension region 68 which is identical with the individual height extension regions. If the individual height extension regions of the two buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a differ regarding dimension and/or position, then the individual height extension regions of each buoyancy volume section 52a and 54a have to be determined analogously. The common height extension region 68 is the intersection set of the individual height extension regions.

[0078] When the humidification device 16 and hence the valve array 42 is tilted in an arbitrary tilt direction about a tilt axis parallel to the swiveling axes S1 and S2, fluid is displaced towards the side-wall section lowered by the tilt movements, whereby fluid accumulates in an arrangement region of one of the two buoyancy volume sections 52a and 54a and thus can displace the relevant buoyancy volume section and with it the entire float body into the buoyancy position. Hereby fluid can be prevented from flowing on into the filling volume of the humidification device 16 when the latter is in an undesirably tilted position. This also applies to a tilt movement about a tilt axis which is not completely parallel to one of the swiveling axes, as long as its course component along one of the swiveling axes is greater than orthogonally to it.

[0079] The depiction in the embodiment example notwithstanding, the swiveling axes S1 and S2 do not have to be parallel to another. Preferably, however, they lie in the same plane.

[0080] While considerable emphasis has been placed on the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that other embodiments, and equivalences thereof, can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments described above can be combined to form yet other embodiments of the invention of this application. Accordingly, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.