Known high pressure oxygen delivery systems are provided with an oxygen cylinder, a cylinder valve and a pressure regulator. The oxygen cylinder may be charged with pure oxygen at a pressure of two thousand two hundred pounds per square inch (psi) or more in the United States and over three thousand psi in other countries. The valve is attached to the cylinder to stop the flow of oxygen to the regulator. The pressure regulator is designed to reduce the tank pressure to under two hundred psi. Most pressure regulators in the United States reduce tank pressure to approximately fifty psi. Typical pressure regulators in Europe reduce tank pressure to approximately sixty psi.

When the valves in the known oxygen systems are opened rapidly, undesirable high pressure surges may be applied to the pressure regulator. There is a need in the art for preventing such high pressure surges, as well as increases in the temperature of the gas which may result in ignition.

The risk of oxygen regulator failure may be higher for portable oxygen systems that are used in adverse environments and/or by untrained personnel.

Portable oxygen systems are used for emergency oxygen delivery at accident sites; for other medical emergencies, such as heart attacks; and for transporting

patients. Homecare patients who use oxygen concentrators as the main source of oxygen for oxygen therapy are required to have standby oxygen cylinders in case of power failures. Oxygen cylinders are also used to provide homecare patients with mobility outside the house. There is a need in the art for a valve that can be used easily in such portable systems and that reduces or eliminates the occurrence of high pressure surges. Other uses include hospitals, where oxygen cylinders are used to transport patients. They are also used as emergency backup systems.

Known surge suppression devices are illustrated in U. S. Patents Nos. 3,841,353 (Acomb), 2,367,662 (Baxter et al.), and 4,172,468 (Ruus).

These devices all suffer from one or more of the following drawbacks: relatively massive pistons resulting in slower response times, relatively elongated bodies, complicated construction resulting in increased cost, or construction preventing positioning of the devices in different locations in existing systems.

Acomb discloses an anti-surge oxygen cylinder valve in which the surge-suppression device is integrated with the cylinder valve. The device referred to by Acomb requires a force opposed to a spring force to function. In the Acomb device, the opposing force is provided by a stem connected to the valve handle. Additionally, if the bleeder orifice becomes plugged, the valve does not allow flow, and the gas supply is not available for use. In that case, the user may interpret the tank to be empty when it is full, with the danger that such a misunderstanding brings.

Baxter discloses a pressure shock absorber for a welding system.

Baxter refers to a piston that is elongated with a bore through the center. The elongated piston results in an increased moment of inertia that increases the time in which the piston reacts to a pressure surge. The long bore results in necessarily tighter tolerances for controlling the gas flow rate through the bore.

In addition, the placement of the spring abutting the elongated piston results in a relatively large device.

Ruus discloses a pressure shock absorber for an oxygen-regulator supply system with an elongated, two-part piston. The elongate construction of the piston results in an increased moment of inertia that increases the time required for the piston to react to a pressure surge. The two-part piston results in increased complexity and manufacturing cost. Also in this device, if the restricted passageway becomes plugged, no flow is allowed and the device suffers from the same potential for user misinterpretation as the Acomb device.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention overcomes to a great extent the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a device that has a first flow path for flowing gas at a first flow rate, a second flow path for flowing gas at a greater flow rate, and a handle that moves in a first direction to open the first flow path and enable opening of the second flow path, and in a second direction to open the second flow path. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device may be a surge prevention valve.

According to one aspect of the invention, the handle moves in an axial direction to open the first flow path, and in a rotational direction to open the second flow path. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the axial motion of the handle may be required to enable opening of the second flow path. The present invention should not be limited, however, to the preferred embodiments shown and described in detail herein.

According to another aspect of the invention, a spring may be used to bias the handle member in a direction opposite to the first direction. In addition, an engageable torque unit may be employed to transmit torque from the handle to open the second flow path. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring is compressed to engage the torque unit.

The present invention also relates to a surge prevention valve, such as a valve for use with a high pressure oxygen cylinder. The surge prevention valve may have a housing with an inlet and an outlet. A seal unit may be used to close the flow path from the inlet to the outlet, and a bleed passageway may be provided in the seal unit. The valve also may have an actuator for opening the bleed pathway and for moving the seal unit to open the main flow path.

If desired, the seal unit may be threaded into the housing. With this construction, the actuator may be used to threadedly move the seal unit toward and away from the valve seat to close and open the main flow path. In addition, a valve rod may be provided for closing the bleed passageway. The valve rod may be slidably located within the seal unit.

The present invention also relates to a method of operating a high pressure valve. The method includes the steps of : (1) moving a handle in an enabling direction to cause gas to flow through a first path at a first flow rate ; and then (2) moving the handle in a second direction to cause gas to flow through a second path at a much greater flow rate. The method also may include the step of closing the valve. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method may involve flowing oxygen through a pressure regulator to a user or to an intended device (such as a respirator). The method may be used to gradually increase the flow rate into the regulator and to prevent the formation of a high pressure surge in the system.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of opening a valve includes the steps of : (1) moving a handle button, within the handle, in an enabling direction to cause gas to flow through a first path at a first flow rate; and then (2) moving the entire handle in a second direction to cause gas to flow through a second path at a much greater flow rate.

According to one aspect of the invention, the enabling direction may be an axial direction, and the second direction may be a rotational direction.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be best understood with reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, the appended claims and the several drawings attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of an oxygen supply system constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a surge prevention valve for the system of FIG. 1, taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view of the surge prevention valve of FIG. 2, at a subsequent stage of operation.

FIG. 4 is yet another cross-sectional view of the surge prevention valve of FIG. 2, at yet another stage of operation.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a surge prevention valve constructed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an expanded view of a lower section of the surge prevention valve of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is another cross sectional view of the surge prevention valve of FIG. 5, at a subsequent stage of operation.

FIG. 8 is yet another cross sectional view of the surge prevention valve of FIG. 5, at yet another stage of operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, where like elements are designated by like reference numerals, there is shown in FIG. 1 an oxygen supply system 10 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

A detailed description of the illustrated system 10 is provided below. The present invention should not be limited, however, to the specific features of the illustrated system 10.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the oxygen supply system 10 includes a pressure regulator 12, a conduit 14 for flowing oxygen from the pressure regulator 12 to a patient (not illustrated), a source of oxygen 16, and a post valve 20 for preventing oxygen from flowing out of the source 16. The source 16 may be an oxygen cylinder, for example. As discussed in more detail below, the valve 20 may be arranged to prevent a high pressure surge from occurring in the pressure regulator 12 when the valve 20 is opened. In addition to oxygen, the

present invention may be used to handle nitrous oxide and other concentrated oxidizing agents. The present invention may also be used in systems other than medical systems. For example, the present invention may be applicable to oxygen welding equipment.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the valve 20 includes a housing 22 having an inlet 24 and an outlet 26. The inlet 24 may be connected to the oxygen source 16. The outlet 26 may be connected to the pressure regulator 12. In addition, the valve 20 includes a seal unit 28, a valve rod 30, and an actuator unit 32. The seal unit 28 may have an annular elastomeric seal pad 34 for sealing against a valve seat 36. A passageway 37 may be provided to allow oxygen to flow through the pad 34 and into a first bypass space 38 within the seal unit 28. The seal unit 28 also has a second bypass space 40 and a bleed passageway 42.

The upper end 44 of the valve rod 30 is fixed within the actuator unit 32. The lower portion of the valve rod 30 is slidably located within the second bypass space 40. The valve rod 30 may have a reduced diameter portion 46 and a conical lower end 48. Except for the reduced diameter portion 46 and the lower end 48, the remainder of the valve rod 30 may have a circular cross-section with a substantially constant diameter. The cross-sectional configuration of the valve rod 30 is such that an upper opening 50 of the first bypass space 38 is sealed by the lower end 48 of the rod 30 in the position shown in FIG. 2.

As discussed in more detail below, the valve rod 30 may be moved down and through the seal unit 28 to the position shown in FIG. 3. In the FIG.

3 position, the reduced diameter portion 46 is located in the upper opening 50 of the first bypass space 38. The cross-sectional area of the reduced diameter portion 46 is less than that of the upper opening 50. Consequently, oxygen may

flow through the upper opening 50 when the valve rod 30 is in the FIG. 3 position.

The seal unit 28 is connected to the housing 22 by suitable threads 62. The threads 62 are arranged such that rotating the seal unit 28 with respect to the housing 22 in a first direction moves the seal pad 34 into sealing engagement with the valve seat 36. Rotating the seal unit 28 in the opposite direction causes the seal pad 34 to move away from the valve seat 36 to the open position shown in FIG. 4. In the open position, oxygen is allowed to flow through the valve seat 36, around the seal unit 28 in the direction of arrow 64 and into the outlet 26. An o-ring 66 or other suitable seal may be provided between the seal unit 28 and the housing 22 for preventing oxygen from flowing around the seal unit 28 above the outlet 26.

The actuator unit 32 has a piston unit 70, a handle 72 fixed to the piston unit 70, and a cover 74. The piston unit 70 is slidably located in the cover 74. The piston unit 70 is also allowed to rotate within the cover 74 as described in more detail below. The piston unit 70 is biased upwardly (away from the seal unit 28) by a coil spring 76. The cover 74 may be threaded into the housing 22, if desired.

A torque unit is formed by openings 78,80 formed in the piston unit 70 and pins 82,84 fixed with respect to the seal unit 28. As shown in FIG. 3, the pins 82,84 may be received within the openings 78,80 when the piston unit 70 is pushed downwardly against the bias of the spring 76. When the pins 82, 84 are received within the openings 78,80, a torque applied to the handle 72 may be transmitted to the seal unit 28. Thus, a torque may be manually applied to the handle 72 in a first direction to cause the seal unit 28 to move further down into the housing 22 to press the seal pad 34 into the sealed position shown

in FIG. 2. In addition, a torque may be applied in the opposite direction to threadedly move the seal pad 34 away from the valve seat 36 to the open position shown in FIG. 4.

The present invention should not be limited to the specific features and instrumentalities of the surge prevention valve 20 described and shown herein. Thus, for example, the torque unit may be formed by openings in the seal unit 28 and pins fixed to the piston unit 70, and a variety of other devices and mechanisms may be used to practice the present invention.

Thus, the valve 20 is closed in the position shown in FIG. 2. In the closed position, oxygen cannot flow between the seal pad 34 and the valve seat 36. In addition, in the closed position, the valve rod 30 seals the upper opening 50 of the first bypass space 38, such that oxygen cannot flow into the second bypass space 40. A suitable o-ring 88 may be provided to form a gas-tight seal against the valve rod 30 in the upper opening 50, if desired.

The valve 20 is open in the position shown in FIG. 4. In the open position, as mentioned above, oxygen can flow through the valve seat 36, around the seal unit 28 in the direction of arrow 64, and through the valve outlet 26.

To move the valve 20 from the closed position to the open position, the user first pushes down manually on the handle 72, against the bias of the spring 76, until the pins 82,84 are located in the openings 78,80. Pushing down on the handle 72 causes the piston unit 72 to move axially toward the seal unit 28.

Then the user applies torque to the handle 72 in an opening rotational direction to threadedly rotate the seal unit 28 away from the valve seat 36. The torque is transmitted through the piston unit 70 and through the torque unit 78-84 to rotate the threaded seal unit 28. In the illustrated arrangement, the seal unit 28 cannot be rotated by the handle 72 unless the torque unit 78-84 is engaged,

with the spring 76 in the compressed position shown in FIG. 3. The torque unit 78-84 is engaged to enable rotation of the seal unit 28.

Pushing down on the handle 72 to engage the torque unit 78-84 causes the reduced diameter portion 46 of the valve rod 30 to move into the upper opening 50 of the first bypass space 38. When the reduced diameter portion 46 is in the upper opening 50, oxygen may flow into the second bypass space 40 and through the bleed passageway 42. Oxygen can start to flow through the upper opening 50 while the handle 72 is moving downwardly, before the torque unit 78-84 is fully engaged. In the illustrated arrangement, the handle 72 must be moved to the intermediate FIG. 3 position before the seal unit 28 can be threadedly lifted from the valve seat 36. Opening the valve 20 requires a two-step sequential push-then-twist operation much like the two-step operation required to open safety caps on medicine bottes. If the user does not push down on the handle 72, the piston unit 70 merely rotates within the cover 74 without engaging the seal unit 28. However, this invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment discussed herein.

Consequently, the illustrated valve 20 allows oxygen to bleed into the outlet 26 through the bleed passageway 42 before the seal pad 34 is moved away from the valve seat 36. The small amount of oxygen that bleeds through the restricted passageway 42 during the short time required to engage the torque unit 78-84 may be sufficient to prevent a high pressure surge from developing in the system 10 when the valve 20 is subsequently opened. Thus, the regulator 12 (FIG. 1) may be filled at a relatively slow, controlled rate before a full flow of high pressure oxygen is allowed through the valve 20. The oxygen flow rate through the valve seat 36 in the valve open position (FIG. 4) may be much greater than the flow rate through the bleed passageway 42 in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 3.

In the preferred method of operation, the user will first push handle 72 until the pressure stabilizes in the valve 20. This will open the first flow path 38 and allow oxygen to flow at a reduced rate. The time it takes to push the handle 72 down to enable opening of the valve 20 may be sufficient for the desired gradual pressurization of the regulator 12. The ability of the valve 20 to bleed sufficient oxygen into the outlet 26 in the available time may be controlled, for example, by selecting a suitable cross-sectional area for the bleed passageway 42. The bleed passageway 42 may be formed by drilling the desired opening into the seal unit 28, if desired. Larger or smaller drills may form larger or smaller bleed passageways.

If the user intends to bypass the preferred method of operation or if the first bypass space 38 or bleed passageway 42 should become clogged, there will still be an added safety factor as long as the user slowly twists the handle 72.

Consequently, if desired, the user may be instructed to twist the handle 72 slowly. If such instructions regarding the twisting of the handle 72 are properly followed, the valve 20 may still prevent a high pressure surge in the regulator 12 even without the assistance of the first bypass space 38 or bleed passageway 42.

The present invention should not be limited, however, to the specific valve 34, 36 and bleed passageway 42 arrangement shown and described in detail herein.

In the open position shown in FIG. 4, substantially all of the oxygen flowing through the valve 20 travels in the direction of arrow 64 and not through the bleed passageway 42. Consequently, the bleed passageway 42 does not tend to become occluded by small contaminant particles entrained in the gas flow. If the bleed passageway 42 becomes plugged, the valve 20 will still be operable so that oxygen is still supplied to the intended operative device.

To close the valve 20, the user pushes down on the handle 72, against the bias of the spring 76, to engage the torque unit 78-84. Then, while the spring 76 is compressed, the user manually twists the handle 72 to threadedly move the seal unit 28 back into sealing contact with the valve seat 36. Then the downward pressure on the handle 72 is released, such that the spring 76 draws the end 48 of the valve rod 30 back into a sealed position within the upper opening 50 of the first bypass space 38.

FIG. 5 illustrates a valve 100 constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention which includes a housing 130 having an inlet 140 and an outlet 114. The inlet 140 may be connected to the oxygen source 16. The outlet 114 may be connected to a pressure regulator 12. In addition, the valve 100 includes a seal unit 124, a valve rod 106, and an actuator unit 142. The seal unit 124 may have an annular elastomeric seal pad 144 for sealing against a valve seat 146. A first bypass 138 is provided to allow oxygen to flow through the pad 144 to the seal unit 124. The seal unit 124 also has a bleed passageway 118.

The upper end 160 of the valve rod 106 is fixed within a handle button 104. The lower portion of the valve rod 106 is slidably located within a second bypass space 116 and a valve space 162. The valve rod 106 may have a reduced diameter portion 110 and a conical lower end 132. Except for the reduced diameter portion 110 and the lower end 132, the remainder of the valve rod 106 may have a circular cross-section with a substantially constant diameter.

The cross-sectional configuration of the valve rod 106 is such that the o-ring 136 of the first bypass space 138 seals the second bypass 116 from the first bypass 138 by the lower end 132 of the rod 106 in the position shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the o-ring 136 combined with the lower end 132 of the valve rod 106 may be the only components forming the seal 204 between the first

bypass space 138 and the second bypass space 116. Moreover, a continuous passageway 202 is provided between the first bypass space 138 and the exposed lower surface of the o-ring 136 regardless of the location of the valve rod 106.

Thus, gas may pass through the upper opening 164. In the illustrated system, the upper opening 164 serves as a backup plate which keeps o-ring 136 from being blown into opening 128 in the event that someone tries to fill the gas source 16, without first opening valve 100.

As discussed in more detail below, the valve rod 106 may be moved down and through the seal unit 124 to the position shown in FIG. 7. In the FIG. 7 position, the reduced diameter portion 110 is located in the first and second bypass spaces 138,116. The cross-sectional area of the reduced diameter portion 110 is less than that of the first and second bypasses 138,116.

Consequently, oxygen may flow through the first and second bypass openings 138,116 when the valve rod 106 is in the FIG. 7 position.

The seal unit 124 is connected to the housing 130 by suitable threads 126. The threads 126 are arranged such that rotating the seal unit 124 with respect to the housing 130 in a first direction moves the seal pad 144 into sealing engagement with the valve seat 146. Rotating the seal unit 124 in the opposite direction causes the seal pad 144 to move away from the valve seat 146 to the open position shown in FIG. 8. In the open position, oxygen is allowed to flow through the valve seat 146, around the seal unit 124 in the direction of arrow 170 and into the outlet 114.

The actuator unit 142 has a handle button 104, a handle 102 surrounding the handle button 104, a socket structure 112, and a handle cover 154. The handle button 104 and the socket structure 112 are biased upwardly

(away from the seal unit 124) by a coil spring 108. The cover 154 may be threaded into the housing 130, if desired.

A torque unit is formed by pins 120,156 formed in the handle 152 and pins 122,158 fixed with respect to the seal unit 124 together with socket structure 112. As shown in FIG. 7, the four pins 122,158,120,156 may be received by the socket structure 112 when the handle button 104 is pushed downwardly against the bias of the spring 108. In the FIG. 7 position, the socket structure 112 causes the pins 122,158,120,156 to move as one unit.

Therefore, a torque applied to the handle 102 may be transmitted to the seal unit 124. Thus, a torque may be manually applied to the handle 102 in a first direction to cause the seal unit 124 to move further down into the housing 130 to press the seal pad 144 into the sealed position shown in FIG. 7. In addition, a torque may be applied in the opposite direction to threadedly move the seal pad 144 away from the valve seat 146 to the open position shown in FIG. 8.

The valve 100 is closed in the position shown in FIG. 5. In the closed position, oxygen cannot flow between the seal pad 144 and the valve seat 146.

In addition, in the closed position, the o-ring 136 and the valve rod 106 seal the first bypass space 138, such that oxygen cannot flow into the second bypass space 116. As noted above, a suitable o-ring 136 may be provided to form a gas-tight seal against the valve rod 106 in the upper opening 164, if desired.

The valve 100 is open in the position shown in FIG. 8. In the open position, as mentioned above, oxygen can flow through the valve seat 146, around the seal unit 124 in the direction of arrow 170, and through the valve outlet 114. To move the valve 100 from the closed position to the open position, the user first pushes down manually on the handle button 104, against the bias of the spring 108. Since the socket structure 112 is integrated with the

valve rod 106, the socket structure 112 also moves down to the enclosing position against the bias of the spring 108. The socket structure 112 may be fixed with respect to the valve rod 106 by a force fit or by adhesive, for example.

Pushing down on the handle button 104 causes the valve rod 106 to move axially toward the seal unit 124 and causes the pins 122,158,120,156 to become engaged within the socket structure 112. Then the user applies torque to the handle 102 in an opening rotational direction to threadedly rotate the seal unit 124 away from the valve seat 146. The torque is transmitted through the handle 102 and through the torque unit 112,120,122,156,158, to rotate the threaded seal unit 124. In the illustrated arrangement, the seal unit 124 cannot be rotated by the handle 102 unless the torque unit 112,120,122,156,158 is engaged, with the spring 108 in the compressed position shown in FIG. 7. The torque unit 112,120,122,156,158 is engaged to enable rotation of the seal unit 124. As shown in the drawings, the handle button 104 may be formed as part of the handle 102, and the button 104 may be located conveniendy to be operated by the thumb of the hand that grips the handle 102.

Pushing down on the handle button 104 to engage the torque unit 112,120,122,156,158 causes the reduced diameter portion 110 of the valve rod 106 to move into the upper opening 164 of the first bypass space 138.

When the reduced diameter portion 110 is in the upper opening 164, oxygen may flow into the second bypass space 116 and through the bleed passageway 118. Oxygen can start to flow through the upper opening 164 while the handle button 104 is moving downwardly, before the torque unit 112,120,122,156, 158 is fully engaged. In the illustrated arrangement, the handle button 104 must be moved to the intermediate FIG. 7 position before the seal unit 124 can be threadedly lifted from the valve seat 138. Opening the valve 100 requires a two-step sequential push-then-twist operation. If the user does not push down

on the handle button 104, the handle 102 merely rotates within the cover 154 without engaging the seal unit 124.

Consequently, the illustrated valve 100 allows oxygen to bleed into the outlet 114 through the bleed passageway 118 before the seal pad 144 is moved away from the valve seat 146. The small amount of oxygen that bleeds through the restricted passageway 118 during the short time required to engage the torque unit 112,120,122,156,158 may be sufficient to prevent a high pressure surge from developing in the system 10 when the valve 100 is subsequently opened. Thus, the regulator 12 (FIG. 1) may be filled at a relatively slow, controlled rate before a full flow of high pressure oxygen is allowed through the valve 100. The oxygen flow rate through the valve seat 146 in the valve open position (FIG. 8) may be much greater than the flow rate through the bleed passageway 118 in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 7.

In the preferred method of operation, the user will first push handle button 104 until the pressure stabilizes in the valve 100. The time it takes to push the handle button 104 down to enable opening of the valve 100 may be sufficient for the desired gradual pressurization of the regulator 12. The ability of the valve 100 to bleed sufficient oxygen into the outlet 114 in the available time may be controlled, for example, by selecting a suitable cross-sectional area for the bleed passageway 118.

In the open position shown in FIG. 8, substantially all of the oxygen flowing through the valve 100 travels in the direction of arrow 170 and not through the bleed passageway 118. Consequently, the bleed passageway 118 does not tend to become occluded by small contaminant particles entrained in the gas flow. If the bleed passageway 118 becomes plugged, the valve 100 will still be operable so that oxygen is still supplied to the intended operative device.

To close the valve 100, the user may grip the handle 102 and simultaneously depress the handle button 104, against the bias of the spring 108, to engage the torque unit 112,120,122,156,158. Then, while the spring 108 is compressed, the user manually twists the handle 102 to threadedly move the seal unit 124 back into sealing contact with the valve seat 146. Then the downward pressure on the handle button 104 is released, such that the spring 108 draws the end 132 of the valve rod 106 back into a sealed position with o- ring 136 within the upper opening 164 of the first bypass space 138.

The above description and drawings are only illustrative of preferred embodiments which can achieve and provide the objects, features and advantages of the present invention. It is not intended that the invention be limited to the embodiments shown and described in detail herein. Modifications coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims are to be considered part of the invention.

What is claimed is: