Diaphragm Muffler and Method of Use

Abstract

A diaphragm muffler for quiet operation of a compressor imparting an above atmospheric pressure stream and a below atmospheric pressure stream. The diaphragm muffler including a diaphragm pressure chamber receiving the above atmospheric pressure stream; a diaphragm vacuum chamber receiving the below atmospheric pressure stream; and a flexible diaphragm dividing the diaphragm pressure chamber receiving the above atmospheric pressure stream from the diaphragm vacuum chamber receiving the below atmospheric pressure stream, whereby the above atmospheric pressure stream and the below atmospheric pressure stream cancel each other out via the flexible diaphragm.

1 . A diaphragm muffler for quiet operation of a compressor, the compressor imparting an above atmospheric pressure pulsation stream and a below atmospheric pressure stream, comprising:
 a diaphragm pressure chamber receiving the above atmospheric pressure pulsation stream;   a diaphragm vacuum chamber receiving the below atmospheric pressure pulsation stream;   a flexible diaphragm dividing the diaphragm pressure chamber receiving the above atmospheric pressure pulsation stream from the diaphragm vacuum chamber receiving the below atmospheric pressure stream, whereby the above atmospheric pressure pulsation stream and the below atmospheric pressure stream cancel each other out via the flexible diaphragm.   
     
     
         2 . The diaphragm muffler of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is a combination compressor/vacuum generator. 
     
     
         3 . The diaphragm muffler of  claim 2 , wherein the compressor is part of a pressure swing adsorption concentrator. 
     
     
         4 . The diaphragm muffler of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure swing adsorption concentrator is a portable oxygen concentrator including a Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) module, the below atmospheric pressure stream is a pulsating exhaust stream drawn from the PSA module by the combination compressor/vacuum generator and the above atmospheric pressure stream is a pulsating intake stream delivered under high pressure to the PSA module by the combination compressor/vacuum generator. 
     
     
         5 . The diaphragm muffler of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm muffler includes a pressure inlet and a pressure outlet in communication with the diaphragm pressure chamber, and a vacuum inlet and a vacuum outlet in communication with the diaphragm vacuum chamber, wherein the above atmospheric pressure pulsation stream enters the diaphragm pressure chamber through the pressure inlet and exits the diaphragm pressure chamber through the pressure outlet, and the below atmospheric pressure stream enters the diaphragm vacuum chamber through the vacuum inlet and exits the diaphragm vacuum chamber through the vacuum outlet. 
     
     
         6 . A method of using a diaphragm muffler, comprising:
 providing the diaphragm muffler of  claim 1 ;   receiving above atmospheric pressure pulsation stream in the diaphragm pressure chamber;   receiving below atmospheric pressure pulsation stream in the diaphragm vacuum chamber;   using the flexible diaphragm for canceling out the above atmospheric pressure stream and the below atmospheric pressure stream without mixing the above atmospheric pressure stream and the below atmospheric pressure stream.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the compressor is a combination compressor/vacuum generator and is part of a portable oxygen concentrator including a Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) module, the below atmospheric pressure stream is a pulsating exhaust stream drawn from the PSA module by the combination compressor/vacuum generator and the above atmospheric pressure stream is a pulsating intake stream delivered under high pressure to the PSA module by the combination compressor/vacuum generator.