Air supply system for the medical sector and method for operating such a system

Abstract

An air supply system comprises a compressed air generation device which is connected to a line system which conveys air and the capacity of which is a multiple of a nominal requirement for air used for medical purposes. The compressed air generation device is moreover connected via a line system to a low priority air consumer. To ensure that the air intended for medical purposes has priority, a device sensitive to pressure or volumetric flow rate is provided in the line system which conveys the air intended for medical purposes, which device restricts or shuts off the flow of air in the line system conveying the lower priority air when the pressure or the volumetric flow rate in the line system which conveys the air intended for medical purposes drops below a specific value.

Claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air supply system for the medical sector comprising
 a) a compressed air generation device having an air generation capacity which is, for safety reasons, a multiple of a nominal requirement for air used for medical purposes;   b) a first line system connected to the compressed air generation device and configured to convey the air used for medical purposes;   c) at least one second line system connected to the compressed air generation device and connected to a lower priority air consumer so as to convey lower priority air to the lower priority air consumer; and   d) a monitoring and controlling device that
 is sensitive to pressure or volumetric flow rate in the first line system; and that 
 restricts air flow in the at least one second line system when the pressure or the volumetric flow rate in the first line system drops below a first specific value. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower priority air consumer is a dental consumer. 
     
     
         3 . The air supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring and controlling device comprises at least one pressure switch in the first line system and a controllable restrictor in the second line system, which is directly or indirectly actuatable by the at least one pressure switch. 
     
     
         4 . The air supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring and controlling device is configured to completely shut off the air flow in the at least one second line system when the pressure or the volumetric flow rate in the first line system drops to a second specific value which is lower than the first specific value. 
     
     
         5 . The air supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring and controlling device is configured to generate a warning signal when the pressure or the volumetric flow rate drops below the first specific value and/or the second specific value. 
     
     
         6 . The air supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two restriction and/or shut-off valves are connected to each other in series in the second line system. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating an air supply system, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
 a) Providing an air supply system that is configured to be used for medical purposes and comprises, for safety reasons, a compressed air generation device having a capacity which is a multiple of a nominal requirement for air used for medical purposes;   b) Monitoring a pressure or a volumetric flow rate in a first line system which conveys the air used for medical purposes;   c) Branching off an air flow from the compressed air generation device and using the air flow for lower priority purposes, provided the pressure does not drop below a first specific value; and   d) Restricting the air flow for lower priority purposes when the pressure or the volumetric flow rate drops below the first specific value.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the air used for lower priority purposes is supplied to a dental consumer. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising the step of completely shutting off air flow for lower priority purposes when the pressure or the volumetric flow rate drops to a second specific value which is lower than the first specific value. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising the step of generating a warning signal when the pressure or the volumetric flow rate drops below the first specific value and/or the second specific value. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein restriction and shutting off the air flow for lower priority purposes is not ceased until the pressure or the volumetric flow rate in the first line system which conveys the air used for medical purposes has risen above the first specific value and a manual approval has additionally been provided.