GB2579173A - A gas manifold block assembly - Google Patents

A gas manifold block assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2579173A
GB2579173A GB1817547.1A GB201817547A GB2579173A GB 2579173 A GB2579173 A GB 2579173A GB 201817547 A GB201817547 A GB 201817547A GB 2579173 A GB2579173 A GB 2579173A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
sensor
lever
manifold block
gas
gas manifold
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1817547.1A
Other versions
GB201817547D0 (en
Inventor
Mark Jackson Christopher
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Linde GmbH
Original Assignee
Linde GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Linde GmbH filed Critical Linde GmbH
Priority to GB1817547.1A priority Critical patent/GB2579173A/en
Publication of GB201817547D0 publication Critical patent/GB201817547D0/en
Publication of GB2579173A publication Critical patent/GB2579173A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/04—Arrangement or mounting of valves
    • F17C13/045—Automatic change-over switching assembly for bottled gas systems with two (or more) gas containers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/02—Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/04—Arrangement or mounting of valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/01—Mounting arrangements
    • F17C2205/0123—Mounting arrangements characterised by number of vessels
    • F17C2205/013—Two or more vessels
    • F17C2205/0134—Two or more vessels characterised by the presence of fluid connection between vessels
    • F17C2205/0142—Two or more vessels characterised by the presence of fluid connection between vessels bundled in parallel
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/01—Mounting arrangements
    • F17C2205/0123—Mounting arrangements characterised by number of vessels
    • F17C2205/013—Two or more vessels
    • F17C2205/0134—Two or more vessels characterised by the presence of fluid connection between vessels
    • F17C2205/0146—Two or more vessels characterised by the presence of fluid connection between vessels with details of the manifold
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0107—Single phase
    • F17C2223/0123—Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/035—High pressure (>10 bar)
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/04—Methods for emptying or filling
    • F17C2227/041—Methods for emptying or filling vessel by vessel
    • F17C2227/042—Methods for emptying or filling vessel by vessel with change-over from one vessel to another
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/03—Control means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/04—Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
    • F17C2250/0404—Parameters indicated or measured
    • F17C2250/0478—Position or presence
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/04—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling using an independent energy source, e.g. battery

Abstract

A gas manifold block assembly comprising a housing with a first inlet port 2 connectable to a first gas supply (6, fig 1) a second inlet port 3 connectable to a second gas supply (6’ fig 1) and an outlet port 4, where a valve assembly is provided which comprises a valve element (8, fig 1) movable from a first position in which the first inlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet port and a second position in which the second inlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet port, actuated by a lever 9, and a sensor system 13 comprises a sensor 17, such as a hall effect sensor, to detect the position of the lever, such as by detecting the presence of a magnet 11 attached to the lever, and a controller 18. The gas supplies may comprise gas cylinders

Description

A GAS MANIFOLD BLOCK ASSEMBLY
The present invention relates to a gas manifold block assembly.
Such a gas manifold block assembly is used between two cylinders or cylinder banks (reference below to "cylinder" should also be considered to cover "cylinder bank" where appropriate) to allow a user to switch between the two cylinders. A gas manifold block has a housing with a first inlet port connectable to a first cylinder and a second inlet port connectable to a second cylinder, and an outlet port connectable to gas consuming equipment. A valve assembly comprising a valve element is movable from a first position in which the first inlet port is in flow communication with the outlet port and a second position in which the second inlet port is in flow communication with the outlet port. A change over lever is attached to the valve element and protrudes from the housing. The lever provides a handle for manual manipulation of the valve element.
When a first cylinder is depleted, a user will operate the lever to connect the second cylinder to the outlet port. They can then replace the first cylinder with a full one.
The present invention aims to provide an improvement of such an assembly.
According to the present invention, there is provided a gas manifold block assembly according to claim 1.
The present invention offers, for the first time, the ability to detect that a user has switched from one cylinder to another and to transmit this information. This allows automatic monitoring of the gas consumption by a user and therefore allows the gas supplier to automatically resupply the gas. For example, if a user has purchased 10 cylinders, each time one is used up and the lever is moved between positions, this information is measured and transmitted to a control system which can determine that the user is nearing the end of their gas supply and automatically provide a replacement.
The sensor on the lever can take any form, such as an accelerometer attached to the lever.
However, preferably, the sensor system comprises a first unpowered sensor element mounted on the lever and a second element mounted on the outside of the housing of the manifold block to detect the first element. This may, for example, be an optical sensor with a light source and receiver on the manifold block and a detectable marking on the lever. However, preferably, the first element is a magnet and the second element is a Hall sensor.
The sensor may be configured only to detect that the lever has passed the sensor. For example, this can be a single Hall sensor. However, preferably, the sensor is also configured to determine the direction of travel of the lever. For example, there may be two Hall sensors and the sequence in which these detect a magnet and determines the direction of travel.
The gas manifold block can be manufactured with the sensor arrangement integrated into it. However, preferably, the sensor system, controller, transmitter and power source are a retrofit onto the gas manifold block.
Such a system may be defined as a sensor system according to claim 6. Because the sensor system can be installed without requiring access to any gas containing space in the gas manifold block, the attachment process is greatly simplified.
As stated above, the sensor may be a single sensor such as an accelerometer. However, preferably, the sensor system further comprises a sensor element detectable by the sensor and having means for attachment to the lever of the gas manifold valve. Preferably this sensor element does not require a power source.
An example of a gas manifold block assembly in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a typical layer of a gas manifold gas assembly to which the present invention may be applied; Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the manifold block showing the adaptations provided by the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the manifold block of Fig. 2.
The general layer has a manifold block 1 with a first inlet port 2, a second inlet port 3 and an outlet port 4. The first inlet port 2 is connected via a duct 5 to a first gas supply 6. This may be a single cylinder or a bank of cylinders. In this case, the bank of cylinders is formed by a number of cylinders arranged in an array which is contained within a framework, the outlets of the cylinders are manifolded together and are connected to the duct 5. The pressure of the first supply 6 is measured by a pressure gauge 7.
A second gas supply 6' is configured in exactly the same way as the first gas supply 6 and is connected to the second inlet 3 via a duct 5'.
Within the manifold block 1 is a valve element 8 which is attached to a lever 9. The lever 9 in a position shown in Fig. 1 connects the first inlet port 2 with the outlet port 4. As shown on the pressure gauge 7, the gas from the first gas supply 6 has been depleted. Under these circumstances, the user moves the lever 9 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a diametrically opposed position in which the second inlet port 3 is coupled to the outlet port 4. Once this is done, the first gas supply 6 can be removed and replaced with a new supply.
The improvement provided by the invention is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. There are two aspects to this improvement. Firstly, a magnet 11 is attached to the lever 9 via a collar 12. Secondly, a sensor system 13 is attached to the manifold block 1. This is done via a pair of ties 14 but could be any form of attached such as a snap fit.
The sensor assembly 13 comprises a case 15 containing a printed circuit board 16 on which two Hall sensors 17 are mounted in a position which directly faces the magnet 11. The Hall sensors 17 are connected to a microprocessor 18 and are powered by a battery 19. The microprocessor 18 is connected to a transmitter 20 which may be any form of wireless transmission.
As would be appreciated from this description, the sensor module 13 is a self-contained unit which is readily attached to the gas manifold 1 without requiring access to any of the internal gas path. Further, the magnet 11 is a simple component, which does not require power, which is readily attached to the lever.
In use, when the lever 9 is moved from the first position to the second position as described in relation to Fig. 1, the magnet 11 passes the Hall sensors 17 in turn such that each provides a signal to the microprocessor 18 which can determine that the lever has moved from one position to another. This information is transmitted via the transmitter 20 to a control system which may be a PC, tablet or smartphone, or it may be transmitted over the internet to a remote location. A stock control system is programmed with information concerning the amount of gas cylinders or banks purchased by a particular customer. Each time it is detected that the lever has moved from one position to the other, the system counts that one of the cylinders or blocks has been used up thereby allowing it to calculate when a resupply of gas is due.
The system is preferably programmed to eliminate unusual readings. For example, if it is determined that the lever 9 has been moved two or more time in quick succession, it does not recognise that this will not be because two of the gas supplies have been exhausted in quick succession. Under these circumstances, further intervention is required in order determine the current status of the gas supplies.

Claims (10)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. A gas manifold block assembly comprising a gas manifold block with housing with a first inlet port connectable to a first cylinder, a second inlet port connectable to a second cylinder, an outlet port connectable to gas consuming equipment, a valve assembly comprising a valve element movable from a first position in which the first inlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet port and a second position in which the second inlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet port and a lever attached to the valve element and protruding from the housing, the lever providing a handle for manual manipulation of the valve element; the assembly further comprising a sensor system comprising a sensor to detect the position of the lever, a controller to receive information on the position of the lever from the sensor and a transmitter for outputting this information and a power source to power the components of the assembly.
  2. 2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises a first unpowered sensor element mounted on the lever and a second element mounted on the outside of the housing of the manifold block to detect the first element.
  3. 3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first element is a magnet and the second element is a Hall sensor.
  4. 4. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the direction of travel of the lever.
  5. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor system, controller, transmitter and power source are a retro fit onto the gas manifold block.
  6. 6. A sensor system for retro fitting to a gas manifold block, the sensor system comprising: a sensor module comprising a sensor, a controller to receive position information, a transmitter for outputting this information, a power source to power the components of the system from the sensor, and means for attaching the sensor module to a housing of a gas manifold block without requiring access to any gas containing space in the gas manifold block.
  7. 7. A system according to claim 6, further comprising a sensor element detectable by the sensor and having means for attachment to a lever of a gas manifold valve.
  8. 8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor element does not require a power source.
  9. 9. A sensor system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the sensor is a Hall sensor.
  10. 10. A sensor system according to any of claim 7 or 9, wherein the sensor element is a magnet.
GB1817547.1A 2018-10-29 2018-10-29 A gas manifold block assembly Withdrawn GB2579173A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1817547.1A GB2579173A (en) 2018-10-29 2018-10-29 A gas manifold block assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1817547.1A GB2579173A (en) 2018-10-29 2018-10-29 A gas manifold block assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201817547D0 GB201817547D0 (en) 2018-12-12
GB2579173A true GB2579173A (en) 2020-06-17

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1817547.1A Withdrawn GB2579173A (en) 2018-10-29 2018-10-29 A gas manifold block assembly

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2579173A (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130074937A1 (en) * 2011-09-28 2013-03-28 Albert Wing Medical Gas Switchover Manifold
US20180119887A1 (en) * 2015-04-07 2018-05-03 L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude Valve and pressurized fluid tank
WO2018107217A1 (en) * 2016-12-14 2018-06-21 Anthony Joseph Tambasco A system and method of remotely monitoring status of a gas container

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130074937A1 (en) * 2011-09-28 2013-03-28 Albert Wing Medical Gas Switchover Manifold
US20180119887A1 (en) * 2015-04-07 2018-05-03 L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude Valve and pressurized fluid tank
WO2018107217A1 (en) * 2016-12-14 2018-06-21 Anthony Joseph Tambasco A system and method of remotely monitoring status of a gas container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201817547D0 (en) 2018-12-12

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