AU2016232164A1

AU2016232164A1 - A shut-off valve

Info

Publication number: AU2016232164A1
Application number: AU2016232164A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christopher John COWLES; Derrick Ernest Hilton; Brian Jacobsen; Christine KANDZIORA
Original assignee: Linde GmbH
Current assignee: Linde GmbH
Priority date: 2015-03-17
Filing date: 2016-03-17
Publication date: 2017-10-05
Also published as: WO2016146776A1; WO2016146775A2; CA2979603A1; EP3271644A2; EP3271645A1; GB201504462D0; CA2979593A1; AU2016232165A1; WO2016146775A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shut-off valve, in particular a shut-off valve for use on a cylinder containing pressurised fluid. A system comprises a plurality of shut-off valves (100), each for use on a cylinder (102) containing pressurised fluid, each shut-off valve (100) comprising: a valve element movable between an open position and a closed position; a controller (104); and a wireless signal receiver (110), wherein: each controller (104) is operable to move the valve element from the open position to the closed position in response to a wireless signal that is received by the wireless signal receiver (110); the system further comprises a control panel (300) located remotely from the plurality of the shut-off valves (100) and comprising a signal emitter (302), the control panel (300) is operable to transmit the signal, via the signal emitter (302), to the wireless signal receivers (110) of the shut-off valves (100) to thereby instruct the controllers (104) to move the valve elements of the plurality of shut-off valves (100) to the closed position.

Description

PCT/EP2016/055860 WO 2016/146775 - 1 -

A SHUT-OFF VALVE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shut-off valve, in particular a shut-off valve for use on a cylinder containing pressurised fluid.

Although reference is made to a "cylinder", it will be understood that the invention is applicable broadly to all portable pressurised gas containers whether they are strictly in the form of a cylinder or not.

Such cylinders are used to supply gas for a range of applications including welding and cutting hoses and torches, gas packaging machines and laboratory equipment.

There currently exist valves for use on cylinders containing pressurised fluid which can close a cylinder under certain prescribed or predetermined conditions. An example of such a valve is disclosed in US 6,328,053, which comprises a valve which will close automatically on detection of a leak therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system comprising a plurality of a shut-off valve for use on a cylinder containing pressurised fluid, each shut-off valve comprising: a valve element movable between an open position and a closed position; a controller; and a wireless signal receiver; PCT/EP2016/055860 WO 2016/146775 -2- wherein the controller is operable to move the valve element from the open position to the closed position in response to a wireless signal that is received by the wireless signal receiver; wherein the system further comprises a control panel remotely located from the plurality of the shut-off valves and comprising a signal emitter, wherein the control panel is actuatable for sending the signal, via the signal emitter, to the shut-off valves.

The controller may, for example, comprise a valve actuator such as a solenoid or motor for moving the valve member.

The control panel may be acutatable by a push button. This push button may be for instance, an emergency stop button, located for instance on a wall of a facility containing the shut-off valves.

The control panel may be acutatable based on a signal from at least one of a fire alarm and/or a smoke alarm so that the cylinders can be shut in the case of fire.

The control panel may be acutatable based on a time switch so that the cylinders can be shut at the end of a working day.

The control panel may comprise a microphone, and be acutatable based on a predetermined audio command received by the microphone (for example, a voice command). In this way, the shut-off valves can be conveniently actuated by voice or by some other audio command. PCT/EP2016/055860 WO 2016/146775 -3-

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shut-off valve for use on a cylinder containing pressurised fluid, the shut-off valve comprising: a valve element movable between an open position and a closed position; a controller; a sensor for measuring a parameter; and wherein the controller is operable to move the valve element from the open position to the closed position in response to a predetermined signal from the sensor; wherein a) the sensor is a thermometer for measuring the temperature of the valve's surroundings, and the predetermined signal is generated in response to the temperature recorded by the thermometer being outside a predetermined range; b) the sensor is a pressure gauge for measuring the pressure of the valve's surroundings, and the predetermined signal is generated in response to the pressure recorded by the pressure gauge being outside a predetermined range; c) the sensor is a microphone, and the predetermined signal is generated in response to a predetermined audio command received by the microphone; or d) the sensor is a gas detector for monitoring levels of one or more type of gas (for example, oxygen and/or toxic or hazardous gases, such as chlorine).

In some embodiments, multiple sensors are provided such a valve may include the sensors from one or more of a) to d) above .

The above sensors provide a valve which can automatically open and close depending on its surroundings. WO 2016/146775 PCT/EP2016/055860 -4-

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shut-off valve for use on a cylinder containing pressurised fluid, the shut-off valve comprising: a valve element movable between an open position and a closed position; a controller; a sensor electronically connected to the controller for measuring a parameter; and a locking means operable to allow the valve element to move from the closed position to the open position only in response to a predetermined signal from the sensor.

In this case, the sensor may comprise a fingerprint reader and the parameter may be a fingerprint.

In another embodiment, the sensor may comprise an RFID tag reader and the parameter may be a signal from an RFID tag.

The output from the sensor may be monitored by a data logger located on the valve.

The controller from a valve according the either the second or third aspects of the invention may be further operable to move the valve element from the open position to the closed position in response to a wireless signal that is received by a wireless signal receiver located on the shut-off valve. In this way, the valve is useable in a system described in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, the or each shut-off valve from the first, second, and third aspects of the PCT/EP2016/055860 WO 2016/146775 -5- invention may each be connected to a cylinder for pressurised fluid. PCT/EP2016/055860 WO 2016/146775 -6-

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figure 1 which shows a schematic of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown an assembly 10 comprising a valve 100 connectable to a cylinder body 102 for a pressurised fluid. The valve comprises a valve element movable between an open position in which fluid can escape the cylinder, and a closed position in which the fluid is contained within the cylinder.

Electrically connected to the valve 100 are a CPU 104 and a sensor 106 for monitoring a parameter of either the valve, fluid in fluid communication with the valve, a fluid in the cylinder, and/or the environment around the cylinder 102.

The parameter monitored by the sensor 106 may be, for instance, the duration that the valve element is open, the quantity of fluid flowing through the valve, leakage from the valve, ambient temperature and/or pressure around the cylinder, and/or the number of opening cycles the valve element makes. The sensor 106 may alternatively be a microphone. The CPU 104 and sensor 106 may be powered by any appropriate power source 108. Dependent on the value of the parameter measure by the sensor 106, signals from the sensor 106 may be transmitted via the CPU 104 to control the operation of the valve element.

The valve assembly 10 also comprises a wireless signal receiver 110 for receiving an electronic signal from a remote location as will be described. The wireless signal PCT/EP2016/055860 WO 2016/146775 -7- receiver can be configured to receive signals over any conventional wireless transmission method, for instance Bluetooth, UHF and GSM. The wireless receiver 508 could additionally allow for non-wireless communication signals to be received, for instance by being provided with a USB port. Each receiver could alternatively be a transceiver to allow signals to be emitted, as well as received, from the valve assembly 10. A control panel 300 is located in a location remote from the valve assembly 10. The control panel 300 is connected to a wireless signal emitter 302 (which alternatively may be a transceiver), and may be connected to an input device 304 and/or a computer network 306. A relay station 400 may be provided to relay signals between the valve 100 and the control panel 300. The relay station comprises at least one wireless transceiver for communicating signals to and from the valve 100 and the control panel 300.

Signals between the control panel 300, the relay station 400, and the valve 100 may be communicated and/or stored in the cloud 200.

The purpose of the control panel 300 is to allow remote operation of the valve assembly 10 and any other valve assembly (for instance valve assembly 10' as shown in Figure 1) that the control panel 300 can send a wireless signal to.

In one embodiment, a wireless signal may be sent from the control panel 300 to some or all of the valve assemblies PCT/EP2016/055860 WO 2016/146775 -8- 10/10' which instructs the valve 100/100' of these assemblies to close.

The wireless signal from the control panel 300 is transmitted via the emitter 302 to each of the valve assemblies 10/10' either directly, via the cloud 200, or via the relay station 400.

Sending of the wireless signal may be triggered by depression of the input device 304, which may be for instance an emergency stop button. Such an input device 304 may be provided in addition to a further, separate controller for controlling the normal operation of the valve 100 (i.e., non-emergency use).

For example, each valve 100 of a plurality of valves 100 may be provided with a first controller, whilst a single input device 304 may be provided for emergency shut off of all of the plurality of valves 100.

The signal may alternatively be triggered by a fire alarm going off, or a smoke detector triggering. The signal may also be triggered based on a command from the computer network 306 which is connected to the control panel 300.

Another situation in which the signal may be triggered might be when the facility containing the valve assemblies 10'10' is shut for the day. In this case, it may be desirable to send a signal via the control panel 300 to the valve assemblies located within the facility to ensure that none of them have accidently been left open. For this purpose, the control panel 300 may comprise a time switch that provides a signal indicating a predetermined time so that PCT/EP2016/055860 WO 2016/146775 -9- the control panel can be triggered to transmit the signal at the predetermined time.

The signal may alternatively be triggered in response to a voice command from an operator next to the control panel, or in response to a measured parameter of the conditions surrounding one/all of the valves. This measured condition may be the temperature around the monitored valve(s); the pressure around the monitored valve(s); and/or the chemical composition of the environment around the monitored valve (s) .

It will be appreciated that modifications could be made to the assembly 10 described above without departing from the scope of the invention.

In one embodiment the sensor 106 may communicate with the CPU 104 and the valve 100 and serve as a mechanism which keeps the valve closed to personnel who are not authorized to use the valve. Such embodiments have particular application in the medical field in which it is very important to restrict access to certain fluids such that only qualified/authorised individuals can use these. A shut-off valve in accordance with such an embodiment may comprise a sensor 106 that is electronically arranged to provide the authorisation signal to the CPU 104 and to sense data that can be used to authenticate a user. The controller 104 may be arranged to allow the valve element to move from the closed position to the open position only if the authorisation signal indicates that the user is authenticated. PCT/EP2016/055860 WO 2016/146775 -10-

The sensor 106 may be an RFID or NFC tag reader such that the valve 100 can only be operated if a particular RFID or NFC tag (supplied to an authorized person) is within the vicinity of the RFID or NFC tag reader. In this way, the sensor would only output a signal indicating that a user is authenticated when the correct RFID or NFC tag is nearby.

Optionally, the presence of the tag may trigger the controller 104 to allow the valve element to move from the closed position to the open position for a predetermined period of time, following which the controller will move the valve element from the open position to the closed position. The tag may be presented to the device again when that time period has expired to again authenticate the user.

Alternatively, the presence of the tag may trigger the controller 104 to allow the valve element to move from the closed position to the open position until a predetermined quantity of fluid has been dispensed from the cylinder, following which the controller will move the valve element from the open position to the closed position. The tag may be presented to the device again when that quantity has been dispensed to again authenticate the user.

In a preferred version of this embodiment, the RFID or NFC tag can be used as a payment device, such that the user makes a payment each time the device authenticates the user. In this way, a user can pay for the provision of stored fluid.

The sensor 106 could alternatively be a biometric reader, for instance a fingerprint scanner, responsive to a biometric from an authorized person. In this way, the sensor PCT/EP2016/055860 WO 2016/146775 - 11 - would only output a signal indicating that a user is authenticated when the correct fingerprint is presented.

The sensor 106 may comprise a socket and be arranged to sense the insertion of an electronic key therein. In this way, the sensor would only output a signal indicating that a user is authenticated when the correct electronic key is inserted.

An indication means, for instance in the form of a visual display or a speaker, may be electronically connected to the CPU 104 on the valve. The indication means would be operable to emit a first indication upon an authorized person being allowed access to the valve, and a different indication in response to an access attempt from an unathorized person.

The sensor could alternatively be used to sense the position of a component of a mechanical lock. In this way, the sensor would only output a signal indicating that a user is authenticated when the mechanical lock has been unlocked. A data logger may be electronically connected to the CPU 104 for monitoring which authorized and/or unauthorized personnel operate the valve, and when. Data from the logger may be stored in a memory, or may be sent by a wireless transceiver 110 on the valve to a remote location, for instance the control panel 300 or the cloud 200.

Claims

1. A system comprising a plurality of shut-off valves, each for use on a cylinder containing pressurised fluid, each shut-off valve comprising: a valve element movable between an open position and a closed position; a controller; and a wireless signal receiver, wherein: each controller is operable to move the valve element from the open position to the closed position in response to a wireless signal that is received by the wireless signal receiver; the system further comprises a control panel located remotely from the plurality of the shut-off valves and comprising a signal emitter, the control panel is operable to transmit the signal, via the signal emitter, to the wireless signal receivers of the shut-off valves to thereby instruct the controllers to move the valve elements of the plurality of shut-off valves to the closed position.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the control panel comprises a push button for triggering the transmission of the signal.

3. A system according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the control panel is arranged to be triggered to transmit the signal by a signal from at least one of a fire alarm and/or a smoke alarm.

4. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control panel is arranged to be triggered to transmit the signal by a time switch.

5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control panel comprises a microphone, and is arranged to be triggered to transmit the signal by a predetermined audio command received by the microphone.

6. A shut-off valve for use on a cylinder containing pressurised fluid, the shut-off valve comprising: a valve element movable between an open position and a closed position; a controller; a sensor for measuring a parameter; and wherein the controller is operable to move the valve element from the open position to the closed position in response to a predetermined signal from the sensor; wherein : a) the sensor is a temperature sensor for measuring temperature of the valve's surroundings, and the predetermined signal is generated in response to the temperature recorded by the temperature sensor being outside a predetermined range; b) the sensor is a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the valve's surroundings, and the predetermined signal is generated in response to the pressure recorded by the pressure sensor being outside a predetermined range; c) the sensor is a microphone, and the predetermined signal is generated in response to a predetermined audio command received by the microphone; or d) the sensor is a gas detector for monitoring levels of one or more type of gas.

7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, or a shut-off valve according to claim 6, wherein the or each shut-off valve is connected to a cylinder for pressurised fluid.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the cylinders store fluids for use in therapy.