CA2253558C - Manifold/distributor assembly for combustible gas supplied from a plurality of liquefied-gas cartridges - Google Patents

Abstract

Manifold/distributor assembly for combustible gas supplied from a plurality of liquefied gas cartridges, comprising a frame (1) with upper and lower covers (64, 65) forming a leaktight box (95) and, within the box, a plurality of housings (2), each for housing a liquefied gas cartridge (36, 85) and each one being provided with a valve assembly (71) incorporating an actuation element (13, 91), which valve assembly does not open unless a cartridge is present in the housing and actuates the element; the outlet of each valve assembly being connected to a manifold (15, 16, 17, 18, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79) comprising a multiple-way tap (80) for selective connection of manifold portions to a delivery pipe (22), in case through a pressure regulator (81).

Description

Title: Manif o1d/distri5utor assembler .or combusti~l a cas suppli ee frcm a plLtral itv of li queLi =_-gas cartridcres .
*** * *** PM 087-CF
DLSCR I P~ I OAT
The present invention ?-elates to a mani rol d/di stributor assembly =or combus tible . gas Sltppll.ed f1'Om a pl Llra! 1ty O- 1 lC.yLleT? c~d-C.TaS Car tri dC[eS .
It i S iCIlOr~Tn that 11Q'Lleii ed GcS =Or dOmeStlC uSe, in parti.c»lar for supply to cookers at:d possibl y heating appliances, is distributed to the users by mear_s of J
refillable pressurized cylinders, which have consid~r-~ble Wei ght and btll k, from service c=ntres whi ch also effect the col lection of the exizausted cyl finders and the refilling thereof.
The costs of delivery have a significant effect on the servi ce, the timing of ~~h:ich is general 1 y difficult to match to recuirements, which can ti3erefore be met only by providing, on the pretn_s2s of the user, a reserve cylinder to replace the exhausted cylinderwas soon as the need therefor arises.
The domestic storage O' the' reserve cylinder and the installation thereon =or use, which installation is carried out by generally inexpert persons, constitute a non-neclicibl a r i sk factor, which is accrr avated by the dif=iculty of having to handle an object which is bulky aT_'!d Of COnS i de:C'aJle WelQht .
It is also known that in order to ensure greater safety, improved portability and convenience of use, the liquefied gas may be supplied in single-use sealed 3~0 cartridges (or even cartridges having a closing, non refill valve) of restricted dimensions and limited capacity, of the order of one litre or less, which, when exhausted, are discarded.
By virtue of the ease o= andli nq of these cartri dges anc of the ree~~ced b~tl~ of the ap~li ances which make use of them, these cartridcas find widespread use for campi ng and for suppl ying por table .appli ances in which the limited independence and h ating power which can be pr ovided by the cartridges do not cons ti tote a problem, as is, however, the case in comestic use, where it ,'is obl i gatory to empl oy rezil l a.bl a cylinders os Greater capacity, with the disadvantages which have already been indicated.
It has been proposed. to ave=come the limited autonomy of the cartri ages, to provi d.e a mani fold set which ho~lseS a VclVe-tYDe-Ccrti dge be t tery and Whi Ch Can be operated to control the joint opening of the valve of a? 1 the partridges instal led in the set, thus connecting them j o i n tl y to a, deli very pipe .
An example in this direction is provided by the document FR-A-2.642.142.
The proposed solution does not ensure the service continuity and from the user standpoint does not provide ade~tzate safety.
In fact, if due to inadvertency, even a single one of the cartridges which must be installed in the manifold set is not installed or is improperly set, very dangerous gas leakage can occur.
In addition replacement of the exhausted cartridges can only be performed collectively and requires the 3C manifold set to be put out of service.
Fiirti~er the rise of c PLlmber oL ca.rtri~oes lesser than the number of cartridges to be installed is impossible and therefore it is not possible to tailor the eauipment to different user needs.
Si mi 1 ar limi rations are przsci:.~. iT_1 US-~-3 , 1 61, 322 which discloses a pocket gas dispenser where a r =-~ be selective) y pl ural i ty o. m_cro ca_ fridges c_~_ connected to a mar_ifold, through _ compressible pad ODeratlng aS a Shpt-Off Valve When COmpreSS2d.
Depending on the compressior_ degree imposed by axial movement of the cartridge a~~inst the pad, a cartridge can be punctured by a pin, the pad then intercepting communication of the cartridge with the manifold, then, moving the cartridge away from the pin, the pad compression is released ar_d the communication is established.
Although collective connection of several cartridges to the manifold or selective exclusion therefrom can be provided, it is not possible to perform a selective replacement of the cartridges, by the more with the dispenser ir_ use, nor to load the dispenser with a r_umber of cartridces lesser than the one for which it is designed, because that would involve gas leakage. ' Control of the connection opening or shut-off reauires further a displacement of the cartridges, easy .25 achievable with micro cartridges only.
FR-A-2.076.256 discloses a cabinet and gas cylinders contained therein; the gas cylinders are connected to a common manifold, each cylinder through a respective preSSUre reducer and a _espective shut-off tai.
The .present inve.r_tion aims to provide a manifold/distributor for combustible gas supplied from - C -a plurality oz liquefied-gas cartridges, which manifold/distributor is capable of performing as well as a refillable cylinder while _~, addition giving continuity of service, safety o. use and ease of S replacement of the cartridges, wren exhausted, the supplying of which is particularly convenient, and car_-be carried out directly by the use-, without the need to have recourse to a service centre.
These results are achieved, according to the present invention, by a manifold/d-stributor assembly comprisirig a frame forming a plurality of cartridge housings, at least partial housings, and a mar_ifold provided with a plurality of vale assemblies each incorporating an actuation elemer_t for opening the cartridges, one for each cartridge housing, which valve assemblies are normally closed and are only opened when a cartridge is present in the respective housing, characterised by comprising a mule-ole-way tap, which puts a delivery:conduit in fluid communication with the whole manifold, with portions thereof or with none of them.
The manifold/distributor assembly can be provided with a pressure-reducing regulator, which is conventional per se, with outlet adapter for connection to a consumer appliance, for example a domestic cooker.
The cartridges are preferably of the valve type with screwed boss for cartridge mounting, of the standard type defined for instance by European Regulation ErT 417, but with a modified bottom which enables their manual holding and their screwing even in,case a plurali~y of cart ridges is t1.Q11tly ]Ll:Cta170se~. , Pre=erably the valve assem5lies provide a double closing protection and consist in a shut-o=' valve, opened only in presance o. a cartric.ge, coupled to the cartridge shut-of= val ve, and i n a non ret~.l_n valve, cascade connected.
According to a Further aspec= of the present inventi on, the frame .=orms a container nor the manifold and~'the cartridges which can be tightly dosed for transportation or storing in very sa=a conditions.
Advantageosly the tight contair_~r can be provided, for fur they safety, wi th a pressure de=ection devi ce for detecting internal overpressure o. the container resul t i ng f rom gas leakage ar_d f or s i en all i ng the event .
A vent pipe may al so be provided to put the contair_er in communication with the ex~ernal am5ient, so as to prevent local and indoor =orma~_? on of i n_1 ammable gas mixture in case of cas leakace.
The features and the advantages of the invention will become clearer below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a manifold/distributor assembly;
- Figure 2 is a view, in diametral section, of a valve assembly incorporating a puncturing needle for the manifold/distributor assembly of Figure 1;
- t'lQtl1-e ~ 1S a Vle'rl, in ciame~L'cZ Sec tini7, Oi th°

valve assembly of Fig. 2 in a .pPase oz cartridc' 1.115 ~a 1 1at10n Gur lng Trihi Ch tile y!11~C ~~11'lnCJ ne~dl ~ 7.5 inserted 1i1t0 th2 Ccr~rl~Cfe, bLlt ti?e Vcl Ve aSSe!il~l y 1$
cl osed;
- r i qu_re C i S a Vi 2w, i n Ciiametr Z! SeCti Oil, O. ~h2 Valve aS52til''i11 y Oi t 1G. 2 W1~I1 the Cc= ~i 7..dC~2 i nS to 1 1201 and'the valve assembly oven;
- F7.g~11-2 5 i S a -1-Ont Vi eW Oi c COrIIeS t? C CCOki nQ
Gp~li ance usi ng the d? SL=ibuLOr ZS5e:11:J1 J Or ~ F i GLt_2 1;
IO ~ . F i gtlr2 6 i S d lc~cral Vl.e'rl, ~cZ'Ll y~ i n C?-OSS-section, of the a~pl iance of F~ g. 5;
- Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a first modification of a cartridge container and the associated base for the assembly of Figure 1;
- Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a second modification of a cartridge container for the assembly of Figure 1;
- Figure 9 is a view, partly in diametral cross section, of a modification of a valve assembly incorporating a puncturing needle and shut-off tap for the assembly of Figure 1.
- Figure 10 is a perspective, exploded view of an embodiment of a manifold/distributor assembly in accordance with the present invention, where the assembly forms in particular a tight, gas-leakage-proof container.
- FlCftll-2 1 1 1S a S2Cti On Vi ei-7 i n ClaRl=L=al SECti On Oi c ValV2 ~cSS2illbl'7 i01' tl?e °fibOCl~ilc:l~ ~?i Zlq~.lT_"° 10, i mended sor coupl i ng wi th a val ve-ty ~e cartri dge .
- iigur= 12 i s a ~e~-spective scha:~a.tic vi ew o= zi~°
embodiment of Li g 10, further ~~onide' with a vent pine _ 7 _ and/or visual or acoustic devices for signalling possible gas leakage.
With reference to Figure 1, a manifold/ distributor assembly consists essentially of a frame 1, preferably obtained by moulding a plastic material and forming a plurality of cylindrical containers or housings 2,3,4,5, 6,7,8,9,10, which are disposed parallel to one another, juxtaposed in a plurality of rows, and integral with one another, in the present case by means of connecting ribs such as 11.
At the upper end, the housings are each provided with a neck 12, on which there is fixed a valve assembly 13, incorporating a puncturing needle, the outlet of which is connected to a shut-oft tap such as 14, with manual actuation by lever or knob.
The outlets of the various taps are connected to one another by means of pipes 15, 16, 17, 18 which meet in a pressure reducer/regulator 19, which is conven-tional per se, with outlet adapter 20 for connection to a consumer appliance and which, in conjunction with the valve assemblies and with the taps, constitute a distributing manifold with selective control of a plug ality of sources of combustible gas , each being in the form of a liquefied-gas cartridge which is housed in one of the containers.
The insertion of the cartridges in the various containers is effected via the open lower end of the containers, into which there is screwed a closure base or alternatively just a radially configured ring 21 for clamping and retaining the cartridge.
As the clamping ring is screwed up, the cartridge, which may be of known or commercially available type, is pressed against the valve assamblj incorporatincr the punc tur i nc needle whi ch is ci sposee i n the neck of the container and is punctured.
There i S thus established., V=c tl~e pLlnCtLlri llCy needle, a communi cation fJetT~leen th°_ i uteri Or Of tilt Cartri dQe and tLl2 dlstrlb~ltc~r mani fol r v!'!'11C~1 i7e1'utltS the extraction o= the cas from the carer=dge and the dis trib~_tti on thereon via the malziTol d. , Prefer~ly but not necessarily, .he ira:ne 1 forms 1 0 no .'only the vari ous cylir_d~-i cal con taine~-s bt_it also a su?-ound 22, whi ch is extended to r isG above the var ions containers and which houses and protects the mani=old, the shut-of= taps and the reducer/reet;l ator.
To facilita~e the operations of replacement of the IS cartridces, the fre.me is, preferably but not neces-sary l y, arovided with two al i geed sup:~ort pivots, or.e of which, 23, can be seen in Fig. 1, to permit the instal-, 1at10n thereof in a i10~1siTlG Tr7ith ____ pOSSiai li ty Of rotation, even iT only partial, on th a pivots.
20 r igtlre 2 represents; in di ametral cross-section, one of the cylindrical containers a~ld the associated valve assembly incorporating a punct»rir_g neeele to show the structure and the operation thereo=.
L
The valve assembly consis~s of ~ body 23 which is 25 essentially cylindrical and is provided, at one end, with a threaded extension 2~ for connection to a shut off tap 25 and, in an intermediate position, with a prismatic clamping flan5e 26.
That portion -27 of the body 23 which is on the 30 opposite side from the extension 24 in relation to the flange 26 is threaded to allow it to be screwed forcibly into an aperture formed in the upper neck 12 of the _ g _ container 2.
Although not essential and not shown, there may also be provided. a clamping locking nut, to be screwed onto the body portion 27, with interposition of the neck 12 between flange 26 and locking nut.
In the body 23 there is formed a cylindrical housing, communicating with the tap 25 via an aperture 28 formed in the extension 24, which housing is open at the opposite end from the extension.
Within the housing there are housed a compression spring 29 and a disc obturator 30 which is extended to form a puncturing needle 31 and retained within the housing by a threaded bushing 32 screwed into the body 23 , through which bushing then a passes the axially slidable puncturing needle 31.
A resilient ring (o-ring) 33. interposed between needle 31 and bushing 32, ensures the leaktightness of the slidable coupling between needle and bushing.
The needle 31 ends in a puncturing tip 34.
An internal through hole places the tip 34 of the needle in communication with the peripheral surface of the disc 30 which, preferably but not necessarily, is suitably conical for coupling, in sealed fashion, with a similarly conical seating of the bushing 32.
The disc is retained against the conical seating, formed in the bushing 32, by the thrust exerted by the compression spring.
On the needle 31 there is mounted a resilient pad which embraces the puncturing tip 34 and is supported 30 by a rigid disc 38 which is fixed to the needle.
Fig. 2 also shows a liquid. gas cartridc_re 36, of conventional type, which is housed in the container 2.

The cartridge 36 is shown in a position of partial insertion into the container 2, with the top dome 37 in contact with the pad 35.
Upon partial screwing-up of the clamping ring base 21 into the open end. of the container 2, the cartridge is gradually pressed against the puncturing tip 34 and punctured.
This Condition is shown in Fig. 3.
It should be noted that in this phase the spring 29 opposes the possible displacement of the disc 30, so that the valve formed by the disc and by the bushing 32 remains closed..
The escape of gas from the perforated cartridge to the interior of the container 2 is prevented by the seal formed by the resilient pad 35 squeezed between supporting disc 38 and dome 37.
Upon further screwing-up of the clamping base or ring 21, the cartridge is pressed further towards the neck 12 and acts, via the pad. 35 which is compressed to the maximum extent, on the supporting disc 38, thereby pressing the needle ~.xp into the disc housing. In addition, as it overcomes the reaction exerted by the spring 29, it forces the disc 30 to move away from its seating, causing the valve to open.
In this condition, if the tap 25 is open, the gas which escapes from the cartridge 36 can be distributed via the manifold.
Normally, inside cartridges such as 36, there is fixed to the dome 37 on the underside of the puncturing - 30 zone, an adhesive resilient patch 39 which has the function of retaining any chips that may be produced by the puncturinct operation.

This patch, which is conveniently thickened, can operate as a resilient bung which, by reason of its elasticity, tends, when the cartridge is removed from the housing, to reclose, even tho~.xgh not hermetically, the aperture produced by the puncturing needle, thus reducing the escape of any residual gas cantained in the cartridge which, under normal conditions of use, upon exhaustion of the cartridge, comes to be at a pressure approximately equal to or slightly greater than ambient pressure, for which reason the escape is very small and the total volume of gas which flows out is thus diluted in the atmospheric air so as not to constitute a risk factor.
To remove the cartridge, it is sufficient to unscrew the clamping base/ring 21.
In a first phase of unscrewing, the disc valve is closed automatically by the thrust exerted by the spring 29, preventing a flow of gas from the tap 25 to the needle, even if the tap 25 is inadvertently left open.
A dual safety protection is thus provided.
In a subsequent phase, the thrust exerted by the resilient pad 35 causes an at least partial removal of the puncturing tip 34 from the cartridge which, when the unscrewing of the base 21 has been completed, can easily be removed from the container 2.
Figures 5 and 6 represent, in front view and side view respectively, a preferred application of the described manifold/distribo~tor assembly, in a cooker 40 of known type, which cooker is intended to be supplied by a liquefied-gas cylinder.
Cookers of this type have a lateral space 41, closed by a door, to house a pressurized liquid gas cylinder.
By way of replacement for the cylinder, there may easily be installed a distributor/manifold assembly 100, of the type described, with a useful capacity of 9 d.m' (corresponding to the capacity of 9 cartridges of commercially available type).
Conveniently, the assembly 100 is pivotally mounted on the pivots 42, 43 in a high position within the space 41, in order to be able to rotate, as shown in Fig. G, and thus to permit an easy insertion and replacement of the cartridges in the housings of the assembly.
In the lower part of the space 41, extensive room is available for the storage (in complete safety) either of exhausted cartridges or of replacement cartridges 44.
The assembly 100 is connected to the rings 45 and to the oven burner, via a conventional flexible tube.
For the operation of the cooker, it is sufficient, once a certain number of cartridges have been installed in the assembly 1, preferably but not necessarily in all the available containers, to open the taps associated with a certain number of cartridges, preferably not all of them .
In this way, a certain m.zmber of reserve cartridges, ready for use, are present and installed in the assembly 100.
As soon as the flow distributed from the active cartridges is exhausted, with the conseq~.zent extinction or weakening of the flame, the exhausted cartridges can be disconnected from the manifold by closing the respective taps and the reserve cartridges can be con-nected to the manifold by opening the respective taps, with a rapid restoration of the supply.

Ii this is considered necessa=y on account o cooking or other ree~airements; it is also possible to aC tlVate reserve' Car trldQeS ~.J7..thOLl t tile pr i Or di sCOn neC tl0n of the exllaLlS red Cal-tri dGeS , de=erri ng th°i r re~lacemen~_ to a 1 ater time .
The aforegoing description relates only to a specific manifold/distributor assembly, but it is clear that many variants may be made, including in relation to the possible introduction onto the market of cartridges of larger size and 'larger capacity, which is essentially limited by specific regulations, solely for reasons of safety.
Thus, the assembly which has been described may provide, rather than nine cyl inc.r i cal contair_ers arranged in three rows of three containers each, a larger or small er number of conta_ners'.
Rather than being internally screwed to the contai nAr s, the closure bases of the vari ous containers may be externally screwed.
Figure 7 i s an exploded perspec rive view of ti~is possible solution, and shows a container 2 provided with an external thread a6 on its open enc.
In the ~ container 2 there is i-!o~tsed, iwlly or alternatively only partially, as shown, a cartridge 36 which .is retained in the container by a base 21 whi clz is 2'S screwed on to the thread As shown, the base may partially housa the cartridge 36, s0 aS t0 facilitate tip remOVal~OL the cartridge when the base is Linscrewed a.nC removed.
For the convenient screwing of tha base, the latter ma.y .be provided with an exXternal milling a7 and/or with external lower fins ~3.
C1 ear ly, the thr ead ~6 ? s only i 1 1 Ltstrati ve and can be replaced by a bayonet coupling system.
It is also conceivable that, in relation to the specific application, cartridges might be produced. which are provided on the external cylindrical surface with projections for screw coupling or bayonet engagement in the cylindrical containers of the assembly 1, which containers are, for this purpose, provided. with appropriate internal grooving or threading.
Figure 8 shows, in a perspective view, partly in cross-section, this possible construction and shows a container 2 provided, on its internal cylindrical surface, with a pair of helical grooves which are radially opposite and one of which, 49, can be seen and into which there are inserted two projections 50, 51, which are radially opposite and which are formed on the external cylindrical surface of the cartridge 36.
The grooves such as 49 form a bayonet engagement for the cartridge 36.
It is clear that the grooves such as 49 may also constitute a continuous thread with two or more starts, for scr ew engagement of the carte idge , the latter also being provided with discontinuous projections or pro tuber ances , or with a contin,.to~.zs the eading.
It is, however, preferable that the cartridge should be provided with discontim.~ous projections or protuberances and not with a continuous thread, in order to avoid possible deformations date to the internal pressure of the cartridge which, otherwise, if the casing is not sufficiently rigid, might behave to some extent as a resilient bellows.
Furthermore, whilst the puncturing operation is obtained, in the aforegoing description, by an axial movement of the cartridge in the container brought about by the screwing of a base (or by the rotation of the cartridge), it is also possible to obtain the same effect; with the cartridge stationary in its housing, by a relative movement of the puncturing needle brought about by a tap, which is actuated manu ally and which first of all executes the puncturing and only subsequently opens, bringing the interior of the cartridge into communication with the distributor manifold.
Figure 9 represents, by way of example, a valve assembly with puncturing needle and shut-off tap which are integrated into a single associated unit, with actuation from the top, which is thus completely independent of the axial displacements of a cartridge in its housing.
In this case, the cartridge may also be fixed in its housing by conventional hook systems.
A puncturing knob 52 permits the screwing into a valve body 53, by means of a stem 54, of a screw sleeve 55 in which there is housed a valve disc 55, which is extended to form a puncturing needle 57.
The disc. is retained in its closed position by diaphragm springs 58 or equivalent means.
The seating of the screw sleeve 55 is closed by a stopper 59, which is screwed onto the body 53 and is in its turn provided with a. screw extension 60 for fastening to the neck of a cartridge housing, which is not illustrated.
The puncturing needle 57 is able to slide axially through the stopper 59.
In the body 53 there is also formed a seating for a rotating obturator 61 for the shut-off tap. The latter may be cylindrical, flat or preferably frustoconical, as illustrated, and is actuated by a lever 62 from closed positions to a predetermined open position.
Passing freely through the rotating obturator 61 is the stem 54, which is free to slide axially and to rotate.
Suitable seals positioned by nipples in a conventional manner ensure leaktightness between parts which are movable relative to one another.
In the position illustrated, the puncturing needle is in a retracted position, with the end of the stroke determined by contact between body 53 and sleeve 55.
The rotary actuation of the knob 52 causes the sleeve 55 to be screwed into the body 53, with rotary and axial sliding movement, in a downward direction, of the knob 52, of the stem 54 and of the sleeve 55.
There is thus a visual indication of the axial displacement of the puncturing needle 57 which, via the cup springs 58, is pressed towards a cartridge (not illustrated) and punctures it.
The resilient pad 63 ensures leaktightness between needle 57 and cartridge and, once compressed to the maximum extent by interaction with the cartridge, causes the disc valve 56 to open.
In the absence of a cartridge; the disc valve 56 remains closed, guaranteeing maximum safety even in the case where the shut-off tap, formed by the obturator 61,.
is open.
- 30 This solution also lends itself to significant variants.
By way of example, the screwing of the stem 54 may be obtained by a thread on said ste:~ and the sleeve 55 may be uncoupl ed, both a:cial l y and i n rotation; prom the -stem 54 and bi ased into the posi tion i ndi cared in Ficrure 9 by a spring compressed between sl =..eve 55 and stopper 59.
In this case, the stem 5a, which is necessarily provided with an abutment to limit unscrewing, may act on the sleeve 55 as a simple axial-thrust ferrule.
It should be noted that, whilst the dual-safety system using a shut-off tap and an independent valve, which is open only in thp presence of a cartridge, is preferable ar_d essential in order to permi t the selective disconnection of reserve cartridges installed in the manifold/distributor assembly; i t is also possible, if these functional capabilities are not required, to adopt simpler solutions in which only the safety valve associated with the puncturing needle is present, Figure 10 shows, in perspective, exploded view an embodiment which does not give-off the above functional .capabilities, provides some simplification, the maximum achievable compactness and further enhances the safety of the equipment.
In figure 10 the manifold/distributor assembly compri ses a frame 1 forming a substantially rectanguhar .
box with bottom and top faces closed ba removable uppe?-and lower covers 6a and 65 respectively.
The upper ar_d lower cover s ar a tightly coupled to the box by suitable gaskets (preferably ~O-Rings) not shown, and by retaining hooks, s~_tch as 6G,67,68,ti9, manually operated. for their hooking or release.
The upper cover is expediently provided with a - 18 _ handle 72.
The frame 1 forms a plurality of internal emispherical caps, such as 70, each for housing and guiding . the head of a car tr idge to an actuation valve assembly, such as 71, similar to those already described with reference to figures 2 and 9 and discussed more in detail in the following.
The outp~xt of the several valve assemblies, which preferably comprise also a non-return valve, are coupled together by two sets of connection pipes 73,74 and 75,76,77,78,79 respectively which form two portions of a manifold.
The two sets are in turn copled to a multiple-way manually operated tap (a four way tap in particular) which establishes a selective fluid connection among them and a pressure/reducer regulator 81 , whose output is in turn coupled to a delivery pipe 82.
The delivery pipe 82 preferably opens outside the box through a tight seal passage in the frame 1.
An external actuation knob 83, having (in the example) four angular positions, actuates the multiple-way tap through a shaft 84 passing through a. tight seal passage in the frame 1.
In particular, when the knob is in a first position the tap is closed and no fluid connection is established between the manifold and the pressure regulator.
When the knob is in a second position a fluid connection is established between the whole manifold and the pressure regulator.
When the knob is in a third position, a fluid connection is established between the manifold portion formed by pipes 73,74 and the pressure regulator.

When the knob is in a fourth position, a fluid connection is established between the manifold portion formed by pipes 75,76,77,78,79 and the pressure regulator.
As a possible alternative, the fluid connection may be established wit the delivery pipe 82 and the pressure regulator 81 may be a device external to the box and not an integral part of the equipment.
Figure 11 is a diametrical section of one of the valve assemblies sLlch as 71, of one of the caps, such as 70, and of a cartridge 85 coupled to the valve assembly 71.
In the embodiment shown the cartridge is of the valve-type.
The generally emispherica.l top 86 of the cartridge is housed. in the cap 70, which serves as a guide for precisely aligning and orienting a screwed boss 87 of the top, relative to a screwed input recess of the valve assembly.
Inside the boss 87 there is provided a conventional shut-off valve 88, which may be opened by pushing inside the valve plug 89 with an actuation element which ma.y be a pin, needle or plate of the valve assembly 71, depending on the design of the pl~.zg 89, which itself may be provided with a needle like actuator extending out of the boss.
The valve assembly is very similar to the one already shown in figure 2 and comprises a spring biased, normally closed disc obturator 90 extending in an actuation needle 91.
When the cartridge boss is screwed in the recess of the valve assembly 71, the cartridge valve is opened and when fully opened the force exerted by the plug 89 on the needle 91 overcomes the bias applied to the disc obturator, which opens and establishes a fluid C~1111eGt1011 between the cartridge and the manifold.
The gasket inherent in the cartridge valve, which also interacts with the actuation needle 91, prevents any gas leakage but, if desired, for enhanced safety, an additional resilient gasket may be provided between the boss head and the bottom of the screwed input recess of the valve assembly.
In case, an arrangement similar to the pad 35 and rigid disc 38 coupled to the needle, as shown in figure 2, may be provided.
Cascaded to the disc obttirator 90, the valve assembly 71 provides for a non-return valve, of conventional structure, and consisting for instance in a floating ball 92, biased against a seat of the valve assembly by a.n overpressure at the valve assembly output relative to the input and. driven away from the seat by a press-ire at the input slightly exceeding the one at the output.
By this arrangement a double protection is ensured which prevents any gas leakage from the manifold towards the valve assembly input even in case the cartridge is missing or improperly set and the actuation valve is clogged, for any reason, in open position.
By reverse, if no double protection is required., the non-return valve may be a substitute for the actuation valve and a steady actuation element may be provided which interferes with the plug of the cartridge valve and opens it.
The output of the valve assembly is connected to - 2 '! -one (or more) of the pipes forming a manifold portion.
The cartridge , 85 may be a s =andard ca1-tridge available on the market, btlt preferably, as shown in via 11 it is modified to have a concave bottom 93 with a diameter substan~_ially lesser (e.g 20-~0 mm) than the cartidge diameter (which for a s~_an'ard commercially available cartridge is SG mm) SllrrOt'_nded by a concave toroidal crown 9~.
The bottom may be formed integral to the peripheral wal 1 ' o_ the car tri dge, as shown in the 1 ef t si de of figure 11, or formed as a severed element which is _ covpl ed to the per Ipileral wall by cvtr 1 ing, in a wel 1 established manner, as shown in the riche side of figure 11.
By this cesign i t is possibl a to easily hanc~l a the cartridge and to rotate it, so as to screw the boss in the valve assembly recess, even if the cartridge is closely surrounded by the fra_ne wall or located in ]LlXtapOSl.tiOn t0 Other like CartrlL''~ge~.
The car tr idges can therefore be arranged in tine frame very tightly, without hamperi ng thei r operabil ity, thus minimizing the size of the frame.
It is clear that, whit s t the pressure 1'ed!tC21'~1'eg~llator preferably COnSti Mites a pal-t C~r the distributor assembly which has been described, it may alternatively cony=irate an intec=al part ~L the consumer appliance and may be intee=al with a supply tube of the appli ante to which the d_s tribator assembl y is connec~_ed.
. Thi s i s for the m_trpose of e~ sari na thA full est compatibility of the distributor assembly ~.~Jith existing C011s~_llTlel- appllanCes , _ _St.lp?~ led 'l7y r e-i ~ 1 abl a ~;yli llCcrS ~

in which, i n genes al, the pressure ree~~cer/ recula for is al~~ea.dy present, is not removee together wi th the cyl finder and COnStltLltAS a fl:Ycd COmpOn~?11~ OL the COnStlmel- aW71 1a11Ce.
Li kewise, it i s cl ear th=~ the described assembly finds appl ication not onl y .or the supply to domestic gas appliances, but also in ecuivalent cooking, heating and lighting appliances =or leis~ire time, camping and recreation.
In particul ar in na?tti cal ac=ivi ti es, the need is parti cularl ;r . el t to avoi d the on-board installation of heavy and bul ky reTi1 fable 1 iq,te_i ed-gas cyl finders, W~11C~'1 COI1S _tltute a nOn-neQl i gibl a ri 5;~ faCtOr, cnd t0 replace them wi th conWastible-gas sources which ara lighter and leSS bLlliLy and Ccn ~e StOred as rcSerVeS 1n conf fined spaces , and can be di s =,-; b,_~ te~d in a al ur al i ty of spaces, including spaces which a=a remote Trom the-consumer appliance; and can be readily su~oplied.
To enhance safety in use, storage Gnd transportati on oz the mani fol d assembly the embodiment of figures IO, l I may be further provided, owi ng to the fact that tile frame, when closed by the 'upper and 1 owes cover forms a leaktight box or contai ner, where possibl a gas leakage may be conffined, with d=vices tailored to different applications.
For example, as shown in figure 12, the leaktight box 95, when used indoor, may be provided with a vent pipe 96 for conveying any possible gas leakage from the equipment to the outside environment.
This is also important =or s,a=aty in transportation: if the box is stor=d. in the baggage compartment o. a car, it is advi sa.:~le to avoid any J
possible risk of inflammable mixture formation in the baggage compartment. The vent pipe 96, directed outside the compartment, through the compartment door resilient gasket (or any suitable opening) fits this purpose.
Clearly the delivery pipe 82 may be closed by a plug.
The knob 83, which is preferably removable from the actuation shaft, when set in the shut-off position me be removed, to avoid any casual switching of the multiple waY tap in an open position.
As a possible alternative a knob lock may be provided.
As a further safety measure the box or container 95 may be provided with acustic signalling devices, such as a buzzer or whistle 97, actuated bu the gas flowing out of the box through the vent pipe 96.
A visual indication may be provided too and may consist in- an inflatable element, swollen by the overpressure developed by the gas leakage inside the container, such as for instance a closed end helicoidal tube which takes a straight form, for a predetermined internal overpressure.

Claims (9)

1. Manifold/distributor assembly (100) for combustible gas supplied from a plurality of liquefied-gas cartridges (36), comprising - a frame (1) forming a plurality of housings (2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,70), each having an open end for insertion of one of a plurality of liquefied a gas cartridges (36,85) and an opposite end closed by a neck (12), - a plurality of valve assemblies (13,23,30,32,71) each incorporating an actuation element (31,91), each valve assembly being mounted on the neck (12) of one of said housings with inlet to said valve assemblies from said actuation element and an outlet, - a plurality of means (21,46,49,50,51,52,54,87), each for bringing about a relative displacement between a cartridge (36,85) housed in one of said housings and the actuation element of the related valve assembly mounted on the neck of said housing, in the axial direction of said actuation element, said relative displacement establishing a fluid communication between said cartridge and said related valve assembly and opening said valve assembly, conditional on the presence of said cartridge, - a manifold (15,16,17,18,73,74,75,76,77,78,79) connected to the outlet or said plurality of value assemblies and to a delivery pipe (20,82), characterised in that it further comprises - manually operated shut-off tap means (14,80) in said manifold, operable independently on said valve means, for selectively connecting the output of said valve assemblies to said delivery pipe through said manifold, wherein said shut-off tap means (14,30) comprises a multiple way shut-off tap (80) for selectively controlling the fluid communication among portions (73,74;75,76,77,78,79) of said manifold and said delivery pipe (82).

2. The manifold/distributor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pressure regulator (81) interposed between said multiple-way shut-off tap (80) and said delivery pipe (82).

3. The manifold/distributor assembly of claim 1, including a plurality of cartridges (85), wherein said cartridges (85) are valve-type with a screwed boss (87) enclosing a cartridge shut-off valve (88) with a pushable plug (89), and wherein said plurality of means for bringing about said relative displacement each comprises said screwed boss (87) and a screwed recess of said valve assemblies, where said screwed boss may be screwed.

4. The manifold/distributor assembly of claim 3, wherein said actuation element (91) is movable from a first to a second position, owing to interference with a valve plug (89) of a cartridge shut-off valve (88), said actuation element, when in said first position closing a valve assembly incorporating it, when in said second position opening said valve assembly and said cartridge shut-off valve (88).

5. The manifold/distributor assembly of claim 4, wherein said valve assemblies each comprises a differential pressure operated non return valve (92) cascaded to an obturator (90) extending in said actuation element (91).

6. The manifold/distributor assembly of claim 1, wherein said frame (1), closed by an upper (65) and lower (64) cover, forms a leaktight box.

7. The manifold/distributor assembly of claim 6, wherein said leaktight box comprises a vent pipe (96).

8. The manifold/distributor assembly of claim 6, wherein said leaktight box comprises gas leakage signalling means (97).

9. The manifold/distributor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, including a plurality of cartridges (85), wherein each cartridge comprises a cylindrical body with a concave bottom (93) having diameter substantially lesser, from about 20mm to about 40mm, than the diameter of said cylindrical body, surrounded by a concave toroidal crown (94).