CA2267483C - Gas capsule - Google Patents

Gas capsule Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2267483C
CA2267483C CA002267483A CA2267483A CA2267483C CA 2267483 C CA2267483 C CA 2267483C CA 002267483 A CA002267483 A CA 002267483A CA 2267483 A CA2267483 A CA 2267483A CA 2267483 C CA2267483 C CA 2267483C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
free end
neck portion
capsule
crimp
fluid
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.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002267483A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2267483A1 (en
Inventor
Michael Ernest Garrett
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.)
BOC Group Ltd
Original Assignee
BOC Group Ltd
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 BOC Group Ltd filed Critical BOC Group Ltd
Publication of CA2267483A1 publication Critical patent/CA2267483A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2267483C publication Critical patent/CA2267483C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS 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
    • F17C5/00Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures
    • F17C5/06Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures for filling with compressed gases
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS 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
    • F17C13/00Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/06Closures, e.g. cap, breakable member
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS 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
    • F17C2201/00Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/01Shape
    • F17C2201/0104Shape cylindrical
    • F17C2201/0109Shape cylindrical with exteriorly curved end-piece
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS 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
    • F17C2201/00Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/05Size
    • F17C2201/058Size portable (<30 l)
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS 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
    • F17C2203/00Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/06Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
    • F17C2203/0634Materials for walls or layers thereof
    • F17C2203/0636Metals
    • F17C2203/0646Aluminium
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS 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
    • F17C2203/00Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/06Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
    • F17C2203/068Special properties of materials for vessel walls
    • F17C2203/069Break point in the wall
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS 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
    • F17C2221/00Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/016Noble gases (Ar, Kr, Xe)
    • F17C2221/017Helium
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS 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
    • F17C2223/00Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0107Single phase
    • F17C2223/0123Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS 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
    • F17C2223/00Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/035High pressure (>10 bar)
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS 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
    • F17C2260/00Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
    • F17C2260/01Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
    • F17C2260/013Reducing manufacturing time or effort
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS 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
    • F17C2270/00Applications
    • F17C2270/07Applications for household use
    • F17C2270/0736Capsules, e.g. CO2

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Supply Of Fluid Materials To The Packaging Location (AREA)
  • Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
  • Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Pressure Vessels And Lids Thereof (AREA)
  • Medicinal Preparation (AREA)

Abstract

A method of filling a capsule with helium comprises making a first crimp in a neck portion of the capsule spaced from the free end of the neck and subsequently making a second crimp at or immediately adjacent the free end of the neck to effectively form a chamber between the two crimps which inhibits the helium reaching the free end which is subsequently welded.

Description

GAS CAPSULE

The present invention relates to capsules for containing a volume of fluid at high pressure, that is, between 30 and 80 bar.
Sealed capsules are well known in circumstances where the force of the fluid under pressure is employed to dispense a substance such as discharging draught beer from a beer dispenser or expelling soda water from a soda siphon. They can also be used for liquid containers for soft drinks or beer under pressure.
It is also known to employ sealed capsules containing helium at high pressures in medical devices using the energy of the pressurised helium to drive a therapeutic agent through the skin of a patient.
In PCT published application W094/24263 there is described a needle-less syringe, which includes a metal capsule containing helium gas at high pressure which is used to force particles of a therapeutic agent through the skin of a patient in a substantially painless manner. The capsule is detachable from the remainder of the syringe and once used, either a new charge of gas can be placed in the capsule or more favourably the capsule can be discarded and a new capsule charged with gas -' can be attached to the remainder of the syringe.
In the circumstance where the gas capsule is a throw away item it is important that it can be manufactured simply and cheaply. In medical applications helium gas is a favoured fluid since it is very light which makes it suitable for use as a propellant for therapeutic agents in that when it impinges against the skin of a patient it will bounce off into the atmosphere and not pass through the skin of the patient. However, helium because it is light, is difficult to contain since it will leak through the most minuscule fault in a container.

~ . CA 02267483 1999-03-29 It is an aim of the present invention to provide a method of filling a capsule with fluid under high pressure; and in particular a method of filling a gas capsule with helium at a pressure of at least 30 bar.
According to the present invention, a method of filling a capsule having a hollow body portion from which extends a hollow neck portion with a fluid under pressure comprises the steps of:-a) applying in a fluid tight manner a filling cap to the free end of the neck portion initially to evacuate the hollow body portion and subsequently to fill the hollow body portion with the fluid under pressure;
b) with the filling cap still in place and pressure still applied to the fluid, crimping the neck portion at a location spaced from the free end of the neck portion;
c) removing the filling cap thereby revealing the free end of the neck portion;
d) applying a second crimp at or immediately adjacent to the free end of the neck portion; and e) welding the free end of the neck portion to hermetically seal the capsule.
Preferably the fluid is helium at a pressure of at least 30 bar.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, reference being made to the Figures of the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which;
Figure 1 is a plan view of a capsule for containing a fluid under pressure;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a first crimp applied to a neck portion of the capsule; and Figure 3 is similar to Figures 1 and 2 but showing a second crimp applied to the neck portion according to the present invention.
As shown, a capsule 1 comprises a hollow cylindrical body portion 2 made, for example, from aluminium or an aluminium alloy from which extends an elongate hollow neck portion 4 of smaller diameter than the body portion 2. Initially the neck portion 4 has an open free end 6.
When it is desired to fill the capsule 1 with a fluid such as helium under pressure, a filling cap (not shown) is applied in a manner known ep r se to the free end 6 of the neck portion 4. A vacuum is applied at the filling cap to evacuate the hollow cylinder body portion 2 after which the body portion 2 is filled with the fluid under pressure.
With the filling cap still in place over the free end of the neck portion 4 and pressure still applied to the fluid within the body portion 2, the neck portion 4 is crimped at a location spaced from said free end 6 (see Figure 2). This crimp is made sufficiently firm to avoid significant leakage of fluid from the body portion 2.
The filling cap is then removed from the free end 6 of the neck portion 4 to reveal said free end 6. Immediately said free end 6 is revealed then a second crimp is applied (see Figure 3) at or immediately adjacent said free end and at substantially the same time the free end 6 is laser welded to seal hermetically the end of the neck portion 4.
The purpose of the first crimp is to prevent fluid under pressure from reaching the second crimp and thus the free end 6 so that the laser weld can be made without gas permeation holes. Effectively, the two crimps define an interim chamber which prevents or inhibits fluid under pressure reaching the point where the free end 6 of the neck portion 4 is to be welded.
The crimps can be effected with either a circular swage type crimp or a simple flat crimp.
When the capsule is to be used in connection with a needleless syringe then the fluid will be helium at a pressure of at least 30 bar.
Clearly there will be other applications where the capsule will contain a gas or liquid under pressure at substantially less than 30 bar.

Claims (5)

1. A method of filling a capsule having a hollow body portion and a hollow neck portion extending therefrom with fluid under pressure, comprising the steps:-a) applying in a fluid tight manner a filling cap to the free end of the neck portion initially to evacuate the hollow body portion and subsequently to fill the hollow body portion with the fluid under pressure;
b) with the filling cap still in place and pressure still applied to the fluid, crimping the neck portion at a location spaced from the free end of the neck portion;
c) removing the filling cap thereby revealing the free end of the neck portion;
d) applying a second crimp at or immediately adjacent the free end of the neck portion; and e) welding the free end of the neck portion to seal hermetically the capsule.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the fluid is helium at a pressure of at least 30 bar.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the capsule is made from aluminium or an aluminium alloy.
4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the free end of the neck portion is laser welded to seal hermetically the capsule.
5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which an interim chamber is formed between a crimp at the location spaced from the free end of the neck portion and the second crimp.
CA002267483A 1998-04-03 1999-03-29 Gas capsule Expired - Fee Related CA2267483C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9807175.6A GB9807175D0 (en) 1998-04-03 1998-04-03 Gas capsule
GB9807175.6 1998-04-03

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2267483A1 CA2267483A1 (en) 1999-10-03
CA2267483C true CA2267483C (en) 2007-01-30

Family

ID=10829802

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002267483A Expired - Fee Related CA2267483C (en) 1998-04-03 1999-03-29 Gas capsule

Country Status (12)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0947760B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2000028096A (en)
AU (1) AU742318B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2267483C (en)
CZ (1) CZ300634B6 (en)
DE (1) DE69934159T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2274603T3 (en)
GB (1) GB9807175D0 (en)
HU (1) HU226351B1 (en)
PL (1) PL190106B1 (en)
SK (1) SK285394B6 (en)
ZA (1) ZA992515B (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2895060B1 (en) * 2005-12-20 2008-02-15 Renault Sas DEVICE FOR FILLING A GAS BOTTLE.
RU2690394C2 (en) * 2017-10-03 2019-06-03 Акционерное общество "Военно-промышленная корпорация "Научно-производственное объединение машиностроения" Device for gas cylinder charging and sealing by welding
WO2019152965A1 (en) * 2018-02-05 2019-08-08 Airgas, Inc. Method for filling pressurized gas cartridges for medical use

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2837880A (en) * 1956-06-27 1958-06-10 Sylvania Electric Prod Lamp sealing method
US3141225A (en) * 1960-05-23 1964-07-21 Gen Electric Method of sealing a metal tubulation
US4204378A (en) * 1978-04-24 1980-05-27 General Electric Company Method of closing a capillary tube
JPS6057099A (en) * 1983-09-06 1985-04-02 Akutoronikusu Kk Construction of seal part in pressure vessel
EP0757202B1 (en) * 1995-08-02 2003-05-14 The BOC Group plc Gas delivery system
US5695215A (en) * 1996-04-24 1997-12-09 Trw Inc. Fill tube for air bag inflator
CA2209406C (en) * 1996-07-24 2007-05-15 David W. Birch Gas capsule and gas delivery system
EP0888790A1 (en) * 1997-07-04 1999-01-07 PowderJect Research Limited Drug particle delivery device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PL332350A1 (en) 1999-10-11
SK285394B6 (en) 2007-01-04
DE69934159T2 (en) 2007-09-27
DE69934159D1 (en) 2007-01-11
EP0947760A3 (en) 1999-12-01
PL190106B1 (en) 2005-10-31
HU226351B1 (en) 2008-09-29
HU9900776D0 (en) 1999-05-28
HUP9900776A3 (en) 2001-06-28
JP2000028096A (en) 2000-01-25
EP0947760B1 (en) 2006-11-29
GB9807175D0 (en) 1998-06-03
ES2274603T3 (en) 2007-05-16
HUP9900776A2 (en) 2000-05-28
CZ300634B6 (en) 2009-07-08
EP0947760A2 (en) 1999-10-06
CZ111599A3 (en) 1999-12-15
ZA992515B (en) 1999-10-05
AU742318B2 (en) 2001-12-20
CA2267483A1 (en) 1999-10-03
AU2245599A (en) 1999-10-14
SK43999A3 (en) 1999-11-08

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