CN112539870A

CN112539870A - Gas supply regulator

Info

Publication number: CN112539870A
Application number: CN201910899101.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 弗兰克·博吉耶; 埃里克·富尼耶
Original assignee: Cles Industrial Co
Current assignee: Cles Industrial Co
Priority date: 2019-09-23
Filing date: 2019-09-23
Publication date: 2021-03-23

Abstract

The gas supply regulation assembly is of the type comprising at least one inlet (3) capable of being in fluid communication with at least one gas bottle, and one outlet (7) capable of being in fluid communication with a gas consuming device, and means (15) for detecting the gas pressure in a chamber in communication with said outlet (7).

Description

Gas supply regulator

Technical Field

The invention relates to a gas supply regulator.

Background

In the context of the present invention, a gas supply regulator refers to a device located between one or more gas supply bottles and one or more gas consuming devices (such as a cooker).

Such a regulator may be an automatic steering, a pressure reducer (for example, as disclosed in french patent application 11/61982 filed in the name of the applicant) or a pressure limiter.

The automatic diverter allows to automatically switch from the servo gas bottle to the reserve gas bottle when the pressure of the servo gas bottle falls below a predetermined threshold value to ensure a constant supply to a gas consuming device, such as for example a kitchen range.

Such automatic diverters are installed upstream of a pressure reducer which allows to reduce the pressure of the gas to a pressure range which is compatible with the operation of the gas consuming apparatus.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims in particular at better managing the replacement of gas bottles supplying a diverter, in particular at avoiding any supply shortage of gas consuming equipment, and more generally at better monitoring the behaviour of gas supply regulators (such as automatic diverters, pressure reducers or pressure limiters).

This object of the invention is achieved by a gas supply regulation assembly of the type comprising: at least one inlet capable of fluid communication with at least one gas cylinder; and an outlet capable of fluid communication with a gas consuming device; and means for detecting the pressure of the gas in a chamber communicating with the outlet.

Due to the presence of these pressure detection means, useful information can be obtained about the behaviour of the regulatory components: flow-through of the steering gear with respect to the store, shut-off of the pressure reducer at overpressure (OPSO system) or underpressure (UPSO system), correct mounting of the steering gear/pressure reducer/pressure limiter, etc.

According to a further advantageous optional characteristic of the invention, the regulation assembly comprises a diverter of the type comprising at least two inlets couplable to at least two gas bottles, one outlet couplable to a gas consumption device, and means for automatically switching the gas supply from one of said inlets supplied by one of said bottles to another inlet supplied by another of said bottles when the gas supply pressure falls below a predetermined threshold.

Due to the presence of these pressure detection means, it is possible to know when the automatic diverter switches from a first gas bottle (called servo bottle) to a second gas bottle (called reserve bottle).

This information can then be utilized in order to anticipate the replacement of an empty service bottle and thus avoid any supply shortages of gas consuming equipment.

According to yet other advantageous optional features of the invention:

the detection means comprise means for measuring the variation of the magnetic field (for example, a hall effect probe);

-said gas pressure detection means comprise a flexible membrane forming one of the walls of said chamber, said flexible membrane being elastically returned by a spring in the direction of said chamber, this flexible membrane supporting a cage enclosing a magnet, these detection means further comprising said measuring means, fixedly mounted with respect to the body of the automatic steering gear, capable of magnetically interacting with said magnet; because of these characteristics, the relative position of the magnet with respect to the probe provides reliable information about the position of the magnet and therefore the pressure level upstream of the outlet of the automatic diverter; in the case of automatic diverters, in addition to detecting the passage of the gas supply from the servo bottle to the reserve bottle, this information allows to detect whether the bottle is mounted, improperly mounted, whether the measuring device is improperly mounted, or whether the diverter is positioned close to a magnetic or magnetizable surface (which can interfere with the signal generated by the probe); this information also allows knowing whether the support on which the probe is mounted is properly or improperly mounted, or not mounted at all;

-the regulation and control assembly comprises an electronic communication circuit connected to the measuring devices and allowing the transmission to the outside of the signals generated by these measuring devices: the presence of this communication circuit allows to exploit these signals in order to best guarantee the management of the gas bottles and, where appropriate, to detect operating or branching anomalies;

-the electronic communication circuit is embedded in a resin: this allows the circuit to operate in an ATEX environment, that is to say avoiding any risk of explosion under the influence of electric sparks in the event of gas leakage;

-the electronic circuitry comprises a wireless communication device and a supply battery: these characteristics allow the electronic circuit to operate completely autonomously and wirelessly. This allows, for example, the provider of gas bottles to manage supply to their customers by telemetry;

-the measuring device and the electronic circuit are mounted on a board that can be optionally attached on the body of the conditioning assembly: this allows for a conditioning assembly body having a single mode, which may or may not be equipped with pressure monitoring options;

said assembly further comprises a pressure reducer provided with its own detection means;

the assembly further comprises a pressure limiter provided with its own detection means.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and upon review of the accompanying drawings in which:

figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an automatic steering gear assembly, in which, where appropriate, the steering gear can be seen on the one hand, and a detection plate, comprising a hall-effect probe and an electronic communication circuit, can be seen on the other hand, which is attached to the main body of the steering gear;

figures 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of the diverter and the detection plate in two respective operating positions, taken along plane P of figure 1, the exact number of diverter members not being represented for the sake of simplicity, and

figure 4 is a perspective view of a section along the same plane P of the assembly of figure 3;

fig. 5 is a sectional perspective view of a stress-reducer according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, in section, of a regulating assembly according to the invention, comprising on the one hand an automatic steering gear I according to any of the figures 1 to 4 and on the other hand a pressure reducer D according to FIG. 5, and

fig. 7 is a perspective view, in section, of a regulating assembly according to the invention, comprising on the one hand an automatic steering gear I according to any of the figures 1 to 4 and on the other hand a pressure limiter L.

Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numbers refer to the same or similar components or groups of components.

In addition, a common XYZ frame of reference is shown throughout the figures to allow a clear understanding of the respective orientation of the figures relative to each other.

Detailed Description

Referring now to fig. 1, it can be seen that an automatic steering according to the invention suitably comprises an automatic steering 1 on the one hand and a detection plate 3 on the other hand.

As known per se, the automatic diverter comprises

gas inlets

5a and 5b, each intended to be connected to a gas supply bottle (these bottles are not shown).

The diverter 1 also comprises a gas outlet 7 intended to supply a gas consuming device.

The diverter 1 also comprises a knob 9 provided with an indicator 11, which indicator 11 displays a particular colour when the gas supply bottle (called the "service" bottle, that is to say the first bottle used) is almost empty and the diverter has been switched over on the second gas bottle (called the "reserve" bottle).

The particular mode of operation of the automatic steering gear is part of the state of the art and will therefore not be described in detail here: it should simply be noted that its operating principle is based on a system of springs and valves calibrated so that when the pressure of the gas leaving the servo bottle falls below a predetermined threshold (typically about 1.5 bar, but any other value may be employed), the valves change their position, allowing the gas supply to be switched from the servo bottle to the reserve bottle.

The detection plate 3 comprises a support 13, preferably made of plastic material, or of any non-magnetic material, on which are fastened, on the one hand, probes for measuring the magnetic field (such as hall-effect probes 15) and, on the other hand, an electronic module 17 electrically connected to the probes 15.

The module 17 comprises a battery 19 and an electronic card 21, preferably embedded in resin, to avoid any risk of explosion by electric sparks in case of gas leakage.

The cooperation between detector plate 3 and diverter 1 will be understood upon review of fig. 2 through 4.

The body 23 of the diverter 1 comprises a chamber 25 communicating with the gas outlet 7.

Gas passes from either the service bottle or the reserve bottle into this chamber 25. A flexible diaphragm 27 enclosing a bowl 29 faces the chamber 25 and communicates therewith.

The flexible membrane 27 is returned in the direction of the chamber 25 by means of a helical spring 31.

The flexible membrane 27 is connected to the cage 33 by a flange 35, the cage 33 preferably being formed of a plastic material (and in particular a non-magnetic material).

Inside the cage 33 there is a magnet 37 which can interact magnetically with the hall-effect probe 15 of the detection plate 3, which can be replaced by any other electronic component which allows to carry out the measurement of the value of the magnetic field.

Such a detection plate 3 is attached to the main body 23 of the steering gear 1 by suitable fastening means.

The advantages and modes of operation of the diverter assembly just described are as follows.

Figure 2 shows the diverter assembly as it is supplied by the servo gas cylinder: the pressure in the chamber 25 of the body of the diverter 1 is relatively high (typically above 1.5 bar); so that the diaphragm 27 is in the lower position in fig. 2, that is, the element 37 is relatively close to the hall-effect probe 15: by measuring the magnetic field corresponding to this particular location, the hall effect probe sends a signal to the electronic circuit 21 indicating the operation of the diverter on the servo gas bottle.

If the electronic card 21 is provided with means for communicating with the outside, this information can be output to the server, typically via a wireless communication module of the bluetooth, Wi-fi, GSM, LoT type or other future communication system.

When the service bottle is almost empty, the pressure in the chamber 25 of the body 23 of the diverter 1 decreases and the gas supply of this diverter switches from the service bottle to the reserve bottle, thanks to mechanisms known per se and described above.

When the pressure in chamber 25 decreases, flexible diaphragm 27 rises, as can be seen in fig. 3 and 4, causing magnet 37 to move away from probe 15.

The probe then sends a message to the corresponding electronic circuit 21 indicating that the diverter has switched from the service bottle to the reserve bottle.

This information can be obtained by the provider of the gas bottle so that it can anticipate the needs of its customers and re-supply them to avoid any gas supply shortages.

Another significant advantage of the present invention is that the hall-effect probe allows detection of a malfunction of the diverter, such as the absence of a gas supply, incorrect installation of one of the bottles, or the presence of a magnetic substance (which can interfere with the signal sent by the hall-effect probe) in the vicinity of the diverter.

The probe also allows verifying whether the assembly formed by the diverter and the means for measuring the value of the magnetic field generated by the magnet has undergone mechanical deterioration due to external actions: in doing so, it is sufficient to compare the value returned by the probe with the installation value.

These faults can be easily identified by analyzing the shift in the signal returned by the hall effect probe compared to the signal corresponding to normal operating conditions.

Of course, the invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described and shown, which are provided as simple examples.

Therefore, the invention can also be applied to a stress-reducer D, as shown in section in fig. 5: in this case, the magnet 37 is movably secured to a finger 39 acting on a regulating lever 41, which finger 39 is in turn secured to the flexible membrane 27.

In the example shown in fig. 6, the regulating assembly according to the invention comprises, on the one hand, a pressure reducer D according to fig. 5 and, on the other hand, a diverter I coupled upstream of the pressure reducer D.

Unlike the diverter I of fig. 5, the diverter of fig. 6 is of the type comprising a gas shutoff system against overpressure (OPSO system- "overpressure shutoff (Over Pressure Shut Off)") and a gas shutoff system against underpressure (UPSO system- "underpressure shutoff (Under Pressure Shut Off)"): in this case, there are two

diaphragms

27a, 27b and two

magnets

37a, 37b, each associated with a hall effect probe (not shown).

In the example shown in fig. 7, the regulating assembly according to the invention comprises, on the one hand, a restrictor L and, on the other hand, a diverter I according to any of fig. 1 to 4 coupled upstream of the restrictor L.

Claims

1. A gas supply regulation assembly of the type comprising: at least one inlet (3) capable of being in fluid communication with at least one gas bottle; and an outlet (7) capable of being in fluid communication with a gas consuming device; and means (15, 37) for detecting the gas pressure in a chamber (25) in fluid communication with the outlet (7), the detection means comprising means (15) for measuring a change in the magnetic field.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, comprising an automatic diverter (I) for the supply of gas, of the type comprising: at least two inlets (5a, 5b) capable of being coupled to at least two gas bottles; an outlet (7) that is coupleable to a gas consuming device; and means for automatically switching the gas supply from one of the inlets (5a, 5b) supplied through one of the bottles to another inlet supplied through another one of the bottles when the gas supply pressure falls below a predetermined threshold.

3. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the measuring means comprise a hall effect probe or an element (15) allowing magnetic field measurements to be performed.

4. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas pressure detection means comprise a flexible membrane (27) for forming one of the walls of the chamber, which is elastically returned in the direction of the chamber by a spring (31), the flexible membrane (27) supporting a cage (33) enclosing a magnet (37), these detection means further comprising the measuring device (15) fixedly mounted with respect to the body (23) of the automatic steering gear, the measuring device being able to magnetically interact with the magnet (37).

5. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an electronic communication circuit (21) connected to the measuring devices (15) and allowing the transmission to the outside of the signals generated by these measuring devices (15).

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the electronic communication circuit (21) is embedded in a resin.

7. Assembly according to any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the electronic circuit (21) comprises a wireless communication device and a supply battery (19).

8. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims when dependent on claim 5, wherein the measuring device (15) and the electronic circuit (21) are mounted on a plate (13) that can be optionally attached on the body (23) of the conditioning assembly.

9. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims when dependent on claim 2, further comprising a stress-reducer (D) provided with its own detection means.

10. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims when dependent on claim 2, further comprising a pressure limiter (L) provided with its own detection means.