EP0576958A1 - Flüssiggasfüllanlage - Google Patents

Flüssiggasfüllanlage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0576958A1
EP0576958A1 EP93109900A EP93109900A EP0576958A1 EP 0576958 A1 EP0576958 A1 EP 0576958A1 EP 93109900 A EP93109900 A EP 93109900A EP 93109900 A EP93109900 A EP 93109900A EP 0576958 A1 EP0576958 A1 EP 0576958A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
gas
gas filling
filling port
drive unit
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP93109900A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0576958B1 (de
Inventor
Nobuyuki c/o Meiko Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha Sato
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.)
Meiko Sangyo Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Meiko Sangyo Co Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Meiko Sangyo Co Ltd filed Critical Meiko Sangyo Co Ltd
Publication of EP0576958A1 publication Critical patent/EP0576958A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0576958B1 publication Critical patent/EP0576958B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C5/00—Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures
    • F17C5/002—Automated filling apparatus
    • F17C5/005—Automated filling apparatus for gas bottles, such as on a continuous belt or on a merry-go-round
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/002—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels for vessels under pressure
    • F17C13/003—Means for coding or identifying them and/or their contents
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/01—Shape
    • F17C2201/0104—Shape cylindrical
    • F17C2201/0109—Shape cylindrical with exteriorly curved end-piece
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/01—Shape
    • F17C2201/0104—Shape cylindrical
    • F17C2201/0119—Shape cylindrical with flat end-piece
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/03—Orientation
    • F17C2201/032—Orientation with substantially vertical main axis
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/05—Size
    • F17C2201/058—Size portable (<30 l)
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/05—Vessel or content identifications, e.g. labels
    • F17C2205/054—Vessel or content identifications, e.g. labels by bar codes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
    • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
    • F17C2221/035—Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/04—Methods for emptying or filling
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/03—Control means
    • F17C2250/032—Control means using computers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/04—Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
    • F17C2250/0486—Indicating or measuring characterised by the location
    • F17C2250/0495—Indicating or measuring characterised by the location the indicated parameter is a converted measured parameter
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/06—Controlling or regulating of parameters as output values
    • F17C2250/0605—Parameters
    • F17C2250/0615—Mass or weight of the content of the vessel
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/05—Applications for industrial use
    • F17C2270/059—Mass bottling, e.g. merry belts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an LP gas filling equipment and more particularly to an LP gas filling equipment for filling a predetermined amount of LP gas into a gas container on the basis of a metered value obtained by an electrobalance.
  • inlet and outlet for gas containers are provided in certain positions on a turntable; inlet and outlet passages for the conveyance of gas containers are connected to the gas container inlet and outlet; gas containers are conveyed automatically through the inlet passage onto container rest portions formed at regular intervals on the same circumference of the upper surface of the turntable; then, a worker manually connects a gas filling nozzle of a gas filling machine disposed for each container rest portion to a gas filling port of the gas container on each container rest portion; a predetermined amount of LP gas based on a metered value obtained by an electrobalance is filled into the gas container while the container is transferred from the inlet to the outlet by the rotation of the turntable; and the worker is required to remove the gas filling nozzle manually from the gas filling port of the gas container which has arrived at the outlet.
  • the present invention has been accomplished in view of such conventional circumstances and it s is the object of the invention to make complete automation of the gas filling work possible by providing an LP gas filling equipment wherein, merely by putting on a container rest portion a gas container which has been weighed by an electrobalance, it is made possible to effect a directional positioning of a gas filling port relative to a gas filling nozzle as well as the connection and removal of the nozzle.
  • a machine frame is disposed sideways of a container rest portion which is for putting a gas container thereon after positioning so as to permit filling the container with a predetermined amount of gas on the basis of a metered value obtained using an electrobalance, and a lift member which is moved vertically according to the height of the container by means of a lift drive unit, is disposed in the machine frame; a gas filling nozzle to be advanced and docked with a gas filling port of the gas container by means of an advance/retreat drive unit is attached to the lift member horizontally movably; a filling port direction modifying mechanism for performing a directional positioning of the gas filling port of the gas container on the container rest portion with respect to the gas filling nozzle and a valve opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing a rotary valve projecting from an upper end of the gas filling port of the container are mounted to the lift member, the filling port direction modifying mechanism having
  • an inlet and an outlet for a gas container are formed in predetermined positions on a turntable, and inlet and outlet passages each provided with an electrobalance are connected to the inlet and outlet; container rest portions each for putting a gas container thereon after positioning so as to permit filling the container with a predetermined amount of gas on the basis of a metered valued obtained using the electrobalance on the inlet passage are arranged at regular intervals on the same circumference on the upper surface of the turntable; a machine frame is disposed sideways of each container rest portion; a lift member which is moved vertically according to the height of the container by means of a lift drive unit, is disposed in the machine frame; a gas filling nozzle to be advanced and docked with a gas filling port of each gas container by means of an advance/retreat drive unit is attached to the lift member horizontally movably; a filling port direction modifying mechanism for performing a directional positioning of the gas fill
  • the above mechanisms are operated in predetermined sequence and timings by the respective drive units which start operation under a pre-programmed computer control.
  • the lift drive unit starts operation in accordance with information, or required data, of the container such as height and thickness (outside diameter) and brings down the lift member which stands by in its upper limit position, according to the height of the container, then when the descending motion of the lift member stops, the opening/closing drive unit of the filling port direction modifying mechanism starts operation and causes the clamp unit to operate in the closing direction according to the thickness of the container and clamp the container.
  • the rotation drive unit of the modifying mechanism starts operation and causes the direction detecting unit which stands by in its retreated stand-by position, to rotate and advance to a position above the gas filling port.
  • the lift drive unit starts operation and causes the direction detecting unit to move down according to the height of the gas filling port, and the container is rotated by the rotating means of the clamp unit to effect a directional positioning of the gas filling port relative to the gas filling nozzle.
  • the opening/closing drive unit When the gas filling port is aligned with the gas filling nozzle in an opposed relation thereto, the opening/closing drive unit operates again and causes the clamp unit to operate in its opening direction to release the clamp for the container, and the lift drive unit also operates. Then, at a later timing, the rotation drive unit operates and causes the direction detecting unit to move back from the position above the gas filling port to its stand-by position. Subsequently, the lift drive unit of the valve opening/closing mechanism starts operation and causes the valve opening/closing head to descend toward the opening/closing valve until head comes into engagement with the valve.
  • the advance/retreat drive unit which supports the gas filling nozzle starts operation and causes the nozzle to advance toward the gas filling port until the nozzle is docked with the filling port.
  • the rotation drive unit of the valve opening/closing mechanism starts operation and causes the valve opening/closing head to rotate in the opening direction of the opening/closing valve, namely, leftwards, to open the valve, thereby allowing the gas filling operation for the container to be started.
  • the rotation drive unit of the valve opening/closing mechanism operates to rotate the valve opening/closing head rightwards, thereby closing the opening/closing valve.
  • the lift drive unit of the valve opening/closing mechanism operates to raise the valve opening/closing head away from the valve opening/closing valve.
  • the advance/retreat drive unit which supports the gas filling nozzle starts operation and causes the gas filling nozzle to retreat away from the gas filling port to complete the filling operation.
  • the lift drive unit operates to raise the lift member back to its upper limit position.
  • the weight of each gas container is measured by the electrobalance in a predetermined position on the inlet passage while the container is conveyed toward the turntable, then the container passes through the inlet on the turntable and is put on a container rest portion, then while the container is conveyed from the inlet to the outlet by the rotation of the turntable, a predetermined amount of gas is filled into the container in the foregoing operation sequence and timings of the constituent mechanisms as in the first technical means described above, and the container which has reached the outlet is carried out to the outlet passage.
  • Fig. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an LP gas filling equipment embodying the invention and Fig.2 is an enlarged side view thereof.
  • the reference mark A denotes a turntable installed on a floor surface in a horizontally rotatable manner
  • numerals 1 and 2 denote an inlet passage and an outlet passage, respectively, which are each constituted by, for example, a chain conveyor or a roller conveyer installed in an appropriate length and which are connected to an inlet 1a and an outlet 2a, respectively, formed in predetermined positions on the turntable A
  • numerals 3 and 4 respectively denote an electrobalance mounted on the inlet passage 1 to measure the weight of a container 5 which is conveyed on the inlet passage 1 toward the inlet and an electrobalance mounted on the outlet passage 2 to measure the height of a gas-filled container 5' which is discharged from the outlet and conveyed on the outlet passage 2.
  • Numerals 6, 6, ... denote container rest portions arranged at regular intervals on the same circumference on the upper surface of the turntable A, including the positions of the inlet 1a and outlet 2a;
  • the mark B denotes a gas filling machine mounted sideways of each container rest portion 6;
  • numeral 7 denotes an air rotary joint disposed centrally of the upper surface of the turntable A;
  • numeral 8 denotes a gas distributor mounted bridgewise above the air rotary joint 7 for distributing gas to each gas filling machine B;
  • the mark C denotes a central processing unit (CPU).
  • CPU central processing unit
  • each gas container 5 While each gas container 5 is conveyed along the inlet passage 1 toward the turntable A, its weight is measured by the electrobalance 3 on the inlet passage, then the containers 5 are put one by one onto the container rest portions 6, 6, on the turntable A through the inlet 1a and conveyed from the inlet to the outlet 2a by the rotation of the turntable.
  • the gas containers are each filled with a predetermined amount of gas automatically by the gas filling machines B, B, ... disposed in association with the container rest portions 6, 6, ... which amount is calculated by the central processing unit on the basis of a metered value for each container 5 fed from the electrobalance 3, then the gas-filled container 5' which has arrived at the outlet 2a is discharged to the outlet passage 2.
  • the container rest portions 6, 6, ... are each of a size having a rest area based on the thickness (outside diameter) of a container with an internal volume corresponding to a maximum gas storage, e.g. 50 kg, and each comprise rollers 9 separated right and left toward the inlet and outlet passages 1, 2 so that the introduction from the inlet passage 1, discharge to the outlet passage 2 and the rotation of the gas filling machines B, B, ... in the axial direction of the container 5 by a filling port direction modifying mechanism which will be described later, can be done smoothly (see Fig. 14).
  • a maximum gas storage e.g. 50 kg
  • the gas filling machines B, B, ... each comprise a machine frame disposed sideways of the container rest portions 6, 6, ..., a lift member 12 supported by the machine frame 10 vertically movably through a lift drive unit 11, a gas filling nozzle 14 supported by the lift member 12 horizontally movably through an advance/retreat drive unit 13 so as to advance into docking with a gas filling port 5a of the gas container 5, a filling port direction modifying mechanism 15 for performing a directional positioning of the gas filling port 5a of the container on the container rest portion 6, and a valve opening/closing mechanism 16 for opening and closing a rotary valve 5b projecting from the upper end of the gas filling port 5a of the container.
  • the machine frame 10 is constituted in the following manner.
  • a frame generally ⁇ -shaped in side view and having an appropriate height is formed using an L- or ⁇ -shaped angle member, and two guide rods 17 are fixedly erected at appropriate intervals between the front edge of an upper wall 10a and that of a lower wall 10b.
  • a lift member 12 is supported in a vertically passing-through state by both guide rods 17 and thus the lift member 12 is disposed vertically movably in the machine frame 10.
  • a wire 19 is passed onto pulleys 18 mounted on the upper and lower walls 10a, 10b and end portions thereof are connected to the upper and lower ends of the lift member 12, while an intermediate part of the wire is connected to a lift drive unit 11, e.g.
  • the gas filling nozzle 14 is provided with a solenoid valve and starts and stops the gas filling operation in accordance with opening and closing motions of the solenoid valve.
  • the nozzle 14 is attached to an advance/retreat unit 13, e.g. air cylinder, mounted horizontally and centrally on the lower side of the lift member 12 and is advanced by the drive unit 13 into docking with the gas filling port 5a of the container 5 positioned opposedly on the same axis. After completion of the gas filling operation, the nozzle 14 is moved back to its stand-by position. Further, a fill hose 24 extending from a fill valve 23 in each distribution pipe of the distributor is connected to the nozzle 14.
  • an advance/retreat unit 13 e.g. air cylinder
  • the filling port direction modifying mechanism 15 is constituted as follows.
  • a rotation drive unit 28 e.g. air motor
  • the clamp unit 27 includes clamp members 27a mounted slidably on right and left rails 31 which are disposed on both aides of the lower end face of the lift member 12.
  • the opening/closing drive unit 25 is mounted between the rear ends of the right and left clamp members 27a, and a rack 32 projecting in an appropriate length from each of both clamp members 27a is engaged with a pinion 33 to permit opening and closing motions of both clamp members 27 in synchronism with each other.
  • To the inner surface of each clamp member 27a are mounted two rollers in front and rear positions, the rollers 26a constituting the rotating means 26.
  • An air motor 26b with brake is disposed on the rear end portion of one clamp member 27a, and a connecting member 26c, e.g.
  • rollers 26a are rotated in the same direction by the motor 26b to rotate the container 5 in a clamped state by the right and left clamp members 27a (see Figs. 5 to 6).
  • the direction detecting unit 30 is constituted as follows.
  • a horizontal arm 35 which is generally L-shaped in plan, is supported through a shaft by a rotation drive unit 34 mounted to the lift member 12, and a lift drive unit 36 and two support rods 37 are erected on the front end portion of the horizontal arm 35.
  • a connecting cylinder 38 is slidably fitted on each support rod 37, then the connecting cylinder 38 and the drive unit 36 are interconnected through a generally L-shaped connecting frame 39, and a plate 40 is mounted to the connecting cylinder 38 forwardly and horizontally and an air cylinder 41 having rods 41a in both directions is mounted on the plate 40.
  • a detector 42 extending vertically upward at an appropriate height and then bent horizontally toward the upper ends of both support rods 37 is mounted to the front edge of the plate 40, and by linkage thereof to leak sensors 43 provided on the upper ends of the supports rods 37 it is detected that the gas filling port 5a of the container 5 has been aligned with the gas filling nozzle 14.
  • a pair of right and left detection members 46 are fixedly suspended from the front ends of both-side rods 41a of the air cylinder 41, the detection members 46 having concaves 45a in lower horizontal portions 46a thereof which, upon abutment of opposed edges thereof, define a detection hole 45 conforming to an external shape of a valve body 44 of the gas filling port 5a.
  • the horizontal arm 35 is moved rotatively toward a position above the gas filling port 5a of the container 5 on the container rest portion 6 by means of the rotation drive unit 34, and by an interlocked operation of the lift drive unit 36 provided on the front end portion of the horizontal arm 35 and the air cylinder 41, the lower horizontal portions 46a of the paired right and left detection members 46 mounted to the air cylinder 41 are brought into abutment onto the valve body 44 in a formed state of the detection hole 45 conforming to the external shape of the valve body.
  • the container 5 is rotated by the clamp unit 27 and the direction of the gas filling port 5a is thereby modified toward the gas filling nozzle 14, whereby the detection hole 45 is brought into conformity with the valve body 44 and brought down and fitted thereon.
  • the detector 42 is connected with the leak sensors 43 provided on the upper ends of the support rods 37 to detect that the gas filling port 5a of the container 5 has become aligned with the gas filling nozzle 14 (see Figs. 9 and 10).
  • a lift drive unit 47 e.g. air cylinder
  • right and left guide rods 48 are mounted on both sides of the lift drive unit.
  • a head case 50 which holds a valve opening/closing head 49 is slidably fitted on the right and left guide rods 48 and is connected to the lift drive unit 47.
  • the valve opening/closing head 49 is fixedly inserted rotatably in a central part of the head case 50 which central part is located on an axis perpendicularly intersecting an extension of the axis of the gas filling nozzle 14.
  • a rotation drive unit 51 e.g.
  • a through hole 54 is formed along the axis of the valve opening/closing head 49, and a detector 55 for detecting the height of the container 5 is provided vertically slidably within the through hole 54.
  • a spring member 58 for urging the detector 55 downward is disposed between a detection plate 56 attached to the lower end of the detector 55 and a recess 57 formed in the underside of a head portion 49a, and a leak sensor 59 for detecting a height of the container 5 by contact with the detector 55 is disposed on the top of the head case 50 in a position located on an extension of the axis of the detector 55.
  • valve opening/closing mechanism 16 is moved vertically and rotated forward and reverse by both the lift drive unit 47 disposed in the lift member 12 and the rotation drive unit 51 supported by the lift drive unit 47 through the head case 50, to open and close the rotary valve 5b of the container 5.
  • the detector 55 comes into contact with the leak sensor 59 in this state to thereby detect a height of the container 5, that is, the lift drive unit 11 of the lift member 12 is stopped operation to control the vertical movement of the lift member, particularly the downward movement thereof according to the height of the container 5 (see Figs. 11 and 12).
  • the numeral 60 denotes an advance/retreat drive unit, e.g. air cylinder, which causes an abutment plate 61 thereof to come into abutment with the outer peripheral surface of the container 5 in accordance with the thickness (outside diameter) of the container disposed on the lower wall 10b of the machine frame 10 to effect centering of the container to the center of the container rest portion 6 and which, after completion of the gas filling operation, pushes the gas-filled container 5 to the outlet passage from the container rest portion 6.
  • the abutment plate 61 is curved for conformity with the external shape of the container 5.
  • Numeral 62 denotes a scanner for reading a bar code stuck on the container 5 and outputting such data as container symbol, container number, type, weight and manufacturing date of the container, fill deadline, user and company number to the central processing unit C for example.
  • the scanner 62 is mounted in several positions on a ring member 65 which is suspended from a lift wire 64 so that the bar code 63 can surely be read no matter in which position on the container the bar code may be stuck (the hatched portion in the figure).
  • the lift drive unit 11 first starts operation in accordance with the required data which have been inputted to the central processing unit C, and causes the lift member 12 to move down.
  • the detection plate 56 attached to the lower end of the detector 55 in the valve opening/closing mechanism 16 comes into abutment onto the opening/closing valve 5b of the container 5, and by the continuous descent of the lift member 12, the detector 55 is brought into contact with the leak sensor 59, whereupon a signal is provided from the sensor 59 to stop the operation of the lift drive unit 11.
  • the opening/closing drive unit 25 in the filling port direction modifying mechanism 15 starts operation, causing the right and left clamp members 27a of the clamp unit 27 to operate in the closing direction in synchronism with each other to clamp the container 5.
  • the lift drive unit 47 in the valve opening/closing mechanism 47 starts operation, raises the head case 50 and causes the detection plate 56 and the valve opening/closing head 49 to be retracted to the upper limit position from above the opening/closing valve 5b.
  • the detector 55 is brought down away from the leak sensor 59 by means of the spring member 58.
  • the rotation drive unit 34 which supports the direction detecting unit 30 starts operation, and direction detecting unit 30 which has been retracted to its standby position (see Fig. 5) is advanced rotatively to a position above the valve body 44 in the gas filling port 5a of the container 5 by virtue of rotation (left-hand rotation) of the horizontal arm 35 (see Fig. 7).
  • the lift drive unit 36 Upon arrival of the direction detecting unit 30 at the position above the valve body 49a, the lift drive unit 36 starts operation and causes the paired right and left detection members 46a to move down toward the valve body 44. At a later timing the opening/closing drive unit 41 starts operation to close the detection members 46, and in this state the lower horizontal portions 46a of the detection members 46 are brought into abutment onto the valve body 44 (the state shown in Fig. 8). At this time, the lift drive unit 36 has a driving force (pressure) for pushing the paired right and left detection members 46, and in this state the rotation drive unit 26b of the valve direction modifying mechanism 15 operates and imparts a rotating power to the rollers 26a to rotate the container 5.
  • a driving force pressure
  • both detection members 46 move downward and the detector 42 comes into contact with the leak sensor 43, so that the motor 26b in the clamp unit 27 stops to discontinue the rotation of the container 5, whereby there is effected a directional positioning of the gas filling port 5a with respect to the gas filling nozzle 14 (see Fig. 10).
  • the opening/closing drive unit 25 operates again to move the clamp members 27a in the opening direction and thereby release the clamped state of the container 5.
  • the lift drive unit 36 operates and then at a predetermined timing the rotation drive unit 28 operates, causing the direction detecting unit 30 to move back to its stand-by position from above the gas filling port 5a of the container 5.
  • the lift drive unit 47 in the valve opening/closing mechanism 16 starts operating and causes the head case 50 to move down until the valve opening/closing head 49 is fitted on the opening/closing valve 5b.
  • the advance/retreat drive unit 13 which supports the gas filling nozzle 14 starts operation and causes the nozzle 14 to advance toward the gas filling port 5a, allowing both to come into docking with each other.
  • the rotation drive unit 51 in the valve opening/closing mechanism 16 starts operation and causes the valve opening/closing head 49 to turn in the opening direction of the valve 5b, namely in the leftward direction, to open the valve, thereby starting the gas filling operation for the container 5 (see Fig. 12).
  • the gas filling operation is started by opening of the solenoid valve in the gas filling nozzle 14.
  • a filling end signal is issued from the central processing unit C, whereupon the solenoid valve is closed and the rotation drive unit 51 in the valve opening/closing mechanism 16 operates and causes the valve opening/closing head 49 to turn rightwards to close the opening/closing valve 5b.
  • the lift drive unit 47 in the opening/closing mechanism 16 operates and raises the head case 50 to disengage the head 49 from the valve 5b.
  • the advance/retreat drive unit 13 starts operating and causes the gas filling nozzle to move back away from the gas filling port 5a. The gas filling work is now over. Thereafter, the lift drive unit operates to raise the lift member 12 back to its upper-limit position.
  • gas filling machines B are arranged on the turntable A in a number corresponding to the number of the container rest portions 6, 6, .... While the gas containers 5 are conveyed toward the turntable A along the inlet passage 1, they are weighed by the electrobalance 3 on the same passage. Thereafter, the containers 5 pass through the inlet 1a of the turntable A and are put one by one on the container rest portions 6, 6, .... formed on the turntable. Then, the gas filling machines B arranged respectively for the container rest portions 6, 6, .... perform a directional positioning of the gas filling port 5a with respect to the gas filling nozzle 14 in the foregoing operation sequence and operation timing.
  • each container 5 is filled with a predetermined amount of gas, and the container 5' which has arrived at the outlet 2a is pushed by the abutment plate under the operation of the advance/retreat drive unit 60 and is thereby discharged to the outlet passage 2 from the outlet 2a.
  • the gas-filled container 5' being conveyed on the outlet passage 2 is weighed by the electrobalance on the same passage to check if it has been filled with the predetermined amount of gas.
  • a linear transfer path contiguous to the container rest portion may be formed so that the container is filled with gas by the gas filling machine B under such linear transfer form.
  • the first technical means adopted by the invention once each gas container which has been weighed by the electrobalance is put on a container rest portion, there are automatically performed directional positioning of the gas filling port of the gas container relative to the gas filling nozzle, connection and disconnection of the gas filling nozzle with respect to the gas filling port, and opening and closing of the container opening/closing valve.
  • all that is required for the worker is merely putting the weighed container onto the container rest portion. Consequently, the filling work efficiency is greatly improved and not only speed-up of the filling work can be attained but also the worker's labor (fatigue) can be diminished.
  • directional positioning of the gas filling port of the gas container which has been conveyed along the inlet passage and put on a container rest portion on the turntable, with respect to the gas filling nozzle, connection and disconnection of the gas filling nozzle with respect to the gas filling port, and opening and closing of the container opening/closing valve are performed automatically while the container is conveyed from the inlet to the outlet of the turntable. Therefore, it is possible to attain the concentration and rationalization of gas filling operations in the rotary filling system, and further possible to attain a complete automation of a series of operations from the introduction of gas containers up to the discharge thereof.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
EP93109900A 1992-06-29 1993-06-22 Flüssiggasfüllanlage Expired - Lifetime EP0576958B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP4170580A JPH0799238B2 (ja) 1992-06-29 1992-06-29 Ｌｐガス充填装置
JP170580/92 1992-06-29

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0576958A1 true EP0576958A1 (de) 1994-01-05
EP0576958B1 EP0576958B1 (de) 1998-09-16

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ID=15907474

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93109900A Expired - Lifetime EP0576958B1 (de) 1992-06-29 1993-06-22 Flüssiggasfüllanlage

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0576958B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH0799238B2 (de)
KR (1) KR960008853B1 (de)
CN (1) CN1080985A (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2708332A1 (fr) * 1993-09-01 1995-02-03 Siraga Sa Installation pour le remplissage automatique de bouteilles de gaz.
EP0660026A1 (de) * 1993-12-27 1995-06-28 Meiko Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha Flüssiggasfüllgerät
DE19643801B4 (de) * 1996-10-30 2005-08-25 Gall, Sieghard, Dr. Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Gas-Befüllen eines Behälters auf einem gewünschten Befülldruck und/oder eine gewünschte Befüllmenge
WO2013002425A1 (en) * 2011-06-29 2013-01-03 Gulf Energy Limited Liquefied petroleum gas (lpg) partial refilling machine
WO2013002426A1 (en) * 2011-06-29 2013-01-03 Gulf Energy Limited Liquefied petroleum gas partial refilling process
US20150369533A1 (en) * 2013-01-29 2015-12-24 Joseph Company International, Inc. Carbon dioxide charging apparatus and method for heat exchange unit

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JP2003063511A (ja) * 2001-08-21 2003-03-05 Shikoku Kakoki Co Ltd ロータリ式充填機の制御装置
US9375203B2 (en) 2002-03-25 2016-06-28 Kieran Murphy Llc Biopsy needle
JP2005315383A (ja) * 2004-04-30 2005-11-10 Toyota Motor Corp 締結装置
US20150204602A1 (en) * 2012-10-15 2015-07-23 Joseph Company International, Inc. Heat exchange unit for self-cooling beverage container
CN105889749B (zh) * 2016-05-11 2018-02-23 韩爱华 溶解乙炔自动充装成套设备
KR102120752B1 (ko) * 2017-12-13 2020-06-09 에이엠티 주식회사 고압가스통의 자동 얼라인방법
KR102120747B1 (ko) * 2017-12-19 2020-06-09 에이엠티 주식회사 고압가스통의 자동 교체방법
KR101980048B1 (ko) * 2018-07-03 2019-05-17 주식회사 유니락 가스 실린더 자동 결합 장치 및 방법
KR101980045B1 (ko) * 2018-07-03 2019-05-17 주식회사 유니락 가스 실린더 자동 결합 시스템 및 방법
KR102148399B1 (ko) * 2019-01-22 2020-08-28 주식회사 원익홀딩스 커넥터 모듈 및 가스실린더의 가스공급장치용 상부유닛
KR102492801B1 (ko) * 2019-03-22 2023-01-31 삼성전자주식회사 가스 용기 보관 장치
KR102159062B1 (ko) * 2019-03-25 2020-09-23 에이엠티 주식회사 고압가스통 반자동 얼라인 장치
KR102188204B1 (ko) * 2020-03-13 2020-12-09 주식회사 케이씨 가스 저장 용기 정렬 장치 및 그 방법
KR102292288B1 (ko) * 2020-03-24 2021-08-24 주식회사 케이씨 얼라인 기능이 구비된 가스공급장치
KR102337062B1 (ko) * 2020-04-28 2021-12-08 주식회사 케이씨 얼라인 기능이 구비된 가스공급장치 및 얼라인 방법
KR102228698B1 (ko) * 2020-05-26 2021-03-18 주식회사 케이씨 가스 공급 장치
KR102440146B1 (ko) * 2020-05-26 2022-09-05 주식회사 케이씨 가스 용기 체결 장치
CN112032551B (zh) * 2020-09-02 2021-05-04 浙江台州绿源气体有限公司 液化气罐用自动化灌装流水线
TWI806200B (zh) * 2021-10-22 2023-06-21 邱柏文 灌注系統之容器定位、篩選結構

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Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2708332A1 (fr) * 1993-09-01 1995-02-03 Siraga Sa Installation pour le remplissage automatique de bouteilles de gaz.
EP0641966A1 (de) * 1993-09-01 1995-03-08 SIRAGA S.A.(société anonyme) Automatische Fülleinrichtung für Gasflaschen
EP0660026A1 (de) * 1993-12-27 1995-06-28 Meiko Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha Flüssiggasfüllgerät
DE19643801B4 (de) * 1996-10-30 2005-08-25 Gall, Sieghard, Dr. Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Gas-Befüllen eines Behälters auf einem gewünschten Befülldruck und/oder eine gewünschte Befüllmenge
WO2013002425A1 (en) * 2011-06-29 2013-01-03 Gulf Energy Limited Liquefied petroleum gas (lpg) partial refilling machine
WO2013002426A1 (en) * 2011-06-29 2013-01-03 Gulf Energy Limited Liquefied petroleum gas partial refilling process
US20150369533A1 (en) * 2013-01-29 2015-12-24 Joseph Company International, Inc. Carbon dioxide charging apparatus and method for heat exchange unit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0576958B1 (de) 1998-09-16
CN1080985A (zh) 1994-01-19
JPH0799238B2 (ja) 1995-10-25
JPH06201095A (ja) 1994-07-19
KR940000782A (ko) 1994-01-10
KR960008853B1 (en) 1996-07-05

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