EP0576958A1 - LP gas filling equipment - Google Patents
LP gas filling equipment Download PDFInfo
- 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
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Classifications
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- 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.
- Heretofore, various apparatus have been developed for performing the LP gas filling work. In all of such conventional apparatus, however, docking of a gas filling nozzle to a gas filling port of a gas container had to be conducted manually by a worker. For example, a prior application (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 93598/1984) filed by the applicant in the present case relates to an LP gas filling equipment capable of introducing and discharging gas containers to and from a place where the containers are to be filled with the gas, in order to attain the concentration and rationalization of the gas filling work. In the equipment of the said prior application, 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. In the conventional equipment, moreover, at the time of connecting the gas filling nozzle to the gas filling port of the container, the worker is required to rotate the container to effect a directional positioning of the container gas filling port relative to the gas filling nozzle. This is a heavy labor. Further, after the connection of the gas filling nozzle and at the time of removing the same nozzle, it has been necessary to open and close a rotary valve of the container by a manual operation. In the conventional equipment, therefore, it is impossible to expect automation for the concentration and rationalization of the gas filling work.
- 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.
- According to a technical means adopted by the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object, 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 a clamp unit in a position of the lift member below the gas filling nozzle, the clamp unit having a rotating means adapted to be opened and closed by an opening/closing unit according to the thickness of the container to clamp and rotate the container, the filling port direction modifying mechanism also having a direction detecting unit in a position above the gas filling nozzle, the direction detecting unit being advanced and retreated rotatively between an advanced position above the gas filling port of the container and a stand-by position retreated from the advanced position, by means of a rotation drive unit, and being moved vertically according to the height of the gas filling port by means of a lift drive unit to detect a direction of the gas filling port, and the valve opening/closing mechanism having a valve opening/closing head positioned on an axis which perpendicularly intersects an extension of the axis of the gas filling nozzle, the valve opening/closing head being moved vertically and rotated in forward and reverse directions by means of both a lift drive unit disposed in the lift member and a rotation drive unit supported by the lift drive unit, to thereby open or close the rotary valve of the container.
- According to a further technical means adopted by the present invention for achieving the foregoing object, 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 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 a clamp unit in a position of the lift member below the gas filling nozzle, the clamp unit having a rotating means adapted to be opened and closed by an opening/closing unit according to the thickness of the container to clamp and rotate the container, the filling port direction modifying mechanism also having a direction detecting unit in a position above the gas filling nozzle, the direction detecting unit being advanced and retreated rotatively between an advanced position above the gas filling port of the container and a stand-by position retreated from the advanced position, by means of a rotation drive unit, and being moved vertically according to the height of the gas filling port by means of a lift drive unit to detect a direction of the gas filling port, and the valve opening/closing mechanism having a valve opening/closing head positioned on an axis which perpendicularly intersects an extension of the axis of the gas filling nozzle, the valve opening/closing head being moved vertically and rotated in forward and reverse directions by means of both a lift drive unit disposed in the lift member and a rotation drive unit supported by the lift drive unit, to thereby open or close the rotary valve of the container.
- The above mechanisms are operated in predetermined sequence and timings by the respective drive units which start operation under a pre-programmed computer control.
- According to the above first technical means for the LP gas filling equipment of the present invention, when a gas container which has been weighed by the electrobalance is put on a container rest portion, 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. When the container is clamped, 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. At the same time, 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.
- 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. Thereafter, 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. At the same time 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.
- When a predetermined amount of gas has been filled into the container to complete the filling operation, 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. At the same time, 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. At the same time, 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. When the gas filling operation is completed by a series of these operations, the lift drive unit operates to raise the lift member back to its upper limit position.
- According to the foregoing second technical means adopted in the present invention, 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.
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- Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of an LP gas filling equipment according to the present invention;
- Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 is a side view showing a principal portion (a gas filling machine) on a larger scale;
- Fig. 4 is a front view thereof;
- Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof in transverse section;
- Fig. 6 is a partially sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 5;
- Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing a clamp unit in a filling port direction modifying mechanism;
- Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view showing the operation of a direction detecting unit in the filling port direction modifying mechanism;
- Fig. 9 is a side view similar to Fig. 8, showing state after directional positioning of a gas filling port of a gas container;
- Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view in transverse section taken along line X-X in Fig. 9;
- Fig. 11 is a partially cut-away side view showing a valve opening/ closing mechanism portion;
- Fig. 12 is a side view similar to Fig. 11, showing a connected state of a gas filling nozzle to the gas filling port of the container;
- Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a scanner; and
- Fig. 14 is a plan view showing a container rest portion on a larger scale.
- An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail hereinunder with reference to the drawings. 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. In the drawings, the reference mark A denotes a turntable installed on a floor surface in a horizontally rotatable manner;
numerals inlet 1a and anoutlet 2a, respectively, formed in predetermined positions on the turntable A;numerals inlet passage 1 to measure the weight of acontainer 5 which is conveyed on theinlet passage 1 toward the inlet and an electrobalance mounted on theoutlet passage 2 to measure the height of a gas-filled container 5' which is discharged from the outlet and conveyed on theoutlet passage 2.Numerals inlet 1a andoutlet 2a; the mark B denotes a gas filling machine mounted sideways of eachcontainer 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; and the mark C denotes a central processing unit (CPU). While eachgas container 5 is conveyed along theinlet passage 1 toward the turntable A, its weight is measured by theelectrobalance 3 on the inlet passage, then thecontainers 5 are put one by one onto thecontainer rest portions inlet 1a and conveyed from the inlet to theoutlet 2a by the rotation of the turntable. During this movement, the gas containers are each filled with a predetermined amount of gas automatically by the gas filling machines B, B, ... disposed in association with thecontainer rest portions container 5 fed from theelectrobalance 3, then the gas-filled container 5' which has arrived at theoutlet 2a is discharged to theoutlet passage 2. - The container rest
portions rollers 9 separated right and left toward the inlet andoutlet passages inlet passage 1, discharge to theoutlet passage 2 and the rotation of the gas filling machines B, B, ... in the axial direction of thecontainer 5 by a filling port direction modifying mechanism which will be described later, can be done smoothly (see Fig. 14). - The gas filling machines B, B, ... each comprise a machine frame disposed sideways of the
container rest portions lift member 12 supported by themachine frame 10 vertically movably through alift drive unit 11, agas filling nozzle 14 supported by thelift member 12 horizontally movably through an advance/retreat drive unit 13 so as to advance into docking with agas filling port 5a of thegas container 5, a filling portdirection modifying mechanism 15 for performing a directional positioning of thegas filling port 5a of the container on thecontainer rest portion 6, and a valve opening/closing mechanism 16 for opening and closing arotary valve 5b projecting from the upper end of thegas 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 twoguide rods 17 are fixedly erected at appropriate intervals between the front edge of anupper wall 10a and that of a lower wall 10b. Then, alift member 12 is supported in a vertically passing-through state by bothguide rods 17 and thus thelift member 12 is disposed vertically movably in themachine frame 10. Further, awire 19 is passed ontopulleys 18 mounted on the upper andlower walls 10a, 10b and end portions thereof are connected to the upper and lower ends of thelift member 12, while an intermediate part of the wire is connected to alift drive unit 11, e.g. rodless air cylinder, of themachine frame 10, causing thelift member 12 to be moved up or down by thecylinder 11. To the upper end of thelift member 12 is connected one end of awire 21 to which is to be attached aweight 20 for pulling the lift member upward, then thewire 21 is passed onto apulley 22 mounted on theupper wall 10a of themachine frame 10, and theweight 20 is attached to the other end of the wire. - 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. Thenozzle 14 is attached to an advance/retreat unit 13, e.g. air cylinder, mounted horizontally and centrally on the lower side of thelift member 12 and is advanced by thedrive unit 13 into docking with thegas filling port 5a of thecontainer 5 positioned opposedly on the same axis. After completion of the gas filling operation, thenozzle 14 is moved back to its stand-by position. Further, afill hose 24 extending from afill valve 23 in each distribution pipe of the distributor is connected to thenozzle 14. - The filling port
direction modifying mechanism 15 is constituted as follows. Aclamp unit 27 having a rotatingmeans 26 which is moved in opening and closing directions by an opening/closing drive unit 25, e.g. air cylinder, in accordance with the thickness (outside diameter) of thecontainer 5 to clamp and rotate the container, is mounted to thelift member 12 in a position below thegas filling nozzle 14. There is also provided adirection detecting unit 30 in a position above thegas filling nozzle 14, thedirection detecting unit 30 being moved forward and backward by arotation drive unit 28, e.g. air motor, between an advanced position above thegas filling port 5a of thecontainer 5 and a stand-by position retreated from the advanced position and moved vertically by alift drive unit 29, e.g. air cylinder, according to the height of thegas filling port 5a, to detect a direction of theport 5a. - The
clamp unit 27 includesclamp members 27a mounted slidably on right andleft rails 31 which are disposed on both aides of the lower end face of thelift member 12. The opening/closing drive unit 25 is mounted between the rear ends of the right andleft clamp members 27a, and arack 32 projecting in an appropriate length from each of bothclamp members 27a is engaged with apinion 33 to permit opening and closing motions of bothclamp members 27 in synchronism with each other. To the inner surface of eachclamp member 27a are mounted two rollers in front and rear positions, therollers 26a constituting the rotatingmeans 26. Anair motor 26b with brake is disposed on the rear end portion of oneclamp member 27a, and a connectingmember 26c, e.g. belt, is stretched from theair motor 26b and passed onto the front andrear rollers 26a. Bothrollers 26a are rotated in the same direction by themotor 26b to rotate thecontainer 5 in a clamped state by the right andleft clamp members 27a (see Figs. 5 to 6). - The
direction detecting unit 30 is constituted as follows. Ahorizontal arm 35, which is generally L-shaped in plan, is supported through a shaft by arotation drive unit 34 mounted to thelift member 12, and alift drive unit 36 and twosupport rods 37 are erected on the front end portion of thehorizontal arm 35. Further, a connectingcylinder 38 is slidably fitted on eachsupport rod 37, then the connectingcylinder 38 and thedrive unit 36 are interconnected through a generally L-shaped connectingframe 39, and aplate 40 is mounted to the connectingcylinder 38 forwardly and horizontally and anair cylinder 41 having rods 41a in both directions is mounted on theplate 40. Adetector 42 extending vertically upward at an appropriate height and then bent horizontally toward the upper ends of bothsupport rods 37 is mounted to the front edge of theplate 40, and by linkage thereof to leaksensors 43 provided on the upper ends of thesupports rods 37 it is detected that thegas filling port 5a of thecontainer 5 has been aligned with thegas filling nozzle 14. Further, a pair of right and leftdetection members 46 are fixedly suspended from the front ends of both-side rods 41a of theair cylinder 41, thedetection members 46 having concaves 45a in lowerhorizontal portions 46a thereof which, upon abutment of opposed edges thereof, define adetection hole 45 conforming to an external shape of avalve body 44 of thegas filling port 5a. - In the
direction detecting unit 30, thehorizontal arm 35 is moved rotatively toward a position above thegas filling port 5a of thecontainer 5 on thecontainer rest portion 6 by means of therotation drive unit 34, and by an interlocked operation of thelift drive unit 36 provided on the front end portion of thehorizontal arm 35 and theair cylinder 41, the lowerhorizontal portions 46a of the paired right and leftdetection members 46 mounted to theair cylinder 41 are brought into abutment onto thevalve body 44 in a formed state of thedetection hole 45 conforming to the external shape of the valve body. In this state, thecontainer 5 is rotated by theclamp unit 27 and the direction of thegas filling port 5a is thereby modified toward thegas filling nozzle 14, whereby thedetection hole 45 is brought into conformity with thevalve body 44 and brought down and fitted thereon. In this way thedetector 42 is connected with theleak sensors 43 provided on the upper ends of thesupport rods 37 to detect that thegas filling port 5a of thecontainer 5 has become aligned with the gas filling nozzle 14 (see Figs. 9 and 10). - In the valve opening/
closing mechanism 16, alift drive unit 47, e.g. air cylinder, is attached to the front face of the upper portion of thelift member 12, and right andleft guide rods 48 are mounted on both sides of the lift drive unit. Ahead case 50 which holds a valve opening/closing head 49 is slidably fitted on the right andleft guide rods 48 and is connected to thelift drive unit 47. The valve opening/closing head 49 is fixedly inserted rotatably in a central part of thehead case 50 which central part is located on an axis perpendicularly intersecting an extension of the axis of thegas filling nozzle 14. Further, arotation drive unit 51, e.g. air motor, is mounted on the front end side where the valve opening/closing head 49 is mounted, and gears 52 and 53 meshing with therotation drive unit 51 and the valve opening/closing head 49, respectively, are mounted so that thehead 49 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions by therotation drive unit 51. A throughhole 54 is formed along the axis of the valve opening/closing head 49, and adetector 55 for detecting the height of thecontainer 5 is provided vertically slidably within the throughhole 54. A spring member 58 for urging thedetector 55 downward is disposed between adetection plate 56 attached to the lower end of thedetector 55 and arecess 57 formed in the underside of a head portion 49a, and aleak sensor 59 for detecting a height of thecontainer 5 by contact with thedetector 55 is disposed on the top of thehead case 50 in a position located on an extension of the axis of thedetector 55. - Thus, the valve opening/
closing mechanism 16 is moved vertically and rotated forward and reverse by both thelift drive unit 47 disposed in thelift member 12 and therotation drive unit 51 supported by thelift drive unit 47 through thehead case 50, to open and close therotary valve 5b of thecontainer 5. When thedetection plate 56 attached to the lower end of thedetector 55 disposed through the axis of the valve opening/closing head 59 comes into abutment with the upper surface of the opening/closing valve 5b of thecontainer 5, thedetector 55 comes into contact with theleak sensor 59 in this state to thereby detect a height of thecontainer 5, that is, thelift drive unit 11 of thelift 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 thecontainer 5 in accordance with the thickness (outside diameter) of the container disposed on the lower wall 10b of themachine frame 10 to effect centering of the container to the center of thecontainer rest portion 6 and which, after completion of the gas filling operation, pushes the gas-filledcontainer 5 to the outlet passage from thecontainer rest portion 6. Theabutment plate 61 is curved for conformity with the external shape of thecontainer 5.Numeral 62 denotes a scanner for reading a bar code stuck on thecontainer 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. As shown in Fig. 13, thescanner 62 is mounted in several positions on aring member 65 which is suspended from alift wire 64 so that thebar 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 following description is now provided about the gas filling operation performed by the LP gas filling equipment of the present invention. Reference will first be made to an example of a single use of the gas filling machine B. When the
container 5 which has been weighed by the electrobalance is put on thecontainer rest portion 6, thelift drive unit 11 first starts operation in accordance with the required data which have been inputted to the central processing unit C, and causes thelift member 12 to move down. At the same time, thedetection plate 56 attached to the lower end of thedetector 55 in the valve opening/closing mechanism 16 comes into abutment onto the opening/closing valve 5b of thecontainer 5, and by the continuous descent of thelift member 12, thedetector 55 is brought into contact with theleak sensor 59, whereupon a signal is provided from thesensor 59 to stop the operation of thelift drive unit 11. Subsequently, the opening/closing drive unit 25 in the filling portdirection modifying mechanism 15 starts operation, causing the right andleft clamp members 27a of theclamp unit 27 to operate in the closing direction in synchronism with each other to clamp thecontainer 5. Upon clamp of thecontainer 5, thelift drive unit 47 in the valve opening/closing mechanism 47 starts operation, raises thehead case 50 and causes thedetection plate 56 and the valve opening/closing head 49 to be retracted to the upper limit position from above the opening/closing valve 5b. At this time, thedetector 55 is brought down away from theleak sensor 59 by means of the spring member 58. Following this movement, therotation drive unit 34 which supports thedirection detecting unit 30 starts operation, anddirection detecting unit 30 which has been retracted to its standby position (see Fig. 5) is advanced rotatively to a position above thevalve body 44 in thegas filling port 5a of thecontainer 5 by virtue of rotation (left-hand rotation) of the horizontal arm 35 (see Fig. 7). Upon arrival of thedirection detecting unit 30 at the position above the valve body 49a, thelift drive unit 36 starts operation and causes the paired right and leftdetection members 46a to move down toward thevalve body 44. At a later timing the opening/closing drive unit 41 starts operation to close thedetection members 46, and in this state the lowerhorizontal portions 46a of thedetection members 46 are brought into abutment onto the valve body 44 (the state shown in Fig. 8). At this time, thelift drive unit 36 has a driving force (pressure) for pushing the paired right and leftdetection members 46, and in this state therotation drive unit 26b of the valvedirection modifying mechanism 15 operates and imparts a rotating power to therollers 26a to rotate thecontainer 5. When thecontainer 5 has been rotated up to a state in which thedetection hole 45 defined by bothdetection members 46 can conform to the outside diameter of thevalve body 44, bothdetection members 46 move downward and thedetector 42 comes into contact with theleak sensor 43, so that themotor 26b in theclamp unit 27 stops to discontinue the rotation of thecontainer 5, whereby there is effected a directional positioning of thegas filling port 5a with respect to the gas filling nozzle 14 (see Fig. 10). - When the
gas filling port 5a has been positioned face to face with thegas filling nozzle 14, the opening/closing drive unit 25 operates again to move theclamp members 27a in the opening direction and thereby release the clamped state of thecontainer 5. At the same time, thelift drive unit 36 operates and then at a predetermined timing therotation drive unit 28 operates, causing thedirection detecting unit 30 to move back to its stand-by position from above thegas filling port 5a of thecontainer 5. Subsequently, thelift drive unit 47 in the valve opening/closing mechanism 16 starts operating and causes thehead case 50 to move down until the valve opening/closing head 49 is fitted on the opening/closing valve 5b. Thereafter, the advance/retreat drive unit 13 which supports thegas filling nozzle 14 starts operation and causes thenozzle 14 to advance toward thegas filling port 5a, allowing both to come into docking with each other. At the same time, therotation 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 thevalve 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 thegas filling nozzle 14. - When the
container 5 has been filled with a predetermined amount of gas and the gas filling operation is over, a filling end signal is issued from the central processing unit C, whereupon the solenoid valve is closed and therotation 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. At the same time, thelift drive unit 47 in the opening/closing mechanism 16 operates and raises thehead case 50 to disengage thehead 49 from thevalve 5b. The advance/retreat drive unit 13 starts operating and causes the gas filling nozzle to move back away from thegas filling port 5a. The gas filling work is now over. Thereafter, the lift drive unit operates to raise thelift member 12 back to its upper-limit position. - Next, reference will be made to a rotary filling system in which gas filling machines B are arranged on the turntable A in a number corresponding to the number of the
container rest portions gas containers 5 are conveyed toward the turntable A along theinlet passage 1, they are weighed by theelectrobalance 3 on the same passage. Thereafter, thecontainers 5 pass through theinlet 1a of the turntable A and are put one by one on thecontainer rest portions container rest portions gas filling port 5a with respect to thegas filling nozzle 14 in the foregoing operation sequence and operation timing. While thecontainers 5 are conveyed from theinlet 1a to theoutlet 2a by the rotation of the turntable A, eachcontainer 5 is filled with a predetermined amount of gas, and the container 5' which has arrived at theoutlet 2a is pushed by the abutment plate under the operation of the advance/retreat drive unit 60 and is thereby discharged to theoutlet passage 2 from theoutlet 2a. The gas-filled container 5' being conveyed on theoutlet passage 2 is weighed by the electrobalance on the same passage to check if it has been filled with the predetermined amount of gas. - As to the transfer form of the
container 5 to thecontainer rest portion 6, 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. - Since the LP gas filling equipment of the present invention is constructed as above, there can be obtained the following functions and effects.
- According to 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. Thus, 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.
- According to the second technical means adopted by the invention, 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.
Claims (6)
- LP gas filling apparatus characterised in that the apparatus comprises:
a machine frame (10) which is disposed sideways of a container rest portion (6) which is for receiving a gas container (5) so as to permit filling of the container with a predetermined amount of gas;
a lift member (12) which is moved according to the height of the container by means of a lift drive unit (11), and disposed in the machine frame;
a gas filling nozzle (14) to be advanced and docked with the gas filling port (5a) of the gas container by means of an advance/retreat drive unit (13) which is attached to the lift member; and
a valve opening/closing mechanism (16) for opening and closing the rotary valve (5b) projecting from the upper end of the gas filling port of the container. - LP gas filling apparatus characterised in that the apparatus comprises a machine frame (10) which is disposed sideways of a container rest portion (6) which is for putting a gas container (5) thereon so as to permit filling of the container with a predetermined amount of gas on the basis of a measured value obtained using an electrobalance (3);
a lift member (12) which is moved vertically according to the height of the container by means of a lift drive unit (11), and disposed in the machine frame;
a horizontally movable gas filling nozzle (14) to be advanced and docked with the gas filling port (5a)of the gas container by means of an advance/retreat drive unit (13) which is attached to the lift member;
a filling port direction modifying mechansim (15) 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 which is mounted to the lift member; and
a valve opening/closing mechanism (16) also mounted to the lift member for opening and closing the rotary valve (5b) projecting from the upper end of the gas filling port of the container,
said filling port direction modifyng mechanism having a clamp unit (27) at a position of the lift member below the gas filling nozzle, said clamp unit having a rotating means (26) adapted to be opened and closed by an opening/closing unit (25) according to the thickness of the container to clamp and to rotate the container, the filling port direction modifying mechanism also having a direction detecting unit (30) in a position above the gas filling nozzle, said direction detecting unit being advanced and retreated rotatively between an advanced position above the gas filling port of the container and a stand-by position retreated from the advanced position, by means of a rotation drive unit (34), and being moved vertically according to the height of the gas filling port by means of a lift drive unit (36) to detect the direction of the gas filling port,
said valve opening/closing mechanism having a valve opening/closing head (49) positioned on an axis which perpendicularly intersects an extension of the axis of the gas filling nozzle, said valve opening/closing head being moved vertically and rotated in forward and reverse directions by means of both a lift drive unit (47) disposed in the lift member and a rotation drive unit (51) supported by the lift drive unit, to thereby open or close the rotary valve of the container. - LP gas filling apparatus comprising:
an inlet (1) and an outlet (2) for gas containers which are formed at predetermined positions on a turntable (A);
the inlet and outlet passages each being provided with an electrobalance (3,4); container rest portions (6) each for putting a gas container (5) thereon so as to permit filling the container with a predetermined amount of gas on the basis of a measured valued obtained using the electrobalance on the inlet passage and which are arranged at regular intervals on the same circumference on the upper surface of the turntable; and characterised in that the apparatus further comprises:
a machine frame (10) being disposed sideways of each container rest portion;
a lift member (12) which is disposed in the machine frame and is moved vertically according to the height of the container by means of a lift drive unit (11),
a horizontally movable gas filling nozzle (14) to be advanced and docked with the gas filling port of each gas container by means of an advance/retreat drive unit (13) which is attached to the lift member;
a filling port direction modifying mechanism (15) for performing a directional positioning of the gas filling port of the gas container which has been put on the container rest portion from the inlet passage, with respect to the gas filling nozzle which is mounted to the lift member;
a valve opening/closing mechanism (16) which is mounted to the lift member for opening and closing the rotary valve projecting from the upper end of the gas filling port of the container,
said filling port direction modifying mechanism having a clamp unit (27) at a position of the lift member below the gas filling nozzle, said clamp unit having a rotating means (26) adapted to be opened and closed by an opening/closing unit (25) according to the thickness of the container to clamp and rotate the container, the filling port direction modifying mechanism also having a direction detecting unit (30) in a position above the gas filling nozzle, said direction detecting unit being advanced and retreated rotatively between an advanced position above the gas filling port of the container and a stand-by position retreated from the advanced position, by means of a rotation drive unit (34), and being moved vertically according to the height of the gas filling port by means of a lift drive (36) unit to detect the direction of the gas filling port, and said valve opening/closing mechanism having a valve opening/closing head (49) positioned on an axis which perpendicularly intersects an extension of the axis of the gas filling nozzle, said valve opening/clsoing head being moved vertically and rotated in forward and reverse directions by means of both a lift drive unit (47) disposed in the lift member and a rotation drive unit (51) supported by the lift drive unit, to thereby open or close the rotary valve of the container. - LP gas filling apparatus according to Claim 1 characterised by the further provision of
a gas filling port direction detecting unit (30) mounted on the lift member and a filling port direction modifier (27) whereby the direction of the filling port of the gas container can be modified so that the said filling nozzle can be docked with the said filling port by horizontal movement. - LP gas filling apparatus according to Claim 4, characterised in that the said filling port direction modifier is a clamp unit having a rotating means (26) adapted to be opened and closed by an opening/closing unit (25) according to the thickness of the container to clamp and to rotate the container.
- LP gas filling apparatus according to Claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the said filling port direction detecting unit is positioned adjacent the gas filling nozzle and is advanced and retreated rotatively between an advanced position above the gas filling port of the container and a stand-by position.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP4170580A JPH0799238B2 (en) | 1992-06-29 | 1992-06-29 | LP gas filling device |
JP170580/92 | 1992-06-29 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0576958A1 true EP0576958A1 (en) | 1994-01-05 |
EP0576958B1 EP0576958B1 (en) | 1998-09-16 |
Family
ID=15907474
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP93109900A Expired - Lifetime EP0576958B1 (en) | 1992-06-29 | 1993-06-22 | LP gas filling equipment |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0576958B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH0799238B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR960008853B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1080985A (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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FR2708332A1 (en) * | 1993-09-01 | 1995-02-03 | Siraga Sa | Installation for automatic filling of gas cylinders. |
EP0660026A1 (en) * | 1993-12-27 | 1995-06-28 | Meiko Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha | LP gas filling apparatus |
DE19643801B4 (en) * | 1996-10-30 | 2005-08-25 | Gall, Sieghard, Dr. | Method and device for gas filling a container at a desired filling pressure and / or a desired filling amount |
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 (en) * | 2001-08-21 | 2003-03-05 | Shikoku Kakoki Co Ltd | Controller of rotary filling machine |
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CN104704305A (en) * | 2012-10-15 | 2015-06-10 | 约瑟夫国际股份有限公司 | Heat exchange unit for self-cooling beverage container |
CN105889749B (en) * | 2016-05-11 | 2018-02-23 | 韩爱华 | Dissolved acetylene automatic filling complete set of equipments |
KR102120752B1 (en) * | 2017-12-13 | 2020-06-09 | 에이엠티 주식회사 | Automatic alignment method of high-pressure gas tank |
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CN112032551B (en) * | 2020-09-02 | 2021-05-04 | 浙江台州绿源气体有限公司 | Automatic filling assembly line for liquefied gas tank |
KR102677671B1 (en) * | 2021-04-22 | 2024-06-25 | (주)창돈엔지니어링 | foaming facility that can directly use the drug transport drum |
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FR2596140A1 (en) * | 1986-03-21 | 1987-09-25 | Nr Ricni Srl | Device for the pressurised filling of containers, especially of cylinders with a wheel-type valve |
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- 1993-06-29 CN CN93107846A patent/CN1080985A/en active Pending
- 1993-06-29 KR KR93011940A patent/KR960008853B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
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DE3739950A1 (en) * | 1987-11-25 | 1989-06-08 | Rommenhoeller Kohlensaeure | Apparatus for filling gases into bottles |
FR2643973A1 (en) * | 1989-03-06 | 1990-09-07 | Siraga Ind | Machine for orienting the filling adaptor for gas cylinders |
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Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2708332A1 (en) * | 1993-09-01 | 1995-02-03 | Siraga Sa | Installation for automatic filling of gas cylinders. |
EP0641966A1 (en) * | 1993-09-01 | 1995-03-08 | SIRAGA S.A.(société anonyme) | Installation for the automatic filling of gas bottles |
EP0660026A1 (en) * | 1993-12-27 | 1995-06-28 | Meiko Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha | LP gas filling apparatus |
DE19643801B4 (en) * | 1996-10-30 | 2005-08-25 | Gall, Sieghard, Dr. | Method and device for gas filling a container at a desired filling pressure and / or a desired filling amount |
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 |
---|---|
KR940000782A (en) | 1994-01-10 |
EP0576958B1 (en) | 1998-09-16 |
CN1080985A (en) | 1994-01-19 |
KR960008853B1 (en) | 1996-07-05 |
JPH0799238B2 (en) | 1995-10-25 |
JPH06201095A (en) | 1994-07-19 |
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