EP0995945A1 - Built-in manometer for a pressure fluid delivery device, more particularly for a gas-pressure reducing valve - Google Patents

Abstract

The pressure gauge (3) is fitted to the body (1) of the gas cylinder by a plug (2) with a seal (10) which fits into a socket (5) in the cylinder. The socket and plug have recesses (6, 7) in their facing surfaces to receive a peg (8), key or pin to hold the pressure gauge in place.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for distribution of pressurized fluid, such as a pressure reducer pressurized gas, equipped with one or more pressure gauges built-in, usable in particular in the field of welding or in the medical field.

Usually to indicate the pressure of a fluid, it is usual to use a pressure gauge. So the pressure gauges intended to be mounted on pressure reducers gas or other fluids to indicate the pressure of said gas or fluid, for example before and after expansion, are conventionally attached to the regulator by means of a screw connection, also called connection end piece, as detailed in standard EN562.

In order to be able, on the one hand, to seal between the regulator and the pressure gauge and, on the other hand, the correct positioning or indexing of the pressure gauge, so that you can read the indication it gives, it's also usual to have between the end of the thread carried by the connection piece and the bottom of the threaded housing of the pressure gauge body, intended for receive said tip, a deformable washer made, for example, of aluminum or material plastic.

When mounting the pressure gauge on the regulator body, said pressure gauge is first screwed with sufficient torque to seal, then with additional torque to distort the aforementioned washer, so as to reach the angular position required for reading, i.e. indexing said manometer.

A similar technique is based on the use of a end with conical thread filled with a film of material deformable, for example a TEFLON ™ tape, or tow.

According to yet another technique, it is possible to attach the pressure gauge to the regulator using a threaded sleeve or, if necessary, by compression of a flat seal using a floating nut.

However, these different methods of attachment have a number of drawbacks.

• elle implique la transmission d'un couple relativement important à l'embout de raccordement du manomètre et nécessite donc d'agencer entre la partie filetée de l'embout de raccordement et le boítier du manomètre, une partie à section carrée ou hexagonale sur laquelle sera appliqué le couple de serrage par l'intermédiaire d'une clé plate ou d'un moyen de serrage analogue, ce qui implique, en outre, de prévoir un espace suffisant entre l'extrémité inférieure du boítier du manomètre et la surface supérieure du corps du détendeur pour permettre le passage de ladite clé de serrage, lors du montage ou du démontage du manomètre sur le détendeur. De telles contraintes limitent donc la possibilité de concevoir de nouveaux détendeurs, en particulier lorsque l'on souhaite diminuer leur encombrement et augmenter leur ergonomie. En outre ce type de montage engendre une augmentation des coûts de montage et/ou de démontage du manomètre.
• elle nécessite l'utilisation de matières déformables, tels l'aluminium ou le plastique, qui sont peu compatibles avec certains gaz, tel par exemple l'oxygène.
• elle pose des problèmes d'étanchéité dans des conditions extrêmes de température du fait des dilatations de l'ensemble, du fluage ou de la modification des caractéristiques mécaniques de la rondelle, par exemple lors de variations de température de -40°C à +60°C.
• elle engendre une maintenance délicate, en particulier au démontage, car il est généralement difficile d'extraire la rondelle après déformation.

Thus, the deformable washer technique, which is widely used, has at least four major drawbacks, namely in particular:

• it involves the transmission of a relatively large torque to the connection end of the pressure gauge and therefore requires arranging between the threaded part of the connection end and the housing of the pressure gauge, a part with square or hexagonal section on which will be applied the tightening torque by means of a flat wrench or similar tightening means, which also implies providing sufficient space between the lower end of the pressure gauge housing and the upper surface of the body of the regulator to allow the passage of said tightening key, during assembly or disassembly of the pressure gauge on the regulator. Such constraints therefore limit the possibility of designing new regulators, in particular when it is desired to reduce their size and increase their ergonomics. In addition, this type of mounting generates an increase in the costs of mounting and / or dismantling the pressure gauge.
• it requires the use of deformable materials, such as aluminum or plastic, which are not very compatible with certain gases, such as for example oxygen.
• it poses sealing problems in extreme temperature conditions due to expansion of the assembly, creep or modification of the mechanical characteristics of the washer, for example during temperature variations from -40 ° C to +60 ° C.
• it generates delicate maintenance, in particular during disassembly, since it is generally difficult to extract the washer after deformation.

In addition, if the solution of using a threaded bush allows to fix the pressure gauge on the regulator without requiring a tightening operation or analogous, as well as implemented on pressure reducers MONOBLOC 3 type marketed by LA SOUDURE AUTOGENE FRENCH.

However, this solution cannot be considered as ideal, insofar as it requires, part, that the pressure gauge is held during its assembly and, on the other hand, that an access is arranged at the rear of the body supporting the pressure gauge to be able to mount the threaded socket, which limits the possibilities of design of new regulators.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a solution to the above problems, while improving the safety and ergonomics of regulators.

• ledit corps comporte, en outre, au moins un passage communiquant avec ledit logement,
• ledit embout de raccordement comporte au moins un évidement, et
• au moins un moyen de liaison est inséré dans au moins une partie d'au moins un passage du corps et dans au moins une partie d'au moins un évidement de l'embout de raccordement, de manière à permettre la solidarisation, au moins temporaire, dudit manomètre sur ledit corps.

The present invention therefore relates to a device for dispensing pressurized fluid, such as a pressure regulator for pressurized fluid, comprising at least one body fitted with at least one pressure gauge comprising a housing and a connection piece, said connection piece being inserted in a housing in the body, characterized in that:

• said body further comprises at least one passage communicating with said housing,
• said connection end piece comprises at least one recess, and
• at least one connecting means is inserted in at least part of at least one passage of the body and in at least part of at least one recess of the connection end piece, so as to allow the joining, at least temporarily , of said pressure gauge on said body.

• au moins un évidement est porté par la paroi périphérique latérale de l'embout de raccordement ;
• l'embout de raccordement comporte plusieurs évidements, en ce que le corps comporte plusieurs passages communiquant latéralement avec ledit logement, et en ce qu'au moins un moyen de liaison est inséré dans au moins une partie d'au moins un des passages et dans au moins une partie d'au moins un des évidements :
• l'embout de raccordement comporte, en outre, au moins un moyen d'étanchéité, de préférence un ou plusieurs joints toriques ;
• le moyen d'étanchéité est agencé entre au moins un évidement et l'extrémité distale de l'embout de raccordement et/ou en ce que le moyen d'étanchéité est inséré dans une gorge circulaire périphérique aménagée dans la paroi périphérique latérale de l'embout de raccordement ;
• le moyen de liaison est de forme allongée, de préférence, il est choisi parmi les clavettes, les goupilles, les tiges, les vis, les épingles ou autres moyens similaires ;
• la paroi périphérique latérale de l'embout de raccordement est dépourvue de filetage et/ou la paroi périphérique du logement est dépourvue de taraudage ;
• au moins un passage d'alimentation en fluide sous pression débouche par un orifice au fond du logement du corps ;
• au moins un passage supplémentaire faisant communiquer le logement avec l'atmosphère débouche sur la paroi latérale du logement ;
• au moins un logement supplémentaire, comportant des moyens de contrôle de la circulation du fluide sous pression entrant dans le logement par l'orifice, est aménagé dans le corps entre le fond dudit logement et le passage d'alimentation ;
• il est choisi parmi les détendeurs de fluide sous pression, notamment des détendeurs ou les ensembles robinets/détendeurs de gaz sous pression.

Depending on the case, the device for dispensing pressurized fluid according to the invention comprises one or more of the following characteristics:

• at least one recess is carried by the lateral peripheral wall of the connection end piece;
• the connecting piece has several recesses, in that the body has several passages communicating laterally with said housing, and in that at least one connecting means is inserted in at least part of at least one of the passages and in at least part of at least one of the recesses:
• the connecting piece further comprises at least one sealing means, preferably one or more O-rings;
• the sealing means is arranged between at least one recess and the distal end of the connecting piece and / or in that the sealing means is inserted in a peripheral circular groove arranged in the lateral peripheral wall of the connection piece;
• the connecting means is elongated, preferably it is chosen from keys, pins, rods, screws, pins or other similar means;
• the lateral peripheral wall of the connecting piece is devoid of threads and / or the peripheral wall of the housing is devoid of tapping;
• at least one pressurized fluid supply passage opens out through an orifice at the bottom of the body housing;
• at least one additional passage communicating the housing with the atmosphere opens onto the side wall of the housing;
• at least one additional housing, comprising means for controlling the circulation of the pressurized fluid entering the housing through the orifice, is arranged in the body between the bottom of said housing and the supply passage;
• it is chosen from pressure regulators for fluid under pressure, in particular regulators or sets of taps / regulators for pressurized gases.

The invention further relates to a pressure gauge capable of equipping a device according to the invention, said pressure gauge comprising a housing and a nozzle connection, characterized in that said end piece connection comprises at least one recess made in its peripheral side wall.

Preferably, the connection end of the pressure gauge further comprises at least one circular groove device likely to receive a means sealing, such as an O-ring, said groove peripheral circular being arranged between at least one recess and the distal end of the tip.

The invention also relates to a pressure reducer pressurized fluid comprising at least one body and at less housing in the body and susceptible to receive at least part of a tip pressure gauge connection, characterized in that said body has at least one communicating passage laterally with said housing.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a pressurized fluid bottle fitted with a device fluid distribution, in particular a pressure reducer, such as those mentioned above.

The invention will now be described in more detail. detail using the attached figures given as illustrative but not limiting.

Figures 1 and 2 show a pressure gauge likely to equip a fluid expansion valve under pressure according to the prior art and as described by the European standard EN562. More precisely, this pressure gauge 3 has a box 4 containing all the mechanisms of the pressure gauge, graduated dial 12, hand 11 pressure indication, protective glass 18 made of glass or transparent polymer, a surface of clamp 13 and a connecting piece 2 comprising a thread 15. The connecting piece 2 is intended for be inserted by screwing its threaded part 15 into a threaded housing in the regulator on which it must be mounted. The tightening and indexing of the pressure gauge on the regulator are made via the clamping surface 13 and a wrench transmitting to said clamping area 13 the torque of tightening necessary for correct fixing of the pressure gauge on the regulator.

Figures 1 and 2 are identical except for the fact that the pressure gauge in figure 1 is of the tip type 2 radial connection (in front view), while the pressure gauge of Figure 2 is of the nozzle type connection 2 axial (in profile view).

Figure 3 shows a pressure gauge identical to that of Figure 1 in bottom view, where we distinguish clearly that the clamping surface 13 of the pressure gauge 3 has a hexagonal shape. However, the clamping surface 13 can also take other forms, for example a rectangular square shape, as shown in the FIG. 4a or a truncated cylindrical shape as well as shown in Figure 4b.

In addition, the connection piece 2 is generally cylindrical in shape as shown in FIG. 5a, but little, in some cases, to cover a different shape, for example a conical shape such as shown in Figure 5b.

In general, the graduations of the markings of the dial 12 of pressure gauge 3 must be contrasted and readable, i.e. it must be possible to read easily the pressures displayed. For this, it is custom that the background of the dial be white and that the needle and the markings are colored black. In addition, the graduation scale is generally numbered every ten graduation scales with a minimum of four numbers on the dial. The tip of needle 11 usually ends as close as dial 12 possible, i.e. at a distance of at least more equal to 2 mm, so as to allow a reading effective pressure by the operator.

Figure 6 shows a pressure gauge 3 needle 11 according to the present invention, comprising there also a case 4 provided with a dial 12 provided with graduations (not shown), said housing 4 being fitted with a connection piece 2, which is inserted in a housing 5 made in the body 1 'of a pressurized fluid distribution device, here a gas pressure regulator (in partial section view).

More precisely, the pressure gauge 3 in FIG. 6 is type of radial connection and has a nozzle connection 2 of cylindrical shape without thread. Similarly, the housing 5 of the body is also devoid of any tapping.

The connection end piece 2 has a recess 7 made in its lateral peripheral wall 9 and intended to receive a connecting means 8, such as a key or a analogous means, as detailed below.

In addition, a passage 6 communicating with the accommodation 5 has been arranged in the body 1 ′ of the regulator, so that the connecting means 8, once inserted into the passage 6 of the body 1 'and in the recess 7 of the end piece connection 2, allows the connection, at least temporary, of the pressure gauge 2 on the body 1 ', that is to say which keeps the pressure gauge 3 in position on the body 1 '.

Sealing means, such as an O-ring, are carried by the distal end 2a of the endpiece connection 2, so as to avoid or limit leakage of pressurized fluid through existing space between the side wall 9 of the end piece 2 and the wall side of the housing 5, and thus ensuring an indication precise pressure of the fluid under pressure by the pressure gauge 3.

In a manner known per se, the fluid under pressure is brought to the pressure gauge 3 by a passage 20 of pressurized fluid also arranged in the body 1 ' of regulator 1 and opening at the end interior of housing 5.

Unlike the passage 20 for supplying the fluid under pressure, passage 6 communicates with, not the lower end of the housing 5, but with the wall peripheral of said housing 5, which is in contact of the lateral peripheral wall 9 of the end piece 2 of connection.

Figures 7a and 7b show diagrams of two pressure gauges 3, of axial connection type, depending on the present invention, which are held and fixed in a same body 1 ′ of a fluid distribution device 1 under pressure by one and the same means of fixing 8, inserted, on the one hand, in passage 6 of body 1 ', and, on the other hand, in the recesses 7 and 7' connection ends 2 and 2 'of pressure gauges 3 and 3 'respectively, according to the same principle as that shown in Figure 6.

The pressure gauges 3 and 3 'being supplied, so conventional, in pressurized fluid through passages 20 and 20 'of pressurized fluid supply.

Again, the connection ends 2 and 2 'of the pressure gauges 3 and 3 ', respectively, are devoid of all threads and housings 5 and 5 'of the body 1', at within which the tips 2 and 2 'are inserted, are they also devoid of any tapping. In other words, the securing of the pressure gauges 3 and 3 'on the body 1' east achieved through cooperation of the connecting means 8, for example a key, a pin or the like, with the recesses 7 and 7 '. This is detailed in the figure 7b which represents a section of FIG. 7a along the axis AA.

The fixing means 8 can be, as the case may be, a key, a pin, a staple, a screw or analog, or a combination of several of these elements.

In addition, although pressure gauges 3 and 3 'of the Figure 7 are held by the same fixing means 8, it is possible to associate with each of the manometers 3 and 3 'its own fixing means.

Furthermore, as the case may be, the fixing means 8 can be hidden or embedded in the body 1 'of the device distribution of fluid 1, in particular when disassembly pressure gauge is not desirable for reasons of security for example, or on the contrary the means of attachment can be easily accessible, especially when a regular and frequent maintenance is necessary.

We understand from Figures 6, 7a and 7b that, according to the solution proposed by the present invention, sealing is achieved by, for example, a O-ring ensuring great flexibility of positioning of the pressure gauge in its housing and a effective indexing of it, that fixing and the actual indexing is ensured by means of fixing 8 which also makes it difficult to move, that is to say when the pressure gauge 3 is removed from its housing 5 within the body 1 'of the regulator. However, in in some cases, it is possible to ensure indexing by a different from the key 8.

In all cases, the solution proposed by the invention eliminates the constraints of screwing encountered with art manometers anterior and therefore makes it possible to remove the tightening 13, as shown in Figure 1, to avoid having to machine a thread on the connection piece 2 of pressure gauge 3 and, similarly, a tapping on the walls 5 of the housing of the body 1 '.

It follows that the present invention allows eliminate or minimize the risk of leaks thanks to the use of a sealing means, such as a seal toric, allows to overcome the problems of compatibility of materials, allows gain overall size and weight pressure gauge / regulator, authorizes the use of / or pressure gauges, in a protective space that does not allow the screwing of a conventional pressure gauge, generates a gain of time for mounting and dismounting the pressure gauge on the regulator body and allows to design pressure gauges having forms which are no longer necessarily of revolution, for example square regulators or rectangular, without encountering problems indexing of these. Such pressure gauges are shown in Figure 8.

Figure 9, for its part, clearly shows the distance D gained when using a pressure gauge 3 according to the present invention (Figure 9b) with respect to a pressure gauge according to the prior art comprising a nozzle connection 2 provided, on the one hand, with a clamping surface 13 and, on the other hand, a deformable washer ensuring sealing. We immediately understand that the pressure gauge according to the present invention allows to increase notably the ergonomics of the pressure gauge itself and the pressure gauge / regulator assembly.

Figure 10 shows another embodiment according to the invention, in which the connection end piece 2 of the pressure gauge 3 is inserted into the housing of the body 1 ' a regulator, being held integral with said body 1 'thanks to the cooperation of a key 8 inserted in a passage 6 of the body 1 'and of an obviously 7 made on the lateral peripheral wall of the nozzle connection 2.

However, in this embodiment, the body 1 ' also has a second passage 16 and the end piece connection 2 also includes a second obviously 17, within which passage 16 and obviously 17 is inserted a second fastening means 18, such as a second key 18, forming a redundant obstacle prohibiting inadvertent ejection or removal of the pressure gauge 3 of its housing 5 of the regulator 1 ', in case involuntary or untimely withdrawal of the means of fixing 8 of the recess 7 and / or of the passage 6.

In other words, the presence of the second means of attachment 18 cooperating with the second passage 16 of the body 1 'and with the second obviously 17 of the end piece 2 increases the safety of use for the operator.

Furthermore, as in the embodiments previous, the pressure gauge 3 is supplied with gas under pressure through passage 20 for supplying gas under pressure arranged in the body 1 'of the regulator and opening out the lower end of the housing 5.

In addition, an O-ring 10 arranged under the distal end 2a of the connecting piece 2 ensures sealing; the O-ring being inserted into a circular groove 27 and peripheral to the end 2a of the nozzle 2.

In the event of breakage of the key 8 or disassembly untimely removal of the pressure gauge / regulator of said key 8 inserted in passage 6 and the housing 7. The presence of the second fastening means 18 avoids an expulsion of the pressure gauge 3 likely to be dangerous for the user, while allowing a leak of pressurized gas brought in through line 20, said leak becomes an alert detectable by said user, warning him of the risk in the event of continued disassembly of said pressure gauge 3.

Figure 11 is similar to Figure 6 at except that it also includes a housing 50 ', arranged in the body 1', located between the pressurized fluid supply passage 20 and the bottom of housing 5, which additional housing 50 ' includes a device to prevent gas leaks from disassembly and / or disassembly of the pressure gauge 3 on the body 1 '.

According to this embodiment, this device security includes valve means 50 moved by elastic means 51, such as a spring or the like, said valve means 50 closing at least partially the orifice 52 separating the housing 5 and the housing additional 50 ', during an assembly operation and / or for dismantling the pressure gauge 3 on the body 1 ', so that control the passage of gas or fluid under pressure from the additional accommodation 50 'and towards the pressure gauge 3.

Figure 12 is similar to Figure 6 except that, in this embodiment, an additional hole 60 has been fitted in the body 1 ', so as to allow the gas pressure or fluid to escape to the atmosphere during a disassembly of the pressure gauge while it is still under pressure or that residual pressure still exists in housing 5. Fluid under pressure likely to be in the accommodation 5 and / or brought by the feed passage 20 is then evacuated to the atmosphere as represented by the arrow F.

FIG. 13 represents another method of attachment, similar to that of Figure 12 in which the housing 5 has a flared shape, that is to say a funnel, likely to let, again, escape the pressurized fluid to the atmosphere, in case of disassembly of the pressure gauge while a residual pressure exists in slot 5 or that this slot 5 is always supplied with gas or pressurized fluid by the supply passage 20 for supply fluid. Here again, the escape of gases to the atmosphere is represented by the arrows F.

The fluid distribution device according to the present invention, in particular a regulator, and the pressure gauge according to the present invention can be used in all areas requiring use distribution of pressurized fluid, particularly in the field of welding or in the field medical.

Claims (15)

Distribution device (1) for pressurized fluid comprising at least one body (1 ') equipped with at least one pressure gauge (3, 3') comprising a housing (4) and a connection end piece (2, 2 '), said connection end piece (2, 2 ') being inserted in a housing (5, 5') formed in the body (1 '), characterized in that: said body (1 ') further comprises at least one passage (6, 16) communicating with said housing (5, 5'), said connection end piece (2, 2 ') comprises at least one recess (7, 7'), and at least one connecting means (8, 18) is inserted in at least part of at least one passage (6, 16) of the body (1 ') and in at least part of at least one recess (7, 7 ') of the connection end piece (2, 2'), so as to allow at least temporary attachment of said pressure gauge (3, 3 ') to said body (1'). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one recess (7 ', 7, 17) is carried by the lateral peripheral wall (9, 9 ') of the end piece (2, 2 ') connection. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting piece (2, 2 ') has several recesses (7, 17), in that the body (1 ') comprises several passages (6, 16) communicating laterally with said housing (5, 5 '), and in that at at least one connecting means (8, 18) is inserted in the at least part of at least one of the passages (6, 16) and in at least part of at least one of the recesses (7, 17). Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting piece (2, 2 ') further comprises at least one sealing means (10, 10 '), preferably one or more O-rings. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the sealing means (10, 10 ') is arranged between at least one recess (7, 17) and the end distal (2a) of the connecting piece (2, 2 ') and / or that the sealing means (10, 10 ') is inserted in a peripheral circular groove arranged in the wall lateral device (9, 9 ') of the end piece (2, 2') of connection. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting means (8, 18) is of elongated shape, preferably it is chosen from keys, pins, rods, screws and pins. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lateral peripheral wall (9, 9 ') of the connecting piece (2, 2') is devoid of thread and / or in that the peripheral wall of the housing (5, 5 ') has no internal thread. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one passage (20, 20 ') pressurized fluid supply opens out through a orifice (52) at the bottom (5a) of the housing (5, 5 ') of the body (1 '). Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one additional passage (60) communicating the housing (5, 5 ') with the atmosphere opens onto the side wall of the accommodation (5, 5 '). Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one additional accommodation (50), comprising means (51, 52) for controlling the circulation of pressurized fluid entering the housing (5, 5 ') through the orifice (52), is arranged in the body (1 ') between the bottom of said housing (5, 5') and the feed passage (20, 20 '). Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is chosen from among the pressurized fluid pressure regulators, including gas regulators or valve / regulator assemblies under pressure. Pressure gauge capable of fitting a distribution of pressurized fluid according to one of the Claims 1 to 11, comprising a housing (4) and a connection end piece (2, 2 '), characterized in that said connection end piece (2) comprises at least one recess (7, 7 ', 17) formed in its side wall peripheral. Pressure gauge according to claim 12, characterized in that the connection end piece (2, 2 ') comprises, in in addition, at least one peripheral circular groove (27) capable of receiving a sealing means (10, 10 '), like an O-ring, said circular groove peripheral (27) being arranged between at least one recess (7, 7 ', 17) and the distal end (2a) of the end piece (2, 2 '). Regulator capable of constituting a device according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising at least one body (1 ') and at least one housing (5, 5 ') practiced in the body (1') and likely to receive at least part of a connection piece (2, 2 ') of pressure gauge (3, 3'), characterized in that said body (1 ') has at least one passage (6, 16) communicating laterally with said housing (5, 5 '). Pressurized fluid bottle, including a welding gas or medical gas cylinder, characterized in that it is equipped with a fluid distribution according to one of claims 1 to 11 or a regulator according to claim 14.

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