EP1174657A2

EP1174657A2 - Sealer cap for pressurized gas container valve

Info

Publication number: EP1174657A2
Application number: EP20010500186
Authority: EP
Inventors: Raimundo de Andrés Alonso
Original assignee: Repsol Butano SA
Current assignee: Repsol Butano SA
Priority date: 2000-07-17
Filing date: 2001-07-16
Publication date: 2002-01-23
Also published as: ES1046836U; ES1046836Y

Abstract

1.- A sealer cap for pressurized gas container valves particularly applicable to liquid petroleum gas containers and designed to protect the container's outlet valve and ensure the inviolability of its content, the valve outlet being fitted with a means of internal closure and imperviousness consisting in the formation of an inner cap wall, concentric with the cap fitted onto the valve's mouth, characteristic in that it comprises two different and mutually associated portions, namely an upper portion (1) forming the cap itself, and an anchoring and retaining portion (4), the first portion (1) comprising an internal threading (9) and a means (10) of imperviousness for the valve outlet extending from the upper base thereof, while externally presenting, adjacent the mouth, a recessed annular space for lodging a ring element (3), and also characteristic in that said ring element (3) constitutes a means of association and attachment to the anchoring and retaining portion (4) by forming multiple breaking points (5) uniformly distributed throughout the length of the opposing edges of the ring (3) and the lower portion (4), said ring element (3) being retained in its lodging by the action of a lip (8) formed on the mouth edge of the upper portion (1) via a widening of said edge.

2.- A sealer cap according to claim 1, characteristic in that the cylindrical wall of the anchoring and retaining lower portion (4) presents two ample, differently shaped/ dimensioned and diametrically opposite recesses (6, 7).

3.- A sealer cap according to claims 1 or 2, characteristic in that the ring element (3) is drawn by the rotation of the upper portion (1) as a result of several vertical nerves in said annular space being provided which are lodged in corresponding cuts or recesses in said inner wall of the ring (3).

Description

The present invention refers to a sealer cap applied preferably to the outlet valve of a pressurized gas container, particularly a container of the type used for liquid petroleum gases, which provides essentially novel characteristics and outstanding advantages compared to known means utilized for this same purpose in the current state of the art.
More specifically, the invention advocates the development of a sealer cap that ensures the inviolability of the contents in the container onto which it is applied, wherein a threaded body - attachable via the threaded portion to the external wall of the gas outlet valve - is associated, through a ring lodged inside an annular space in the valve mouth and by means of breakable securing points, to a lower anchoring portion which under normal operation is punctured and retained by the valve body, in a manner that the eventual unscrewing of the upper part, namely the plug itself, results in the breakage of the attachment points and the subsequent release of the lower attachment portion, thus revealing that the sealer cap has been tampered with.
The field of application of the present invention lies in the industry engaged in the filling and/or distribution of gases, such as gases deriving from petroleum products, in pressurized containers.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is known for domestic pressurized gas containers to reach the user with the gas outlet valve conveniently protected by a cap or similar device attached to the peripheral wall of the valve, thereby protecting the valve from accidental impact and damage during handling and/or transport that could lead to undesirable gas leakages, and furthermore guaranteeing that the container has not been tampered with.
Several types of valve protection devices in the form of seals are available in the market which comply perfectly well with the intended protection purposes. In this respect, the owner of the present application is also the owner of other previous registers describing a means of protection and security in the form of caps and/or plugs, with or without a sealing function, designed in various shapes and perfectly suited to the above requirements.
The presently known protection and security means generally consist in plugs or caps which, after placement over the gas container valve, cannot be removed in the operating position unless adequate manual torque pressure is applied over a specific part foreseen for that effect, thereby causing the breakage and/or tearing-off of a certain portion of the body and allowing the protection means to be removed from its enveloping position over the gas outlet valve.
As previously mentioned, said known protecting means comply perfectly well with the safety and security purposes for which they were designed. However, permanent efforts are being made in search of alternatives that would add to the already adequate safety, security and anti-tampering conditions offered by said known devices. The sealer cap of the present invention has been developed by forming two different portions, a first portion being positioned on the top and constituting the plug itself, liable to be screwed to the lateral external surface of the valve, and a second portion being positioned underneath, punctured to the valve body to form the portion designed to attach the assembly by virtue of its configuration, both portions being mutually associated through a ring lodged in a space provided in the upper portion, adjacent the mouth, said ring being fitted with breaking points distributed along the respective mutual edges facing said ring and the lower portion and formed integrally with both in the course of the same manufacturing process. In the operating condition of the sealer-plug, both portions are attached to each other, the upper portion or plug fully enveloping and protecting the gas outlet valve. When the valve is uncovered in order to use the contents in the container, a manual unscrewing action on the upper portion or body will suffice to draw the ring along this rotation and cause the points of attachment to the lower portion to break as a result of the retaining action exerted by the valve over said lower portion. The lower portion is shaped in the form of a cylindrical body, open on both ends, with two ample openings of different sizes being provided in diametrically opposite positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics and benefits of the invention will be more clearly apparent based on the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, provided solely in the form of an illustrative and non-limiting example and in reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 shows a perspective upper view of a sealer cap built according to the invention;
figure 2 shows a longitudinal cut view and a plan view of the sealer cap shown in figure 1, with the two portions attached to each other, and
figure 3 shows a section view of the sealer cap shown in the preceding figures, the valve being unscrewed from the container and both portions being thus detached from each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate an example of a preferred embodiment of the sealer cap of the present invention, the perspective view in figure 1 shows that the sealer cap in question adopts a generally cylindrical shape and is formed by two different portions, the upper portion 1 constituting the cap itself, fitted with multiple vertical nerves 2 on its external face that provide a more secure hold. Adjacent the mouth of this upper portion 1 is a ring 3 lodged in an annular space in the body of said portion 1 and attached to it, as far as rotation is concerned, through several nerves, preferably four, in equally spaced-apart 90° angles and formed vertically over the surface of said portion 1 annular space, said nerves being lodged in respective undercuts in the inner face of said ring 3 (the figure showing neither the nerves nor the internal ring undercuts for the sake of simplicity). Said ring 3 is adhered to the lower portion 4 of the sealer cap via multiple breakable points 5 that are uniformly distributed along the opposing perimeter edges of ring 3 and lower portion 4. This portion presents two ample recesses 6, 7 in its lateral walls, of different shapes and sizes, located in diametrically opposite positions.
The sealer cap shown in cut view in figure 1 is depicted in a longitudinal section view and in full condition in figure 2 of the drawings, i.e. before being broken off. A plan view is also included. These two views show perfectly well the manner in which the ring 3 is lodged in the annular space in the upper portion 1 of the sealer cap, and also how the perimeter lip 8 is formed on the edge of the mouth in portion 1, where the edge widens and serves to retain the ring 3 in its lodging. It is also evident that the cap 1 is internally threaded at 9, presenting, along the inner face of the upper base, a cylindrical concentric wall 10 positioned in the upper opening of the gas outlet valve and providing the imperviousness features required for said valve outlet.
As previously discussed, the operating condition of the sealer cap is shown in figures 1 and 2. After securing it above the container valve by any conventional technique, access to the gas outlet valve calls for the removal of the cap 1 portion by manually unscrewing it. Upon manually rotating the portion 1, the lower portion 4 is kept in place and secured against said rotation by means of the recesses 6, 7, causing the points 5 associated to the ring 3 to break as the ring is being drawn by said portion 1, after which the upper portion 1 may be withdrawn to provide access to the container's outlet valve. This is shown in figure 3, where both the upper portion 1 and the lower portion 4 are separated from each other, the ring 3 being secured to and drawn by the cap portion 1. Portion 4 may be subsequently removed, if so desired, by breaking the upper closure section in any of the recesses 6, 7.
It may be apparent that the sealer cap thus described provides a highly effective solution that guarantees the inviolability of this type of container and offers reliable valve protection and increased safeguard against accidental operation, its construction being relatively simple and cost effective.
This description need not be more extensive for an expert on the subject to grasp the scope and the advantages of the invention, and to develop and put the object of the invention to practical use.
Nonetheless, it should be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment, so that it is liable to modification without altering in any manner whatsoever its basic principle, said modifications allowing for changes in the shape, the size and/or the manufacturing materials.

Claims

A sealer cap for pressurized gas container valves particularly applicable to liquid petroleum gas containers and designed to protect the container's outlet valve and ensure the inviolability of its content, the valve outlet being fitted with a means of internal closure and imperviousness consisting in the formation of an inner cap wall, concentric with the cap fitted onto the valve's mouth, characteristic in that it comprises two different and mutually associated portions, namely an upper portion (1) forming the cap itself, and an anchoring and retaining portion (4), the first portion (1) comprising an internal threading (9) and a means (10) of imperviousness for the valve outlet extending from the upper base thereof, while externally presenting, adjacent the mouth, a recessed annular space for lodging a ring element (3), and also characteristic in that said ring element (3) constitutes a means of association and attachment to the anchoring and retaining portion (4) by forming multiple breaking points (5) uniformly distributed throughout the length of the opposing edges of the ring (3) and the lower portion (4), said ring element (3) being retained in its lodging by the action of a lip (8) formed on the mouth edge of the upper portion (1) via a widening of said edge.
A sealer cap according to claim 1, characteristic in that the cylindrical wall of the anchoring and retaining lower portion (4) presents two ample, differently shaped/ dimensioned and diametrically opposite recesses (6, 7).
A sealer cap according to claims 1 or 2, characteristic in that the ring element (3) is drawn by the rotation of the upper portion (1) as a result of several vertical nerves in said annular space being provided which are lodged in corresponding cuts or recesses in said inner wall of the ring (3).