EP2404101A1

EP2404101A1 - Leak-proof perforable cartridge

Info

Publication number: EP2404101A1
Application number: EP10706250A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yves Guillou; Daniel Bouvier
Original assignee: Guilbert Express
Current assignee: Guilbert Express
Priority date: 2009-03-03
Filing date: 2010-03-03
Publication date: 2012-01-11
Also published as: WO2010100184A1; FR2942863B1; FR2942863A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pressurised fluid cartridge for an apparatus to be supplied by a perforable cartridge, wherein the apparatus includes a cartridge-puncturing member (9), the cartridge including: a sealed hollow body for containing a pressurised fluid, the hollow body (1) including a perforable portion (10) made of a central puncturing area (11) and a peripheral safety area (12); and a leak-proof device (2); characterised in that the leak-proof device (2) consists of an annular plate (2) covering the peripheral safety area (12) and contacting the peripheral safety area (12) at least on the periphery (11') of the central puncturing area (11).

Description

Puncture-proof cartridge

Field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of safety of perforable pressure fluid cartridges. The invention relates more particularly to pressurized fluid cartridges for apparatus intended to be fed by perforable cartridge. This category includes, but is not limited to, hand tools (torches, gas soldering irons, ....), stoves, lamps or lighting, etc. These apparatuses comprise a piercing element of the cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a sealed hollow body for containing a fluid under pressure, the hollow body comprising a pierceable part consisting of a central piercing zone and a peripheral safety zone; and an anti-leak device.

State of the art

FR 2 901 863 discloses a pressurized fluid cartridge for a hand tool comprising a piercing element. The cartridge described by this document comprises: a sealed hollow body for containing a fluid under pressure, the hollow body comprising a pierceable part consisting of a central piercing zone and a peripheral safety zone; and an anti-leak device. The anti-leak device of this cartridge consists of a valve facing the pierceable part of the body.

The valve comprises at the periphery a sealing joint when the seal is against the body. The shape of the valve is chosen so that compared to the central piercing zone, the valve is located at a distance from the central piercing zone less than an insertion length of the piercing element of the piercing element. hand tool; and so that opposite the safety peripheral zone, the valve is located at a distance from the peripheral safety zone greater than the insertion length of the piercing element of the hand tool.

When a user pierces the cartridge at the central piercing zone, that is to say that the piercing element of the hand tool is correctly inserted into the cartridge, the latter comes into contact with the valve and forces the valve away from the body so that the fluid can exit out of the body.

When a user pierces the cartridge at the safety peripheral zone, that is to say that the piercing element is incorrectly introduced into the cartridge, it does not come into contact with the valve and can not force it away from the body so that the fluid can not come out of the body.

This cartridge therefore prevents fluid from coming out of the body during a first incorrect introduction of the piercing element. However, if the user, after having incorrectly inserted the piercing element into the cartridge, correctly reintroduces the piercing element into the cartridge, this solution proposed by FR 2 901 863 does not prevent gas leakage by the first orifice made during the first introduction. This makes the use of such a cartridge dangerous, especially when it is intended for the general public. A consumer user usually only purchases one cartridge per unit. If during a first introduction of the piercing element, it is poorly introduced, the user will be reluctant to get rid of the cartridge become dangerous and will tend to try to introduce the piercing element a second correctly without removing the dangerous cartridge.

Presentation of the invention

The invention therefore proposes to overcome the above disadvantages and proposes a pressurized fluid cartridge for an apparatus for being supplied with a pierceable cartridge, the apparatus comprising a piercing element for the cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a hollow body sealing member for containing a fluid under pressure, the hollow body having a pierceable portion consisting of a central piercing zone and a peripheral safety zone; and an anti-leak device; characterized in that the anti-leak device is constituted by an annular plate which covers the peripheral safety zone and which is in contact with the peripheral safety zone at least on the periphery of the central piercing zone.

One of the advantages of the invention is that the cartridge can be used in a secure manner even after a first attempt incorrect introduction of the piercing element of the hand tool.

Another advantage of the invention is that this solution is economical. Another advantage of the invention is that the realization of this solution is simple.

Other optional and non-limiting features of the invention are: the annular plate is a shielding plate at least partially matching the shape of the perforable portion where the shielding plate is in contact with the pierceable part, and having an orifice next to the central piercing area; the armor plate is glued to the outer surface of the body at the peripheral safety zone; the shielding plate is adhered to the inner surface of the body at the level of the peripheral safety zone; the body comprises a crimp recess and wherein the armor plate is crimped into the recess of the body; the cartridge further comprises a seal disposed between the armor plate and the body, immediately adjacent to the central piercing zone; the annular plate is a plate comprising a central orifice and a circular recess of a given depth around the orifice forming a fluidtight security chamber under pressure, the central orifice facing the central piercing zone, the plate being positioned inside the body in contact therewith and at the periphery of the central piercing zone and the peripheral safety zone through joints, the depth of the recess being greater than an insertion length of the piercing element of the hand tool;

the body has a circular recess at the level of the peripheral safety zone; and wherein the annular plate is a plate covering the peripheral safety zone to form a security chamber; the plate being in contact with the peripheral safety zone at least at the periphery of the central piercing zone through a joint; the cartridge further comprises a valve inside the body, mounted on a spring member exerting a restoring force to force the valve towards the body, and having a seal sealing around the central piercing zone when the one it is leaning against the body; the valve is lowered to break the seal when the piercing element of the hand tool is introduced through the central piercing area; the cartridge further comprises a valve inside the body, mounted on a spring member exerting a restoring force to force the valve towards the plate, and having a seal sealing around the central piercing zone when the one it is leaning against the plate; the valve is lowered to break the seal when the piercing element of the hand tool is introduced through the central piercing area. Repeated text?

Presentation of drawings Other objectives, features and advantages will appear on reading the description which follows, with reference to the drawings given by way of non-limiting illustration, among which: FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate examples of different embodiments of a pressurized fluid cartridge according to the invention; Figures 6 to 10 illustrate these examples of different embodiments of a pressurized fluid cartridge with a valve; Figures 11 and 12 illustrate an incorrect introduction of a piercing element of a hand tool; Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a correct introduction of a piercing element of a hand tool.

Detailed description of the invention

A pressurized fluid cartridge for an apparatus for pierceable cartridge delivery is described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 1-6.

The apparatus for being pierceable cartridge-fed comprises a piercing element 9 of the cartridge. The apparatus may be, without limitation, a hand tool (torch, gas soldering iron, ....), a stove, a lamp or lighting, etc. The cartridge comprises: a hollow hollow body 1; and a device 2 anti-leak.

The hollow body 1 is designed to contain a fluid under pressure. The cartridge may be for example intended to contain pressurized fuel gas of propane, butane type, mixture of the two gases, or other combustion gas, a refrigerant or a liquid combined with a propellant gas. The cartridge may also contain compressed air. The hollow body 1 may have a symmetry of revolution about an axis ll. The body 1 comprises a stamped portion consisting of a cylindrical side wall and a convex upper wall convex towards the outside of the cartridge. The domed top wall is provided at its top and in a centered manner with a recessed portion convex towards the inside of the cartridge, this recessed portion being in the form of a spherical cap. The body 1 is here represented only by its convex upper part intended to receive the hand tool.

The hollow body 1 can be made of metal, for example steel sheet provided with an anticorrosion coating, or a paint, stainless steel sheet, bronze sheet, bronze sheet, aluminum, or aluminum sheet.

The body 1 comprises a pierceable portion 10 consisting of a central piercing zone 11 and a peripheral safety zone 12. The perforable portion 10 may be, in the example of description of a cartridge above, the recessed portion in the form of a spherical cap.

The anti-leak device 2 consists of an annular plate 2 comprising a central orifice 20. The annular plate 2 covers the peripheral safety zone 12. The annular plate 2 is in contact with the peripheral safety zone 12 at least on the outer periphery 11 'of the central piercing zone 11.

The plate 2 may be disposed inside or outside the cartridge. In a first embodiment (Figures 1 and 2), the annular plate 2 may be a shielding plate 2 in partial contact with the peripheral safety zone 12 and disposed outside the cartridge. At the contact, the shielding plate 2 conforms to the shape of the peripheral safety zone 12. The central orifice 20 of the shielding plate 2 is positioned in front of the central safety zone 11.

Alternatively, the shielding plate 2 can be positioned inside the cartridge. The shielding plate 2 may be made of steel, of better quality than the material of the sheet used for the body 1. The shielding plate 2 may have a thickness of between 0.20 mm and 1.5 mm. It can have an inner radius of between 3 mm and 6 mm and an outer radius of between 10 mm and 75 mm.

Thus, if a user attempts to introduce the piercing element 9 of the hand tool into the cartridge, incorrectly so as to render the use of the cartridge dangerous (for example, by not not introducing substantially along the axis 11 of the cartridge, as shown in Figure 11), it will come into contact with the shielding plate 2 and can pierce the body 1 of the cartridge. The shielding plate 2 constitutes an anti-drilling protection.

The user can then try to introduce the piercing element 9 into the cartridge. If the introduction is correct, so that the use of the cartridge is secure (that is to say that the piercing element 9 is introduced substantially along the axis ll of the cartridge as illustrated by the 13), there will be at the pierceable part 10 of the cartridge only a only orifice corresponding to the correct introduction of the piercing element 9, that is to say through the zone 1 1 central security substantially along the axis ll. There is therefore no risk of leakage of the fluid through another orifice. In the case where the shielding plate 2 is positioned inside the cartridge, a first attempt of incorrectly introducing the piercing element 9 may possibly affect the surface of the body 1 but can not enter the body. inside the body 1, where the fluid under pressure is. The shielding plate 2 may be glued to the outer surface of the body at the safety peripheral area 12 in order to hold it in place, as illustrated in FIG.

The body 1 may comprise a recess 13 for crimping the shielding plate 2, annular centered with respect to the axis 1-l. The reinforcement 13 is directed towards the axis 11, from the surface of the body 1. In this case, the shielding plate 2 is crimped into the recess of the body by bringing the outer periphery 21 of the plate towards the center, as illustrated in FIG. 3. This strengthens the connection between the body 1 and the shielding plate 2.

The shielding plate 2 can be held in position by bonding and crimping combined to improve the connection between the body 1 and the plate 2.

An annular seal 3 can be disposed between the shielding plate 2 and the body 1 at the periphery 11 'immediately of the central piercing zone 11 to prevent gas from passing between the shielding plate 2 and the body 1 and not thus escapes through the outer periphery 21 of the plate 2 (Figure 2). According to a second embodiment (FIG. A), the annular plate 2 can be a plate 2 comprising a central orifice 20 and a circular recess 22 of a given depth around the orifice 20 forming an annular safety chamber 23 sealed to the fluid under pressure, the depth of the recess being greater than an insertion length of the piercing element 9 of the hand tool.

The central orifice 20 of the plate faces the central piercing zone 11. The plate 2 is positioned inside the body 1 in contact with the latter at the outer periphery 11 ', 12' of the central piercing zone 11 and the peripheral safety zone 12 through annular seals, respectively 32 and 31.

Thus, if a user attempts to introduce the piercing element 9 of the hand tool inside the cartridge, incorrectly making the use of the cartridge dangerous (for example, by not introducing it substantially along the axis 11 of the cartridge, as shown in Figure 12), it will pierce the body 1 of the cartridge and will arrive in the chamber 23 that it can pass through. Indeed, the insertion length of the piercing element 9 is shorter than the depth of the recess 22 of the annular plate 2.

The seals 31, 32 both at the periphery 11 'of the central drilling zone 11 and at the outer periphery 12' of the peripheral safety zone 12 seals the safety chamber 23 from the inside. body 1 of the cartridge where the fluid under pressure. The first orifice 8 made during this first incorrect introduction does not open into a volume containing the fluid under pressure. The fluid can not enter the security chamber 23 and escape to the outside.

The user can then retry to introduce the piercing element 9 in the cartridge, where the fluid is under pressure. If the introduction is correct, that is to say so that the use of the cartridge is secured as illustrated in FIG. 14, fluid can then leave the body 1 through a second orifice 8 'formed by drilling the central piercing zone 11 by the piercing element 9. According to a variant of the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the body 1 may have a circular recess 14 at the level of the peripheral safety zone 12.

The annular plate 2 is on the outside of the cartridge and covers the peripheral safety zone 12 to form a safety chamber 23.

The annular plate 2 is in contact with the peripheral safety zone 12 at least at the periphery 11 'of the central drilling zone 11 through an annular seal 32.

The plate 2 can be made of the same material as the body 1 or in a variant of this material that can be welded with the material of the body 1.

The annular plate 2 may be, in the case of this variant, a plate having a recess 24 substantially in the form of a spherical cap with a central orifice 20 facing the central piercing zone 11 of the body 1.

The seal 32 ensures that fluid does not enter the chamber 23 of security.

The operation is similar to that of the variant described just above. Simply, the piercing element 9 does not pierce the body 1 but the annular plate 2 if the introduction of the piercing element 9 is incorrect. On the other hand, if the introduction of the piercing element 9 is correct, it passes through the orifice 20 made in the annular plate 2 and pierces the body 1 of the cartridge at the central zone 11. drilling.

In the embodiments where they are present, the seals 31, 32 may be replaced by sealed annular welds between the annular plate 2 and the body 1 at the periphery 11 'of the central drilling zone 11 and / or at the periphery 12 'outside the safety device area 12, in which case, these welds are also called joints in the description.

Whatever the embodiment or variant of the embodiment of the cartridge, it may further comprise a valve 4 inside the body 1, as shown in Figures 6 to 10.

This valve 4 is mounted on a spring element 41 exerting a restoring force to force the valve 4 to the body 1 (or possibly to the annular plate 2). The valve 4 also comprises an annular seal 42 sealing around the central drilling zone 1 1 when the seal 42 is against the body 1 (or, where appropriate, against the annular plate 2).

The valve 4 is lowered to break the seal when the piercing element 9 of the hand tool is introduced through the central drilling zone 11 and substantially along the axis 11. Thus, if the piercing element 9 after correct insertion into the cartridge is removed, a leakage of fluid from the body 1 is avoided. Indeed, since the piercing element 9 no longer exerts any force on the valve 4, the element 41 forming spring will bring the valve 4 to the body 1 (or where appropriate to the plate 2 annular) and the seal 42 will be leaned against the body 1 (or possibly against the annular plate 2) sealing between the inside of the body 1 and the outside of the body 1.

The embodiment of the valve 4 is presented in more detail in the document EP 1 406 041, filed by the same applicant.

Claims

claims

A pressurized fluid cartridge for apparatus for pierceable cartridge supply, the apparatus comprising a piercing member (9) for the cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a hollow body (1) sealed to contain a pressurized fluid, the hollow body (1) comprising a pierceable portion (10) consisting of a central piercing zone (11) and a peripheral safety zone (12); and - an anti-leak device (2); characterized in that the anti-leak device (2) consists of an annular plate (2) which covers the peripheral safety zone (12) and which is in contact with the peripheral safety zone (12) at least on the periphery (11 ') of the piercing zone (11).

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the annular plate (2) is a shielding plate (2) at least partially conforming to the shape of the pierceable part (10) where the shielding plate (2) is in contact with the pierceable portion (10) and having an orifice (20) facing the central drilling zone (11).

3. Cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the shielding plate (2) is adhered to the outer surface of the body (1) at the peripheral safety zone (12).

4. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the shielding plate (2) is glued to the inner surface of the body (1) at the area (12) peripheral safety.

5. Cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the body (1) comprises a recess (13) crimping and wherein the plate (2) of shielding is crimped into the recess (13) of the body (1).

6. Cartridge according to one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a seal (3) disposed between the shielding plate (2) and the body (1) at the immediate periphery of the zone (11) central piercing.

The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the plate

(2) annular is a plate (2) comprising a central orifice (20) and a recess (22) circular of a given depth around the orifice (20) forming a chamber (23) security sealed to the fluid under pressure the central orifice (20) facing the central drilling zone (11), the plate (2) being positioned inside the body (1) in contact with it and at the periphery (11 ', 12 ') of the piercing zone (11) and the peripheral safety zone (12) through joints (32, 31), the depth of the recess (22) being greater than an insertion length of the element (9) drilling the hand tool.

8. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the body (1) has a recess (14) circular at the area (12) peripheral security; and wherein the annular plate (2) is a plate (2) covering the peripheral safety area (12) to form a security chamber (23); the plate (2) being in contact with the peripheral safety zone (12) at least peripherally (11 ') of the central drilling zone (11) through a seal (32).

9. Cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 3, 5, 6 attached to one of claims 1 to 3, or 7, further comprising a valve (4) inside the body (1), mounted on a spring member (41) exerting a restoring force to force the valve (4) towards the body (1), and having a seal (42) sealing around the central drilling zone (11) when the it is leaning against the body (1); the valve (4) is lowered to break the seal when the piercing element (9) of the hand tool is introduced through the central piercing area (11).

10. Cartridge according to one of claims 4, 6 attached to claim 4, or 8, further comprising a valve (4) inside the body (1), mounted on a member (41) forming a spring exerting a return force for forcing the valve (4) towards the plate (2), and having a seal (42) sealing around the central drilling zone (11) when it is against the plate (2) ; the valve (4) is lowered to break the seal when the piercing element (9) of the hand tool is introduced through the central piercing area (11).