EP2500619A1 - Originality guarantee for compressed gas bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

Tamper-proof closure has a collar ring (11) that is firmly connected with a neck ring (3) or a connecting thread for a protective cap (6). A closing part (14) is attracted by the protective cap in a normal usage of the tamper proof closure. The lugs (12,13) are arranged at two collar rings by the fixing strips. The collar ring or the closing part is made of plastic, particularly polyamide.

Description

The invention relates to a tamper-evident for compressed gas cylinders.

Gas cylinders, which are usually made of steel or aluminum and are used to store compressed gases and liquids, are marked by legal requirements with a gas-specific paint and a sticker that gives information about, for example, content, filling pressure and manufacturer. In addition, some suppliers also attach a sticker with predetermined breaking points, which is positioned overlapping on the protective cap and the compressed gas cylinder neck. The purpose of this sticker is to indicate its original condition after filling in the supplier's works. But such stickers can easily fall off of themselves or be easily manipulated. To counteract this danger, the protective cap and the bottle shoulder can also be completely covered with a self-adhesive film or a shrink tube, which is very complex.

From the DE 100 62 867 A1 and the DE 196 11 970 A1 Are tamper-evident for compressed gas cylinders known on the neck ring or bottleneck, a protective cap detachable, such as with a screw or bayonet lock to attach. The tamper-evident devices described therein each comprise an identification ring which is positioned on the neck ring and which is provided with at least two predetermined breaking points. When placing or screwing the cap on the neck ring or bottleneck is exerted on the identification ring such a pressure that the identification ring breaks at the predetermined breaking points, but is clamped between the cap and neck ring such that it between the shoulder of the neck ring and and End face of the bottle neck remains positioned. When removing the protective cap from the neck ring or from the bottleneck of the compressed gas cylinder and the concomitant discharge of the individual parts of the identification ring these fall from the compressed gas cylinder. In the DE 196 11 970 A1 In addition, tooth profiles are provided with which a connection between the Segments is made as long as the bottle cap is seated on the bottle neck. However, when the bottle cap is detached from the neck of the bottle, the connections will automatically loosen and the segments will fall off the neck of the bottle.

The tamper-evident devices known in the prior art have the disadvantage that the protective cap must be placed as completely as possible in order to destroy them. If this is neglected, for example due to carelessness or very stiff bottle threads, there is a risk that the tamper-evident mechanism will remain intact and thus simulate an in reality no longer present originality of the bottle contents. The invention is therefore based on the object to provide an alternative tamper-evident for compressed gas cylinders, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

This object is achieved in a tamper-evident with the features of claim 1.

The tamper-evident device according to the invention for compressed gas cylinders thus comprises a sleeve ring and a closure part connected to it. The sleeve ring is firmly connected in the installed state of the tamper evident with the neck ring or a connecting thread for a protective cap. The closure member is connected in the installed state by means of fastening straps on at least two eyelets associated with the sleeve ring in the manner of a disposable cable tie with the sleeve ring and pulled tightly over the protective cap that they can not be unscrewed without the tamper evidence was destroyed previously. This ensures a tamper-proof originality assurance.

For connection to the eyelets of the sleeve ring, the fastening straps of the closure part have sections which have a grooved or sawtooth-like profiling. The eyelets formed on the sleeve ring are in turn equipped with a locking tongue or a corresponding profiling, which ensures that after pulling through the bands with their profiled sections through the eyelets the connection can not be solved without destruction. To one To achieve reliable tamper evidence, the closure member with two, three or more bands in the manner mentioned attached to a corresponding number of loops of the sleeve ring. It is also possible to provide a plurality of closure parts, for example two bands arranged crosswise, which cooperate correspondingly with a total of four eyelets arranged at equal angular intervals in each case in the circumferential direction of the collar ring. The closure parts and / or the collar ring can also be equipped with one or more flags, which can be labeled with information, for example on the content or origin of the bottle.

The sleeve ring is firmly connected to the neck ring, the thread or at an existing below the thread on the neck ring, all-round groove of the compressed gas cylinder. This can be done according to the invention, for example, by screwing, gluing or welding, but these connection options for most applications associated with significant disadvantages, since the subsequent installation of threaded holes, the pressure resistance of the bottle can be affected and sticking or welding at a considerable expense in the Removal of a damaged sleeve ring would result. Preferably, the sleeve ring is therefore fixed by pressing, jamming or shrinking on the neck ring or the thread. As a result, the sleeve ring is on the one hand so reliable attached to the neck ring or the thread that it can not be removed without destruction, on the other hand it can be easily removed if necessary and without damage to the cylinder.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sleeve ring is pressed with the neck ring. For this purpose, the sleeve ring comprises a first ring and a second ring, wherein the second ring at least partially has a smaller diameter than the first ring. When installing both rings are pulled over the neck ring and moved by means of a suitable pressing tool in the axial direction against each other until the second ring between the first ring and neck ring of the compressed gas cylinder is pressed. In the EP 2 284 433 A1 is a comparable mounting ring in connection with the attachment of an RFID transmitter described on compressed gas cylinders. There, the inner surface of the first ring and the outer surface of the second ring are each conically formed and provided with a step-like profiling. The second ring also has axial slots. The Einschlitzung and the step-shaped profilings ensure that the ring structure after pressing can no longer be separated from each other and the neck ring of the gas cylinder. In order to ensure an even firmer fit, the (inner) second ring can also be designed as a cutting ring, which engages during pressing in the surface of the neck ring.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the sleeve ring comprises a first, can be placed on a shoulder of the neck ring main ring and cooperating with this clamping ring, the clamping ring in its inner diameter of the thread diameter of the connection thread for the cap, the outer diameter of a below the thread around all running groove or the outer diameter of the neck ring is adapted and has inwardly projecting, preferably elastic retaining tongues. The retaining tongues are dimensioned such that they engage in the installed state non-positively in the thread, in a groove usually present under the thread or in the neck ring and can not be removed again without destroying the clamping ring. By suitable connecting means between the eyelets carrying the main ring and the clamping ring of the main ring on the neck ring or on the thread is reliably fixed. For this purpose, the main ring, for example, be equipped on the inside with an all-round groove, which is adapted to the outer diameter of the clamping ring and engages in the clamping ring after coating the main ring. A mounting arrangement of this kind is, for example, in the US 5,697,173 A but not in connection with tamper-evidence.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the sleeve ring is integrally formed as a equipped with eyelets for fastening the closure part clamping ring. The clamping ring is designed in a similar form as described in the previous paragraph and points inwards projecting retaining tongues for engagement in a groove or on the neck ring. The fixing effect is effected exclusively by the holding tongues of the ring.

A once again advantageous possibility for fastening the sleeve ring to the neck ring provides that the sleeve ring is equipped with a shrink element. In this case, the sleeve ring is wholly or partially constructed of a shrinkage material, which permanently contracts, for example, when heated and in this way ensures a tight fit of the sleeve ring on the neck ring.

In a likewise preferred embodiment of the invention, a material is used for the sleeve ring, which expands by heating, thus can be pulled in a heated state on the neck ring, and then shrinks by cooling to ambient temperature again so far that the ring without destruction not more can be removed. For example, a material is selected that, in order to allow the placement on the neck ring, must be heated to a temperature of about 100 ° C. After cooling, the sleeve ring is locked on the neck ring and can not be easily detached from this.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the aforementioned possibilities for fastening the sleeve ring on the neck ring; Rather, all mounting options are included, which allow a fixed and at the same time not destructively releasable fixation of the collar ring on the compressed gas cylinder, as well as a combination of several of the above or other connection options.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the closure part comprises a hood which encloses the protective cap at least partially in the installed state. In this case, the hood covers at least the upper part of the protective cap and thereby ensures that the protective cap can not be removed without destroying the tamper-evident of the compressed gas cylinder. The hood can be a net, fabric or foil, it can For example, made of plastic or metal and / or be formed integrally with the fastening straps.

An alternative or additional embodiment of the tamper-evident feature comprises a closure part with a connection eye which is adapted to the circumference of a hexagonal profile arranged on a protective cap. Such hexagonal profiles are standard on protective caps and facilitate the removal of the protective cap in stiff threaded connections. When installing the tamper-evident fastener, the closure part is placed on the screwed on protective cap in such a way that the hexagonal profile is passed through the connection eyelet, whereby the closure part is fixed radially to the protective cap.

Preferably, the closure part is in one piece, preferably formed as an injection molded part. Likewise, the sleeve ring or the parts of the sleeve ring to be joined together can be made of injection molding. A preferred material for the sleeve ring or its parts and / or the closure part made of plastic, preferably polyamide, for example polyamide (PA) 6.6. In addition to PA6.6 and PVC also stainless steel or other metal is considered as a material. In particular, stainless steel constructions have a very high tensile strength and are very resistant to UV and corrosion.

Fig. 1:

Eine Druckgasflasche mit darauf aufschraubbarer Schutzkappe,

Fig. 2:

den Ausschnitt einer Druckgasflasche mit aufgesetzter Schutzkappe und einer erfindungsgemäßen Originalitätssicherung in einer ersten Ausführungsform in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 3:

den Ausschnitt einer Druckgasflasche aufgesetzter Schutzkappe und einer erfindungsgemäßen Originalitätssicherung in einer zweiten Ausführungsform in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 4a:

den Manschettenring einer Originalitätssicherung in einer ersten Ausführungsform in einer Draufsicht sowie

Fig. 4b:

die Teile des Manschettenrings nach Fig. 4a in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 5a:

den Manschettenring einer Originalitätssicherung in einer zweiten Ausführungsform in einer Draufsicht sowie

Fig. 5b:

die Teile des Manschettenrings nach Fig. 5a in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 6:

das Verschlussteil einer Originalitätssicherung in einer ersten Ausführungsform und

Fig. 7:

das Verschlussteil einer Originalitätssicherung in einer zweiten Ausführungsform.

Reference to the drawings, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below. In schematic views show:

Fig. 1:

A compressed gas cylinder with protective cap to be screwed on,

Fig. 2:

the detail of a compressed gas cylinder with attached protective cap and a tamper-evident device according to the invention in a first embodiment in a side view,

3:

the section of a compressed gas cylinder patch cap and a tamper-evident invention in a second embodiment in a side view,

Fig. 4a:

the cuff ring of a tamper-evident in a first embodiment in a plan view and

Fig. 4b:

the parts of the sleeve ring after Fig. 4a in a side view,

Fig. 5a:

the cuff ring of a tamper-evident in a second embodiment in a plan view and

Fig. 5b:

the parts of the sleeve ring after Fig. 5a in a side view,

Fig. 6:

the closure part of a tamper-evident in a first embodiment and

Fig. 7:

the closure part of a tamper-evident in a second embodiment.

In the Fig. 1 shown compressed gas cylinder 1 comprises in a conventional manner a bottle body 2 with neck ring 3 and a cylinder valve 4. The neck ring 3 is equipped with a thread 5 for screwing a protection of the cylinder valve 4 serving protective cap 6. The cap 6 has a thread 5 of the neck ring 3 corresponding internal thread 7 and is also equipped in a likewise known manner at its upper end with a hexagonal profile 8.

In the FIGS. 2 and 3 is the compressed gas cylinder 1 with screwed cap 6 and one embodiment of a tamper evident 10, 10 'according to the invention shown.

The tamper-evident 10 after Fig. 2 comprises a sleeve ring 11 which is fixed on the neck ring 3 of the compressed gas cylinder. The sleeve ring 11 is equipped with several, in the embodiment with two eyelets 12, 13. Furthermore, the tamper evident 10 comprises a closure member 14 which is fastened by means of several (corresponding to the number of loops of the sleeve ring) fastening straps 15, 16 on the eyelets 12, 13 of the sleeve ring s11 respectively in the manner of a disposable cable tie. To make this possible, the eyelets 12, 13 are equipped with retaining tongues, not shown here, which cooperate with corresponding profiles of the straps 15, 16, so that the closure member 14 can not be released from the sleeve ring 11, once the straps 15, 16 are fixed in the eyelets 12, 13. The closure part 14 in Fig. 2 further comprises a mounting opening 17 whose inner diameter, as explained in more detail below, the outer diameter of the hexagonal profile 8 is adjusted. In the assembled state, the fastening opening 17 is pulled over the hexagonal profile 8 and the closure part 14 is fixed in this way.

In Fig. 3 are the same features with the same reference numerals as in Fig. 2 characterized. The tamper-evident 10 'in Fig. 3 differs from tamper evidence 10 in Fig. 2 only by another closure member 18. In this, the (otherwise the same acting) fastening straps 15, 16 are not connected to a co-operating with the hexagonal profile 8 mounting opening 17, but with a hood 19 which covers the cap 6 at least partially. The hood 19 may be made of the same material as the fastener tapes 15, 16, also in one piece with these, but other materials may also be used, such as other plastics or fabric or a net made of metal, for example. The hood 19 may also have an imprint, for example an indication of the manufacturer or the contents of the compressed gas cylinder 1. In the assembled state, the hood 19 is so close to the screwed-on protective cap 6 that when fixed in the eyelets 12, 13 fastening straps 15, 16, the hood can not be pulled by the protective cap. Only after the destruction of the tamper-evident 10 ', for example by cutting the straps 15, 16, the removal of the hood 19 of the cap 6 succeeds.

The Fig. 4a, b and Fig. 5a, b show exemplary embodiments of various sleeve rings inventive tamper evidence. The in Fig. 4a, b Cuff ring 11 shown comprises a main ring 21 which is provided on radially projecting profiles 22, 23 with eyelets 12, 13 for fastening a closure part 14, 18. Furthermore, the sleeve ring 11 comprises a clamping ring 24. The clamping ring 24 is equipped with inwardly projecting, flexible tongues 26 which engage in the installed state in a below the connecting thread 5 for a protective cap 6 groove 25 and ensure that the clamping ring 24 after the final positioning on the thread without destroying the Clamping ring 24 is no longer or only very difficult to replace. Furthermore, the outer circumference of the clamping ring 24 is dimensioned such that it engages in the installed state in a circumferential groove 27 in the main ring 21 on the inner surface and fixed the main ring 21 in this way.

The collar ring 11 'in Fig. 5a, b also comprises two, in the assembled state cooperating rings 28, 29. The inner surface of the outer ring 28, which also carries the eyelets 12, 13 for fastening a closure member 14, 18, and the outer periphery of the inner ring 29 are conically formed and each one to each other corresponding Verzahnungsprofilierung 30, 31, for example, stepped profiles. During installation, the rings 28, 27 are pushed towards one another and pressed with a suitable pressing tool such that the inner ring 29 is clamped between the outer ring 28 and the neck ring 3. The tooth profile 30, 31 prevents that the rings 28, 29 separate from each other.

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show two embodiments of closure parts 14, 14 'inventive tamper evidence. This in Fig. 6 The closure part 14 shown comprises two fastening straps 15, 16, which are integrally connected to a fastening opening 17. The attachment opening 17 is designed as a hexagonal ring whose inner diameter is dimensioned such that it is adapted to the outer diameter of the hexagonal profile 8 of a protective cap 6. The fastening straps 15, 16 are equipped in sections with toothed profiles 32, 33 which are designed so that they can cooperate in each case with the eyelet 12, 13 of a sleeve ring 11, 11 'equipped with a retaining tongue in the manner of a disposable cable tie.

This in Fig. 7 shown closure member 14 'differs from the closure member 14 Fig. 6 Such an embodiment is easier to manufacture and easier to cover over a hexagonal profile 8 of a compressed gas cylinder, but does not provide the same fastening security as in Fig. 6 shown embodiment. Furthermore, the closure part 14 'is made Fig. 7 with a flag 34 equipped, which is attached to a fastening band 16, for example by gluing or by means of eyelets and which can be labeled with information, for example about the contents of the bottle or about the supplier. Of course, such an identification tag 24 may also be fastened to the closure parts 14, 18.

For mounting the tamper-evident 10, 10 ', the sleeve ring 11, 11' is first fixed to the neck ring 3. Then, the fastening straps 15, 16 inserted into the corresponding eyelets 12, 13 and pulled so far that the attachment opening 17 on the hexagonal profile 8 (in the embodiments of the Fig. 2 . 6, 7 ), or the hood 19 via the protective cap 6 (in the embodiment according to Fig. 3 ), is pushed. The cable tie-like toothing between the fastening straps 15, 16 and the retaining tongues in the eyelets 12, 13 prevents the protective cap 6 from being removed without destroying the tamper-evident fastener 10, 10 '. To remove the protective cap, the closure member 14, 14 ', 18 destroyed, which is conveniently carried out by severing the straps 15, 16. The sleeve ring 11, 11 'remains even after opening the cylinder 1 on the neck ring 3 and can be used again, ie after refilling the cylinder 1, it is sufficient, as appropriate, in the eyelets 12, 13 of the sleeve ring 11, 11' To remove remaining remnants of the fastening straps 15, 16 of a destroyed closure part and to connect a new closure part 14, 14 ', 18 with the existing collar ring 11 or 11'.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Pressure cylinder

2

bottle body

3

collar

4

cylinder valve

5

thread

6

protective cap

7

inner thread

8th

Hexagonal profile

9

-

10

tamper

11, 11 '

cuff ring

12

eyelet

13

eyelet

14, 14 '

closing part

15

fixing tape

16

fixing tape

17

fastening opening

18

closing part

19

Hood

20

-

21

main ring

22

profile

23

profile

24

clamping ring

25

groove

26

tongue

27

groove

28

outer ring

29

Inner ring

30

toothed profiling

31

toothed profiling

32

toothed profile

33

toothed profile

34

labeling flag

Claims (10)

Tamper-evident safety device for compressed gas cylinders, having a sleeve ring (11, 11 ') which can be fixedly connected to the neck ring (3) or a connecting thread (5) for a protective cap (6) and to the tamper evident device (10, 10') via the protective cap (10) 6) pulled closure part (14, 14 ', 18), which by means of fastening straps (15, 16) on at least two the sleeve ring (11, 11') associated eyelets (12, 13) in the manner of a cable tie by means of this is connectable. Tamper-evident device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve ring (11, 11 ') comprises a first ring (28) and a second ring (29) which can be pressed between the first ring (28) and the neck ring (3) of the compressed gas cylinder (1) , Tamper evident device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve ring (11, 11 ') comprises a main ring (21) and a cooperating with this clamping ring (24), wherein the clamping ring (24) in its inner diameter of the thread diameter of the connecting thread (5 ) is adapted for the protective cap (6) or the outer diameter of the neck ring (8) and equipped with inwardly projecting retaining tongues (26) which in the installed state in a groove under the thread (5) or in the outer surface of the neck ring (3). intervention. Tamper-evident device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve ring (11, 11 ') is made in one piece with eyelets (12, 13) for fixing the closure part (14, 14', 18) and with inwardly projecting retaining tongues (26 ) equipped clamping ring is formed. Tamper-evident device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve ring (11, 11 ') with a shrink element is equipped, by means of which the sleeve ring (11, 11 ') after shrinkage on the neck ring (3) is fixable. Tamper evident device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve ring (11, 11 ') consists of a material in which the inner diameter of the sleeve ring (11, 11') expands by heating, but contracts on cooling to ambient temperature. Tamper-evident device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure part (14, 14 ', 18) comprises a hood (19) at least partially enclosing the protective cap (6) in the installed state. Tamper-evident device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure part (14, 14 ') is equipped with a fastening opening (17) which is adapted to the circumference of a hexagonal profile (3) arranged on a protective cap (6). Tamper-evident device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure part (14, 14 ', 18) is designed in one piece, preferably as an injection-molded part. Tamper-evident device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve ring (11, 11 ') and / or the closure part (14, 14', 18) is made of plastic, preferably polyamide.

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