EP3279546A1 - A pressurised gas cylinder - Google Patents

A pressurised gas cylinder Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3279546A1
EP3279546A1 EP17184464.0A EP17184464A EP3279546A1 EP 3279546 A1 EP3279546 A1 EP 3279546A1 EP 17184464 A EP17184464 A EP 17184464A EP 3279546 A1 EP3279546 A1 EP 3279546A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cylinder
module
transmitter
pressurised gas
sensor
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP17184464.0A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Wilhelm Bayerl
Christine KANDZIORA
Philipp KARMIRES
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Linde GmbH
Original Assignee
Linde GmbH
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Linde GmbH filed Critical Linde GmbH
Publication of EP3279546A1 publication Critical patent/EP3279546A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • F17C13/02—Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment
    • F17C13/025—Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment having the pressure as the 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
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/02—Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment
    • F17C13/026—Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment having the temperature as the 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
    • F17C2250/03—Control means
    • F17C2250/034—Control means using wireless transmissions
    • 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
    • F17C2250/0404—Parameters indicated or measured
    • F17C2250/043—Pressure
    • 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
    • F17C2250/0491—Parameters measured at or inside the vessel

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a pressurised gas cylinder.
  • Such cylinders are known for a wide range of applications where a piped gas supply is not available.
  • the module may be provided with a temperature sensor. It may also be provided with additional sensors such as moisture sensors, Oxygen impurity sensors, CO2 sensors, acceleration sensors.
  • the module could be inductively charged from outside the cylinder in the case of a non-metallic cylinder.
  • the module preferably includes a battery.
  • the module can be allowed to be loose within the cylinder or may be provided with a tacky surface to adhere to the wall. However, preferably the module is provided with a permanent magnet by which it attaches to the internal cylinder wall of iron cylinders.
  • the receiver which communicates with the transmitter may be separate from the cylinder. However, preferably, a receiver is provided by an external portion of the cylinder.
  • a second transmitter on an external portion of the cylinder in order to transmit the information received from the transmitter within the cylinder to a remote location.
  • This second transmitter can be combined with the receiver in one unit.
  • the cylinder 1 is a standalone gas cylinder typically used in various fields including medical and industrial fields to supply bottled gas to a user when a piped gas supply is not available.
  • the cylinder will typically have a maximum pressure of up to 400 bar.
  • the cylinder comprises a cylinder body 2 and a valve assembly 3 both of which are conventional.
  • the improvement provided by the present invention is the addition of a sensor module 4 and its associated receiver 5.
  • the sensor module comprises a magnet 6 which will adhere to the bottom wall of the cylinder body 2 provided that this is a ferrous material.
  • the sensor also comprises a battery 7, pressure and temperature sensors 8 and a transmitter 9.
  • the module 4 preferably has the ability to fit through a circular opening with a diameter of 20mm and more preferably has the ability to fit through a circular gap with a diameter of 12mm.
  • the sensor module can therefore be dropped in through the neck 10 of the cylinder body 2 before the valve assembly 3 is screwed into place in the neck 10.
  • the signal transmission from the sensor module 4 to the receiver 5 can be done using an electromagnetic transmission means if the cylinder is made of a non-metallic material such as a composite.
  • the sensor module 4 includes a sound encoder and transmitter to send an acoustic signal via the wall of the cylinder body 2.
  • the information is modulated on a carrier signal using, for example, AM, FM, QAM or other technologies.
  • the receiver 5 then extracts the information from a carrier signal using a decoder and converter.
  • the transmitter 9 of the module 4 transmits data concerning the pressure and temperature to the receiver 5. This is provided with a decoder, processor, display and/or second transmitter to transmit information to a remote location (e.g. via Bluetooth, NFC or GMS).
  • a remote location e.g. via Bluetooth, NFC or GMS.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Abstract

A pressurised gas cylinder having a valve to control the flow of pressurised gas from the cylinder. A sensor module is located within the cylinder comprising a pressure sensor and a transmitter for transmitting a signal, including pressure information, out of the cylinder. The sensor module is small enough to be inserted through the opening in the neck of the cylinder.

Description

  • The present invention relates to a pressurised gas cylinder.
  • Such cylinders are known for a wide range of applications where a piped gas supply is not available.
  • In order to measure information on the content of the cylinder, for example, pressure, impurities, polymerisation, composition, temperature etc, this has to be done via sensors which are provided in a port through the cylinder wall or via the housing of the valve assembly which is present on the top of the cylinder. This means that dedicated hardware either in the form of a modified valve or modified cylinder is needed. It is not therefore possible to monitor pressure of a gas cylinder which is already in service without changing the cylinder or the valve.
  • According to the present invention there is provided a pressurised gas cylinder according to claim 1.
  • This allows a pressure sensor to be employed in an existing cylinder without the need to change the cylinder or the existing valve assembly. It also provides a low cost solution to measuring internal cylinder parameters in new cylinders.
  • The module may be provided with a temperature sensor. It may also be provided with additional sensors such as moisture sensors, Oxygen impurity sensors, CO2 sensors, acceleration sensors.
  • The module could be inductively charged from outside the cylinder in the case of a non-metallic cylinder. However, the module preferably includes a battery.
  • The module can be allowed to be loose within the cylinder or may be provided with a tacky surface to adhere to the wall. However, preferably the module is provided with a permanent magnet by which it attaches to the internal cylinder wall of iron cylinders.
  • If the cylinders are to be used in a well-defined location, such as part of a bundle, the receiver which communicates with the transmitter may be separate from the cylinder. However, preferably, a receiver is provided by an external portion of the cylinder.
  • There is preferably also a second transmitter on an external portion of the cylinder in order to transmit the information received from the transmitter within the cylinder to a remote location. This second transmitter can be combined with the receiver in one unit.
  • An example of a cylinder in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic cross-section of the cylinder.
  • The cylinder 1 is a standalone gas cylinder typically used in various fields including medical and industrial fields to supply bottled gas to a user when a piped gas supply is not available. The cylinder will typically have a maximum pressure of up to 400 bar. The cylinder comprises a cylinder body 2 and a valve assembly 3 both of which are conventional. The improvement provided by the present invention is the addition of a sensor module 4 and its associated receiver 5. The sensor module comprises a magnet 6 which will adhere to the bottom wall of the cylinder body 2 provided that this is a ferrous material. The sensor also comprises a battery 7, pressure and temperature sensors 8 and a transmitter 9. The module 4 preferably has the ability to fit through a circular opening with a diameter of 20mm and more preferably has the ability to fit through a circular gap with a diameter of 12mm. The sensor module can therefore be dropped in through the neck 10 of the cylinder body 2 before the valve assembly 3 is screwed into place in the neck 10.
  • The signal transmission from the sensor module 4 to the receiver 5 can be done using an electromagnetic transmission means if the cylinder is made of a non-metallic material such as a composite.
  • If the cylinder is metallic, an acoustic transmission is used. In this case, the sensor module 4 includes a sound encoder and transmitter to send an acoustic signal via the wall of the cylinder body 2. The information is modulated on a carrier signal using, for example, AM, FM, QAM or other technologies. The receiver 5 then extracts the information from a carrier signal using a decoder and converter.
  • The transmitter 9 of the module 4 transmits data concerning the pressure and temperature to the receiver 5. This is provided with a decoder, processor, display and/or second transmitter to transmit information to a remote location (e.g. via Bluetooth, NFC or GMS).

Claims (7)

  1. A pressurised gas cylinder comprising a neck with an opening to receive a valve to selectively control the flow of pressurised gas from the cylinder; and a sensor module within the cylinder, the module comprising a pressure sensor and a transmitter to transmit a signal including pressure information out of the cylinder; wherein the sensor module is small enough to be insertable through the opening in a neck of the cylinder.
  2. A cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the module is also provided with a temperature sensor.
  3. A cylinder according to claim 1 and claim 2, wherein the module is provided with additional sensors for detecting moisture , Oxygen, CO2, acceleration.
  4. A cylinder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the module comprises a battery.
  5. A cylinder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the module is provided with a permanent magnet by which it attaches to the internal cylinder wall.
  6. A cylinder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a receiver is provided by an external portion of the cylinder.
  7. A cylinder according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second transmitter on an external portion of the cylinder in order to transmit the information received from the transmitter within the cylinder to a remote location.
EP17184464.0A 2016-08-03 2017-08-02 A pressurised gas cylinder Withdrawn EP3279546A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1613402.5A GB2552687A (en) 2016-08-03 2016-08-03 A pressurised gas cylinder

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3279546A1 true EP3279546A1 (en) 2018-02-07

Family

ID=56936615

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17184464.0A Withdrawn EP3279546A1 (en) 2016-08-03 2017-08-02 A pressurised gas cylinder

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3279546A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2017210554A1 (en)
CA (1) CA2975327A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2552687A (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090040049A1 (en) * 2007-05-03 2009-02-12 L'air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Method for Processing Data Relating to a Cylinder of Fluid under Pressure
DE102014003342A1 (en) * 2014-03-07 2015-09-10 Astrium Gmbh Cryogenic fuel tank with a measuring module

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IL124462A (en) * 1998-05-13 2005-06-19 Extra Exclusive Thermodynamics Method and apparatus for supplying vaporized gas on consumer demand
US20070186982A1 (en) * 2006-02-10 2007-08-16 Cohen Joseph P Method for dispensing compressed gas

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090040049A1 (en) * 2007-05-03 2009-02-12 L'air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Method for Processing Data Relating to a Cylinder of Fluid under Pressure
DE102014003342A1 (en) * 2014-03-07 2015-09-10 Astrium Gmbh Cryogenic fuel tank with a measuring module

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2552687A (en) 2018-02-07
AU2017210554A1 (en) 2018-02-22
GB201613402D0 (en) 2016-09-14
CA2975327A1 (en) 2018-02-03

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