EP3362733A1

EP3362733A1 - Cylinder of pressurised fluid and drawing or filling device

Info

Publication number: EP3362733A1
Application number: EP16785254.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antoine Frenal; Philippe Bernard; Renaud Ligonesche; Patrick Bacot; José Ramon HERNANDEZ; Pablo Rodriguez
Original assignee: Air Liquide SA; LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Current assignee: Air Liquide SA; LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Priority date: 2015-10-15
Filing date: 2016-09-29
Publication date: 2018-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-29
Also published as: WO2017064386A1; FR3042582B1; FR3042582A1; EP3362733B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cylinder of pressurised fluid including an opening in which a valve (7) and a cap (1) for protecting the valve (7) are arranged, the cap (1) including a rigid structure (2, 3) defining a protective space around the valve (7), said structure (2, 3) including a lower end (4) attached to the upper end of the cylinder (6) and a first wall (2) forming a central tubular portion, said tubular portion extending between the lower end (4) and an open upper end (12) that defines an opening (5) for accessing the space inside the tubular portion and containing the valve (7), the cylinder (6) including an electronic member (10) for communication and data storage, which can be queried remotely and wirelessly, arranged in the cap (1), characterised in that the electronic member (10) is built into the circular edge of the upper end (12) of the first wall.

Description

Bottle of fluid under pressure and device

racking or filling

The present invention relates to a bottle of pressurized fluid and a withdrawal device and / or filling comprising such a bottle.

The invention relates more particularly to a bottle of pressurized fluid comprising an orifice in which a valve is arranged, the bottle comprising a valve protection cap mounted on the upper end of the bottle, the cap comprising a rigid structure delimiting a volume around the valve, said structure comprising a lower end fixed to the upper end of the bottle and a first wall forming a central tubular portion, said tubular portion extending between on the one hand the lower end and, on the other hand, an open top end delimiting an access port to the internal volume of the tubular portion and housing the valve, the bottle comprising a wireless remote interrogable electronic data communication and storage device disposed in the cap.

It is known to provide pressurized fluid bottles with radio tags ("Tag" or "Tag RFID") for traceability purposes and / or for extracting or transferring data relating to the bottle and its contents (cf. for example the documents DE1991 1032A or US201 1 / 014080A).

The known solutions are, however, unsuited to guarantee a reliable and effective communication between the bottle and an external device, in particular a modular device that is connectable to the valve of the bottle to supply fluid to the bottle or to withdraw it.

An object of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the disadvantages of the prior art noted above.

For this purpose, the bottle according to the invention, which moreover conforms to the generic definition given in the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that the electronic member is integrated in the circular border of the upper end of the the first wall.

Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: the electronic member comprises an annular antenna disposed concentrically at the opening,

the antenna comprises a coil of conducting wire,

the electronic communication and data storage device comprises an electronic chip including in particular a data memory,

the electronic communication and data storage element is integrated and maintained in a housing containing resin,

the electronic communication and data storage element is housed in a groove situated at the upper end of the first wall, the electronic communication element flush with or recessed with respect to this upper end of the first wall,

the electronic communication and data storage element is blocked transversely and vertically in the groove,

the groove is delimited by two half-shells assembled in the plane of the annular electronic element,

the groove is delimited by a holding ring assembled on the upper end of the first wall;

the electronic communication and data storage device is configured to communicate according to at least one of the following communication technologies: Near Field Communication ("Near Field Communication" = "NFC"), Frequency Radio Communication ("RFID") .

The invention relates to a device for withdrawing and / or filling a bottle of pressurized fluid comprising a bottle of pressurized fluid according to any one of the above characteristics or below and a separate filling and / or filling member comprising a body removably connectable to the valve of the pressurized fluid bottle and housing a valve member and a fluid circuit for connection to the valve circuit of the bottle, the body of the filler member and / or extraction comprising an end provided with a connection head comprising conjugated fastening members of the end of the valve to cooperate in engagement with the latter and an electronic communication device and possibly data storage remote searchable wireless, l electronic organ of communication being located concentrically around said connection head, when the filling member and / or withdrawal is connected to the valve, the electronic communication devices being arranged opposite in two parallel planes spaced a distance between 0.5cm and 5cm and preferably 0.1 and 2cm.

The invention may also relate to any alternative device or method comprising any combination of the above or below features.

Other particularities and advantages will appear on reading the following description, made with reference to the figures in which:

FIG. 1 represents a side view in perspective, schematic and partial, illustrating an exemplary possible embodiment of a bottle according to the invention,

FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of a detail of FIG. 1 illustrating a possible embodiment of an electronic communication element integrated in the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents a side view, schematic and partially disassembled, of another possible embodiment of a bottle according to the invention,

FIG. 4 represents a view partially in section, schematic and partial, of a detail of a bottle illustrating yet another possible example of embodiment,

- Figure 5 shows a side view, schematic and partly in section and disassembled of another possible embodiment of a bottle according to the invention and a modular filling and / or withdrawal member cooperating with the bottle ,

- Figure 6 shows a perspective view, schematic and partial, of a detail of the device of Figure 5 illustrating an exemplary possible embodiment of the hat structure in disassembled position.

The fluid pressure bottle 6 shown schematically and partially in FIG. 1 conventionally comprises an orifice in which a valve 7 is mounted.

The valve 7 houses a fluid circuit 17 comprising at least one valve. The bottle 6 further comprises a valve protection cap 1 mounted on the upper end of the bottle 6. The cap 1 comprises a rigid structure defining a protective volume around the valve 7. This rigid structure comprises a lower end 4 fixed on the upper end of the bottle 6 (for example by screwing or tightening) and a first wall 2 forming a central tubular portion.

This tubular portion, for example cylindrical, extends between on the one hand the lower end 4 and, on the other hand, an upper open end 12 delimiting an upper orifice 5 to access the internal volume of the tubular portion and sheltering the tap 7.

The tubular portion delimited by the first wall 2 may be perforated or not.

The cap 1 can be made of metal and / or cast iron and / or plastic ...

The bottle 6 is also provided with at least one electronic communication and data storage device 10 which can be interrogated remotely wirelessly. This electronic communication element 10 is preferably arranged in the hat 1.

According to an advantageous feature, this electronic member 10 comprises, for example, an annular antenna 11 disposed concentrically at the opening 3 in the circular edge of the upper end 12 of the first wall 2. That is to say that the Antenna 1 1 may be circular and located at the end of the first wall 2 concentrically to the opening 5 (in the circular border defining the opening 5).

In this way the antenna 1 1 is easily accessible especially for a member that would be connected to the valve 7 through the opening 5 (see below with reference in particular to Figure 5).

Preferably, the antenna 1 1 comprises for example a conventional coil of conductive wire. The antenna 11 may comprise an insulated conductor wire and / or a flexible or rigid printed circuit. In addition, preferably also the electronic communication and data storage member comprises an electronic chip including a data memory, the chip 15 being connected to the antenna 1 1 (see Figure 2). The electronic chip may comprise a memory zone in which one or more identifiers of the bottle 6, for example of the alphanumeric type, are stored. Of course, this memory may also contain other information concerning the bottle 6 and / the gas it contains (operating pressure, nominal volume, date of re-test, nature of the gas ...).

The chip 15 can be powered by the magnetic field generated / sensed by the coil 1 1. This chip 15 is also configured to decode information sent or received wirelessly (conveyed by the magnetic field modulations for example).

According to an advantageous feature, the antenna 1 1 and the chip 15 are housed in an annular casing 14 (preferably made of plastic) and are embedded in liquid casting resin and which is hardened to set the assembly.

This arrangement ensures the mechanical strength of the antenna 1 1 and reduces the electrical and magnetic coupling between the latter and its environment. Preferably the housing 14 preferably has an opening for positioning it at the upper end of the cap 1.

This electronic communication and data storage member is preferably housed in a conjugate groove 140 (circular in this example) formed at the upper end 12 of the first wall 2. In mounted position, preferably the body The communication electronics is flush or recessed with respect to this upper end of the first wall 2. This positioning allows both good communication skills and mechanical and electrical protection of the electronic communication element.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 or in FIG. 4, the groove 140 may be delimited at least in part by an assembled retaining ring 22 on the upper end of the first wall 2 of the cap 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the electronic communication and data storage member 10 can be blocked transversely and vertically in the groove 140 via respective abutments (the vertical and transverse directions refer to the axes of the tap when it is mounted on a bottle arranged vertically). In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the groove 140 is delimited by two half-shells 20, 22 assembled in plane of the member 10. That is to say that the two half-shells 20 may respectively comprise half-shells. grooves hollowed in an arc which respectively accommodate the two halves of the ring formed by the member 10. These two half-shells can form all or part of the first wall 2 of the hat 1.

During assembly the electronic communication member 10 can be sealed in the body of the cap 1. For example, the electronic member 10 has an L-shaped or T-shaped section and corresponding recesses have a complementary profile.

In the configuration of Figures 1 and 4 (no device connected to the valve 7), the positioning of the electronic member 10 is such that it is possible to approach a device provided with a wireless communication system (NFC in particular), for example a mobile phone or an industrial reader, in contact with it or a few millimeters (for example 30 mm). This device (telephone or other) makes it possible to exchange information with the electronic device 10 via a suitable magnetic coupling. The electronic member and / or the cap 1 may comprise one or several inclusions of material (x) with high magnetic permeability (for example a ferrite-based material, that is to say having a good permeability and being relatively bad conductor) for concentrating the magnetic field lines to the antenna 24 for reading an external conjugated communication element (see below) and for limiting the effect of the eddy currents in the surrounding metal. These inclusions may advantageously have a housing shape whose cross section forms an open U towards the direction of communication (that is to say outwards and upwards when the cap is in a vertical position according to FIG. especially).

This facilitates the flow of the field lines to the adjacent read antenna 24 with which communication is performed. The antenna wire is advantageously placed inside the U.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of cooperation of such a communication member 10 with a communicating communication member 24 of an apparatus (tap or other) selectively connectable to the tap 7 of the bottle 6. This apparatus constitutes for example a filling and / or withdrawal member comprising a body 20 removably connectable to the valve 7 of the bottle 6. This body 20 houses a movable poppet valve member 123 (to open the circuit 17). that is, to open at least one valve of this circuit 17).

The body 20 also houses a fluid circuit 23 intended to be connected to the circuit 17 of the valve 7 of the bottle 6.

The body 20 of the filling member and / or withdrawal comprises an end provided with a connecting head 21 comprising fastening members conjugate the end of the valve 7 to cooperate in hanging (rapid connection in particular) with the latter . The body 20 further comprises an electronic communication member 24 and optionally remotely searchable data storage wireless. For example, the connecting head 21 protrudes from the end of the body 20 relative to an electronic member 24.

The electronic communication member 24 is located concentrically around said connecting head 21 so that, when the filler and / or draw-off member is connected to the tap, the electronic communication members 24, 10 (conjugate antennas) are arranged opposite in two parallel planes spaced a distance between 0.5cm and 5cm. In this way, wireless data exchange can be achieved between the valve 7 and the filler and / or withdrawal member. Preferably, the electronic communication element 24 is a circular antenna which has a diameter that is close to or identical to the diameter of the communication element 10 (antenna 1 1 conjugate) of the hat 1. In the connected position of the filling member on the valve these two antennas 24 are very close and in particular superimposed to ensure good magnetic coupling (0.1 to 2 cm for example).

The electronic communication member may comprise an electronic card which may be powered by a clean energy source, such as a battery or battery, or be connected to a remote power source. The electronic card can be connected to the winding 21 by a wiring whose length is preferably limited to ten centimeters. This electronic member 24 (and in particular its card) may be configured to generate a modulated electric current in the winding January 1 to create a modulated magnetic field providing the communication of information and energy with the antenna 1 1 of the bottle 6 by magnetic coupling.

Furthermore, the electronic member 24 (antenna) can be made either in the form of a printed circuit, or in the form of at least one insulated wire coil, or in the form of a flexible printed circuit. In these three cases, said antenna 24 may advantageously be overmolded in a plastic part of protection and appearance. In the case of a flexible circuit antenna, said circuit may include an elongated portion for connection to the electronic card 25. The path of the circuit is preferably alternated to limit the magnetic coupling with the outside.

As previously described for the electronic member of the cap 1, the electronic communication member 24 and / or the body 20 may also include one or more inclusions of material (x) with high magnetic permeability to focus the magnetic field lines to the antenna 10 and to limit the effect of eddy currents in the surrounding metal. These inclusions may also have a housing shape whose cross section forms a U open towards the direction of communication (downwards when the body 20 is in a vertical position, in particular according to FIG. 5). The opening of the U is thus turned towards the electronic member (antenna) with the communication being carried out).

As before, this facilitates the flow of the field lines to the adjacent read antenna 10 with which communication is performed. The antenna wire is advantageously placed inside the U.

This electronic device 24 also ensures the decoding and storage of the information sent wirelessly by the electronic member of the cap 1. Preferably, this electronic member 24 is configured to provide bidirectional communication of information with other electronic cards present in the cap 1.

In the connected position, the two communication members 10, 24 (adjacent conjugate antennas) enable wireless detection / reading / communication regardless of the relative angular orientation of the body 20 with respect to the cap 1 about a vertical axis central of the bottle. This electronic member 24 may comprise in particular a graphic display module, a telecommunication module, etc.

The electronic communication and data storage member of the bottle 6 can be configured to communicate according to at least one of the following variations of the radio-frequency identification (RFID) communication technology: RFID Ultra-High Frequency ("RFID UHF"), RFID High-Frequency ("RFID HF"), following one of the NFC standards for Near Field Communications ("RFID NFC": "Near Field Communication", for example according to ISO 15693).

The "NFC" technology in the broad sense refers to near-field coupling communication in the HF or UHF bands, particularly, but not exclusively, that of the standards SO 14443 and ISO 15693. The "NFC" is an ISO 14443 standard which is a RFID technologies. Of course, the invention may relate to other frequencies and / or standards. The invention may relate to frequencies of a few KHz to 1 GHz

RFID technology is a wireless communication technology between an interrogator device, or reader, and an interrogator device, or "tag" (transponder). In its general principle, the reader brings energy and information to the "tag" in the form of a modulated electric, magnetic or electromagnetic field; the "tag" returns information to the reader by modulating the characteristics of its coupling with the field generated by the reader, which induces a return of energy to the reader, modulated according to the information to be transmitted.

The UHF declination is characterized by an operating band between 860 and 960 MHz, a maximum distance between the reader and the tag of the order of 10m, the emission by the reader of an electromagnetic wave propagating inter alia to the " tag ", and backscattered by it by adaptation of its antenna parameters. This variation is well adapted to the logistics of lots of objects.

The HF declination is characterized by an operating band centered on 13.56 MHz, for a maximum distance between the reader and the tag of the order of some ten centimeters to a few meters. The coupling between the reader and the "tag" is generally done by means of a magnetic field, typically at by means of two impedance-adapted coils, one on the "tag" and the other on the reader, the "tag" being able to adapt its impedance to transmit information to the reader by modifying the coupling between the two devices. This variation is well adapted to object-by-object logistics, and to secure transactions (identification, payment, etc.) because the information spreads little around the reader-tag system thanks to theoretically purely magnetic coupling.

The "tag" is usually a passive device, since all its energy is provided by the reader. So-called "semi-passive" or "semi-active" systems exist, in which the "tag" embeds a source of energy used to power its on-board electronics, but the communication is always done by adaptation / mismatch of the coupling channel, without emission of energy by the tag. Finally, there are "active" tags that are able, by means of an onboard energy source, to emit radiation to the reader (where to act both as "tag" and reader).

In addition to the means for performing the near-field communication (NFC), the electronic member 24 of the filling and / or withdrawal device may also comprise a radio tag using a longer-range communication protocol, for example "RFID Operating in the 868 MHz band associated with the same or non-electronic chip as that for the near field.

The electronic devices 10, 24 can form a system for detecting the connected position of the filling / withdrawal device on the tap 7 of the bottle 6.

This detection can be performed by means of an electric contactor placed on the body 20, which switch is actuated when the body is connected to the valve of the bottle 6. Alternatively or cumulatively, a contactor can be placed in a high connection member pressure of the body 20, and actuated by the movement of moving parts of the device that occurs when connected to the valve 7 of the bottle 6 (and / or during an actuation / displacement of a control member of a valve ).

The detection of the connection can also be carried out by means of an inductive or capacitive sensor placed on the body and which is sensitive to the proximity of the metallic mass of the valve 7 and / or the bottle 6. Similarly, the detection of the connection can be carried out by placing on or in the electronic communication device of the cap 1 a magnetic strip or at least one magnet (see ref. 17 Figure 2), intended to cooperate with an electrical microswitch located on the body 20 and sensitive to the presence of these magnetic elements (for example a "reed" switch). For example, the magnetic strip or the magnet is disposed in the electronic element 10 (Tag or other) and cooperates in this case with a switch or switch (switch for example) with magnetic control (for example of the "bulb reed" type). ) disposed in the bottom of the body 20, in particular in the immediate vicinity of the electronic member 24 (antenna) (see below).

The presence or absence of connection to a valve 7 of the bottle 6 may be stored in a central memory of the electronic member of the body 20.

This information makes it possible to trigger automatically or not an attempt to read the information carried by the electronic member of the hat 1.

According to another possible feature, the electronic member (antenna or other) can be activated briefly periodically to measure its impedance. The latter would be switched to the extended communication mode only if the measured impedance has varied sufficiently, indicating that one is approaching an external communication element.

In the nonlimiting example of FIGS. 3 and 5, the cap 1 comprises a second wall 3 disposed concentrically spaced around the first wall 1 and delimiting a protection zone of the first wall 2. The second wall 3 comprises, for example an annular portion 13 disposed concentrically around the first wall 2 and connected to the first wall via several connecting arms 23.

Preferably, in a vertical direction extending between the lower end 4 of the cap 1 and the upper end of the cap, the upper end 12 of the first wall 2 defining the access orifice 5 protrudes above of the second wall 3. That is to say that the electronic communication and data storage member is disposed above the second wall 3 (for example at a vertical distance of a few centimeters 0-10cm above the second wall 3).

In addition, at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the first wall 2 may include a member 9 for displaying information representative of the amount of fluid contained in the bottle on which the cap is mounted. In the example of FIGS. 3 and 4, this display member 9 comprises a digital screen, for example an electronic paper ("e-paper"). Of course, any other appropriate member may be considered including a pressure gauge. This display member 9 may be connected and controlled by the electronic communication and storage member 10 of the cap 1 or that 24 of the filling / withdrawal device and / or by a pressure sensor in the bottle 6.

This display member 9 may be of the type also electronic paper ("e-paper") or "LCD cholesteric". One possible solution would include a series of small displays (at least three, for example) comprising for example a ladder of the "bar graph" type, "paralleled" and controlled by the electronic chip.

Claims

1. Device for withdrawing and / or filling a bottle of pressurized fluid comprising a bottle of pressurized fluid and a separate filling and / or filling member, the bottle comprising an orifice in which a valve (7) is arranged, the bottle (6) ) comprising a cap (1) for protecting the valve (7) mounted on the upper end of the bottle (6), the cap (1) comprising a rigid structure (2, 3) delimiting a volume of protection around the valve ( 7), said structure (2, 3) comprising a lower end (4) fixed on the upper end of the bottle (6) and a first wall (2) forming a central tubular portion, said tubular portion extending between d on the one hand the lower end (4) and, on the other hand, an upper end (12) open delimiting an orifice (5) for access to the internal volume of the tubular portion and housing the valve (7), the bottle (6) comprising an electronic member (10) wirelessly interrogable communication and data storage device arranged in the cap (1), characterized in that the electronic member (10) is integrated in the circular border of the upper end (12) of the first wall (2), the filling and / or withdrawal member comprising a body (20) removably connectable to the valve (7) of the bottle (6) of pressurized fluid and housing a member (123) push-valve and a circuit (23) for fluid connection to the circuit (17) of the valve (7) of the bottle (6), the body (20) of the filling member and / or withdrawal comprising an end provided with a connecting head (21) comprising conjugate hooking members of the end of the valve (7) to cooperate in engagement with the latter and an electronic communication member (24) and optionally data storage remotely wireless, the electronic communication element (24) as located concentrically around said head (21) for connection, and in that when the filling member and / or draw-off is connected on the tap, the bodies (24,

10) electronic communication are arranged opposite in two parallel planes spaced a distance between 0.5cm and 5cm, in particular between 0.1 and 2cm and in that the member (10) electronic comprises an annular antenna (1 1) disposed concentrically at the opening (3).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna (1 1) comprises a coil of conductive wire.

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the electronic member (10) for communication and data storage comprises an electronic chip (15) comprising in particular a data memory.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electronic member (10) for communication and data storage is integrated and maintained in a housing (14) containing resin.

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the electronic member (10) for communication and data storage is housed in a groove (140) located at the upper end (12). ) of the first wall (2) and in that the electronic communication member (10) is flush or recessed with respect to this upper end of the first wall (2).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the electronic member (10) for communication and data storage is blocked transversely and vertically in the groove (140).

7. Device according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the groove (140) is defined by two half-shells (20, 22) assembled in the plane of the annular electronic member 10.

8. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the groove (140) is defined by a ring (22) for holding together on the upper end of the first wall (2).

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the electronic member (10) for communication and data storage is configured to communicate according to at least one of the following communication technologies: Near Field Communication ("Near Field Communication" = "NFC"), Radio Frequency Communication ("RFID").

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in the connected position the filling member and / or withdrawal on the tap, the electronic communication members (10, 24) perform a detection / reading wireless communication regardless of the relative angular orientation of the body (20) relative to the cap (1) about a central longitudinal axis of the bottle (6).