EP3699480B1

EP3699480B1 - System, medical gas filler adapter and activation shaft for use in such a system

Info

Publication number: EP3699480B1
Application number: EP20159307.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thyge Nyborg Rahbæk
Original assignee: Tm Norway As
Current assignee: Tm Norway As
Priority date: 2019-02-25
Filing date: 2020-02-25
Publication date: 2023-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2040-02-25
Also published as: DK201970117A1; DK180042B1; EP3699480C0; EP3699480A1

Description

The present invention relates to a system including pressure cylinder valve with integrated pressure regulator (VIPR) having a VIPR non-return valve and comprising an activation shaft and a medical gas filler adapter for emptying and filling the pressure cylinder, where said medical gas filler adapter comprises integrated adapter non-return valve for use in filling and testing VIPR valve, and a first end and a second end, wherein at least one gas connection is arranged between said first end and said second end.

Prior art

Gas cylinders for industrial and medical use are typically steel cylinders, aluminium cylinders or composite cylinders that are filled to pressures of 200 or 300 bar. The cylinders exist in a number of different sizes from 1 litre up to 80 litres. This means that there is a great variation in diameter and height, and of course weight. The heaviest cylinders weigh up to 100 kg, and the lightest down to 1.5 kg. The light cylinders are typically those used for medical gases for the reason that they in some situations are carried by the user.
By industrial gases there is great variation in the gases and gas mixtures that are sold. This is typical since by welding and cutting in metals there is to be exactly the right gas or gas mixture for the material to be processed. There are more than 150 different products, i.e. gases and gas mixtures, on the market.
The number of variants is less for medical gases; the standards describe 9 different types of gases, meaning gases and mixtures of gases. However, the variation in the consumption to be delivered by cylinder and valve is very great. This is due to the fact that patients are very different, as new-born infants, adult males and women require very different dosage of oxygen and anaesthetic gases. The issue here is the many different flow settings going from 0.1 l/min up to 25 l/min, with a large number of different settings there between.
The gas cylinders are filled with gas by the gas companies, and the cylinders are typically distributed to the customers by car and are typically also collected by car. A gas company can have a number of filling stations in a country, depending on the size of the country and the number of gas cylinders in use. A typical filling station for industrial use fills from 500,000 to 2,000,000 cylinders per year. As an average, an industrial cylinder of 50 liters typically is filled two times a year. Medical cylinders are typically filled four to eight times a year, given that they are somewhat smaller in volume.
The process that is initiated for gas cylinders is as follows:

a. The cylinder is emptied of the residual gas remaining in the cylinder. The valve is opened by a handwheel, and the residual gas flows out. In case of a corrosive or poisonous gas, the gas is collected; otherwise it is discharged to the atmosphere.
b. The consumer is not allowed to empty the cylinder entirely of gas by himself. There is to be a so-called residual gas pressure, a minimum of 3.5 bar left in the cylinder when returned to the gas company. This is checked by a pressure measurement.
c. To avoid contamination of the cylinder as well as corrosion a vacuum pump is now operated in order to get all moisture out of the cylinder as moisture implies and causes corrosion in steel cylinders.
d. The filling by the first component, e.g. argon or nitrogen, is commenced. In case of a single gas, obviously only this component is filled.
e. The filling is finished when a pressure at a certain temperature is reached. Curves depicting temperature and pressure are followed here.
f. When the filling is finished, the valve is closed and the filler adapter is dismounted.
g. A check of possible leakage is normally performed by means of a leak spray.
h. The cylinder is sealed in various ways as a guarantee for the consumer who then can ascertain if the cylinder has been used or not.

For medical cylinders there are a number of additional conditions:

a. The cylinders exist as small (e.g. 0.5 litre) and large (e.g. 20 litre) sizes of cylinders among each other. The cylinders are to be carried, and composite materials and aluminium are therefore used. The cylinders are moved on carts at the hospital or are suspended on the bed when a patient is moved.
b. The cylinders are filled with 200 bar, though filling pressures of 300 bar are about to be more widely used.
c. Filling cylinders with oxygen or mixtures with oxygen is associated with high risk. This is due to the fact that oxygen is self-igniting by a so-called adiabatic process.
d. All equipment used for filling and the products themselves are tested by independent authorities or other authorised organisations.

A medical cylinder comprises a valve and a cylinder as well as the contents. The content of the cylinder is regarded as a medicament and is covered by rules for medicaments. Valve and cylinder are regarded as medical equipment and is to be labelled according to various directives and standards in Europe. The modem valves include a valve with shutoff for the cylinder, a pressure regulating unit and a unit for setting various flows.
The present processes for filling and check of medical gases include:

a. Cleaning, since valve and cylinder are often smeared with blood. A comprehensive work with protecting staff against infections is performed here.
b. The cylinder is filled with the specified gas, and it is stringently checked if the labelling on the cylinder corresponds to the contents.
c. Checking that the manometer indicates correct pressure as accidents have occurred where a patient believes that a cylinder is full while in reality it is empty.
d. Flow and pressure measurement at the discharge connection (4.5 bar discharge connection). The standards prescribe that pressures are to be within certain limit values.
e. Flow check. The valve normally has 12 settings including zero setting which is to be checked.
f. The moment to be applied for turning the flow control knob is not to be too great as many elderly people only can turn the knob if it is easy to tum.
g. Leak check. The shutoff device for the cylinder is to be checked as to gas tightness.
h. External leakage check when the valve is open.
i. The shutoff device is to be checked whether it is closed with the correct moment and whether it is easy to operate.
j. The filler neck is to be checked if it is correctly secured with a sleeve and such that it cannot be accessed by a user.
k. All these functions are performed manually and full documentation and traceability as to their being performed is to be provided.

DE 102007005864 A1 discloses an activation shaft for use in a prior art medical gas filling system, where this activation shaft at one end has a projecting part configured to engage the non-return valve at the matching end of the filler adapter.
WO 2017/067556 A1 discloses an automatic gas cylinder filling facility from where a method for filling gas on gas cylinders with pressures greater than 50 bar in an automatic gas cylinder filling facility is known and where the method including at least the following steps:

a. a gas cylinder is placed in a filling carousel;
b. the gas cylinder is positioned by means of a geometric positioning system;
c. a filler adapter is mounted on the gas cylinder;
d. the gas cylinder is filled; and
e. the valve is closed with a certain moment after filling.

It further discloses a method for filling gas on gas cylinders with pressures greater than 50 bar in an automatic gas cylinder filling facility, wherein a filler adapter is fitted with screw thread corresponding to the gas in question, wherein method step c. further includes at least the following steps:

the filler adapter is picked up automatically and screwed on the filler neck of the valve automatically as the position of the valve is completely known and fixed;
a bushing with a 0-ring connection is moved automatically in over the filler adapter and performs a completely pneumatically tight connection; and the applied moment is monitored during the screwing on of the filler adapter.

This will enable automatic screwing on of a filler adapter when the cylinder valve is positioned and the screw thread on the cylinder valve is caught. If the cylinder valve was not correctly positioned, this would not be possible.
When the filler adapter is on the valve, the filler adapter can be connected on all subsequent station and be filled with gas at pressures greater than 50 bar. By the present invention, the cylinders are filled one by one in different steps.
The filler adapters are disposed in the vicinity of the gas cylinder valves such that they can be gripped and screwed into the filler neck of the cylinders. Filler adapters with different connecting threads can therefore be mounted, and since they sit in a holder they can easily be fetched automatically and also be screwed on automatically. After use they are screwed off and placed again in respective holders.
A filler adapter is mounted automatically with different screw thread depending on national standard for the gas in question. The filler adapter is connected with a ball lock that can withstand pressures over 500 bar.
With full check on moment by the screwing on of the filler adapter it is ensured that the bad screw threads are scrapped, i.e. bad threads on the filler adapters.
One of the disadvantages of the prior art filling adapter is that it cannot activate the non-return valve in a VIPR (valve with integrated pressure regulator) due to the fact that it requires a further displacement of the non-return valve in the adapter.

Object of the invention

The object of this invention is to provide a system including pressure cylinder valve with integrated pressure regulator (VIPR) having a VIPR non-return valve and comprising an activation shaft and a medical gas filler adapter of the system type mentioned in the introduction, which makes it possible for filling and testing medical integrated valves, also called VIPR (valve with integrated pressure regulator) with built-in non-return valves in the filling port and where the filler adapter is able to activate the non-return valve in the valve by a further displacement of the non-return valve in the filler adapter. The cylinders and valves are used with high pressure oxygen or other medical gases from 200 up to 300 bar.
An object not covered by the claimed invention is to provide a medical gas filler adapter (hereafter just mentioned as a filler adapter) at an automatic gas cylinder filling facility as the mentioned prior art.
An object also not covered by the claimed invention is to provide an activation shaft suitable for use in said system, where the activation shaft is able to be connected to the second end of the filler adapter in such way that the actuator shaft decides how large the opening should be to the non-return valve in the VIPR valve. A larger opening is required when emptying and evacuating and a smaller opening when measuring leakage inside the valve.
It is an even further object of the invention to make the opening of the non-return valve in the VIPR valve independent of the seal in the filling port, thereby first opening the valve, when there is a complete gas-tight connection to the cylinder. This avoids a dangerous possibility of ignition.
It is also an object of the invention to keep the non-return valve as described in the prior art since it ensures that cylinders can be filled and emptied with either vacuum or high pressure and are able to be moved from station to station without the vacuum or pressure is being lost in the cylinder.

Description of the invention

This invention is related to a system comprising a medical gas filler adapter that is attached to the fill port in the VIPR. The filler adapter makes it possible to connect to the VIPR valve and make a leak tight seal on the fill port. It has a check valve that makes sure that no leak from the cylinder can come out and also prevents contamination to get into the cylinder. The gas in a medical cylinder has to be very clean and when filling it has always been a problem that dirt can get into the cylinder.
The filler adapter makes it further possible to have all the different situations in control. When blowing off the cylinder there is a huge gas flow passing over the seal, then there is a vacuum of the cylinder, and then start the filling up to 300 bar. In the process of filling there is again a huge gas flow in the opposite direction. The check valve in the filler adapter is so designed that after these processes, its complete gastight under vacuum or high pressure is up to 300 bar. This is achieved by a very unique design of seal and the way it is attached to the piston and protected from the forces working under high flow conditions.
According to an aspect of the invention, the above object is achieved with a system of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1, where the first end is configured to be connected to the VIPR valve and the second end is configured to be connected to the activation shaft that is able to open the adapter non-return valve; where the adapter non-return valve via a spring is spring-loaded toward a closed position in direction of the second end, whereby the at least one gas connection is closed when the adapter non-return valve is closed that the adapter non-return valve comprises an actuator pin configured to activate said VIPR non-return valve and where the actuator pin is configured to be moved in different length by means of said activation shaft.
The non-return valve in the filler adapter is unique in the sense that it can withstand the many different pressures, flow and temperatures it sees. It starts with the massive supersonic speed of gas passing over the seal when blowing down the cylinder. In this process it gets very cold. Next step is the vacuum and then finally positive gas flowing in the other direction into the cylinder until 200 or 300 bar is achieved. In all these cases it has to close fully and be absolutely leak tight both under vacuum and under high pressure.
This makes it possible to fill and test VIPR valves with built-in non-return valves in the filling port and where the filler adapter is able to activate the non-return valve in the valve by a further displacement of the non-return valve in the filler adapter.
In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a system where the activation shaft is connected with an activation device.
With an activation device such as e.g. a motor, a pneumatic or hydraulic piston as part of a semi-automatic or fully-automatic system e.g. a robotic system, an automatic gas cylinder filling facility is then an option. With sensors and databases including data regarding each type of VIPR valve on a given type of gas cylinders it is possible to compare a bar code which is preferably read from the cylinder and it is thus possible to decide the displacement of the actuator shaft due to the known data.
Hence it is possible to activate the non-return valve within the VIPR valve in different length without damaging the non-return valve.
In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a system, where the filler adapter comprises an outer part being a universal holder with handling means, and an inner part being a filling pipe, that said filling pipe at said first end of the filler adapter comprises an inner thread configured to be connected to an outer thread on said VIPR valve.
This makes it possible to ensure that all filler adapters are able to be handled by the motor and the semi-automatic or fully-automatic system since all adapters are equal on the outside, but where a number of individual filling pipes make it possible to have a number of individual filler adapters for various types of gas valves.
Thus, with a universal holder is meant a holder which can be used for many different filling pipes, where the filling pipes must be provided with a specific thread for a specific VIPR valve.
The handling means could e.g. be in terms of a radial groove on the outer part of the holder which is complementary to e.g. a spring lock. The handling means could also be in terms of or further comprise an e.g. hexagonal nut which makes it possible not only to hold but also to turn the filler adapter.
It also makes it possible to ensure that gas cylinders can be filled and emptied with either vacuum or high pressure and is able to be moved from station to station in a semi-automatic or fully-automatic system without the vacuum or pressure being lost in the cylinder.
The filler adapter has its own non-return valve, so that the valve is not able to let out gas before the non-return valve is activated. The non-return valve further makes it possible to keep vacuum, high-pressure as well as an extremely high flow velocity.
In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a system, where the filling pipe comprises a second bore which is configured for receiving said activation shaft, wherein the second bore is provided with a first sealing, preferably an O-ring, configured to seal against said activation shaft.
This makes it also possible to keep the system gastight, so that no gas is able to escape between the filling pipe and the activation shaft.
With a sealing is meant any kind of sealing usable for the purpose, e.g. gaskets or joint rings, however preferably an O-ring if it is able to withstand the environment in which it is positioned.
In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a system, where the filler adapter comprises a shaft configured for sealing against the VIPR valve, that said shaft is removable fixed in the filling pipe, that the shaft at the first end of the filler adapter is provided with a second sealing, e.g. an O-ring, and that a third sealing, e.g. an O-ring is provided between the filling pipe and the sealing shaft.
This makes it also possible to keep the system gastight, so that no gas is able to escape between the filling pipe and the sealing shaft.
With a sealing here is also meant any kind of sealing usable for the purpose, e.g. gaskets or joint rings, however preferably an O-ring if it is able to withstand the environment in which it is positioned.
This makes it possible to avoid a dangerous possibility of ignition, since the non-return valve in the VIPR valve is then independent of the seal in the filling port, and thereby the valve first is opening, when there is a complete gas-tight connection to the cylinder.
This is a safe way to connect to a high-pressure valve where a sealing is first achieved where after the non-return valve is then activated.
In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a system, where the universal holder and the filling pipe are connected with a screw being arranged in radially orientated bores in said universal holder and said filling pipe, and that said screw also is used for fixating of the shaft in said filling pipe.
The screw makes the connections possible and is preferably a hexagonal screw. However, other screws could be used for the purpose as well as more screws. Even other locking means could be used like pins, quick-release devices etc.
In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a system, where a first bore for the actuator pin is provided within the shaft, that the actuator pin at a first end of the actuator pin is configured to activate the VIPR non-return valve in the VIPR and at a second end of the actuator pin said actuator pin is fixedly connected to a non-return valve piston, that said spring is arranged between the moveable piston valve and a recess in the fixed shaft.
The said spring is preferably at least one pressure spring. Alternatively a number of Belleville springs could be an option.
In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a system, where the actuator pin is fixedly connected to a hole in the non-return valve piston.
This makes it possible to ensure a safe fixedly connection between the actuator pin and the non-return valve piston by means of a one-way click lock and possible also heating.
In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a system, where the non-return valve piston comprises a first circular part connected to a second circular part with a smaller diameter than the first circular part, where a groove with side edges is positioned between the first circular part and the second circular part, where a conical seal is placed in the groove and where the side edges keep the conical seal in place.
Due to the flow velocity at this position of the filler adapter the use of an ordinary O-ring is not an option since the O-ring will be blown away. Therefore, the said side edges are necessary to keep the seal in place ensuring a sealing point between the conical seal and the filling pipe. In this arrangement the sealing is protected from gas flow going under the seal and thereby taking it out of its seat.
In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a system, where the activation shaft is configured to be connected to the second end of the filler adapter; that the activation shaft comprises a first end and a second end, at least one gas connection is provided between said first end and said second end, where the first end includes a protruding part configured to engage with the adapter non-return valve.
The activation shaft makes it possible to operate the filler adapter and through the actuator pin open the non-return valve in both the filler adapter and in the VIPR valve.

Drawing

The invention will be described in further details below by means of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1: shows a prior art unit on a gas cylinder,
Fig. 2: shows a prior art filler adapter,
Fig. 3: shows a VIPR valve in various views,
Fig. 4: shows a filler adapter according to the invention,
Fig. 5: shows the VIPR valve with the filler adapter,
Fig. 6-10: shows the VIPR valve with the filler adapter in the different process steps.

In the drawing, the following reference numerals have been used for the designations used in the detailed part of the description:

1: Unit
2: Gas cylinder, Pressure cylinder
3: Flow regulation
4: Protection device
5: Flow outlet
6: Discharge connection
7: Manometer
8: Handwheel shutoff
9: Filler adapter
10: Adapter non-return valve
11: Valve with integrated pressure regulator, VIPR valve
12: First end, Filler adapter
13: Second end, Filler adapter
14: Gas connection, Filler adapter
15: Activation shaft
16: Spring
17: Actuator pin
18: VIPR non-return valve
19: Outer part, Filler adapter
20: Universal holder, Filler adapter
21: Handling means, Universal holder
22: Filling pipe
23: Thread, Filling pipe
24: Thread, VIPR valve
25: Second bore, Filling pipe
26: First sealing, configured to seal against an activation shaft
27: Sealing shaft
28: Second sealing, configured for sealing towards the VIPR valve
29: Third sealing, between the filling pipe and the sealing shaft
30: Screw
31: First end, actuator pin
32: Second end, actuator pin
33: Non-return valve piston, Filler adapter
34: Recess
35: Hole
36: One-way connection means
37: First circular part, Non-return valve piston
38: Second circular part, Non-return valve piston
39: Groove, Non-return valve piston
40: Side edge, Non-return valve piston
41: Conical seal, Non-return valve piston
42: First end, Activation shaft
43: Second end, Activation shaft
44: Gas connection, Activation shaft
45: First bore, Filler adapter
46: Activation device
47: Access to gas cylinder
48: Main shut off valve
49: Protruding part, Activation shaft

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 shows a unit 1 on a gas cylinder 2 with a flow regulation 3, protection device 4, flow outlet 5, discharge connection 6, manometer 7 and handwheel shutoff 8.
Fig. 2 shows a filler adapter 9 with a non-return valve 10 preventing the supplied gas from oozing from the gas cylinder again.
Fig. 3 shows a valve with integrated pressure regulator / VIPR valve 11 in various views.
Fig. 4 shows a filler adapter 9 for emptying and filling the pressure cylinder 2, where the medical gas filler adapter 9 has an integrated adapter non-return valve 10, where the filler adapter 9 has a first end 12 and a second end 13, and a gas connection 14 arranged between said first end 12 and said second end 13.

The adapter non-return valve 10 has a spring 16 and is thus spring-loaded toward a closed position in direction of the second end 13, which results in the gas connection 14 is then closed when the adapter non-return valve 10 is closed.
The adapter non-return valve 10 also comprises an actuator pin 17 which is displaceable in a first bore 45 in a sealing shaft 27, where the actuator pin has a first end 31 and a second end 32.
The filler adapter 9 further comprises an outer part 19 being a universal holder 20 with handling means 21, and an inner part being a filling pipe 22, where the filling pipe 22 at said first end 12 of the filler adapter 9 comprises an inner thread 23.
The filling pipe 22 has a second bore 25 provided with a first sealing 26.
The sealing shaft is removable fixed in the filling pipe 22, where the sealing shaft 27 at the first end 12 of the filler adapter 9 is provided with a second sealing 28, and where a third sealing 29 is provided between the filling pipe 22 and the sealing shaft 27.
The universal holder 20 and the filling pipe 22 are connected with a screw 30 being arranged in radially orientated bores in said universal holder 20 and said filling pipe 22, and that said screw 30 also is used for fixating of the shaft 27 in said filling pipe 22.
The actuator pin 17 is fixedly connected by means of one-way connection means 36 to a hole 35 in the non-return valve piston 33 and the spring 16 is arranged between the moveable non-return piston valve 33 and a recess 34 in the fixed shaft 27.
The non-return valve piston 33 has a first circular part 37 connected to a second circular part 38 with a smaller diameter than the first circular part 37, where a groove 39 with side edges 40 is positioned between the first circular part 37 and the second circular part 38, where a conical seal 41 is placed in the groove 39 and where the side edges 40 keeps the conical seal 41 in place.
The non-return valve 10 in the filler adapter 9 is unique in the sense it can withstand the many different pressures, flow and temperatures it sees. It starts with the massive supersonic speed of gas passing over the conical seal 41 when blowing down the cylinder 2. In this process it gets very cold. Next step is the vacuum and then finally positive gas flowing in the other direction into the cylinder 2 until 200 or 300 bar is achieved. In all these cases it has to close fully and be absolutely leak tight both under vacuum or under high pressure. The small metal, side edges 40 that goes over the conical seal 41 protects it from going loose. A normal o-ring will just blow away here. In this arrangement it is protected from gas flow going under the conical seal 41 and thereby taking it out of its seat or groove 39.
Fig. 5 shows the VIPR valve 11 with a VIPR non-return valve 18 and the filler adapter 9, where the filler adapter 9 comprises an inner thread 23 configured to be connected to an outer thread 24 on the VIPR valve 11.
This is the beginning. VIPR valve 11 arrives for filling placed on a cylinder 2 as shown in figure 1. The cylinder 2 can be in different situations. Cylinder 2 filled with 200 or 300 bar. Cylinder 2 half empty between 300 to 0 bar, or complete empty. The filler adapter 9 is not mounted.
Figs. 6-10 show the VIPR valve 11 with the medical gas filler adapter 9 and an activation shaft 15 in the different process steps.
The figures show the most important segments of the system including pressure cylinder valve with integrated pressure regulator (VIPR) 11 having a VIPR non-return valve 18 and comprising an activation shaft 15 and a medical gas filler adapter 9, where the medical gas filler adapter 9 has an integrated adapter non-return valve 10 for use in filling and testing VIPR valve 11, where the filler adapter 9 comprises a first end 12 and a second end 13, where the first end 12 is configured to be connected to the VIPR valve 11 and the second end 13 is configured to be connected to the activation shaft 15 that is able to open the adapter non-return valve 10; where the adapter non-return valve 10 via a spring 16 is spring-loaded toward a closed position in direction of the second end 13, where the adapter non-return valve 10 comprises an actuator pin 17 configured to activate the VIPR non-return valve 18.
The figures further show that the activation shaft 15 comprises a first end 42 with a protruding part 49 and a second end 43, where a gas connection 44 is arranged between said first end 42 and said second end 43.
On figure 6 an activation device 46 is shown where the meaning of motor includes means for handling, rotating and what is otherwise necessary for handling, moving and operating the activation shaft 15.

The complete process for filling cylinders is:

The filler adapter 9 is mounted on the thread 24 on the VIPR valve 11. The thread 24 can be of many different types, depending on which standard is used in which country. The filler adapter 9, which also has a thread 23, is screwed on and the O-ring 28 makes it a leak tight seal. The filler adapter 9 comprises an outside universal holder 20 with a number of internal parts like the filling pipe 22 with thread 23 which fits the individual gas cylinder 2.
In fig. 6 the main shut off valve 48 is closed, the VIPR non-return valve 18 is closed, the adapter non-return valve 10 is closed and the activation shaft 15 is out.
The figure further shows that the activation shaft 15 is connected with an activation device 46.
Fig. 6 further shows the access to gas cylinder 47 and the main shut off valve 48.
In fig. 7 the main shut off valve 48 is closed, the VIPR non-return valve 18 is closed, the adapter non-return valve 10 is closed and the activation shaft 15 is inside the filler adapter 9.
The activation shaft 15 is now moved forward and has a gastight seal 26.
In fig. 8 the main shut off valve 48 is closed, the VIPR non-return valve 18 is now open, the adapter non-return valve 10 is open and the activation shaft 15 has activated the VIPR non-return valve 18.
Activation shaft 15 moves forward and opens the adapter non-return valve 10, and that again leads to opening of the VIPR non-return valve 18. There is now open into the valve. The valve is still closed at the main shut off valve 48 down to the cylinder 2 by the access to gas cylinder 47. Any trapped gas inside the valve will now just come out.
In fig. 9 the main shut off valve 48 is open, the VIPR non-return valve 18 is open, the adapter non-return valve 10 is open because the activation shaft 15 has activated the adapter non-return valve 10.
The main shut off valve 48 is opened. Therefore there is open to the cylinder 2 through the access to the gas cylinder 47. If 200 or 300 bar gas is in the cylinder, there will be a huge flow of gas through the filler adapter 9 to the outside.
The conical seal 41 will be very exposed. The unique design of non-return valve piston 33 and conical seal 41 is preventing the conical seal 41 to get dislocated or damaged. The speed in the beginning is much higher than to the end, because the cylinder pressure drops during emptying. The temperature gets very low and ice can occur.
The next operation is the vacuum operation. Cylinder 2 will be completely emptied and this is done with a vacuum pump. That will remove any impurities or moisture that is prohibited for medical gases.
The actual filling can now start. 200 or 300 bar gas now starts to flow into the cylinder 2. The cylinder 2 and valve get very warm, up to 65 deg. C is allowed. The amount of gas is measured either by pressure and temperature or by means of a mass flowmeter instrument. The gases that are filled are a mixture of O2 and N2O, pure O2, pure N2O, O2 and CO2 mixture. There are 14 different medical gases, defined in standards. Common for all of them, they have to be extremely clean.
In any situation from positive pressure or vacuum in the cylinder 2 and with main shut off valve 48 opened the positive pressure or vacuum will remain in the cylinder. An absolutely leak tight second sealing 28 is achieved in the filler adapter 9. This is very useful in an automation application, because this means that the cylinder can be moved from station to station without losing the condition in the cylinder.
In fig. 8 the main shut off valve 48 is closed, the VIPR non-return valve 18 is now open, the adapter non-return valve 10 is open and the activation shaft 15 has activated the VIPR non-return valve 18.
Main shut off valve 48 is now closed. The cylinder contains 200 or 300 bar.

Post medical checks

Post medical checks starts now and hereby leak check. Requirements are typical 6 ccm/hour for main shut off valve 48 and non-return valve in filling port 18. There are different known methods of testing leakage, either by pressure increase or pressure decrease in a closed chamber. Also a flow instrument that can measure micro flow is sometimes used.
In fig. 8 the main shut off valve 48 is closed, the VIPR non-return valve 18 is now open, the adapter non-return valve 10 is open and the activation shaft 15 has activated the VIPR non-return valve 18.
The valve and filler adapter 9 are in this situation when leak is measured on the main shut off valve 48. A pressure increase or pressure drop are measured. Because the volume is known, calculating the leak rate in ccm/time is possible. The leak measured now is the leak over the main shut off valve 48. Here the requirement is different but in the range of 1-6 ccm/hour.
In fig. 10 the main shut off valve 48 is open, the VIPR non-return valve 18 is closed, the adapter non-return valve 10 is still open because the activation shaft 15 is still activating the actuator pin 17, but the activation shaft 15 is on its way out the filler adapter 9.
Main shut off valve 48 is now closed. Activation shaft 15 moves forward to open non-return valve 10 in the filler adapter 9. The activation shaft 15 is not moved so much that it will open non-return valve 10, because leakage has to be measured on VIPR non-return valve 18. Leakage is possible too on VIPR non-return valve, because there is full cylinder pressure behind VIPR non-return valve, because there is open to the cylinder 2 over the main shut off valve 48. The leak requirement is typical between 1-6 ccm/hour.
Another benefit of the filler adapter 9 is that it can be used for many different VIPR valves 11. The VIPR non-return valve 18 in the VIPR 11 has a pin, and the length of the pin is very different in the market. The actuator pin 17 can be moved in different length by means of an activation device 46 and thereby open the VIPR non-return valve 18 in different length without damaging the non-return valve in the VIPR. The solutions today in the market has a fixed pin and can only be used for one type of VIPR valves 11.

Claims

System including pressure cylinder valve with integrated pressure regulator (VIPR) (11) having a VIPR non-return valve (18) and comprising an activation shaft (15) and a medical gas filler adapter (9) for emptying and filling the pressure cylinder (2), where said medical gas filler adapter (9) comprises an integrated adapter non-return valve (10) for use in filling and testing VIPR valve (11), and a first end (12) and a second end (13), wherein at least one gas connection (14) is arranged between said first end (12) and said second end (13), characterized in that, the first end (12) is configured to be connected to the VIPR valve (11) and the second end (13) is configured to be connected to the activation shaft (15) that is able to open the adapter non-return valve (10); where the adapter non-return valve (10) via a spring (16) is spring-loaded toward a closed position in direction of the second end (13), whereby the at least one gas connection (14) is closed when the adapter non-return valve (10) is closed that the adapter non-return valve (10) comprises an actuator pin (17) configured to activate said VIPR non-return valve (18) and where the actuator pin (17) is configured to be moved in different length by means of said activation shaft (15).
System according to claim 1, characterized in that the activation shaft (15) is connected with an activation device (46).
System according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the medical gas filler adapter (9) comprises an outer part (19) being a universal holder (20) with handling means (21), and an inner part being a filling pipe (22), that said filling pipe (22) at said first end (12) of the medical gas filler adapter (9) comprises an inner thread (23) configured to be connected to an outer thread (24) on said VIPR valve (11).
System according to claim 3, characterized in that where the filling pipe (22) comprises a second bore (25) which is configured for receiving said activation shaft (15), wherein the second bore (25) is provided with a first sealing (26), preferably an O-ring, configured to seal against said activation shaft (15) .
System according to any of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that the filler adapter (9) comprises a shaft (27) configured for sealing against the VIPR valve (11), that said shaft (27) is removable fixed in the filling pipe (22), that the shaft (27) at the first end (12) of the filler adapter (9) is provided with a second sealing (28), e.g. an O-ring, and that a third sealing (29), e.g. an O-ring is provided between the filling pipe (22) and the sealing shaft (27).
System according to claim 5, characterized in that the universal holder (20) and the filling pipe (22) are connected with a screw (30) being arranged in radially orientated bores in said universal holder (20) and said filling pipe (22), and that said screw (30) also is used for fixating of the shaft (27) in said filling pipe (22).
System according to any of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that a first bore (45) for the actuator pin (17) is provided within the shaft (27), that the actuator pin (17) at a first end (31) of the actuator pin (17) is configured to activate the VIPR non-return valve (18) in the VIPR (11) and at a second end (32) of the actuator pin (17) said actuator pin (17) is fixedly connected to a non-return valve piston (33), that said spring (16) is arranged between the moveable non-return piston valve (33) and a recess (34) in the fixed shaft (27).
System according to claim 7, characterized in that the actuator pin (17) is fixedly connected to a hole (35) in the non-return valve piston (33).
System according to any of the claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the non-return valve piston (33) comprises a first circular part (37) connected to a second circular part (38) with a smaller diameter than the first circular part (37), where a groove (39) with side edges (40) is positioned between the first circular part (37) and the second circular part (38), where a conical seal (41) is placed in the groove (39) and where the side edges (40) keeps the conical seal (41) in place.
System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the activation shaft (15) is configured to be connected to the second end (13) of the filler adapter (9); that the activation shaft (15) comprises a first end (42) and a second end (43), at least one gas connection (44) is provided between said first end (42) and said second end (43), where the first end (42) includes a protruding part (49) configured to engage with the adapter non-return valve (10).