FR2706052A1 - Regulator fitted with two internal safety devices, one prohibiting the intake of gas in the event of incorrect operation, the other being a fast-reaction valve - Google Patents

Abstract

Regulator for high pressure compressed gas for a gas bottle or for any other form of supply, fitted with two safety devices, one prohibiting pressurisation of the apparatus in the event of incorrect usage, the other allowing instantaneous venting of excess pressure in the part reserved for low pressure. The first consists of a flapper (3) fitted with two circular seals (5 and 6) each providing leaktightness in a chamber (25 and 20) allowing the compressed gas to be turned off when the operator has not complied with the operating rules. The second consists of a piston (10) including a peripheral seal (9), the whole sliding in the cover (11) and retracting into a housing (11a), clearing passages sized so as to vent any spurious excess pressure in the chamber (24). The regulator according to the invention is more particularly suitable for fitting to individual bottles used in industry or the medical sector.

Description

i

  The present invention relates to a high pressure regulator for compressed gas.

  meses, having valve and seat means for isolating the high pressure, means for adjusting and reading the pressures, means for connecting to cylinders of compressed high pressure gases, provided with two safety systems: - one prohibiting pressurizing the device if the adjustment means is not at rest at the time of the admission of the compressed gas, - the other makes it possible to quickly release an untimely overpressure which may occur during operation The regulators used in different Sectors of the industry are sometimes put in the hands of poorly trained users, which increases the risk of false operations, in particular that of leaving the means of adjustment in operation. Generally it is the screw for adjusting the operating pressure which remains screwed when the user closes the compressed gas inlet and disconnects the regulator from the gas source. The valve no longer having the action of the high pressure to be pressed against the seat, under the action of the adjustment screw remained

  tight, it is pushed back and frees the passage between the upstream and downstream of the seat.

  When resetting the regulator, if the user fails to loosen the adjustment screw, the high pressure will violently enter the low pressure chamber and a lot of damage may result, in addition the user may be exposed to serious dangers due to the possible bursting of certain parts of the regulator, when for example the safety valve

  security did not have time to react or if it is not present.

  It is therefore essential for safety: - on the one hand, to prohibit the entry of pressure into the device if it is used

is not respected.

  - on the other hand, to instantly release an untimely overpressure that can occur during

  during abnormal operation of the device.

  The object of the present invention is a regulator for high pressures, provided with two independent safety systems, which can therefore be mounted separately or together in

a regulator.

  The first consists in preventing the pressure build-up of the device if the operator has not

  completely loosened the adjustment screw.

  The second allows the instantaneous escape of a high overpressure in the part of

  the device reserved for relaxed pressure.

  According to the invention, a regulator for high pressures of compressed gas provided with two internal safety devices, comprises a suitable conduit, intended to be connected to a source of compressed gas, valve and seat means for isolating the high pressure, means for reading and adjusting the pressures, is characterized in that a first internal safety device, comprises means preventing the arrival of gas at the level of the seat, situated between the means of connection to the gas source and upstream of the seat / valve pair, said means being made active in the absence of pressure as soon as the regulator is disconnected from the gas source, combined with the adjustment means remaining in the active position, the latter pushing the valve away from the seat of the regulator. According to another characteristic, this safety device consists of a valve provided with two gaskets of strictly identical diameters, each sliding in separate chambers and located on either side of the high pressure supply duct, when said

  safety means are activated by lack of pressure.

  According to another characteristic, said safety means being active the gas comprising

  high pressure arrives between the two gaskets of strictly identical diameters, the surfaces subjected to the action of pressure are equal, the axial forces which result are of direction

  opposite and cancel each other out. There is no action on the movement of the valve.

  As the device is active, the regulator cannot be used. The device can only be deactivated if the maneuver which consists in closing the gas supply, removing the high

  pressure and position the adjustment means at rest is carried out.

  According to another characteristic, the regulator is provided with a second internal safety device having a piston means for discharging an untimely rise in pressure in the low pressure chamber located downstream of the seat / valve pair, said piston moves more or

  further away depending on the relaxed pressure applied to it.

  According to another characteristic, the second security system consists of a piston provided with a peripheral seal sealing with atmospheric pressure, if the relaxed pressure becomes excessive, the stroke of the piston is such that it frees calculated passages

  to relieve pressure instantly and this in complete safety for the user.

  According to another characteristic, the piston collaborates in two main functions, in addition to the safety system described above making it possible to evacuate an untimely rise in pressure, it is also the main means of regulating the pressure, this acting as a membrane , it moves and balances depending on the relaxed pressure and force

  consecutive axial opposite to the more or less tight position of the adjusting means.

  An embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a sectional view of the regulator assembly according to the invention and locating the

  position of the two security systems.

  - Figure 2 is a sectional view of the first security system in the active position.

  - Figure 3 is a sectional view of a traditional valve without a safety system.

  - Figure 4 is a sectional view of the second security system in the active position.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a regulator according to the invention in FIG. 1, comprises a duct (18) intended to be connected to a source of high pressure gas, this duct is connected by a thread to the body ( 1); a hole (17) connects the conduit (18) to a chamber (20) intended to receive the high pressure. In the upper part are provided 2 threaded holes (19a and 19b), receiving the low and high pressure reading means (15 and 16); in the upper central part of the body, the recess (20) at the bottom of which is the seat (15) in Figure 2, allows the high pressure valve (3), the pressure spring (4) and the threaded plug ( 2). In the zone opposite the duct (18) in Figure 1. there is provided in the body (1) a threaded recess (21), connected to the outlet duct (22), making it possible to mount an outlet fitting suitable for the user. The lower axial zone of the body (1) has a threaded part (23) allowing the connection of the pressure adjustment means

  of use, forming an expansion chamber (24), in which a piston (10) moves.

  On the piston (10), a seal (9) is placed in a groove, in order to isolate the

  pressure relaxed in the expansion chamber (24) relative to atmospheric pressure.

  On one side, the piston is supported on the detent spring (12), more or less compressed by the detent screw (14) itself resting on the washer (13), the assembly being made mobile by the rotation of wash (14) in the cover (11). The other. the piston (10) is supported on the

  pusher (7), communicating to it the axial force resulting from the compression of the spring (12).

  In normal operation, a balance is thus established between all these organs; the action of the pressure acting on the surface of the piston (10) resulting from the opening of the valve (3) and its

  gasket (16), relative to the seat (15) of the body (1).

  In the event that the user has not checked whether the adjustment screw (14) is in the loose position before opening the gas intake, the mobile assembly, consisting of the piston (10), the pusher (7) and valve (3), is under the only action of the compressed spring (12), that

  of the spring (4) being negligible, which has the effect of moving the valve (3) away from the seat (15).

  We imagine in this situation the risks resulting from a sudden arrival of high pressure passing directly from the chamber (20) into the chamber (24) and if the

  safety object of the invention is absent, as shown in Figure 3.

  To prohibit the entry of the pressure haunt into the situation described above. we

  note figure 2, the recess (25) formed in the threaded plug (2), of a diameter.

  identical to that of the housing (20) of the body (1). On the outside diameter of the valve (3), are

  arranged 2 grooves which allow the positioning of identical seals (5 and 6).

  In this way when the valve (3) is in a position remote from the seat (15), the seal (6) is positioned in the housing (25), the seal (5) is in the housing (20). The stroke of the valve (3) is limited by the bottom of the plug (2), so that the seal (5) does not come out of the housing (20). When the pressure arrives through the conduit (17) in FIG. 2, it is stopped by the seals (5 and 6), the force on each of them resulting from the high pressure is the same but in the opposite direction, the result is zero. The valve remains stationary. The user is obliged to shut off the gas source and loosen the trigger screw (14) if he wants to operate the device. It follows that the valve (3) resumes the position shown in Figure 1, the seal (6) is as it came out of the

  housing (25), which leaves a large passage area for high pressure.

  After reopening the intake, the compressed gas can arrive in the housing (25) in Figure 1, then in the orifices (26), these opening into the duct (27), itself in communication with the holes (28) connected to the chamber (20). The gas is stopped upstream of the

  seat (15), by lagarniture (16) of the valve (3).

  The description of the security system which has just been made is not limited to the form

  of execution shown, but embraces all variants situated within the framework of the claims

  tions. In particular the plug (2), may not exist, it may be part of the body (1). In this case, the valve (3) and the spring (4) could be introduced into the body (1) on the side of the seat (15), the latter could be screwed and seal in the same way

  than that produced by the plug (2).

  The second safety system allows, in the event of an untimely rise in high pressure in the chamber (24), for an abnormal cause, to release the pressure

  instantly and evacuate through the holes (1 lb) Figure 4, safe for the user.

  According to Figure 1 the piston (10) acting as a membrane is balanced between the force resulting from the compression of the spring (12) and the pressure of the gas expanded in the chamber (24). When this pressure becomes disproportionate to the action of the spring (12), it pushes the piston (10) Figure 4, in the housing (11a) of the cover (11), such that in this position, the seal (9) is located beyond the exhaust ports (11b). The total area of these

  orifices is calculated in such a way that the pressure in the chamber (24) remains very limited.

  The description of this security system is not limited to the mode represented in the

  Figures 1 and 4; variants in particular of shapes, corresponding to the claims

  would be included in the field of this invention.

Claims (4)

  1 -Regulator for high pressure compressed gas for individual gas cylinder, or for any other high pressure supply, having seat means (15) and valve (3) (Figure 1), provided with two safety systems, the one prohibiting the pressurization of the device in the event of improper implementation, the other making it possible to limit an untimely rise in the high pressure in the chamber (24), said regulator is characterized in that the first internal security device comprises a means preventing the arrival of gas on the seat (15), arranged between the gas source connection pipe (17) and the upstream of the seat (15) Figure 2, said security means being made active automatically, by the absence of pressure when the regulator is deactivated, combined with adjustment means which remained in the active position.   2 -Regulator according to claim 1, is characterized in that the first safety device consists of a valve (3) provided with 2 seals having their strictly identical diameters, which each slide in separate chambers (20) and (25) located on the side and other   the high pressure supply conduit (17) when said safety means is made active.   1s 3 -Regulator according to claims 1 and 2, is characterized in that the compressed gas   is routed between the 2 seals (5) and (6), by a provided conduit (17), the surfaces stressed by the pressure are equal, the resulting axial forces are in opposite directions, the action of the pressure on the valve is therefore zero, the device can only be reused if the maneuver which consists in closing the high pressure inlet, evacuating the gas located upstream of the valve and   put the adjusting means at rest, is carried out.   4 -Regulator according to claim 1, is characterized in that the second internal safety device, has a piston means (10) for releasing an untimely rise in pressure in the chamber (24). , located downstream of the seat (15) and valve (3) pair, said piston   moving more or less depending on the relaxed pressure applied to it.   5 -Regulator according to claim 4, is characterized in that the piston (10) has a peripheral seal (9) ensuring the seal with atmospheric pressure, when the pressure   relaxed becomes excessive, said piston has a stroke such that it moves in the recess (11a) of the cover (11), frees passages (11b) large enough to release the overpressure instantly and without danger to the user.30 6 -Regulator according to claims 4 and 5, is characterized in that the piston (10)   collaborates in two main functions of the regulator, in addition to the second security system making it possible to instantly relieve an untimely rise in pressure, the other being to act as a membrane, balancing the actions of the adjusting means (14) and the spring ( 12)   on one side and those of the relaxed pressure actions on the other. and of the action of the pusher (7).