FR2803366A1 - Container e.g. gas cylinder has protective cap with pommel which can be set in fixed or rotary positions - Google Patents

Abstract

The container, especially a gas cylinder (1) fitted with a tap or pressure relief valve (2) at least partly covered by a protective cap (3) with a fixed wall (31). The cap is fitted with a pommel (4) to facilitate manipulation of the cylinder, the pommel being movable between fixed and free positions, in the latter being able to rotate relative to the cylinder or fixed wall. The pommel is moved in an axial direction towards or away from the body of the cylinder, with meshing teeth (6, 7) to prevent it from rotating in the fixed position, and a groove (50) and peg (51) limiting its relative movement.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid container, in particular a gas bottle, comprising a container body, preferably elongate, on which is mounted a valve block or valve / pressure regulator protected by a protective cover movable handle.

Usually, the pressurized gas cylinders are equipped with either a valve block or an integrated block combining valve and expander, that is to say a block valve / expander.

When the gas cylinder is equipped with a valve block, it is necessary to connect, downstream of this block, an expansion valve, so as to be able to adjust or adjust the gas pressure desired, that is to say an expansion of the pressurized gas leaving the bottle to a desired lower pressure.

However, the fact of having to connect the valve block <B> to an expansion valve has several disadvantages, including the related disadvantages of assembly / disassembly operations.

Also, it has been proposed recently, particularly in the medical field, combined valve / expander assemblies connectable directly at least one low pressure use circuit. Such an assembly is described in document EP-A-629937 in which the actuation of the insulation valve is ensured by the displacement of a subassembly incorporating a flow control device and a pre-set expansion valve, or in the EP-A-747796.

Other examples of valve blocks or valve / regulator blocks are also described in DE-A-3441348, EP-A-275242, LU-A-86802, EP-A-443283, EP-A-308875 and A-467769.

In particular, document EP-A-747796 proposes an improved valve / expander unit, of particularly robust and compact design allowing its integration into a suitable protective cover, offering improved ergonomics and safety and suitable <B> to </ B > many applications, particularly in the field of welding. To do this, at least the high pressure and low pressure portions of the first gas circuit of this valve / expander block are formed in a body having a base for <B> to </ B> be mounted on the gas cylinder, and l assembly comprises means for actuating the isolation valve mounted on the body and movable between an open position and a closed position.

In addition, this document also recommends inserting the block valve / pressure reducer <B> to </ B> inside a protective cover also mounted on the bottle and handling cap cap of the latter.

Preferably, the valve block / expander is fully housed in the cowling which has access lights to the various inputs and outputs of the block, <B> to </ B> know the valves for emptying and / or filling the bottle of gas, as well as to the various control elements of the gas inlets and outlets, in particular the flow and the pressure of the gas, and that to the measuring instruments, <B> to </ B> know the manometer (s) .

Indeed, it is particularly recommended to protect a tap or valve / regulator block with a protection cover, so as to avoid any deterioration of the fragile parts of this block, in particular manometers and actuators mounted on this block, in case of shocks on the block or in case of drop of the bottle on the ground for example.

The protective cowls may take a number of different forms. Thus, certain cowlings are of the open type, that is to say that they comprise one or more openings arranged laterally or on the top to allow access to the maneuver and / or manometers of the block.

Thus, the cowling described in EP-A-747796 comprises a peripheral wall having an approximately cylindrical or bulging shape and pierced with several accesses, the peripheral wall being capped with a protective cover closing the top of the cowling Other bottles gas are provided with a firm but removable cover to allow <B> to </ B> the operator to access the internal organs.

However, although the presence of a protective cowling has advantages, some bottles are not equipped.

Moreover, as mentioned above, the control members carried by the valve block or valve / regulator fitted to the gas cylinder must be easily maneuvered by the operator, in particular the adjustment or adjustment members of the flow and / or the pressure of the gas leaving the bottle.

However, since these are located under the protective cowling, when the bottle is equipped with such a cowling, their maneuver is not always easy despite the presence of openings or other accesses arranged in the walls of the cowling as explained above, in particular, when the adjustment member is coaxial <B> to </ B> the bottle and that the cowling is of the closed type, as described for example in EP-A-747796.

However, enclosures of at least partially closed type are particularly preferred because they not only effectively protect the fragile members of the block, but also they can be provided, as mentioned above, a handling knob carried by their cover.

In fact, this handling knob is very useful for the operators who handle the bottles, for example at the packaging or bottle storage sites or during the loading and unloading operations of the bottles.

More specifically, the pommel manipulation avoids operators to wear bottles that are often very heavy, allowing them to roll on the ground in an inclined position and being maintained using the pommel.

It follows that the problem is to be able to easily access the various actuators and adjusting a valve block <B> or </ B> valve / regulator fitted to a bottle and protected by a protective cover, despite the presence of a protective cowl on said bottle, in particular a closed or partially closed type cowling which tends to make access to said adjustment members difficult, without disassembling the cowling.

In addition, another problem that arises is to improve the handling by the operators of the gas cylinders, in particular on the packaging and filling sites of bottles or on the storage sites.

In summary, the present invention aims to improve the ease of handling and maneuvering, both gas cylinders that taps <B> or </ B> valves / regulators equipping these bottles of </ B> B> <I> f </ I> </ B> when these gas cylinders are equipped with protective covers surrounding the valve block <B> or </ B> valve / regulator.

The invention then relates to a fluid container, in particular a gas bottle, comprising a container body on which are mounted a valve block or a valve / expander block and a protective cover comprising at least one fixed partition surrounding at least one part of said valve block or valve block / expander, said protective casing further carrying a handle, characterized in that the axial position of said handle is modifiable or adjustable by the operator between several positions in one at least said positions, the knob being free and / or mobile at least in rotation relative to the container body and / or <B> to </ B> the fixed partition.

As the case may be, the receptacle of the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics: adjustment of the position of the handle by action of the operator is achieved at least axial displacement of said knob when moving towards or away from the container body, the axial displacement is preferably a translation displacement.

<B> - </ B> in at least a first axial position, the pommel free and mobile in rotation relatively to the fixed partition and, in at least a second axial position, pommel is fixed, preferably the pommel is fixed and secured to the fixed partition.

manipulating knob comprises fastening means and the fixed partition comprises connection means, said fastening means being capable of cooperating with said connecting means in a manner <B> to </ B> allowing a securing of the handling knob <B > to </ B> the fixed partition.

means for fixing the manipulating knob comprise a first toothed portion carried said manipulation knob and the connection means comprise a second toothed portion carried the fixed partition of the cowling, said first toothed portion being engageable with said second toothed portion to allow a fastening from the handle <B> to </ B> the fixed partition, preferably said first toothed portion is arranged <B> to </ B> inside the pommel and the second toothed portion is arranged <B> to </ B> inside the fixed partition.

<B> - </ B> the valve block or valve / regulator block comprises at least one control member operable in rotation to control and / or to adjust the flow rate and / or the pressure of the fluid flowing in the valve block or valve block / Expander, and the manipulating knob can occupy at least a third position in which the knob is movable in rotation relatively to the fixed partition, said knob cooperating with the control member in a <B> manner. to </ B> allow a simultaneous rotational movement of said knob and said control member in response <B> to </ B> a rotation actuation of said knob by the operator.

<B> - </ B> the handle is at least partially hollow and has an inner wall and the control member comprises a rotating handwheel having an outer peripheral wall, said inner wall of the handgrip cooperating with the peripheral wall external (24) of said flywheel <B> (23), </ B> when the knob is in said third position, preferably said inner wall of the handle and said outer peripheral wall of said flywheel have structures at least partially complementary, one of the other, including polygonal structures.

<B> - </ B> it is equipped with a valve / regulator block and the control member controls the adjustment or the adjustment of the pressure of the fluid passing through the valve / regulator block.

<B> - </ B> the manipulating knob is movable by the operator between at least the following axial positions <B>: </ B> <B>. </ B> a first position in which the pommel is movable in rotation relatively <B> to </ B> the fixed and uncoupled partition of the control member of the valve block or the tap / expander block, a second position in which the pommel is fixed integral with the fixed partition, and a third position in which the knob cooperates with the control member of the valve block or the valve block <B> / </ B> regulator being coupled to said control member so as <B> to </ B> allow a simultaneous rotational movement said knob and said control member responsive <B> to </ B> a rotation actuation of said knob by the operator, which positions are independent of each other and the movement of the pommel can be done between any said positions and any other of said positions.

The invention also relates to a protective cover forming a hollow protective structure that can equip a fluid container according to the invention, said casing comprising having a lower part, an upper part and an intermediate part <B>; </ B> said lower part comprising at least one attachment base <B> to </ B> a fluid container <B>; </ B> said intermediate part comprising at least one fixed partition carried by said base <B>; </ B> said upper part comprising a handling knob, characterized in that the axial position of said manipulating knob is modifiable or adjustable by the operator between several positions, in at least one of said positions, the knob being free and / or movable in rotation relatively <B> to </ B> the fixed partition and / or <B> to </ B> said base.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of embodiment given <B> to </ B> illustrative but not limiting, made in connection with the accompanying figures.

The <B> f </ B> igures <B> 1 to </ B> 4 represent <B> 1 '</ B> prior art as described in EP-A-747796, while the figure <B > 5 </ B> is an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional view of a valve / expansion valve unit 2 mounted in position on a gas cylinder 1. in EP-A-747796.

More specifically, this block 2 forms a compact valve / expander 2 essentially consisting of a metal body 201 having a lower end profiled mounting base 202 and on which are reported a control lever 204, a connection <B> 203 < Filling, pressure gauges <B> 205 </ B> and <B> 206 </ B> high pressure low pressure.

body 201 is made, for example brass, internally defines a utilization circuit <B> 207 </ B> consisting of a high pressure circuit portion comprising <B>: </ B> an upstream portion extending into the base substantially parallel to the axis of the latter, and opening into a transverse passage i ervant mounting the pressure gauge <B> 205 </ B> and communicating itself with a transverse passage <B> 209 </ B> opening itself into a floor bore receiving the isolation valve 208 and forming a seat for the latter as shown in Figure 2.

In addition, the circuit portion downstream of the seat of the stepped bore communicates, through a transverse passage 210, with a stepped cylindrical chamber opening outwardly of the body 201 through an enlarged diameter opening in which the end is mounted. annular regulator housing.

 Being in permanent communication with the storage volume in the bottle, the high-pressure manometer <B> 205 </ B> also ensures the function of filling gauge of the bottle <B> 1. </ B>

In the reduced diameter portion of the chamber is mounted a unitary subassembly comprising a tubular cage housing a valve 21 and regulating a seat for the latter.

The valve comprises a front rod portion extending beyond the seat and capable of cooperating with the front face of a regulator piston sliding in the body and the housing being biased in the direction towards the cage by a spring rear support on a cup and whose force is adjustable by moving the cup by means of a threaded rod mounted in the housing and manually operable by a button or a steering wheel <B> 230 </ B>.

The axis of the valve and the regulator piston is substantially orthogonal to the axis of the mounting base. The low pressure chamber in front of the piston opens outward from the body <B> to the opposite of the regulator button, through an outlet passage which extends into the body parallel to <B> to </ B> the axis of the valve and the piston in the vicinity of the upper end of the latter, and in which is mounted the outlet connection, and a transverse passage orthogonal to the outlet passage, substantially <B> to </ B> in line with the passage, and in which is mounted the pressure gauge <B> 206 </ B> thus arranged in the vertical alignment of the manometer <B> 205. </ B>

The block valve 2 <B> / </ B> regulator is fully integrated in a cowling <B> 3 </ B> forming a bottle cap, whose contours are shown in Figure 4.

The cowling / hat 4 consists essentially of a base mounted on the neck of the bottle <B> 1 </ B> around the base <B> 35 </ B> and on which is fixed, typically by tie rods vertical, an upper portion in the form of a shell housing most of the valve / regulator 2, and comprising a side portion and an upper head-shaped 4 for handling the bottle, in particular by rolling on the ground. The side walls of the intermediate portion <B> 39 </ B> have a number of cutouts or recesses to allow access to the fittings, actuators and manometers A longitudinal slot allows free movement between its positions opening and closing, the lever which is normally housed, in the closed position in the cowling 2.

At least the upper part of the cowling made of a technical plastic material.

In <B> d </ B> other terms, the protective casing forms a hollow structure <B> 36 </ B> of protection that can encompass block 2 valve / regulator.

Protective shroud <B> 3 </ B> includes a lower part <B> 37 </ B> with a <B> 35 </ B> mounting flange <B> to a part </ B> bottle Intermediate <B> 39 </ B> comprising a fixed partition carried by said base <B> 35, </ B> and an upper portion <B> 38 </ B> formed by a cover carrying handle 4.

Until now, the present invention is fundamentally different from the prior art shown in FIG. 1 - 4.

However, according to the invention, the handle 4 is movable by the operator between several positions, <B> to </ B> know <B>: </ B> first position in which the knob 4 is relatively rotatable <B> to </ B> the fixed partition while being decoupled from the control member 22 of the valve block or the valve block / pressure reducer 2, so as to facilitate the operations of handling and handling of the bottle, in particular the rolling on the floor of the bottle, after inclination thereof by the operator, <B> - </ B> a second position in which the pommel is fixed and secured to the fixed partition <B> 31, </ B that is to say that, in this position, the knob 4 can not rotate, and a third position in which the knob cooperates with the control member 22 of the block valve or valve block / regulator 2 being coupled to said control member 22, so <B> to </ B> allow a displacement simultaneous rotation of said knob 4 and said control member 22 in response <B> to </ B> an actuation in rotation of said knob 4 by the operator. This position allows <B> to </ B> the operator to maneuver the control member 22 through manipulation (rotational movement) of the knob 4, that is to say that the knob 4 and the control member 22 rotate one at the same time as the other, which avoids <B> to </ B> the operator to have <B> to </ B> introduce the hand <B> to </ B> inside the cowling and thus greatly facilitates the manipulation of the control members of the block 2, in particular of the gas pressure control wheel.

In other words, according to the invention, the bottle <B> 1 </ B> is equipped with a regulator block 2 and a cap <B> 3, </ B> this cap <B> 3 < / B> including <B>: </ B> <B> - </ B> a body <B> 37, 38, 39 </ B> which is screwed and fixed on the bottle <B> 1, </ B and a knob 4 which is connected, in rotation, with a nut or flywheel 23 by a hexagonal imprint 24. This nut <B> 23 </ B> is the regulator of the downstream pressure of the pressure reducer block. The axial translation of the knob 4, from one position <B> to </ B> another, is possible thanks to <B> to </ B> a groove <B> 50 </ B> and limited by a pin <B > 51. </ B>

In the low position the knob is locked in rotation, the toothed sector <B> 6 </ B> is meshed with the sector <B> 7 </ B> and the knob 4 is fixed. In this position, the trigger pressure is not adjustable and the operator uses the knob 4 for the movements of the bottle <B> 1. </ B>

By pulling the knob 4 upwards (in the direction of the arrow F), the latter becomes free in rotation relative to the body of the cowling <B> 3, </ B> since the toothed sector <B> 6 </ B> the knob 4 is no longer in mesh with the <B> 7 </ B> of the casing body <B> 3. </ B> Through the flywheel nut <B> 23 </ B> manipulation, turning the knob 4, the operator can adjust the trigger pressure via the control member 22.

The high and low positions can be preselected by a <B> ball <B> or </ B> system by elastic deformation, for example.

Alternatively, in the low position the knob 4 can be completely free in rotation this facilitates the rolling of the bottle <B> 1 </ B> on the ground. In this case, gear <B> 6, 7 </ B> is replaced by a smooth bearing. The link expansion bar <B> / </ B> knob is then designed for the pommel disengages the screw in ition low (not shown).

Preferably, the knob 4 has the above-mentioned three positions <B>: </ B> <B> - </ B> in the down position, the two sectors <B> 6, 7 </ B> are toothed and the knob 4 is fixed <B>; </ B> <B> - </ B> in the intermediate position, the knob 4 is rotating, free to rotate, it does not drive the nut <B> 23 </ B> and the adjustment of the relaxed pressure is therefore impossible in the high position, by pulling the knob 4 upwards, it becomes linked in rotation with the nut <B> 23 </ B> and its rotation allows the adjustment of the regulator, so easy by the operator.

Maneuvers of the <B> 1 </ B> bottle on the floor are possible in the lower and middle positions of the knob 4.

Depending on the bottle sizes and specific needs, other combinations may be considered. The invention allows to associate <B>: </ B> <B> - </ B> the advantage of the closed cap, <B> to </ B> know a good protection the head of the bottle., And <B> - </ B> the advantage of the open cap, ie, no disassembly to access <B> to </ B> the actuator.

In addition the accessibility <B> to </ B> the maneuvering organ is facilitated comparatively <B> to </ B> an open hat, since hat edge no longer interferes.

The adjustment of the regulator and the bottle knob are made of the same piece from which a gain of space.

The -maneuver of the bottle is facilitated by the presence pommel that can be rotating or fixed.

This solution is presented with a valve / regulator block, but it can be extended to the bottles equipped with valve block.

All types of bottles are concerned and all gases that can <B> y </ B> be contained, as well as all possible medical applications, welding food <B> .... </ B>

Claims (1)

<U> Claim </ U> i C -;% 1- <U> i </ U> C% n -, <B> 1. </ B> Fluid container, particularly a bottle comprising a body of container <B> (1) </ B> on which are mounted a valve block or a valve / regulator block (2) a protective cover <B> (3) </ B> comprising at least one fixed partition <B > (31) </ B> surrounding at least a part of said valve block or valve block / expander (2) said protective cover <B> (3) </ B> carrying, further, a handle (4) , characterized in that the axial position of said manipulating knob (4) is modifiable or adjustable by the operator between several positions, in at least one of said positions, the knob (4) being free and / or mobile at least rotation relative to container body <B> (1) </ B> and / or <B> to <B> fixed partition <B> (31). </ B> 2. Container according to claim 1 , </ B> characterized in that the adjustment of the position of the manipulating knob (4) by action of the operator is realized at least by axial movement of said knob (4) towards or away from the container body <B> (1), </ B> preferably the axial displacement is a displacement in translation. <B> 3. </ B> Container according to one of claims <B> 1 </ B> or 2, characterized in that in at least a first axial position, the knob (4) is free and rotatable relatively <B> to </ B> the fixed partition <B> (31) </ B> and that, in at least a second axial position, the knob (4) is fixed preferably the knob (4) is Fixed and secured fixed partition <B> (31). </ B> 4. Container according to one of claims <B> 1 to 3, </ B> characterized in that the handle (4) comprises fastening means and the fixed partition <B> (31) </ B> comprises connection means, said fastening means being capable of cooperating with said connecting means, so as <B> to </ B> allow a fastening of the handle (4) the fixed partition <B> (31). </ B> <B> 5. </ B> The container according to one of the claims <B> 1 to </ B> 4, characterized in the fixing means of the handling knob (4) comprise a first part e toothed <B> (6) </ B> carried by said handle (4) and the connection means comprise a second toothed portion <B> (7) </ B> carried by the fixed partition <B> ( 31) </ B> of the cowl <B> (3), said first toothed portion <B> (6) </ B> engageable with said second toothed portion <B> (7) </ B> to enable the handling head (4) <B> to be fixed to the fixed partition <B> (31), </ B> preferably said first toothed portion <B> (6) </ B > is fitted <B> to </ B> inside the knob (4) and the second toothed part <B> (7) </ B> is fitted <B> to </ B> inside the fixed partition <B> (31). </ B> <B> 6. </ B> The container according to one of claims <B> 1 to 5, </ B> characterized in that the valve block <B> or < / B> valve block / expansion valve (2) comprises at least one control member (22) operable in rotation to control and / or to adjust the flow rate and / or the pressure of the fluid flowing in the valve block or valve block / expander ( 2) <B>, </ B> e in that the handgrip (4) can occupy at least a third position in which the knob (4) is rotatable relatively to the fixed partition <B> (31), </ b> B> said knob (4) cooperating with the control member (22), so <B> to </ B> allow a simultaneous rotational movement of said knob (4) and said control member (22) in response < B> to </ B> a rotation actuation of said knob (4) by the operator. <B> 7. </ B> Container according to one of claims <B> 1 to 6, </ B> characterized in that the knob (4) for handling is less partially hollow and has an inner wall (41) and in that the control member (22) comprises a rotating flywheel (B) having an outer peripheral wall (24), said inner wall (41) of the operating knob (4) cooperating with the outer peripheral wall (24) of said flywheel <B> (23), </ B> when the knob is in said third position, preferably said inner wall (41) of the handle (4) of manipulation and said outer peripheral wall ( 24) of said flywheel <B> (23) </ B> have at least partially complementary structures, one of the other, including polygonal structures. Container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is equipped with a valve / regulator block (2) and in which the control member (22) controls the setting or adjustment of the pressure of the fluid passing through the valve / expander block (2). <B> 9. </ B> Container according to one of claims <B> 1 to 8, </ B> characterized in that the handle (4) is movable by the operator between at least the axial positions following <B>: </ B> <B> - </ B> a first position in which the knob (4) is rotatable relatively <B> to </ B> the fixed partition <B> (31) < / B> and uncoupled from the control member (22) of the valve block or the valve block / expander (2), <B> - </ B> a second position in which the knob (4) is fixed and secured to the fixed partition <B> (31), </ B> and <B> - </ B> a third position in which the knob (4) cooperates with the control member (22) of the valve block or the tap block / expansion valve (2) being coupled to said control member (22), so as to <B> to </ B> allow a simultaneous rotational movement of said knob (4) and said control member (22) in response <B> at </ B> an actuation in rotation of said pommel (4) by the operator, which positio ns being independent of each other and the movement of the knob (4) can be between any of said positions and any other of said positions. <B> 10. </ B> Protection hood <B> (3) </ B> forming a hollow structure <B> (36) </ B> of protection capable of equipping a fluid container according to one of the claims <B> 1 to 9, <B> (3) </ B> including having a lower portion <B> (37), </ B> an upper portion and an intermediate portion <B> ( 39), <B> - </ B> said bottom portion <B> (3 </ B> comprising at least one base <B> (35) </ B> fixing <B> to </ B> a fluid container, <B> - </ B> said intermediate part <B> (39) </ B> comprising at least one fixed partition <B> (31) </ B> carried by said base <B > (35), </ B> said upper portion <B> (38) </ B> comprising a manipulating knob (4), characterized in that the axial position of said manipulating knob (4) is modifiable <B> or </ B> adjustable by the operator between several positions, in at least one of said positions, the knob (4) being free and / or mobile in rotation relatively <B> to </ B> the fixed partition <B > (31) </ B> and / or <B> at </ B> said base <B> (35). </ B>