FR3054639A1 - GAS DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas distribution assembly (1, 2, 3) comprising a protective casing (1) arranged around a valve block fixed to a gas container, the casing body (2) forming a shell protector defining an internal volume (15) receiving all or part of the valve block, characterized in that the body (2) cowling comprises a movable control element cooperating with at least one opening / closing member of the valve block to control the gas distribution by the valve block), for example a translational slider. Use of such a gas distribution assembly (1, 2) for storing or dispensing a gas or gas mixture

Description

Holder (s): AIR LIQUIDE, ANONYMOUS COMPANY FOR THE STUDY AND EXPLOITATION OF GEORGES CLAUDE PROCESSES Société anonyme.

Extension request (s)

Agent (s): AIR LIQUIDE.

* 54) GAS DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY.

FR 3 054 639 - A1 (57) The invention relates to a gas distribution assembly (1, 2, 3) comprising a protective cover (1) arranged around a valve block fixed to a gas container, the casing body (2) forming a protective shell defining an internal volume (15) receiving all or part of the valve block, characterized in that the casing body (2) comprises a movable control element cooperating with at least one opening / closing of the valve block to control the distribution of gas through the valve block), for example a translating slider. Use of such a gas distribution assembly (1, 2) for storing or distributing a gas or gas mixture

The present invention relates to a gas distribution assembly comprising a protective cover arranged around a valve block fixed to a gas container, such as a gas bottle, and a mobile control element cooperating with an opening / closing member. of the valve block to control the distribution of gas, in particular medical gas.

Industrial and medical gases are packaged in gas containers, typically cylinders or gas cylinders, equipped with a valve block, with or without an integrated regulator, i.e. a simple valve of the open / closed type or a valve with integrated regulator , also called RDI, to control the flow and pressure of the gas delivered.

In order to protect this valve block, more simply called "valve", it is common to arrange, at the level of the neck of the gas bottle and around the valve, a protective cover forming a protective shell around the valve. The cowlings are also called "caps", "shells" or even "cap". Examples of such covers fitted to gas containers are described by documents EP-A-629812, DE-A-10057469, US-A-2004/020793, EPA-2586481, EP-A-2918893 and WO-A-2015 / 132092.

The problem that arises is that the protective cowling hinders the operation of the valve block control members, in particular the opening / closing member, also called 'on / off' (for 'open / closed') and this discomfort is all the greater for the user that the cowling is "closed", that is to say the more its wall includes the valve block.

However, allowing easy operation of the valve block control member (s) is essential since being able to open the valve, that is to say allowing the passage of gas, quickly and easily is essential in certain circumstances, especially when it is a medical gas and the user of the gas cylinder is nursing staff, such as a doctor or the like, acting in a life-threatening or other emergency.

The present invention therefore aims to solve this problem by proposing an improved gas distribution assembly allowing a user to quickly and easily control the valve to allow the passage of gas or, conversely, stop its distribution when the gas does not is no longer necessary.

The solution of the invention is a gas distribution assembly comprising a protective cover arranged around a valve block fixed to a gas container, the cover body forming a protective shell delimiting an internal volume receiving all or part of said block valve, characterized in that the cover body comprises a movable control element cooperating with at least one member for opening / closing the valve block to control the distribution of gas by said valve block.

Depending on the case, the gas distribution assembly of the invention may include one or more of the following technical characteristics:

- The control element is movable in translation or in pivoting relative to the protective cover, preferably movable in translation.

- The control element is movable in translation within a guide opening made in the wall of the cowling body, that is to say that the guide opening crosses the wall of the cowling.

- the control element is guided by edges of the guide opening when it is moved in translation in said guide opening.

- the control element is guided by edges facing the guide opening when it is moved in translation in said guide opening, preferably two parallel or almost parallel edges.

- The guide opening is generally oblong, that is to say elongated.

- The guide opening is generally oblong and includes two facing edges, preferably parallel or almost parallel.

- the guide opening is generally rectangular.

- the control element including:

. at least two walls, preferably parallel, spaced from each other or an upper wall and one or more elastically deformable secondary walls with free end arranged opposite the upper wall while being spaced from said upper wall , so as to sandwich the edges of the casing body bordering the guide opening,. an operating member allowing a user to grasp and operate the control element, and. one or more activation members configured to cooperate with said at least one opening / closing member of said valve block.

- the control element is a translative cursor or the like.

- the control element is made of polymer material, preferably it is molded in one piece.

- the control element is made of polymer material such as PVC, PE, PET, PP, PMMA, PU, PA ... or metallic material, for example cast aluminum or aluminum alloy.

- the valve block opening / closing member is a translational slider, i.e. of the "drawer" type, or rotary, i.e. of the "cam" type.

- the cowling body comprises two half-shells joined to one another so as to form the protective shell delimiting the internal volume, at least one of the half-hulls comprising at least part of the guide opening.

- each half-shell has a part of the guide opening.

- alternatively, a half-shell has the guide opening.

- According to another embodiment, the casing body is formed of a single shell within which the guide opening is made.

- the two half-shells have a generally symmetrical or quasi-symmetrical shape.

- The cowling body comprises a collar-shaped base, that is to say in the form of a ring or sleeve, configured to allow the fixing of the cowling on a gas container, in particular around the neck of a gas cylinder.

- the collar-forming base has a circular section.

- The casing body comprises at least two half-shells are held integral with one another by fixing elements, in particular screws or bolts coming to be screwed into threaded housings, making it possible to fix the two half-shells shells to each other.

- the cover body is made of polymer, i.e. plastic.

- the two half-shells come to take the “sandwich” valve block, that is to say enclose the neck of the container in the manner of the jaws of a vice.

- The valve block comprises at least one blind hole opening onto its external peripheral surface.

- The cowling body carries on its internal wall at least one projecting finger projecting into said internal volume, said at least one projecting finger being received in said at least one blind hole when the protective cowling is arranged around the block valve so as to ensure correct positioning, that is to say easy and correct, of the protective cover relative to the valve block.

- The cover body includes several projecting fingers projecting into the internal volume.

- The valve block includes several blind holes opening onto its external peripheral surface, and in which are housed several fingers projecting from the casing body.

- the valve block is made of metal or a metal alloy, preferably brass or stainless steel, or a combination of the two.

- the cowling comprises, in addition, on its internal surface, one or more additional wall expansions coming to bear on the peripheral surface of the valve block and / or at least two additional wall expansions coming to fit one into the other, preferably forming a male / female connection.

the cowling preferably comprises several additional wall expansions coming to bear on the peripheral surface of the valve block and at least two additional wall expansions coming to fit one into the other.

the casing body comprises a hooking device pivoting between several angular positions comprising a rest position in which the hooking device is folded in contact or almost contact with the cowling body, and a hooking position in which the device hook is unfolded.

- the attachment device comprises two arms extending laterally on either side of the casing body so as to take said casing body in 'sandwich' when the attachment device is in the rest position, that is that is, folded.

- The cowling body carries at least one stop protruding away from the external surface of said cowling body and on which the latching device abuts when it is in its rest position.

- The stop is arranged on the casing body and is crossed by a fixing means, in particular fixing by screwing, preferably a screw, a bolt or the like.

- The attachment device is fixed to the casing body so as to pivot about an axis AA, preferably located on the rear face of the casing body.

- The attachment device comprises a three-dimensional structure, preferably of generally curved shape.

- a blocking system makes it possible to block and maintain the hooking device in the rest position.

- the attachment device pivots between the rest position and the attachment position by an angle (a) less than 180 °, typically between 90 ° and 170 °, preferably at least 110 °.

- The cowling body comprises at least one support upright secured to said cowling body and supporting a carrying handle.

- the hanging device is made of polymer material.

- the cover body and / or the attachment device are made of a polymer material of PVC, PE, PET, PP, PMMA, PU, PA type, etc.

- The fastening device comprises two arms extending on either side of the cowling, that is to say to the right and left of the cowling, so as to partially surround it.

- The attachment device is formed in one piece, in particular by molding.

- the attachment device comprises a central opening positioned opposite a filling connection of the valve block, when the attachment device is in the rest position.

- the cowling also comprises a rotary flywheel for controlling the gas outlet and a gas outlet fitting.

the cowling also comprises a pressure gauge used to indicate the pressure of the gas in the bottle fitted with the cowling.

- the valve block is of the type with or without integrated regulator.

- the valve block is of the integrated regulator type (RDI), that is to say it incorporates a gas expansion system with valve, valve seat ...

- it is chosen from gas bottles or cylinders.

- it is a gas cylinder having a size between 10 and 150 cm.

- there is a gas cylinder containing from 0.5 to 20 liters (capacity in water equivalent).

- it is a gas cylinder with a hollow cylindrical body.

- It is a gas cylinder comprising a neck carrying a gas outlet orifice.

- the valve block is fixed at the level of the gas outlet orifice so as to ensure fluid continuity.

- it is a gas cylinder containing a gas or gas mixture chosen from oxygen, air, an N2O / O2 mixture, an He / Cl mixture, a NO / nitrogen mixture or any other gas or gas mixture.

- the bottle is made of steel, an aluminum alloy or a composite material.

- the bottle contains a gas at a pressure of up to approximately 350 bar.

The invention also relates to a protective cover for the gas distribution assembly of the invention comprising a mobile control element capable of and designed for, that is to say configured to, cooperate with at least one opening / closing of a valve block when said cowling is arranged on such a valve block, and this, to control the distribution of gas by the valve block.

The invention also relates to the use of a gas distribution assembly according to the invention for distributing a gas or gas mixture, in particular a gas or gas mixture is chosen from oxygen, air, N2O / O2, He / Cl · and NO / nitrogen.

The invention will now be better understood thanks to the following detailed description, given by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the appended figures among which:

FIG. 1 represents an embodiment of a gas container with protective cover according to the invention,

FIG. 2 represents a top view of the upper part of the protective cover of FIG. 1 showing the mobile control element according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the upper part of the protective cover of FIG. 2,

- Figure 4 is similar to Figure 2 and shows the upper part of the protective cover without the mobile control element,

- Figure 5 shows a first embodiment of the mobile control element of Figures 2 and 3, and

- Figures 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the mobile control element.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a gas distribution assembly 1, 2, 3 according to the invention comprising a rigid protective cover 1, commonly called "cap", arranged around a valve block 3 (not visible ), itself fixed on the neck of a gas container 10, namely here a gas cylinder of cylindrical body.

Conventionally, the valve block 3 is screwed into the outlet orifice of the neck of the container 10 via a threaded end, typically of frustoconical or cylindrical shape, which puts the interior volume of the container in fluid communication with the passage or passages or internal gas circuits passing through the valve block 3 and bringing the gas to the outlet connection of the valve block 3 used to distribute the gas for the needs of the user.

The valve block 3 is made of metal or metal alloy, typically brass or stainless steel, or both.

The gas cylinder 10 typically has a size between 10 and 150 cm, and a capacity of 0.5 to 20 liters (in water equivalent). The protective cover 1 serves to protect the valve block 3 against shocks, whether the valve block 3 is of the type with integrated gas pressure regulator or RDI, or of the type without integrated pressure regulator.

The protective cover 1 comprises a cover body 2 forming a rigid protective shell around an internal volume 11 sized to receive the valve block 3, a carrying handle 4 designed to be taken in hand by an operator. The carrying handle 4 is formed of a rigid material and carried by one or more support uprights 5, here two support uprights 5 arranged in parallel, mechanically connecting the casing body 2 to the carrying handle 4, that is that is to say that the support uprights 5 are secured to the carrying handle 4 so as to allow a user to easily transport the cap 1 / tap 3 / bottle 10 assembly.

The body 2 of the cover 1 is typically made of a polymer and / or metal type material, preferably of plastic material, such as PVC, PE, PET, PP, PMMA, PU, PA ... Similarly, the support uprights 5 may be formed of a plastic material, such as the body of the cover 1, but also of aluminum alloy or any other metallic material.

The valve block 3, typically of the RDI type, comprises a rotary flywheel 7, located on the front face of the cowling 2, which can be manipulated by a user to control the gas flow, a gas outlet connector 8 for withdrawing the gas stored in the bottle. 10, and a pressurized gas outlet connection. The valve 3 also includes a filling connection (not shown), located on the rear face of the cover 2, used to introduce gas into the bottle 10 when the latter is empty.

Depending on the embodiment chosen, the assembly of the invention may also include a digital display screen 9 (Fig. 1), for example a touch screen, or a needle pressure gauge to display and / or control the gas pressure. or other useful information, for example a gas autonomy duration of the bottle 10 or a type of gas.

The assembly of the protective cover 1 and its fixing around the valve block or the neck of the gas cylinder 10, via its collar-shaped base 30, is done using fixing elements, for example screws, bolts or the like, cooperating with, in particular screwing into, threaded housings.

Advantageously, the body 2 of the protective cover 1 is formed of at least two half-shells la, lb coming to join Tune to each other, according to a junction plane for example a vertical, horizontal or oblique plane, preferably a vertical plane, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The two half-shells 1a, 1b then come to take the tap 3 “in sandwich” and the neck of the container 10 so as to contain the valve block 3 in their space or internal volume 11, as detailed below.

In order to allow the attachment of the bottle 10 / valve block 3 / cover 1 assembly to a support, such as a hospital bed or stretcher bar, cover 1 may comprise, on the side of its rear face, a device attachment 6 pivoting about an axis, between a fully folded position, called rest, that is to say adopted by the attachment device 6 when it is stored and positioned in contact or quasi-contact of the body 2 of the cowling 1, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, and a fully unfolded position, called a hooking or active position, that is to say adopted by the device 6 when it is completely extended and can be hung on a support, such a bed rail or the like.

Furthermore, in order to allow an easy and rapid opening and closing of the valve block 3, that is to say to authorize or stop the distribution of the gas, despite the presence of the cowling 1 of the hindrance access to the valve 3 , there is provided, according to the present invention, a movable control element 12, arranged on the body 2 of the cowling 1, such as a translational cursor, as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 5-7.

More specifically, the movable control element 12 cooperates with at least one opening / closing member 13 of the valve block 3 to control the distribution of gas by the valve block 3, that is to say allow / allow or stop / prohibit the gas outlet from the valve block

3. The opening / closing member 13 of the valve block 3 is here a rotary cam-type slider; it could have another form.

Furthermore, the control element 12 is designed and mounted on the cowling 1 to be movable in translation or in pivoting relative to the protective cowling 1, preferably in translation, when it is grasped between its fingers and moved by a user.

The movement of the control element will act, that is to say actuate, for example by transformation of movement, the opening / closing member 13 of the valve block 3 for, depending on the direction of operation of said element control, authorize or prohibit the passage of gas to the outlet connection 8 of the valve block 3, therefore controlling the distribution of gas.

In fact, the control element 12 is movable in translation within a guide opening 14, visible in FIG. 4, made through the wall of the body 2 of the cover.

The control element 12 is guided by the two parallel edges 15 of the guide opening 14 when it is moved in translation in this guide opening 14, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The control element 12 is therefore preferably a translative cursor. The guide opening 14 is generally oblong, that is to say elongated, preferably rectangular, as in the embodiment shown in Figure 4. The guide opening 14 can also be a slot or the like.

According to a first embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the control element 12 comprises walls 16, 17, an operating member 18 and one or more activation members 19. The walls 16, 17 are spaced from each other, for example two plates or planes parallel to each other, and come to sandwich the edges 15 of the casing body 2 bordering the guide opening 14 , in particular the two parallel longitudinal edges 15 bordering the guide opening 14. The upper plate 16 is located on the outside of the cover 1, while the lower plate 17 is located on the inside of the cover

1.

The actuator 18 is designed and configured to allow a user to grasp it between his fingers and to maneuver it to cause a displacement of the entire control element 12, typically a translational cursor.

In the first embodiment of FIG. 5, the operating member 18 is carried by the upper plate 16 of the control element which is configured to have a projecting part, that is to say a wall, a protuberance or an expansion of the wall projecting away from the upper surface of the upper plate 16, constituting a sort of protuberance or protuberance 18 which can be grasped between the fingers of the user. This projecting part 18 can be formed in one piece with the upper plate 16 of the control element or, as the case may be, be fixed there by gluing or any other technique.

Furthermore, the operating member 18 here comprises two activation members 19, for example two fingers as illustrated in FIG. 5, which are configured to cooperate with the opening / closing member 13 of the valve block 3 so to stop or release (“on / off” function) the passage of gas towards the outlet fitting 8 of valve 3.

In fact, the control element 12 presented in FIG. 5 is a translational polymer cursor, formed in one piece, for example by molding.

When the cowling body 2 here comprises two half-shells la, lb which are secured to one another so as to form the protective shell delimiting the internal volume 11. Here, each half-shell la, lb comprises a part of the guide opening 14, as visible in Figure 4.

The translating cursor 12 can thus easily be inserted into the guide opening 14, simply by inserting the wall of the cowling delimiting said guide opening 14 of one of the half-shells la, lb, between the parallel walls or plates 16, 17 spaced apart, so as to come and sandwich the edges 15 of the casing body 2 bordering said guide opening 14. Then, it suffices to come and put in place the second half-shell 1a, 1b to form the body 2 of the cowling and thus block the cursor in the guide opening 14. In the case of a guide opening 14 with a continuous wall 15, the half-shells la, lb can be joined by construction.

The casing body 2 here comprises guide rails 20 raising the guide / contact area and favoring the translations of the cursor 12 during its movements, thereby limiting the risk of slipping, that is to say, seizing, caused by dust or any other pollution, during the movement of the cursor 12. These guide rails 20 are located on the external surface of the cowling 2 on either side of the guide opening 14. The guide rails 20 may have a linear shape, as in Figure 4, or a different shape, for example pins or others.

According to a second embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the element 12 comprises, instead of the lower wall 17 of Figure 5, elastically deformable walls 21 forming "clips" oriented to fold in the direction of the insertion and then deploy under the wall 15 in order to guarantee a permanent / integral connection and mounting with the cowling 2.

In other words, in this second embodiment, at the time of insertion of the element 12 in the guide opening 14, the elastically deformable walls 21 are deformed / folded down to allow their passage "by force" through the guide opening 14 and therefore the positioning of the element 12 in the operating position in the guide opening 14, then relax and deploy under the wall 15 to come and sandwich it, via their free terminal ends 22, analogously to the walls 16 and 17 of the first embodiment.

Preferably, the elastically deformable walls 21 and the rest of the element 12 are formed in one piece, by molding for example, of a polymer type material.

According to the embodiment considered, the control element 12, preferably a sliding cursor, comprises:

- or at least two walls 16, 17, namely an upper wall 16 and a lower wall 17, spaced from one another

- Or an upper wall 16 and one or more elastically deformable secondary walls 21, for example of polymer, and having a free end 22, which are arranged opposite the upper wall 16 while being spaced from said upper wall 16 .

The control element 12 is therefore fixed by sandwiching the edges 15 of the casing body 2 which border the guide opening 14 by virtue of the two upper and lower walls 16, 17 or of the upper wall 16 and the secondary walls. 21 elastically deformable which come to bear on either side of the wall surface of the cowling at the edges 15 of the cowling body 2, so as to keep the control element 12 integral and movable on the body 2 of the cowling.

The gas distribution assembly according to the invention is particularly well suited for the storage and distribution of medical gases.

Claims (12)

Claims 1. Gas distribution assembly (1, 2, 3) comprising a protective cover (1) arranged around a valve block (3) fixed on a gas container (10), the cover body (2) forming a protective shell delimiting an internal volume (15) receiving all or part of the valve block (3), characterized in that the casing body (2) comprises a movable control element (12) cooperating with at least one opening member / closing the valve block (3) to control the distribution of gas through the valve block (3). 2. Gas distribution assembly according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control element (12) is movable in translation or in pivoting relative to the protective cover (1), preferably movable in translation. 3. Gas distribution assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control element (12) is movable in translation within a guide opening (14) formed in the wall of the body (2 ) of cowling, the control element (12) being guided by edges (15) of the guide opening (14) when it is moved in translation in said guide opening (14). 4. Gas distribution assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide opening (14) is generally oblong, preferably rectangular. 5. Gas distribution assembly according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the control element (12) comprising: - at least two walls (16, 17) spaced from each other or an upper wall (16) and one or more secondary walls (21) elastically deformable with free end (22) arranged opposite the upper wall (16) being spaced from said upper wall (16), so as to sandwich the edges (15) of the casing body (2) bordering the guide opening (14), - an operating member (18) allowing a user to grasp and operate the control element (12), and - one or more activation members (19) configured to cooperate with said at least one opening / closing member (13) of said valve block (3). I’m 6. Gas distribution assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control element (12) is a translational cursor, preferably made of polymer. 7. Gas distribution assembly according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the body (2) of cowling comprises two half-shells (la, lb) secured to one another so as to form the protective shell delimiting the internal volume (15), at least one of the half-shells (la, lb) comprising at least part of said guide opening (14). 8. Gas distribution assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that each half-shell (la, lb) comprises a part of the guide opening (14). 9. Gas distribution assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one opening / closing member (13) of the valve block (3) comprises a translatable or rotary cursor. 10. Gas distribution assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the casing (2) comprises guide rails (20) for guiding the control element (12) during its movement. 11. Protective cover (1), characterized in that it is part of a gas distribution assembly (1, 2, 3) according to one of the preceding claims. 12. Use of a gas distribution assembly (1, 2, 3) according to one of claims 1 to 10 for storing or distributing a gas or gas mixture, preferably the gas or gas mixture is chosen from oxygen , air, N2O / O2, He / Ck and NO / nitrogen. 1/4