FR3064717A1 - GAS DISTRIBUTION DEVICE HAVING AN IMPROVED COUPLING SYSTEM FOR THE MANEUVER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas distribution device comprising a main body (1) traversed by an internal gas passage (13) for conveying a gas and a movable operating member (2) cooperating with a flow selection system ( 9) arranged on the internal gas passage, the operating member (2) being secured to said main body (1) and maneuverable by a user to select a desired gas flow. The operating member (2) cooperates with the flow selection system (9) via a movable driving element (3). The actuating member (2) comprises at least one housing (6) and the movable driving element (3) comprises at least one abutment element (4) projecting from a surface (5) of said driving element movable element (3), or, as the case may be, the movable driving element (3) comprises at least one housing (6) and the operating element (2) comprises comprising at least one stop element (4) making protruding on a surface (5) of said operating member (2). Said at least one stop element (4) is housed in said at least one housing (6) for retaining the operating member (2) fixedly secured to said main body (1). Gas container, in particular a gas cylinder, equipped with such a gas distribution device, in particular a valve block or RDI. Use 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.

GAS DISTRIBUTION DEVICE WITH IMPROVED COUPLING SYSTEM FOR THE MANEUVERING MEMBER.

FR 3 064 717 - A1

The invention relates to a gas distribution device comprising a main body (1) traversed by an internal gas passage (13) for conveying a gas and a movable operating member (2) cooperating with a flow selection system ( 9) arranged on the internal gas passage, the operating member (2) being secured to said main body (1) and operable by a user to select a desired gas flow rate. The operating member (2) cooperates with the flow selection system (9) via a movable drive element (3). The actuator (2) comprises at least one housing (6) and the movable drive element (3) comprises at least one stop element (4) projecting from a surface (5) of said drive element mobile (3), or, as the case may be, the mobile driving element (3) comprises at least one housing (6) and the operating member (2) comprises comprising at least one stop element (4) making protrusion on a surface (5) of said operating member (2). Said at least one stop element (4) is housed in said at least one housing (6) for retaining the operating member (2) fixed integrally to said main body (1). Gas container, in particular a gas cylinder, equipped with such a gas distribution device, in particular a valve block or RDI. Use for storing or distributing a gas or gas mixture

The invention relates to a gas distribution device, such as a valve block, for a gas container comprising an improved coupling system of the operating member to the movable drive element cooperating with the internal flow control system. .

It is usual to equip gas containers, such as gas cylinders or cylinders, with a tap block, sometimes simply called a “tap”, intended to control the flow of gas delivered, said gas being conveyed by one (or more ) internal gas passage or circuit arranged in the body of the valve block and putting in fluid communication a gas inlet port carried by a fixing nozzle connected to the gas container and an outlet orifice carried by an outlet nozzle or connector gas. When a gas expansion system is integrated into the valve block, i.e. in the case of a valve with integrated regulator or RDI, the RDI block is also used to control the pressure of the gas delivered.

To do this, it is known to arrange on the valve block (ie, RDI or simple valve), an operating member, typically a rotary operating handwheel, allowing the user to select the desired gas flow rate, via the operating member, in particular a rotary movement of the operating handwheel which is positioned opposite, for example, a graduated scale of flow rates or a flow indicator mark carried by the body of the valve block for example, when the he graduated flow scale is carried by the flywheel itself.

The actuator then cooperates with a flow selection system, for example a series of calibrated orifices carried by a rotating disc or a rotating bell, used to control or adjust the flow of the gas to the desired value.

Usually, the operating member, in particular the handwheel, is integral with the valve block while being held there in the correct position by one or more mechanical fixing elements, in particular one or more screws, pins or the like. It is essential that the operating device is, as of its manufacture, precisely positioned with respect to the graduated scale or to the flow indicator marker because otherwise the flow value which will be selected by activation of the operating device, in particular by rotation of the handwheel, will not correspond to the flow actually delivered by the valve block.

The lifespan of a valve block, in particular an RDI block, is long since it can reach ten years. However, during this lifetime, the operating member, such as an operating handwheel, can be separated from the valve block, either accidentally, for example following an impact, or during a service or maintenance operation requiring disassembly of the valve block, in particular an RDI.

If, when reassembling the operating member, typically a rotary flywheel, on the valve block, its angular positioning is not correct, then the gas flow delivered by the valve block will, here again, be different from the displayed flow , which can lead to dangerous situations.

Thus, if the user sets a non-zero desired gas flow rate (> OL / min) and the actual gas flow rate delivered by the valve block is zero (= OL / min) or much lower than the desired gas flow rate, then this significant difference in flow rate can cause health problems when the gas is intended for a patient needing this gas as part of a therapeutic treatment.

Similarly, when a user wishes to stop the delivery of gas, he sets the desired flow rate to 0 L / min by positioning the actuator opposite the mark corresponding to this zero flow value. However, if the actual flow rate delivered by the valve block does not become zero due to improper positioning of the operating member, then the gas cylinder fitted with this valve block will empty its gas under inappropriate circumstances, it may result in endangering the immediate environment of the bottle, for example risks of anoxia if the gas does not contain oxygen, of explosion if the gas is a combustible or oxidizing gas ...

In view of this, the problem which arises is to propose an improved valve block making it possible to prevent incorrect angular mounting of the flow control member, in particular of a handwheel, on the valve block. Preferably, the assembly operation of the flow control member should be simple and not involve any tool. Advantageously, disassembly and reassembly of the flow control member by unqualified personnel should not be possible, nor when the flow control member has been involuntarily dissociated from the valve block, for example due to a shock.

The solution of the invention then relates to a gas distribution device comprising:

- a main body crossed by an internal gas passage used to convey a gas and

- a mobile operating member cooperating with a flow selection system arranged on the internal gas passage, the operating member being secured to said main body and operable by a user to select a desired gas flow, characterized in that:

- the operating member cooperates with the flow selection system by means of a mobile drive element,

the operating member comprises at least one housing, preferably several housings, and the movable drive element comprises at least one stop element, preferably several stop elements, projecting from a surface of said drive element movable, or the movable drive element comprises at least one housing, preferably several housings, and the operating member comprises comprising at least one abutment element, preferably several abutment elements, projecting on a surface of said operating member , and

- Said at least one abutment element is housed in said at least one housing for retaining the operating member fixedly secured to said main body, preferably several abutment elements are housed in several housings for retaining the fixed operating member jointly with said main body.

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

the operating member cooperates with the flow selection system by means of a movable drive element, the movable drive element comprising at least one stop element projecting from an external surface of said element d mobile training.

- the operating member comprises at least one housing, said at least one abutment element being received in said at least one housing for retaining the operating member fixedly attached to said main body.

- the mobile drive element comprising several stop elements protruding from the external surface of said mobile drive element.

- the movable drive element comprises a rotary drive ring carrying the projecting stop elements.

- the projecting stop elements are angularly distributed over at least part of the external periphery of the rotary drive ring.

- The number of housings is preferably equal to the number of stop elements.

- the number of dwellings is preferably between 2 and 12.

- the number of stop elements is preferably between 2 and 12.

- the operating device includes several housings.

- the actuator comprises a collar carrying said housings.

- The housings are angularly distributed over at least part of the collar.

- Or said housings are bordered by one or more wall elements each form a deformation and rupture zone designed to break during disassembly of the operating member of the movable drive element.

- the operating member is a rotary operating handwheel.

- the flow selection system comprising calibrated orifices.

- an angular indexing system is fitted on the operating member and the mobile drive element.

- The angular indexing system comprises complementary forms comprising at least one tongue arranged on the movable drive element cooperating with at least one groove arranged on the operating member.

- The angular indexing system comprises several tongues arranged on the movable drive element cooperating with several grooves arranged on the operating member.

- it is a valve block or RDI.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a gas container, in particular a gas cylinder, equipped with a gas distribution device according to the invention, in particular a valve block or RDI.

In addition, the invention also relates to the use of a gas container equipped with a gas distribution device according to the invention, for storing or for distributing a gas or gas mixture.

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 is a 3/4 view of an embodiment of an RDI type gas distribution device according to the present invention, with a flywheel fixed to the main body of said RDI,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the RDI of FIG. 1, with an operating wheel dissociated from the main body of said RDI,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the hand wheel of the RDI of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the internal parts located under the handwheel of the RDI of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views from below and from above, respectively, of the drive ring and of the disc with calibrated orifices of the RDI of FIG. 1,

- Figure 7 is a side view of the RDI of Figure 1 showing the positioning of the drive ring and the disc with calibrated orifices of Figures 5 and 6, and

- Figure 8 is a sectional view of the RDI of Figure 1 in the region of the gas outlet fitting.

Figure 1 is a 3/4 view of an embodiment of a gas distribution device according to the present invention, which is here of type valve with integrated regulator or RDI, where we see the handwheel 2 fixed integrally to the main body 1 of said RDI, thanks to the coupling system of the invention, as explained below.

As can be seen, the RDI comprises a main body 1, for example made of brass or stainless steel, crossed by an internal gas passage (not visible) used to convey a gas between a gas inlet orifice 12 carried by a fixing nozzle 14 and an outlet orifice 13 for gas carried by an outlet nozzle or connector 15 to which a flexible gas conduit can be connected, for example.

Being an RDI, that is to say a valve with integrated regulator, it incorporates a gas relief system which conventionally includes a relief valve and a valve seat. This gas expansion system makes it possible to reduce the gas pressure to a desired value which can be, depending on the embodiment chosen, adjustable by the user or then fixed, that is to say adjusted in the factory and not modifiable by the user, for example an expansion pressure of the order of 3 to 5 bar absolute. In the present case, the trigger pressure cannot be modified and adjusted in the order of 4 bar abs. The expanded gas is then conveyed to the outlet connector 15 through which it is delivered to the user at the desired pressure and flow rate.

The fixing end piece 14 (cf. Fig. 1, 2 and 7) is threaded and of cylindrical or frustoconical shape. It is used to fix the RDI to a gas container, typically at the neck of a gas cylinder, containing the gas at high pressure, that is to say at a pressure of up to 200 to 300 bar abs, or even more.

An operating member, namely here a rotary flywheel 2, for example made of polymer, is arranged movable around the outlet connector 15. The flywheel 2 and the outlet connector 15 are coaxial.

The rotary flywheel 2 here carries a crown 16 carrying graduations 17 corresponding to gas flow rates, as well as gripping means, namely hollow and raised structures 18 allowing a user to grasp the flywheel 2 between his fingers to operate it in rotation and thus select the desired gas flow rate to be delivered by the outlet connector 15. The body of the flywheel 2 has a general shape, seen from the front (cf. FIG. 1), of circular periphery.

The main body 1 of the RDI further comprises other conventional members, in particular a pressure gauge 19 indicating the gas pressure after expansion by the expansion system integrated in the RDI, a filling outlet, etc.

Furthermore, the rotary flywheel 2 in fact cooperates with an internal flow selection system 9, 10, as illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, which is arranged on the internal gas passage and which makes it possible to adjust the gas flow to the desired value. This flow selection system 9, 10 preferably comprises a disc 9 crossed by calibrated orifices 10; however, it could take other forms, including a bell or the like.

The disc 9 is fixed to the drive ring 3 so that a rotation of the ring 3 causes a rotation of the disc 9, which then makes it possible to move the calibrated orifices 10 and to put them opposite the internal passage 13 of gas, and thus to select the desired gas flow rate, given that the size of each calibrated orifice 10 corresponds to a given flow rate value.

The disc 9 / drive ring 3 assembly is held in position in the body 1 of the RDI by a holding piece 11, also called a spacer, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and

8. This holding part 11 comprises an axial expansion 12, visible in FIGS. 5 and 8, which passes through the disc 9 with calibrated orifices 10.

The holding part 1 is traversed by at least one gas conduit 14, visible in FIG. 8, putting the internal passage 13 of the body 1 and the outlet connector 15 into fluid communication.

More precisely, when it is operated by a user, the rotary flywheel 2 rotates the disc 9 with calibrated orifices 10 of the flow selection system 9, 10, via the drive element 3 movable in rotation, namely here a rotary drive ring. The drive ring 3 is integral with the disc 9 with calibrated orifices 10.

According to the present invention, the mobile driving element 3 comprises stop elements 4 projecting here on the external surface 5 of the mobile driving element 3, in particular on the external peripheral surface of the driving ring. rotary, as illustrated in Figure 2.

Furthermore, the operating member or flywheel 2 comprises housings 6, in which are housed in the projecting stop elements 4 carried by the external peripheral surface 5 of the rotary drive ring 3 so as to retain the operating member 2 fixedly attached to said main body 1.

It should be emphasized, however, that a reverse configuration is possible and completely equivalent, namely that the housings 6 can be arranged in the external peripheral surface 5 of the rotary drive ring 3, and the stop elements 4 can be arranged on the internal surface of the operating member or steering wheel 2. Such a reverse configuration constitutes a second embodiment of a device according to the invention, in particular of a tap or RDI.

More generally, the insertion of the stop elements 4 into the housings 6 is preferably done by interlocking, that is to say by "clipping". During assembly, one or more elements are deformed so that the abutment elements 4 forming male parts can be inserted in the housings 6 forming cavities or female parts.

Preferably, the operating member or flywheel 2 comprises a flange 7 carrying said housings 6, which is arranged on its inner face, that is to say the face of the flywheel 2 directed towards the body 1 of the RDI. The housings 6 are angularly distributed over all or part of the collar 7, as visible in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The collar 7 is coaxial with the gas outlet connector 15, when the flywheel 2 is fixed to the RDI.

In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shape of the abutment elements 4 is chosen so that:

- The assembly movement is facilitated by adding a sloping surface 20 or bevelled on the stop elements 4, which avoids the use of tools since it suffices to push the handwheel 2 towards the drive ring 3 so that the stop elements 4 are housed in the cavities or housings 6 of the flywheel 2, and

- Disassembly is prevented by fitting a shoulder 21 abutting against a wall element 8 of the steering wheel 2, to retain the stop elements 4 housed in the housings 6. The stop elements 4 are located at the edge of the housings 6 .

Thus, once the stop elements 4 are positioned in the housings 6, the disassembly movement is difficult, if not impossible, which prevents inadvertent or unauthorized disassembly or disengagement of the flywheel 2 from the body of the RDI 1. Indeed, any disassembly of the steering wheel results in destruction of the wall elements 8. These wall elements 8 each form a deformation and rupture zone which is designed and dimensioned to break during any attempt to disassemble the steering wheel 2 from the drive ring 3.

Preferably, the assembly of the handwheel 2 and of the drive ring 3 is only possible in a single angular position. To do this, one can provide an angular indexing system 23, 24 comprising for example complementary shapes in the assembly area of the two parts, namely a tongue 23 arranged on the drive ring 3 cooperating with a groove 24 present on the handwheel 2, as visible in Figure 4. The tongue 23 can only be housed in the groove 24, thus imposing a unique angular positioning. It is also possible to use several elements of the tab 23 and groove 24 type for this positioning, distributed over the contact zone between the handwheel and the drive ring. The use of several tongues 23 and grooves 24 makes it possible to better distribute the stresses to be transmitted during the manipulation of the handwheel 2 by the user.

The above description was made for a gas distribution device of the RDI type;

however, it applies to a single valve, that is, a valve without an internal regulator, or even other types of gas distribution devices.

Claims (13)

Claims 1. Gas distribution device comprising: - a main body (1) crossed by an internal gas passage (13) used to convey a gas and - a movable operating member (2) cooperating with a flow selection system (9) arranged on the internal gas passage, the operating member (2) being secured to said main body (1) and operable by a user to select a desired gas flow, characterized in that: - the operating member (2) cooperates with the flow selection system (9) by means of a mobile drive element (3), - the operating member (2) comprises at least one housing (6) and the movable drive element (3) comprises at least one stop element (4) projecting from a surface (5) of said element movable drive (3), or the movable drive element (3) comprises at least one housing (6) and the operating member (2) comprises comprising at least one stop element (4) projecting from a surface (5) of said operating member (2), and - Said at least one stop element (4) is housed in said at least one housing (6) for retaining the operating member (2) fixedly attached to said main body (1). 2. Gas distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that: the movable drive element (3) comprising at least one stop element (4) projecting from an external surface (5) of said movable drive element (3), and - the operating member (2) comprises at least one housing (6), said at least one abutment element (4) being received in said at least one housing (6) for retaining the operating member (2) fixedly attached to said main body (1). 3. Gas distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that: - the mobile drive element (3) comprising several stop elements (4) projecting from the external surface (5) of said mobile drive element (3) and / or - the operating member (2) comprises several housings (6). 4. Gas distribution device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile drive element (3) comprises a rotary drive ring carrying the abutment elements (4) projecting. 5. Gas distribution device according to claim 4, characterized in that the abutment elements (4) projecting are angularly distributed over at least part of the external periphery of the rotary drive ring. 6. Gas distribution device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the operating member (2) comprises a flange (7) carrying said housings (6), preferably the housings (6) are angularly distributed over at least part of the flange (Ό · 7. Gas distribution device according to one of claims 1 to 3 or 6, characterized in that the said housing (s) (6) are bordered by one or more wall elements (8) each form a zone of deformation and rupture designed to break during disassembly of the operating member (2) of the movable drive element (3). 8. Gas distribution device according to one of claims 1 to 3, 6 or 7, characterized in that the actuator (2) is a rotary actuator. 9. A gas distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow selection system (9) comprising calibrated orifices (10), preferably the calibrated orifices (10) are carried by a disc or a bell. 10. Gas distribution device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an angular indexing system (23, 24) is arranged on the operating member (2) and the movable drive element (3), preferably the angular indexing system (23, 24) comprises complementary shapes comprising at least one tongue (23) arranged on the movable drive element (3) cooperating with at least one groove (24) fitted on the operating member (2). 11. Gas distribution device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a valve block or RDI. 5 12. Gas container, in particular a gas bottle, equipped with a gas distribution device according to one of the preceding claims, in particular a valve block or RDI. 13. Use of a gas container fitted with a gas distribution device according to 10 one of claims 1 to 11, for storing or distributing a gas or gas mixture. 1/7