GB2027852A - Improvements in or relating to regulators for gas cylinders - Google Patents

Abstract

A pressure regulator is provided with means to prevent its removal from a gas cylinder, until a cylinder stop valve 5 is shut. A casing 15 supports a spindle 28 having a pin EC formed at its inner end eccentrically of its axis and adapted to force the stop valve 5 of the gas cylinder off its seat against pressure of its spring 4. The spindle 28 also has a flat face FF intermediate of its length. A pawl 33 pivoted inside the casing of the regulator, has a projecting end adapted to engage a flange F on the upper end of the valve body and thus hold the regulator and the stop valve coupled together; The other end of the pawl has a cam normally engaging the cylindrical surface CY of the spindle 28 but when the spindle is rotated to bring the flat face opposite the cam the stop valve is closed and the pawl is disengaged from the flange F. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to regulators for gas cylinders.

Gas cylinders for domestic and industrial use, particularly liquefied petroleum gas cylinders, are fitted with valves for supplying gas to stoves or ovens and are provided with regulators for controlling the pressure of gas let out through a valve. Though the valve and the regulator are detachably coupled together, it takes some manual effect to uncouple the regulator from the valve; further, as the valve can be opened without the regulator in position, it is possible that when the regulator is removed, there is leakage of the gas from the cylinder, if the valve is inadvertently left open; this could happen even while replacing the cylinder.

The object of this invention is to provide a means for detachably securing the pressure regulator of a gas cylinder to the valve of the cylinder and which will also ensure that the regulator cannot be removed unless the valve is positively in its closed position. Another object of this invention is to provide a valve actuating means in the regulator itself, so that, when the regulator is removed the valve cannot be actuated to its open position.

According to this invention, a regulator for a gas cylinder, particularly liquefied petroleum gas cylinder, is provided with a spindle supported in its casing having a pin formed at its inner end eccentrically of its axis and adapted to force the valve of the gas cylinder off its seat against pressure of its spring, the said spindle having a flat face intermediate of its length, a pawl pivoted inside the casing or body of the regulator, the said pawl having a projecting end adapted to engage a flange on the upper end of the valve body and hold the regulator and the valve coupled together, the pawl being formed at its other end with a cam normally engaging the cylindrical surface of the spindle and the pawl being further adapted to be turned about its pivot to disengage itself from the said flange of the valve body by spring pressure, when the spindle is rotated to bring its flat face opposite the said cam shaped end of the pawl.

Other features of the regulator, according to this invention, will be evident from the following description.

The regulator, according to this invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1, 4 and 6 represent sectional elevations across the plane X-X indicated in Fig.

2, of the regulator coupled to the valve, with the valve in the OFF, the ON and the DETACH positions respectively.

Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the regulator and the valve viewed in the direction of the arrow Y marked in Fig. 1.

Figures 3, 5 and 7 represent the position of the pawl in the ON, the OFF and the DETACH positions, in relation to the valve operating spindle, the views being taken along sections A-A, B-B and C-C in Figs. 1, 4 and 6 respectively.

The regulator shown at the top of Fig. 1 has a body or casing 1 5 surmounted by a bonnet 1 6 secured to it. A diaphragm 22 of synthetic rubber is secured at its circular edge between flanges of the body 1 5 and the bonnet 1 6. The stud like portion S in an integral part of the diaphragm 22 and it engages a lever 20 which is pivoted about a pin 19.The end of the lever 20 beyond the pivot pin 1 9 is provided with a pad 1 8 of synthetic rubber adapted to act as a valve to close the gas passage formed in valve seat 1 4 fixed in the body 1 5. The diaphragm 22 is under the influence of the spring 25, the pressure exerted by which is adjusted by a screw cap 23 fitted in the bonnet 1 6 and protected by a cap 24 provided on the top of the bonnet 16.

When the pressure of the gas inside the body 1 5 reaches above the predetermined value, the diaphragm 22 moved upwardly will cause the lever 20 to move anticlockwise resulting in partial closure of the gas passage in the valve seat 14. On the other hand in the event of decrease of pressure in the valve body 15, the spring 25 will push the diaphragm 22 downwardly resulting in the clockwise movement of the lever 20 and consequent fuller opening of the gas passage in the valve seat 14. The construction of the regulator so far described does not form part of this invention.

The valve fitted on the gas cylinder (not shown) is seen below the regulator. The valve has a body 1 in which the valve proper 5 fitted with a sealing washer 6 and pressed upwardly by a spring 4 and spring retainer 3 and locking ring 2 are provided. Normally, the sealing washer 6 presses against bevelled faces BF formed inside the body 1, preventing outflow of the gas. A valve pin 9 having a cap or bush 10 rests on the top of the valve 5. A spindle 28 is provided in the regulator body 1 5 for opening and closing the valve 5. The spindle 28 has at its inner end a pin EC formed eccentrically of its axis. The outer end of the spindle 28 is secured to a knob 30.

When the knob 30 is turned to the ON position (Fig. 4) the eccentric pin EC engages the cap or bush 10 made preferably of nylon or any other hard but resilient material provided on the valve pin 9 and causes the pin 9 to push the valve proper 5 downwardly against the force of the spring 4, so that gas is permitted to flow up and out through the clearance between the valve body 1, valve 5, passage around valve pin 9 and the regulator body 15, through wire gauze 11, passages in the regulator body 1 5 and valve seat 1 4 and a passage in a nozzle N on the body 1 5.

When the spindle 28 is rotated to the OFF position (Fig. 1) or to the DETACH position (Fig. 6), the eccentric pin EC disengages cap or bush 10 on the valve pin 9 causing closure of the valve 5 by spring pressure. For preventing leakage of gas along the shaft of the spindle, two sealing rings 27 are fitted in grooves formed on the spindle 28.

The gas regulator is coupled with and secured to the gas cylinder valve by a pawl 33 made of a hardwearing and antifriction thermoplastic material pivoted inside the regulator body 1 5 about a pin 34 made preferably of stainless steel, and engaging a flange F on the upper end of the valve body 1. The pawl 33 engages with the flange F on the valve body 1 against the influence of a spring 35 which tends to move the pawl 33 away from the flange F; the pawl 33 is, however, normally kept in the engaged position shown in Figs.

1, 3, 4 and 5 by the cylindrical surface CY of the spindle 28 pressing down on the cam shaped right hand portion of the pawl 33.

The cylindrical surface CY of the spindle 28 has an adjacent flat face FF formed on it.

When the knob 30 is turned to the DETACH position marked in Fig. 2, the flat face FF (Figs. 6 and 7) formed on the spindle 28 is brought opposite the can shaped end of the pawl 33. The spring 35 now pushes the left hand end of the pawl 33 away from the flange F on the valve body 1, so that the regulator can be uncoupled and detached from the valve body 1, either for repair, cleaning or replacement. As the valve 5 is fully closed, there is no risk of gas leaking from the gas cylinder through the valve 5, or the valve 5 being opened inadvertently.

The further mechanical details of the regulator and of the valve, though illustrated in the drawings, have not been described in the specification for the purpose of simplification and also as such details do not form a part of the present invention.

Although the present invention had been illustrated and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

The three positions of the knob 30 for opening and closing of the valve 5 and for enabling detachment of the regulator from the valve are indicated by the legends ON, OFF and DETACH marked on the body of the regulator (Fig. 2).

Claims (11)

1. A regulator for a gas cylinder, particularly liquefied petroleum gas cylinder, provided with a spindle supported in its casing having a pin formed at its inner end eccentrically of its axis and adapted to force the valve of the gas cylinder off its seat against pressure of its spring, the said spindle having a flat face intermediate of its length, a pawl pivoted inside the casing or body of the regulator, the said pawl having a projecting end adapted to engage a flange on the upper end of the valve body and hold the regulator and the valve coupled together, the pawl being formed at its other end with a cam normally engaging the cylindrical surface of the spindle and the pawl being further adapted to be turned about its pivot to disengage itself from the said flange of the valve body by spring pressure, when the spindle is rotated to bring its flat face opposite the said cam shaped end of the pawl.

2. A regulator as claimed in claim 1, in which a knob is fitted on the outer end of the spindle, for turning the spindle to the selected position.

3. A regulator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the said eccentrically formed pin is adapted, when the spindle is turned to the ON or valve opening position, to press a valve pin against gas cylinder valve in opposition to a spring provided in the said valve.

4. A regulator as claimed in claims 1 to 3, in which the said eccentrically formed pin is adapted, when the spindle is turned to the OFF or valve closing position, to disengage the valve pin to enable the gas cylinder valve to close.

5. A regulator as claimed in claims 3 or 4, in which the valve pin engaging with the said eccentrically formed pin is provided with a cap or a bush of nylon or any other known gard but resilient material.

6. A regulator as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the flat face formed on the spindle is adapted to be brought opposite the pawl when the spindle is turned to the DE TACH or regulator disengaging position, to enable the pawl to be forced away from the flange on the valve body under the force of a sping, to permit the removal of the regulator from the valve.

7. A regulator as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the pawl is made of a hardwearing antifriction thermoplastic material.

8. A regulator as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, in which the knob is made of 'bakelite' or a thermosetting resinous material.

9. A regulator as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, in which the pin about which the valve is pivoted is made of stainless steel.

10. A regulator as claimed in claim 6, in which the spring adapted to actuate the pawl is made of stainless steel.

11. A regulator for a gas cylinder, particularly liquefied petroleum gas cylinder, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings.