GB2152636A

GB2152636A - Automatic two way flow change over unit for either liquids or gas

Info

Publication number: GB2152636A
Application number: GB8400342A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Hubber
Original assignee: CROMPTON HUBBER SEABERG LIMITE
Current assignee: CROMPTON HUBBER SEABERG LIMITE
Priority date: 1984-01-06
Filing date: 1984-01-06
Publication date: 1985-08-07
Also published as: GB2152636B; GB8400342D0

Abstract

An automatic pressure cooperated changeover valve has a piston 16 which cooperates with seats 19 or 20. One or more spring loaded retention studs 17,18 hold the piston in a particular position. Studs 17,18 are held in by the prevailing pressure such that a predetermined pressure drop allows the piston 16 to shift between seats 19 and 20 to connect an alternative pressure source, the piston then being again locked by studs 17,18. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Automatic two way flow change over unit for either liquids or gases This invention relates to an automatic two way flow change over unit for either liquids or gases.

When liquids or gases are being used it may be necessary or desirable that the flow of such liquids or gases be maintained without interruption.

It is known to provide a liquid or gas flow system with a first and a second container or vessel and to provide a switchng unit or mechanism to switch the flow from a first to a second container or vessel when the first source is depleted to a pre-determined or appropriate level.

However such flow switching units are not usually automatically operated and there is a possibility that an interruption of flow can result. Any such interruption of flow can have adverse consequences from safety, economic, convenience or other effects.

According to the present invention there is provided by means of a piston acting within a shaped chamber intermittantly moving to, and being releasable secured at each of two inlet ports alternately in response to pressure applied, an automatic two way flow change over unit for changing the flow from a first source of liquid or gas to a second source of liquid or gas when the inlet pressure from the first source applied to the unit has reduced to a pre-determined value according to particular or selected applications.

The automatic two way change over flow unit comprises: a main body having a shaped chamber the longer section of which is through the length of the main body and a shorter section of which extends only partially through the length of the main body; conduits leading from the longer section of the shaped chamber to stud housing recesses; one or more ports leading from the shorter section of the shaped chamber to an outlet port or outlet ports and thence to external user connection or connections: A piston to act along the longer section of the shaped chamber is provided with recesses or a recess to receive retention studs or a retention stud; each end opening of the longer section of the shaped chamber is provided with a shaped piston seat, an inlet port, and an inlet port connector; retention studs with retention stud return springs are provided to locate in the retention stud housings; a base plate serves to seal the stud recesses and associated liquid or gas conduits and to act as a fixing or mounting plate.

Monitoring equipment provided to register the change from one to another source of liquid or gas and to display information in respect of the change over.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with references to the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the unit with the component parts with one pressurized vessel or container attached to the unit.

Figure 2 shows the position of the piston when a second pressurized vessel or container has been attached to the unit at the alternate or second port and has acted upon the piston when the first applied pressurized vessel or container has been depleted by use to a pressure insufficient to support the retaining stud or studs in an engaged position in or connected to the piston.

Figure 3 shows the retention studs when the piston is being transferred from sealing one inlet port to sealing the second or alternate inlet port.

Figure 4 shows the unit with one retention stud only.

Figure 5 shows conduits as an alternative to the shaped chamber.

Figure 6 shows the unit with multiple outlet ports.

Referring to the drawings the automatic two way flow change over unit 11, comprises a main body 12, having a shaped chamber 1 3, with a longer section 14, and a shorter section 1 5 a piston 16, retention studs 1 7 and 18, piston seats 1 9 and 20 retention stud return springs 21 and 22, inlet ports at each end of the longer section on a common axis 23 and 24, inlet port connectors 26 and 27, retention stud housings 28 and 29, conduits 30 and 31, (from the shaped chamber 13 to the retention stud housings 28 and 29). a baseplate 32, pressure vessels or containers 33 and 34, piston retention stud recesses 35, 36 and 37, a one stage regulator 38, connecting hoses 39 and 40, (from pressure vessels or containers to unit).

In order to use the automatic two way flow change over unit 11 (in this example) two sufficient pressure sources of liquid or gas in vessels or containers 33 and 34 are connected to the inlet port connectors 26 and 27, by means of the connecting hoses 39 and 40, to unit 11. The pressure vessel or container 33, applied to the unit 11, at inlet port connector 26 in inlet port 23, via connector hose 39, causes the liquid or gas to pass through the conduit in the inlet port connector 26 with three effects.

1 no. The pressure of the liquid or gas from the vessel or container 33, forces the piston 1 6 away from piston seat 1 9 in inlet port 23 along the longer section 1 4 of the shaped chamber 1 3 until the piston 1 6 is seated at piston seat 20 at the second or alternative inlet port 24 thereby sealing that inlet port 24 and isolating the second source of pressure vessel or container 34.

2 no. The movement of the piston 1 6 to the second or alternate port 24 allows the passage of liquid or gas under pressure from the first vessel or container 33 via connecting hose 39 through the conduit in inlet port connector 26 through the conduit in piston seat 1 9 into the shaped chamber 1 3 by way of the longer section 14 and the shorter section 1 5 thence to outlet port 25 and into one stage regulator and then to user appliance.

3 no. The liquid or gas under pressure passes through the conduit 31 from the longer section 14, of the shaped chamber 1 3, and acts upon the bases of the retention studs 1 7 and 1 8 which are caused by pressure applied to them to rise through the stud housing recesses 28 and 29 so that one retention stud 1 7 moves to enter the recess 35 in the piston 1 6 and the second retention stud 1 8 moves to piston recess 36 of the piston 1 6 thereby releasably securing the piston 1 6 to the piston seat 20 at the second or alternate inlet port 24.

Such positioning of the retention studs 1 7 and 1 8 prevents the piston 1 5 from moving until the pressure from the first vessel or container 33 is reduced to a pre-determined level at which it is insufficient to maintain the retention studs 1 7 and 1 8 in an engaged position of the piston 1 6 at piston seat 20; when this pre-determined input pressure is reached the retention studs 1 7 and 1 8 now having insufficient force applied to their bases to maintain their engaged position in the piston 16, the retention studs 1 7 and 1 8 withdraw from the piston retention recesses 35 and 36 under the pressure from the retention stud return springs 21 and 22 thereby releasing the piston 1 6 which is then able to respond to the higher presure value of the second or alternative vessel or container 34, the piston 1 6 is thereby forced along the longer section 14 of the shaped chamber 1 3 where it is engaged to piston seat 1 9 at the first used inlet port 23 and the piston 1 6 is releasably secured by the retention studs 1 7 and 1 8 in the piston retention recesses 36 and 37 and described in the first instance and allows liquid or gas to flow from the second inlet port 24 to the outpuet port 25. The change over of flow from the first vessel or container 33 to a second or alternative vessel or container 34 will take place without interruption.

One example of use of the automatic two way flow change over unit could be to couple up two butane containers (possible in a caravan) where butane is used to supply heat for cooking and lighting.

Claims

1. An automatic two way flow change over unit comprising a main body with a shaped chamber, with a longer and shorter section, a releasably secured piston, retention studs, retention stud return springs, inlet and outlet ports. piston seats. inlet port connectors. connecting hoses. pressure sources and a baseplate.

2. An automatic two way flow change over unit as claimed In claim 1 wherein the shorter section of the shaped chamber being longer than the piston there Is no interruption of the flow of the gas or liquid.

3. An automatic two way flow change over unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the change over will not occur until the pre-determined level

4. An automatic two way flow change over unit as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the retention studs or retention stud engages the piston recess or recesses whilst the pressure source is greater than the predetermined level.

4. An automatic two way flow change over unit as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the retention studs or retention stud engage the piston recesses whilst the pressure source is greater than the pre-determined level.

5. An automatic two way flow change over unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the piston is releasably secured.

6. An automatic two way flow change over unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein when one source of pressure is depleted or reduced to a pre-determined level that the change over will occur

7. An automatic two way flow change over unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein the number of outlet ports is unlimited.

8. An automatic two way flow change over unit as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein that one pressure source may be removed without any atmospheric contamination to the automatic two way flow change over unit.

9. An automatic two way flow change over unit as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the inlet ports are on common axis.

10. An automatic two way flow change over unit substantially as described herein with references to Figs. 1-6 of the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS New claims or amendments to claims filed on 31 Aug 1984.

Superseded claims 4, 9. claim 10 re-numbered as claim 9.

New or amended claims: