JP2006139531A - Gas regulator for valve device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily turn a display part for flow rate display or the like to an easy-to-view desired position. <P>SOLUTION: This gas regulator for a valve device has a regulator body 2 and a support frame 3 connected to the regulator body 2. The support frame 3 has a valve storage space 4 and a fastening means 5 forward and backward movably to the valve storage space 4. The regulator body 2 has a valve connection port 6 in a position opposite to the fastening means 5 with the valve storage space 4 sandwiched. A connection part 24 of the support frame 3 is rotatably fitted on a connected part 25 of the regulator body 2. An engagement groove 26 is formed between the connection part 24 and the connected part 25, and a sphere 27 is inserted in the engagement groove 26. By pressing the valve device 15 to a valve connection port 6 by the fastening means 5, the support frame 3 is made to be displaced relatively to the regulator body 2, and the sphere 27 is made to be sandwiched by a groove wall 28 of the engagement groove 26. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas regulator that is attached to a valve device of a gas cylinder and adjusts the flow rate, pressure, etc. of extracted gas. The present invention relates to a gas regulator for an apparatus.

In general, in home oxygen therapy, a gas regulator equipped with a flow rate setting device, a pressure reducing device, etc. is attached to the gas extraction path of a valve device attached to an oxygen gas container to supply oxygen gas at a desired pressure and flow rate. It is constituted as follows.
Conventionally, as the above-described gas regulator for a valve device, there is one that is attached to the valve device using a so-called yoke gut (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The conventional gas regulator includes a regulator main body and a support frame firmly fixed to the regulator main body. An adjusting means including a pressure reducing device and a flow rate setter is provided inside the adjuster body, and a flow rate setting operation handle and a flow rate set value display section are provided on the outer surface of the adjuster body. On the other hand, the support frame has a valve housing space formed in the frame, and includes a tightening handle that can move forward and backward with respect to the valve housing space. The adjuster body is provided with a valve connection port that opens to face the valve housing space at a position facing the tightening handle with the valve housing space interposed therebetween.

  The valve device attached to the gas cylinder is inserted into the valve housing space, and is pressed against the valve connection port by manually tightening the tightening handle, whereby the gas regulator is secured to the valve device. Fixed. Then, by opening and closing the on-off valve of the valve device and setting the gas flow rate to a predetermined value with the above-described flow rate setting handle, the stored gas in the gas cylinder is taken out through the valve device and the gas regulator in order.

  The adjuster body is provided with a flow rate display unit for displaying a set value of the gas flow rate, a remaining amount display unit for indicating the gas pressure in the gas cylinder, and the like. These display units are preferably provided at positions where the user can easily visually check the display contents. However, since the support frame is integrally fixed to the main body of the adjuster, the display unit cannot be easily viewed by the user depending on the posture and orientation of the gas cylinder fixed to the support frame. There is. In addition, a pipe connection part is attached to the outer surface of the regulator body, and a gas extraction hose is connected to the pipe connection part, but this pipe connection part is also fixed to the regulator body. Depending on the direction and orientation, the hose may be twisted or bent.

  Some conventional gas regulators for valve devices are such that the regulator body and the support frame are screwed and fixed using, for example, a fastening nut (see, for example, Patent Document 2). However, in this case, in order to rotate the support frame with respect to the adjuster body, it is necessary to loosen the fastening nut and rotate the support frame in an appropriate direction and then tighten the fastening nut. For this reason, apart from the tightening and loosening operation using the tightening handle, it is necessary to tighten and tighten the fastening nut using a tool, and the rotating operation of the support frame is troublesome and not easy. In addition, if the fastening nut is not sufficiently tightened, for example, the connection between the adjuster body and the support frame is loosened during use, and gas may leak from the connecting portion.

JP 2002-533793 A US Pat. No. 5,704,589

  The technical problem of the present invention is to provide a gas regulator for a valve device that solves the above-described problems and can be easily rotated to a desired position where a display unit such as a flow rate display is easy to see.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is described as follows, for example, based on FIGS. 1 to 4 showing an embodiment of the present invention.
That is, the present invention relates to a gas regulator for a valve device, and includes a regulator body (2) provided with a regulating means (20) inside, and a support frame (3) connected to the regulator body (2). The support frame (3) includes a valve housing space (4), and includes fastening means (5) that can move forward and backward relative to the valve housing space (4). The adjuster body (2) includes: A gas regulator for a valve device comprising a valve connection port (6) at a position facing the tightening means (5) across the valve housing space (4), wherein the support frame ( 3) is rotatably connected to the regulator body (2), and the valve device (15) accommodated in the valve accommodating space (4) is connected to the valve connection port (6) by the tightening means (5). ), The support frame (3) is fixed to the adjuster body (2) in a non-rotatable manner.

  In a state where no valve device is mounted in the valve accommodating space, the support frame is freely rotated with respect to the adjuster body. Therefore, before the valve device is mounted on the support frame, the adjuster body is rotated to an arbitrary position with respect to the instruction frame, and thereby the display unit such as a flow rate display attached to the adjuster body is used. It is easily moved to a desired position that is easy for a person to see. When the valve device is housed in the valve housing space and the valve device is pressed against the valve connection port by the tightening means, the support frame is fixed to the adjuster body so as not to move by the tightening force. Thereby, while taking out gas from a gas cylinder, there is no possibility that said display part will move from a desired position.

  Here, the adjusting means refers to a flow rate setting device that sets a predetermined gas flow rate, a pressure reducing device that reduces pressure to a predetermined gas pressure, and the like. The support frame only needs to have a valve housing space, and may be not only a rectangular frame but also a C-shaped frame in plan view.

In addition, as a configuration in which the support frame is fixed to the adjuster body so as not to be moved by the tightening force by the tightening means, for example, the following configuration can be used.
That is, the connecting portion of the support frame is rotatably fitted to the connected portion of the adjuster body, and the annular fitting groove that surrounds the connected portion between the connecting portion and the connected portion. Then, a spherical body is inserted into the fitting groove, and the valve device housed in the valve housing space is pressed against the valve connection port by the tightening means, so that the support frame is biased with respect to the adjuster body. The spherical body is sandwiched between the groove walls of the fitting groove.

  According to the configuration using the sphere, the support frame can be smoothly rotated with respect to the adjuster body by the intervention of the sphere. In addition, when the support frame is displaced with respect to the adjuster body by the tightening force of the tightening means, the spherical body is sandwiched by the groove wall of the fitting groove. Is securely fixed around the connected portion of the adjuster body.

  The sphere is inserted into the fitting groove by an arbitrary method, for example, the above-mentioned connected portion is detachably screwed to the adjuster body, and the above-mentioned connected portion is detached from the adjuster body. The connecting portion may be externally fitted via the spherical body, and then the connected portion may be screwed and fixed to the adjuster body. However, for example, the sphere can be inserted through the fitting groove from the surface of the support frame across the fitting groove, and inserted into the fitting groove from this insertion hole. Even if the adjuster body is rotated relative to the support frame, the connected portion is not likely to loosen, which is preferable.

  When the insertion hole is formed through the connecting portion, the insertion hole is sealed with a plug that can be attached and detached with, for example, a special tool, and the outer surface is covered with a label or the like. It is prevented from being removed. In this case, since the surface of the support frame is formed smoothly, the appearance can be maintained well, and there is also an advantage that it is easy for the user and can improve workability.

  If a plurality of the spheres are evenly arranged around the connected part, the connecting part of the support frame can be evenly and more securely fixed around the connected part via the plurality of spheres. More preferable. When the plurality of spheres are inserted into the fitting grooves from the insertion holes, the plurality of spheres are sequentially formed from the insertion holes to the fitting grooves by forming only one insertion hole in the connecting portion. Can be inserted.

A pipe connection portion is usually attached to the outer surface of the regulator body. A gas outlet is opened in the pipe connecting portion, and the gas outlet is communicated with the valve connecting port via an adjusting means. A gas extraction hose is connected and fixed to the pipe connection portion.
When the adjuster main body is rotated with respect to the support frame on which the valve device is mounted, the display unit can be moved to a desired position. Twisting may occur. Therefore, if the pipe connection part is attached to the outer surface of the adjuster body so as to be always rotatable, the pipe connection part can be arranged in any direction with respect to the adjuster body even if the adjuster body is rotated with respect to the support frame. Therefore, twisting or bending of the gas extraction hose can be prevented, which is preferable. In addition, according to this configuration, even when the posture of the user or the gas container is changed during the gas extraction, the gas connection is rotated by rotating the pipe connection portion in an arbitrary direction accordingly. There is an advantage that it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the hose from being twisted or bent.

  Since the present invention is configured and operates as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) To switch between the state in which the support frame can freely rotate and the state in which it cannot be rotated with respect to the adjuster body, simply press the valve device to the valve connection port with the tightening means. Well, for example, it can be done easily manually. In addition, since the above state is switched in accordance with the operation of attaching and detaching the valve device, the display unit can be easily rotated to a desired position where it is easy to see.

  (2) Since it is not necessary to tighten or loosen the connecting portion between the adjuster body and the support frame, the risk of gas leakage due to insufficient tightening of the connecting portion can be eliminated.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a partially broken front view of a gas regulator for a valve device, FIG. 2 (a) is a partially broken plan view of the gas regulator, and FIG. 2 (b) is an enlarged sectional view of the IIB portion of FIG. 2 (a). 3 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the flow rate setting device, and FIG. 3 (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the IIIB portion of FIG. 3 (a).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (a), the gas regulator for valve device (1) includes a regulator main body (2) and a support frame (3) rotatably connected to the regulator main body (2). With.
The support frame (3) is formed in a substantially rectangular frame in plan view, and a valve housing space (4) is formed therein. A fastening means (5) capable of moving back and forth with respect to the valve housing space (4) is provided on one side facing the adjuster body (2).

  The regulator body (2) has a valve connection port (6) in the valve housing space (4) at a position facing the tightening means (5) across the valve housing space (4). It is open to face. The support frame (3) has an engagement pin (7) projecting from the valve housing space (4) in the vicinity of the valve connection port (6).

  A pressure gauge (8), a flow rate setting handle (9), and a pipe connection (10) are attached to the outer surface of the regulator body (2), and set near the flow rate setting handle (9). A flow rate display portion (11) is formed. A gas outlet (12) is opened at the tip of the pipe connection part (10), and the gas outlet (12) is placed in the regulator body (2) as shown in FIG. 2 (a). The valve connecting portion (6) is communicated with the formed gas extraction passage (13).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the valve device (15) attached to the gas container (14) is inserted into the valve housing space (4), and the engagement pin (7) is connected to the outer surface of the valve device (15). Is inserted into the engagement hole (16) formed in the above. The engagement pin (7) and the engagement hole (16) are formed at different positions depending on the type of stored gas in the gas container (14). For this reason, the gas regulator (1) Is connected to a gas container (14) of an appropriate gas type via a valve device (15).

The valve device (15) inserted into the valve housing space (4) is pressed toward the valve connection port (6) by being tightened by the tightening means (5). Thereby, the internal space of the gas container (14) communicates with the gas outlet (12) through the valve device (15), the valve connection port (6), and the gas outlet path (13) in this order.
As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the pressure gauge (8) is connected to the gas extraction path (13), and the gas extraction path (13) is connected to the display section (17) of the pressure gauge (8). ) Is displayed as the remaining amount of gas in the gas container (14).

As shown in FIG. 3 (a), inside the regulator main body (2), there is an adjustment means (a decompression device (18) and a flow rate setting device (19) in the gas extraction passage (13)). 20) is provided.
The decompression device (18) is configured to decompress the gas taken out from the gas container (14) to a predetermined pressure by a piston-like decompression member (21). The flow rate setting device (19) includes an orifice plate (22) linked to the flow rate setting handle (9), and a plurality of orifices (23) are formed on the orifice plate (22). It is. When the flow rate setting handle (9) is turned, one of the orifices (23) opens into the gas extraction path (13), and the extracted gas flowing through the gas extraction path (13) is passed through the orifice (23). The flow rate is set according to the opening, and a numerical value corresponding to the set flow rate is displayed on the set flow rate display unit (11).

  As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the adjuster body (2) has a connected portion (25) formed around the valve connection port (6) to connect the support frame (3). The portion (24) is rotatably fitted to the connected portion (25). On the peripheral surfaces of the connecting portion (24) and the connected portion (25), annular fitting grooves (26) are formed at positions facing each other so as to surround the connected portion (25). A plurality of spheres (27) are inserted into the fitting groove (26). Therefore, when the valve device (15) is not tightened to the valve connection port (6) side, the support frame (3) is smoothly connected to the regulator body (2) by the interposition of the spherical body (27). Can be rotated.

  The connecting portion (24) has an insertion hole (31) extending from one place on the outer surface of the support frame (3) to the fitting groove (26), from the insertion hole (31). The plurality of spheres (27) are sequentially inserted into the fitting grooves (26). And after all the spheres (27) are inserted, the plug (32) is screwed and fixed to the insertion hole (31), and a label or the like is attached to the outer end opening of the insertion hole (31), The outer surface of the support frame (3) is smoothed.

  When the valve device (15) inserted into the valve accommodating space (4) is tightened by the tightening means (5) and pressed toward the valve connection port (6), the reaction frame causes the support frame (3 ) Deviates in a direction away from the adjuster body (2). For this reason, each fitting groove (26) formed in the connecting portion (24) and the connected portion (25) is slightly displaced from the position facing each other as shown in FIG. The cross-sectional shape of the fitting groove (26) is deformed. As a result, the sphere (27) is sandwiched between the groove walls (28) of the fitting groove (26), so that the connecting portion (24) of the support frame (3) is connected to the sphere (27). And is securely fixed around the connected portion (25) of the adjuster body (2).

  When the tightening by the tightening means (5) is loosened, the section of the fitting groove (26) returns to its original shape, so that the support frame (3) is inserted into the fitting groove (26). It is possible to smoothly rotate the regulator body (2) through the spherical body (27). For this reason, the set flow rate display unit (11) and the display unit (17) of the pressure gauge (8) rotate to an arbitrary position, for example, as indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 (a). be able to.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), a connecting cylinder (29) in which a gas extraction path (13) is formed is fixed to the adjuster body (2). The connecting cylinder (29) An engaging protrusion (30) is formed in an annular shape on the peripheral surface. The pipe connection portion (10) is rotatably fitted to the connection tube (29) and cannot be detached from the connection tube (29) by the engagement protrusion (30). That is, the pipe connection part (10) is configured to be always rotatable with respect to the adjuster body (2), and therefore the adjuster body (2) can be placed in any direction with respect to the support frame (3). Even if it is rotated, the pipe connecting portion (10) can be directed in an arbitrary direction by rotating with respect to the adjuster body (2).

  Note that the gas regulator for a valve device described in the above embodiment is illustrated to embody the technical idea of the present invention, and the shape and structure of the regulator body and the support frame are shown in this embodiment. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

  For example, in the modification shown in FIG. 4, the connected portion (25) of the adjuster main body (2) is formed of an annular recess, and the connecting portion (24) of the support frame (3) is connected to this connected portion ( 25) is fitted and locked. A minute gap is formed between the connecting portion (24) and the connected portion (25), and the valve device (15) is pressed toward the valve connecting port (6) by the tightening means (5). When not in the state, the support frame (3) can freely rotate with respect to the adjuster body (2). On the other hand, when the valve device (15) is tightened with the tightening means (5) and pressed toward the valve connection port (6), the reaction portion causes the connecting portion (24) of the support frame (3) to move to the adjuster body (2). The support frame (3) is firmly fixed to the adjuster body (2) by being pressed against the connected portion (25).

  In the above-described embodiments and modifications, the rectangular support frame is used, but in the present invention, it can be applied to a C-shaped support frame. In the above embodiment, the regulator body is provided with a pressure gauge. However, in the present invention, this pressure gauge may be omitted, and further, a pressure gauge that displays the pressure after depressurization is provided. Also good. Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the pressure reducing device and the flow rate setting device are provided as the adjusting means has been described, but in the present invention, either one may be provided. The shape and attachment position of the pipe connection part, the shape of the flow rate setting handle, the structure of the flow rate setting device and the pressure reducing device, etc. are not limited to those of the above embodiment, and the type of the extraction gas is oxygen gas. In addition, other types of gas may be used, and it goes without saying that the gas is not limited to a specific gas type.

  Since the gas regulator for a valve device of the present invention can be easily rotated to a desired position where a display portion such as a flow rate display is easy to see, the gas regulator for a valve device for setting the flow rate of a gas taken out from a medical oxygen gas cylinder is used. Although it is particularly suitable, it is also suitably used as a gas regulator for a valve device that adjusts the flow rate of other types of gases.

It is a partially broken front view of the gas regulator for valve devices which shows the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 (a) is a partially broken plan view of a gas regulator, and FIG. 2 (b) is an enlarged sectional view of a IIB portion of FIG. 2 (a), showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 (a) is a cross-sectional view of a flow rate setting device, and FIG. 3 (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the IIIB portion of FIG. 3 (a), showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure equivalent to Drawing 2 (a) showing a modification of an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Gas regulator for valve apparatuses 2 ... Regulator main body 3 ... Support frame 4 ... Valve accommodation space 5 ... Tightening means 6 ... Valve connection port
10 ... Piping connection
11… Set flow rate display
15… Valve device
20 ... Adjustment means
24 ... Connection part of support frame (3)
25: Connected part of adjuster body (2)
26 ... Mating groove
27 ... sphere
28 ... Fitting wall of fitting groove (26)

Claims (3)

An adjuster body (2) provided with an adjusting means (20) inside, and a support frame (3) connected to the adjuster body (2),
The support frame (3) includes a valve housing space (4) and a fastening means (5) capable of moving forward and backward with respect to the valve housing space (4).
The regulator body (2) includes a valve connection port (6) at a position facing the tightening means (5) across the valve housing space (4), and a gas regulator for a valve device. Because
The support frame (3) is rotatably connected to the adjuster body (2), and the valve device (15) housed in the valve housing space (4) is tightened by the tightening means (5). A gas regulator for a valve device, characterized in that the support frame (3) is fixed to the regulator body (2) so as not to rotate by being pressed to the valve connection port (6). . The connecting portion (24) of the support frame (3) is rotatably fitted around the connected portion (25) of the adjuster body (2),
An annular fitting groove (26) surrounding the connected portion (25) is formed between the connecting portion (24) and the connected portion (25), and a spherical body is formed in the fitting groove (26). Insert (27),
By pressing the valve device (15) against the valve connection port (6) with the tightening means (5), the support frame (3) is displaced with respect to the regulator body (2), and the above-mentioned The gas regulator for a valve device according to claim 1, wherein the spherical body (27) is sandwiched between groove walls (28) of the fitting groove (26).   A pipe connection part (10) is attached to the outer surface of the regulator body (2) so as to be always rotatable, and the gas outlet (12) provided in the pipe connection part (10) is connected to the valve connection port (6). The gas regulator for a valve device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gas regulator is in communication with the regulator via the adjusting means (20).

Images