JPS6144078Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] (1) Technical field of the invention This invention is based on liquefied petroleum gas (hereinafter referred to as LPG)
This invention relates to an improvement in a valve for an LPG container that is used by being fitted into an LPG container, with the purpose of regulating the flow rate and ensuring safety during filling and discharging from the LPG container. In particular, a cleaning pipe was installed that also functioned as an LPG filling and discharging pipe.
In the LPG container valve, this cleaning pipe has the function of cleaning impurities that remain and accumulate at the bottom of the LPG container.
This invention relates to improvements that improve LPG filling and discharging efficiency without impeding it.

(2) Technical background Based on the provisions of the High Pressure Gas Control Law, LPG is
To enable leak detection, a trace amount of odorant is mixed in prior to its sale. Furthermore, depending on the type of LPG, it may contain trace amounts of impurities, and there is also a chance that impurities such as lubricating oil from the compressor may be mixed in during the shipping process. And, the physical properties of these impurities are different from those of LPG, and
Because chemical changes occur within the container,
When LPG containers are used for long-term LPG distribution and LPG is consumed and refilled repeatedly, these impurities
It has been empirically confirmed that residual residue accumulates at the bottom of LPG containers. To ensure safety, LPG containers are collected periodically, the LPG is discharged, the inside is cleaned, and the pressure resistance is inspected. However, impurities that have accumulated at the bottom of the LPG container over a long period of time have extremely high viscosity The impurities often harden and are difficult to remove and clean, and the impurities emit an unbearable odor, causing health management problems for workers. It also has a negative impact on the surrounding environment and causes pollution problems. Therefore, we developed a structure that does not allow such impurities to stick to the bottom of the container even after repeated use over a long period of time, including filling and consuming.
There was an urgent need to develop LPG containers, especially valves for LPG containers.

(3) Prior Art and Problems On the other hand, it is well known that it is effective to use tubes, pipes, etc. as a means for cleaning the inside of containers with small necks, such as bottles. Furthermore, it is well known that it is effective to pinch the tip of the cleaning tube and jet a cleaning agent such as cleaning liquid as a high-speed jet from a hole in the tip.

Therefore, it is thought that installing a cleaning pipe in the valve for an LPG container would be effective in removing the above-mentioned residual accumulation. However, considering the simplicity of the structure, low failure rate, ease of handling, etc., it is desirable to have the cleaning pipe and the LPG filling/discharging pipe also be used.

However, as mentioned above, residual buildup will remain at the bottom of the LPG container, so it is desirable that the cleaning tube extends to the bottom of the LPG container. However, on the other hand, it is extremely inconvenient when considering that the cleaning pipe extending to the bottom of the container functions as a pipe for filling and discharging LPG. In other words, (a) LPG must be filled into the liquid phase LPG and through the tip hole with a small diameter, so the flow path resistance during filling becomes extremely large and a large filling pressure is required. Furthermore, due to the increase in internal pressure of the LPG container due to the temperature rise caused by the high resistance of this flow path, a larger filling pressure is required, and of course the filling efficiency is hindered and the time required for filling becomes longer. (b) The release of LPG is always from the liquid phase LPG, and moreover, through the tip hole with a small diameter, following the reverse path to that during filling, and in this case, the release pressure is The problem becomes even more serious because it is impossible to control this arbitrarily. In other words, not only does the release efficiency decrease and release takes time, but also the LPG is always released in a liquid phase, which causes the pipes to expand, especially in the pipes after LPG is released from the LPG container. In places etc.
It vaporizes through an adiabatic expansion method and cools the area, causing problems in winter, etc. In addition, liquid phase LPG accumulates at bends in pipes, causing pipe blockage.

Therefore, in order to realize the technical idea of equipping the LPG container valve with a cleaning pipe that also serves as an LPG filling/discharging pipe, it is essential to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks at the same time.

This request makes it possible to control the diameter of the hole at the tip of the cleaning tube, and reduces the diameter of the hole at the tip only during a certain period (cleaning period) of the LPG filling process.
During the other periods (filling period and release period), the tip hole will be partially filled by increasing the diameter of the hole, but even with this method, the liquid phase will not be released. It is impossible to resolve the drawbacks, and furthermore, the structure is complicated and clearly impractical as a valve for an LPG container.

(4) Purpose of the invention The purpose of the invention is to meet these demands.Even if the same LPG container is repeatedly filled with LPG over a long period of time, impurities that remain and accumulate at the bottom of the container solidify. The ultimate goal is to provide a valve for LPG containers that does not become difficult to remove due to the cleaning process, and has the functions of powerfully cleaning and eliminating the above-mentioned residual and accumulated impurities, as well as the functions of filling and discharging LPG. It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve for an LPG container which has a cleaning pipe, eliminates the disadvantages caused by having such a cleaning pipe, and has a simple structure.

(5) Structure of the invention The structure of the invention is such that one end of the valve body 1 is fitted into the LPG container valve body 1, and the other end is inserted into the LPG container 2 into which the valve body 1 is used. In a valve for an LPG container having a cleaning pipe 5 extending to the vicinity of the bottom and serving also as an LPG filling/discharging pipe, (a) the hollow of the cleaning pipe 5 is the narrow flow path 4 of the valve body 1; (b) The cleaning pipe 5 is provided in a region close to the fitting point between the pipe 5 and the valve body 1, and has a diameter comparable to that of the narrow flow path 4. It communicates with the inside of the LPG container 2 and has a diameter that is approximately the same as or slightly larger than the inside hole, and when filling with LPG, liquid phase LPG is injected into the inside of the LPG container 2 and the LPG is expanded by adiabatic expansion. It has at least one first opening 6 that lowers the temperature and pressure inside the container 2 and allows gas phase LPG to pass from the inside of the LPG container with low flow resistance during LPG filling, (c) The cleaning pipe 5 extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the LPG container 2 and has a diameter comparable to that of the inner hole at the other end.
The valve for an LPG container is characterized in that it has at least one second opening 7 for injecting liquid phase LPG toward the bottom of the LPG container 2 as a high-speed jet during filling.

(a) In order to powerfully clean and eliminate impurities that remain and accumulate at the bottom of the LPG container 2, a second hole extending to the vicinity of the bottom and having a diameter similar to that of the medium hole is provided at the tip.
The basic technical idea is to use a cleaning pipe 5 having at least one opening 7, and (b) this cleaning pipe 5 also functions as an LPG filling/discharging pipe to simplify the structure. (c) In order to eliminate the disadvantages that naturally arise due to this arrangement, a hole with a diameter of 100 mm is installed in the vicinity of the fitting point between the cleaning pipe 5 and the LPG container valve body 1. The first opening 6 is of the same size or slightly larger than the first opening 6.

According to this configuration, when (i) LPG is filled, (a) liquid phase LPG is delivered at high speed and in large quantities from the first opening 6 whose diameter is about the same as the middle hole of the pipe or slightly larger. The second openings 7, which are about the size of the middle holes of the pipe, will each spray at high speed, and (b) the large amount of LPG sprayed from the first openings 6 will ensure a sufficiently high filling speed. (c) Due to the phenomenon that latent heat of vaporization is required based on the adiabatic expansion of this jet, the gas phase LPG in the LPG container 2 is cooled and liquefied.
The atmospheric pressure inside the LPG container 2 is lowered to facilitate the ejection of LPG from the first opening 6 and the second opening 7, and (d) the high-speed LPG ejected from the second opening 7 is It collides at high speed with impurities such as odorants that have settled at the bottom of the LPG, scattering them, and distributes them into the LPG to prevent them from accumulating at the bottom.(ii)
When discharging LPG, gaseous LPG is easily discharged from the first opening 6, which has a diameter similar to the diameter of the pipe's medium hole, and the disadvantages of using both a cleaning pipe and an LPG discharging pipe are completely eliminated. .

(6) Example of the invention A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In Fig. 1, 1 is an LPG container valve body having the same structure as a conventional LPG container valve, and the LPG container valve body 1 is screwed to an LPG container 2 via a screw portion 3. The LPG container valve body 1 has a screw portion 3 at its center.
An LPG flow path 4 is drilled, one end of which opens into the LPG container 2, and a cleaning pipe 5 is connected to the opening.
One end of the cleaning pipe 5 is fitted to the bottom of the LPG container 2, and the cleaning pipe 5 extends to the bottom of the LPG container 2.
The cleaning pipe 5 communicates with the LPG flow passage 4. The cleaning pipe 5 is provided with at least one first opening 6 at a position as close as possible to the fitting point with the valve body 1 for the LPG container, and the diameter of this first opening 6 is approximately the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the center hole of the cleaning pipe 5, which is selected to be approximately the same as the diameter of the narrow flow passage 4 of the valve body, and this center hole communicates with the inside of the LPG container 2.
At least one second opening 7 is also provided at the other end extending to near the bottom of the LPG container 2,
The diameter of this second opening 7 is approximately the same as the diameter of the bore of the cleaning tube.

As mentioned above, the valve body 1 for an LPG container is a conventional one.
It has the same structure as a valve for an LPG container, and a valve body 8 is provided at the upper edge of the LPG flow path 4, and the valve body 8 slides through an operation rod 9 driven by a valve opening/closing operation handle 10. It is movably supported, and depending on the position of the valve body 8,
The LPG channel 4 and the LPG inlet/outlet 11 communicate with each other or are closed. In addition, the safety valve 1 is installed in the valve body 1 for the LPG container.
2 is provided, and the safety valve 12 communicates with the LPG flow path 4.

Next, the effect will be explained. First, valve opening/closing handle 1
0 in the valve opening direction, the valve body 8 moves to the open position via the operating rod 9, and the LPG inlet/outlet 11 and the LPG flow path 4 communicate with each other.
Since it is in communication with the inside of the container 2 through the cleaning pipe 5 having a diameter, it is possible to fill and discharge LPG. Next, when the valve opening/closing operation handle 10 is operated in the valve closing direction, the valve body 8 moves to the closing position in the opposite direction to the above, and the LPG inlet/outlet 11 and the LPG flow path 4 are closed, so that the container 2
The interior is completely isolated from the outside.

Here, if LPG is filled, LPG in liquid phase
passes through the LPG flow path 4 and the cleaning pipe 5 sequentially from the inlet/outlet 11, becomes a rapid jet, and enters the container 2 from the first and second openings 6, 7 provided in the cleaning pipe 5. gush. The high-speed jet from the second opening 7 collides with impurities such as odorants that have settled at the bottom of the container 2 and scatters them into the liquid phase of LPG. As a result, the precipitated impurities are distributed and mixed into the liquid phase of LPG, preventing them from staying near the bottom. By repeating this action each time LPG is filled, even if the same LPG container is used for a long period of time, it is possible to prevent impurities such as odorants from remaining and accumulating at the bottom of the container and solidifying. can.
Also, since the amount of inflow from the first opening 6 is large,
By using both the LPG filling/discharging pipe and the cleaning pipe, it is possible to prevent the LPG filling speed from significantly decreasing. Diameter of first opening 6 and second opening 7
The diameter of the
The aperture of the opening 6 is selected to be somewhat large, so that the filling can be performed at a sufficiently high speed through the first opening 6 and the jet flow can be generated at a sufficiently high speed through the second opening 7. It can be achieved with balance.

Furthermore, a first opening 6 provided in the cleaning tube 5
The liquid phase LPG that is spouted from the container expands adiabatically at the same time as it spews out, demands latent heat of vaporization, cools and liquefies the gas phase LPG in the container, and lowers its atmospheric pressure. It is possible to eject well until the end of filling without interfering with the high-speed jet flow.

Next, when LPG is to be discharged, the LPG passes through the first opening 6 in a vapor phase, flows into the LPG flow path 4, passes through the LPG inlet/outlet 11, and is guided to the outside.
If the first opening 6 with a sufficiently large diameter does not exist, LPG will flow in the liquid phase from the second opening 7 into the cleaning pipe 5, pass through the LPG flow path 4, and exit from the LPG inlet/outlet 11. It is led to the outside, but in the process, it is vaporized by an adiabatic expansion method especially at the point where the flow path expands, such as when passing the valve body 8, and that part is cooled, causing problems in winter etc., and further downstream from the LPG inlet/outlet. There is a risk that liquid LPG will accumulate at the bending points of the pipes, causing pipe blockage and safety problems in winter, etc. However, with the valve for LPG containers according to the present invention, the gas phase Since LPG flows out through the first opening 6 having a diameter comparable to that of the cleaning tube, such a possibility is completely impossible. or,
When completely draining the LPG in the container 2 during periodic inspections, the liquid phase LPG is removed by overturning the container 2.
can be easily and completely discharged through the first opening 6, making it extremely convenient to handle. That is, a cleaning pipe 5 having a second opening 7 is provided, which is essential for achieving the purpose of preventing impurities contained in LPG from remaining at the bottom of the container and solidifying. The secondary disadvantages that may be expected due to the use of the washing pipe 5 as a utility pipe are completely resolved by providing another opening (first opening) 6 in the cleaning pipe 5.

In other words, (i) when filling LPG, the first opening 6
liquid phase LPG through, LPG in large quantities at a sufficiently fast rate
The liquid phase LPG is ejected into the container 2, and along with this ejection, the liquid phase LPG expands adiabatically and the gas phase in the LPG container 2
The latent heat of vaporization is removed from LPG, the temperature and pressure inside the LPG container 2 are lowered, and the inflow of liquid phase LPG is promoted.
Ensure LPG filling efficiency. This temperature drop in the container 2 promotes not only the injection from the first opening 6 but also the injection from the second opening 7, improving the cleaning effect. Gas phase LPG is discharged through the openings 1 with low flow path resistance, ensuring LPG discharge efficiency.

(7) Effects of the invention As explained above, according to this invention, even if the same LPG container is repeatedly filled with LPG over a long period of time, the impurities that remain and accumulate at the bottom of the container solidify and cannot be removed. The ultimate goal is to provide a valve for LPG containers that does not cause any problems, and has the function of powerfully cleaning and eliminating the above-mentioned residual and accumulated impurities.
It has a cleaning pipe that also has the function of filling and discharging LPG, and the disadvantages caused by having such a cleaning pipe are eliminated, and further,
A valve for an LPG container with a simple structure can be provided.

It goes without saying that the structure of the valve body of the valve for LPG containers according to this invention allows a large degree of freedom.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a valve for an LPG container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is fitted into an LPG container and in use. 1... Valve body for LPG container, 2... LPG container, 4
... LPG narrow flow path of the LPG container valve body, 5 ... cleaning pipe, 6 ... first opening, 7 ... second opening.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An LPG container 2 in which one end is fitted into the LPG container valve body 1 and the other end is fitted with the valve body 1.
A cleaning pipe 5 extends toward the inside of the container 2 to near the bottom of the container 2 and serves as an LPG filling/discharging pipe.
In the LPG container valve having: (a) the cleaning pipe 5;
The inner hole communicates with the narrow passage 4 of the valve body 1 and has a diameter comparable to that of the narrow passage 4, and (b) the cleaning pipe 5
is provided in a region close to the fitting point between the pipe 5 and the valve body 1, and communicates the inner hole with the inside of the LPG container 2, so that the inner hole has a diameter of approximately the same size or a slightly larger diameter. When filling LPG, the liquid phase LPG is
Injecting it into the inside of the LPG container 2 to lower the temperature and pressure inside the LPG container 2 by adiabatic expansion,
(c) the cleaning pipe 5 has at least one first opening 6 through which gas-phase LPG passes from inside the LPG container with low flow resistance during LPG filling;
The other end of the LPG container 2, which extends to the vicinity of the bottom, has a diameter comparable to that of the above-mentioned medium hole, and when filling with LPG, the liquid phase LPG
A valve for an LPG container, characterized in that it has at least one second opening 7 that injects the liquid toward the bottom of the LPG container 2 as a high-speed jet.