US1728476A - Apparatus for charging pressure containers - Google Patents

Description

D. S. CONE Sept. 17, 1929.

APPARATUS FOR CHARGING PRESSURE CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet gwuntoz David 15' Gm Imiimnnm Gum-M1 D. S. CONE Sept. 17, 1929.

APPARATUS FOR CHARGING PRESSURE CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 9, 1927 gwuewtoz David: Gbne Q QM Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DAVID S. CONE, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BEACON DEVICES, INC., 0]? NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, A.- CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR CHARGING PRESSURE CONTAINERS Application filed August 9, 1927. Serial No. 211,747.

refilling is to send the containers back to the distributor. The disadvantages of this practice are very evident and greatly decrease the utility of such devices. This invention is designed to overcome these objections by an apparatus which may be readily set up in any service station and which comprises a clamp whereby the container is securely held to permit its valve to be opened and maintained in sealed communication with the fluid supply line and a valve organization to control the fluid flow in said supply line. The valve organization includes both a main control valve and an auxiliary valve by which the gas in the line which extends to the container may be vented into the atmosphere after the container has been charged and the inlet and container valves have been again closed, the purpose of the auxiliary valve being to protect the operator from contact with the cold fluid remaining in the line and which otherwise might strike him upon removal of the container from the clamp.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the valve clamp and container in clamped position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the containerin clamped position. v

Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectionalview of the valve organization.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the valve organization. 4

The working elements of the apparatus consist generally of the clamp andv valve organization with which the container valve 1 cooperates when the container is being charged. The valve 1 is secured to the container and includes a reducer 2 and nipple 3. The smaller end of the reducer 2 is threaded into the neck of the container and is formed with a chamber 4 which is internally threaded at its outer end to receive the nipple 3 and communicates with the container at its inner end through a small aperture 5. The

larger end of the reducer 2 is provided with a shoulder 6 whereby it may be screwed against a sealing washer interposed between it and the container neck. This larger end of the reducer is internally threaded to receive a packing gland 7 for compressing the packing 8 between the reducer 2 and nipple 3. The nipple has an axial duct 9 which communicates with a recess 10 at its outer end and a cross part 11 near its inner end, said cross part opening into chamber 4. The innor end of the nipple is formed as a valve head 1 and carries a washer for sealing the aperture 5 when the valve head 1 is closed. In order to limit the relative outward movement of said nipple upon opening the valve head 1 the nipple is provided with an annular shoulder which abuts against a stop pin 12 secured to the outer end of gland 7. The nipple is also provided with an annular flange 13 near its outer end which carries a pivoted bail 14.

The clamp includes a filling head or block 15 which is secured to an extended supporting base 16 provided at its remote end with a saddle 17 upon which the container may rest. The block has a fluid passage 18 extending through it, one endof which terminates in a nipple 19 forconnecting the same with pipe 20 leading to the control valve organization. A fitting 21 is secured to the block at the discharge end of the passage 18 c and has a tubular extension 22 which cooperates with recess 10 to link the passage 18 with the duct 9. The fitting is provided with the usual sealing washer for cooperation with the end of the mpple. When the container is in position to be charged, the extension 22 projects into the recess 10 and the body of the container rests upon saddle 17. Inorder to clamp it in such position, the bail 14 is swung over the block to a horizontal position where the lug 23 0f the clamp screw 24 engages the bow of the bail. The screw 24 is held in position by a bracket 25 at one end secured to block 15 and by a recess 26 in the block which engages the other end of the screw. Movement of the screw out of the recess is prevented by a collar 27 fitted on the screw adjacent the bracket. A suitable knob or wheel 28 is provided for turning the screw to move lug 23 so as to clamp or release the container.

The pipe 20 connects the passage 18 of the clamp to the outlet nipple 29 of the valve organization block 30 secured to base 30 said nipple communicating with a passage 31 leading to the fluid control valve 32 and having a. branch passage 31' leading to the auxiliary valve 33. The fluid control valve 32 has a chamber 3% provided with two ducts, one of which, as 31, communicates with the passage 31 and the other of which, as 35*, communicates with an inlet passage 35, said inlet passage being connected to the supply line 36 through inlet nipple 37. The valve 32 includes a suitable stem 38 for opening and closing the valve head 32 which carries the usual sealing washer. It is readily apparent that when the valve head is open the supply line 36 will be in open communication with pipe 20. The auxiliary valve 33 is of the same construction as the container valve 1 and is opened by turning the bail 39 so as to move the valve nipple away from the duct leading to the branch passage 31. When open it vents the passage 31 to atmosphere.

When the equipment is not in use the fluid control valve 32 and auxiliary valve 33 are closed. In use the container is first secured to the clamp as before described, and the container, valve is opened by turning the container about its axis and with reference to the nipple 3. The fluid control valve is then opened permitting the liquefied gas to flow from the supply tank (not shown) through pipe 36, valve 32, passage 31, pipe 20, clamp block passage 18 and through the open container valve into the container. As the container is filled, its increasing weight is indicated on a scale (not shown) and its weight when filled being predetermined the operator can close the control valve 32 when the container is completely charged. After valve 32 is closed, the container is turned about its axis with reference to the nipple 3 to close the valve 1. Thus with the valves 1 and 32 closed, the gas in the passages between such valves is trapped. If the operator were to .unclamp and remove the container, at this time, the trapped fluid would strikehim with unpleasant efiect due to its low temperature. This is avoided by opening the auxiliary valve which permits such trapped fluid to escape to atmosphere. The container may then be removed and the auxiliary valve reclosed to put the apparatus in condition to repeat the operation.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In an apparatus for charging containers having a valve with fluid under pressure the combination of a body formed with a fluid passage and having means for holding the container in sealed communication with said passage, a unitary valve organization com prising a valve block provided with a control valve, an auxiliary valve, an intake passage leading to the control valve, an outlet passage leading from the control valve and a connection between said outlet passage and said auxiliary valve, a pipe connecting the intake passage with a source of supply and a pipe connecting said outlet passage with the fluid passage of said body.

2. Inan apparatus for charging containers with fluid under pressure, in combination, a supporting element and a self-contained structure at one endof said supporting element for conducting. gas to the inlet end of the container, said structure having a gas passage adapted for communication with said inlet end of the container and having releasable means for cooperation with the container to hold the same in sealed engagement with the discharge end of said passage, the latter havin a nipple for its connection to a remotely Iocated source of gas supply.

3. In an apparatus for charging containers with fluid under pressure, in combination, a supporting element, a self-contained structure at one end of said supporting element for conducting gas to the inlet end of the container, said structure having a gas passage adapted for communication with the inlet end of the container and having releasable means for cooperation with the container to hold the same in sealed engagementwith the discharge end of said passage and a container engaging saddle located on said support at a point remote from said self-contained structure, said gas passage having a nipple at its inlet end for its connection to a remotely located source of gas supply.

4. In an apparatus for charging containers with fluid under pressure, a supporting element, a self-contained structure at one end of said supporting element for conducting gas to the inlet end of the container, said structure having a gas passage adapted for communication with the inlet end of the container and having releasable means for cooperation with the container to hold the same in sealed-engagement with the discharge end of said passage and a container engaging saddle located on said support at a point remote from said self-contained structure, said gas passage having a nipple at its inlet end for its connection to a remotely located source of gas supply, in combination with a remotely located self-contained valve organization having a connection to said source of gas supply, a connection to said nipple, a

passage between said connections, and a valve controlling said passage.

5. In an apparatus for charging containers with fluid under pressure, a supporting element, a self-contained structure at-one end of said supporting element for conducting gas to the inlet end of the container," said structure having a gas passage adapted for communication with the inlet end of the container and having releasable means for cooperation with the container to hold the same in sealed engagement with the discharge end of said passage and a. container engaging saddle located on said support at a point remote from said self-contained structure, said gas passage having a nipple for its connection to a remotelylocatedsourceofgas supply, in combination with a remotely located self-contained valve organization having a connection to said source of gas supply, a connection to said nipple, a passage between said connections, and a gas-escape passage connected to said first named passage, a valve controlling said first named passage and a valve controlling said escape passage.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my DAVID S. GONE.

' signature.

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