WO2011115467A2

WO2011115467A2 - Simplified secure-fit regulator for gas cylinders

Info

Publication number: WO2011115467A2
Application number: PCT/MA2010/000018
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abdellah Elyabouri
Original assignee: Abdellah Elyabouri
Priority date: 2010-03-17
Filing date: 2010-12-20
Publication date: 2011-09-22
Also published as: WO2011115467A3

Abstract

Regulator with simplified and secure-fit support for gas cylinders, comprising an integrated support (1, 2, 3, 4) for mounting directly and without the use of tools on cylinders comprising valves, and a safety knob (5) guarded against any unwanted removal, such as, for example, in the means of transport and the vibrating machinery used in factories or on worksites. The assembly between regulator and its support is permanent and compact, and potentially allows the full cylinder to be grasped because of the robust and ergonomic design. The system is supplemented by the provision of a central pressure gauge incorporated into the regulator, intended to check the fill condition of the cylinder.

Description

SIMPLIFIED SAFETY MOUNTING DETENDER FOR GAS BOTTLES

Inventor: Abdellah EL YABOURI

The present invention relates to a simplified secure mounting regulator for gas cylinders. It concerns the field of combustible gases distributed in bottles for commercial or domestic use, that of industrial gases, as well as that of gaseous fuels on board vehicles, boats or aircraft, and more generally the cases of distribution of low-viscosity fluids, where Pressure taps must be taken quickly and safely without the need for special tools or specific professional qualifications. However, among these different sectors and applications, those especially concerned and whose description follows, are those where the delivery of gas to employment is carried out,

generally from bottles, by means of faucets, usually with a vertical movement axis provided with a progressive manual opening / closing system.

In the abovementioned fields, compressed natural gas cylinders are particularly known, as well as those of combustible or non-combustible industrial gases. These bottles are, in the current state of the art, generally equipped with faucets, the technical details of which depend mainly on the nature of the gases to be delivered to the consumer. Thus, according to their corrosive nature or not, the operating pressures and temperatures, the conditions of transport and handling, the risk of flashback, etc., these valves can differ significantly and, in addition, be associated with other devices such as manometers and regulators including. These devices are usually connected to the faucet, and from there to the use, by means of threaded connections with seals to ensure the stability of the connection and to avoid the risk of gas leaks.

Most frequently, in many countries, the regulator is connected directly to the threaded outlet of the faucet. When changing the bottle, this connection is defeated with a wrench type key or wheel and it is common observation that special attention must be paid to this operation, to avoid leakage likely to cause accidents in the form of explosions, in the case of combustible gases. Moreover, the sealing of this connection is normally provided by two rubber seals acting simultaneously and complementarily to ensure the essential seal required at this level. The present invention does not relate in particular to gas cylinders with simple valves, but rather those with tap. In the recent past, several solutions have been proposed to replace this gas regulator-gas bottle link and, on the one hand, make it faster and within the reach of unspecified persons, and on the other hand ensure the safety of the operation. However, we note that few models of solutions have been proposed to the public and, similarly, the patent literature contains few inventions on the subject of regulator-holder accessories or devices for the simple and tool-free connection of the latter on the faucet, although the systems and faucet variants themselves proposed are numerous.

The state of the art, however, reveals the existence of a few devices specifically intended to facilitate the connection of a regulator / regulator on a gas cylinder, and this in particular so as to allow this operation with speed and safety, without tools, and finally without the intervention of a specially qualified person.

In the trade, the device known "Master Clip" Shell / Butagaz company, characterized by the integration of a regulator, or expander, as well as a device of security pushed and a fast fixing. However, the sophisticated and delicate nature of this device makes its cost price relatively high so that the market it responds to remains limited, according to current observations of several years. Moreover, it seems that security aspects related to the assembly and disassembly with a simple "click" remain, or at least are likely to be suspected rightly or wrongly by the user because of the simplicity even of these manipulations.

In order to more suitably position the present invention, it should be noted also the existence of a complete device also comprising a pressure reducer and snap fastening means; this type of device is fixed vertically to a valve bottle, but is not suitable for conventional faucets. Among these devices, it is worth mentioning as examples the "Clip-On" and "Clip-Cube" brands respectively of the Primagaz and Butagaz companies. Furthermore, the patent WO0223071 (A1) is typically descriptive of an apparatus of this type, suitable for bottles without tap, with a suitable valve.

In the patent literature, as mentioned above, devices approaching the present invention are few, as reported, and it is worth mentioning patent CA1 165345 A1 and WO8201542 Cadbury Schweppes Society, characterized by a stirrup pivoting around a horizontal axis to come over the faucet to be fixed by means of a screw with cruciform handle. The drawings and the description of this patent essentially refer to applications relating to the industrial gas sector in order not only to recharge but also to maintain the reservoir in a stable position. Indeed, by its main provisions, this device is primarily intended to be fixed on a stable vertical wall to prevent falling bottles, the latter being generally of the long type, with base and horizontal section of relatively small areas.

It is appropriate to cite in this context our own invention object of the patent No. 31785 and which refers to an expansion valve for gas cylinder valves. This device has been amply described and argued as a distinctive device to be placed over a faucet, with connection to a conventional expansion valve with a rear gas inlet. However, we have observed that the overall length of our device, including that of the conventional regulator, may appear to be important, and especially since gas cylinders do not generally have appropriate handle (s) for their grip, the users could have a tendency to seize them by this assembly during their use if necessary to handle them, which is likely to induce tensions in these devices thus linked and also in the seals . In addition, this mounted assembly remains bulky, which is not to compensate for the small space available in home appliances or reserves left for gas cylinders. The present invention concerns both bottles of butane, propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with a tap system, etc., and the needs for quick connections and secure other fluids for various industrial or domestic uses from a tap connected to a gas network, such as the distribution of gas in the community, to the extent of the compatibility of the device of the present invention with the type of valve prescribed - or prescriptible - for this type of network. . The invention has the first objective to solve the problem of the overall size of the expander and regulator valve assembly as mentioned above, and thus to enhance the compactness, rigidity and strength of the assembly.

A second object of the invention is to reduce the complexity of mounting between the expander and the pressure reducer holder, while ensuring a permanent seal obtained from the factory assembly, which ensures the safety of the connection permanently .

A third object of the invention is to allow the user to immediately place his regulator with its support, on its gas cylinder, without the use of separate tools or special technical knowledge, other than basic safety concepts. A fourth object of the invention is to prevent untimely loosening by children or house staff - in this case during household operations or cleaning especially

- does not happen.

A fifth object of the invention is to allow installation of the gas utilization system in an environment marked by vibrations, such as machines of various jobs, without risk of inadvertent loosening of the device or gas leaks. This case includes boarding vehicles, especially those with gaseous fuel.

A sixth objective of the invention is to allow the user to appreciate the level of filling of the bottle with a single and integrated device.

A seventh objective of the invention is to obtain a simplification of gas exploitation, at the technical and social levels.

The present invention aims ultimately to significantly increase the availability and safety of gas cylinders, and allow unskilled people without special tools to proceed to change bottles by means of a progressive maneuver resulting in no risk of uncontrolled leaks. Indeed, the present invention uses the principle of a progressive manual connection, which makes it possible to avoid or to overcome

- any leakage due to the possible forgetting of the open tap. The new connection, with double seal, is made more secure by means of a progressive manual tightening, which makes it possible to fully judge its effectiveness before any firing. In addition, a special brake makes it possible, at the end of tightening, to block the rotation of the clamping handle so that an unprepared person will not risk to undo the latter simply by handling this handle. Moreover, in the event of gas leakage due to other reasons, the valve of the bottle remains fully accessible to the user, so that the device of the present invention has the effect of reinforcing the safety of the bottles, contrary to what could happen to valve-type bottles in the event that the valve is malfunctioning. Indeed, the system formed by a gas valve and the device of the invention in function, remains entirely manual and accessible, and as such perfectly and immediately controllable by the user himself.

The invention as specified in the claims, consists in the use of a gas expander (or regulator), associated with a support and mounting device, similar to the subject of the aforementioned patent No. 31785 in the present description, the latter being, briefly expressed, consisting of a metal frame, generally rectangular, elongated and recessed placed over the valve, provided on a small side, internally, a horizontal cylindrical nozzle with concentric orifice for the gas passage, nozzle dimensioned to fit into the outlet of the gas valve of the bottle ensuring a double seal; exactly opposite and concentric with this cylindrical nozzle, is disposed outside the frame a second nozzle intended to be housed in the body of a specially designed regulator for this purpose, in a sealed and irremovable manner; once the inner tip attached to the outlet of the gas valve with this double safety seal, the pressure screw is gradually tightened on the neck of the tap, by the interposition of a semicircular housing push wedge this neck ; in a complementary way, to ensure the non-reversibility of this movement, is disposed on the same axis a knurled circular nut, thin, which is turned - after tightening the main handle of the expansion valve - in the opposite direction the bolt until it abuts internally on the small side of the body of the pressure reducer: one thus obtains a tightening resistant to both attempts to loosen the screw by means of its own handle as to untimely vibrations in a unstable environment, such as a rolling machine or means of transport.

In order to better understand the provisions of the invention, we illustrate by non-limiting figures that follow the main configurations of the invention and its components.

Figure 1, Plate I, is a general view of the device of the invention, with its essential parts, the special expander (8) and its support with their accessories (1, 2,3,4).

Figure 2, Plate II, is a view of the constituent frame of the expansion-valve device of the invention, in a disassembled situation.

Figure 3, Plate II, is a view of the expander / regulator device of the invention, in a disassembled situation. It goes without saying that these illustrations do not limit in any way the possibilities of embodiments according to the invention, nor the applications and practical variants that can be envisaged. Furthermore, the market itself is liable to be segmented, especially into products, according to the invention, intended for the general public - or current applications - and professional products, such as those intended in particular for industry and commercial uses. . Thus, it will be considered as naturally forming part of the invention the variants introducing modifications of materials, dimensions, tolerances in assemblies, metallurgical or surface treatments, as well as any additional devices using the provisions of the present invention and intended for adaptations to these complementary uses. By way of example, the dimensions of the components may vary, as may the materials themselves:

• for common applications, the device of the invention can be designed lighter, including the frame, the stirrup-push (2) and the screw-push (3) more ordinary materials such as: common steels with treatments surfaces, etc. ; the handle (4) may be plastic such as bakelite, or more simply steel with a protective treatment. In such a case, a light frame (1) may be one where the sliding parts (stirrup-push (2)) are simple integrated half-moons.

• For more professional applications, the device of the invention can be designed more robust, and more precise in terms of machining and operation, including the frame, the stirrup-pusher, the handle and the screw-in more noble materials such as: brass, stainless steel, ... etc. In this case, a robust frame may be, according to the invention, the one provided with prominent slides, (7) and (7 ') with a rectangular section, with a pusher (2) where the sliding parts are integrated notches.

A complementary feature according to the invention is that of providing the handle small enough so that it can not be easily manipulated inadvertently or by little responsible persons such as children. In this way, too, the tightening by an adult will not be excessive, but just adapted if necessary, without the seals are excessively crushed: this measure is likely to strengthen the safety of the system while ensuring longevity .

Design, assembly and obtaining of the system:

As a preferred design of the special regulator object of the invention, we describe below special provisions to meet the first two objectives of the invention as mentioned above.

Due to the complexity of the components and the technologies induced for their manufacture, or even the difference of the desirable materials for each, we proceed to a separate manufacture of the regulator and its support frame. The regulator (8) using a conventional metal injection technology in special presses, is designed according to the invention in two main parts - upper and lower flanges - the latter having at the back a bore (14) in which will come s insert the tip (10), (1 1), (12)) of the frame (1), the latter being provided with two circular grooves in which will be inserted two O-rings to ensure gas tightness between the two rooms; a preferential means for fixing the end piece ((10), (1 1), (12)) in the duct (14) is the practice of a thread at the bottom of the duct and at the end of the endpiece, the thread will be filled with a special adhesive - such as epoxy resin for example - which will prevent any relative rotation of the parts as soon as drying while contributing to the gas tightness. In this arrangement, those skilled in the art will take care to adjust the end piece ((10), (1 1), (12)) with the conduit (14) so that the efforts never relate to the o-rings or on the threaded parts but only on the cylindrical bearings (10), (1 1) and (12), the latter only in part, because of the end threading. By this preferential arrangement is obtained an expander assembly and its completely integral support, together with a maximum compactness and rigidity thus meeting the aforementioned needs. This monobloc assembly consequently allows the user to proceed by means of a single installation operation to connect his new gas cylinder.

The invention also makes it possible to meet the fourth objective, that of high security. Indeed, in addition to the deletion of conventional seals allowed by the permanent integration of the regulator with its mounting bracket as described above, an additional safety advantage is obtained by the integration of a mechanical brake along the rod. tightening (3) the regulator holder on the valve. This brake is constituted by a wheel (5) acting as a counter-nut along the rod (3), positioned so as to block any loosening movement exerted on the handle (4). This safety principle compensates for the great facility of the device to be eventually loosened inadvertently or by unwanted persons. Indeed, the wheel is, according to the invention, arranged so as to require a relatively large manual effort due to: 1. Its reduced diameter; 2. Its small thickness, and 3. Its protected location, interposed between the sliding caliper (2) and the boss (6) of the main frame (1). However, despite its thinness, this wheel is reinforced in thickness to the right of the thread, and this to ensure a minimum number of threads of 3, and also to ensure a permanent geometric positioning and correct operation. The knurling of this piece (5) is simply ensured by machining according to a known rolling device of the pre-cut peripheral surface, and this generally on a lathe.

This counter-clamping device (5) finally makes it possible to ensure the stability of the valve-valve-valve connection under mechanical vibration conditions, since the tightening of the wheel is in the last analysis an elastic connection which has the effect of stretching the threads of the rod (3) in the vicinity of the wheel on the one hand and compress the material immediately contact shared between the bearing surface of said wheel and the boss (6) of the frame (1). These elements being thus linked, the external vibrations will not succeed in loosening the parts in contact, in the current or non-excessive conditions of use of the gas. From this device, it follows that a special application resulting from the present invention is that which concerns vehicles with gaseous fuel, which must benefit from a high security system for connecting gas containers, whether non-removable stationary bottle systems, or interchangeable standard bottle systems. Especially in the second case, the present system (Figure 1), characterized by a rapid implementation and the safety provisions described above, applies perfectly, paving the way for a greater use of natural gas in transport, topical trend.

A complementary device of the invention consists in the integration of an element of appreciation of the quantity of gas available in the bottle, in the preferred form of a pressure gauge (9) measuring the residual pressure of the integrated gas directly into the cylinder. pressure regulator (8), as shown in Figures 1 and 3. This central arrangement, slightly recessed in the body of the regulator, ensures perfect visibility of the gas level while protecting the dial of the manometer, without adding any bulk to the assembly. This manometer (9) integrated in the device of the invention allows a better forecast of the supply.

Although we have implicitly suggested by the foregoing the multiplicity of modes of obtaining the components of the invention, it is undoubtedly interesting to consider now preferred modes of production of the main components, as well as the possibilities of assembly of these components.

It should be noted first of all that the integrated device according to the invention is normally put in place over the handle of the valve of the gas bottle, with pressure screw (3) and slide (2) in the retracted position. : therefore, the passage of said handle is reserved in the frame of the device, in addition to the thickness space taken by the slide in the rear position (withdrawal). In the tight position, it is the screw, provided long enough, which ensures the full closure of the slide (2) on the neck of the tap.

With regard to the frame (1), a preferential mode of production is that of the stamping. Indeed, this industrial means allows the production of high density parts, without porosity, robust, and therefore of smaller dimensions and weight than by other means. In this case, preference will be given to a brass fabrication with rough slides, or even almost finished or finished according to the precision of the dies and presses used, taking into account the reduced precision required on this function. This process also allows high productivity and the best costs. It is also possible to obtain casting by casting in a foundry shell, especially for small productions, or for materials that do not lend themselves perfectly to the embossing process, such as aluminum or zamak.

Once finished, the parts of this type of device, and mainly those of ferrous materials, it is recommended according to the invention the application of surface treatments for the purpose of protecting the parts, such as zinc coating, bi-chromate, .. .etc.

Note: the provision consisting of a rigid and robust connection between the regulator and its support, as described above is of great operational importance because likely to permanently affect the risk of handling and subsequent movements of the bottle connected. Indeed, in the absence of appropriate handles on the bottles, the user usually uses the valve of the bottle as a handle to grasp the latter and also to move it. In the case where the device of the invention is mounted, the user has only the choice to enter the bottle by this device, and this can be done by entering the lower part of the regulator (8) which offers a more ergonomic contact that the side where are found screw (3), wheel (5), pusher (2), and recesses of the frame (1): it is therefore appropriate for the manufacturers of the device of the invention to optimize the dimensions and materials so that any future risk is avoided "by construction", which however is made easy by the configuration of the whole system as mentioned above. According to the invention, the tip ((10), (11), (12)) and its sheath (14) of the regulator once assembled have the role of ensuring the overall rigidity - the latter to avoid any gas leakage or damage to parts - even if a full bottle is taken by means of this device, regulator side. ASSEMBLIES: From the foregoing, the person skilled in the art will easily deduce that the device of the invention must have both dimensions that allow optimized rigidity of the assembly, that a mounting ensuring the long-term features and the operational safety. Without being exhaustive, particular attention will be paid to the thickness of the support frame (1) and the quality of the threads, in particular at the boss of the frame (6) and the screw (3), and finally at pusher (2). All these parts will be executed in perfectly resilient materials and will be subject to laboratory tests and production controls.

VARIANTS: We have mentioned above some non-limiting variants of the device of the invention, resulting in particular from the possible modes of production. One of these modes according to the invention, but not preferred under the aforementioned safety recommendations of the invention, is that where the stirrup-pusher (1) is devoid of guiding on the frame (1) of the support. This simplified arrangement makes it possible to reduce the overall costs by reducing the materials used as well as any machining and finishing operations. However, a simplified apparatus of this kind will preferably be reserved for stationary bottles and protected from excessive handling, such as 35 kg bottles, and for the reasons already mentioned. Nevertheless, it will usefully retain the half-circular hollow shape of the pusher stirrup (1), and this in order to ensure good coaxiality between the device of the invention and the valve to ensure proper operation of the mounting joints .

Another variant relates to the design of the frame itself, which can be designed as an articulated device, along a vertical axis: in this case, one of the long branches (1) is constituted in two articulated portions for placing the regulator not over the tap, but in a horizontal movement. Once in place, the frame is closed, the second branch -also in two parts - also closing, rigidly, by any means and preferably by a screw-nut system or by a system of the type grasshopper. The main advantage of this variant of the frame (1) is to allow a fast closing and pre-adjusted with the neck of the tap. However, these gains are small in view of the loss of simplicity and solidity of the whole (monolithism). In addition, this variant assumes a great regularity in the thicknesses of faucet necks which, of observation, is not the case on the products available on the market.

In conclusion, the invention now allows users of gas cylinders to have equipment, as a new integrated product, "expander and its support", ensuring high speed, safety, ease of connection of devices and end uses of the natural gas, butane, propane, LPG, etc., and means of safe handling of gas cylinders, and this at a reduced price. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the modes presented or suggested in the present description, although it seems that the primary importance must be given to the particular or preferential modes of obtaining the set and its components. It goes without saying that the invention extends, without limitation, special tools to obtain its various components, as well as systems or assemblies likely to incorporate this invention for specific purposes. Finally, it relates to other applications for all fluids delivered, in fixed or mobile mode, by faucets.

Claims

claims

1. Simplified secure mounting regulator for gas cylinders, consisting of the use of a gas expander (or regulator) (8), associated with a specific support and mounting device (1), the latter being, according to the state of the prior art, essentially consisting of a metal frame, generally rectangular, elongated and recessed placed over the valve, provided on a small side, internally, a horizontal cylindrical nozzle with orifice for the passage gas nozzle dimensioned to fit into the outlet of the gas valve of the bottle ensuring a double seal by conventional seals; this pressure reducer-support system ((9), (1)) is characterized by the modification of the expander so as to comprise a configured rear part comprising a sleeve (14), as well as the arrangement, on the frame, of the opposite side to the inner end, a tip ((10), (11), (12)) disposed outside the frame and coaxial with the first, intended to be specially housed in the sleeve of the expander, in a sealed manner and irremovable; once the inner end of the frame attached to the outlet of the gas valve with the seals of use, the pressure screw (3) is gradually tightened on the neck of the tap, by the interposition of a pusher (2) with semi-circular housing marrying this neck; in addition to the pressure reducer-support connection, the system is characterized by the use of a counter-tightening means (5) which makes it possible to block the movement of the screw against any accidental manual release movement or due to the presence of unwanted vibrations such as in construction machinery or means of transport.

2. Simplified secure mounting regulator for gas cylinders according to claim 1, characterized in that, to ensure the compactness, rigidity and solidity of the assembly, the expander (8) and its support frame (1) are brought together in such a way as to completely reduce the distance between them (FIG. 1), then collected by means of a sleeve system (14) made in the expander, and a coaxial end piece ((10), (11), ( 12)) on the frame, connection sealed by the provision of a double O-ring between the end piece and the sleeve and a tight thread or permanently secured to the sleeve by means of an adhesive.

3. Simplified secure mounting regulator for gas cylinders, according to Claims 2, characterized by the possibility of an immediate assembly and adaptation to a gas cylinder without the use of any tool.

4. Simplified secure mounting regulator for gas cylinders, according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, to ensure a high security of mounting the system on a gas cylinder, protected from inadvertent loosening, using a wheel (5), functionally a counter-nut, placed on the axis of the clamping screw and that, once the valve is tightly tightened by the pusher, in a retrograde movement to touch the inner boss of the frame (1); even a slight tightening of this wheel against said boss then makes sure that the handle (4) can not be manipulated. In this way, the existence of vibrations in an environment where the bottle and the system of the invention would be placed can not act in a direction of relaxation of the regulator on the bottle.

5. Simplified secure mounting regulator for gas cylinders, according to Claims 1 to

4, characterized in that, by virtue of the preferential applications of the safety system ((5), (6), FIG. 1) against loosening, this device can be used for connecting the removable gas bottles on board vibrating machines as well as than vehicles that use a gas as essential - such as fuel - or secondary.

6. Simplified secure mounting regulator for gas cylinders, according to Claims 1 to

5, characterized in that, according to the monitoring of the filling state of the gas cylinders, according to the invention, a pressure gauge (9) is used which is embedded in the upper central part of the regulator (8), which allows the at a glance on the dial the knowledge of this data.

7. Simplified secure mounting regulator for gas cylinders, according to Claims 1, 2 and 5, characterized in that for the possibility of handling the bottle, the user can enter it on the side of the regulator (8), whose rigidity, ergonomics and immediate proximity to the tap allow this operation without risks.