Regulator provided with an indicator unit, and kit of parts comprising an indicator unit for the purpose of such a regulator and a gas source

• US 20050155653A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scientific Glass Technology Singapore Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Scientific Glass Technology Singapore Pte., Ltd.
• Inventors: van der Maas, Marinus Frans
• Application Number:
  US11/015,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20050155653A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/551
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/026 having the temperature as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0111 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0126 One vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/013 Two or more vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/037 Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/05 Ultrapure fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/035 High pressure (>10 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/033 Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/035 High pressure, i.e. between 10 and 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/04 Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/012 by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/05 for industrial use
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0545 Tools
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/00 Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/223 for investigating presence of specific gases or aerosols G01N31/221, G01N31/222 take precedence; actuation of fire alarm by presence of smoke or gases G08B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/04 : without auxiliary power
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 : With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

A regulator provided with an inlet connection (8) for connection to a gas source (1), such as for instance a gas cylinder, a compressor or a gas generator, and provided with an outlet connection (9) for connection to a further gas pipe system (4), the regulator (2) being provided with a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber which are mutually connected by a pressure reductor, such that in use the gas pressure in the low pressure chamber is lower than the pressure in the high pressure chamber, the regulator (2) being provided with a connection (16) for an exchangeable indicator unit (17), the connection (16) being such that the gas coming from the gas source (1) flows through the indicator unit (17), the indicator unit (17) being provided with means for signaling undesirable components in the gas flowing through the indicator unit (17).

Claims

1. A regulator provided with an inlet connection for connection to a gas source, such as for instance a gas cylinder, a compressor or a gas generator, and provided with an outlet connection for connection to a further gas pipe system, the regulator being provided with a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber which are mutually connected by a pressure reductor, such that in use the gas pressure in the low pressure chamber is lower than the pressure in the high pressure chamber, the regulator being provided with a connection for an exchangeable indicator unit, the connection being such that the gas coming from the gas source flows through the indicator unit, the indicator unit being provided with means for signaling undesirable components in the gas flowing through the indicator unit.

2. A regulator according to claim 1, wherein the means for signaling undesirable components in the gas flowing through the indicator unit comprise an indicator material, which discolors in contact with said undesirable components, the indicator material being included in a transparent indicator material housing.

3. A regulator according to claim 2, wherein the means for signaling undesirable components comprise a color sensor, which color sensor is arranged for sensing discoloration of the indicator material.

4. A regulator according to claim 1, wherein the means for signaling undesirable components comprise a temperature sensor as well as an indicator material, the indicator material being included in an indicator material housing, the indicator material rising in temperature in contact with said undesirable components, and the temperature sensor being arranged for measuring said temperature rise.

5. A regulator according to claim 1, wherein the connection comprises a quick-change coupling which is provided with an outlet opening and an inlet opening to which, respectively, an inlet and an outlet of an indicator unit are connectible, while the indicator unit contains the indicator material.

6. A regulator according to claim 1, wherein the indicator unit is provided with a transponder.

7. A regulator according to claim 3, wherein the indicator unit is provided with a transponder and wherein the transponder also comprises the color sensor and temperature sensor, respectively.

8. A regulator according to claim 6, wherein the transponder further comprises a discoloration sensor.

9. A regulator according to claim 1, wherein the indicator unit is provided with a graduation which is provided along the indicator material housing.

10. A regulator according to claim 1, wherein the indicator unit is provided with sensors which are arranged at different positions along the indicator material housing, which sensors are arranged for sensing a change in condition of the indicator material in the indicator material housing at the position of the respective indicator unit, while a control is provided, which is connected to the sensors and which performs an action depending on the signals produced by the sensors.

11. A regulator according to claim 10, wherein the action comprises an advice to the user to exchange the respective gas source.

12. A regulator according to claim 10, wherein the action comprises an advice to the user to exchange the respective indicator unit.

13. A regulator according to claim 10, wherein the action comprises automatically closing a shut-off valve, such that the gas supply to the gas pipe system is blocked.

14. A regulator according to claim 1, wherein the regulator is provided with a shut-off valve.

15. A kit of parts comprising a gas source, such as a gas source and an indicator unit for use with a regulator according to claim 1.

17. A kit of parts according to claim 15, wherein the gas source is provided with a transponder.

18. A regulator according to claim 2, wherein the connection comprises a quick-change coupling which is provided with an outlet opening and an inlet opening to which, respectively, an inlet and an outlet of an indicator unit are connectible, while the indicator unit contains the indicator material.

19. A regulator according to claim 4, wherein the indicator unit is provided with a transponder and wherein the transponder also comprises the color sensor and temperature sensor, respectively.

20. A regulator according to claim 19, wherein:

the transponder further comprises a discoloration sensor;

the indicator unit is provided with a graduation which is provided along the indicator material housing;

the indicator unit is provided with sensors which are arranged at different positions along the indicator material housing, which sensors are arranged for sensing a change in condition of the indicator material in the indicator material housing at the position of the respective indicator unit, while a control is provided, which is connected to the sensors and which performs an action depending on the signals produced by the sensors;

the action comprises an advice to the user to exchange the respective gas source;

the action comprises an advice to the user to exchange the respective indicator unit.

21. A regulator according to claim 19, wherein the action comprises automatically closing a shut-off valve, such that the gas supply to the gas pipe system is blocked.

22. A regulator according to claim 20, wherein the action comprises automatically closing a shut-off valve, such that the gas supply to the gas pipe system is blocked.

23. A regulator according to claim 20, wherein the regulator is provided with a shut-off valve.

24. A regulator according to claim 21, wherein the regulator is provided with a shut-off valve.

25. A regulator according to claim 22, wherein the regulator is provided with a shut-off valve.

26. A kit of parts comprising a gas source, such as a gas source and an indicator unit for use with a regulator according to claim 19.

27. A kit of parts comprising a gas source, such as a gas source and an indicator unit for use with a regulator according to claim 20.

28. A kit of parts comprising a gas source, such as a gas source and an indicator unit for use with a regulator according to claim 21.

29. A kit of parts comprising a regulator with indicator unit according to claim 19 and a gas source, such as a gas cylinder.

30. A kit of parts comprising a regulator with indicator unit according to claim 20 and a gas source, such as a gas cylinder.

31. A kit of parts comprising a regulator with indicator unit according to claim 21 and a gas source, such as a gas cylinder.

33. A kit of parts according to claim 28, wherein the gas source is provided with a transponder.

34. A kit of parts according to claim 31, wherein the gas source is provided with a transponder.

16. A kit of parts comprising a regulator with indicator unit according to and a gas source, such as a gas cylinder.

32. A kit of parts according to claim 16, wherein the gas source is provided with a transponder.