Method and related system of filling therapeutic gas cylinders

• US 20060283517A1
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips RS North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Acoba LLC
• Inventors: Aylsworth, Alonzo C., McCulloh, Kevin G., Spector, Lawrence C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,762,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/2
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0119 with flat end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0323 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/011 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0153 Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0157 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/04 Methods for emptying or filling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0626 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 Breathing
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 for filling with compressed gases

Abstract

A method and related system of filling therapeutic gas cylinders. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are a method comprising determining, by a cylinder fill device, a rated pressure of a therapeutic gas cylinder, and filling the cylinder with the cylinder fill device substantially to the rated pressure.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a cylinder fill device, a rated pressure of a therapeutic gas cylinder; and

filling the cylinder with the cylinder fill device substantially to the rated pressure.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein determining further comprises detecting an attribute of a device coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 further comprising detecting an attribute of a post valve coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein detecting further comprises detecting the presence of one or more apertures through the post valve.

5. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein detecting further comprises detecting the presence of one or more dimples on the post valve.

6. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein detecting further comprises detecting the presence of one or more grooves on the post valve.

7. The method as defined in claim 2 further comprising detecting an attribute of a cylinder base coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein determining further comprises sensing the presence of one or more magnets coupled to a post valve.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein determining further comprises reading a radio frequency activated identification tag associated with the therapeutic gas cylinder.

10. A cylinder filling system comprising:

a source of therapeutic gas;

a cylinder fill connector fluidly coupled to the source of therapeutic gas, and configured to couple to a therapeutic gas cylinder; and

a pressure rating detection system associated with the cylinder fill connector, wherein the pressure rating detection system is configured to determine whether the therapeutic gas cylinder is rated for a first pressure or a second pressure, the second pressure higher than the first pressure;

wherein the cylinder filling system is configured to fill the therapeutic gas cylinder with therapeutic gas to substantially the first pressure if the therapeutic gas cylinder is rated for the first pressure, and to fill the therapeutic gas cylinder to the second pressure if the therapeutic gas cylinder is rated for the second pressure.

11. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 10 wherein the pressure rating detection system further comprises:

a source of high frequency electromagnetic radiation;

a first and second detectors in operational relationship to the source;

wherein the cylinder filling system is configured to determine whether the therapeutic gas cylinder is rated for the first pressure or the second pressure by detecting one or more apertures through a device coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder using the source and detectors.

12. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 11 wherein the source of high frequency electromagnetic radiation further comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

13. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 12 wherein the source of high frequency electromagnetic radiation further comprises a first and second LED, and wherein the first LED is in operational relationship to the first detector, and the second LED is in operational relationship to the second detector.

14. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 11 further comprising wherein the cylinder filling system is configured to determine whether the therapeutic gas cylinder is rated for the first pressure or the second pressure by detecting one or more apertures through a post valve coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder using the source and detectors.

15. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 11 further comprising wherein the cylinder filling system is configured to determine whether the therapeutic gas cylinder is rated for the first pressure or the second pressure by detecting one or more apertures through a cylinder base coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder using the source and detectors.

16. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 10 wherein the pressure rating detection system further comprises:

a first reed switch associated with the cylinder fill connector; and

a second reed switch associated with the cylinder fill connector;

wherein the first and second reed switches are configured to actuate based on the presence of one or more magnets on a device coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder.

17. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 16 further comprising wherein the first and second reed switches are configured to actuate based on the presence of one or more magnets on a post valve coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder.

18. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 16 further comprising wherein the first and second reed switches are configured to actuate based on the presence of one or more magnets on a cylinder base coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder.

19. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 10 wherein the pressure rating detection system further comprises:

a first switch proximate to the cylinder fill connector; and

a second switch proximate to the cylinder fill connector;

wherein the first and second switches are configured to detect an attribute of a device coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder, the attribute indicative of the pressure rating of the therapeutic gas cylinder.

20. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 19 further comprising wherein the first and second switches are configured to detect an attribute of a post valve coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder.

21. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 19 further comprising wherein the first and second switches are configured to detect an attribute of a cylinder base coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder.

22. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 10 wherein the pressure rating detecting system further comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader associated with the source of therapeutic gas and the cylinder fill connector, and wherein the cylinder filling system is configured to determine whether the therapeutic gas cylinder is rated for the first pressure or the second pressure by reading an RFID tag coupled to the therapeutic gas using the RFID reader.

23. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 10 wherein the pressure rating detection system further comprises:

a source of high frequency electromagnetic radiation;

a first and second detectors in operation relationship to the source;

wherein the source of high frequency electromagnetic radiation in combination with the first and second detectors are configured to detect an attribute of a device coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder, the attribute indicative of the pressure rating of the therapeutic gas cylinder.

24. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 23 further comprising wherein the first and second detectors are configured to detect an attribute of a post valve coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder.

25. The cylinder filling system as defined in claim 23 further comprising wherein the first and second detectors are configured to detect an attribute of a cylinder base coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a valve body comprising an internal chamber;

a threaded connection coupled to the valve body and configured to fluidly couple the internal chamber to a therapeutic gas cylinder;

a fill port aperture through the valve body into the internal chamber; and

a means for identifying a pressure rating of the therapeutic gas cylinder to which the apparatus is configured to attach, the means for identifying proximate to or associated with the valve body.

27. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein the means for identifying further comprises one or more identification apertures through the valve body, the one or more identification apertures not in fluid communication with the internal chamber.

28. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein the means for identifying further comprises one or more grooves in an outer surface of the valve body.

29. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein the means for identifying further comprises one or more dimples on an outer surface of the valve body.

30. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein the means for identifying further comprises one or more magnets coupled to the valve body.

31. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein the means for identifying further comprises a radio frequency readable tag coupled to the valve body.

32. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 further comprising a therapeutic gas cylinder coupled to the valve body by way of the threaded connection, and wherein the means for identifying identifies the pressure rating of the therapeutic gas cylinder.