Pressure vessel apparatus with sensing identification function

• US 20090140867A1
• Filed: 05/12/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Name Plate Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Taiwan Name Plate Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Fu-Jung, Lin, Wen Hao, Hsu, Ho-Chuan, Yin, Wen Cheng
• Application Number:
  US12/149,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140867A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/626
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/003 Means for coding or identifying them and/or their contents
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0104 cylindrical
• 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 2201/032 with substantially vertical main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0617 with one layer
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0639 Steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0126 One vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0165 with handgrip
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/018 Supporting feet
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0308 Protective caps
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0323 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0376 Dispensing pistols
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/058 by Radio Frequency Identification
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/227 by adhesive means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/011 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/014 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/035 Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• 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 2223/033 : Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/035 : High pressure (>10 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 : using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/034 : using wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0408 : Level of content in the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0491 : Parameters measured at or inside the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/04 : Reducing risks and environmental impact
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/04 : using an independent energy source, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0745 : Gas bottles

Abstract

The present invention discloses a pressure vessel apparatus with sensing identification function, comprising a pressure vessel body and an an identification tag. The pressure vessel body has a concave container located on its surface. The identification tag is located in the concave container, comprising a record IC and a communication unit. The record IC is used for recording the status information of the pressure vessel body. When the reading device reads the identification tag, and thus provides an identification signal such that the communication unit transmits the status information to the reading device to verify whether the lifetime of the pressure vessel apparatus was expired. Moreover, a sensing unit is applied for detecting the varying status of the content in the pressure vessel body, and such information is provided to the reading device as a judging reference for content filling and the pressure reading of the pressure vessel apparatus, in order to improve the safety of the pressure vessel apparatus.

Claims

1. A pressure vessel apparatus with sensing identification function comprising:

a pressure vessel body with a concave container located on its surface; and

an identification tag, located in said concave container, comprising a record IC and a communication unit, said record IC for recording a status information of said pressure vessel body;

wherein when said reading device reads said identification tag, and thus provides an identification signal such that said communication unit transmits said status information to said reading device for verification.

2. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressure vessel body is a pressure steel bottle, said pressure steel bottle is a steel bottle which can withstand high pressures.

3. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein said identification tag is glued to said concave container by a viscose.

4. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein said identification tag is a radio frequency identification tag.

5. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein said identification tag is made by material which can withstand high temperature, low temperature, material of sand blasting, water and fire proof, or other material which is capable of resisting environmentally harsh conditions.

6. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressure vessel body is used for containing a content, said content is a liquefied petroleum gas, an oxygen, a nitrogen or other gases.

7. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein said status information comprises a production date, an initial content volume, and an examiner name.

8. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communication unit is an antenna.

9. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein reading device is attached to an attachment device, and said attachment device is a gas filler.

10. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein said identification signal is radio frequency identification (RFID) signal.

11. A pressure vessel apparatus with sensing identification function comprising:

a pressure vessel body with a concave container located on the surface of said pressure vessel body; and

a sensing unit, located on the surface of the pressure vessel body, for detecting the status information of a content in said pressure vessel body and generating a detecting result;

an identification tag, located in said concave container, electrically connected to said sensing unit, said identification tag including a record IC and a communication unit; and

a reading device;

wherein said record IC is used for recording a preset status information of said pressure vessel apparatus and said detecting result from said sensing unit, when said reading device reads said identification tag, and thus provides an identification signal such that said communication unit transmits said preset status information and said detecting result to said reading device for verification, and said reading device can update said preset status information and transmit said updated preset status information to said record IC via said communication unit.

12. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, wherein said pressure vessel body is a steel bottle, said pressure steel bottle is a steel bottle which can withstand high pressure.

13. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, wherein said identification tag is glued to said concave container by a viscose.

14. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, wherein said identification tag is a radio frequency identification tag.

15. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, wherein said identification tag is made by material which can withstand high temperature, low temperature, material of sand blasting, water and fire proof, or other material which is capable of resisting environmentally harsh conditions.

16. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, wherein said pressure vessel body is used for containing a content, said content is a liquefied petroleum gas, an oxygen, a nitrogen or other gases.

17. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, wherein said detecting result is a signal with residual content volume.

18. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, wherein said status information comprises a production date, an initial content volume, an examiner name and an expiration date.

19. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, wherein said communication unit is an antenna.

20. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, wherein said sensing unit is a mechanical sensor or an electronic sensor.

21. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a power supply unit located in said pressure vessel body, said power supply unit providing the desired power to said sensing unit and said identification tag.

22. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 21, wherein said power supply unit is a battery or a wireless charging unit, said wireless charging unit is used for receiving an electromagnetic wave which is then converted to current for storage.

23. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, wherein said reading device is attached to an attachment device, said attachment device is a gas filler.

24. The pressure vessel apparatus of claim 11, wherein said identification signal is a radio frequency signal.