Flushing unit

• US 4,957,133 A
• Filed: 07/26/1989
• Issued: 09/18/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Messer Cutting & Welding GmbH (Messer Adolf Family)
• Original Assignee: Messer Griesheim GmbH
• Inventors: Linz, Dieter, Elsner, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US07/385,189
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 137/238, 137/240, 134/166 C, 134/167 C, 134/168 C, 134/169 C, 222/148, 251/335.2
• US Class Current: 137/240
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/04 Arrangement or mounting of valves valves per se F16K ; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/123 for gas bottles, cylinders or reservoirs for tank vehicles or for railway tank wagons
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0382 Constructional details of valves, regulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4259 With separate material addition

Abstract

A flushing unit has an extraction borehole for process gases and a flushing gas line, which can be connected via a flushing gas connection to a flushing gas supply. In order for only one fitting to be flushed by a circulation flushing operation with an inert gas or a flushing gas, the flushing unit has a flushing gas outlet which is connected to the extraction borehole, and which is opened or closed with a stop valve.

Claims

1. A flushing unit for gas cylinders comprising a solid unitary block housing, said housing having connecting means for connection to the cylinder valve of the gas cylinder, an extraction borehole in said housing, one end of said extraction borehole terminating at and communicating with the outlet of said cylinder valve, said extraction borehole having an outlet within said housing whereby a process gas may flow from said cylinder and through said extraction borehole when said cylinder valve is open, a process gas stop valve at the other end of said extraction borehole and being spaced from said cylinder valve in said housing selectively opening and closing said extraction borehole to selectively permit and prevent the process gas from being discharged from said extraction borehole, a flushing gas inlet in said housing, a flushing gas line in said housing located parallel to said extraction borehole over substantially the entire length of said flushing gas line, a flushing gas inlet stop valve in said housing adjacent said process gas stop valve in said housing selectively opening and closing said flushing gas line, said flushing gas line communicating with said flushing gas inlet and said cylinder valve, one end of said flushing gas line terminating at said cylinder valve outlet, a space being created in said housing at said outlet of said cylinder valve where said outlet of said cylinder valve communicates with said one end of said extraction borehole and said one end of said flushing gas line, a flushing gas outlet in said housing communicating with said extraction borehole whereby said extraction borehole comprises an outlet passage for the flushing gas when the flushing gas enters said space, a flushing gas outlet stop valve adjacent said process gas stop valve in said housing selectively opening and closing said flushing gas outlet whereby a flushing gas may be supplied into said housing when said flushing gas outlet stop valve is open and said process gas stop valve is closed to flow through said flushing gas line and into said cylinder valve outlet at said space to mix with any process gas in said cylinder valve outlet and in said space and then flow out of said housing through said extraction borehole and said flushing gas outlet until all of the process gas has been displaced and whereby the space requirements and flushing gas requirements are minimized.

2. Flushing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said flushing gas line is located coaxially within said extraction borehole.

3. Flushing unit according to claim 2, wherein said cylinder valve outlet communicates with said flushing gas outlet by a borehole which branches from said extraction borehole.

4. Flushing unit according to claim 1, in combination therewith, a flushing gas cylinder for connection to said flushing gas inlet, a process gas cylinder having said cylinder valve connected by said connecting means to said housing, and a waste-gas line for connection between said flushing gas outlet and a waste-gas cylinder.

5. Flushing unit according to claim 4, characterized in that there is a flap valve in said waste-gas line and a cylinder valve disposed on said waste-gas cylinder.

6. Flushing unit according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a two-piece unit welded together.

7. Flushing unit according to claim 1, wherein said flushing gas line is located within said extraction borehole.