Modular bottle-mounted gas management system

• US 5,440,477 A
• Filed: 04/30/1993
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Creative Pathways Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Creative Pathways Incorporated
• Inventors: Young, Russell D., Rohrberg, Timothy K., Rohrberg, Roderick G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Application Number:
  US08/056,216
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 219/69 G, 222/127, 222/135, 364/510, 364/509, 364/558, 364/141, 364/143, 364/569, 364/468, 604/246, 137/15, 137/561, 137/587, 137/588, 137/589, 137/583-584, 365/52, 98/32
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/02 Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment measuring in general G01
• 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 2205/0111 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0146 with details of the manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0176 with ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0341 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/011 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/014 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/016 Noble gases (Ar, Kr, Xe)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/017 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/032 Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/037 Containing pollutant, e.g. H2S, Cl
• 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 2227/0114 with vacuum injectors, e.g. venturi
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/044 by purging
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 : using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0465 : Vibrations, e.g. of acoustic type
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0636 : Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/011 : Improving strength
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/036 : Avoiding leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/053 : Reducing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0518 : Semiconductors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0745 : Gas bottles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86332 : Vent and inlet or outlet in unitary mounting

Abstract

A Modular Bottle-Mounted Gas Management System (10) that overcomes the problems encountered by previous gas cabinet equipment is disclosed. The present invention comprises a complete gas manifold (22) that includes computer-controlled valves, actuators, regulators and transducers. The entire system resides within a housing (11) that sits atop a conventional gas bottle (12) that would normally be enclosed within a gas cabinet (25) that is many times the volume of the Modular Bottle-Mounted Gas Management System 10. Outside the housing (11), an upper control panel (13) contains an LCD display (14) and a lower control panel (15) holds a keypad control (16), a removable data pack (17), LED indicator lights (18), and an emergency shut-off switch (19). Inside the housing (11), a bottle neck (20) protrudes up from the gas bottle (12) and provides a connection for a supply of gas within it to a gas manifold (22). The gas manifold (22) is an assembly of valves, actuators, pressure regulators, welded fittings, and transducers. The top of the housing (11) is fitted with a process gas outlet (21a), a vent connection (21b), a nitrogen inlet (21c), and a bottle access cover (21d). The top portion of the hinged housing (11) may be swung open to provide access to the gas manifold (22). The present invention provides safe handling of toxic, corrosive, and pyrophoric gases in a double-containment vessel. It utilizes component-to-component welds (65) to allow for the absolute reduction of the size of the manifold (22) while simultaneously reducing the number of mechanical connections. This advanced design delivers unprecedented levels of cleanliness by minimizing the number of particulate traps within the manifold (22).

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in combination with a gas bottle (12) comprising:

a housing (11);

said housing being adapted to mount directly on the top of said gas bottle (12);

said housing (11) having a gasket (144) for forming a seal between said gas bottle (12) and said housing (11);

a gas outlet (21a);

said gas outlet (21a) extending through said housing

a gas manifold (22);

said gas manifold (22) being mounted within said housing (11);

said gas manifold (22) being capable of receiving gas directly from said gas bottle (12);

said gas manifold (22) being capable of controlling the flow of gas to said gas outlet (21a);

a purge gas inlet (21c) for receiving a purge gas to purge said housing (11) and said gas manifold (22); and

a vent (21b) for venting said housing (11) and said gas manifold (22).

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a display (14) for monitoring the flow of said gas;

said display (14) being mounted on said housing (11).

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a keypad control (16) for entering commands to control the flow of said gas;

said keypad control (16) being mounted on said housing (11).

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a removable data pack (17) for controlling access to said computer and memory (164,

     208) and to said keypad control panel (16);

said removable data pack (17) being removably mounted in said housing (11).

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an emergency shut-off switch (19);

said emergency shut-off switch (19) being mounted on said housing (11).

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said gas manifold (22) is assembled using component-to-component welds.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said housing (11) is capable of being evacuated and pressurized.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 used in combination with a Containerized Controller 228.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a computer and memory (164,

     208) for automatically controlling the flow of said gas;

said computer and memory (164,

     208) being coupled to said gas manifold (22), said display (14) and said keypad control (16).