Device for filling and emptying a gas bottle

• US 5,454,421 A
• Filed: 01/14/1994
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luxembourg Patent Company S.A. (Rotarex SA)
• Original Assignee: Luxembourg Patent Company S.A. (Rotarex SA)
• Inventors: Kremer, Paul, Kerger, Leon
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US08/183,185
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 141/4, 141/8, 141/18, 141/21, 141/65, 141/66, 141/347, 141/348, 141/349, 141/350, 251/58, 251/349, 251/350, 137/907, 74/89
• US Class Current: 141/18
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/163 the fluid acting on a piston
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0329 manually actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/037 Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0382 Constructional details of valves, regulators
• 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 2227/0114 with vacuum injectors, e.g. venturi
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/048 by maintaining residual pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/02 Improving properties related to fluid or fluid transfer
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0745 Gas bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/00 Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures adding propellants to aerosol containers B65B31/00
• 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: Y10S 137/907 Vacuum-actuated valves

Abstract

The device is designed for a valve with or without a residual-pressure valve element and is intended to fill the bottle and to create a vacuum therein, optionally through the residual-pressure valve element.

It includes a rotary axial shaft (56) with an eccentric tip (58) intended to lift the residual-pressure valve element by rotation of the shaft (56). The rotation of the shaft (56) is brought about by a pneumatic piston (72) which is automatically actuated by connecting the device to a vacuum pump.

Claims

1. A device for filling and emptying a compressed or liquefied-gas bottle and adapted to be connected, on the one hand, to a gas reservoir for filling the bottle or to a vacuum pump for completely emptying the bottle and, on the other hand, to a coupling nozzle of a valve of the bottle, the valve comprising an internal chamber in communication with the coupling nozzle and further comprising a sliding closure member housed in the internal chamber, said device including a housing having a side located adjacent the valve and adapted to be connected to the valve, a shaft supported for rotation in said housing, said shaft having a tip positioned eccentrically with respect to the shaft and extending out of said one side of said housing, said housing including a chamber, a piston slidable in said chamber, spring means in said chamber and acting against said piston, said piston being slid in a direction to load said spring means when said chamber is connected to a vacuum pump, and means connecting said piston to said shaft for converting sliding movement of said piston into rotational movement of said shaft.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said sliding closure member is a residual-pressure valve element, said shaft being generally cylindrical, said tip comprising a longitudinal spatula having an arcuate portion forming a continuation of said shaft.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which said shaft comprises first and second slidably telescoped sections, Said tip being connected to said first section, and a spring biasing said first section axially away from said second section.

4. A device according to claim 3, in which said tip is slidably connected to said shaft and may be selectively detached from the shaft.

5. A device according to claim 1, in which said piston includes a piston rod, the axis of said rod being orthogonal with respect to the axis of said shaft, said spring means comprising a spring acting between said piston rod and said housing.

6. A device according to claim 5, in which said connecting means comprise a radially extending opening in said piston rod, and a radially extending finger on said shaft and projecting into said opening so as to convert sliding movement of said piston into rotational movement of said shaft.

7. A device according to claim 5, further including a hollow rod slidably supported in said housing and having an end portion projecting from said housing, said shaft having a portion located in said rod, a spring in said housing and biasing said rod in a direction to cause said end portion to project from said housing and into the valve when said housing is connected to said valve, and a seal on said end portion of said rod and sealing within said valve when said housing is connected to said valve.

8. A device according to claim 7, further including a sleeve in said housing and slidably supporting said hollow rod, and a seal on said sleeve and sealing against the coupling nozzle when said housing is connected to the valve.

9. A device according to claim 7, further including a plurality of angularly spaced and radially extending fins on said shaft and supporting said shaft within said hollow rod.

10. A device according to claim 1, in which said shaft comprises first and second slidably telescoped sections, said tip being connected to said first section, and a spring biasing said first section axially away from said second section.

11. A device according to claim 1, in which said tip is slidably connected to said shaft and may be selectively detached from the shaft.

12. A device according to claim 1 further including a hollow rod slidably supported in said housing and having an end portion projecting from said housing, said shaft having a portion located in said rod, a spring in said housing and biasing said rod in a direction to cause said end portion to project from said housing and into the valve when said housing is connected to said valve, and a seal on said end portion of said rod and sealing within said valve when said housing is connected to said valve.

13. A device according to claim 12 further including a sleeve in said housing and slidably supporting said hollow rod, and a seal on said sleeve and sealing against the coupling nozzle when said housing is connected to the valve.

14. A device according to claim 12, further including a plurality of angularly spaced and radially extending fins on said shaft and supporting said shaft within said hollow rod.