Gas dispensing control assembly and gas bottle equipped with such an assembly

• US 5,566,713 A
• Filed: 06/02/1994
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taema (Air Liquide SA)
• Original Assignee: Taema (Air Liquide SA)
• Inventors: Theurant, Gilbert, Lhomer, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/253,096
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 137/613, 137/881, 137/614.2, 137/505.25, 137/883, 137/614.19, 137/509
• US Class Current: 137/613
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/305 with valve member and actuator on the same side of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/307 Additional means used in combination with the main valve
• 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 2205/0329 manually actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0335 Check-valves or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0385 in blocks or units
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0394 in direct contact with the pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/011 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0626 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0636 Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 Breathing
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0545 Tools
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0402 with two or more controllers mounted in series
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/103 the sensing element placed between the inlet and outlet multiple-way valve G05D16/101
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0186 without moving parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7808 Apertured reactor surface surrounds flow line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7835 : Valve seating in direction of flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 : Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/88046 : Biased valve with external operator

Abstract

The gas control and dispensing assembly comprises a lower block (1) , mounted on a gas bottle (4) and comprising a manometer (9) and a filling connector (11), and on which a subassembly (32, 17 ) is permanently mounted, axially movable in response to a rotation of a tubular control and actuation member (46) surrounding the subassembly, which contains a pressure reducer (27) and an indexable flow regulator (34, 35) and has a low-pressure outlet (45) and a medium-pressure outlet (51).

Application in particular to dispensing medical oxygen.

Claims

1. Gas control and dispensing assembly for connection to a tank containing said gas under high pressure, comprising a first gas outlet, a shut-off valve connected in series between the tank and the first gas outlet and being exposed to said high pressure, pressure reducer means coupled to said shut-off valve for reducing the pressure of gas flowing to said first gas outlet, and a flow regulator, said flow regulator and said pressure reducer means being assembled in a first mobile subassembly arranged in a control and actuation structure securedly attached but moveable with respect to a second subassembly which incorporates said shut-off valve.

2. Gas control and dispensing assembly for connection to a tank containing gas under high pressure, comprising a first gas outlet, a shut-off valve connected in series between the tank and the first gas outlet and being exposed to said high pressure, pressure reducer means couplable to said shut-off valve, and a flow regulator, said flow regulator and said pressure reducer means being assembled in a first mobile subassembly which includes a second gas outlet upstream of said flow regulator, and first mobile subassembly being arranged in a control add actuation structure solidly attached to a second subassembly which incorporates said shut-off valve.

3. Assembly according to claim 2 wherein said control and actuation structure comprises a tubular member containing said first mobile subassembly and having, in a side wall, a first cut-out and a second cut-out through which said second gas outlet and said second gas outlet respectively extend.

4. Assembly according to claim 3 wherein said flow regulator means comprises an actuation member arranged in an actuation end of said tubular member.

5. Assembly according to claim 3 wherein said second cut-out forms a cam profile interacting with said second gas outlet to move said first mobile subassembly axially in response to a rotation of said tubular member.

6. Assembly according to claim 5 wherein said pressure reducer means is arranged in a first block slidingly interacting with a first end of said second subassembly and comprising a hollow rod portion selectively interacting with said shut-off valve;

and surge valve means mounted in said first block, a third cut-out formed in the side wall of said tubular member and having a cam profile, said surge valve device being operable to assist the axial movement of said first mobile subassembly in response to said rotation of said tubular member.

7. Assembly according to claim 3 wherein said tubular member comprises, at one end, radial protuberances received in a peripheral groove of a first end of said second subassembly.

8. Assembly according to claim 2 wherein said second subassembly comprises a tubular block having a second end provided with means for mounting on the tank.

9. Assembly according to claim 8 wherein said second subassembly further comprises a filling device with a non-return valve emerging in said tubular block upstream of said shut-off valve to allow the tank to be filled.

10. Assembly according to claim 8 wherein said second subassembly further comprises a manometer mounted in said tubular block.

11. Assembly according to claim 10 wherein the manometer, the low-pressure outlet and the medium-pressure outlet are arranged on one and the same side of the assembly.

12. Assembly according to claim 8 wherein the tank is a gas bottle, having a neck, and the second end of the tubular block is threaded for mounting in said neck of the gas bottle.

13. Gas control dispensing assembly for connection to a tank containing gas under high pressure, comprising a first gas outlet, a shutoff valve connected in series between the tank and the first gas outlet and being exposed to said high pressure, pressure reducer means couplable to said shut-off valve, a flow regulator, said flow regulator and said pressure reducer means being assembled in a first mobile subassembly arranged in a control and actuation structure solidly attached to a second subassembly which incorporates said shut-off valve, and wherein said pressure reducer means is arranged in a first block slidingly interacting with a first end of said second subassembly and comprising a hollow rod portion selectively interacting with said shut-off valve.

14. Assembly according to claim 13, wherein said pressure reducer means comprises a valve, piston means supporting said valve and slidable in said first block and interacting with a valve seat formed in said first block.

15. Assembly according to claim 13 wherein said flow regulator and said first gas outlet are arranged in a second block mounted on said first block.

16. Assembly according to claim 15 wherein said flow regulator comprises a disc with calibrated holes, said disc being positioned in rotation with respect to said second block.

17. A gas bottle containing gas under a high pressure and equipped with a gas control and dispensing assembly connected thereto and having a first gas outlet, a shut-off valve connected in series between the bottle and the first gas outlet, pressure reducer means couplable to said shut-off valve, a flow regulator, said first gas outlet, said flow regulator and said pressure reducer means being assembled in a first mobile subassembly arranged in a control and actuation structure solidly attached to a second subassembly which incorporates said shut-off valve, said first mobile subassembly including a second gas outlet upstream of said flow regulator and said second subassembly comprising a tubular block having a second end provided with means for mounting on said gas bottle.

18. The gas bottle of claim 17 wherein said gas is oxygen.