Method for supplying industrial gases using integrated bottle controllers

• US 5,794,645 A
• Filed: 07/15/1996
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Creative Pathways Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Creative Pathways Incorporated
• Inventors: Rohrberg, Timothy K., Rohrberg, Roderick G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michalsky, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US08/680,769
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 137/15, 137/240, 137/312, 137/557, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/003 Means for coding or identifying them and/or their contents
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/06 Closures, e.g. cap, breakable member for autoclaves B01J3/03; closures for large containers in general B65D B65D90/54; for pressure vessels in general F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/084 for small-sized storage vessels, e.g. compressed gas cylinders or bottles, disposable gas vessels, vessels adapted for automotive use
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/032 with substantially vertical main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/056 Small (<1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0146 with details of the manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0385 in blocks or units
• 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 2260/042 Reducing risk of explosion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/04 using an independent energy source, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0518 Semiconductors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4259 With separate material addition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

A Method for Supplying Industrial Gases Using Integrated Bottle Controllers that overcomes the problems encountered by previous gas cabinet equipment is disclosed. The present invention comprises a compact and virtually explosion-proof controller (10) that is anchored securely to the top of a standard gas bottle (12). 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 may be sixty times the volume of the present invention. The controller (10) includes a housing (11) that has a top or lid (14), an upper cylinder (16), an annular wall (18) which forms a seal with the bottle (12). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, filled and cleaned bottles are connected to controllers at a fabrication clean area. The controllers are then operated remotely using a radio frequency or infra-red control. After the bottles are depleted, the controllers are removed and tested. The bottles are then refilled for reuse.

Claims

1. A method of supplying an industrial gas comprising the steps of:

providing a bottle controller (10) mounted directly on the top of a gas bottle (12);

said gas bottle (12) having a supply of said industrial gas (G);

said bottle controller (10) having a housing (11);

said housing (11) being adapted to form a seal around the top of said gas bottle (12);

said housing (11) including a gas manifold (27);

said housing (11) adapted to be able to be evacuated and pressurized;

said gas manifold (23) including an automatic discharge pressure transducer which senses pressure inside said housing (11) and which automatically vents excess gas and generates an alarm; and

said housing (11) including a double contained valve (17A) and a double containment safety connection (17B) to provide a housing which is substantially explosion proof;

connecting said bottle controller (10) to a fabrication process input;

controlling the use of said supply of said industrial gas (G) remotely; and

removing said bottle controller (10) from said fabrication process input.

2. A method of supplying an industrial gas comprising the steps of:

attaching a bottle controller (10) directly on the top of a gas bottle (12);

said gas bottle having a supply of said industrial gas (G);

said bottle controller (10) having a housing (11);

said housing (11) being adapted to form a seal around the top of said gas bottle (12);

said housing (11) including a gas manifold (23);

said housing (11) adapted to be able to be evacuated and pressurized;

said gas manifold (23) including automatic discharge pressure transducer which senses pressure inside said housing (11) and which automatically vents excess gas and generates an alarm; and

said housing (11) including a double contained valve (17A) and a double containment safety connection (17B) to provide a housing which is substantially explosion proof;

connecting said bottle controller (10) to a fabrication process input;

controlling the use of said supply of said industrial gas (G) remotely;

removing said bottle controller (10) from said fabrication process input; and

removing said bottle controller (10) from said gas bottle (12).

3. A method as recited in claim 2, in which:

said bottle controller (10) is tested after it is removed from said gas bottle (12).

4. A method as recited in claim 2, in which:

said gas bottle (12) is cleaned before it is attached to said bottle controller (10).

5. A method as recited in claim 2, in which:

said gas bottle (12) is refilled after it is removed from said bottle controller (10).

6. A method as recited in claim 2, in which:

said bottle controller (10) does not require a circulating fan.

7. A method as recited in claim 2, in which:

said bottle controller (10) includes a transceiver (21B) for remote control.

8. A method as recited in claim 2, in which:

said housing (11) includes a top (14) and a computer 21A located on top of said top (14).

9. A method as recited in claim 2, in which:

said housing (11) includes a battery-backup (21C).