Gauge mounted pressure monitor and alarm for compression mounting with compressed gas storage tank

• US 6,326,896 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ingen Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bettie Mcdermott, Francis Fritz Mcdermott
• Inventors: McDermott, Bettie, McDermott, Francis Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/696,478
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 340/626, 340/611, 128/202.22, 128/205.23, 137/557, 33/405.R
• US Class Current: 340/626
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/00 Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 ; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0617 with one layer
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0329 manually actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0382 Constructional details of valves, regulators
• 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 2250/034 using wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/036 using alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/077 when empty
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 Breathing
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/079 Respiration devices for rescuing
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/12 Alarms or signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

A warning device configured for removable mounting in combination with a high pressure gas cylinder and a regulator used to regulate the high pressure gas supplied by the cylinder. The device compression mounts between the regulator and tank outlet on conventional portable oxygen and gas supply systems using a specially configured manifold. The device features one or a combination of alarms, from a group including audio, visual, electronic, and remotely transmitted alarms. These alarms are activated by a pressure switch monitoring the remaining supply in the gas cylinder through a conduit the manifold. The alarm signal from the device alerts the user, or a third party monitoring the user, of current tank pressure or will sound an alarm when remaining high pressure gas inside the gas cylinder drops below a predetermined level.

Claims

1. A pressure monitoring device for attachment to conventional compression sealed tank and regulator systems comprising:

an elongated manifold, said manifold having a first side and a second side, a mounting end, and a second end distal to said mounting end;

an orifice communicating through said manifold at said mounting end from said first side to said second side;

a chamber formed inside said second end of said elongated manifold, said chamber having a mounting aperture communicating between said chamber and the exterior of said elongated manifold;

a conduit, said conduit axially communicating though said manifold, said conduit providing communication between said chamber and said orifice;

an electrical power means;

an alarm means, said alarm means activated when electrical power from said power means is communicated thereto;

a pressure sensing means communicating with said chamber in a sealed engagement with said mounting aperture, said pressure sensing means communicating information concerning pressure level in said chamber to a switching means communicating with said pressure sensing means;

said switching means communicating electrical power from said electrical power means to said alarm means when a predetermined pressure level is reached in said chamber and communicated to said switching means from said pressure sensing means;

a pressure gauge, said pressure gauge having a body portion and a gauge face, said pressure gauge providing a gauge reading of pressure in said chamber;

said switching means, said pressure sensing means, said electrical power means, and said alarm means all being mounted to said body portion of said pressure gauge;

said orifice configured at said first side and said second side for an operative connection in a compression mounting between an outlet of a tank of compressed gas, and an inlet of a regulator, and providing communication therebetween; and

whereby a sealed communication through said orifice between said outlet of said tank and said chamber and said inlet of said regulator may be achieved when said mounting end is operatively compression mounted in combination with said regulator and said tank.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising an activation switch said activation switch having an off position wherein electrical power from said electrical power means is disconnected from said switching means and an on position wherein power from said electrical power means is communicated to said switching means.

3. The device in claim 2 additionally comprising a first light means which is illuminated when said activation switch is in said on position.

4. The device in claim 1 wherein said alarm means comprises one or a combination of alarms from a group consisting of and audible alarm, a visual alarm, or a transmitter for broadcasting an alarm to a remote location.

5. The device in claim 4 wherein said audible alarm is a buzzer.

6. The device in claim 4 wherein said visual alarm is a light emitting diode.

7. The device in claim 1 wherein said pressure gauge is digital.

8. The device in claim 1 wherein said pressure gauge is electrically activated by communication from said pressure sensing means.

9. The device in claim 1 wherein said pressure gauge is mechanically activated by pressure communicated thereto through an axial conduit from said chamber.