Expansion valve fitted with a connector that is designed for the connection of a user socket

• US 6,929,246 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Air Liquide SA
• Original Assignee: L'Air Liquide SA
• Inventors: Arzenton, Marco, Gounot, Etienne
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US10/477,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20040187935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 251/366, 251/149.1, 251/149.6, 137/614.04, 137/614.03, 137/614.05, 137/614
• US Class Current: 251/366
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/22 in which the connection is maintained by means of balls, rollers or helical springs under radial pressure between the parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/32 at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87957 Valves actuate each other

Abstract

A fluid expansion valve with a main body and a method of its use. The main body has an internal fluid passage and an outlet connector. The outlet connector is suitable for delivering the expanded fluid and for connecting with a socket. The internal profile of the socket is suited for connection with the external profile of the outlet connect. The outlet connect has three connention sections of varying external diameters. The valve may be used to introduce a pressurized gas to a liquid or a beverage.

Claims

1. A fluid expansion valve comprising:

a) a main body within which there is formed at least one internal passage for fluid, said internal passage having at least one inlet port for fluid whose pressure is to be reduced, and at least one outlet port for reduced-pressure fluid,

b) fluid pressure-reducing means arranged in or on at least part of said internal fluid passage, between said inlet port and said outlet port, and designed to reduce the pressure of the fluid, and

c) an outlet coupling having at least one inlet end and at least one outlet end, with said outlet end comprising an external profile designed to take and have connected to it a user connector which has an internal profile tailored to and optionally, complementing said external profile of said outlet coupling outlet end,

d) wherein said outlet coupling outlet end comprises at least three cylindrical coupling portions arranged in succession from said outlet end of said outlet coupling towards said inlet end through which said outlet coupling is coupled to said main body,

said first coupling portion having an first outside diameter,

said second coupling portion having a second outside diameter, and

said third coupling portion having a third outside diameter, which diameters are such that

said first outside diameter is smaller than said second outside diameter, and

said second outside diameter is smaller than said third outside diameter, and

said first outside diameter is between about 6 mm and about 10 mm,

said second outside diameter is between about 7 mm and about 18 mm, and

said third outside diameter is between about 11 mm and about 19 mm.

2. A fluid expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein said outlet coupling is further comprised of:

a fourth cylindrical coupling portion having a fourth outside diameter,

said fourth cylindrical coupling portion being situated between said third coupling portion with said third outside diameter and said inlet end through which said outlet coupling is coupled to said main body, with

said third outside diameter being smaller than said fourth outside diameter, and

wherein said fourth outside diameter is between about 12 mm and about 21 mm.

3. An expansion valve according to claim 2, wherein said outlet coupling is further comprised of:

a fifth cylindrical coupling portion having a fifth outside diameter,

said fifth cylindrical coupling portion being situated between said fourth coupling portion with said fourth outside diameter and said inlet end through which said outlet coupling is coupled to said main body, with

said fourth outside diameter being smaller than said fifth outside diameter, and

wherein said fifth outside diameter is between about 15 mm and about 27 mm.

4. An expansion valve according to claim 2, wherein said outlet coupling is further comprised of:

a sixth cylindrical coupling portion having a sixth outside diameter,

said sixth cylindrical coupling portion being situated between said third coupling portion with said third outside diameter and said fourth coupling portion with said fourth outside diameter, with

said sixth outside diameter being smaller than said third outside diameter, and

wherein said sixth outside diameter is between about 8 mm and about 17 mm.

5. An expansion valve according to claim 3, wherein said outlet coupling is further comprised of:

a sixth cylindrical coupling portion having a sixth outside diameter,

said sixth cylindrical coupling portion being situated between said third coupling portion with said third outside diameter and said fourth coupling portion with said fourth outside diameter, with

said sixth outside diameter being smaller than said third outside diameter, and

wherein said sixth outside diameter is between about 8 mm and about 17 mm.

6. An expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein at least one of:

said first outside diameter is between about 7 mm and about 9 mm,

said second outside diameter is between about 8 mm and about 17 mm, or

said third outside diameter is between about 12 mm and about 18 mm.

7. An expansion valve according to claim 2, wherein at least one of:

said first outside diameter is between about 7 mm and about 9 mm,

said second outside diameter is between about 8 mm and about 17 mm,

said third outside diameter is between about 12 mm and about 18 mm, or

said fourth outside diameter is between about 13 mm and about 20 mm.

8. An expansion valve according to claim 3, wherein at least one of:

said first outside diameter is between about 7 mm and about 9 mm,

said second outside diameter is between about 8 mm and about 17 mm,

said third outside diameter is between about 12 mm and about 18 mm,

said fourth outside diameter is between about 13 mm and about 20 mm, or

said fifth outside diameter is between about 16 mm and about 26 mm.

9. An expansion valve according to claim 4, wherein at least one of:

said first outside diameter is between about 7 mm and about 9 mm,

said second outside diameter is between about 8 mm and about 17 mm,

said third outside diameter is between about 12 mm and about 18 mm,

said fourth outside diameter is between about 13 mm and about 20 mm or

said sixth outside diameter is between about 8 and about 12 mm.

10. An expansion valve according to claim 5, wherein at least one of:

said first outside diameter is between about 7 mm and about 9 mm,

said second outside diameter is between about 8 mm and about 17 mm,

said third outside diameter is between about 12 mm and about 18 mm,

said fourth outside diameter is between about 13 mm and about 20 mm,

said fifth outside diameter is between about 16 mm and about 26 mm or

said sixth outside diameter is between about 8 and about 12 mm.

11. An expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein said second coupling portion and said third coupling portion are separated by a ramp.

12. An expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein said first coupling portion has a chamfer at said outlet end.

13. An expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein at least one of:

said first coupling portion has an external length of between about 6 mm and about 9 mm,

said second coupling portion has an external length of between about 1.5 mm and about 4 mm, or

said third coupling portion has an external length of between about 0.5 and about 3 mm.

14. An expansion valve according to claim 5, wherein at least one of:

said first coupling portion has an external length of between about 6 mm and about 9 mm,

said second coupling portion has an external length of between about 1.5 mm and about 4 mm,

said third coupling portion has an external length of between about 0.5 mm and about 3 mm,

said fourth coupling portion has an external length of between about 2 mm and about 6 mm,

said fifth coupling portion has an external length of between about 2 mm and about 6 mm, or,

said sixth coupling portion has an external length of between about 2.5 mm and about 5 mm.

16. An expansion valve according to claim 13, wherein said first coupling portion has a chamfer at said outlet end.

17. An expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein at least one of:

said first coupling portion has an external length of between about 7 mm and about 8.5 mm,

said second coupling portion has an external length of between about 2 mm and about 3.5 mm, or

said third coupling portion has an external length of about 1.2 mm.

18. An expansion valve according to claim 5, wherein at least one of:

said first coupling portion has an external length of between about 7 mm and about 8.5 mm,

said second coupling portion has an external length of between about 2 mm and about 3.5 mm,

said third coupling portion has an external length of about 1.2 mm,

said fourth coupling portion has an external length of about 3.5 mm,

said fifth coupling portion has an external length of about 3.5 mm, or,

said sixth coupling portion has an external length of between about 3 mm and about 4.5 mm.

19. An expansion valve according to claims 18, wherein said second coupling portion and said third coupling portion are separated by a ramp.

20. An expansion valve according to claim 18, wherein said first coupling portion has a chamfer at said outlet end.

21. An expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein said outlet coupling is comprised of at least one coupling valve shutter comprising means of actuating the valve shutter, said coupling valve shutter being able to move in translation with said outlet coupling when a user outlet connector is connected to the said outlet coupling.

22. An assembly formed of an expansion valve according to claim 1 and of said user outlet connector having an internal profile that complements said external profile of said outlet coupling.

23. A gas cylinder, equipped with an expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein said expansion valve is inserted in a protective bonnet mounted on the cylinder.

24. The method of using an expansion valve according to claim 1, to deliver a gas under pressure intended to pressurize beer or a carbonated beverage.

25. A system for transferring fluid comprising, an expansion valve according to claim 1,

wherein said outlet coupling has an external profile, and

said user outlet connector having an internal profile which complements said external profile of said outlet coupling and comprising a body in which there is formed an internal guidance and locking system used to receive and guide said outlet end of said expansion valve and, to prevent the user outlet connector from becoming disconnected from the said outlet coupling by collaborating with said external profile of said outlet coupling, said user outlet connector also comprising a connector valve shutter which normally rests against a valve seat and can be moved in translation along the longitudinal axis of the connector.

15. An expansion valve according to claim to 13, wherein said second coupling portion and said third coupling portion are separated by a ramp.

26. A fluid expansion valve comprising:

a) a main body within which there is formed at least one internal passage for fluid, said internal passage having at least one inlet port for fluid whose pressure is to be reduced, and at least one outlet port for reduced-pressure fluid,

b) a fluid pressure-reducing means arranged in or on at least part of said internal fluid passage, between said inlet port and the said outlet port, and designed to reduce the pressure of the fluid, and

c) an outlet coupling having at least one inlet end and at least one outlet end, with said outlet comprising an external profile designed to take and have connected to it a user connector which has an internal profile tailored to and optionally, complementing said external profile of said outlet coupling outlet end,

wherein said outlet coupling outlet end comprises at least five cylindrical coupling portions arranged in succession from said outlet end of said outlet coupling towards said inlet end through which said outlet coupling is coupled to said main body, where each coupling portion has an associated outside diameter, such that

said first coupling portion having a first outside diameter,

said second coupling portion having a second outside diameter,

said third coupling portion having a third outside diameter,

said fourth cylindrical coupling portion have a fourth outside diameter, and

said fifth cylindrical coupling portion having a fifth outside diameter, wherein;

1) said first outside diameter is smaller than said second outside diameter;

2) said second outside diameter is smaller than said third outside diameter, and

3) said fifth outside diameter is between about 15 mm and about 27 mm.

27. The expansion valve according to claim 26, wherein said outlet coupling further comprises:

a sixth cylindrical coupling portion having a sixth outside diameter,

said sixth cylindrical coupling portion being situated between said third coupling portion with said third outside diameter and said fourth coupling portion with said fourth outside diameter, with

said sixth outside diameter being smaller than said third outside diameter.