Method and related system of filling therapeutic gas cylinders

• US 7,762,289 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips RS North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Respironics Incorporated
• Inventors: Aylsworth, Alonzo C., McCulloh, Kevin G., Spector, Lawrence C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson; Gregory L
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARNETT, NICOLAS ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US11/157,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20060283517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/4, 141/18, 141/83, 141 94- 96, 141/197, 128/202.22, 128/204.18, 128/204.19, 128/204.21, 128/204.22
• US Class Current: 141/2
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0119 with flat end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0323 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/011 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0153 Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0157 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/04 Methods for emptying or filling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0626 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 Breathing
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 for filling with compressed gases

Abstract

A method and related system of filling therapeutic gas cylinders. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are a method comprising determining, by a cylinder fill device, a rated pressure of a therapeutic gas cylinder, and filling the cylinder with the cylinder fill device substantially to the rated pressure.

Claims

1. A method of filling a therapeutic gas cylinder, the method comprising:

determining, by a cylinder fill device, a rated pressure of the therapeutic gas cylinder by detecting the presence of one or more apertures, dimples, grooves, or magnets associated with a post valve coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder; and

filling the cylinder with the cylinder fill device to the rated pressure.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of one or more apertures, dimples, grooves, or magnets associated with a post valve coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder comprises detecting one or more apertures through the post valve.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of one or more apertures, dimples, grooves, or magnets associated with a post valve coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder comprises detecting one or more dimples on the post valve.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of one or more apertures, dimples, grooves, or magnets associated with a post valve coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder comprises detecting one or more grooves on the post valve.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of one or more apertures, dimples, grooves, or magnets associated with a post valve coupled to the therapeutic gas cylinder comprises detecting one or more magnets coupled to the post valve.