Fluid container with digital display giving an indication of the state of the container

Abstract

The invention relates to a pressurized gas container, having an internal volume for storing gas under pressure comprising a valve for distributing fluid, a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the gas and delivering at least one measurement signal, a microprocessor for processing the measurement signal delivered by the pressure sensor and a digital display. The microprocessor converts the measurement signal delivered by the pressure sensor into a measured pressure value, and compares the measured pressure value with at least one preset threshold-pressure value. The digital display displays at least one predefined term reflecting the amount of gas in the container, which is dependent on the comparison performed by the microprocessor.

Claims

1. A pressurized gas container, comprising an internal volume for storing gas under pressure, the pressurized gas container comprising: a valve configured to distribute fluid comprising at least one internal passage for gas in fluidic communication with the internal volume of the gas container, a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of the gas and delivering at least one measurement signal, a microprocessor configured to process the measurement signal delivered by the pressure sensor and a digital display, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to: i) convert the measurement signal delivered by the pressure sensor into a measured pressure, and ii) compare the measured pressure value with preset threshold-pressure values, said preset threshold-pressure values comprising a high threshold-pressure value (V.sub.H) and a low threshold-pressure value (V.sub.B), with V.sub.B<V.sub.H, and the digital display is configured to display: a) the term “FULL” or “PLEIN” when the microprocessor determines that the measured pressure is higher than or equal to the high threshold-pressure value (V.sub.H), and b) the term “EMPTY” or “VIDE” when the microprocessor determines that the measured pressure is lower than or equal to the low threshold-pressure value (V.sub.B).

2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one preset threshold-pressure value and/or the predefined terms are stored in memory.

3. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of preset threshold-pressure values are stored in memory.

4. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the high threshold-pressure value (V.sub.H) is higher than or equal to 100 bar.

5. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the low threshold-pressure value (V.sub.B) is lower than or equal to 20 bar.

6. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital display is configured to display a gas pressure when the microprocessor determines that the measured pressure is between the high threshold-pressure value (V.sub.H) and the low threshold-pressure value (V.sub.B).

7. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital display is configured to display a graphic bar representing the gas pressure.

8. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged so as to measure the pressure of the gas within the internal passage for gas of the valve for distributing fluid.

9. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital display is arranged on a housing of an electronic device.

10. The container as claimed in claim 9, wherein the electronic device is attached to the valve for distributing gas.

11. The container as claimed in claim 9, wherein the microprocessor is arranged in the housing of the electronic device.

12. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a protective covering is arranged around the valve for distributing gas and the electronic device is housed in an opening made in the covering body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be better understood by virtue of the following detailed description, which is given by way of non-limiting illustration, and with reference to the appended figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows one possible architecture of a fluid container with a digital display according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the electronic device with a display of FIG. 1 for a fluid container according to the invention indicating that the container is “FULL” (or “PLEIN” in French), and

(4) FIG. 3 shows the electronic device with a display of FIG. 1 for a fluid container according to the invention indicating that the container is “EMPTY” (or “VIDE” in French).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIG. 1 schematically shows a pressurized gas container according to the invention, namely here a gas cylinder, comprising an internal volume 2 for storing gas under pressure and additionally equipped with a valve for distributing fluid 3, such as an IPR, through which there is at least one internal passage for gas in fluidic communication with the internal volume 2 of the container 1 so as to convey the gas within the valve 3.

(6) The valve for distributing fluid 3 comprises a pressure sensor 4 for measuring the pressure of the gas, within the internal passage for gas and/or in the internal volume 2 of the container 1, and delivering at least one pressure measurement signal to at least one microprocessor 5 which is configured to process the pressure measurement signal delivered by the pressure sensor 4. The microprocessor 5 may be arranged on a circuit board.

(7) Also provided is a digital display 6 borne by a housing of an electronic device (visible in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) attached to the valve for distributing fluid 3, which may be housed in an opening or compartment provided in the body of a protective covering (not shown) arranged around the valve for distributing fluid 3 and serving to protect it from impacts or other possible damage, for example a rigid covering made of polymer and/or of metal.

(8) The housing of the electronic device also comprises the microprocessor 5, typically a circuit board bearing a microcontroller.

(9) Preferably, the fluid container 1 is a gas cylinder of axis AA comprising a cylindrical body defining the internal volume 2 for storing gas at high pressure, typically a maximum pressure of 130 to 300 bar abs, or even beyond 300 bar abs, and a neck comprising an orifice that is in communication with the internal volume 2 and allows the gas to be withdrawn from the internal volume 2 or, conversely, allows it to be filled when it is empty.

(10) The valve for distributing fluid 3 is mounted, typically screwed, at the level of the orifice of the neck of the gas cylinder. It comprises a connector or end fitting for distributing gas to which an item of medical equipment, a flexible tube or another device using or routing the gas delivered by the valve 3 can be connected. A member for adjusting the flow rate, namely here a rotary handwheel or the like, allows a user to adjust the desired value of the gas flow rate.

(11) It is possible to provide one or more carrying handles connected to the body of the covering and sized so as to be able to be gripped manually by a user in order to allow convenient handling and/or transport of the gas container/valve/covering assembly, and/or a movable, preferably pivoting, securing device or system that allows the gas cylinder/valve/covering assembly to be secured to a support, such as a bar of a hospital bed, to a stretcher, to a rail or the like.

(12) The digital display 6, such as a digital screen, for example a liquid-crystal display (LCD), etc., supplied with power by a electrical energy source (not visible) arranged in the covering, for example one or more batteries or cells placed in a cell compartment made in the wall of the covering body and closed by a removable flap or the like.

(13) According to the invention, in order to give the user a clear, quick, straightforward and immediate indication as to the state of the container 1, that is to say as to the amount of gas that it contains, the microprocessor 5 is configured to convert the measurement signal delivered by the pressure sensor 4 into a measured pressure value, and to compare this measured pressure value with one or more preset threshold-pressure values, and, in addition, the digital display 6 is configured to display a predefined term 7 that reflects the amount of gas in the container, said term being dependent on the comparison performed by the microprocessor 5, which implements in particular one or more calculation algorithms.

(14) The one or more preset threshold-pressure values and the predefined terms 7 are stored within at least one storage memory 9 or else directly within the microprocessor 5, typically a microcontroller, for example within software implemented by said microcontroller.

(15) In particular, the predefined terms 7 are “FULL” and “EMPTY” or the translation thereof into a language other than English, for example the translation thereof into French, namely the terms “PLEIN” and “VIDE”, respectively.

(16) Additionally, the preset threshold-pressure values comprise a high threshold-pressure value (V.sub.H) and a low threshold-pressure value (V.sub.B), with V.sub.B<V.sub.H, for example a high threshold-pressure value (V.sub.H) higher than or equal to 100 bar, for example of about 137 bar, and a low threshold-pressure value (V.sub.B) lower than or equal to 20 bar, for example approximately from 5 to 10 bar.

(17) The digital display 6 then displays the predefined term 7 “FULL”, or “PLEIN” in French, when the microprocessor 5 determines that the measured pressure is higher than or equal to the high threshold-pressure value (V.sub.H), as illustrated in FIG. 2, which indicates to the user immediately and in a straightforward manner that the container 1 is full or nearly full of gas and may therefore be used without risking an interruption in the supply for any significant length of time (though depending on the flow rate of course). For example, the high threshold-pressure value (V.sub.H) may be equal to approximately 137 bar.

(18) Conversely, the digital display 4 displays the term “EMPTY”, or “VIDE” in French, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when the microprocessor 5 determines that the measured pressure is lower than or equal to the low threshold-pressure value (V.sub.B), which indicates to the user immediately and in a straightforward manner that the container 1 is empty or nearly empty of gas and may therefore not be used without risking an interruption in the supply. For example, the low threshold-pressure value (V.sub.B) may be approximately from 5 to 10 bar.

(19) Lastly, when the microprocessor 5 determines that the measured pressure is higher than the low threshold-pressure value (V.sub.B) but lower than the high threshold-pressure value (V.sub.H), the digital display 4 displays the measured pressure value instead of the predefined terms 7.

(20) These indications allow containers to be sorted quickly by the user by allowing them to know quickly and in a straightforward manner which ones are empty, which ones are full and which ones contain an intermediate amount of gas and to do so without the user having to have any particular knowledge in the subject and/or additionally having to perform conversions or calculations.

(21) Advantageously, the digital display 6 also comprises, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a graphic bar 9, here in an elongated arc shape, for example in the shape of an arcing strip (i.e. a circular arc), positioned along an edge in the shape of a circular arc of the digital display 6, and serving to provide a graphic representation of the pressure, and hence of the amount of gas remaining in the cylinder 1.

(22) Preferably, the graphic bar 9 is in color. More precisely, it comprises a plurality of successive zones of different colors (i.e. colors or shades of colors), for example white, green, red, orange, etc., which could be light or dark.

(23) Additionally, the digital display 6 may also display one or more other items of information, for example a value of the gas flow rate 12 (in L/min or in another unit) as illustrated in FIG. 3, or else remaining gas (in hours and minutes).

(24) More generally, the digital display 6 comprises a screen whose height is between around 29 and 37 cm, and whose width is between around 39 and 43 cm, preferably with an arc-shaped upper edge 13 along which the graphic bar 9 is displayed, as shown schematically in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

(25) The digital display 6 may be arranged in the frontal panel 14, i.e. the front face, of the housing of the electronic device attached to the valve for distributing fluid 3 and housed in an opening of the body of the protective covering protecting the valve 3. The frontal panel 14 may further comprise a finger-activated button 11, i.e. a button that is activated when a user presses it using their finger, such as their index finger, and an indicator light 10, such as an LED. The button 11 may comprise a marking, such as an icon for example, like here a bell with a line through it to indicate that this button is for acknowledging an alarm.

(26) Additionally, the indicator light 10, such as an LED, may be controlled by the microprocessor 5 so as to light up, in particular to blink, when the microprocessor 5 determines that the pressure in the container 1 is low, i.e. lower than the low threshold-pressure value (V.sub.B). In other words, the lighting up (e.g. blinking) of the LED 10 may be made to occur simultaneously with displaying of the predefined term 7 “EMPTY” or “VIDE” on the display 6.

(27) All of the components which require electrical energy to operate (i.e. microprocessor, sensor, display, etc.) are supplied with power by an electrical energy source arranged for example in the covering, for example an electric cell or battery.

(28) Additionally, the microprocessor 5, the sensor 4, the memory 8, etc. may for their part be borne by a circuit board 15. The microprocessor is preferably a microcontroller that implements one or more calculation or other algorithms and preferably comprises an internal storage memory.

(29) The circuit board 15 is arranged in the housing of the electronic device attached to the valve for distributing fluid 3 (not shown).

(30) In general, a fluid container 1, in particular a gas cylinder, equipped with a valve, such as an IPR, protected by a covering according to the invention is suitable for storing and supplying gas under pressure, in particular a medical gas or mixture of gasses, such as oxygen, an NO/N.sub.2, O.sub.2/N.sub.2O or He/O.sub.2 mixture, air, etc.

(31) It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments in the examples given above.