Gas container with display of the flow and of the corresponding autonomy

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas container equipped with a gas distribution valve having an electronic device for measuring gas autonomy. Flow selection means allow a desired gas flow to be selected. The electronic device includes a pressure sensor. Signal processing means allow gas autonomies to be determined on the basis of the pressure signal and of the selectable gas flows. A selection component cooperates with the signal processing means in order to successively display, on data display means and in response to successive digital activations by the user of the selection component, the various selectable flow values and the various corresponding autonomies, with each flow value being simultaneously displayed with a corresponding autonomy.

Claims

1. A gas container equipped with a gas distribution valve comprising an electronic device for measuring gas autonomy, wherein: the gas distribution valve comprises a flow selection means configured to allow a user to select a desired gas flow from among a plurality of selectable gas flows; and the electronic device comprises: at least one pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of the gas contained in the container and to provide at least one pressure signal; a signal processing means configured to determine a plurality of gas autonomies at least on the basis of the pressure signal provided by said at least one pressure sensor and the plurality of selectable gas flows; a data display means configured to display an autonomy and a corresponding flow value; and a digital activation selection component that can be activated by a user; wherein the digital activation selection component is configured to cooperate with the signal processing means in order to successively display, on the data display means and in response to successive digital activations by the user of the digital activation selection component, the various selectable flow values and the various corresponding autonomies, each flow value being simultaneously displayed with a determined corresponding autonomy for said considered flow value.

2. The gas container according to claim 1, wherein the digital activation selection component is configured to cooperate with the signal processing means so that successive digital activations by the user result in the various selectable flow values and the various corresponding autonomies being scrolled through and displayed on the data display means are configured to display an autonomy/flow pair comprising a flow value and a corresponding autonomy.

3. The gas container according to claim 1, wherein the selectable gas flows range between 0 L/min and 30 L/min.

4. The gas container according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises: a gas temperature sensor for measuring the gas temperature; an ambient temperature sensor for measuring the ambient temperature; and/or a position sensor for determining the position of the flow selection means.

5. The gas container according to claim 1, wherein the data display means comprise a display screen.

6. The gas container according to claim 1, wherein the digital activation selection component is configured to cooperate with the signal processing means so that the successive digital activations by the user of said digital activation selection component result in the flow/autonomy pairs being successively scrolled through and displayed in the increasing order of the flows.

7. The gas container according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing means are configured so that, only after displaying the last flow/autonomy pair including the maximum selectable flow, an additional digital activation by the user of the digital activation selection component results in the display means redisplaying the first flow/autonomy pair including the minimum selectable flow.

8. The gas container according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing means are configured so that, only after suspending or stopping the digital activation by the user of the activation component for a given duration, the display of the flow/autonomy pairs is reset so that any new digital activation by the user of the activation component results in the display means displaying the first flow/autonomy pair including the minimum selectable flow.

9. The gas container according claim 1, wherein the digital activation selection component comprises a key or a selection button.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a gas container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the display of a first gas autonomy/flow pair according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates the display of a second gas autonomy/flow pair according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a gas container 1 according to the invention, namely in this case a gas cylinder or canister with a cylindrical body made of steel or aluminium alloy, equipped with a gas distribution valve 2, also called valve, on which an electronic device 3 is mounted for displaying the gas autonomy and flow comprising data display means 34, for example, a digital screen 4, for example, of the segment LCD type.

(6) The gas distribution valve 2 comprises a brass body, for example, through which an internal gas circuit passes, i.e. one or more gas passages, pipes or channels, in fluid communication with the internal volume 10 of the gas container 1.

(7) The gas distribution valve 2 comprises flow selection means 5, namely in this case a rotary handwheel or similar means, allowing a user, such as a healthcare professional, to select a desired gas flow from among a plurality of selectable gas flows, preferably a dozen possible flows ranging between 0 and 25 L/min, for example, the following flows: 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 22 and 25 L/min. The user is supplied with the gas flow through a gas outlet connection or fitting 6, i.e. an adaptor or similar means.

(8) A second gas outlet connection 8, called notched connection, also can be provided that allows specific fluid connection of a ventilation apparatus or similar means, for example.

(9) Furthermore, the gas distribution valve 2 also comprises integrated gas expansion means 7, i.e. it is an integrated expansion valve (IEV) 2, allowing the gas pressure to be reduced from its pressure, called high pressure, typically a pressure that can reach 350 bar abs, inside the volume or internal compartment 10 of the gas container 1 to its operating pressure, called low pressure, which generally is less than 10 bar abs, for example, of the order of 4 bar abs or less.

(10) The gas expansion means 7 usually comprise an expansion valve and a valve seat (not shown) cooperating with each other in order to reduce the gas pressure.

(11) The gas expansion means 7 are arranged on the internal gas circuit, i.e. one or more gas passages, pipes or channels, passing through the valve body 2 and fluidly connecting the internal volume 10 of the gas container 1 and the gas outlet connection 6 used to deliver the gas at the desired gas flow selected by the user by activating the flow selection means 5.

(12) The portion of the gas circuit located upstream of the gas expansion means 7 experiences the high pressure, i.e. the pressure prevailing in the internal volume 10 of the container 1, whereas the portion located downstream of the gas expansion means 7 experiences the low pressure, i.e. the gas pressure following expansion.

(13) The electronic device 3 comprises, for its part, a pressure sensor 31 used to measure the pressure of the gas inside the container 1 and to supply at least one pressure signal, and signal processing means 32, such as an electronic board with microcontroller, for determining at least one gas autonomy on the basis of the pressure signals provided by the pressure sensor 31 and at least one gas flow, and preferably a temperature measured by a temperature sensor 33 arranged so as to measure the ambient temperature, i.e. the environment around the device 3 and/or a temperature inside the device 3. Indeed, the temperature inside the device 3 corresponds to the ambient temperature and its variations reflect the variations of the ambient temperature, i.e. the ambient air.

(14) Preferably, the pressure sensor 31 is coupled to the gas temperature sensor so as to provide at least one gas pressure signal that is correlated to, associated with or corresponds to a gas temperature measured when the pressure measurement is taken.

(15) The electronic device 3 also comprises a position sensor for determining the position of the flow selection means 5, typically a rotary selector, i.e. the position sensor is configured to determine the gas flow selected by the user by determining the angular position of the rotary selector, such as a rotary handwheel.

(16) The pressure sensor 31 is preferably connected to the portion of the gas circuit of the valve body that is located upstream of the gas expansion means 7, which experiences the high gaseous pressure. Preferably, the pressure sensor 31 comprises, or is associated with, an integrated gas temperature sensor allowing a pressure signal to be provided that relates to the temperature of the gas that is measured when the pressure measurement is taken.

(17) Preferably, the pressure sensor 31 and the signal processing means 32, such as an electronic board with microcontroller, are arranged in a rigid casing 30, for example, made of polymer or of metal.

(18) Data display means 34, such as a digital screen 4, are also provided that allow information useful to the user to be displayed, in particular the gas autonomy computed by the signal processing means 32 and the corresponding gas flow, as explained hereafter.

(19) The digital screen 4 is supported by the rigid casing 30. Electric current supply means are also provided that are directly or indirectly electrically connected to the various components that require electricity to operate, in particular to the signal processing means 32, to the sensors 31, 33, to the display means 34 of the rigid casing 30, so as to directly or indirectly supply them with electric current and thus allow them to operate. Advantageously, the electric current supply means comprise an electric cell, advantageously having electric autonomy of at least 5 years, ideally of approximately 10 years.

(20) The signal processing means 32 are configured to determine gas autonomies on the basis of the pressure signal supplied by the pressure sensor 31 and of the plurality of selectable gas flows, and preferably also of the measured temperatures, for example, the ambient and/or gas temperature.

(21) In other words, the signal processing means 32 determine flow/autonomy pairs at least on the basis of the pressure signal and of the various possible flows, preferably ranging between 0 and 25 L/min, for example, the following flows: 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 22 and 25 L/min. A given autonomy corresponds to each flow, which autonomy is computed on the basis of said flow and of the measured gas pressure, or even on the basis of one or more parameters (i.e. temperatures, etc.).

(22) According to the present invention, a digital activation selection component 9, such as a button or a key, that can be activated by a user is also provided. This selection component 9 is preferably arranged next to the screen 4 of the data display means 34, as illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3.

(23) More specifically, the selection component 9, i.e. a button or similar means, is configured to cooperate with the signal processing means 32 and the data display means 34 for successively displaying, i.e. scrolling through, in response to successive digital activations by the user of the selection component 9, the various selectable flow values and the various corresponding autonomies, with each flow value being displayed simultaneously with a corresponding autonomy determined for said considered flow value, i.e. the screen 4 successively displays autonomy/flow pairs, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

(24) In other words, the signal processing means 32 allow the gas autonomy to be estimated, i.e. the possible operating duration of the container 1, for each flow that can be selected by the flow selection means 5 and the pressure of the measured gas. These pairs comprising an estimated autonomy and a corresponding gas flow are then successively displayed on the screen 4 when the user presses the selection component 9, i.e. a button or similar means, several times, i.e. when the user scrolls through the various autonomy/flow pairs obtained for the measured gas pressure, or even other data, such as one or more temperatures.

(25) To this end, the signal processing means 32 comprise an electronic board with microprocessor(s) receiving measurement signals from the pressure sensor 31 and from the gas temperature sensor associated therewith, and from the ambient temperature or equivalent temperature sensor 33, when the container 1 is used. These pressure and temperature measurement signals are processed by one or more algorithms used by the one or more microprocessor(s) of the electronic board.

(26) The gas autonomy is expressed in possible operating times, typically in hours and minutes or simply in minutes.

(27) In general, the determined gas autonomy (A) and the corresponding gas flow value (Q) are displayed in pairs, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

(28) In other words, by pressing the button 9 several times in succession the user obtains a display on the screen 4, successively with all the possible autonomy values (A) associated with all the corresponding gas flows (Q) that scroll through in autonomy/flow pairs on the screen 4 following the digital activations, i.e. successive presses, of the button 9 by the user.

(29) Thus, a member of personnel wishing to use a gas cylinder 1 is able to select the cylinder most suitable for them, without having to perform a calculation or complicated manipulations, but simply by scrolling through the various autonomy/flow pairs corresponding to the measured gas pressure.

(30) In the embodiment of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the flow and the autonomy are displayed one above the other on the screen 4; however, they also can be displayed side-by-side, or otherwise.

(31) Preferably, the flow/autonomy pairs are successively displayed by taking the flows in their increasing order, i.e. the lowest flow, for example, 0.5 L/min, is displayed initially, then the other flows are displayed in increasing order, during the various activations of the button 9 by the user, for example, 1, then 2, then 3, etc. and, finally, 25 L/min, using the example provided above.

(32) Preferably, when the user stops pressing the button 9, the scrolling through resets after a given delay, for example, after a few seconds, for example, after 3 seconds to 10 seconds. Pressing the button 9 again, after this given delay, will redisplay the flow/autonomy pair for the lowest selectable flow.

(33) The gas autonomies (A) relative to the possible flows (Q) can be computed as follows on the basis of the gas pressure in the container 1 measured by the pressure sensor 31. This pressure can be understood to be an available gas volume by virtue of Gay Lussac's law:
P.sub.atmV.sub.gaz=P.sub.gazV.sub.cyl

(34) where: P.sub.atm denotes the atmospheric pressure (i.e. 1 bar abs=1 atm); V.sub.gas denotes the volume of available gas; P.sub.gas denotes the gas pressure in the container, i.e. high pressure; V.sub.cyl denotes the internal volume of the gas container.

(35) The volume of available gas is then;

(36) $V_{\mathrm{gas}}=\frac{P_{\mathrm{gas}}{V}_{\mathrm{cyl}}}{P_{\mathrm{atm}}}$

(37) P.sub.gas is computed on the basis of the direct measurements performed by the pressure sensor 31 and a temperature sensor 33, which allow a gas pressure value to be estimated.

(38) For each flow Q, it is then possible to compute a corresponding gas autonomy A, as illustrated in Table 1 for the 12 aforementioned flows (Q).

(39) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Autonomy (A) according to the Selectable flows (Q) volume of gas available in the container 0.5 L/min ${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{0.5L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{0.5L/\min }$   1 L/min ${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{1L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{1L/\min }$   2 L/min ${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{2L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{2L/\min }$   3 L/min ${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{3L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{3L/\min }$   5 L/min ${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{5L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{5L/\min }$   8 L/min ${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{8L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{8L/\min }$  10 L/min ${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{10L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{10L/\min }$  12 L/min ${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{12L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{12L/\min }$  15 L/min 0${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{15L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{15L/\min }$  20 L/min ${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{20L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{20L/\min }$  22 L/min ${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{22L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{22L/\min }$  25 L/min ${\mathrm{Autonomy}}_{25L/\min }=\frac{V_{\mathrm{gas}}}{25L/\min }$

EXAMPLE

(40) A given patient requires a prescription of 2 L/min of oxygen for 30 minutes.

(41) A user, i.e. a healthcare professional, thus must provide them with this gas according to the medical prescription relating to this patient. To this end, they have two gas cylinders 1 comprising different amounts of oxygen, namely 200 L for one and 1000 L for the other, but different gas pressures. For example, in the case of a cylinder: of the B10 type (i.e. containing 10 L of water equivalent), 200 L of gas corresponds to a pressure of the order of 20 bar abs, whereas 1000 L of gas corresponds to a pressure of the order of 100 bar abs; of the B5 type (i.e. containing 5 L of water equivalent), 200 L of gas corresponds to a pressure of the order of 40 bar abs, whereas 1000 L of gas corresponds to a pressure of the order of 200 bar abs;

(42) Each cylinder 1 is equipped with an electronic device 3 for measuring gas autonomy comprising a display screen 4 according to the invention, as schematically shown in FIG. 1.

(43) In this passive state, the user sees, in order to make their selection, either the amount of available gas in litres, or the gas pressure, as appropriate, that is displayed on the electronic device 3 of each gas cylinder 1. In another embodiment, both, i.e. amount (in L) and pressure (in bar), can be displayed.

(44) However, in both cases the user, such as a healthcare professional, cannot know for how long and at which flow each cylinder 1 can be used.

(45) By virtue of the electronic device equipping the gas cylinders 1 according to the present invention, the user can easily determine which cylinder can be used for how long and at which flow by simply pressing the button 9 several times in succession in order to scroll through the various flow/autonomy pairs, which are then displayed, one after the other, on the screen 4 of the electronic device 3, as schematically shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

(46) Thus, the flow/autonomy pairs that the user can scroll through by activating the button 9 and that are then successively displayed on the screen 4 of each gas cylinder are, for example, those provided in Table 2 below.

(47) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Flow/autonomy pairs displayed Flow/autonomy pairs displayed on the screen of a cylinder on the screen of a cylinder containing 1000 L containing 200 L 0.5 L/min 2000 min 0.5 L/min 400 min   1 L/min 1000 min   1 L/min 200 min   2 L/min  500 min   2 L/min 100 min   3 L/min  333 min   3 L/min  67 min   5 L/min  200 min   5 L/min  40 min   8 L/min  125 min   8 L/min  25 min  10 L/min  100 min  10 L/min  20 min  12 L/min  83 min  12 L/min  17 min  15 L/min  67 min  15 L/min  13 min  20 L/min  50 min  20 L/min  10 min  22 L/min  45 min  22 L/min  9 min  25 L/min  40 min  25 L/min  8 min

(48) In Table 2 the durations are displayed in minutes. However, these durations also can be displayed in hours and in minutes.

(49) Thus, the user can quickly and immediately know the autonomy of each gas container, i.e. each medical gas cylinder 1, for the various possible gas flows, and can do so without having to perform any calculation and/or having to manipulate the gas flow selector to select the various flows of interest to them from the plurality of possible flows.

(50) They can then decide which cylinder 1 can be used to treat the considered patient, in particular as a function of the prescription to be applied.

(51) The pressurized gas container, in particular a gas cylinder, according to the invention is particularly adapted to be used for storing and/or distributing medical quality gas, namely a pure gas or a gaseous mixture.

(52) 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.