Protective Valve Ring

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective valve ring (1) for an oxygen gas cylinder (3). The protective valve ring (1) comprises a body (4) adapted to enclose an outlet (5) of a cylinder valve (2). The body (2) comprises an incombustible and heat absorbing material, and has an internal shaping adapted to guide any potential oxygen gas leak away from inflammable parts of the gas cylinder (3). The invention also relates to a shut-off valve (2) for controlling flow of a pressurised gas and a method for attaching a protective valve ring (1) to a shut-off valve (2) of an oxygen gas cylinder (3).

Claims

1. A protective valve ring (1) for an oxygen gas cylinder (3), comprising: a body (4) adapted to enclose an outlet (5) of a cylinder valve (2), the body (4) comprising an incombustible and heat absorbing material, wherein the body (4) comprises an internal shaping adapted to guide any potential oxygen gas leak away from inflammable parts of the gas cylinder (3).

2. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 1, wherein the internal shaping comprises grooves (6, 7) arranged on an inner wall surface of the body (4).

3. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 1, wherein the internal shaping comprises a first groove (6) extending along an inner circumference of the body (4).

4. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 3, wherein the internal shaping comprises at least one second groove (7) extending from a bottom portion of the body (4) in an axial direction thereof to the first groove (6) of the body (4), the first groove (6) and the at least one second groove (7) thereby being in gas communication with each other.

5. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 1, wherein the internal shaping comprises abutting surfaces (8) for communication with the cylinder valve (2), the abutting surfaces (8) being adapted to absorb heat.

6. The protective valve ring (1) according to any claim 1, wherein the body (4) is solid.

7. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 1, wherein the body (4) is made from a first part (10) and a second part (11), and wherein a first end of the first part (10) is hinged together with a first end of the second part (11).

8. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 7, wherein a second end of the first part (10) is connectable to a second end of the second part (11) by means of a pin element or a snap lock.

9. A shut-off valve for (2) controlling flow of a pressurized gas, comprising a body (15) defining a passage extending between a gas inlet channel (16) and a gas outlet channel (17), and a sealing element arranged to, in a first position, close the passage, and in a second position, open the passage to allow gas to flow between the gas inlet channel (16) and the gas outlet channel (17) through the passage, further comprising the protective valve ring (1) according to claim 1, which is attached an outlet (5) of the gas outlet channel (17).

10. A method for attaching a protective valve ring (1) to a shut-off cylinder valve (2) of an oxygen gas cylinder (3), the protective valve ring (1) comprising a body (4) adapted to enclose an outlet (5) of the cylinder valve (2), the body (4) comprising internal shaping adapted to guide a potential oxygen gas leak away from inflammable parts of the gas cylinder (3), wherein the method comprises the steps of: arranging a first part (10) and a second part (11) of the body (4) around the outlet (5) of the cylinder valve (2), wherein a first end of the first part (10) is hinged together with a first end of the second part (11), and locking a second end of the first part (10) together with a second end of the second part (11) by means of a pin element (14) or a snap lock.

11. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 2, wherein the internal shaping comprises abutting surfaces (8) for communication with the cylinder valve (2), the abutting surfaces (8) being adapted to absorb heat.

12. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 2, wherein the body (4) is made from a first part (10) and a second part (11), and wherein a first end of the first part (10) is hinged together with a first end of the second part (11).

13. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 12, wherein a second end of the first part (10) is connectable to a second end of the second part (11) by means of a pin element or a snap lock.

14. A shut-off valve for (2) controlling flow of a pressurized gas, comprising a body (15) defining a passage extending between a gas inlet channel (16) and a gas outlet channel (17), and a sealing element arranged to, in a first position, close the passage, and in a second position, open the passage to allow gas to flow between the gas inlet channel (16) and the gas outlet channel (17) through the passage, further comprising the protective valve ring (1) according to claim 2, which is attached an outlet (5) of the gas outlet channel (17).

15. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 4, wherein the internal shaping comprises abutting surfaces (8) for communication with the cylinder valve (2), the abutting surfaces (8) being adapted to absorb heat.

16. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 4, wherein the body (4) is made from a first part (10) and a second part (11), and wherein a first end of the first part (10) is hinged together with a first end of the second part (11).

17. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 16, wherein a second end of the first part (10) is connectable to a second end of the second part (11) by means of a pin element or a snap lock.

18. A shut-off valve for (2) controlling flow of a pressurized gas, comprising a body (15) defining a passage extending between a gas inlet channel (16) and a gas outlet channel (17), and a sealing element arranged to, in a first position, close the passage, and in a second position, open the passage to allow gas to flow between the gas inlet channel (16) and the gas outlet channel (17) through the passage, further comprising the protective valve ring (1) according to claim 4, which is attached an outlet (5) of the gas outlet channel (17).

19. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 5, wherein the body (4) is made from a first part (10) and a second part (11), and wherein a first end of the first part (10) is hinged together with a first end of the second part (11), and wherein a second end of the first part (10) is connectable to a second end of the second part (11) by means of a pin element or a snap lock.

20. A shut-off valve for (2) controlling flow of a pressurized gas, comprising a body (15) defining a passage extending between a gas inlet channel (16) and a gas outlet channel (17), and a sealing element arranged to, in a first position, close the passage, and in a second position, open the passage to allow gas to flow between the gas inlet channel (16) and the gas outlet channel (17) through the passage, further comprising the protective valve ring (1) according to claim 5, which is attached an outlet (5) of the gas outlet channel (17).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals may be used for similar elements, and wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring according to a first aspect of the invention to be applied to a cylinder valve.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the protective valve ring according to the first aspect of the invention to be applied to the cylinder valve.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the protective valve ring in FIG. 2 when applied to the cylinder valve.

[0024] FIG. 4a is a perspective view of yet another exemplary embodiment of the protective valve ring according to the first aspect of the invention in an opened state.

[0025] FIG. 4b is a perspective view of the protective valve ring in FIG. 4a in a closed state.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring according to the first aspect of the invention when applied to the cylinder valve.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring according to the first aspect of the invention when applied to the cylinder valve.

[0028] FIG. 7a is a perspective view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring according to the first aspect of the invention in an opened state.

[0029] FIG. 7b is a perspective view of the protective valve ring in FIG. 4a in a closed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring 1 when applied to a shut-off cylinder valve 2 of an oxygen gas cylinder 3. The protective valve ring 1 has a body 4 which encloses an outlet 5 of the shut-off cylinder valve 2. The body 4 is solid and made from an incombustible and heat absorbing material. This means that the protective valve ring 1 is attached to the cylinder valve 2 upon manufacture of the same.

[0031] In the enlarged portion of FIG. 1, the protective valve ring 1 is illustrated in more detail and it can be seen that the body 4 further comprises an internal shaping which is designed to guide any potential oxygen gas leak away from inflammable parts of the gas cylinder 3. The internal shaping comprises a first groove 6 extending along the inner circumference of the body 4. The internal shaping further comprises plurality of second grooves 7 extending from a bottom portion of the body 2 in the axial direction thereof up and into the first groove 6 of the body 2. The first groove 6 and the plurality of second grooves 7 are thereby in gas communication with each other.

[0032] The body 2 is further equipped with abutting surfaces 8 which are in direct communication with the shut-off cylinder valve 2. The abutting surfaces 8 are made from a heat absorbing material and thus adapted to lead heat away from exposed parts of the gas cylinder 3.

[0033] The protective valve ring 1 will both redirect the flames and absorb the heat of a potential fire. In particular, it will protect the plastic guard 9 of the cylinder valve 2 from the flames of the fire which greatly reduces the fuel available to the fire.

[0034] In FIG. 2 to FIG. 7, different exemplary embodiments of the protective valve ring 1 are illustrated. In these embodiments, the protective valve ring 1 is made from a first part 10 and a second part 11. This way, the protective valve ring 1 can be applied onto products already in operation.

[0035] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the first part 10 of the protective valve ring 1 and the second part 11 of the protective valve ring 1 are screwed together when applied to the shut-off cylinder valve 2.

[0036] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate an embodiment of the protective valve ring 1 in which the first part 10 is connected to the second part 11 by means of a click-function.

[0037] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the first part 10 of the protective valve ring 1 and the second part 11 of the protective valve ring 1 are equipped with flanges 12 for engagement with each other. A clip 13 is arranged in an outer groove extending along the circumference of the protective valve ring 1 in order to hold the parts 10, 11 together.

[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which the first part 10 of the protective valve ring 1 and the second part 11 of the protective valve ring 1 are equipped with flanges 12 for engagement with each other. Here, it is the plastic valve guard 9 that is used to hold the parts 10, 11 together.

[0039] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7a and FIG. 7b, one end of the first part 10 of the protective valve ring 1 is hinged together with one end of the second part 11 of the protective valve ring 1. The other end of the first part 10 is connectable to the other end of the second part 11 by means of a pin element 14.

[0040] The actual shut-off valve 2, onto which the protective valve ring 1 is attached, is illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. The shut-off valve 2 comprises a body 15 defining a passage extending between a gas inlet channel 16 and a gas outlet channel 17, and a sealing element (not shown) arranged to, in a first position, close the passage, and in a second position, open the passage to allow gas to flow between the gas inlet channel 16 and the gas outlet channel 17 through the passage. The protective valve ring 1 is attached to an outlet 5 of the gas outlet channel 17.

[0041] The skilled person realises that a number of modifications of the embodiments described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

[0042] For instance, the grooves 6, 7 of the internal shaping may have any suitable type of shape and extension as long as they serve the purpose of leading any potential oxygen leak away from the cylinder valve 2.