Tap assembly with cover and electronic status indicator

Abstract

A tap for gas cylinder, comprising a body with an inlet, an outlet and a passage connecting the inlet with the outlet; an electronic indicator of the status of the tap and/or cylinder, the indicator being mounted on the body; a pressure sensor electrically connected to the electronic indicator and providing to the indicator the gas pressure at the inlet. The pressure sensor is mounted on the body at a location that is distinct from the mounting location of the electronic indicator. The invention is also directed to a tap assembly comprising the above tap and a cover housing the tap.

Claims

1. A tap for gas cylinder, said tap comprising: a body with an inlet, an outlet and a passage connecting the inlet with the outlet; an electronic indicator of the status of at least one of the tap and cylinder, the indicator being mounted on the body; a pressure sensor electrically connected to the electronic indicator and structured and operable to provide to the indicator the gas pressure at the inlet; a shaft rigidly mounted on the body and supporting the electronic indicator; wherein the shaft comprises a longitudinal bore, the tap comprising electrical wires connected to the electronic indicator and extending through the bore; and wherein the pressure sensor is mounted on the body at a location that is distinct from the mounting location of the electronic indicator.

2. The tap according to claim 1, wherein the tap further comprises a device fluidly arranged in the passage and with a hand-wheel for adjusting at least one of the outlet pressure and the flow-rate, the electronic indicator being housed in the hand-wheel.

3. The tap according to claim 2, wherein the electronic indicator is rigidly fixed with the body.

4. The tap according to claim 2, wherein the hand-wheel is rotatably mounted on the shaft.

5. The tap according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a bore forming with the bore of the shaft a continuous channel through which extend the electrical wires.

6. The tap according to claim 5, wherein the bore of the body and the electrical wires open out through an external surface of the body.

7. The tap according to claim 5, wherein the bore of the body and the electrical wires open out through an external surface being a rear side of the tap when at least one of the hand-wheel and the electrical indicator are on a front side of the tap.

8. The tap according to claim 1, wherein the electrical wires connect the electronic indicator to the pressure sensor.

9. The tap according to claim 1, wherein the shaft extends generally upwardly from the body, when the tap is in a mounting position on the gas cylinder in any upright position, forming an angle with a longitudinal axis of the tap that is comprised between 30 and 60.

10. The tap according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is mounted on an upper portion of the body when the tap is in a mounting position on the gas cylinder in an upright position.

11. A tap assembly, said assembly comprising: a tap for gas cylinder; and a cover housing the tap, wherein the tap comprises: a body with an inlet, an outlet and a passage connecting the inlet with the outlet; an electronic indicator of the status of at least one of the tap and the cylinder, the indicator being mounted on the body; a pressure sensor electrically connected to the electronic indicator and structured and operable to provide to the indicator the gas pressure at the inlet; a shaft rigidly mounted on the body and supporting the electronic indicator; wherein the shaft comprises a longitudinal bore, the tap comprising electrical wires connected to the electronic indicator and extending through the bore; and wherein the pressure sensor is mounted on the body at a location that is distinct from the mounting location of the electronic indicator.

12. The tap assembly according to claim 11, further comprising at least one battery housed in the cover and electrically connected to at least one of the pressure sensor and the electronic indicator.

13. The tap assembly according to claim 12, wherein the cover comprises a shell and a handle, the at least one battery being housed in the handle.

14. The tap assembly according to claim 12, wherein the cover comprises a shell that is generally ball-shaped.

15. The tap assembly according to claim 11, wherein the cover comprises a removable rear cover piece providing access to the electrical connection of at least one of the electronic indicator, the pressure sensor and at least one battery.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tap assembly in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the tap assembly of FIG. 1 in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION

(3) FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a tap assembly in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. The tap assembly 2 comprises, essentially, a tap (not visible in FIG. 1) and a cover 4 housing the tap.

(4) The cover 4 comprises a shell that is advantageously generally ball-shaped. That shell can comprise an upper half-shell 4.sup.1 and a lower half-shell 4.sup.2 that are joined to each other via a contact plane 6 that is generally inclined relative to both vertical and horizontal directions. That inclination is of about 45 relative to the vertical direction and also to the horizontal one. The inclination is oriented so that the contact plane 6 rises from the front to the rear of the assembly.

(5) The cover 4 can also comprise a handle 8 provided above the shell 4.sup.1, 4.sup.2. The handle 8 can extend transversally and generally horizontally. It can be unitary with the upper half-shell 4.sup.1 via the laterals arms 10.

(6) The tap assembly 2 comprises also a hand-wheel 12 for adjusting the flow-rate and/or the outlet pressure of the tap. The tap can comprise a shut-off valve, a pressure reducer and/or a flow-selector, the hand-wheel being configured for operating at least one of the shut-off valve, pressure reducer and flow-selector. The construction of the tap will be described with more details in relation with FIG. 2.

(7) As is apparent in FIG. 1, the hand-wheel 12 is housed in an opening of the shell, for instance the upper half-shell 4.sup.1. The hand-wheel 12 comprises an outer surface that is generally curved to be flush with the surrounding outer surface of the shell. Also the outer surface of the hand-wheel 12 can complement the generally ball-shaped outer surface of the shell. The hand-wheel 12 is advantageously positioned at a front and upper area of the shell 4.sup.1 in order to be most visible and ergonomically accessible to a user.

(8) An outlet connector 14 of the tap is positioned below the hand-wheel 12. It extends through an opening at a lower front area of the upper half-shell 4.sup.1.

(9) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the tap assembly of FIG. 1. The section is along a vertical longitudinal plane that cuts the assembly into two left and right halves. FIG. 2 is a view of the left halve.

(10) In FIG. 2 the tap is well apparent. It comprises a body 16 with a gas inlet 18, a gas outlet 20 and a gas passage 22 interconnecting the inlet with the outlet. In the present case, the tap comprises a pressure reducer 24, such a pressure reducer being as such well known to the skilled person. The tap comprises also a flow-selector 26 consisting of a disk with calibrated holes, the disk being rotatable so as to present one of the calibrated holes in front of a specific section 28 of the gas passage 22, the section being in direction connection with the outlet 20. Depending on the calibrated hole that is positioned in front of the section 28, the gas flow-rate will be higher or lower. The principle of such a flow-selector is as such well known to the skilled person.

(11) In various embodiments of the present invention, the rotatable disk of the flow-selector is rotatably mounted around a shaft 30 that is rigidly fixed to the body 16. For instance, the shaft 30 comprises at an end a thread that is engaged in a corresponding thread in the body 16.

(12) As apparent in FIG. 2, the longitudinal axis of the shaft 30 forms an angle of about 45, or at least comprised between 30 and 60, with the longitudinal vertical axis of the tap. The shaft 30 extends upwardly from the body 16 towards a front area of the assembly.

(13) The hand-wheel 12 forms a cavity housing an electronic indicator 32 of the status of the assembly and/or of the gas cylinder. The hand-wheel can comprise a generally cup-shaped body 12.sup.1 and a transparent cover 12.sup.2. The hand-wheel 12, for instance the body 12.sup.1, is rigidly attached to the rotatable disk of the flow-selector 26, so that the angular position of that disk can be selected via the hand-wheel.

(14) The electronic indicator 32 is supported by the shaft 30 which is rigid with the body 16. This means that the electronic indicator is fixed with the body whereas the hand-wheel 12 surrounding it is rotatable.

(15) The shaft 30 comprises a bore or drill-hole that extends through its whole length. The body 16 comprises also a bore or drill-hole that forms with the bore of the shaft a continuous channel through which electrical wires 34 of the electronic indicator extend. The bore of the body 16 forming that channel opens out at a rear area of the body 16, opposite to the front one where the shaft 30 and the hand-wheel 12 are mounted. The gas passage 22 inside the body is configured so as not to intersect with the channel of the electrical wires 34.

(16) The tap comprises also a pressure sensor 36 mounted directed on the body 16. For instance, the pressure sensor is mounted on an upper area of the body 16, in any case at a location that is distinct from the mounting of the shaft 30 and the hand-wheel 12. The pressure sensor 36, more particularly its mounting on the body 16, is configured for being in fluidic direct communication with the gas passage 22. For instance, the gas passage 22 comprises a section (not visible) that extends behind the section plane of FIG. 2, in the upper portion of the body, interconnecting the lower vertical section (visible in FIG. 2) with the pressure sensor 36.

(17) The electrical wires 34 are electrically connected to the electronic indicator 32 and to the pressure sensor 36. This latter provides indeed a pressure information to the electronic indicator 32. This latter comprises an electronic unit and a display for displaying to a user information about the pressure in the gas cylinder and/or about the remaining operation time. The remaining operation time can be calculated based on the pressure in the cylinder and on the pressure drop in the cylinder due to the gas consumption, more specifically the selected gas flow-rate.

(18) One or several batteries 38 can be housed in the cover 4, more specifically in the handle 8 of the cover 4. Electrical wire(s) in connection with the at least one battery 38 can extend through at least one of the arms 10 supporting the handle 8. These wires 40 can be connected to the pressure sensor 36 and to the electronic indicator 32 for supplying them with electrical energy.

(19) The shell of the cover 4 can also comprise a rear cover 4.sup.3 that is removable from the upper and lower half-shells 4.sup.1 and 4.sup.2. Removal of this cover 4.sup.3 provides access to the cavity of the shell and more particularly to the wires 34 and 40. The electrical indicator 32, the pressure sensor 36 and the battery/batteries 38 can then be easily connected together or disconnected from the rear side of the assembly 2.