GAS SUPPLY REGULATOR

Abstract

A gas supply regulation assembly includes at least one inlet capable of being in fluid communication with at least one gas bottle and an outlet capable of being in fluid communication with a gas-consuming appliance. The gas supply regulation assembly further includes a gas pressure detection device for detecting gas pressure in a chamber communicating with the outlet.

Claims

1. A gas supply regulation assembly comprising: at least one inlet configured to be in fluid communication with at least one gas bottle; an outlet configured to be in fluid communication with a gas-consuming appliance; and a gas pressure detection device in a chamber, the chamber in communication with the outlet, the gas pressure detection device comprising a magnetic field measurement device.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising an automatic diverter comprising: at least two inlets configured to be coupled to at least two gas bottles; an outlet configured to be coupled to a gas-consuming appliance; and an automatic switching device configured to switch a gas supply from a first inlet of the at least two inlets to a second inlet of the at least two inlets when a pressure of the gas supply from the first inlet drops below a predetermined threshold, wherein the first inlet supplies gas from a first bottle of the at least two bottles and the second inlet supplies gas from a second bottle of the at least two bottles.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the gas pressure detection device comprises a flexible membrane forming a wall of the chamber and adapted to elastically return in a direction of the chamber by a spring, the flexible membrane supporting a cage enclosing a magnet, and the magnetic field measurement device of the gas pressure detection device is fixedly mounted relative to a body of the automatic diverter such that the magnetic field measurement device magnetically interacts with the magnet.

4. The assembly according to claim 2 further comprising a pressure reducer including a second gas pressure detection device.

5. The assembly according to claim 2 further comprising a pressure limiter including a second gas pressure detection device.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gas pressure detection device comprises a flexible membrane forming a wall of the chamber and adapted to elastically return in a direction of the chamber by a spring, the flexible membrane supporting a cage enclosing a magnet, and the magnetic field measurement device of the gas pressure detection device is fixedly mounted relative to a body of an automatic diverter such that the magnetic field measurement device magnetically interacts with the magnet.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field measurement device is a Hall effect probe.

8. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising an electronic communication circuit connected to the magnetic field measurement device and configured to transmits signals that are generated by the magnetic field measurement device.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the electronic communication circuit is embedded in resin.

10. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a wireless communication device and a supply battery.

11. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the magnetic field measurement device and the electronic circuit are mounted on a plate.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the plate is attached on a body of the gas supply regulation assembly.

13. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a pressure reducer including a second gas pressure detection device.

14. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a pressure limiter including a second gas pressure detection device.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0028] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an automatic diverter assembly, illustrating a diverter and a detection plate that can be attached on a body of the diverter, and including a Hall effect probe and an electronic communication circuit according to the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane P of FIG. 1 of the diverter in one operating position and of the detection plate, a number of diverter members are not illustrated for simplicity purposes;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane P of FIG. 1 of the diverter in another operating position and of the detection plate, a number of diverter members are not illustrated for a simplicity purposes;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the plane P FIG. 1 similar to FIG. 3;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a pressure reducer in accordance with the present disclosure,

[0034] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a regulation assembly including an automatic diverter similar to any of FIGS. 1 to 4 and the pressure reducer of FIG. 5; and

[0035] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a regulation assembly including an automatic diverter similar to any of FIGS. 1 to 4 and a pressure limiter L according to the present disclosure.

[0036] In all of these figures, identical or similar references designate identical or similar members or set of members.

[0037] In addition, a common XYZ reference frame was represented in all of the figures, allowing to clearly understand the respective orientations of these figures relative to each other.

[0038] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0040] Referring now to FIG. 1, an automatic diverter is illustrated according to the present disclosure and includes an automatic diverter 1 and a detection plate 3.

[0041] The automatic diverter 1 includes gas inlets 5a and 5b, each configured to be connected to a gas supply bottle (bottles not shown).

[0042] The diverter 1 also includes a gas outlet 7 configured to supply a gas-consuming appliance.

[0043] The diverter 1 also includes a rotary knob 9 provided with an indicator 11, the indicator 11 displaying a particular color when the gas supply bottle called service bottle, that is to say the first bottle used, is nearly empty, and the diverter 1 has switched on the second gas bottle, called reserve bottle.

[0044] The particular mode of operation of such an automatic diverter 1 is part of the state of the art, and therefore will not be detailed here; in general, it includes an automatic switching device in which its operating principle and mechanism is based on a system of springs and valves, these springs being calibrated so that when the pressure of the gas leaving the service bottle drops below a predetermined threshold (typically of the order of 1.5 bars, but may take any other value), the valves change their position, allowing to switch the gas supply from the service bottle to the reserve bottle.

[0045] The detection plate 3 includes a support 13, for example formed of plastic material or of any non-magnetic material, on which are fastened a probe for measuring a magnetic field (e.g., a Hall effect probe 15) and an electronic module 17, electrically connected to the probe 15.

[0046] The module 17 includes a battery 19 and an electronic card 21. The card 21, according to one form is embedded in resin, so as to reduce any risk of explosion by an electric spark, in case of gas leakage.

[0047] The cooperation between the detection plate 3 and the diverter 1 will be understood in the review of the appended FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0048] The body 23 of the diverter 1 includes a chamber 25 communicating with the gas outlet 7.

[0049] It is in the chamber 25 that gas arrives from either one of the service and reserve bottles. A flexible membrane 27, closing a bowl 29, is facing the chamber 25, and in communication with it.

[0050] The flexible membrane 27 is returned in the direction of the chamber 25 by a helical spring 31.

[0051] The flexible membrane 27 is connected to a cage 33 by a flange 35. In one form, the cage 33 is formed of plastic material, but especially non-magnetic material.

[0052] Inside the cage 33 there is a magnet 37, capable of magnetically interacting with the Hall effect probe 15 of the detection plate 3. In another configuration, the Hall effect probe is replaced by any other suitable electronic component configured to perform a measurement of the value of the magnetic field.

[0053] The detection plate 3 is attached on the body 23 of the diverter 1 by appropriate fastening means.

[0054] The mode of operation and the advantages of the diverter assembly which have just been described are as follows.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows the diverter assembly when it is supplied by the service gas bottle. The pressure in the chamber 25 of the body of the diverter 1 is relatively high (typically above 1.5 bar) so that the membrane 27 is in the low position in FIG. 2, that is to say that the element 37 is relatively close to the Hall effect probe 15. By measuring the magnetic field corresponding to this particular position, the Hall effect probe 15 sends to the electronic circuit 21 a signal indicating that the diverter 1 operates on the service gas bottle.

[0056] If the electronic card 21 is provided with means for communication to the outside, the information can be exported to a server. In one example, the electronic card 21 includes a wireless communication module of the Bluetooth, Wi-fi, GSM, IoT type or any other future communication system configured to export the information.

[0057] When the service bottle is nearly empty, the pressure in the chamber 25 of the body 23 of the diverter 1 decreases, and due to the device of the diverter 1 known and generally mentioned above, the gas supply of the diverter 1 switches from the service bottle to the reserve bottle.

[0058] As the pressure in the chamber 25 has decreased, the flexible membrane 27 rises, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, so that the magnet 37 moves away from the probe 15.

[0059] The probe then sends the information corresponding to the electronic circuit 21, indicating that the diverter 1 has switched from the service bottle to the reserve bottle.

[0060] The information can be recovered by a provider of gas bottles, which can thus anticipate the needs of customers, and resupply them so as to avoid any gas supply shortage.

[0061] Another significant advantage of the present disclosure is that the Hall effect probe 15 allows detecting malfunctions of the diverter 1, such as an absence of gas supply, an incorrect installation of one of the bottles, or the presence a magnetic mass in the proximity of the diverter, capable of disturbing the signals sent by the Hall effect probe 15.

[0062] The probe 15 also allows verifying whether the assembly formed by the diverter 1 and the magnetic field measurement device for measuring the value of the magnetic field generated by the magnet 37, has not undergone mechanical degradation due to an external action; to do so it is sufficient to compare the values returned by the probe 15 to the installation values.

[0063] These malfunctions can be easily identified by analyzing the drift of the signals returned by the Hall effect probe 15, compared to the signals corresponding to a normal operating situation.

[0064] Of course, the present disclosure is in no way limited to the form described and shown and is merely provided as one example.

[0065] Thus, the present disclosure can also be applied to a pressure reducer D, as shown in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 5. In this case, the magnet 37 is movably secured to the finger 39 acting on the regulation lever 41, the finger 39 being in turn secured to the flexible membrane 27.

[0066] In the example shown in FIG. 6, the regulation assembly according to the present disclosure includes a pressure reducer D in accordance with FIG. 5 and a diverter I coupled upstream of the pressure reducer D.

[0067] Unlike the diverter I of FIG. 5, the diverter I of FIG. 6 is of the type including both a gas shut off system in case of over pressure (OPSO systemOver Pressure Shut Off) and a gas shut off system in case of under pressure (UPSO systemUnder Pressure Shut Off). In this case, there are two membranes 27a, 27b and two magnets 37a, 37b, each associated with Hall effect probes (not shown).

[0068] In the example shown in FIG. 7, the regulation assembly according to the present disclosure includes a limiter L and a diverter I in accordance with any one of FIGS. 1 to 4 coupled upstream of the limiter L.

[0069] Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, all numerical values indicating mechanical/thermal properties, compositional percentages, dimensions and/or tolerances, or other characteristics are to be understood as modified by the word about or approximately in describing the scope of the present disclosure. This modification is desired for various reasons including industrial practice, manufacturing technology, and testing capability.

[0070] As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.

[0071] The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.