Device for controlling the release of gas from a pressurised container

Abstract

A device for controlling the release of gas from a pressurized container includes a plug comprising a passage therethrough and a diaphragm within the passage. The diaphragm is configured to initially prevent flow of gas through said passage, and is rupturable or displaceable to allow gas to flow through said passage once said diaphragm is ruptured or displaced. The device further comprises a screw located within the plug and comprising a lance configured to move towards said diaphragm upon rotation of the screw. The lance is configured to rupture or displace the diaphragm so as to allow flow of gas through the passage and out of the plug, once the screw is rotated a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A device for controlling the release of gas from a pressurised container, the device comprising: a plug comprising a passage therethrough; a diaphragm within said passage, wherein said diaphragm is configured to initially prevent flow of gas through said passage, and is rupturable or displaceable to allow gas to flow through said passage once said diaphragm is ruptured or displaced; a screw located within said plug and comprising a lance configured to move towards said diaphragm upon rotation of said screw, wherein said lance is configured to rupture or displace said diaphragm so as to allow flow of gas through said passage and out of said plug, once said screw is rotated a predetermined amount; wherein said plug, screw and diaphragm are removeable or replaceable as a single unit; wherein said passage and said screw are coaxial with a longitudinal axis of said plug.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lance comprises a non-circular transverse cross-section.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screw is rotatable to a maximum distance into said plug, wherein at said maximum distance gas is able to flow through said passage and out of said plug.

4. A device for controlling the release of gas from a pressurised container, the device comprising: a plug comprising a passage therethrough; a diaphragm within said passage, wherein said diaphragm is configured to initially prevent flow of gas through said passage, and is rupturable or displaceable to allow gas to flow through said passage once said diaphragm is ruptured or displaced; and a screw located within said plug and comprising a lance configured to move towards said diaphragm upon rotation of said screw, wherein said lance is configured to rupture or displace said diaphragm so as to allow flow of gas through said passage and out of said plug, once said screw is rotated a predetermined amount; wherein: said plug, screw and diaphragm are removeable or replaceable as a single unit; said passage comprises a first portion having a relatively small diameter and a second portion having a relatively large diameter that comprises a threaded portion; said screw comprises a lance portion having a relatively small diameter and comprising said lance, and a threaded portion having a relatively large diameter that is configured to cooperate with said threaded portion of said passage; and said plug comprises one or more gas paths or outlets that extend from said first portion of said passage to an outer surface of said plug for discharging gas from said first portion of said passage to an external environment.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said diaphragm is located within said first portion of said passage.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lance portion of said screw extends into said first portion of said passage.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screw is rotatable relative to said plug.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screw is removable from said plug.

9. An apparatus comprising: a pressurised container having a gas outlet; a device as claimed in any preceding claim and located at least partially within said outlet so as to initially prevent gas flow out of said outlet; and wherein upon rupturing or displacing said diaphragm, gas is configured to flow out of said outlet and into an external environment via said passage; and wherein said container comprises a main outlet and an auxiliary outlet, and said device or plug is located at least partially within said auxiliary outlet, so as to initially prevent gas flow out of said auxiliary outlet.

10. An apparatus comprising: a pressurised container having a gas outlet; and a device as claimed in claim 1 and located at least partially within said outlet so as to initially prevent gas flow out of said outlet; wherein upon rupturing or displacing said diaphragm, gas is configured to flow out of said outlet and into an external environment via said passage; wherein said container comprises an outlet valve, and said device or plug is located at least partially within said outlet valve.

11. A method of using the device as claimed in claim 1, comprising: rotating said screw relative to said device or plug to an extent that will cause the lance of said screw to rupture or displace said diaphragm to allow gas to flow out of said outlet and into an external environment via said passage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Various embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a plug in accordance with an embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the plug of FIG. 1

(4) FIG. 3A shows a cross-section as indicated in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3B shows an alternative embodiment to FIG. 3A;

(6) FIG. 3C shows a cross-section as indicated in FIG. 3B

(7) FIG. 4 shows a further side view of the plug of FIG. 1; and

(8) FIG. 5 shows a cross-section as indicated in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) An embodiment is shown with reference to FIGS. 1-5.

(10) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device comprising a plug 10 that may be arranged and adapted to fit into an outlet of a container (not shown) for holding a substance, for example a gas at a raised pressure.

(11) A first portion 12 of the plug 10 may be configured to extend into an outlet such that it may form a seal and prevent gas from escaping the container. The first portion 12 may comprise a first end 11 of the plug 10. The first portion 12 of the plug 10 may have an interference, press or snap fit arrangement with the container, or could be provided with a threaded portion to allow the plug 10 to screw into an outlet of a pressurised container.

(12) A sealing engagement may be present between an outer surface of the first portion 12 and the outlet. For example, one or more washers may be provided to fit between and seal the outer surface of the first portion 12 and the container, or cooperating threaded portions could be provided on the outer surface of the first portion 12 and the container.

(13) A second portion 14 of the plug may be configured to remain exterior to the outlet, and can comprise a shoulder or surface 15 that may be configured to rest on the exterior of the container when the first portion 12 of the plug 10 is inserted into the outlet. The second portion 14 may comprise a second end 13 of the plug 10, which may be opposite the first end 11.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the second portion 14 of the plug 10.

(15) The second portion 14 may be substantially hexagonal, and may comprise six flat portions 16 and/or six rounded edges 17. However, the second portion 14 can be of any shape or size as is desired for any particular application. From the top view of FIG. 2 it can be seen that a screw 20 may be located within the plug 10 and this will be described in more detail below.

(16) FIG. 3A shows an axial cross-section through the plug 10 of FIG. 1.

(17) The device or plug 10 may comprise an internal passage 30 that may extend through the plug 10 from the first end 11 to the second end 13. The screw 20 may be located within part of the internal passage 30. The internal passage 30 may comprise a first portion 32 having a first, relatively small internal diameter, as well as a second portion 34 having a second, relatively large internal diameter. The second portion 34 may comprise a threaded portion 36 along at least part of its length.

(18) The screw 20 may comprise a threaded portion 22 that may cooperate with the threaded portion 36 of the internal passage 30. The screw 20 may further comprise an elongate portion 24 that extends along the internal passage 30 and ends in a sharpened tip 26. The elongate portion 24 may be cylindrical such that it has a circular transverse cross-section, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate portion 24.

(19) In various embodiments the elongate portion may comprise a non-circular or irregular transverse cross-section. For example, the elongate portion 24 may comprise a triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, elliptical, parabolic or hyperbolic transverse cross-section. An example is shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, in which the elongate portion 24 has a square transverse cross-section.

(20) Provision of a non-circular cross-section means that gas may be allowed to escape through the diaphragm as the elongate portion protrudes through it, as described below. This may not be possible, or may be more difficult with a cylindrical elongate portion 24 since the sides of the elongate portion 24 can form a complete seal as it rotates.

(21) A cavity 28 (see also FIG. 2) may be provided on the end of the screw 20 opposite the tip 26. The cavity 28 may be in the form of a slot, cross, recessed square or other shape. This can allow a screwdriver to be used to turn the screw 20, for example a flat-head screwdriver or Phillips screwdriver.

(22) Rotation of the screw in a first, e.g. clockwise direction may cause the screw 20 to move further into the plug 10 towards the first end 11. Rotation of the screw 20 in a second, e.g. anticlockwise direction may cause the screw to move in the opposite direction, out of the plug 10. The reverse arrangement is also possible.

(23) The device may comprise a rupturable or displaceable diaphragm 40. The diaphragm 40 may initially provide a sealing function, for example to prevent gas from escaping the container through the internal passage 30. The plug 10, screw 20 and diaphragm 40 may all be part of a single unit that is replaceable and/or removable as a single unit. This provides a simple apparatus or means for plugging an outlet of a container whilst providing a controlled release of gas therefrom, as described below.

(24) It has been found that certain situations may require the gas to be released from the container manually, and in a controlled manner. The technology of the present disclosure provides such a functionality and an example is shown in FIGS. 1-5.

(25) As can be appreciated from FIG. 3, as the screw 20 is turned in a first direction it may eventually contact the diaphragm 40. Further turning of the screw 20 may cause the tip 26 to puncture and/or displace the diaphragm 40 and may allow gas to release from the container into the internal passage 30.

(26) The diaphragm 40 can be made of a material that is softer than that of the screw 20, or the tip 26 of the screw 20. For example, the screw 20 or tip 26 can be a first metal, whilst the diaphragm may be second metal, wherein the second metal is softer than the first metal. This can allow easy penetration of the diaphragm 40 by the screw 20. The diaphragm 40 may, alternatively or additionally, comprise lines of weakness that may be positioned so as to be scored by the tip 26 as it advances. The diaphragm may be held in place by an interference, press or snap fit arrangement, wherein the force of the screw is not sufficient to displace the diaphragm. Rather, the diaphragm 40 may be punctured as the screw 20 advances towards and through it. The diaphragm 40 may be integral with the body of the plug 10.

(27) Other embodiments are contemplated in which the diaphragm 40 may be displaced, rather than ruptured by the screw 20. For example, the diaphragm 40 may be held in place by an interference, press or snap fit arrangement with the end 11 of the plug 10, and the tip 26 of the screw 20 could be configured to push or displace the diaphragm out of such an arrangement to allow gas to be released from the container.

(28) Gas may be released from the internal passage 30 into the external environment via one or more outlets 38. The one or more outlets 38 may be provided that allow gas to be released immediately once the diaphragm 40 is ruptured. Any number of outlets 38 can be provided, and in any orientation or arrangement as necessary for any particular application. The outlets 38 may be arranged opposite each other or in some other arrangement that ensures there is no net force as a result of the gas exiting the outlets.

(29) The one or more outlets 38 may be located within the second portion 14 of the plug (see FIG. 1) and/or can bridge both the first portion 32 and second portion 34 of the internal passage 30. In this manner, even if the screw 20 is rotated to its maximum extent, i.e. as far as it can travel towards the first end 11 where the diaphragm is located, gas can still escape through the outlets 38 since they are at least partially located in the first passage 32.

(30) The device or apparatus as described herein may be used to plug or seal an outlet to a container (not shown). The outlet may be an auxiliary outlet, i.e. secondary to a main outlet or valve that is connected to, e.g. a fire suppression network or another device, for example an inflatable device such as an airbag. Pressurised containers may be provided with such auxiliary outlets to relieve pressure in the container if this is desired, without having to release the gas through the primary outlet or valve to deploy fire suppressant or activate a device (e.g. an airbag).

(31) The device or apparatus as described herein may also be used to plug or seal part of an outlet valve that is for controlling the release of gas from a pressurised container. In these embodiments, the device could be used to plug or seal part of the outlet valve that is configured to be exposed to the pressure of the container, e.g. before a sealing mechanism within the valve. The plug would provide an easy manner in which to depressurise a container that the valve is connected to, without having to operate the valve.

(32) The plug as described herein may also be used to plug or seal part of an outlet of a gassing device, for example a device configured to release gas at a high rate. The plug may be used to safely depressurise such a device.

(33) The plug, diaphragm and screw could be provided as part of a kit. In this case a first screw could be provided that is locatable in the plug, as well as a second screw, wherein the second screw corresponds to the screw comprising a lance described above. The first screw could have a length such that it cannot contact the diaphragm in use. In this manner, the first screw could be used as a safety or dummy screw that cannot puncture or displace the diaphragm. When it is desired to depressurise a container or valve into which the plug is inserted, the first screw can be replaced with the second screw and operated as described herein.

(34) Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.