Device for feeding fuel gas to an application

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9719634-B2
Application number	US-201314442231-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2013
Priority date	Nov 12, 2012
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

Device for feeding fuel gas to an application ( 6 ), the device comprising at least one fuel gas bottle ( 1 ) furnished with a tap ( 2 ), and a bleed-off apparatus ( 4, 13 ) comprising an electronic logic unit ( 9 ) and a bleed-off outlet ( 4 ) selectively connectable to the tap ( 2 ), the bleed-off outlet ( 4 ) being linked ( 5 ) fluidically to an application ( 6 ) receiving the fuel gas originating from the bottle ( 1 ), the tap ( 2 ) comprising an electronic manometer ( 3 ) for measuring the pressure in the bottle ( 1 ), the electronic manometer ( 3 ) being devoid of battery and comprising an inductive member ( 7 ) for wirelessly transmitting to the electronic logic unit ( 9 ) information relating to the measured pressure, characterized in that the bleed-off apparatus ( 4, 13 ) also comprises an inductive member ( 8 ) powered electrically by the electronic logic unit ( 9 ) and in that, when the bleed-off outlet ( 4 ) is connected up to the tap ( 2 ), the inductive member ( 8 ) of the bleed-off outlet ( 4 ) is situated in a manner adjacent to the inductive member ( 7 ) of the manometer ( 3 ) so as to ensure electrical power supply of the manometer ( 3 ) by inductive coupling.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for feeding fuel gas to an application, comprising;
at least one cylinder of pressurized fuel gas fitted with a tap provided for filling the cylinder and drawing off gas from it, and
a draw-off apparatus comprising an electronic logic unit and a draw-off outlet selectively connectable to the tap to draw off fuel gas from the cylinder,
the draw-off outlet being fluidly connected to an application receiving the fuel gas obtained from the cylinder,
the tap comprising an electronic pressure gauge for measuring the pressure in the cylinder,
the electronic pressure gauge having no batteries and comprising an inductive element for wirelessly transmitting data relating to the measured pressure to the electronic logic unit

wherein the draw-off apparatus further comprises an inductive element electrically powered by the electronic logic unit, and in that, when the draw-off outlet is connected to the tap,
the inductive element of the draw-off outlet is located adjacent to the inductive element of the pressure gauge to provide an electrical power supply to the pressure gauge by inductive coupling, and
the inductive element of the draw-off apparatus being located at the draw-off outlet.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic logic unit is configured to cause the pressure gauge to be switched on when an inductive coupling is present between the inductive element of the draw-off outlet and the inductive element of the pressure gauge, and, in response to the switching on of the pressure gauge, the inductive element of the pressure gauge sends an electrical signal to the electronic logic unit via the inductive element of the draw-off outlet, thereby forming a system for detecting the state of connection of the draw-off outlet to the tap.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic logic unit is configured to receive from, and/or transmit to, the pressure gauge data relating to the physical or identification characteristics of the cylinder via the coupling of the inductive elements.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the draw-off outlet and the tap comprise combined mechanical attachment elements to provide a stable, removable mechanical connection between the filling outlet and the tap.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the filling outlet comprises a draw-off conduit having a first end selectively connected to a gas outlet of the tap and a second end connected to the application, said draw-off outlet comprising a valve controlled by the electronic logic unit.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the draw-off apparatus comprises, positioned on the draw-off conduit, at least one of a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor; the at least one sensor being connected to the electronic logic unit and controlled by the latter.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the draw-off outlet comprises an actuator operated by an electromagnet for selectively opening a valve of the tap, and in that the electromagnet is connected to the electronics logic unit.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic logic unit is connected to at least one electrical network or bus.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of draw-off apparatus connected in series to the same application.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure gauge comprises an electrical circuit connected electrically to the inductive element, the electrical circuit comprising, connected in series, a rectifier element, and a capacitor, for the purpose of, respectively, converting part of the electrical field received by the inductive element into electric current, and storing this current.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the pressure gauge comprises a display unit and a control logic unit connected to the electrical circuit and selectively supplied with current by the capacitor.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the display unit) is of the bistable type, thereby providing an indication of a physical quantity in a permanent manner without requiring a continuous electrical power supply.

13. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the pressure gauge comprises a pressure sensor of the electrical type, connected to the electrical circuit.

Assignees

• L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude

Inventors

• Verghade Jean-Marie
• Roberge Guillaume
• Bacot Patrick

Classifications

• Y02E60/32

  Hydrogen storage · CPC title

• G01L19/0084

  to the outside of the housing (other details about the housing see G01L19/14) · CPC title

• F17C13/026

  having the temperature as the parameter · CPC title

• F17C2250/043

  Pressure · CPC title

• F17C2250/0439

  Temperature · CPC title