FR2641845A1 - DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE AND FILLING PLANT OF A CONTAINER INCLUDING SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Installation for filling a container. The installation comprises a filling station 37 which is intended to receive the receptacle 2 and a device 8 comprising a pressure sensor 32 which allows the opening of the door 36 of the filling station 37 only below. a given pressure threshold.

Description

Device for transferring pressurized fluid and installation for filling a container incorporating such a device.

 The present invention relates to devices for transferring pressurized fluid and to installations for filling a container with pressurized fluid.

The invention applies very particularly to devices for transferring liquefied petroleum gas.

 The filling of liquefied petroleum gas bottles is currently carried out in a filling plant. The full bottles are transported to the user. Empty bottles must be returned to the center for filling before being returned to the user. It would be very desirable to simplify this distribution procedure, by dispensing with transporting heavy and bulky bottles. We have not succeeded so far, because the operation of filling a bottle is dangerous. Precautions must be taken which cannot be required of the usual user. All fluids under pressure as they relax cool down and can cause chapping in the user who is not careful.

Some pressurized fluids are explosive, especially in the presence of an open fire, for example a cigarette
The invention overcomes these drawbacks by a transfer device ensuring the safety of the user.

 The invention therefore relates to a device for transferring pressurized fluid1 formed of a body defining a chamber into which open an inlet duct and an outlet duct which can be connected, in leaktight manner, to a container to be filled, by locking elements. According to the invention, the transfer device comprises a vent pipe opening into the chamber and passage means, while the locking elements are locked, from a transfer position in which the outlet pipe is open and the vent pipe is closed to a purge position in which the outlet pipe is closed and the vent pipe is open. So far all the fluid transfer devices under pressure aimed above all to ensure the seal, the invention deliberately breaks with this tradition, not by not ensuring the seal which is required anyway, but by providing an air duct which breaks this seal and which will require special means to restore it. But, on reflection, it is understood that it is better, even at the cost of a complication of the sealing means, to channel the fluid under pressure, which relaxes or which has just relaxed, outside the device in a location distant from the outlet conduit, rather than allowing it to escape without control, near the container to be filled, which is intended to be handled by the user. The transfer made, from a tank of liquefied petroleum gas to a bottle, and the transfer device in the purge position. Some time later, the user can unlock the bottle from the transfer device without running any danger due to the presence of residual liquefied petroleum gas in the transfer device.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a pressure sensor communicating with the chamber by a pressure tapping duct and means for passing from the purge position to a pressure tapping position, in which the outlet duct and the vent pipe are closed and the pressure tap pipe is open. This arrangement has two main advantages. The first is that it allows the unlocking or access to the bottle to be controlled as a function of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor. Means for retaining the container at the filling station are controlled according to the pressure detected by the pressure sensor. This is to ensure that the user will not unlock the bottle too soon and will not handle it before all the gas liquefied petroleum or other dangerous pressurized fluid has left the chamber of the transfer device. The second main advantage of this arrangement is that it makes it possible to detect a possible leak from the liquefied petroleum gas bottle and, if this is the case, to retain the bottle at the station preventing the user from leaving with a bottle which is leaking and is therefore dangerous. The pressure sensor does not allow the user to access the unlocking means or other means of retaining the bottle at the station if, a certain time after changing from the purge position to the pressure tapping position, it detects an abnormal rise in pressure, due to a leak.

 In order to protect the pressure sensor from excessively high pressures and to be able to adjust it in order to detect pressures in a relatively narrow range, which makes it possible to use a less expensive and more precise pressure sensor, the passage means are such the pressure tapping line is closed in the purge and / or transfer position. In this position, the pressure sensor is not subjected to the pressures prevailing in the chamber of the transfer device.

 Preferably, the means for passing from the transfer position to the purge position and from the latter to the pressure tapping position are such that the device remains only temporarily in the purge position.

As soon as the purge is carried out, the pressure sensor is able to determine the pressure in the chamber and normally allow the user to take back the filled bottle which does not leak.

 A particularly simple embodiment of the means for passing from the transfer position to that of the purge and from this to the pressure tapping position comprises a sliding piston, against a spring, in the cylindrical chamber under the action of the pressure therein and provided with two circular packings in parallel transverse planes, the chamber comprising two circular seats in parallel transverse planes.

 The purging of the chamber of the transfer device causes a loss of fluid each time. To reduce it as much as possible, a partition with valve subdivides the chamber into an upstream compartment, into which the inlet duct opens and into a downstream compartment, of smaller volume than the upstream compartment and into which the outlet duct outlet, the vent pipe and the pressure tap pipe. Only the liquefied petroleum gas contained in the downstream compartment is expelled from the chamber during the purge.

 According to an advantageous embodiment from the point of view of the construction of the transfer device, the pressure tapping duct is bypassed from the venting duct.

 For even greater security, a valve for closing the outlet duct is mounted upstream of the venting duct and is arranged so as not to open ffL'in the position where the locking means are locked.

In the accompanying drawings, given only by way of example
FIGS. 1 to 3 are sectional views of a transfer device according to the invention in the transfer, purge and pressure tap positions, and
Figure 4 is a diagram of a filling installation according to the invention.

 The collar 1 of a bottle 2 of liquefied petroleum gas is fitted by two mortises 3 on the studs 4 combined with a device for transferring fluid.

A collar 5 pushed down by a peripheral spring 6 prevents balls 7 from escaping radially outwards. The balls 7 block the flange on the transfer device. By lifting the collar 5 against the force of the spring 6, the balls 7 are released and the bottle 2 is unlocked from the positive transfer device.

 The transfer device comprises a body 8 defining a chamber 9 into which an inlet pipe 10 opens, communicating with a tank of liquefied petroleum gas, which is not shown, and an outlet pipe 12. One of the ends of a compression spring 11 rests on a shoulder 13 formed in the body 8 Dien before ltem.bouchure of the outlet duct 12. while the other end of the spring 11 pushes a plate 14 downwards on a seat 15. The plate 14 is extended downwards by a rod 16 which, when the bottle 2 is locked on the transfer device, is pushed upwards so as to raise the plate 14 from the seat 15. The conduit 12 then opens out inside room 8.

 A duct 18 for venting opens laterally into the outlet duct 12 and therefore communicates via this end with the chamber 9. The other end of the duct 18 opens into a duct 19 for venting the chamber 9 , defined above a horizontal plate 20 and pierced with a bore through which passes the rod 21 of a piston 22 sliding against a spring 23 in the cylindrical chamber 9.

The piston is provided with two peripheral seals 24 and 25 in parallel transverse planes and the body 8 comprises two peripheral seats 26, 27 in parallel transverse planes separated by a groove 28. The other end of the rod 21 is terminated by a plate 29 of smaller surface, in the horizontal plane, than the piston 22. This plate 29 carries a seal 30. The assembly of the plate 29 and the seal 30 constitutes a valve which subdivides the chamber 9 in an upstream compartment into which the inlet duct 10 opens and in a downstream compartment, of smaller volume, into which the outlet duct 12 and the venting duct 18 open.

 Bypassing the venting pipe 18, there is provided a pressure taking pipe 31 ending in a housing of the body 8 where there is a pressure sensor 32.

 The transfer device works as follows. In the transfer position shown in FIG. 11, a pump, not shown, for liquefied petroleum gas at a pressure of 14 bar through the inlet pipe 10 into the chamber 9. As the front surface of the piston 22 is greater than that of the plate 29, the pressure prevailing in the chamber 9 raises the piston 22 against the spring 23 and establishes communication between the chamber 9 and the outlet duct 12, the plate 29 and the seal 30 constituting a valve deviating from the seat formed by the mouth of the outlet duct 12.

The piston 22 is pushed upwards until the seal 25 is applied tightly to the seat 27. The liquefied petroleum gas passes from the conduit 10 into the chamber 9 and from the latter into the bottle. 2, passing through the outlet conduit 12 without being able to escape outside through the conduit 18, since the latter is closed by the cooperation of the gasket 25 and of the seat 27. The liquefied petroleum gas also cannot enter the duct 31.

Bottle 2 is filled with liquefied petroleum gas. As soon as a rocker 33 (FIG. 4) detects a given increase in the weight of the bottle, it stops the supply pump allowing the transfer of the liquefied petroleum gas from the tank to the transfer device via the pipe 10.

 The pressure in chamber 9 decreases. The plate 29 is lowered and the seal 30 is applied to its seat (Figure 2). At the same time, the piston 22 lowers and the seal 25 moves away from its seat 27. The liquefied petroleum gas contained in the chamber 9 in the downstream compartment located below the valve 1 constituted by the assembly of the plate 29 and the seal 30, escapes towards the outside via the conduit 18, a spring 33 applying a plate 34 on a seat 35 in order to close the bottle as soon as the pressure increases. above the tray 34 has lowered to the pressure prevailing inside the bottle. The position shown is illustrated in FIG. 2, the liquefied petroleum gas escapes upwards through the conduit 18.

 The piston 22 continues to lower so that the seal 25 passes below the seat 27, while the seal 24 comes into contact with the seat 26 (Figure 3). In this position, the outlet duct to the bottle remains closed, the venting duct 18 no longer opens into the latter, but through the bypass 31 opens into the housing in which the pressure sensor 32 is located.

 As shown in Figure 4, the pressure sensor 32 controls by a line 34 of the locking means 35 of the door 36 of a filling station 37. If the pressure sensor 32 detects a pressure greater than a given threshold, it prohibits the opening of the door 36.

The bottle 2 is retained in the station 37. Of course, the pressure sensor 32 can also activate an alarm. The pressure sensor 32 gives the unlocking order only after a certain delay (time delay) from stopping the pump to allow time to pass to the pressure tap position and for this position to be established long enough for the sensor 32 to detect an increase in pressure due to leakage from the bottle.

 If the pressure sensor does not detect a pressure greater than a given threshold, it authorizes the opening of the door 36. The user can unlock the bottle 2 of the transfer device. When unlocking, it does not run the risk of being exposed to the action of the expansion of the liquefied petroleum gas, since it has been previously evacuated outside the station 37 through the conduit 18.

Claims (10)

REVERSE  1. Device for transferring pressurized fluid, formed by a body (8) defining a chamber (9) into which an inlet pipe (10) and an outlet pipe (12) can be connected in leaktight manner. a container (2) to be filled, by locking elements (5 to 7), characterized in that it comprises a venting duct (18) opening into the chamber (9) and passage means, then that the locking elements (5 to 7) are locked, from a transfer position, in which the outlet duct (12) is open and the venting duct (18) is closed, at a position of purge in which the outlet duct (12) is closed and the venting duct (18) is open.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the venting pipe (18) opens to the outside of the device at a location remote from the outlet pipe (12).  3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by a pressure sensor (32) communicating with the chamber (9) by a pressure tapping duct (31) and means for passing from the purge position to a pressure tap position, in which the outlet pipe (12) and the venting pipe (18) are closed and the pressure tap pipe (31) is open.  4. Device according to claim 3, charac terized in that the passage means are such that the pressure tapping duct (31) is closed in the purge and / or transfer position.  5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means for passing from the transfer position to that of purge and from this to the pressure tap position are such that the device remains only temporarily in the purge position.  6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means for passing from the transfer position to that of bleeding and from this to the pressure tapping position comprise a piston (22) sliding at against a spring 123), in the cylindrical chamber (9) under the action of the pressure therein, and provided with two peripheral seals (24,25) in parallel transverse planes, the body (8 ) comprising two peripheral seats (26,27) in parallel transverse planes intended to cooperate respectively with these seals (24,25).  7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a valve (29.30) subdivides the chamber (9) into an upstream compartment, into which the inlet duct (10) opens, and in a downstream compartment, of smaller volume, into which the outlet duct (12) opens, the venting duct (18) and the pressure tapping duct (31).  8. Device according to claim 7, charac terized in that the pressure tapping duct (31) is bypassed from the venting duct (18).  9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by a valve (14) for closing the outlet pipe (12) which is mounted upstream of the vent pipe (18) and which is arranged so as to open only the position where the locking means (5 to 7) are locked.  10. Installation for filling a container with pressurized fluid, characterized in that it comprises a filling station (37) which is intended to receive the container (2) and a device according to one of the preceding claims and means (35,36) for retaining the container (2) at the station (37), which retain the container therein as long as the pressure detected by the pressure sensor (37) exceeds a given threshold.