WO2002069067A1

WO2002069067A1 - Balanced pressure reducer for high-pressure gases

Info

Publication number: WO2002069067A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/001729
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabio Stradella; Giuseppe Stradella
Original assignee: R.G. S.A.S. Di Rosaria Galli & Co.
Priority date: 2001-02-19
Filing date: 2002-02-19
Publication date: 2002-09-06
Also published as: FR2821173A1; FR2821173B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a balanced pressure reducer for high-pressure gases comprising a body (15) defining a high pressure inlet (1) and a low pressure outlet (2), a gas flow passage communicating said high pressure inlet (1) with said low pressure outlet (2). The invention is characterised in that said pressure reducer comprises a check valve (6) arranged between said high pressure inlet (1) and said low pressure outlet (2), said check valve being mobile between an opening position, wherein it opens the gas flow passage, and a closing position, wherein it co-operates with a valve seat (16) to close said gas flow passage, said check valve (6) being moved to its opening position by a control member (19), which, when the gas pressure is lower than a predetermined pressure threshold, is stressed by an elastic element (18), such as a spring, towards an actuating position corresponding to the valve (6) opening position, said elastic element (18), when the pressure is not less than said predetermined pressure threshold, no longer stressing said control member (19) towards its actuating position such that said valve (6) is then elastically stressed towards its closing position by an elastic means (24) such as a spring, said valve (6) being designed so that in closing position, the high pressure is exerted at the centre of the outer surface (116) of said valve seat (16) which co-operates with said valve (6).

Description

Balanced pressure reducer for high pressure gases

The present invention relates to a balanced pressure reducer for high pressure gases.

Balanced pressure reducers for high pressure gases are well known in the art, and are described in particular in documents FR-2 668 808, US-5 413 096, US-5 810 041, FR-2 792 388 , US-5,139,046 and EP-0,807,571.

These documents disclose pressure reducers in which the high pressure enters a chamber surrounding a valve similar to a piston, which closes a mouth leading to the low pressure chamber and to a control membrane. The low pressure, or reduced pressure, which acts against the valve on its surface corresponding to the surface of the mouthpiece, also reaches, through a passage formed in the valve, a balancing chamber provided with an O-ring surrounding the stem of said valve. The system is balanced by the fact that the diameter of the surface corresponding to the surface of the mouth is substantially identical to the diameter of the valve stem in the balancing chamber. The system is opened by a control rod interposed between the diaphragm and the valve, and which detaches the valve from the mouthpiece under the effect of a force exerted by a load spring placed above the membrane , when the pressure drops below a preset value. Thus, when the pressure reducer is closed and there is therefore no gas flow, the valve is open. It closes only when high pressure gas reaches the low pressure chamber to pass the pressure above said preset value, defined in particular by said load spring.

Pressure reducers of the above type, although widely used, have a number of drawbacks. Thus, the high pressure chamber acts outside the surface of the mouthpiece and is formed in the body of the pressure reducer, around the valve. Consequently, it must be relatively large, which requires a very resistant body for the reducing agent. pressure, which must withstand the force exerted by high pressure, which implies large dimensions and high costs. On the other hand, the sealing means which closes the mouth is provided on the valve and is therefore always made with a hole inside the zone in contact with the reduced pressure. This means that since the sealing part is made of a relatively soft material (nylon or an elastomeric compound), the high pressure could pass through the junction points between the sealing means and its support element formed by the valve. In order to solve this problem, complex and expensive technologies have been adopted, such as the use of an almost complete coating of the valve with a sealing material (elastomer), to avoid a discontinuity of the sealing material subjected to the high pressure. Another solution has been the use of a relatively hard sealing material in combination with O-rings and valve seats of particular shapes. In addition, the control member interposed between the control membrane and the valve is assembled in the reduced pressure passage, that is to say inside the mouth cooperating with the valve, and it therefore reduces substantially the section of said passage, thereby significantly limiting the maximum possible outlet flow from the pressure reducer.

The document FR-2 688 698 discloses a gas distribution device of the pressure reducer type which is directly connected to a user. This device shows the second expansion stage, in which an average pressure is relaxed to ambient pressure according to the needs of the user. This device comprises a valve which is closed at rest, and which opens at the request of the user, when the latter inhales into the mouthpiece. This document does not disclose a pressure reducer suitable for high pressure gases as described above.

The object of the present invention is to provide a balanced pressure reducer for high pressure gases which does not have the abovementioned drawbacks.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a pressure reducing valve having reduced dimensions and superior flow performance. The present invention also aims to provide a balanced pressure reducer which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

The present invention therefore relates to a balanced pressure reducer for high pressure gases comprising a body defining a high pressure inlet and a low pressure outlet, a gas flow passage connecting said high pressure inlet to said low pressure outlet, characterized in that said pressure reducer comprises a valve disposed between said high pressure inlet and said low pressure outlet, said valve being movable between an open position, in which it opens said gas flow passage, and a closed position , in which it cooperates with a valve seat to block said gas flow passage, said valve being moved to its open position by a control member which, when the gas pressure is below a predetermined pressure threshold , is biased by an elastic element, such as a spring, towards an actuating position corresponding to the position of opening of the valve, said elastic element, from said predetermined pressure threshold, no longer urging said control member towards its actuating position so that said valve is then elastically urged towards its closing position by an elastic means such as a spring, said valve being produced so that in the closed position, the high pressure is exerted at the center of the external surface of said valve seat which cooperates with said valve.

Advantageously, said valve is hollow, and defines an internal high pressure chamber connected to said high pressure inlet, so that the high pressure is supplied through said internal chamber of said valve. Advantageously, said valve comprises at its end in contact with the valve seat, a mouthpiece whose peripheral edge is defined by a sharp edge.

Advantageously, said valve seat is integral with said body and is made of a sealing material suitable for producing a sealed closure with said valve in the closed position. Advantageously, the external surface of said valve seat, which cooperates with said valve in the closed position, is in one piece and continuous.

Advantageously, said control member is arranged outside the gas flow passage. Advantageously, the low pressure outlet is connected to a low pressure chamber which contains said valve.

Advantageously, said control member cooperates with a control element, subjected on the one hand to the low pressure of the low pressure chamber, and on the other hand to the force exerted by said elastic element, said control element sealingly separating said low pressure chamber of said elastic element, so that when said predetermined pressure threshold is reached in said low pressure chamber, the control element compresses the elastic element, thus allowing said valve to move towards its closed position. According to a first alternative embodiment, said control element is a flexible waterproof membrane.

According to a second alternative embodiment, said control element is a rigid plate sliding in leaktight manner, in particular by means of an O-ring, in a chamber containing said elastic element. Advantageously, said external surface of said valve seat forms a point extending in the direction of said valve, so as to reduce the swirls at the mouth of said valve.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly during the following detailed description of an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples, and on which :

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in partially cut cross section showing a balanced pressure reducer according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, in the valve closed position, FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, in the open position of the valve, and

- Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, showing an alternative embodiment of the invention. With reference to FIG. 1, the pressure reducer comprises a body 15 in which a high pressure inlet 1 and a low pressure or reduced pressure outlet 2 are produced, connected to said high pressure inlet by a gas flow passage. A passage 3 can lead to a pressure relief valve, which is required on each type of pressure reducer, and a passage 4 can form a high pressure outlet for a possible high pressure verification gauge. Advantageously, a filter 5 is placed in the high pressure inlet passage 1 to prevent the entry of particles into the gas circuit.

A valve 6 is movably disposed between an open position, in which it opens said gas flow passage between said high pressure inlet 1 and said low pressure outlet 2, and a closed position, in which it closes said gas flow passage. In this closed position, said valve 6 cooperates with a valve seat 16. The valve 6 is hollow and is provided with an internal passage 7, a mouth 8, a rod 9 having substantially the same diameter as the 'mouth 8, and a part of larger diameter 9'. The balancing chamber 10 in which the rod 9 of the sliding valve contains an O-ring 11, an anti-extrusion ring 12, and a hollow cylindrical element 13 which retains the O-ring in its position during the sliding of the valve 6. A manifold high pressure inlet 14 is advantageously provided for closing the balancing chamber 10, while forming said high pressure inlet 1.

Preferably, the mouth 8 of the valve 6 which cooperates with the valve seat 16 in the closed position, has a peripheral edge defined by a sharp edge, which makes it possible to obtain a perfect seal in the closed position. The body 15 of the pressure reducer supports said valve seat 16, which is preferably made of a suitable sealing material, such as by example an elastomeric material, and against which the mouth 8 of the valve is pressed in the closed position. A control element 17, which is a flexible waterproof membrane in the example shown in the figures, is loaded by an elastic element 18, such as a spring, and on the other hand cooperates with a control member 19. The control member 19 may comprise a flat part 20 acting against the membrane 17, and is advantageously provided with at least two, preferably three rods 21 acting against the part of larger diameter 9 ′ of the valve 6. The rods 21 can reach the valve 6 through appropriate slots 22 formed in the body 15. According to the invention, in the closed position of the valve 6, the high pressure is exerted at the center of the external surface 116 of said valve seat 16, said external surface 116 being that which cooperates with said valve 6 in the closed position. Thus, the chamber 23 in which the valve 6 is arranged and which is formed in the body 15 of the pressure reducer is not the high pressure chamber as in the known pressure reducers, but on the contrary forms the low pressure chamber. This low pressure chamber 23 is in communication with the lower surface of the control membrane 17, advantageously through said slots 22. The valve 6, in the closed position, is stressed, in particular compressed against the valve seat 16 by elastic means , such as a spring 24, which advantageously rests on the one hand on the part of larger diameter 9 of said valve 6, and on the other hand on a stop integral with the body 15.

Advantageously, the body 26 of the balancing chamber comprises an O-ring 25 disposed between said body of balancing chamber 26 and the body 15 of the pressure reducer, which allows sealing between these two components. Advantageously, a small hole 27 can be formed in the body 15 of the pressure reducer, behind the valve seat 16, which can facilitate the extraction of the latter for its possible replacement.

The operation of the pressure reducer shown in the figures is as follows. When the pressure reducer is closed or at rest, there is no gas flow and consequently, the valve 6 is in the open position, biased towards this position by the control member 19 under the effect of the load spring 18. When the pressure reducer is in operation, the flow of high pressure gas enters the high pressure inlet 1, passes through the filter 5, and enters the internal high-pressure chamber 7 disposed inside the valve 6.

In the open position of the valve, shown in Figure 2, the gas flow passes from the interior of the valve 6, that is to say from the high pressure chamber 7, to the low pressure chamber 23 disposed immediately downstream of said valve 6 in the direction of flow of the gases, and in particular of the point of closure between said mouth 8 and said valve seat 16. The pressure of this gas flow is then transmitted to said control membrane 17 via said slots 22, and when 'a predetermined pressure threshold is reached, defined in particular by the stiffness of said spring 18, said control membrane 17 is automatically pushed or deformed by the pressure upwards in the figures. The spring 18 then no longer biases the control member 19 towards its actuating position in which it biases the valve 6 in its open position. The valve 6 is then automatically moved from its open position, shown in Figure 2, to its closed position, shown in Figure 1, under the effect of the spring 24. Said valve 6 is then elastically stressed, in particular pressed against the valve seat 16 by the spring 24, which provides a sealed closure of the system. Thus, when the gas pressure reaches and / or exceeds the predetermined pressure threshold, the control member 19 is no longer pushed down in the figures by the membrane 17 (in fact the spring 18), but on the contrary is pushed upwards in the figures by the valve 6 (in fact the spring 24). Obviously, the force exerted by the spring 24 is less than that exerted by the spring 18. In the closed position of the valve 6, there is therefore no high pressure outside the valve, and in particular at l 'outside of the mouth 8 of this valve.

When the pressure in the chamber 23 drops below the predetermined pressure threshold, the spring 18 expands again, pushing or deforming the membrane 17 downwards. This acts correspondingly on the control member 19, which via the rods 21 detaches the valve 6 from the valve seat 16 against the force of the spring 24, to reopen the system.

The operation of the pressure reducer, and in particular the opening and closing of the valve 6 is therefore automatic, that is to say independent of a user, unlike devices such as regulators directly connected to a user. Here, only the gas pressure determines the opening and closing of the valve.

The balancing of the pressure reducer of the invention with respect to variations in the inlet pressure is guaranteed by the fact that the inlet pressure, which is the high pressure, acts against two equivalent surfaces of the valve 6, namely the surface inside the mouth 8 on the one hand, and the section of the rod 9 of the valve in the balancing chamber 10 on the other hand.

Thus, the area subjected to the high pressure is limited to the valve 6 and to the external surface 116 of the valve seat 16, corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the mouthpiece 8. These surfaces are small and do not require large dimensions. to withstand high pressure. Since the supply of the high pressure is advantageously carried out through the interior of the valve 6, it is therefore possible to arrange the control member 19 outside the gas flow circuit, which increases the flow performance. In addition, the sealing element which seals between the valve 6 and the valve seat 16, and which in the present invention is formed by the valve seat 16, does not have any hole or junction point exposed to high pressure. On the contrary, the valve seat 16, and in particular its external surface 116, is in one piece and continuous, so that it can be produced in a very simple and inexpensive manner with a small disc made of a suitable plastic material.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of said valve seat 16, in which the external surface 116 has a pointed shape which extends in the direction of the valve 6, and which, in the closed position, penetrates inside the 'mouth 8 of said valve 6. This makes it possible to reduce the swirling or vortex of flow at the level of the mouth 8, which improves by appropriately therefore the overall flow performance of the pressure reducer.

The invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, but it is clear that various modifications could be made to it by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims. In particular, the control membrane 17, which is tight and flexible, could be replaced by a rigid plate sliding in leaktight manner in the chamber 50 containing the spring 18. For example, the plate could have an O-ring at its edge. peripheral in contact with the walls of said chamber 50. Other modifications can also be envisaged, and in particular as regards the shape and the position of the different elements, whether it be the elastic elements, the shapes and positions of the different passages, or still the means for transmitting the pressure to said control membrane, as well as the means for connecting the latter to said valve.

Claims

claims

1.- Balanced pressure reducer for high pressure gases comprising a body (15) defining a high pressure inlet (1) and a low pressure outlet (2), a gas flow passage connecting said high pressure inlet (1) at said low pressure outlet (2), characterized in that said pressure reducer comprises a valve (6) disposed between said high pressure inlet (1) and said low pressure outlet (2), said valve being movable between a position of opening, in which it opens said gas flow passage, and a closed position, in which it cooperates with a valve seat (16) for closing said gas flow passage, said valve (6) being moved towards its open position by a control member (19) which, when the gas pressure is below a predetermined pressure threshold, is biased by an elastic element (18), such as a spring, towards a position of actuation corresponding to the valve open position (6), said elastic element (18), from said predetermined pressure threshold, no longer biasing said control member (19) towards its actuating position so that said valve (6) is then urged elastically towards its closed position by an elastic means (24) such as a spring, said valve (6) being produced so that in the closed position, the high pressure is exerted at the center of the external surface (116) of said valve seat (16) which cooperates with said valve (6).

2. A pressure reducer according to claim 1, in which said valve (6) is hollow, and defines an internal high pressure chamber (7) connected to said high pressure inlet (1), so that the high pressure is supplied. through said internal chamber (7) of said valve (6).

3. A pressure reducer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said valve (6) comprises at its end in contact with the valve seat (16), a mouth (8) whose peripheral edge is defined by a sharp edge .

4. A pressure reducer according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said valve seat (16) is integral with said body (15) and is made of a sealing material suitable for producing a sealed closure with said valve ( 6) in the closed position.

5. A pressure reducer according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the external surface (116) of said valve seat (16), which cooperates with said valve (6) in the closed position, is in one piece and continuous.

6. A pressure reducer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said control member (19) is disposed outside the gas flow passage.

7. Pressure reducer according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the low pressure outlet (2) is connected to a low pressure chamber (23) which contains said valve (6).

8. A pressure reducer according to claim 7, wherein said control member (19) cooperates with a control element (17), subjected on the one hand to the low pressure of the low pressure chamber (23), and d on the other hand to the force exerted by said elastic element (18), said control element (17) sealingly separating said low pressure chamber (23) from said elastic element (18), so that when said predetermined pressure threshold is reached in said low pressure chamber (23), the control element (17) compresses the elastic element (18), thus allowing said valve (6) to move towards its closed position.

9. A pressure reducer according to claim 8, wherein said control element (17) is a flexible waterproof membrane.

10. A pressure reducer according to claim 8, in which said control element (17) is a rigid plate sliding in leaktight manner, in particular by means of an O-ring, in a chamber (50) containing said elastic element (18 ).

11. A pressure reducer according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said external surface (116) of said valve seat (16) forms a point extending in the direction of said valve (6), so as to reduce swirling. at the mouth (8) of said valve (6).

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