阅读说明：本技术 保护性阀环 (Protective valve ring ) 是由 卡雷尔·兹梅克 兹登克·菲里奇 彼得·杰利卡 加雷斯·彭伯顿 于 2017-06-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于氧气瓶(3)的保护性阀环(1)。该保护性阀环(1)包括适于围绕瓶阀(2)的出口(5)的主体(4)。该主体(2)包括不可燃且吸热的材料,并且具有适于引导任何潜在的氧气泄漏远离该气瓶(3)的可燃部分的内部成形件。本发明还涉及一种用于控制加压气体的流量的截止阀(2)和一种用于将保护性阀环(1)附接至氧气瓶(3)的截止阀(2)的方法。(The invention relates to a protective valve ring (1) for an oxygen cylinder (3). The protective valve ring (1) comprises a body (4) adapted to surround an outlet (5) of a cylinder valve (2). The body (2) comprises a non-flammable and heat absorbing material and has an inner formation adapted to direct any potential oxygen leakage away from the flammable portion of the cylinder (3). The invention also relates to a shut-off valve (2) for controlling the flow of pressurized gas and a method for attaching a protective valve ring (1) to a shut-off valve (2) of an oxygen cylinder (3).)

1. A protective valve ring (1) for an oxygen cylinder (3), the protective valve ring comprising

A body (4) adapted to surround an outlet (5) of the cylinder valve (2), the body (4) comprising a non-flammable and heat-absorbing material,

wherein the body (4) comprises an inner formation adapted to direct any potential oxygen leakage away from the combustible portion of the cylinder (3).

2. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner form comprises grooves (6, 7) arranged on the inner wall surface of the body (4).

3. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner form comprises a first groove (6) extending along the inner circumference of the body (4).

4. Protective valve ring (1) according to claim 3, wherein the inner form comprises at least one second groove (7) extending in its axial direction from a bottom portion of the body (4) to a first groove (6) of the body (4), the first groove (6) and the at least one second groove (7) thereby being in gas communication with each other.

5. Protective valve ring (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner form comprises abutment surfaces (8) for communication with the cylinder valve (2), the abutment surfaces (8) being adapted to absorb heat.

6. Protective valve ring (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body (4) is solid.

7. Protective valve ring (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body (4) is made of a first part (10) and a second part (11), and wherein one end of the first part (10) is hinged together with one end of the second part (11).

8. The protective valve ring (1) according to claim 7, wherein the other end of the first portion (10) is connectable to the other end of the second portion (11) by a pin element or a snap lock.

9. A shut-off valve (2) for controlling the flow of pressurized gas, the shut-off valve comprising a body (15) defining a passage extending between a gas inlet channel (16) and a gas outlet channel (17), and a sealing element arranged to close the passage in a first position and to open the passage in a second position to allow gas to flow between the gas inlet channel (16) and the gas outlet channel (17) through the passage, the shut-off valve further comprising a protective valve ring (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 attached to an outlet (5) of the gas outlet channel (17).

10. A method for attaching a protective valve ring (1) to a shut-off valve (2) of an oxygen cylinder (3), the protective valve ring (1) comprising a body (4) adapted to surround an outlet (5) of the cylinder valve (2), the body (4) comprising an inner form adapted to guide potential oxygen leaks away from a combustible portion of the cylinder (3), wherein the method comprises the steps of:

arranging a first part (10) and a second part (11) of the body (4) around the outlet (5) of the cylinder valve (2), wherein one end of the first part (10) is hinged with one end of the second part (11), and

the other end of the first part (10) is locked with the other end of the second part (11) by a pin element (14) or a snap lock.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a protective valve ring for an oxygen cylinder, a shut-off valve for controlling the flow of pressurized gas, and a method for attaching the protective valve ring to the shut-off valve of an oxygen cylinder.

Background

Oxygen cylinders may cause fires and subsequent fires. Such fires typically occur at the cylinder valve. Fires are typically caused by contaminants that are introduced into the gas cylinder and then impinge on the interior of the cylinder valve. When this occurs, the fire from the valve and subsequent fire are highly destructive, resulting in serious damage.

The shut-off valve is typically used as a cylinder valve for compressed gas. An example of such a valve is disclosed in DE 10354299 a 1. However, there are several problems associated with known shut-off valves. For example, immediately after opening the shut-off valve, the gas has a high velocity. When the gas quickly reaches the non-pressurized area, this may lead to particle impact fires, as the gas may trap particles, which if they impact on a surface may lead to fires as the kinetic energy of the particles is converted into heat.

Another problem that may arise is that adiabatic compression caused by the opening of the shut-off valve and the gas entering the non-pressurized region may cause the temperature of the gas to rise momentarily. This increase in temperature may in some cases lead to a component fire. This is particularly the case for components having low auto-ignition temperatures.

The above-mentioned problems occur in particular when the shut-off valve is used with highly oxidizing gases, i.e. gases having a higher oxygen content than air, because the higher oxygen content increases the possibility of fire.

Thus, there is a need for improvements relating to safety when dealing with the handling of oxygen cylinders and in particular with the handling of cylinder valves connected to oxygen cylinders.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement of the above techniques and prior art. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a safety device for a cylinder valve which alleviates, mitigates or eliminates one or more of the above problems.

These and other objects, and/or advantages that will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments, are achieved, in whole or in part, by a protective valve ring for an oxygen cylinder, according to a first aspect. The protective valve ring includes a body adapted to surround the outlet of the cylinder valve. The body comprises a non-flammable and heat absorbing material, and an inner forming adapted to direct potential oxygen leaks away from the flammable portion of the cylinder.

This is advantageous because the protective valve ring invalidates the onset of fire in such a way that the fire does not spread. The protective valve ring both redirects the flame and absorbs heat from the fire. In particular, it protects the plastic shield from the flame of a fire, which greatly reduces the fuel available to the fire. The protective ring effectively provides a fire-controlled method.

In other words, the protective ring works both as a heat sink and as a system for redirecting a fire's flame. Acting as a heat sink, absorbs energy from a fire. The design of the ring is such that it is sufficient to absorb the fire in relation to the whole bottle, while the ring is light and inexpensive. The design of the ring with specific internal formations for optimum protection provides for flame redirection and heat absorption.

The inner form may include a groove disposed on an inner wall surface of the body. In particular, the inner form may comprise a first groove extending along the inner circumference of the body, and at least one second groove extending from the bottom portion of the body in its axial direction to the first groove of the body. The first recess and the at least one second recess are thus in gaseous communication with each other. In this way, any potential oxygen leak from the cylinder valve will be directed upwardly through the at least one second groove, into the first groove, and away from the combustible portion of the gas cylinder.

The inner form may include an abutment surface for communicating with the cylinder valve. These abutment surfaces are made of a heat absorbing material and are adapted to conduct heat away from the exposed portion of the cylinder.

When the body of the protective valve ring is applied to a valve at the time of its manufacture, the body of the protective valve ring may be solid. If the protective valve ring is to be applied to a product already in operation, it may preferably be in two parts. In this case, the body may be made of a first part and a second part, wherein one end of the first part is hinged with one end of the second part. The other end of the first part may be connected to the other end of the second part by a pin element or a snap lock.

According to a second aspect, these and other objects are achieved, in whole or at least in part, by a shut-off valve for controlling the flow of pressurized gas. The shut-off valve comprises a body defining a passageway extending between a gas inlet channel and a gas outlet channel, and a sealing element arranged to close the passageway in a first position and open the passageway in a second position to allow gas to flow between the gas inlet channel and the gas outlet channel through the passageway. The shut-off valve further comprises a protective valve ring according to the above-mentioned features, over which the outlet of the gas outlet channel is attached.

These and other objects are achieved, in whole or at least in part, by a method for attaching a protective valve ring to a shut-off valve of an oxygen cylinder, according to a third aspect. The protective valve ring includes a body adapted to surround the outlet of the cylinder valve. The body includes an inner form adapted to direct potential oxygen leaks away from the combustible portion of the cylinder. The method comprises the following steps: arranging first and second parts of the body around the outlet of the cylinder valve, wherein one end of the first part is hinged to one end of the second part; and locking the other end of the first part with the other end of the second part by a pin element or snap lock.

The effects and features of the second and third aspects of the invention are largely analogous to those described above in connection with the first aspect of the inventive concept. The embodiments mentioned in relation to the first aspect of the invention are largely compatible with the other aspects of the invention.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed disclosure, from the appended claims and from the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features.

In general, all terms used in the claims should be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the [ element, device, component, means, step, etc ]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

As used herein, the term "comprises," "comprising," and variations of this term, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Drawings

The above and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals may be used for similar elements, and in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring to be applied to a cylinder valve according to a first aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring to be applied to a cylinder valve in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the protective valve ring of fig. 2 when applied to a cylinder valve.

Fig. 4a is a perspective view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring in an open state according to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 4b is a perspective view of the protective valve ring of FIG. 4a in a closed state.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring as applied to a cylinder valve in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring as applied to a cylinder valve in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 7a is a perspective view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring in an open state according to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 7b is a perspective view of the protective valve ring of FIG. 4a in a closed state.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a protective valve ring 1 when applied to a shut-off cylinder valve 2 of an oxygen cylinder 3. The protective valve ring 1 has a body 4 which surrounds an outlet 5 of the stop cylinder valve 2. The body 4 is solid and made of a material that is non-combustible and heat-absorbing. This means that the protective valve ring 1 is attached to the cylinder valve 2 at the time of its manufacture.

In the enlarged portion of fig. 1, the protective valve ring 1 is shown in more detail, and it can be seen that the body 4 further comprises an inner formation designed to direct any potential oxygen leaks away from the combustible portion of the cylinder 3. The inner former comprises a first groove 6 extending along the inner circumference of the body 4. The inner form further comprises a plurality of second grooves 7 extending from the bottom part of the body 2 upwards in its axial direction and into the first grooves 6 of the body 2. The first groove 6 and the plurality of second grooves 7 are thus in gaseous communication with each other.

The body 2 is further provided with abutment surfaces 8 which are in direct communication with the shut off cylinder valve 2. The abutment surface 8 is made of a heat absorbing material and is thus adapted to conduct heat away from the exposed portion of the gas cylinder 3.

The protective valve ring 1 both redirects the flame and absorbs heat from the potential fire. In particular, it will protect the plastic shield 9 of the cylinder valve 2 from the flame of a fire, which greatly reduces the fuel available to the fire.

In fig. 2 to 7, different exemplary embodiments of the protective valve ring 1 are illustrated. In these embodiments, the protective valve ring 1 is made of a first part 10 and a second part 11. In this way, the protective valve ring 1 can be applied to products already in operation.

In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 2 and 3, when applied to a shut off cylinder valve 2, the first portion 10 of the protective valve ring 1 and the second portion 11 of the protective valve ring 1 are screwed together.

Fig. 4a and 4b show an embodiment of the protective valve ring 1, wherein the first part 10 is connected to the second part 11 by a latch (click) function.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5, the first portion 10 of the protective valve ring 1 and the second portion 11 of the protective valve ring 1 are provided with flanges 12 for engaging each other. The clips 13 are arranged in external grooves extending along the circumference of the protective valve ring 1 in order to hold the parts 10, 11 together.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment in which the first part 10 of the protective valve ring 1 and the second part 11 of the protective valve ring 1 are provided with flanges 12 for engaging each other. Here, a plastic valve guard 9 is used to hold the parts 10, 11 together.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 7a and 7b, one end of the first part 10 of the protective valve ring 1 is hinged with one end of the second part 11 of the protective valve ring 1. The other end of the first part 10 may be connected to the other end of the second part 11 by a pin element 14.

The actual shut-off valve 2 to which the protective valve ring 1 is attached is shown in fig. 1, 2, 3 and 5. The shut-off valve 2 comprises a body 15 defining a passage extending between a gas inlet channel 16 and a gas outlet channel 17, and a sealing element (not shown) arranged to close the passage in a first position and to open the passage in a second position to allow gas to flow through the passage between the gas inlet channel 16 and the gas outlet channel 17. The protective valve ring 1 is attached to the outlet 5 of the gas outlet channel 17.

Those skilled in the art realize that many modifications to the embodiments described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

For example, the grooves 6, 7 of the inner forming member may have any suitable type of shape and extension, provided that their purpose is to guide any potential oxygen leakage away from the cylinder valve 2.