GAS BOTTLE FILLING STATION AND FILLING PROCESS

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling station enabling automated refilling of a gas cylinder by an end user. The station includes a housing device that allows an end user to place an empty gas cylinder into the filling station. The filling station includes a closing device to seal the station after the gas cylinder has been placed in place, preventing the gas cylinder from being removed after closure. The end user cannot remove the gas cylinder while it is closed. Furthermore, the filling station includes a filling device for automated refilling, after closure, of an empty gas cylinder placed in the station. Refilling can only take place when the filling station is closed, and therefore, the gas cylinder cannot be removed.The station also includes a gas testing device for automated gas leak testing after a refill of a gas cylinder. This device tests the leak tightness of a refilled gas cylinder. The station features a release mechanism that only releases a pre-charged or filled gas cylinder after a successful gas leak test, thus allowing the refilling of a cylinder. Therefore, refilling a cylinder containing gas or liquid gas is only possible once the gas leak test has shown that no gas is escaping from the filled cylinder. The invention further relates to a method for refilling.<!--endfragment-->

Description

This allows for the extraction of gas from a refilled cylinder. Extracting gas from a cylinder filled with gas or liquid gas is therefore only possible when the gas leak test has shown that no gas is escaping from the filled cylinder. The invention further relates to a method for refilling.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Filling station (1) for the automatic filling of a gas cylinder (3) by an end user, comprising an insertion device for inserting an empty gas cylinder (3) into the filling station (1), a closing device for closing the filling station after the insertion of the gas cylinder (3), such that it is not possible to remove the gas cylinder (3) after closing, a filling device (7) for automatically filling a gas cylinder (3) inserted into the filling station (1) following closing,characterized in that a gas testing device (11) for an automated gas tightness test is provided following the filling of an inserted gas cylinder (3) and a release device which releases a recharged gas cylinder (3) only after a successful gas tightness test and thus the removal of a recharged gas cylinder (3) is possible and the removal of a gas cylinder filled with gas or liquid gas is only possible if the gas tightness test has revealed that no gas escaped from the filled cylinder.

2. Filling station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by an identification device with which a gas cylinder (3) can be identified, preferably before the insertion of the gas cylinder (3) and / or after the insertion of the gas cylinder (3) into the filling station (1).

3. Filling station according to the preceding claim, characterized in that This is arranged in such a way that it is only possible to insert a gas cylinder (3) into the filling station (1) if the filling station (1) has previously determined by identification that the gas cylinder (3) is suitable for filling. 06 4. Filling station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it provides a scale (13) with which the weight of an inserted gas cylinder (3) can be determined before filling and / or after filling.

5. Filling station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with a draining device with which the contents of an inserted gas cylinder (3) can be sucked up.

6. Filling station according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the emptying device comprises a suction head (9) with which a valve (27) of an inserted gas cylinder (3) can be opened by connecting it to the frame of the gas cylinder (3).

7. Filling station according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the suction head (9) has a nozzle (28) preferably tubular with a projection or a mandrel with a projection with which the valve (27) can be opened by the connection.

8. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is arranged such that the filling of an inserted gas cylinder (3) is carried out from the top via a central filling point (12) of the gas cylinder (3).

9. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a filling head (7) and / or a suction head (9) are mounted elastically movable.

10. Filling station according to any one of the preceding claims with a gas tank (16) arranged behind a control and / or payment device (4) viewed from above.

11. A filling station according to any one of the preceding claims with a gas tank (16), wherein, viewed from above, an interior space (2) provided for parking a gas cylinder (3) is at least partially located next to a front face of a gas tank (16).

12. Filling station according to any one of the preceding claims with n or more containers filled with nitrogen and a nitrogen-driven suction device for drawing gas from an inserted gas cylinder.

13. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims with a control device which controls the filling such that a first quantity of gas is first filled into an inserted gas cylinder (3), then a gas tightness test is carried out, and the cylinder is completely refilled after it has been determined by the gas tightness test that the gas cylinder (3) is gas tight.

14. Filling station according to any one of the preceding claims with an exchange device (30) which supplies a new gas cylinder after the filling station has detected a fault in an inserted gas cylinder.

15. A method for filling a gas cylinder in a filling station having the characteristics according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: An empty gas cylinder (3) with a central filling point (1) is inserted into the filling station (1) by an end user, The filling station (1) centers the position of the gas cylinder (3). by means of a centering device (5, 6, 14), ; The filling station (1) automatically fills the centered gas cylinder (3) with gas from the top. Following filling, the filling station automatically checks the gas leakage from the gas cylinder (3) using the gas control device (11), '2 If the check reveals that no gas is escaping from the gas cylinder (3), the filling station (1) allows the filled gas cylinder to be removed from the filling station. "If the check reveals that gas has escaped from the cylinder, the filling station (1) empties the gas cylinder and then allows the emptied gas cylinder (3) to be removed from the filling station (1).