Protected integral gas cylinder with manual on/off and flow control valve

Abstract

Provided is a device for pressurized contents comprising a container having a hollow interior for location of the contents therein, a valve body having a channel in fluid communication with the interior of the container, a stem having a tapered end extending into the valve body, wherein the stem is moveable within the valve body, a single port for conveyance of the contents between the container exterior and the container interior, wherein the device has no additional port for conveyance of the contents between the container exterior and the container interior, and a seal arrangement between the valve body and the tapered end to prevent conveyance of the contents through the single port when the tapered end is in a seated position, wherein a rate of conveyance of the contents through the single port is controllable by movement of the stem within the valve body.

Description

STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 793,616, filed Mar. 4, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is directed in general to containment of a gas, and more particularly to a refillable gas containment and delivery system having a common shut-off and manual flow controller for gas flow out of a cylinder and a common fill and extraction port. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Cylinders containing a compressed gas can be found in environments such as manufacturing, research, production or synthesis facilities, hospitals, labs, classrooms, or any environment where a source of the desired gas is not otherwise available. The cylinders have a wide range of sizes and shapes, and are adapted to hold a particular type of gas. Most cylinders are a generally upright container having a flat bottom to allow the cylinder to rest vertically on a level s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] Provided is a device for pressurized contents comprising a container having a hollow interior for location of the contents therein, a valve body having a channel in fluid communication with the interior of the container, a stem having a tapered end extending into the valve body, wherein the stem is moveable within the valve body, a single port for conveyance of the contents between the container exterior and the container interior, wherein the device has no additional port for conveyance of the contents between the container exterior and the container interior, and a seal arrangement between the valve body and the tapered end to prevent conveyance of the contents through the single port when the tapered end is in a seated position, wherein a rate of conveyance of the contents through the single port is controllable by movement of the stem within the valve body.

Problems solved by technology

As the contents of the cylinders are consumed, the pressure gradient between the interior of the cylinder and the ambient environment is no longer large enough to allow a user to withdraw gas from within the cylinder.

Due to the sometimes potential and actual hazardous nature of the cylinders' contents, recycling the cylinders is problematic, and can cost from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars for each cylinder.

The stockpile of consumed cylinders is often neglected and exposed to the elements, which causes the cylinders to degrade over time.

As the cylinders degrade, cracks or leaks may develop and allow residual traces of gas to escape the cylinder into the surrounding environment.

Further, consumed cylinders may tip or otherwise be knocked over, once again breaching the integrity of the cylinders, possibly allowing residual traces of gas to escape, as well as producing the projectile effect aforementioned.

Once again, though, due to the often hazardous nature of the cylinders' contents, facilities that accept consumed cylinders typically charge large disposal fees.

Further, discarding the disposable cylinders contributes to the growing accumulation of solid waste at disposal sites.

As a result, there is frequent confusion on the part of end users as to how to properly dispose of or recycle “disposable” cylinders when the contents have been fully or partially consumed.

A sufficiently strong impact may shear any of the valve, flow meter or regulator from atop the cylinder, causing a sudden release of the cylinder's contents.

Pressurized cylinders having the valve, flow meter or regulator sheared off during a fall or otherwise striking a foreign body, have been known to become dangerous due to the sudden thrust from the pressure release.

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