Method and system for filling a gas cylinder

Abstract

A charge station is provided for filling a gas cylinder with gas. The charge station includes a gas output port configured to be fluidly connected to a supply of gas. The gas output port is configured to be fluidly connected to the gas cylinder for filling the gas cylinder with gas from the supply of gas. The charge station also includes a control system operatively connected to the gas output such that the control system is configured to control filling of the gas cylinder, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader operatively connected to the control system, the RFID reader configured to read data from an RFID tag on the gas cylinder.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 097,091, filed on Sep. 15, 2008, entitled “An Automatic Gas Cylinder Filling System Using RFID,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The subject matter described and / or illustrated herein relates generally to filling gas cylinders with gas, and more particularly, to a method and system for filling a gas cylinder.[0003]Various conditions may be met to properly and safely fill gas cylinders with gas. For example, various cylinder fill pressures exist for gas cylinders. If a gas cylinder is filled with the wrong pressure, the cylinder will not be completely filled or an overpressure will result, which may rupture an overpressure disc of the cylinder. Gas cylinders may also need to be periodically hydrostatically tested to ensure safe filling. Moreover, each gas cylinder has a spe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]There is a need for a gas cylinder filling system that may be operated by an operator having less training as compared to at least some known gas cylinder filling systems. There is a need for a gas cylinder filling system that may reduce a number of operator errors as compared to at least some known gas cylinder filling systems.

Problems solved by technology

If a gas cylinder is filled with the wrong pressure, the cylinder will not be completely filled or an overpressure will result, which may rupture an overpressure disc of the cylinder.

Moreover, if the hydrostatic test date or service life of a gas cylinder has expired, the cylinder should not be refilled.

If the operator fails to set the fill pressure to the proper value, the cylinder may be insufficiently filled or the overpressure disc in the cylinder may rupture.

For example, if the cylinder hydrostatic test date or service life has expired and is not observed by the operator, there is an increased risk of the cylinder failing during filling or operation.

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