Safety box for high-pressure cylinders

Abstract

The present invention relates to a piece of equipment for handling high-pressure cylinders containing a wide variety of gases, which products are highly hazardous, with the main aim of protecting the physical integrity of the workers involved in the operation. The safety box for high-pressure cylinders is preferably mounted inside a 20-foot container (CO) and comprises a hermetically sealed metal retention box (1), inside which there is provided a base (2) for fastening the cylinder (C) by means of a quick fastener (3), wherein one of the walls is provided with a hole (4) through which the end of a remotely operated pneumatic drill (5) is inserted, and another wall is provided with a drain (6) which is opened in a controlled manner and is connected to a product degradation system, wherein cameras (7) are further positioned at certain points to monitor all stages of the cylinder (C) pre-disposal operation, and wherein the entire assembly is controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC) and the operations are performed remotely.

Description

[0001] SAFETY BOX FOR HIGH-PRESSURE CYLINDERS

[0002]

[0001] This patent application relates to equipment for handling high-pressure cylinders containing various types of gases, which are highly hazardous products, with the main objective of protecting the physical integrity of workers involved in the operation.

[0003] FUNDAMENTALS OF THE TECHNIQUE

[0004]

[0002] The need for safety equipment was identified with the increase in high-pressure cylinders found in advanced oxidation conditions, with valves out of operation and consequently a high risk of leaks, which normally contain highly toxic, flammable products and other highly hazardous characteristics.

[0005]

[0003] Given the above, there are situations with a huge potential for serious accidents, as the behavior of the cylinder is unpredictable.

[0006] STATE OF THE ART

[0007]

[0004] On the market, there is only one kit for installing cylinders, but this equipment is installed on the cylinder manually, which is done next to the cylinder, that is, the operators are close to the cylinders, so if we have an unexpected and violent reaction, the operator, despite all the equipment used, will be very close, and depending on the proportion of this reaction, the operator will inevitably be hit.

[0008]

[0005] According to Figure 3, this equipment is used when the cylinder valve is not operating. The valve must be removed and then the KIT applied. However, at this point, the cylinder will be leaking, and often the product is unknown. For the same reason mentioned above, i.e., the proximity of the operator, he is exposed and runs the risk of serious problems. OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

[0009]

[0006] Thus, the safety enclosure for high-pressure cylinders, the subject of the present invention, has as its main objective to protect the physical integrity of employees, since the cylinder will be enclosed by a safety enclosure and operated remotely.

[0010] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011]

[0007] The safety box for high-pressure cylinders is preferably mounted inside a 20-foot container and comprises a hermetically sealed metal retaining box, equipped inside with a base for fixing the cylinder, with one wall having an opening through which the end of a remotely operated pneumatic drill is inserted, and another wall having a drain, and cameras are also provided to monitor all steps of the operation. FIGURE DESCRIPTION

[0012]

[0008] The safety enclosure for high-pressure cylinders will be better understood through the figures which, schematically, represent:

[0013] - Figure 1 - Perspective view of the security box mounted inside a container;

[0014] Figure 2 - Perspective view of the security box; and

[0015] Figure 3 - View of a cylinder assembly kit, prior art. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016]

[0009] According to the figure presented, the safety box for high-pressure cylinders is preferably mounted inside a 20-foot container (CO), and comprises a hermetically sealed metal retention box (1), equipped inside with a base (2) for fixing the cylinder (C) by means of a quick fastener (3), with one of the walls having an orifice (4) through which the end of a remotely operated pneumatic drill (5) is inserted, and another wall having a drain (6) with controlled opening, connected to the product degradation system, with cameras (7) positioned at some points to monitor all steps of the pre-discard operation of the cylinder (C), the entire assembly being controlled by the Programmable Logic Controller - PLC and the operations performed remotely.

[0017] HOW THE INVENTION WORKS

[0018]

[0010] With the new safety box for high-pressure cylinders, the pre-disposal operation of cylinders becomes much safer, where the following steps are carried out:

[0019] - The security box is preferably placed inside a 20-foot container (CO);

[0020] - Cylinders with inoperative valves and / or unknown products will be secured inside the retention box (1), which will be closed, and subsequently, as a redundancy, the container will also be closed;

[0021] - Each cylinder will be drilled by the pneumatic drill (5), operated remotely, and whatever the reaction of the product after the cylinder is drilled, will be restricted to the retention box (1);

[0022] - The cameras (7) will provide visibility of everything that happens inside the containment box (1), and after approximately 30 minutes after drilling, the container door will be opened, following all safety procedures, with regard to the use of appropriate PPE, fire fighting structure and medical assistance;

[0023] - After drilling, the gas is contained inside the containment box (I);

[0024] - In the case of unknown gas, a sample will be taken for subsequent analysis to determine the form of product degradation; - In the situation where the product is known, the drainage system through the drain (6) will already be connected to the product degradation system, which may be a flair (product burning) or scroober (chemical dilution);

[0025] - In both situations, the cylinders will be completely drained, and after the pressure is released, the entire system will be purged with N2 to ensure 100% elimination of the product contained in the cylinder;

[0026] - After the cylinder degassing process (C) is completed, it will be removed and stored in an appropriate and identified area, where it will receive a neutralizing solution inside, according to the product that was previously stored inside;

[0027] - After 24 hours, this material will be removed, and the necessary measurements will be taken to determine if the process was effective. If it was, the cylinder will be discarded as scrap. If not, the process will be repeated until it is completely decontaminated.

[0028] ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0029]

[0011] The new safety enclosure for high-pressure cylinders offers the following advantages:

[0030] - Provides greater safety in the disposal of high-pressure cylinders;

[0031] - Provides greater protection for the physical integrity of operators;

[0032] - If the valve breaks, the product will be retained in the containment box, posing no risk to people or the environment;

[0033] - It allows identification of the product contained in the cylinder so that it can then be treated appropriately; and

[0034] - In the event of a violent reaction, in addition to the containment box, we have the redundancy of the container to ensure that the product remains contained.

[0035]

[0012] The scope of this invention patent, therefore, should not be limited to the construction details, but rather only to the terms defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

MODIFIED CLAIMS Received by the International Secretariat on September 3, 2025. CLAIM 1 - SAFETY BOX FOR HIGH PRESSURE CYLINDERS, which is mounted inside a 20-foot container (CO), which uses a pneumatic drill (5) and a Programmable Logic Controller - PLC, so that operations are performed remotely, chamber (7), and hermetically sealed metallic retention box (1), characterized by the retention box (1) having inside a base (2) for fixing the cylinder (C) by means of a quick fastener (3), having on one of the walls, an orifice (4) through which the end of a pneumatic drill (5) operated remotely is inserted, and on another wall having a drain (6), with controlled opening, interconnected to the product degradation system, also having cameras (7) positioned at some points, the whole assembly being controlled by the Programmable Logic Controller - PLC. MODIFIED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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