An automated filling device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions

Abstract

This invention provides an automated filling device integrating extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions, relating to the field of fire extinguishing device manufacturing, and particularly to a filling device and method for extinguishing agents and high-pressure gas. The device includes a ball screw stepper motor, a liquid collection chamber, a four-way valve, an operating lever, one-way valve 1, one-way valve 2, and one-way valve 3. The filling device uses a ball screw stepper motor to drive a liquid-pushing piston, controlling the filling amount of extinguishing agent by precisely controlling the piston stroke. The "operating lever + piston groove" design of the filling device integrates the pre-installation, positioning, and final tightening of the seals within the device. The filling device integrates the three key steps of extinguishing agent filling, high-pressure gas pressurization, and bottle mouth seal installation into one device, and achieves function switching through a core component, the four-way valve.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] An automated filling device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions is disclosed. This invention relates to the field of fire extinguishing device manufacturing technology, and particularly to a fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling device and method. Background Technology

[0002] Existing halon fire extinguishers require simultaneous filling with both halon extinguishing agent and high-pressure propellant gas. Common halon extinguishing agents include difluorochlorobromomethane (1211) and trifluorobromomethane (1301). The high-pressure propellant gas, typically nitrogen (N2), is filled at a pressure of 2.5–6.0 MPa and used to spray the extinguishing agent. These two media must be strictly isolated to prevent mixing, which could lead to chemical denaturation or pressure runaway.

[0003] Currently, in the production of halon fire extinguishers, the filling of liquid extinguishing agent and high-pressure driving gas must be carried out in separate steps. First, the extinguishing agent is filled through a pumping system, and then the system switches to a high-pressure gas station to fill with nitrogen. The extinguishing agent is filled through the extinguisher bottle opening, and the bottle seal is tightened after filling. The high-pressure gas is pressurized through a filling valve installed on the extinguisher. This process requires two independent systems [liquid pump + gas filling station], resulting in a significant increase in cost and floor space. The extinguishing bottle requires two clamping and positioning operations and pipeline switching, reducing the efficiency of extinguishing agent production. Furthermore, open pipelines are prone to extinguishing agent evaporation, and manual switching can easily lead to leaks and other safety problems due to seal failure. To overcome these shortcomings, this invention provides an automated device that integrates the functions of filling extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides an automated device that integrates fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions. It realizes the full-process automation of fire extinguishing agent extraction, constant volume filling and high-pressure gas pressure stabilization injection on a single device, eliminating efficiency loss and safety hazards caused by step-by-step operation, physically isolating the risk of cross-contamination between liquid and gas media, and improving production efficiency.

[0005] 2. Technical Solution

[0006] This invention achieves precise control over the filling of extinguishing agents by employing a ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism. Different filling paths for different media are isolated through a combination of a four-way valve and a one-way valve.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the invention employs the following technical solution: an automated device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions, the device comprising a ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism, a liquid collection chamber, a four-way valve, an operating lever, a one-way valve 1, a one-way valve 2, and a one-way valve 3.

[0008] The ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism is installed at the left end of the liquid collection chamber. A liquid-pushing piston is provided on one end of the ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism. The liquid-pushing piston is located inside the liquid collection chamber and can move inside the liquid collection chamber. An O-ring is provided on the liquid-pushing piston.

[0009] The side of the liquid collection chamber is connected to a one-way valve 3, which is connected to the extinguishing agent storage tank. The one-way valve 3 only allows the extinguishing agent to enter the liquid collection chamber from the extinguishing agent storage tank. The right end of the liquid collection chamber is connected to the left end of a four-way valve via a one-way valve 1, which only allows the extinguishing agent to enter the four-way valve from the liquid collection chamber. The right end of the four-way valve is connected to a one-way valve 2, which is connected to a high-pressure gas source. The one-way valve 2 only allows high-pressure gas to enter the four-way valve from the high-pressure gas source. The upper end of the four-way valve can be connected to the mouth of the fire extinguishing bottle via a thread. The upper end of the four-way valve is equipped with a pressure relief valve, and the lower end of the four-way valve is equipped with an operating rod. One end of the operating rod is equipped with a piston. The piston is equipped with a groove for fixing the sealing element of the fire extinguishing bottle mouth and an O-ring seal. The piston can move parallel inside the four-way valve.

[0010] When the device is in operation, first insert the sealing element of the fire extinguisher bottle into the groove of the operating rod from the upper end of the four-way valve, and then pull the operating rod to the lower end of the four-way valve to connect the fire extinguisher bottle opening to the upper end of the four-way valve. At this point, the entire device should be in a sealed state. After starting the device, the ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism pulls the liquid-pushing piston to the left end of the liquid collection chamber. At this time, the extinguishing agent enters the liquid collection chamber under gas pressure. Subsequently, the ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism pushes the liquid-pushing piston to the right end of the liquid collection chamber, and the extinguishing agent enters the fire extinguisher bottle under pressure. The filling amount of the extinguishing agent is controlled by adjusting the piston stroke. After the extinguishing agent is filled, start the high-pressure gas source to allow high-pressure gas to enter the fire extinguisher bottle through the one-way valve 2 and the four-way valve, so that the fire extinguisher bottle reaches the expected pressure. After stopping the pressurization, push the operating lever to make the fire extinguisher bottle mouth seal embedded in the groove of the operating lever contact the fire extinguisher bottle mouth. Rotate the operating lever in the direction of the thread to install the seal in place. Finally, release the pressure through the pressure relief valve to replace the next empty fire extinguisher and complete the filling of the previous fire extinguisher with extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas.

[0011] Beneficial effects

[0012] The device integrates three key steps—fire extinguishing agent filling, high-pressure gas pressurization, and bottle cap sealing—into a single unit. Function switching is achieved through a core component, a four-way valve, resulting in a highly integrated operation process and significantly improved efficiency. Automated / semi-automated sealing simplifies the process, reducing manual labor and complexity, making operation easier, safer, and more reliable. A ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism drives the liquid-pushing piston, precisely controlling the piston stroke to regulate the fire extinguishing agent filling amount. This ensures more accurate and reliable metering, guaranteeing a highly consistent amount of fire extinguishing agent in each extinguisher, complying with safety regulations. The O-ring seal and one-way valve on the piston prevent backflow of high-pressure gas or fire extinguishing agent, avoiding contamination of the gas source or other parts of the device. This ensures the airtightness of the entire system (including connected empty bottles) during fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling, preventing leaks and guaranteeing operational safety.

[0013] This invention, through its innovative four-way valve structure and integrated functional design, enables a "one-stop" completion of fire extinguisher filling operations. It not only significantly improves operational efficiency, simplifies procedures, and reduces labor costs and risks, but also substantially enhances filling accuracy, sealing reliability, and overall operational safety, ultimately achieving the positive effects of increased production efficiency, guaranteed product quality, and reduced overall operating costs. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0015] In the figure, 1—ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism, 2—liquid collection chamber, 3—one-way valve 1, 4—pressure relief valve, 5—four-way valve, 6—one-way valve 2, 7—operating lever, 8—one-way valve 3, and 9—liquid pusher piston. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Example 1

[0017] In Example 1, the device is first reset, with the operating lever at its lower limit position (piston retracted to the bottom of the four-way valve). The liquid-pushing piston in the collection chamber is reset to its left initial position (ready to draw in the extinguishing agent). The pressure relief valve is closed, and the high-pressure gas source valve is closed. The filling process is then carried out according to the following steps.

[0018] Step 1: Pre-install sealing components and install empty fire extinguisher bottles

[0019] 1. Pre-installation of seals:

[0020] Insert the sealing element (such as a metal sealing valve core) specifically for the fire extinguisher bottle opening into the groove of the piston at the top of the operating lever, ensuring it is fully engaged.

[0021] 2. Fixed operating lever:

[0022] Keep the operating lever in the pulled-down position [piston at the bottom of the four-way valve] to prevent the seal from accidentally falling off.

[0023] 3. Connect the fire extinguisher:

[0024] Align the neck of the empty fire extinguisher bottle with the threaded interface at the top of the four-way valve, manually rotate the bottle until the threads are fully engaged, and apply the rated torque to lock it in place.

[0025] Test for airtightness: Introduce 0.5MPa low-pressure gas and maintain the pressure for 10 seconds. If the pressure gauge does not drop, the device is confirmed to be initially sealed.

[0026] Step 2: Fill with extinguishing agent

[0027] 1. Start the filling procedure:

[0028] The control unit is activated, triggering the ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism to rotate in the reverse direction, causing the liquid-pushing piston to move to the left to a preset stroke (e.g., 200mm). The piston movement increases the volume of the liquid collection chamber, and the liquid extinguishing agent in the external extinguishing agent storage tank is injected into the liquid collection chamber through the pipeline under the action of pressure difference.

[0029] 2. Quantitative injection:

[0030] The stepper motor rotates forward, pushing the liquid-pushing piston to the right to the target stroke (e.g., 180mm, corresponding to a 500mL extinguishing agent volume). Under piston pressure, the extinguishing agent is injected into the fire extinguishing bottle through the upper end of the four-way valve.

[0031] Step 3: Inject high-pressure driving gas

[0032] 1. Start the high-pressure air source:

[0033] Turn on the high-pressure gas source (such as a nitrogen storage tank), and the gas enters the right end of the four-way valve through one-way valve 2.

[0034] 2. Pressurize to the target value:

[0035] Gas is injected into the fire extinguishing bottle through the upper end of the four-way valve, and a pressure sensor monitors the pressure inside the bottle in real time. When the pressure reaches the rated value (e.g., 2.5 MPa), the gas supply valve is automatically closed, and the pressure is maintained for 30 seconds to confirm no leakage.

[0036] Step 4: Install seals and depressurize / remove parts

[0037] 1. Push the control lever:

[0038] Manually push the operating lever upwards to move the piston and the seal in the groove upwards until the seal contacts the sealing surface inside the fire extinguisher bottle opening.

[0039] 2. Tighten the seal:

[0040] Rotate the operating lever 3 to 5 turns (torque set to 20 N·m) in the direction of the fire extinguisher's thread (usually clockwise) to tighten the seal.

[0041] 3. Safety pressure relief:

[0042] Slowly open the pressure relief valve to release the residual gas in the four-way valve [pressure gauge returns to zero].

[0043] 4. Disassemble the fire extinguisher:

[0044] Rotate the fire extinguisher bottle in the reverse direction to remove it from the threaded interface at the top of the four-way valve, thus completing the filling process.

[0045] Step 5: Device reset and next cycle

[0046] 1. Pull down the operating lever: Pull the operating lever back to its lower limit position to prepare for the installation of the next seal.

[0047] 2. Repeat the process: Start the next fire extinguisher bottle filling process from step 1.

Claims

1. An automated filling device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions, characterized in that, include: The four-way valve (1) is connected to a high-pressure gas source (3) through a one-way valve (2) at its right end. The upper end is provided with a pressure relief valve (4) and a threaded interface (5) for connecting a fire extinguishing bottle (6). The lower end is provided with a tightening rod (7) that can move and rotate axially. The operating rod (7) extends into the four-way valve (1) and is fixedly connected to a piston (8). The piston (8) has a groove (10) on its surface for fixing the fire extinguishing bottle mouth seal (9). The piston (8) has an O-ring (11) on its outer wall. The liquid collection chamber (12) is connected to the upper end of the four-way valve (1) through a pipeline. Inside it is a liquid-pushing piston (14) driven by a ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism (13). The control unit is electrically connected to the ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism (13) and the high-pressure gas source (3) valve, and is used to regulate the filling amount and pressurization process of the extinguishing agent.

2. The automated filling device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The one-way valve (2) only allows high-pressure gas to flow unidirectionally from the high-pressure gas source (3) to the four-way valve (1).

3. The automated filling device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The piston (8) is fitted with the inner wall of the four-way valve (1) with a clearance, and a dynamic seal is formed by the O-ring (11).

4. The automated filling device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stroke of the liquid-pushing piston (14) of the ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism (13) is programmable and controllable. The extinguishing agent filling amount is controlled by the stroke of the ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism (13), and the filling amount satisfies the formula: `V=π×(D / 2) 2 ×S` Where V is the extinguishing agent volume, D is the diameter of the liquid-pushing piston, and S is the set stroke of the stepper motor.

5. An automated filling device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The operating lever (7) can move and rotate axially inside the four-way valve (1).

6. An automated filling device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit integrates a pressure sensor (16) to monitor the pressure inside the fire extinguishing bottle (6) in real time and provide feedback to adjust the opening of the high-pressure gas source (3) valve.

7. An automated filling device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure relief valve (4) is connected to the safety interlock circuit. When the fire extinguisher (6) is not disconnected, the pressure relief valve (4) opens and the operating lever (7) moves down.

8. An automated filling device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions according to claim 1, characterized in that: Including the following steps: a) Insert the seal (9) into the piston groove (10) and place the operating rod (7) at the lower end; b) Connect the fire extinguisher (6) to the threaded interface (5) at the upper end of the four-way valve (1); c) The ball screw stepper motor drive mechanism (13) drives the liquid-pushing piston (14) to move to the left to suck in the extinguishing agent and to move to the right to inject the extinguishing bottle (6); d) The high-pressure gas source (3) pressurizes the fire extinguishing bottle (6) to the target value through the one-way valve (2); e) Push the operating lever (7) to make the seal (9) contact the bottle mouth, and rotate the operating lever (7) to install the seal (9); f) After opening the pressure relief valve (4), remove the fire extinguisher bottle (6).

9. An automated filling device integrating fire extinguishing agent and high-pressure gas filling functions according to claim 8, characterized in that: In step e), the number of rotations and torque of the operating lever (7) are automatically matched by the thread specification of the fire extinguisher bottle.

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