GAS SUPPLY REGULATOR

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas supply regulator.

[0002] For the purposes of the present invention, a gas supply regulator means an apparatus located between one or more gas supply cylinders and one or more gas-consuming appliances, such as a cooktop.

[0003] Such a regulator may be an automatic reverser, a pressure regulator (for example as disclosed by French patent application 11 / 61982 filed in the name of the applicant), or a pressure limiter.

[0004] An automatic switchover allows automatic switching from a service gas cylinder to a reserve gas cylinder when the pressure of the service gas cylinder falls below a predetermined threshold, so as to ensure a constant supply to a gas-consuming appliance, such as a hob for example.

[0005] Such an automatic inverter is installed upstream of a pressure regulator, the latter allowing the gas pressure to be lowered to a pressure range compatible with the operation of the gas-consuming device.

[0006] Document FR 1042 016 shows a device allowing two gas cylinders to operate alternately.

[0007] The present invention aims in particular to better manage the replacement of gas bottles supplying the inverter, in particular so as to avoid any shortage of supply to the gas-consuming device, and more generally to better monitor the behavior of a gas supply regulator such as an automatic inverter, a pressure regulator, or a pressure limiter.

[0008] This object of the invention is achieved with an automatic reverser assembly according to claim 1 and according to independent claims 2 to 9.

[0009] Thanks to the presence of these pressure detection means, we can have useful information on the behavior of the regulation assembly: passage of a reverser on reserve, of a regulator in overpressure cut-off (OPSO system) or underpressure (UPSO system), correct installation of the reverser / regulator / limiter, etc.

[0010] Thanks to the presence of these pressure detection means, it is possible to know when the automatic inverter has switched from the first gas bottle, called the service bottle, to the second gas bottle, called the reserve bottle.

[0011] This information can then be used to anticipate the replacement of the empty service bottle, and thus avoid any shortage of power to the gas-consuming device.

[0012] According to still other advantageous optional features of the present invention: said detection means comprise means for measuring variation of a magnetic field (such as a Hall effect probe); said gas pressure detection means comprise a flexible membrane forming one of the walls of said chamber, elastically returned towards said chamber by a spring, this flexible membrane supporting a cage containing a magnet, these detection means further comprising said measuring means mounted fixed relative to the body of the automatic reverser, capable of interacting magnetically with said magnet: thanks to these characteristics, the relative positions of the magnet relative to the probe provide reliable information on the position of the magnet and consequently the pressure level upstream of the output of the automatic reverser;in the case of an automatic inverter, this information makes it possible, in addition to detecting the passage of the gas supply from the service bottle to the reserve bottle, to detect whether the bottles are not installed, incorrectly installed, if the measuring means is incorrectly installed, or even if the inverter is located close to a magnetic or magnetizable surface, likely to disturb the signals generated by the probe; this information also makes it possible to know whether the support on which the probe is mounted is correctly or incorrectly installed, or even not installed at all;said regulation assembly comprises an electronic communication circuit, connected to said measuring means, and making it possible to transmit to the outside the signals generated by these measuring means: the presence of this communication circuit makes it possible to exploit these signals, in order to ensure the best possible management of the gas cylinders, and, where appropriate, to detect operating or connection anomalies; said electronic communication circuit is embedded in resin: this allows this circuit to operate in an ATEX environment, that is to say to avoid any risk of explosion under the effect of an electric spark, in the event of a gas leak;said electronic circuit comprises wireless communication means and a power supply battery: these characteristics allow this electronic circuit to operate completely autonomously, wirelessly. This allows, for example, a gas cylinder supplier to manage the supply of its customers by telemetry; said measuring means and said electronic circuit are mounted on a plate which can be optionally attached to the body of said regulation assembly: this allows for a single model of regulation assembly body, which may or may not be equipped with the pressure monitoring option; said assembly further comprises a pressure regulator provided with its own detection means; said assembly further comprises a pressure limiter provided with its own detection means.

[0013] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear in the light of the description which follows, and on examination of the appended figures, in which: there figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an automatic inverter assembly, on which one can see on the one hand the inverter itself, and on the other hand the detection plate which can be attached to the body of this inverter, comprising the Hall effect probe, and the electronic communication circuit; Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views taken along plane P of the figure 1 of said inverter in two respective operating positions, and of said detection plate, a certain number of components of the inverter not having been shown, for the sake of simplification, and the figure 4 is a perspective view in section along the same plane P of the whole of the figure 3 , there Figure 5is a perspective view in section of a pressure regulator according to the invention, the figure 6 is a perspective sectional view of a regulation assembly according to the invention, comprising on the one hand an automatic inverter I conforming to any one of the figures 1 to 4 , and on the other hand a pressure regulator D conforming to the Figure 5 , and the figure 7 is a perspective sectional view of a regulation assembly according to the invention, comprising on the one hand an automatic inverter I conforming to any one of the figures 1 to 4 , and on the other hand a pressure limiter L.

[0014] Throughout these figures, identical or similar references designate identical or similar organs or sets of organs.

[0015] A common XYZ reference point has also been shown on all of these figures, allowing us to clearly understand the respective orientations of these figures in relation to each other.

[0016] We now refer to the figure 1 , in which it can be seen that an automatic inverter according to the invention comprises on the one hand the automatic inverter 1 itself, and on the other hand a detection plate 3.

[0017] As is known per se, the automatic inverter comprises gas inlets 5a and 5b, each intended to be connected to a gas supply bottle (these bottles not being shown).

[0018] The inverter 1 also includes a gas outlet 7, intended to supply a gas-consuming appliance.

[0019] This inverter 1 also comprises a rotary button 9 provided with an indicator light 11, this indicator light 11 displaying a particular color when the gas supply bottle called "service", that is to say the first bottle used, is practically empty, and the inverter has switched to the second gas bottle, called "reserve".

[0020] The particular operating mode of such an automatic reverser is part of the state of the art, and will therefore not be detailed here: it should simply be noted that its operating principle is based on a system of springs and valves, these springs being calibrated so that when the pressure of the gas leaving the service bottle falls below a predetermined threshold (typically of the order of 1.5 bars, but can take any other value), the valves change position, allowing the gas supply to switch from the service bottle to the reserve bottle.

[0021] The detection plate 3 comprises a support 13, preferably formed from plastic, or any non-magnetic material, on which are fixed on the one hand a magnetic field measuring probe such as a Hall effect probe 15, and on the other hand an electronic module 17, electrically connected to the probe 15.

[0022] The module 17 comprises a battery 19 and an electronic card 21, this card preferably being embedded in resin, so as to avoid any risk of explosion by electric spark, in the event of a gas leak.

[0023] The cooperation between the detection plate 3 and the inverter 1 will be understood by examining the figures 2 to 4 attached hereto.

[0024] The body 23 of the inverter 1 comprises a chamber 25 communicating with the gas outlet 7.

[0025] It is in this chamber 25 that the gas arrives from one or other of the service and reserve bottles. Opposite this chamber 25, and in communication with it, is a flexible membrane 27, closing a bowl 29.

[0026] This flexible membrane 27 is returned towards the chamber 25 by a helical spring 31.

[0027] The flexible membrane 27 is connected to a cage 33 by a flange 35, the cage 33 preferably being formed from plastic material, but above all non-magnetic.

[0028] Inside the cage 33 there is a magnet 37, capable of interacting magnetically with the Hall effect probe 15 of the detection plate 3, this Hall effect probe being able to be replaced by any other electronic component allowing a measurement of the value of the magnetic field to be carried out.

[0029] This detection plate 3 is attached to the body 23 of the inverter 1 by appropriate fixing means.

[0030] The mode of operation and advantages of the inverter assembly just described are as follows.

[0031] There figure 2represents the inverter assembly when supplied by the service gas cylinder: the pressure in the chamber 25 of the body one of this inverter is relatively high (typically above 1.5 bars) so that the membrane 27 is in the low position on the figure 2 , that is, element 37 is relatively close to the Hall effect probe 15: by measuring the magnetic field corresponding to this particular position, the Hall effect probe sends to the electronic circuit 21 a signal indicating that the inverter is operating on the service gas cylinder.

[0032] If the electronic card 21 is equipped with means of communication to the outside, this information can be exported to a server, typically via a wireless communication module of the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GSM, loT type or any other future communication system.

[0033] When the service bottle is practically empty, the pressure in the chamber 25 of the body 23 of the inverter 1 drops, and thanks to the mechanism known per se and mentioned above, the gas supply to this inverter switches from the service bottle to the reserve bottle.

[0034] The pressure in chamber 25 having dropped, the flexible membrane 27 rises, as visible on the figures 3 And 4 , so that the magnet 37 moves away from the probe 15.

[0035] This probe then sends the corresponding information to the electronic circuit 21, indicating that the inverter has switched from the service bottle to the reserve bottle.

[0036] This information can be retrieved by a gas cylinder supplier, who can then anticipate the needs of its customers and replenish them in such a way as to avoid any gas supply shortages.

[0037] Another significant advantage of the present invention is that the Hall effect probe makes it possible to detect operating faults in the inverter, such as a lack of gas supply, incorrect installation of one of the bottles, or the presence of a magnetic mass near the inverter, likely to disturb the signals sent by the Hall effect probe.

[0038] This probe also makes it possible to check whether the assembly formed by the inverter and the means for measuring the value of the magnetic field generated by the magnet has not suffered mechanical damage due to external action: to do this, simply compare the values ​​returned by the probe with the installation values.

[0039] These malfunctions can be easily identified by analyzing the drift of the signals returned by the Hall effect probe, compared to the signals corresponding to a normal operating situation.

[0040] Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and shown, provided as a simple example.

[0041] Thus, the present invention can also be applied to a pressure regulator D, as shown in section on the Figure 5 : in this case, the magnet 37 is integral in movement with the finger 39 acting on the regulation lever 41, this finger 39 itself being integral with the flexible membrane 27.

[0042] In the example shown in the figure 6 , the regulation assembly according to the invention comprises on the one hand a regulator D conforming to the Figure 5 and on the other hand an inverter I coupled upstream of the regulator D.

[0043] Unlike the inverter I of the Figure 5 , the inverter I of the figure 6is of the type comprising both a gas cut-off system in the event of overpressure (OPSO system - "Over Pressure Shut Off"), and a gas cut-off system in the event of underpressure (UPSO system - "Under Pressure Shut Off"): in this case there are two membranes 27a, 27b and two magnets 37a, 37b, each associated with Hall effect probes (not shown).

[0044] In the example shown in the figure 7 , the regulation assembly according to the invention comprises on the one hand a limiter L and on the other hand an inverter I conforming to any one of the figures 1 to 4 coupled upstream of the limiter L.

Claims

1. An automatic diverter assembly for gas supply, of the type comprising at least two inlets (5a, 5b) capable of being coupled to at least two gas cylinders, an outlet (7) capable of being coupled to a gas-consuming appliance, means for automatically switching the gas supply from one of said inlets (5a, 5b) via one of said cylinders to the other inlet via the other of said cylinders when the gas supply pressure falls below a predetermined threshold, the assembly comprising at least one inlet (5a, 5b) capable of being placed in fluid communication with at least one gas cylinder, and an outlet (7) capable of being placed in fluid communication with a gas-consuming appliance, and means (15, 37) for detecting the gas pressure in a chamber (25) communicating with said outlet (7), said detection means comprising means (15) for measuring the variation of a magnetic field.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said measuring means comprise a Hall effect probe or elements allowing performing a magnetic field measurement (15).

3. The assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said gas pressure detection means comprise a flexible membrane (27) forming one of the walls of said chamber, elastically biased towards said chamber by a spring (31), this flexible membrane (27) supporting a cage (33) enclosing a magnet (37), these detection means further comprising said measuring means (15) fixedly mounted relative to the body (23) of the automatic diverter, capable of magnetically interacting with said magnet (37).

4. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an electronic communication circuit (21), connected to said measuring means (15), and allowing transmitting the signals generated by these measuring means (15) to the outside.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said electronic communication circuit (21) is embedded in resin.

6. The assembly according to any of claims 4 or 5, wherein said electronic circuit (21) comprises wireless communication means, and a power battery (19).

7. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims dependent on claim 6, wherein said measuring means (15) and said electronic circuit (21) are mounted on a plate (13) which can be optionally attached to the body (23) of said regulation assembly.

8. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pressure regulator (D) provided with its own detection means.

9. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pressure limiter (L) provided with its own detection means.