Gas container with coupling

Abstract

A gas container that can be inserted into a housing and is equipped with a multi-function valve comprising a filling stop valve with a filling port, a withdrawal valve, and a level indicator, which are fixedly attached to a flange that is mounted on the gas container, wherein the filling port is connected by a filling line, preferably a filling hose, to a filling nozzle that can be attached to a housing wall and that can be connected to a refueling nozzle of a filling device for filling the gas container, is characterized in that a coupling is connected to the filling port of the gas container, one coupling element of which is screwed onto the thread of the filling port, and the other detachable coupling element is connected to the filling hose.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a gas container which is inserted into a housing and is provided with a multi-function valve which includes a filling stop valve with a filling port, a withdrawal valve and a level indicator which are fixedly attached to a flange which is attached to the gas container, wherein the filling port is connected by a line, preferably a hose, to a filling nozzle which is attached to a housing wall and which can be connected to a refueling nozzle of a filling device for filling the gas container.

[0002] The gas container can be a gas cylinder or a gas tank, which can be of any size. Common gas cylinders have a filling weight of approximately 11 or 14 kilograms of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which can be propane, butane, or a propane / butane mixture.

[0003] Gas cylinders of the type under consideration are frequently used in motorhomes and are installed within the vehicle's housing, thus being immobilized within the vehicle but removable when necessary. The cylinder's filling connection is permanently screwed to a hose, which is tightened with a corresponding wrench to ensure a leak-proof connection. The screw connection can only be loosened with this wrench. The other end of the filling hose is connected to a filling nozzle, which is permanently attached to a wall of the housing and can be connected to a filling nozzle of a filling device to refill the gas cylinder.

[0004] It is within the scope of the invention that the gas container can be arranged in the described manner in an environment other than a motorhome.

[0005] In an emergency, such as a fire near the gas cylinder, for example, following an accident involving the motorhome described above, the gas cylinder must be removed from the danger zone as quickly as possible. If the gas cylinder is securely screwed to the filling hose as described, the connection must be loosened using the appropriate wrench, which is not always readily available, given the previously used arrangement and fastening of the filling hose. Since the filling hose and filling nozzle are attached to a housing wall, rapid removal of the gas cylinder from the danger zone may not be possible.

[0006] The present invention is based on the objective of increasing safety in such an emergency situation.

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims.

[0009] The invention provides that a coupling is connected to the filling port of the gas cylinder. One of the coupling elements is screwed to the thread of the filling port, while the other coupling element is firmly connected to the filling hose. The coupling according to the invention can be detached without the use of tools, allowing the gas cylinder to be removed from its housing in no time. This increases safety against the risk of the gas cylinder exploding.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the coupling is a quick-release coupling that can be easily disconnected and reconnected with a single movement. The coupling can be a quick-release coupling with a bayonet fitting, the locking mechanism of which is released by twisting the two coupling pieces against each other.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the coupling is a quick-release coupling with a ball and a sleeve that can be retracted against spring force, whereupon the balls release the connection of the two coupling elements.

[0012] The coupling can be one-sided locking or two-sided locking.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the connection area of ​​the two coupling pieces can be covered by an easily opened actuating protection device, which additionally secures the closed state of the coupling.

[0014] Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the attached figures and the accompanying description.

[0015] This shows: Figure 1 a view of a multi-function valve of a gas cylinder with a coupling; Figure 2a purely schematic representation of a multi-function valve with a one-sided shut-off coupling; Figure 3 A purely schematic representation of a multi-function valve with a double-sided shut-off coupling.

[0016] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a top view of a multi-function valve 1, which includes a filling port 2 with a filling stop valve (not visible in the figure). The filling port 2 is connected to a coupling 3, one coupling element 4 of which is screwed onto the thread of the filling port 2. The other coupling element 5 is detachably connected to the coupling element 4 and permanently connected to the end of a filling hose (not shown in the figure). The two coupling elements 4 and 5 are easily detachable, for example, by means of a bayonet fitting.

[0017] The multi-function valve also includes a withdrawal valve 6, which is equipped with a withdrawal nozzle 7 that can be connected to a withdrawal hose (not shown).

[0018] In Figure 2 A multi-function valve 8 is represented abstractly as a box. The multi-function valve 8 incorporates the following functions: a withdrawal valve, a safety valve, a fill stop valve including a check valve 9, and a level indicator. Symbols indicate that the coupling with which the filling connection is fitted is one-way shut-off. The coupling element on the right in the illustration is connected via a hose to a filling nozzle 9, which is, for example, attached to a wall of a housing into which the gas cylinder (not shown) is inserted.

[0019] Figure 3 shows a variant of the coupling 10, which is locking on both sides.

Claims

1. A gas container that can be inserted into a housing and is equipped with a multi-function valve comprising a filling stop valve with a filling port, a withdrawal valve, and a level indicator, which are fixedly attached to a flange that is affixed to the gas container, wherein the filling port is connected by a filling line, preferably a filling hose, to a filling nozzle that can be attached to a housing wall and that can be connected to a refueling nozzle of a filling device for filling the gas container. characterized by that a coupling (3) is connected to the filling port (2) of the gas container, of which one coupling element (4) is screwed to the thread of the filling port (2), and the other separable coupling element (5) is connected to the filling hose.

2. Gas container according to claim 1, characterized by that the coupling (3) is a quick coupling.

3. Gas container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the coupling (3) is a quick coupling with bayonet lock.

4. Gas container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the coupling is a quick coupling (3) with balls and union sleeve.

5. Gas container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the clutch is one-sided locking.

6. Gas container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the coupling (10) is locking on both sides.

7. Gas container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that The connection area of ​​the two coupling elements of the coupling can be covered by an actuating protection device that is to be opened.

Images