Cartridge and cartridge head assembly and apparatus therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cartridge and cartridge head assembly (1), comprising a cartridge (2) having a neck (6) whose external surface comprises a first portion (8) of constant diameter extending into a second threaded portion (9), and a cartridge head (3) comprising a cap (12) from which a skirt (13) extends in one piece, the internal surface of the skirt (13) comprising a first portion (22) extending from the cap (12), of constant diameter, having a tapped hole configured to cooperate with the thread (9a) formed on the neck (6), and a second portion (23) of larger diameter than the first portion (22), one of the first portion (8) of the neck (6) and of the second portion (23) of the skirt (13) having a groove (25) in which a seal (26) is disposed, such that when the cartridge head (3) is fixed onto the cartridge (2),The seal (26) isolates the threads of the cartridge head (3) and the cartridge (2) from the outside of the cartridge head (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of pressurized gas cartridges, and more particularly to a cartridge and cartridge head assembly.

[0002] Pressurized gas cartridges are found in various applications, particularly in fire prevention. Smoke extraction units or fire extinguishers, for example, can be equipped with pressurized carbon dioxide cartridges, which are attached to the units via a cartridge head. In such devices, especially in extinguishers designed to spray liquids, such as water mixed with more or less corrosive extinguishing agents, it is necessary to protect the cartridge head with chemical protective coatings and, above all, to isolate it from any direct or indirect contact with the surface to which it is attached, as this could cause electrolytic reactions. During manufacturing, this head needs to be regularly unscrewed and rescrewed to perform refilling or metering operations.However, such handling causes premature wear of the cartridge, in particular of the protective coating of the neck during the operations of screwing and unscrewing the cartridge relative to the head, which leads to the exposure of the metal at the neck and to phenomena of deterioration by oxidation of the metal in the areas where the metal is exposed.

[0003] Furthermore, existing devices have other drawbacks, such as a lack of sealing responsible for the oxidation of the cartridge filling channels in contact with external agents, for example antifreeze, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, ammonium salts, ethylene glycol, Forafac ®< or others, in varying doses, or even electrolytic reactions between the metals present leading to their premature degradation.

[0004] US patent US2015204482A1 describes the prior art of the invention.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a cartridge and cartridge head assembly that is resistant to mechanical and chemical stresses.

[0006] The Applicant therefore proposes to meet these needs with a cartridge and cartridge head assembly, comprising: a cartridge comprising a body, a neck and a shoulder connecting the body to the neck, the external surface of the neck comprising, from the shoulder, a first part of constant diameter extending into a second threaded part, a cartridge head configured to be fixed onto the cartridge, the cartridge head comprising a cap from which a skirt extends in one piece, the internal surface of the skirt comprising a first part extending from the cap, of constant diameter, bearing a tapped hole configured to cooperate with the thread formed on the neck of the cartridge to fix the cartridge head onto the cartridge, and a second part of larger diameter than the first part, one of the first part of the neck and the second part of the skirt having a groove in which a seal is disposed such that when the cartridge head is fixed onto the cartridge,The seal isolates the threads of the cartridge head and the cartridge from the outside of the cartridge head, characterized by the fact that the end of the second part of the neck is unthreaded, and by the fact that a radial channel is formed in the cap, the radial channel being configured to open onto the unthreaded end of the second part of the neck when the cartridge head is screwed onto the cartridge, a gap being further formed between the unthreaded end of the second part of the neck and the inside of the skirt so as to be able to fill, via the channel, the inside of the cartridge when the cartridge head is not completely screwed onto the cartridge.

[0007] Thus, the positioning of the seal upstream of the thread on the neck of the cartridge makes it possible to isolate the area of ​​fixing the cartridge and the head from the outside, and in particular from oxygen and external agents, in order to protect the neck of the cartridge from oxygen to avoid any oxidation reaction due to oxygen and other external agents.

[0008] The seal also prevents external agents from entering the cartridge's filling channels to prevent oxidation.

[0009] It is therefore possible to fill the cartridge or check its filling without completely unscrewing the cartridge and the head, which facilitates filling and checking operations and limits surface damage to the cartridge due to larger amplitude screwing and unscrewing operations.

[0010] By fully screwed on, it is understood that the bottom of the head cap is in contact with the mouth of the neck of the cartridge, either directly or with the operculum sandwiched between them.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the groove is formed in the second part of the skirt, the seal being disposed in the groove.

[0012] Machining the groove in the skirt allows for pre-mounting the seal in this groove before screwing the cartridge onto the head, thus achieving the advantages of the invention. Machining the groove in the head is easier than machining the groove on the cartridge, although machining the groove on the cartridge is also considered within the scope of the present invention.

[0013] According to one embodiment, a circular projection is formed in the bottom of the cap, a circular projection also being formed at the mouth of the neck, the circular projection of the cap being configured to fit together with the circular projection of the neck, the assembly comprising a liner disposed between the neck and the bottom of the cap and configured to be deformed between the circular projection of the cap and the circular projection of the neck when tightening the cartridge head onto the cartridge.

[0014] The deformation of the operculum between the two projections allows for a better pressing of the operculum against the neck, and therefore a better closure of the mouth of the neck of the cartridge.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the external surface of the cap has a peripheral shoulder at the level of the channel, to receive a peripheral sealing gasket configured to occlude the channel.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the external surface of the skirt has facets to facilitate screwing the cartridge head onto the cartridge.

[0017] This makes it possible to facilitate the manipulation of the head with a wrench-type tool.

[0018] According to one embodiment, a coating is formed on the cartridge, the coating extending to the second threaded part of the neck.

[0019] Such a coating protects the metallic surface of the cartridge from possible scratches due to handling of the cartridge (screwing and unscrewing the head), which scratches can, over time and in the presence of oxygen or external agents, lead to the appearance of rust or other oxidized surfaces weakening the structure of the cartridge.

[0020] Because of the positioning of the seal, which extends when the cartridge is screwed into the head, on the coating, any scratches due to handling the cartridge and likely to be oxidized are located in the skirt of the head, between the bottom of the skirt and the seal, and therefore protected from oxygen and external agents, which prevents any oxidation reaction.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the external surface of the cap is threaded to allow the cartridge and cartridge head assembly to be screwed onto an external device.

[0022] Such external equipment may include fire prevention equipment, for example a smoke extraction box or a fire extinguisher head.

[0023] The present invention therefore also relates to an apparatus comprising a tapping or threading configured for screwing the external surface of the cap of a cartridge head of a cartridge and cartridge head assembly as described above.

[0024] To better illustrate the object of the present invention, several embodiments will now be described, by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings.

[0025] In these drawings: [ Fig. 1 [ ] is an exploded view of a cartridge and cartridge head assembly according to the present invention. Fig. 2 ] is an enlarged view of the entire cartouche and cartouche head of the Figure 1 , in a position that is not fully screwed in. Fig. 3 ] is an enlarged view of detail D of the Figure 2 . [ Fig. 4 ] is a view analogous to the Figure 3 in the fully screwed-in position. Fig. 5 ] is a view analogous to the Figure 3 of a cartridge and cartridge head assembly according to another embodiment, in a position not fully screwed in. Fig. 6 ] is a view analogous to the Figure 5 in the fully screwed-in position.

[0026] If we refer to the Figure 1 , we can see that we have represented in exploded view a cartridge and cartridge head assembly 1 according to the invention, comprising a cartridge 2, a cartridge head 3, and the end of an accessory 4 on which the cartridge and cartridge head assembly 1 is intended to be fixed.

[0027] The cartridge 2 comprises a body 5, a neck 6, and a shoulder 7 connecting the body 5 to the neck 6. The external surface of the neck 6 comprises, from the shoulder 7, a lower portion 8 of constant diameter extending into a useful upper portion 9, comprising a threaded sub-portion 9a and possibly, as shown in the Figure 1 , a second smooth sub-portion 9b up to the mouth 10 of the neck 6. The mouth 10 of the neck 6 is open to allow the filling of the cartridge 2. The mouth 10 will be described in more detail below.

[0028] A protective coating 11 is applied at least from the shoulder 7, up to the thread 9a, to prevent any degradation of the surface of the cartridge 2 by handling of the head 3.

[0029] It should be noted that the coating 11 may extend more widely over the neck 6 of the cartridge 2, provided that it covers the area of ​​the threaded portion 9a near the lower portion 8 and ensures the protection of the threaded portion 9a against oxidation by the environment of the cartridge 2.

[0030] The cartridge head 3, also shown in Figure 2 , includes a cylindrical cap 12 from which extends in one piece a skirt 13, also cylindrical and of greater external diameter than the cap 12.

[0031] The outer part of the cap 12 has a thread 14, the upper part of the cap 12 having an opening 15 opening into the inside of the head 3.

[0032] Facets 16 are formed on the external surface of the skirt 13 to facilitate the tightening of the head 3 on the cartridge 2. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the skirt 13 has an upper part with six facets and a lower part with twelve facets.

[0033] A shoulder 17 is formed between the cap 12 and the skirt 13 on the external surface of the head 3, for the arrangement of a sealing O-ring 18, as will be described in detail below.

[0034] The inside of the skirt 13 has a cylindrical bore 19 in communication with a smaller diameter cylindrical bore 20 formed in the cap 12 and opening into the opening 15.

[0035] The bore 19 includes, from the bore 20 towards the mouth of the skirt 13, an upper smooth portion 21 extending into a threaded portion 22 and then into another lower smooth portion 23, of greater diameter than the threaded portion 22, the threaded portion 22 and the lower smooth portion 23 being separated by a shoulder 24.

[0036] A groove 25 is formed in the lower smooth portion 23, to receive an O-ring 26.

[0037] When the head 3 is screwed onto the cartridge 2, the threaded portion 22 of the skirt 13 is configured to screw onto the threaded portion 9a of the neck 6 of the cartridge 2.

[0038] We can see on the Figure 2 that when the head 3 is screwed onto the cartridge 2, the smooth sub-portion 9b of the neck 6 is in contact with the upper smooth portion 21 of the skirt 13, while the shoulder 24 is at the level of the lower part of the threaded portion 9a of the neck 6, the inside of the skirt 13 at the level of the lower smooth portion 23 widening to allow the o-ring 26 to apply to the lower portion 8 of the neck 6 and thus avoid any risk of degradation of the neck 6 of the cartridge 2 when screwing the head 3 onto the cartridge 2.

[0039] A radial canal 27 is formed in the head 3, extending from the shoulder 17 towards the upper smooth portion 21 of the skirt 13.

[0040] The channel 27 allows fluid to be exchanged between the outside and inside of the cartridge 2, a filling gap 28 being formed between the diameter of the smooth sub-portion 9b of the neck 6 and the diameter of the upper smooth portion 21 of the skirt 13.

[0041] The fluid can in particular be introduced through the orifice O of the accessory 4, when the cartridge assembly and cartridge head 1 is attached to the accessory 4.

[0042] The O-ring 18 allows the channel 27 to be hermetically sealed from the outside when the O-ring 18 is positioned on the shoulder 17.

[0043] On the Figures 1 And 2It can also be seen that a seal 29 is positioned between the opening 10 of the neck 6 and the inside of the skirt 3, to hermetically seal the cartridge 2. The seal 29 is mechanically deformable and can be made of plastic, rubber, or aluminum. As is well known in the field of pressurized gas cartridges, the seal 29 is sized to be able to seal the open end 10 of the cartridge 2 and is configured to be perforated to allow the release of the pressurized gas contained in the cartridge 2, notably by a tool carried by the accessory 4.

[0044] Depending on the method of implementation of Figures 2 à 4 , the neck opening 10 has a conical shape flared outwards, while the bore 20 ends with a conical projection 30 which is configured to fit into the neck opening 10 of the neck 6, deforming the operculum 29 arranged between the two, to ensure better sealing of the cartridge 2.

[0045] We can see on the Figure 3 that the inner end or leading edge 31 of the conical projection 30 is blunt to avoid any risk of piercing the seal 29 during the various screwing and unscrewing operations of the cartridge 2 and the cartridge head 3.

[0046] In the unscrewed position of the cartridge and cartridge head assembly 1 shown on the Figures 2 et 3 , the distance between the conical projection 30 and the mouth 10 of the neck 6 of the cartridge 2 is greater than the thickness of the operculum 29.

[0047] Thus, a gas injected through channel 27, the sealing o-ring 18 having been previously removed, can pass into the filling interval 28 to infiltrate between the operculum 29 and the mouth 10 of the neck 6 and fill the cartridge 2.

[0048] In the screwed position shown in Figure 4 , the operculum 29 is pinched between the conical projection 30 and the mouth 10 of the neck 6 of the cartridge 2.

[0049] On the Figures 5 And 6Another embodiment has been shown. In this embodiment, the elements identical to the previous embodiment retain the same reference number. In this embodiment, the end of the mouth 10 of the neck 6 of the cartridge 2 has a circular rib 32, while a groove 33 is formed around the end of the bore 20 of the cap 12 in communication with the skirt 13, to form a circular rib 34 of smaller diameter than the rib 32, the rib 34 having, for the same reasons as those explained above for the other embodiment, a blunt leading edge 35 to avoid piercing the operculum 29, the rib 34 being configured to fit into the rib 32.

[0050] As with the previous embodiment, the unscrewed position in Figure 5 allows fluid to pass into cartridge 2 from the outside, while in the screwed position Figure 6, the operculum 29 is deformed, allowing for a better seal.

[0051] The cartridge head is preferably metallic, formed by machining, but could also, without departing from the scope of the present invention, be made of other materials, for example composite materials, and formed according to other processes, for example by 3D printing.

[0052] It is understood that the embodiments just described have been given as indicative and not limiting, and that modifications may be made to them without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. - Cartridge and cartridge head assembly (1), comprising: - a cartridge (2) including a body (5), a neck (6) and a shoulder (7) connecting the body (5) to the neck (6), the external surface of the neck (6) including, from the shoulder (7), a first portion (8) of constant diameter extending into a second threaded portion (9), - a cartridge head (3) configured to be fixed onto the cartridge (2), the cartridge head (3) including a cap (12) from which a skirt (13) extends in one piece, the internal surface of the skirt (13) including a first portion (22) extending from the cap (12), of constant diameter, having a thread configured to cooperate with the thread (9a) formed on the neck (6) of the cartridge (2) to fix the cartridge head (3) onto the cartridge (2), and a second portion (23) of larger diameter than the first portion (22),one of the first part (8) of the neck (6) and of the second part (23) of the skirt (13) having a groove (25) in which a seal (26) is disposed such that when the cartridge head (3) is fixed onto the cartridge (2), the seal (26) isolates the threads of the cartridge head (3) and of the cartridge (2) from the outside of the cartridge head (3), , characterized by the fact that the end (9b) of the second part (9) of the collar (6) is unthreaded, and by the fact thata radial channel (27) is formed in the cap (12), the radial channel (27) being configured to open onto the unthreaded end (9b) of the second part (9) of the neck (6) when the cartridge head (3) is screwed onto the cartridge (2), a gap (28) being further formed between the unthreaded end (9b) of the second part (9) of the neck (6) and the inside of the skirt (13) so as to be able to fill, via the channel (27), the inside of the cartridge (2) when the cartridge head (3) is not completely screwed onto the cartridge (2).

2. - Cartridge assembly and cartridge head (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the groove (25) is formed in the second part (23) of the skirt (13), the seal (26) being disposed in the groove (25).

3. - Cartridge assembly and cartridge head (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the fact thata circular projection (30) is formed in the bottom of the cap (12), a circular projection also being formed at the mouth (10) of the neck (6), the circular projection (30) of the cap (12) being configured to fit together with the circular projection of the neck (6), the assembly (1) comprising a liner (29) disposed between the neck (6) and the bottom of the cap (12) and configured to be deformed between the circular projection (30) of the cap (12) and the circular projection of the neck (6) when tightening the cartridge head (3) onto the cartridge (2).

4. - Cartridge assembly and cartridge head (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the external surface of the cap (12) has a peripheral shoulder (17) at the level of the channel (27), to receive a peripheral sealing gasket (18) configured to occlude the channel (27).

5. - Cartridge assembly and cartridge head (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact thatthe outer surface of the skirt (13) has facets (16) to facilitate screwing the cartridge head (3) onto the cartridge (2).

6. - Cartridge assembly and cartridge head (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that a coating (11) is formed on the cartridge (2), the coating (2) extending to the second threaded part (9) of the neck (6).

7. - Cartridge assembly and cartridge head (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that the external surface of the cap (12) is threaded to allow the cartridge and cartridge head assembly (1) to be screwed onto an external device (4).

8. - Equipment (4), characterized by the fact that it comprises a cartridge and cartridge head assembly (1) according to claim 7.

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