pressure regulator

Abstract

A pressure regulator for a liquefied petroleum gas container is provided. [Solution] A high-pressure chamber (10) is provided above a pressure regulator (1). An inlet connection (20) opens horizontally on one side of the high-pressure chamber and is connectable to one end of an upstream pipe. A decompression chamber (30) is connected to the lower part of the high-pressure chamber and communicates with the high-pressure chamber. A nozzle (40) is provided between the high-pressure chamber and the decompression chamber. A valve element (50) is provided below an outlet (40b) of the nozzle and is capable of reciprocating vertically within the decompression chamber. A diaphragm (60) is provided between the decompression chamber and atmospheric pressure (A) and is capable of adjusting the gas pressure in the decompression chamber. A lever (70) is pivotally supported at a predetermined position (31) inside the decompression chamber and has one end (70a) connected to the valve element and the other end (70b) connected to the diaphragm, allowing adjustment of the gas flow rate from the high-pressure chamber to the decompression chamber. An outlet connection (80) opens downward at the lower part of the decompression chamber and is connectable to one end of a downstream pipe. The inlet (40a) of the nozzle is located above the inlet connection.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure regulator. [Background technology]

[0002] There have been many technologies related to pressure regulators attached to liquefied petroleum gas containers. For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 57-20010 (Patent Document 1) discloses a gas pressure regulator comprising a gas chamber, a pressure reduction chamber, a diaphragm, a piston valve, a high-pressure nozzle, a medium-pressure nozzle, and a medium-pressure valve. The diaphragm is located between atmospheric pressure and the pressure reduction chamber, and the piston valve reciprocates by actuation of the diaphragm to open and close the high-pressure nozzle. The medium-pressure nozzle is located near the outlet of the high-pressure nozzle, and the medium-pressure valve faces the medium-pressure nozzle and is fitted to the piston valve so as to be able to swing freely. Gas supplied from the medium-pressure nozzle is introduced from the gas chamber into the pressure reduction chamber. This reduces the temperature drop near the nozzle, effectively preventing re-liquefaction of the gas.

[0003] Furthermore, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 6-12900 (Patent Document 2) discloses an automatic switching regulator that automatically switches to start replenishment from a backup gas container when the gas pressure in the liquefied petroleum gas container used drops. In this case, when the automatic switching regulator is properly installed, the gas inlet connection from the liquefied petroleum gas container faces downward. This shortens the length of the high-pressure hose and gas supply piping connected to the automatic switching regulator for liquefied petroleum gas, extends their lifespan, simplifies piping work, and reduces costs.

[0004] Furthermore, Utility Model Registration No. 3212480 (Patent Document 3) discloses an automatic switching regulator including a high-pressure side connection portion, a nozzle storage portion, a medium-pressure nozzle, a medium-pressure chamber, a medium-pressure valve body, and a control unit. The high-pressure side connection portion has a cylindrical mounting hole on its side surface along the horizontal direction, and one end of the mounting hole is attached to the tip of the high-pressure hose of the gas container. The nozzle storage portion communicates with the other end of the mounting hole and has a lower surface located above the lower surface of the interior of the mounting hole. The medium-pressure nozzle is provided on the side of the nozzle storage portion and has a horizontal centerline located above the horizontal centerline of the mounting hole. The medium-pressure chamber communicates with the medium-pressure nozzle and reduces the pressure of the high-pressure gas delivered from the medium-pressure nozzle before supplying it to the low-pressure section. The medium-pressure valve body is provided inside the nozzle storage portion and opens and closes the medium-pressure nozzle, and the control unit controls the opening and closing of the medium-pressure valve body. This prevents the re-liquefied liquid from leaking into the medium pressure chamber, stabilizing the gas supply. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-20010 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 6-12900 [Patent Document 3] Utility Model Registration No. 3212480 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Currently, single-stage pressure regulators for liquefied petroleum gas are used in a vertical position relative to the ground, with an inlet connection at the top through which the liquefied petroleum gas flows and an outlet connection at the bottom through which the liquefied petroleum gas flows out after being decompressed, and this structure is widely used.

[0007] However, in a structure with the inlet connection at the top and the outlet connection at the bottom, much of the re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas generated at the inlet connection and the condensate generated by reduced pressure and temperature drop come into direct contact with the valve body (especially the valve rubber) of the pressure regulator, causing significant damage and deterioration of the valve body. If the valve body deteriorates, it will lose its function as a pressure regulator, and the valve body must be replaced or the pressure regulator itself must be adjusted. This poses the problem of shortening the lifespan (e.g., usage period) of the pressure regulator.

[0008] Here, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is a pressure regulator used in a horizontal position relative to the ground, and is different from pressure regulators used in a vertical position. Furthermore, the invention described in Patent Document 2 is an automatic switching regulator with the inlet connection portion located at the bottom and the outlet connection portion located at the top, and is different from single-stage pressure regulators with the inlet connection portion located at the top and the outlet connection portion located at the bottom. Furthermore, the invention described in Patent Document 3 is an automatic switching regulator with the inlet connection portion located at the top and the outlet connection portion located at the bottom, and the inlet connection portion is located below the nozzle storage portion, and is different from single-stage pressure regulators. Therefore, the inventions and designs described in Patent Documents 1-3 cannot solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a pressure regulator that can suppress deterioration of the valve body and extend the life of the pressure regulator by returning the re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drain generated at the inlet connection to the gas container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The pressure regulator according to the present invention comprises a high-pressure chamber, an inlet connection, a pressure-reducing chamber, a nozzle, a valve body, a diaphragm, a lever, and an outlet connection. The high-pressure chamber is located above the pressure regulator. The inlet connection opens horizontally on one side of the high-pressure chamber and is connectable to one end of an upstream pipe. The pressure-reducing chamber is connected to and communicates with the lower part of the high-pressure chamber. A nozzle is located between the high-pressure chamber and the pressure-reducing chamber. A valve body is located below the outlet of the nozzle and is capable of reciprocating vertically within the pressure-reducing chamber. A diaphragm is located between the pressure-reducing chamber and atmospheric pressure and is capable of adjusting the pressure of gas within the pressure-reducing chamber. A lever is pivotally supported at a predetermined position within the pressure-reducing chamber, with one end connected to the valve body and the other end connected to the diaphragm, and is capable of adjusting the flow rate of gas from the high-pressure chamber to the pressure-reducing chamber. The outlet connection opens downward at the lower part of the pressure-reducing chamber and is connectable to one end of a downstream pipe. The inlet of the nozzle is located above the inlet connection. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to this invention, by returning the re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drain generated at the inlet to the gas container, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the valve body and extend the life of the pressure regulator. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1A is a front view showing an example of the appearance of a pressure regulator according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a front view showing an example of the interior of the pressure regulator according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2A shows an example of the flow of reliquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drain in a conventional pressure regulator, and FIG. 2B shows an example of the flow of reliquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drain in a pressure regulator according to the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the installation of a pressure regulator according to the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a front view showing an example of a pressure regulator according to the present invention having two inlet connections; FIG. [Figure 5]1 is a front view showing an example of a pressure regulator according to the present invention in which the orientation of the diaphragm is changed. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The following describes embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings to help understand the present invention. Note that the following embodiments are examples of the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0014] 1A and 1B, the pressure regulator 1 according to the present invention comprises a high-pressure chamber 10, an inlet connection 20, a pressure-reducing chamber 30, a nozzle 40, a valve body 50, a diaphragm 60, a lever 70, and an outlet connection 80. Here, the high-pressure chamber 10 is provided above the pressure regulator 1. The interior of the high-pressure chamber 10 is filled with high-pressure gas flowing in from a liquefied petroleum gas container or the like, and is under high pressure.

[0015] Furthermore, the inlet connection part 20 opens horizontally on one side of the high-pressure chamber 10 and is connectable to one end of the upstream piping. Here, the upstream piping means, for example, a piping that connects a liquefied petroleum gas container and the pressure regulator 1. There is no particular limitation on the upstream piping, but examples include a connecting high-pressure hose or a high-pressure hose connected to the liquefied petroleum gas container. This allows the liquefied petroleum gas stored in the liquefied petroleum gas container to flow from the inlet connection part 20 into the high-pressure chamber 10 via the connecting high-pressure hose or the high-pressure hose.

[0016] The decompression chamber 30 is connected to the lower part of the high pressure chamber 10. The inside of the decompression chamber 30 is filled with decompressed gas and has a lower pressure than the pressure inside the high pressure chamber 10. The nozzle 40 is provided between the high pressure chamber 10 and the decompression chamber 30.

[0017] Here, the nozzle 40 is, for example, a narrow passage with a reduced diameter, which restricts the flow rate of the high-pressure gas flowing in from the high-pressure chamber 10 and reduces the pressure of the high-pressure gas. This allows the valve body 50 and the diaphragm 60 to control the pressure with small displacements. Furthermore, the nozzle 40 can stabilize the pressure inside the pressure regulator 1 by isolating pressure fluctuations (drops and pulsations in the container pressure) of the liquefied petroleum gas container or the like from the pressure regulator 1.

[0018] The valve element 50 is provided below the outlet 40b of the nozzle 40 so as to be capable of reciprocating up and down in the decompression chamber 30. This allows the flow rate of the liquefied petroleum gas flowing from the high-pressure chamber 10 into the decompression chamber 30 to be changed, thereby adjusting the pressure of the liquefied petroleum gas inside the decompression chamber 30.

[0019] Here, there is no particular limitation on the configuration of the valve element 50, but for example, a valve rubber 51 can be provided at the tip of the valve element 50 on the high-pressure chamber 10 side. This allows the valve rubber 51 to be in close contact with the outlet portion 40b of the nozzle, improving airtightness. There is no particular limitation on the material of the valve rubber 51, and examples include nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, fluororubber, chloroprene rubber, silicone rubber, and natural rubber.

[0020] Furthermore, the diaphragm 60 is provided between the decompression chamber 30 and atmospheric pressure A, and is capable of adjusting the pressure of the gas inside the decompression chamber 30. Here, as shown in Fig. 1B, atmospheric pressure A designates the space adjacent to the decompression chamber 30, but since this space is in communication with the outside, it is expressed as atmospheric pressure A.

[0021] 1B, the diaphragm 60 can be attached so as to open one side of the decompression chamber 30 and cover the opening. Furthermore, one end of a pressure adjustment spring 61 is attached to the atmospheric pressure A side of the diaphragm 60 so as to urge the diaphragm 60 toward the decompression chamber 30, and a pressure adjustment handle 62 is attached to the other end of the pressure adjustment spring 61, which can be operated (for example, rotated) to adjust the depression of the other end of the pressure adjustment spring 61. Thus, by operating the pressure adjustment handle 62, the pressure adjustment spring 61 can be expanded or contracted, and the force with which the pressure adjustment spring 61 presses the diaphragm 60 toward the decompression chamber 30 can be adjusted.

[0022] In addition, the lever 70 is pivotally supported at a predetermined position 31 inside the decompression chamber 30, with one end 70a connected to the valve body 50 and the other end 70b connected to the diaphragm 60, and is capable of adjusting the flow rate of gas from the high-pressure chamber 10 to the decompression chamber 30.

[0023] 1B, one end 70a of the lever 70 can be provided with a circular (spherical) shape, an opening corresponding to the circular shape of the one end 70a of the lever 70 can be provided at the tip of the valve body 50, and the circular shape of the one end 70a of the lever 70 can be fitted into the opening at the tip of the valve body 30. As a result, when the lever 70 is swung, the circular shape of the one end 70a of the lever 70 slides into the opening at the tip of the valve body 50, causing the valve body 50 to reciprocate.

[0024] 1B, a linker 71 can be provided between the other end 70b of the lever 70 and the diaphragm 60, one end of the linker 71 can be fixed to the center of the diaphragm 60, a through-hole can be provided in the other end of the linker 71, and the other end 70b of the lever 70 can be inserted into the through-hole. In this way, when the diaphragm 60 is deformed by the pressure difference between the pressure in the decompression chamber 30 and the biasing force of the pressure adjustment spring 61, the linker 71 is displaced due to the deformation of the diaphragm 60, and the other end 70b of the lever 70 is moved due to the displacement of the linker 71, so that the lever 70 can be swung.

[0025] The outlet connection part 80 opens downward at the bottom of the pressure reduction chamber 30 and is connectable to one end of the downstream piping. Here, the downstream piping means the piping connecting the pressure regulator 1 to the supply destination to which the liquefied petroleum gas is to be supplied. There is no particular limitation on the downstream piping, but examples include gas piping connected to a gas meter. This allows the liquefied petroleum gas whose pressure has been adjusted by the pressure regulator 1 according to the present invention to be supplied to the supply destination via the gas piping.

[0026] In the pressure regulator 1 according to the present invention, the inlet portion 40a of the nozzle 40 is located above the inlet connection portion 20. This prevents the re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drainage generated at the inlet connection portion 20 from reaching the inlet portion 40a of the nozzle 40 or downstream of the nozzle 40, and allows them to be returned to the liquefied petroleum gas container. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the valve body 50 (e.g., valve rubber 51) due to the re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drainage, thereby extending the life of the pressure regulator 1.

[0027] Furthermore, if the valve element 50 includes a valve rubber 51, depending on the material of the valve rubber 51, it may be easily dissolved in the drainage water, causing the valve rubber 51 to dissolve and lose its sealing function. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid contact of the valve rubber 51 of the valve element 50 with the drainage water as much as possible. In the present invention, the inlet portion 40a of the nozzle 40 is simply positioned above the inlet connection portion 20, which prevents the drainage water from entering the inlet portion 40a of the nozzle 40 and reliably prevents deterioration of the valve rubber 51, in other words, deterioration of the valve element 50.

[0028] Here, there is no particular limitation on the configuration in which the inlet portion 40a of the nozzle 40 is positioned above the inlet connection portion 20, but for example, the inlet portion 40a of the nozzle 40 may be positioned above the upper end portion 20a of the inlet connection portion 20, or the inlet portion 40a of the nozzle 40 may be positioned above the horizontal center line 20b of the inlet connection portion 20.

[0029] The effects of the pressure regulator 1 according to the present invention will now be described in detail in comparison with a conventional pressure regulator 1a. As shown in Figure 2A, in the conventional pressure regulator 1a, an inlet connector 20 is provided facing upward at the top of the pressure regulator 1a, and a nozzle 40 is provided directly below the inlet connector 20. When the pressure regulator 1a is in use, for example, a connecting high-pressure hose 2 or the like is connected to the inlet connector 20, and liquefied petroleum gas supplied from a liquefied petroleum gas container reaches the inlet connector 20 via the connecting high-pressure hose 2.

[0030] Here, re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drain D are generated at the inlet connection part 20. In the conventional pressure regulator 1a, the nozzle 40 is located directly below the inlet connection part 20, and so the re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drain D generated at the inlet connection part 20 enter the nozzle 40 from the inlet part 40a of the nozzle 40 due to gravity, and come into contact with the valve body 50 (particularly the valve rubber 51) located downstream of the nozzle 40. This causes significant deterioration of the valve body 50 (valve rubber 51).

[0031] 2B, in the pressure regulator 1 according to the present invention, the inlet connection part 20 is provided horizontally on one side of the high-pressure chamber 10, and the inlet part 40a of the nozzle 40 is located above the inlet connection part 20. When the pressure regulator 1 is in use, for example, a connecting high-pressure hose 2 or the like is connected to the inlet connection part 20, and the liquefied petroleum gas supplied from the liquefied petroleum gas container reaches the inlet connection part 20 via the connecting high-pressure hose 2.

[0032] Here, re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drain D are generated at the inlet connection part 20, but in the pressure regulator 1 according to the present invention, the inlet part 40a of the nozzle 40 is located above the inlet connection part 20, so the re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drain D generated at the inlet connection part 20 enter the inlet part 40a of the nozzle 40 and return to the liquefied petroleum gas container from the connecting high-pressure hose 2 without coming into contact with the valve body 50. This prevents the valve body 50 from deteriorating significantly, making it possible to extend the life of the pressure regulator 1.

[0033] An example of the installation of the pressure regulator 1 according to the present invention will now be described in detail. As shown in Figure 3, a connecting high-pressure hose 2 is connected to the inlet connector 20 of the pressure regulator 1. Here, since the inlet connector 20 is provided horizontally on one side of the pressure regulator 1, the connecting high-pressure hose 2 is also connected horizontally to one side of the pressure regulator 1. Furthermore, a liquefied petroleum gas container 3 is connected to each of the two high-pressure hoses of the connecting high-pressure hose 2.

[0034] Here, the two high-pressure hoses are connected so that they slope downward from the inlet connection part 20 towards the liquefied petroleum gas container 3, so that the re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drain D generated at the inlet connection part 20 travels along the high-pressure hoses and returns to the liquefied petroleum gas container 3. In addition, downstream piping 4, a gas meter 5, etc. are connected to the outlet connection part 80 of the pressure regulator 1, and the liquefied petroleum gas reaches the place where it is ultimately consumed.

[0035] While the pressure regulator 1 according to the present invention described above is configured with one inlet connection 20 on one side of the high-pressure chamber 10 as shown in FIG. 1B, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, it may be configured with one inlet connection 20 on each of both side surfaces of the high-pressure chamber 10. In this configuration, two inlet connections 20 are provided on both side surfaces of the high-pressure chamber 10. Here, since the high-pressure chamber 10 is configured in an inverted concave shape, one inlet connection 20 is provided symmetrically on each of the left and right side surfaces of the high-pressure chamber 10. Also, in this configuration, the inlet portion 40a of the nozzle 40 is located above the two inlet connections 20. This allows high-pressure hoses to be connected to each of the two inlet connections 20 of the pressure regulator 1, allowing the use of two liquefied petroleum gas containers 3.

[0036] In the above description, the positions of the two inlet connectors 20 are set to be the same relative to the inlet portion 40a of the nozzle 40, but this is not a limitation and may vary slightly. Also, the two inlet connectors 20 are positioned facing each other relative to the high-pressure chamber 10, but this is not a limitation and, for example, the two inlet connectors 20 may be positioned at a 90-degree angle relative to the high-pressure chamber 10. Also, the number of inlet connectors 20 is not limited and may be increased.

[0037] Furthermore, there are no particular limitations on the configuration of the inlet connection part 20, and for example, as shown in Figure 4, a check valve 21 may be provided inside the inlet connection part 20. This makes it possible to prevent liquefied petroleum gas from flowing back from the high-pressure chamber 10 into the high-pressure hose even when a high-pressure hose not equipped with a check valve 21 is connected to the inlet connection part 20.

[0038] 1B and 4, in the pressure regulator 1 according to the present invention, the central axis 60a of the diaphragm 60 (also assumed to be the pressure adjusting spring 61 and the cap 62) is configured to be parallel to the central axis 20b of the inlet connection part 20 and to be oriented in the same direction, but this is not limited thereto, and for example, as shown in Fig. 5, the central axis 60a of the diaphragm 60 may be configured to be parallel to the central axis 20b of the inlet connection part 20 and to be oriented in a different direction (for example, at an angle of 90 degrees). This allows the pressure regulator 1 to be appropriately positioned and used depending on the location where the liquefied petroleum gas container 3 is installed.

[0039] In the pressure regulator 1 according to the present invention, the re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drain generated at the inlet connection part 20 are returned to the gas container, which makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the valve body 50 and extend the life of the pressure regulator 1. There are no particular limitations on the materials or shapes of the various parts of the pressure regulator 1 according to the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0040] As described above, the pressure regulator of the present invention is useful for piping not only liquefied petroleum gas but also other fluids and gases, and is effective as a pressure regulator that can suppress deterioration of the valve rubber and extend the life of the pressure regulator by returning the re-liquefied liquefied petroleum gas and drain generated at the inlet connection to the gas container. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 pressure regulator 10 Hyperbaric Chamber 20 Inlet connection 30 Decompression Chamber 40 nozzles 50 Valve body 60 diaphragm 70 Lever 80 Outlet Connection

Claims

[Claim 1] a high-pressure chamber provided above the pressure regulator; an inlet connection portion that opens horizontally on one side surface of the high-pressure chamber and is connectable to one end of an upstream pipe; a decompression chamber connected in communication with a lower portion of the high-pressure chamber; a nozzle provided between the high-pressure chamber and the decompression chamber; a valve body provided below the outlet of the nozzle so as to be capable of reciprocating in the vertical direction of the decompression chamber; a diaphragm that is provided between the decompression chamber and atmospheric pressure and that is capable of adjusting the pressure of the gas inside the decompression chamber; a lever that is pivotally supported at a predetermined position inside the decompression chamber, has one end connected to the valve body and the other end connected to the diaphragm, and is capable of adjusting the flow rate of gas from the high-pressure chamber to the decompression chamber; an outlet connection portion that opens downward at a lower portion of the decompression chamber and is connectable to one end of a downstream pipe; Equipped with The inlet portion of the nozzle is located above the inlet connection portion. Pressure regulator.

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