An identifier of metal cylinders in the facility for the storage and for paid self-service exchange of empty metallic cylinder for the full metallic cylinders, for example with propane-butane gas

Abstract

An identifier of metal cylinders in the facility for the storage and for paid self- service exchange of empty metallic cylinder for the full metallic cylinders, for example with propane-butane gas, for a facility composed of a power supply source and of at least two pairs of lockable compartments (A1, A2) and (B1, B2) for cylinders with identical ground plans and with at least two different heights, arranged side by side and one above the other and mutually firmly connected, wherein each lockable compartment (A1, A2; B1, B2) for cylinders is provided with doors (D) with an electronically controlled lock (1), wherein the walls of each lockable compartment are provided with a transformer identifier (2) of metal cylinders, consisting of a non-conductive and non-flammable casing (P), provided on one of its sides with a transmitting coil (E) and on its opposite side with a receiving coil (F), wherein the transmitting coil (E) is connected to a source of alternating electric current and the receiving coil (F) is connected to a measuring electronic device, which is a part of the service control module (C) connected with the central control panel.

Description

[0001] An identifier of metal cylinders in the facility for the storage and for paid self-service exchange of empty metallic cylinder for the full metallic cylinders, for example with propane-butane gas

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to an identifier of metal cylinders in the facility for the storage and for paid self-service exchange of empty metallic cylinder for the foil metallic cylinders, for example with propane-butane gas.

[0004] State of the Art

[0005] The sale, respectively the exchange of empty propane-butane cylinders (hereinafter referred to as “cylinders”), is mostly realized at distribution points of companies supplying technical gases, in such a way that the customer brings an empty cylinder, hands it over to the operator of the distribution point and in return for payment receives a foil cylinder. Another possibility of the exchange of the cylinder is realized at filling stations, where the cylinders are usually stored in locked wire cages. The actual exchange or sale of a full cylinder is carried out by the operator of the filling station, including manual handling with the cylinders. This activity is physically demanding for the operator, since a cylinder with a 10 kg filling weighs up to 25 kg including the container. Nowadays, when the operators of filling stations are mostly women, this practice is unsuitable. Payment for the issued cylinder usually takes place inside the filling station, which represents for the operator as well as for the customer the necessity of moving from the storage place of the cylinders to the cash desk of the filling station. This not only represents a loss of time, but also requires the presence of a two-member operator team at the filling station. At night hours such practice of the exchange of cylinders is risky with regard to the possibility of injury and also dangerous due to the possibility of an attack on the operator. A suitable solution of the facility for the storage and exchange of empty propane-butane cylinders for full propane-butane cylinders (hereinafter referred to as ‘’facility”), which enables its functioning on a self-sendee principle, is represented by Czech utility model No. 32128, the subject of which is a facility consisting of a set of mutually firmly connected, arranged one above the other and side by side, lockable and closable by doors, compartments for cylinders. The compartments for cylinders have identical ground plans, which enables their stacking one above the other. The individual compartments are firmly connected to each other, for example by screw joints, and form a solid unit. The compartments have identical ground plans, but different heights. Since two types of cylinders, namely with a filling of 2 kg and with a filling of 10 kg, are most frequently exchanged and used, two types of compartments are used at the facility. The compartment for smaller cylinders has, with the same ground plan, half the height of the compartment for larger cylinders. This enables, by a suitable arrangement of compartments, to create a facility with the external shape of a cuboid. To the set of lockable compartments there is assigned and firmly attached a service control module with a payment terminal, which is a part of the facility and which is electrically / electronically wired or wirelessly connected with electronically controlled elements - with electronically controlled locks of the doors and with internal control elements of the lockable compartments for cylinders. Each of the lockable compartments for cylinders has a door provided with an electronically controlled lock connected to the service control module, which is also a payment terminal, functioning in accordance with the valid Accounting Act. In each lockable compartment for cylinders there is placed a control device which is capable of distinguishing whether it is a cylinder of the correct shape and weight. The facility as a whole is equipped with an external gas leakage sensor connected to a light or acoustic signaling and also to the service control module and to the control panel of the operator. The power supply source of electrical energy for the facility can also be a solar system. The described facility' significantly reduces the personal participation of the operator in physical handling with the cylinders. Once every several hours (days) it is necessary' to remove empty' cylinders from the facility and replenish full cylinders. During the actual exchange of the cylinder by the customer, the participation of the operator is limited to the control task of proper functioning of the individual parts of the facility.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The essence of the invention is the equipping of each lockable compartment with a reliable identifier of metal cylinders, which would prevent both unintentional and intentional returning of non-metallic or otherwise unsuitable or intentionally otherwise substituted cylinders. For this reason, each lockable compartment for cylinders, provided with doors with an electronically controlled lock, is equipped with a firmly built-in transformer identifier of metal cylinders, wherein the inner walls of each lockable compartment are lined with a non-conductive casing, which is on one side of its outer perimeter provided with a transmitting coil and on the opposite side of the outer perimeter with a receiving coil, wherein the transmitting coil is connected to a source of alternating electric current and the receiving coil is connected to a measuring electronic device, which is a part of the service control module connected with the central control panel. The inner space of the lockable compartment is sufficiently large for the placement of a metal cylinder. The identifier of metal cylinders utilizes the principle of a transformer with an open (non-closed) core. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] Further advantages and effects of the present invention are apparent from the accompanying drawing indicating:

[0009] Fig. 1 shows the inner space of the lockable compartment with the transformer identifier of metal cylinders.

[0010] Fig. 2 represents a front view of the facility for the storage and for the self- service exchange of empty metallic propane-butane cylinders for foil propane-butane cylinders,

[0011] Fig. 3 is a view of the facility after inserting the empty7metal cylinder. Fig. 4 is a view of the facility after taking the full m etal cylinder.

[0012] Example of Invention Embodiment

[0013] The identifier of metal cylinders 2 (see Fig. 1) is placed in each lockable compartment Al, A2, Bl, B2 of the facility for the storage and for paid self- service exchange of empty metallic cylinders for full metallic cylinders, for example with propane-butane gas, hereinafter referred to as “facility7Z’\

[0014] The facility Z (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) is composed of a power supply source and of at least two pairs of lockable compartments Al, A2 and Bl, B2 for cylinders, arranged one above the other and side by side, mutually firmly connected, with identical ground plans and of at least two different heights, wherein each lockable compartment Al, A2, Bl, B2 for cylinders is provided with doors D with an electronically controlled lock L The walls of each lockable compartment are equipped with a transformer identifier 2 of metal cylinders, consisting of a non-conductive casing P, provided with a transmitting coil E and on the opposite side with a receiving coil F, wherein the transmitting coil E is connected to a source of alternating electric current and the receiving coil F is connected to a measuring electronic device, which is a part of the service control module C connected with the central control panel.

[0015] The function of the identifier 2 of metal cylinders L is as follows.

[0016] The cylinder L is inserted into a specific lockable compartment, into its inner space, the side inner walls of which are lined with the non-conductive casing P. On one inner wall of each compartment there is, in the non-conductive casing P, located the transmitting coil E and on the opposite wall of the compartment there is, in the non-conductive casing P, located the receiving coil F. The cylinder L is inserted into the inner space of the lockable compartment, i.e. between the non-conductive and non-flammable sides formed by the non-conductive casing P, which separates the cylinder from the coils E and F (see Fig. 1 ).

[0017] An alternating current is supplied into the transmitting coil E and it starts transmitting a magnetic flux, which propagates through the air (if there is no cylinder in the space between the coils) and also reaches the receiving coil F, in which alternating voltage is induced. If a magnetically conductive material (in the described embodiment a metal cylinder) is inserted between the transmitting coil E and the receiving coll F, the magnetic flux changes and in the receiving coil F a defined different voltage is induced. The magnetically conductive material is, in the described embodiment, a metal cylinder. The coils E, F should be arranged in the non-conductive casing P in such a way as to enclose the metal cylinder, i.e. the measured object, as much as possible. The setting of the magnitude of the constant alternating current supplied into the transmitting coil E should be such that the induced voltage on the receiving coil F is measurable. Into the magnetic field the measured object - the metal cylinder - is inserted and the measured voltage on the receiving coil is precisely the voltage Uyescorresponding to the correct evaluation of the identifiable object - i.e. the correct cylinder. If the voltage on the receiving coil F is different from Uyes, the measured object is smaller or is not made of metal, simply the magnetic flux is different . If the voltage on the receiving coil F is higher than Uyes, the measured object is again different, or it contains more or less magnetically conductive material, and the magnetic flux is different. From this follows that the voltage on the receiving coil F reflects the size of the object (the size of the cylinder) and in this embodiment also the amount of iron, therefore the weight of the cylinder. For the correct setting of the identifier it is necessary to measure the smallest usable and the largest usable cylinder and to enter these results as the limit values for the correct cylinder plus a certain tolerance. Values of output voltage on the receiving coil F which are outside the calibrated limit values signalize that between the coils E and F, in the specific lockable compartment, there is not a correct cylinder. The measured values of voltage are evaluated in the electronic device and the resulting findings are electronically transmitted to the service control module C and from it to the central control panel, on which the result of the evaluation of correctness of the cylinder could be evaluated by a computer. The correct function of the identifier should not be influenced even by a change of climatic values, for example of the air temperature.

[0018] The lockable compartments Al, A2 for cylinders are intended for small cylinders with a weight of 2 kg, the lockable compartments Bl, B2 for cylinders are intended for large cylinders with a weight of 10 kg. The described embodiment from Fig. 2 represents the facility Z, composed of six lockable compartments Al, A2 tor cylinders with a filling of 2 kg and of six lockable compartments Bl, B2 for cylinders with a filling of 10 kg. From Fig. 2 (drawn in dashed lines) it is evident that the number of lockable compartments can be increased almost endlessly. The limitation is only of a technical nature. 1

[0019] The facility is from the outside provided with a sensor 3 for indication of gas leakage, connected to the service control panel C with signaling of gas leakage. An alternative power supply source of electrical energy for the facility is a solar system.

[0020] The initial situation for the functioning of the whole facility Z can be described according to Fig. 2 in such a way that in the whole metal cage there is always one compartment Al for a cylinder with a filling of 2 kg empty and prepared for the empty cylinder 2 kg and one compartment Bl empty for a cylinder with a filling of 10 kg prepared for the empty cylinder 10 kg. The other compartments A2, B2 are equipped with full cylinders. The example of exchange of empty cylinders for foil ones we shall describe on the compartments B, i.e. for cylinders with a filling of 10 kg. For the compartments of type A the principle is the same. Let us start from Fig. 2. After the reception of the request for the exchange of an empty cy linder for a foil one, the computer prompts the customer to open the empty compartment Bl in position IV (upper) by lighting the indicator light on the doors of the compartment Bl and unlocking this compartment. After inserting the empty cylinder, closing and locking the doors of the compartment Bl, the identification of the empty cylinder and the payment, the computer prompts the customer by lighting the indicator light on the doors of the compartment B2 and unlocking it to take a full cylinder from position IS. Thereby an empty position in the compartment IS is created. The type of the compartment B2 (full cylinder) changes to Bl (empty compartment) and the original Bl is occupied by the empty cylinder and thus becomes B3 (empty cylinder), see Fig. 3.

[0021] By a similar procedure during the exchange of another cylinder the empty' compartment Bl moves from the position IS (lower) to the position 2V (upper) and the position IS is filled with the empty cylinder B3. The full cylinder B2 from the position 2V releases space for another empty' cylinder, see Fig. 4.

[0022] Industrial Applicability

[0023] The facility is applicable tor the identification of metal cylinders for the self- service paid exchange of empty propane-butane cylinders for full propanebutane cylinders.

Claims

Claims1. An identifier of metal cylinders in the facility' for the storage and for paid self-service exchange of empty metallic cylinder for the full metallic cylinders, for example with propane-butane gas, for a facility composed of a power supply source and of at least two pairs of lockable compartments (A 1 , A2) and (Bl, B2) for cylinders with identical ground plans and with at least two different heights, arranged side by side and one above the other and mutually firmly connected, wherein each lockable compartment (Al, A2; Bl, B2) for cylinders is provided with doors (D) with an electronically controlled lock (1), characterized in that the walls of each lockable compartment are provided with a transformer identifier (2) of metal cylinders, consisting of a non-conductive and non-flammable casing (P), provided on one of its sides with a transmitting coil (E) and on its opposite side with a receiving coil (F), wherein the transmitting coil (E) is connected to a source of alternating electric current and the receiving coil (F) is connected to a measuring electronic device, which is a part of the service control module (C) connected with the central control panel.

Images