Gas Cylinder Regulator With Flow Meter for Remaining Gas Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for accurately determining the remaining gas level in gas cylinders are complex and expensive, as pressure measurement alone is insufficient and other methods like optical systems or mass measurement are costly to design and integrate.
Innovation Solution
A regulator with an electronic flowmeter to measure gas flow and wireless communication components to transmit data, allowing for precise estimation of remaining gas levels and efficient communication of consumption data, while reusing existing regulator designs to simplify and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pressure measurement is used to determine remaining gas level, then the measurement is simple, but the measurement precision is insufficient because pressure only drops when liquid phase disappears
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (gas permeable membrane or adsorbent material) that mediates between the compressed gas and the sensor. This intermediary allows indirect measurement of gas properties through its effect on the membrane deformation or adsorbent mass change, providing accurate measurement without direct contact with high-pressure gas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical pressure measurement with alternative physical phenomena: either optical detection of membrane deformation caused by gas permeation, or gravitational measurement of adsorbent mass change. This substitution enables accurate gas level measurement while avoiding the limitations of direct pressure sensing in liquid-vapor equilibrium systems
2Measurement precision
If optical systems or mass measurement methods are used to measure remaining gas level, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the regulator body serve multiple functions: it acts as both the pressure regulation device and the housing for the measurement system. The membrane or adsorbent chamber is integrated within the existing regulator structure, eliminating the need for separate external measurement devices and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator's own compressed gas supply is used to drive the measurement mechanism. The gas intended for consumption automatically inflates the membrane or fills the adsorbent chamber, making the measurement system self-powered and eliminating the need for external power sources or additional gas cylinders for calibration
3Loss of information
If electronic flow meter and wireless communication components are added to the regulator, then the ability to estimate and transmit remaining gas level is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the flow measurement function with the existing gas outlet valve mechanism. The same moving parts that control gas flow to the outlet also drive the flow meter, eliminating the need for separate measurement components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining accurate flow monitoring capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate estimation of remaining gas levels and efficient communication of consumption data, simplifying the design and reducing costs by leveraging existing regulator components, thus improving gas cylinder management and distribution efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an electronic flow meter arranged to measure the gas flow rate in the gas outlet conduit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a regulator for a gas cylinder comprising a body (2) inside of which are defined a gas inlet pipe (5) intended for being connected to the gas cylinder, a pressure chamber (7) into which the gas inlet pipe (5) leads, adjustment means (9, 11, 12) for adjusting a pressure inside the pressure chamber (7), and a gas outlet pipe (6) which extends away from the pressure chamber (7). The body (2) comprises an electric flow meter (23, 24) arranged to measure a flow rate of the gas circulating in the gas outlet pipe (6), electric measurement components (30) arranged to acquire and store gas flow rate measurements, and wireless electric communication components (42) arranged to transmit data relative to the gas flow rate measurements.