MXPA02001419A - Surge prevention device - Google Patents

Abstract

A surge prevention valve (20) may be used to prevent the formation of an initial surge of high pressure.

Description

DEVICE TO PREVENT1 THE BRUSH INCREASE IN PRESSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a device for handling a gas, such as oxygen, under high pressure. The present invention also relates to a valve for controlling the flow of oxygen and to a system for reducing or experiencing the surge of high pressure. The known high pressure oxygen administration systems are provided with an oxygen cylinder, a cylinder valve and a pressure regulator. The oxygen cylinder can be charged with pure oxygen at a pressure of 154 kilograms / square centimeter or more in the United States of America and more than 210 kilograms / centimeter square Ifado in other countries. The valve is attached to the cylinder to stop the flow of oxygen to the regulator. The pressure regulator is designed to reduce tank pressure to below 14 kilograms / square centimeter. Most pressure regulators in the United States of Nortéametric reduce tank pressure to approximately 3.5 kilograms / square centimeter. Typical pressure regulators in Europe reduce tank pressure to approximately 4.2 kilograms / square centimeter.

When the valves in the known oxygen systems open rapidly, undesirable high-pressure surges can be applied to the pressure regulator. There is a need in the art to avoid these high pressure surges, as well as increases in gas temperature which can result in ignition. The risk of oxygen regulator failure may be higher for portable oxygen systems used in adverse environments and / or by untrained personnel. Portable oxygen systems are used for emergency oxygen administration at accident sites; for other medical emergencies, such as heart attacks; and to transport patients. Patients with care in the home who use oxygen concentrators as the main source of oxygen for oxygen therapy are asked to have spare oxygen cylinders in case of power failures. Oxygen cylinders are also used to give patients with home care mobility outside the home. There is a need in such a high-volume system that can be easily used in these portable systems and that reduces or eliminates the occurrence of high-pressure surges. Other uses include hospitals, where the oxygen cylinders are left. They are also used as emergency rescaling systems.

The known pressure surge suppression devices are illustrated in the Patents of the United States of America numbers 3,841,353 (Acomb), 2,367,662 (Baxter et al.), And 4,172,468 (Ruus).

These devices suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages: relatively massive pistons result in slower response times, relatively elongated bodies, complicated construction resulting in increased cost, or construction that prevents placement of devices in different locations in existing systems. Acomb describes an anti-surge pressure oxygen cylinder valve in which the surge suppression device is integrated into the cylinder valve. The device that Acomb refers to requires a force opposed to a spring force to function. The Acomb device, the opposite force is provided by a rod connected to the valve handle. Additionally, if the purge orifice is plugged, the valve will not be pneumatically primed, and the gas supply is not available for use. In that case, the user can interpret that the tank is empty when it is full, with the danger of what this mistake entails. Baxter describes a pressure shock absorber for a welding system. Baxter refers to a piston which is elongated with a hue: or through the center. The elongated piston results in an increased moment of inertia which increases the time in which the piston reacts to the sudden increase in pressure. The long gap results in tighter tolerances necessarily adjusted to control the flow rate of gas through the gap . In addition, the placement of the qufe spring encountering the elongated piston results in a relatively large device. Ruus describes a pressure shock absorber for an oxygen regulating supply system with a two-part piston, alarmed. The elongated construction of the piston results in an increased moment of inertia that increases the time required for the piston to react to a sudden increase in pressure. The two-part piston results in increased complexity and increased manufacturing cost. Also in this device, if the restricted passage is plugged, no flow is allowed and the device suffers from the same potential for user error as in the Acomb device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention greatly surpasses the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a device having a first flow path for the gas to flow at a first flow rate, a second flow path for the gas to flow through. flow to a regime of flow greater, and a handle that moves in a first direction to open the first flow path and allow the opening of the second flow path, and in a second direction to open the second flow path. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device can be a valve for preventing sudden increases in pressure. According to one aspect of the invention, the handle moves in an axial direction to open the first flow path, and in a rotational direction to open the second flow path. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the axial movement of the handle may be required to allow the apex of the second flow path. The present invention should not be limited, however, to the preferred embodiments shown and described in detail herein. According to another aspect of the invention, a spring can be used to deflect the handle member in a direction opposite to the first direction. Also, one. Attachable can be used to transmit torque from the handle to open the second flow path. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring is compressed to engage the torque unit. The present invention is also related to a Pressure-tight pressure prevention valve, such as a valve for use on a high-pressure oxygen cylinder. The pressure surge prevention valve can have an outlet with one inlet and one outlet. A selio unit can be used to close the flow path from the inlet to the outlet, and a purge passage can be provided in the sealing unit. The valve may also have an activator to open the purge path and to move the seal unit to open the first and second trough of the flow. If desired, the seal unit can be screwed into the housing. With this construction, the actuator can be used to screwly move the seal unit towards and away from the valve seat to close and open the main flow path. In addition, a valve rod can be provided to close the purge passage. The valve rod can be located slidably within the seal unit. The present invention also relates to a method for operating a high pressure valve. The method includes the steps of: (i) moving a handle in an allowable direction to cause a gas to flow through a first path to a first flow rate; 2) move the handle in a second direction to cause gas to flow through a second path at a rate of much greater flow. The method may also include the step of closing the valve. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method may include making oxygen flow through a pressure regulator to a user or a intended device (such as a respirator). ). The method can be used to gradually increase the flow rate to the regulator and to avoid the formation of a sudden high pressure rise in the system. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of opening a valve includes the steps of: (1) moving a handle button, inside the handle, in an enabling direction to cause gas to flow through a first path to a first flow regime; and then (2) moving the entire handle in a second direction to cause the gas to flow through a second path at a much higher flow rate. According to one aspect of the invention, the enabling direction may be an axial direction, and the second direction may be a rotational direction. These and other objects and advantages of the invention can be better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the appended claims and the various drawings attached thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side view of an oxygen delivery system constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure surge prevention valve for the system of Figure 1, taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is cross section view cross section of the pressure surge prevention valve of Figure 2, at a later stage of operation. Figure 4 is still another cross-sectional view of the pressure surge prevention valve of Figure 2, in another operation step. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a valve for preventing sudden pressure increases constructed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a lower section of the pressure surge prevention valve of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the valve for preventing the sudden increase in pressure of the valve.

Figure 5, in a later stage of operation. Figure 8 is cross sectional view of the valve of prevention of sudden increase of pressure of the Figure 5, in still another stage of operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, in which like elements are designated by the like reference numerals, an oxygen delivery system 10 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present is shown in Figure 1. invention. A detailed description of the illustrated system 10 is provided below. The present invention should not be limited, however, to the specific characteristics of the illustrated system 10. Referring now to Figure 1, the oxygen delivery system 1.0 includes a pressure regulator 12, a conduit 14 for flowing oxygen from the pressure regulator 12 has a patient (not shown), an oxygen source 16, and a post-valve 20 to prevent oxygen from flowing out of the source 16. The source 16 can be an oxygen cylinder, for example . As discussed in more detail below, the valve 20 can be configured to prevent an abrupt rise in high pressure from the pressure regulator 12 when the valve 20 is opened. In addition to oxygen, the present invention can be used to handle nitrous oxide and other concentrated oxidizing agents. The present invention can also be used in systems different from the systems: medical. For example, the present invention can be applied to oxygen welding equipment. Referring now to Figure 2, the valve 20 includes a housing 22 having an inlet 24 and an outlet 26. The inlet 24 can be connected to the oxygen source 16. The outlet 26 can be connected to the pressure regulator 12. In addition, the valve 20 includes a seal unit 28, a valve rod 30, and an activating unit The seal unit 2E can have an annular elastomeric seal bearing 34 for sealing against a valve seat 36. A passageway 37 can provide to allow oxygen to flow through the bearing 34 and into a first diverting space 38 within. of the seal unit 28. The seal unit 28 also has a second diverting space 40 and a purge passage 42. The upper end 44 of the valve rod 30 is fixed within the activating unit 32 The lower portion of the valve rod 30 is slidably located within the second diverting space 40. The valve rod 30 has to have a reduced diameter portion 46 and a tapered lower end 48. Except for the reduced diameter portion 46 and the lower end 48, the remainder of the valve rod 30 may have a circular cross section with a substantially constant diameter. The configuration in cross section of the valve rod 30 e 3 such that an upper opening 50 of the first deflection space 38 is sealed with the lower end 48 of the rod 30 in the position shown in Figure 2. As discussed in more detail below, the Valve rod 30 can be moved downwardly and through the seller unit 28 to the position shown in Figure 3. In the position of Figure 3, the reduced diameter portion 46 is located in the upper opening 50 of the first Deviation space 3 The cross-sectional area of the reduced diameter portion 46 is smaller than that of the upper opening 50. Accordingly, oxygen can flow through the upper opening 50 when the valve rod 30 is in the Figure 3. The seal unit 28 is connected to the housing 22 by convenient cords 62. The cords 62 are configured such that by rotating the seal unit 28 with respect to the housing 22 in a first A seal bearing 34 is moved towards the sealing coupling with the valve seat 36. Rotation of the seal unit 2 in the opposite direction causes the seal bearing 34 to move away from the valve handle 36 toward the open position shown. in Figure 4. In the open position, the oxygen is allowed to come out. through the valve seat 36, around the seal unit 28 and in the direction of the arrow 64 and towards the outlet 26. An O-ring 66 or other convenient seal may be provided between the seal unit 28 and the housing 22 to prevent oxygen from flowing around the eello unit 28 above the outlet 26. The activating unit 32 has a piston unit 70, a handle 72 fixed to the piston urgency 70, and a cover 74. The piston unit 70 is slidably located on the cover 74. The piston unit 70 is allowed to rotate within the cover 74 as described in greater detail below. The piston unit 70 is biased upwardly away from the seal unit 28) by a spiral spring 76. The cover 74 can be screwed into the housing 22, if desired. A torque unit is formed by the openings 78, 80 formed in the piston unit 70 and the bolts 82, 84 fixed with respect to the seal unit 28. As shown in Figure 3, the bolts 82 84 can be received within the openings 78, 80 when the piston unit 70 is pushed downwardly against the elastic of the spring 76. When the bolts 82, 84 are received within the openings 78, 80, a moment The torque applied to the handle 72 can be transmitted to the seal unit 28. In this way, a torque can be applied manually to the handle 72 in the first direction to cause the The valve 20 opens in the position shown in Figure 4. In the open position, as mentioned above, oxygen can flow through the valve seat 36, around the seal unit 28 in the direction of the arrow 64 , and through the valve outlet 26. To move the valve 20 from the closed position to the open position, the user first manually pushes down the handle 72, against the spring elastic 76, until the pins 82, 4 placed in the openings 78, 80. Pushing down the handle 72 causes the piston unit 72 to move axially towards the seal unit 28.

The user then applies a torque to the handle 72 in an opening rotational direction to twist the seal unit 28 threadedly away from the valve seat 36. The torque is transmitted through the piston unit 70 and through the the torque unit 78-84 for rotating the threaded seal unit 21 In the configuration illustrated, the seal unit 28 can not be rotated by the handle 2 unless the torque unit 78-84 is assembled, with the spring 76 in the compressed position shown in Figure 3. The torque unit 78-84 ss engages to allow rotation of the seal unit 28. By pushing the handle 72 down to engage with the moment unit of torsion 78-84 causes the reducing diameter portion 46 of the valve rod 30 moves towards the upper opening 50 of the first deflection space 38. When the reduced diameter portion 46 is in the upper opening 50, the oxygen can flow into the second diverting space 40. and through the purge passage 42. Oxygen can initiate its flow through the upper opening 50 while the handle 72 moves downward, before the torque moment 78-84 is fully engaged. In the illustrated configuration, the handle 72 can move the intermediate position of Figure 3 before the seal unit 28 can be coiled up from the valve seat 36. The opening of the valve 20 requires a sequential operation of the valve. two steps of pushing and then tjorcer very similar to the two-step operation required to open the safety cap on the medication bottles If the user does not push down on the handle 72, the piston unit 70 only rotates inside the cover 74 yes | n dock with seal unit 28. However, this invention is not limited to this preferred embodiment discussed herein. Accordingly, the illustrated valve 20 allows the oxygen to purge to the outlet 26 through the purge passage 42 before the seal bearing 34 moves away from the valve seat 36. The small amount of oxygen that is purged through of the restricted passage 42 form larger or smaller purge passages. If the user intends to divert the preferred method of operation or if the first diversion space 38 or purge passage 42 could be blocked, there is still an added safety factor as the user slowly twists the handle 72. The consequence, if desired , the user can be instructed to twist the handle 72 slowly. If these instructions with respect to the twist of the handle 72 are properly fixed, the valve 20 can still prevent an abrupt increase in pressure lta in the regulator 12 even without the aid of the first space d < * deviation 38 of the purge passage 42. The present invention should not be limited, however, to the specific valve 34, 36 and to the purge passage 42 shown and described in detail herein, in the open position shown in FIG. 4, substantially all the oxygen that flow through the valve 20 travel in the direction of the arrow 64 and not through the purge passage 42. Accordingly, the purge passage 42 tends not to be occluded by small contaminant particles entrained in the gas flow. If the purge passage 42 is plugged, the valve 20 will still be operable so that the oxygen is still supplied to the target operating device. To close the valve 20, the user pushes down the handle 72, against the spring elastic 76, to be coupled to the torque unit 78-84. Then, while the spring 76 is compressed, the user manually twists the handle 72 to reattach the seal unit 28 back to put it in seal contact with the valve seat 36. The pressure downward of the handle 72 is released. The spring 76 pulls the end 48 of the valve rod 30 back into a sealed position within the upper opening 50 of the first deflection space 3. FIG. 5 illustrates a valve 100 constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. the present invention including a housing 13C having an inlet 140 and an outlet 114. The inlet 14 can be connected to the oxygen source 16. The outlet 11 can be connected to a pressure regulator 12. In addition, the valve 100 includes a seal unit 124, a valve rod 106, and an activator unit 142. The seal unit 124 may have an annular elastomeric seal bearing 144 for sealing against a valve seat 146 A first a deviation 138 is provided to allow oxygen to flow through the bearing 144 to the seal unit 124. The seal unit 124 also has a purge passage 118. The upper end 160 of the valve rod 106 is fixed within a handle button 104. The lower portion of the valve rod 106 is located slidably within a second deflection space 116 and a valve space 162. The valve rod 106 may have a reduced diameter portion 110 and a conical lower end 132. Excepted by the reduced diameter portion 110 and the lower end 132, the rest of the valve rod 106 can have a circular cross section with a substantially constant diameter. The traxisversal cutting configuration of the valve rod 106 is such that the O-ring 136 of the first deviation space 138 seals the deviation 116 of the first deviation 138 by the lower end 132 of the rod 106 in the position shown in FIG. Figure 5. As shown in Figure 6, the O-ring 136 combined with the lower end 132 of the valve rod 106 may be the only components forming the seal 204 between the first deviation space 138 / the second deflection space 116. Furthermore, a continuous passage 202 is provided between the first deflection space 138 and the exposed lower surface of the O-ring 136 regardless of the location of the valve rod 106. Thus, the gas it can pass through the upper opening 164. In the illustrated system, the upper opening 164 serves as a backing plate which prevents the O-ring 136 from being blown towards the opening 128 in the case in which someone tries to fill the gas source 16, without first opening the valve 100.

As discussed in more detail below, the valve rod 106 can be moved down and through the seal unit 124 to the position shown in Figure 7. In the position of Figure 7, the portion of the reduced diameter 110 is located in the first and second deviation spaces 138, 116. The cross-sectional area of the reduced diameter portion 110 is smaller than that of the first and second deviations 138, 116. Consequently, the oxygen can flow to the lower part of the first and second deflection openings 13, 116 when the valve rod 106 is in the position of Figure 7. The unit 124 is connected to the housing 130 by means of convenient ropes 126. The ropes 126 are arranged so that by greasing the seal unit 124 with rreessppeeccttoo aalloojjaammiieennttoo 1133CQ in a first direction the seal bearing 144 is moved to seal coupling with the valve seat 146. Turning the seal unit 124 in the opposite direction causes the seal bearing 144 to move away from the valve seat 146 to the open position shown in Figure 8. In the open position, the oxygen is allowed to flow through. of the valve seat 146, around the seal unit 124 in the direction of the arrow 170 and to the outlet 114. The activator unit 142 has a handle button 104, a handle 102 surrounding the handle button 104, a base structure 112, and a handle cover 154 The handle button 104 the socket structure 112 is deflected upwards (away from the seal unit 124) by a spiral spring 108. The cover 154 can be screwed into the housing 130, if desired. A torque assembly is forged by bolts 120, 156 formed in handle 152 and bolts 122, 158 fixed with respect to the 1st seal unit 124 together with the base structure 112 As shown in Figure 7, the four pins 122, 158, 120, 156 can be received by the base structure 112 when the button the handle 104 is pushed down against the spring elastic 108. In the position of Figure 7, the socket structure 112 causes the pins 122, 158, 120, 156 to move as a unit. Therefore, a torque applied to the handle 102 can be transmitted to the seal unit 124. In this way, a torque can be applied manually to the handle 102 in a first direction to make the seal unit 124 moves still further down towards the housing 130 to press the seal bearing 144 towards the sealed position shown in Figure 7. Furthermore, a torque can be applied in the opposite direction to screw the bearing in a threaded manner. seal 144 away from valve seat 146 to the open position shown in Figure 8.

The valve 100 closes in the position shown in Figure 5. In the closed position, oxygen can not flow between the seal bearing 144 and the valve seat 146. Furthermore, in the closed position, the O-ring 136 and the valve rod 106 seal the first deflection space 138, so that the oxygen can not flow into the second deflection space 116. As noted above, a convenient O-ring 136 can be provided to form an air-tight seal. gas against the valve rod 106 in the upper opening 164, if desired. Valve 100 sb opens in the position shown in Figure 8. In the open position, as mentioned above, oxygen can flow through valve seat 146, around seal unit 124 in the direction of arrow 1 70, and through the valve outlet 114. In order to move the valve 100 from the closed position to the ab-Lerta position, the user first manually pushes down the handle button 104, against the springiness of the spring 108. Since the structure of basketball 112 is integrated with the valve rod 106, the socket structure 112 also moves downward to the locked position will contour the elasticity of the spring 108 The basketball structure 112 can be fixed with respect to the valve rod 106 by an adjustment forced or by adhesive, for example.

Pushing down the button on the handle 104 causes the valve rod 106 to move axially towards the seat unit 124 and causes the bolts 122, 158, 120, 156 to become engaged within the socket structure 112. the user applies torque to the handle 102 in an opening rotational direction to rotate the seal unit 124 in a threaded manner away from the valve seat 146. The torque is transmitted through the handle 102 and E. of the torque unit 112, 120, 122, 1, 6, 158, to rotate the threaded seal unit 124. In the illustrated arrangement, the seal unit 124 can not be rotated by the handle 102 unless the torque 112, 120, 122, 156, 158 is engaged, with spring 10! in the compressed position shown in Figure 7. The torque unit 112, 120, 122, 156, 158 is engaged to allow rotation of the seal unit 124. As shown in the drawings, the handle button 104 can be formed as part of the handle 102, and the button 104 can be conveniently located to be operated by the thumb of the hand that grasps the handle 102 by pushing down the button of the handle 104 to engage with the moment unit of torsion 112, 120, 122, 156, 158 the reduced diameter portion 110 causes the valve rod 106 to move towards the upper opening 164 of the first deviation space 138. When the Reduced diameter portion 110 is in the upper opening 164, oxygen can flow into the second diverting space 116 and through the purge passage 118. Oxygen can start to flow through the upper opening 164 while the knob of the handle 104 moves downward, before that the torque unit 112, 120, 122, 156, 15 is fully engaged. In the illustrated arrangement, the handle button 104 must be moved to the intermediate position of Figure 7 before the seal unit 124 can be screwed up from the valve seat 138. The opening of the valve 100 requires an operation sequential two-step push and then twist. If the user does not push down the handle button 104, the handle 102 only rotates within the cover 154 without engaging the seal unit 124. Consequently, the illustrated valve 100 allows the oxygen to be vented to the outlet 114. through the purge passage 118 before the seal bearing 144 moves away from the valve seat 146. The small amount of oxygen that is purged through the restricted passage 118 for the short time required to couple with the moment unit of torque 112, 120, 122, 156, 158 may be sufficient to prevent a sudden surge of high pressure from developing in the system 10 when the valve 100 is subsequently opened. In this way, the regulator 12 (Figure 1) can be filled at a controlled, relatively slow rate, before a full flow of high pressure oxygen through the valve 100 is allowed. The rate of oxygen flow through the valve seat 146 in the open position of the valve Figure 8) may be much larger than the flow rate through the purge passage 118 in the intermediate position shown in Figure 7. In the preferred operating method, the user first pushes the button handle 104 until the pressure stabilizes at the valve 100. The time it takes to push the handle button 104 downwards to allow the opening of the valve 100 may be sufficient for the desired gradual pressurization of the regulator 12. The capacity of the valve 100 to purge enough oxygen to outlet 114 in the available time;: > It can be controlled, for example, by selecting a suitable cross-sectional area for the purge passage 118. In the open position shown in the Figure substantially all the oxygen flowing through the valve 100 travels in the direction of the arrow 170 and does not through the purge passage 118. n consequence, the purge passage 118 does not tend to be occluded by small contaminant particles entrained in the gas flow. If the purge passage 118 is plugged, the valve 100 will still be operable from

Claims (15)

1. A device for handling pressurized gas, the device comprising: a first flow path for gas to flow to a first flow rate through the device; a second flow path for the gas to flow to a second flow rate through the device, the second flow rate being greater than the first flow rate; and a handle configured to move in a first direction to open the first flow path and to allow opening of the second flow path, and in a second direction to open the second flow path, the second direction being different from the first direction.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first direction is an axial direction. The device of claim 2, wherein the second direction is a rotary direction. 4. The device of claim 3, further comprising a spring for biasing the handle in a third direction, the third direction being opposite the first direction. 5. The device of claim 4, which further comprises a torque unit engageable to transmit torque from the handle to open the second trajectory of Alujo. The device of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a button moving in a first direction and a handle member moving in the second direction. 7. A pressure surge prevention valve comprising: a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path from the inlet to the outlet; a signal unit for closing the flow path, the seal unit including a purge passage; and an activator to open the leakage passage and then move the seal unit to open the flow path. The valve of claim 7, further comprising cords for connecting the seal unit to the housing. 9. The valve of claim 8, wherein the housing includes a valve seat, and wherein the actuator is arranged to screw the seal unit in a threaded manner away from the valve seat to open the flow path. The valve of claim 9, further comprising a valve rod for closing the passage of purge, the valve rod being slidably located within the seal unit. 11. The valve of claim 10, further comprising a torque unit engageable to transmit torque from the actuator to the seal unit to rotate the seal anvil with respect to the housing, the unit being located. at the moment of twisting in the housing. 12. The valve of claim 11, wherein the engageable torque unit includes bolts and openings for receiving the bolts, 1

3. The valve of claim 11, further comprising a spring for deflecting the torque unit to an uncoupled position. The valve of claim 13 wherein the actuator includes a handle and a cover, the handle being slidably and radially supported within the cover, the cover being fixed with respect to the housing 15. A method for operating a prevention valve of sudden increase in pressure, the method comprising the steps of: moving at least a portion of the handle in a first direction to cause the gas to flow through the first path to a first flow rate; Y