US2316373A - Automatic change-over regulator for liquefied petroleum gas equipment - Google Patents

Description

R. W. THOMAS AUTOMATIC CHANGE-OVER REGULATOR FOR LIQUEFIED April 13, 1943.

PETROLEUM GAS EQUIPMENT Filed June 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :Il llllI IIIIIIIA IIIII- lllllllllll I! INVENTOR ROSSWELL W. THOMAS April 13, 1943.

R. W. THOMAS AUTOMATIC CHANGE-OVER REGULATOR FOR LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS EQUIPMENT Filed June 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROSSWELL W. THOMAS A BY fi a o mm vwvv W it vv'vw w mm lPatented Apr. 13, 1943 AUTOMATIC CHANGE OVER REGULATOR FOR LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS EQUIP- MENT Rosswell W. Thomas, Birmingham, Mich, assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation oi Delaware Application June 29, 1939, Serial No. 281,969

21 Claims. (CI. 62-1) The present invention relates to improvements in change-over devices for dispensing high pressure gas.

More specifically, it relates to improvements in automatic change-over regulator devices especially adaptable to systems for dispensing liquefied petroleum gas of the character where the installation provides at least two containers as sources of liquefied gas from which vapors may be drawn for use in appliances, one source being held in reserve until the active source is depleted.

Liquefied petroleum gas, such as propane, butane, or a mixture of the two, is now being sold extensively in tanks or cylinders of a portable nature. In making use of this liquefied gas for operating gas consuming appliances, such as domestic gas ranges, it is necessary to provide a suitable means for reducing the pressure of the vapor from the storage container to the pressure at which the gas consuming appliances are designed to operate. It is also desirable to give the customer a continuous, uninterrupted supply of gas. With these aims in view, various types of equipment have been designed to dispense the liquefied petroleum gas. It is customary, when portable containers are used, to provide at least two containers as sources of liquefied gas from which vapors may be drawn andreduced to the proper pressure for use in gas consuming appliances, one source being held in reserve until the active source is depleted. It is then necessary to chambers and consequently presents hazards associated with high pressure. Care must be used in making the necessary connections each time an exhausted container is replaced with a charged container, otherwise there is a possibility of gas leakage with its inherent hazards. Also, there is always present the danger of subsequent failure of the tube which would allow a large amount of highly inflammable and otherwise dangerous gas to escape.

Recently there has been inaugurated in liquefied gas retail trade a form of self-service in which the customer buys the gas in small containers, transports them to the place where they are to be put into service, and makes the necessary connections to put the charged containers into service. This invention is particularly adaptable to this type of service, since it does not employ high pressure hose or connections, and is sufiiciently simple in operation as to en- 7 able a person who is unskilled in mechanics, for

cut oil the depleted source of liquefied gas and put the reserve source into service. This may be effected by manual or automatic change-over from one container to the other, it being preferable to employ an automatic device to effect this change in order to prevent any interruption in the gas flow which would extinguish any stoves, pilot lights, or gas lights being in use at that time. It is also of great inconvenience to the customer to go to the containers to change the valves each time one of the containers is exhausted.

Recently there have been developed various systems equipped with automatic valves, whereby upon the pressure in the active container becoming low, the vapor in the reserve container will be drawn upon. A system of this type is disclosed in Patent No. 2,257,249 issued September 30, 1941. One of the chief disadvantages of such equipment is that it is necessary to use a more or less flexible hose or tube to connect the control devices to the gas storage chambers. This tubing, together with the necessary fittings, is subjected to the high pressure of the storage example, the housewife, to replace an exhausted container with a fresh container.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved change-over device for dispensing high pressure gas.

A further object of the invention is to provide a change-over device which will be automatic in its change-over action.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for dispensing high pressure gas which may be operated with safety by those who are unskilled in mechanics, for example, the housewife.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of equipment for dispensing liquefied petroleum gas, including one embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of a portion of the equipment showing the relative position of the parts when set to effect a change-over.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section of one modification of the invention.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, A and B represent containers for separate supplies of liquefied petroleum gas, C a service pipe line which may lead to any suitable gas consuming appliances, not shown in the drawings, D and E pressure regulators, F and G conduits for establishing connection between the regulators D and E and the service pipe line through the manifold H. K

represents a second stage regulator which I prefer to use, but which forms no part of the invention. J represents a suitable indicator device to notify the customer when one of the containers is exhausted.

In Figure 2, where similar characters designate similar parts, a portion of a liquefied gas or high pressure gas container is designated by reference numeral I while 2 represents the interior of this container. An annular ring 3 having a shoulder 4 is attached to the container at 5. Ring 3 is tapped to receive a plug member 6 which is drilled and tapped to contain a valve 1 of the tire valve core type. Directly above tire valve core stem 8 is a push-pin 9. Concentric with push-pin 9 is a tube III which is oi. sufllcient diameter inside to provide an annular passageway ll. Tube I0 is threaded at the top and tapered in the manner of a truncated cone. Concentric with tube I0 is a connector |2 bored to receive tube l0 and having its lower portion externally threaded to engage an upper tapped portion of plug member 6. Connector l2 forces tube I0 against resilient gasket l3 forming a gas tight connection between tube l0 and plug member 6. Push-pin 9 is provided with a guide l4 which will not pass through passageway l5; this prevents the push-pin from dropping out when this assembly is disconnected from a container.

A regulator housing comprising a body Hi and a cover I! is-provided with a flexible diaphragm l8 dividing the housing into two compartments, namely a fluid compartment i9 and a loading compartment 20. Fluid compartment I9 is provided with an inlet port 2| in communication with tube l0 and with an outlet port 22. Loading compartment 20, which is vented to the atmosphere, contains an expansion spring 23 seated in a retainer or cup 23' on the diaphragm. A diaphragm retainer 24 with a threaded connection to body l6 bears upon diaphragm slip ring 25 wh ch in turn holds diaphragm l8 securely in place. Retainer 24 is so shaped as to provide a circumferential groove 26 into which screws 2! extend holding the cover II in place on the regulator body l6, but at the same time allowing cover I! to be rotated with respect to regulator body 6. Loading compartment 20 is provided with a diaphragm stop or damping member 28 for controlling the efi'ective diaphragm area which in turn will control the discharge pressure of the regulator. Diaphragm stop 28 is in threaded engageissued June 10, 1941. These regulators operate as follows:

The compression spring 23 in loading compartment 20 exerts a pressure upon diaphragm I8. The resulting downward thrust of the diaphragm is transmitted through push-pin 9 and valve stem 8 to tire valve core I, actuating the same.

High pressure gas in container I passes upwardly through the tire valve core, in which its pressure is reduced by throttling action, through the annular passageway H and inlet port 2| to the fluid compartment I9, and thence out of the fluid compartment through outlet port 22.

Should the pressure in the fluid compartment become excessive, the diaphragm will be forced in an upward direction allowing the push-pin 9 to move upwardly, which in turn will release valve stem 8 allowing the valve 1 to close. The valve will remain closed until the pressure in the fluid compartment drops to a point where the compression spring is enabled to force the diaphragm and plunger downward reopening the valve. Constant withdrawal of vapor through outlet port 22 usually results in a throttling action by valve 1 to maintain a constant pressure in compartment l9.

Diaphragm stop 28 provides a means of controlling the pressure in fluid compartment I9 and hence the discharge pressure of the regulator. When the diaphragm stop is in a position as illustrated by regulator E of Figure 2, all of the area of diaphragm I8 is eifective to counteract the pressure of spring 2'3. A definite pressure in fluid compartment l9 will be required to force diaphragm l8 upward sufflciently to release valve stem 8 and allow valve 1 to close. This pressure will be referred to hereinafter as the lower pressure level. When the diaphragm stop is in a position as illustrated by regulator D, the effective diaphragm area is considerably reduced and consequently a higher pressure is required in the fluid chamber to effect the closure of valve 1. This pressure will be referred to hereinafter as the higher pressure level.

Figure 3 illustrates one modification of this invention in which the regulator housing comprises a regulator body 40, a diaphragm clamping ring 46 bolted to the body, and a cover 4| threadably connected to the diaphragm clamping ring, The regulator housing is divided by a suitable diaphragm 44 into two compartments, namely a fluid compartment 42 and a loading compartment 43.- Fluid compartment 42 is provided with an inlet port 53, in communication with tube l0, and an outlet port 54 in communication with conduit 32. Loading compartment 43, which is vented to the atmosphere, contains an expansion spring 45 and a diaphragm backcontact cup 23' and serve to guide cup 23' in its movement.

A conduit 32', of flexible nature, together with suitable connections 3| establishes communication between regulator outlet port 2| and a manifold 33. This manifold is provided with suitable f check valves 34 and 34', a convenient outlet 35 ing plate 5|. Cover 4| is provided with a web 49 which interferes with a stop 48 on the diaphragm clamping ring 46, thereby limiting the amount 01' rotation of the cover. Stop 48 as illustrated in Figure 3 is a long machine screw and is interchangeable with any of the machine screws 41 that secure the diaphragm clamping ring 48 to the regulator body 40. Push-pin 9, tube l0, and connector l2 are substantially the same as corresponding parts in Figure 2. Push-pin 8 is provided with a projection 50 which prevents the push-pin from dropping out when the regulator is disconected from a cylinder.

The operation of this regulator is the same as the operation of the push-pin type illustrated in Figure 2.

Variation of the compression of spring 45 pro- 'pend upon the force of gravity for their operavides a means of controlling the pressure in fluid compartment 42 which is equivalent to the discharge pressure of the regulator. Diaphragm clamping ring 46 is provided with external lefthand threads which are engaged by corresponding internal threads in cover 4|. When cover 4| is rotated in a clockwise direction, the lefthand thread permits it to rise slightly relative to diaphragm-44, relieving some of the compression'in spring 45 thereby reducing the pressure of the spring on diaphragm 44, Since the mount of rotation is limited by stop 48, the spring pressure on top of the diaphragm will be of a definite value causing the regulator to maintain a definite pressure in fluid compartment 42. This pressure will be referred to hereinafter as the lower pressure level. Conversely when the cover is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the compression in the spring is increased, thereby increasing the pressure of the spring on the diaphragm. This in turn will cause the regulator to maintain a somewhat higher pressure in fluid chamber 42; This pressure will be referred to hereinafter as the higher pressure level.

In the operation of a gas dispensing system as illustrated in Figure 1, two regulators of the type disclosed in Figure 2 or Figure 3 are used. In these illustrations, these regulators are used as first stage regulators in conjunction with a second stage regulator 31 of conventional design. Two containers A and B have been provided as sources of gas, one of which is held in reserve until the other is depleted. Suppose it is desired to withdraw gas from container A holding the fluid in container B in reserve until container A becomes virtually exhausted.

Regulator D is' adjusted to operate at its higher pressure level, for example twelve pounds per square inch, while regulator E is adjusted to operate at its lower pressure level, for example eight pounds per square inch. It is evident, since both regulators are in communication with a common manifold H, that there will be no flow from regulator E to the manifold. Therefore, as the customer draws upon the gas supply, withdrawing gas through service line C, gas will be withdrawn from container A through regulator D, conduit F, manifold H, and second stage regulator K. Gas will be withdrawn from container A until it becomes exhausted or until its pressure drops to the point where it will no longer maintain a pressure in manifold H higher than the lower pressure level. When the pressure in the manifold drops below the lower pressure level,

gas will be withdrawn from container B due to the action of pressure regulator E, effecting an automatic change-over of withdrawal from container A to container B. A suitable indicator J, by responding to the change in pressure in manifold H, notifies the customer that container A is exhausted. Container A is then replaced with a charged container. If it is now desirable to hold container A as a reserve source of gas until container B is exhausted, regulator D is adjusted to operate at the lower pressure level while regulator E is adjusted to operate at the higher pressure level. This will insure selective withdrawal from container B until it becomes exhausted whereupon an automatic change-over of withdrawal-will be made from container B to container A.

It is obvious that the gas pressure regulators described herein could be modified so as to contain regulator valves as an integral part of their mechanism. Since these regulators do not detion, it is evident that they 'will operate equally well in any position. Since the gas in the cylinder is usually in liquefied form it will be obvious that if the withdrawal is made below the surface of the liquid the first reduction in pressure will vaporize the-liquefied gas. This would be the case for example where the containers are in the position shown in Figure 1 inverted.

While I have herein described and illustrated two modifications of my invention which are to be taken as preferred examples, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in size, shape, and arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as expressed in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a system for storing and utilizing high pressure gas the combination comprising, a pmrality of. containers for the gas, a service line, a conduit connecting each container to the service line, a gas pressure regulator interposed in each conduit at the container end of the conduit, each gas pressure regulator having an external adjustment member for governing the outlet pressure of the same, the member having limited movement between two extreme positions.

2. In a system for storing and utilizing high pressure gas, the combination comprising, a plurality of containers for the gas, a servic line, a conduit connecting each container to the service line, a gas pressure regulator interposed in each conduit at the container end of the conduit, each regulator including an adjustment member for controlling the outlet pressure of the sam having two extreme positions for producing a high and a low outlet pressure, the high and the low outlet pressures being substantially the same for the regulators.

3. In a system for storing and utilizing high pressure gas the combination comprising, a pair of containers for the gas, a service line, a conduit connecting each container to the service line, a gas pressure regulator interposed in each conduit at the container end of the conduit for reducing 4. In a system for storing and utilizing highpressure gas, the combination comprising, a plurality of containers for the gas, a service line, a conduit connecting each container to the service line, a gas pressure regulator interposed in each conduit at the container end of the conduit, each regulator including anadjustment memberfor controlling the outlet pressure of the same having two extreme positions for producing a high and a low outlet pressure, the difference between the high outlet pressure and the low outlet pressure being small relative to the pressure in the container.

5. In a system for storing and utilizing high pressure gas, the combination comprising, a plurality of containers for the gas, a service line, a conduit connecting each container to the service line,'a gas pressure regulator interposed in each conduit at the container end ofthe conduit, each regulator including an adjustment member-for controlling the outlet pressure of the same having two extreme positions for producing a high and a low outlet pressure, the diiference between the high outlet pressure and the low outlet pressure 6. In a system for storing and utilizing high 7 pressure gas, the combination comprising, a plurality of containers for the gas, a consumers service line, a conduit connectingeach container to the consumer's service line, a valve adjacent the container end of each conduit and havinga gas inlet side and a gas outlet side, a valve operating member associated with each valve normally urged into valve opening position, gas pressure operated means in communication with each conduit on the outletside of the valve coacting with the valve operating member to change the position or the same in response to change in pressure, adjustment means associated with the gas pressure operated means and having limited movement between two extreme positions.

7. In a system for storing and utilizing high pressure gas, the combination comprising, a plurality of containers for the gas, a consumer'sservice line, a conduit connecting each container to the consumer's service line, a valve adjacent the container end of each conduit and having a gas inlet side and a ga outlet side, a valve operating member associated with each valve normally urged into valve opening position, gas pressure operated means in communication with each conduit on the outlet side of the valve co-acting with the valve operating member to change the position of the same in response to change in pressure,

adjustment means associated with the gas pres-' sure operated means and having limited movement between two extreme positions.

8. In a system for storing and utilizing high pressure gas, the combination comprising, a plurality of containers for the gas, a consumer's service line, a conduit connecting each container to the consumer's service line, a valve adjacent the container, end of each conduit and having a gas inlet side and a gas outlet side, a valve operating member associated with each valve normally urged into valve opening position, a diaphragm in communication with the outlet side of the valve, the diaphragm having co-action with the valve operating member such that the position of the valve operating member is changed in response to change in pressure on the diaphragm, and a housing for the diaphragm having a rotatable section and means acting between the rotatable section and the diaphragm to change the pressure response of the diaphragm on rotation of the duit co-acting with the spring means to operate I the valve.

10. In a system for storing and utilizing fluid under pressure, comprising a plurality of containers for the fluid, a service line, condults.connecting the interior of the containers to the service line, a control valve in each conduit adjacent the container end, each valve having an inlet side and an outlet side; a diaphragm in communication with each conduit on the outlet side of the control valve movable in response to pressure changes in the conduit, valve operating elements acting between the diaphragms and the control valves on movement of the diaphragms, resilient means acting on each diaphragm tending to move the same into valve opening position, and additional means independently coacting with the diaphragms to change the relative pressure response characteristics of the diaphragms.

11. In a system for storing and utilizing fluid under pressure, comprising a plurality of containers for the fluid, a service line, conduits connecting the interior of the containers to the service line, a control valve in each conduit adjacent the container end, each valve having an inlet side and an outlet side, a check valve in each conduit on the outlet side of the control valve to prevent reverse flow through the conduit, a diaphragm in communication with each conduit on the outlet side or the control valve movable in response to pressure changes in the conduit, valve operating elements acting between the diaphragms and the control valves on movement of the dlaphragms, resilient means acting on each diaphragm tending to move the same into valve opening position, and additional means independently co-acting with the diaphragms to change the relative pressure response characteristics of the diaphragms.

12. In a system for storing and utilizing fluid under pressure, comprising a plurality of containers for the fluid, a service line, conduits connecting the interior of the containers to the service line, a control valve in each conduit adjacent the container end, each valve having an inlet side and an outlet side, a diaphragm in communication with each conduit on the outlet side of the control valve movable in response to pressure changes in the conduit, valve operating elements acting between the diaphragms and the control valves on. movement of the diaphragms, resilient means acting on each diaphragm tending to move the same into valve opening position, and a diaphragm restraining element for each diaphragm movable into contact with the diaphragm to change the pressure response characteristic of the same.

13. A system for storing and utilizing high pressure fluid comprising a plurality of containers for the fluid, a service line, a plurality of low pressure hoses connected to the service line, a connection member for fluid withdrawal on each container, a connector on the free end of each hose removably connected to the container at the connection member, and a pressure reducing means associated with each container for reduclng the pressure of the fluid withdrawn therefrom.

14. A system for storing and utilizing high pressure fluid comprising a plurality of containers for the fluid, a service line, a plurality of low pressure hoses connected to the service line, a connection member for fluid withdrawal on each container, a connector on the free end of each hose removably connected to the container at the connection member, check valve means for preventing back flow of fluid through the hoses, and a pressure reducing means associated with each container for reducing the pressure of the fluid withdrawn therefrom.

15. A system for storing and utilizing high pressure fluid comprising a plurality of containers for the fluid, a service line, a plurality of low pressure hoses connected to the service line. a connection member for fluid Withdrawal on each container, a connector on the free end of each hose removably connected to the container at the connection member, a valve associated with each connection member closing the container, and gas pressure operated means in communication with the hose and having a valve operating member for opening and closing the container valve associated therewith.

16. A system for storing and utilizing high pressure fluid comprising a plurality of containers for the fluid, a service line, a plurality of low pressure hoses connected to the service line, a connection member for fluid withdrawal on each container, a connector on the free end of each hose removably connected to the container at the connection member, a valve associated with each connection member closing the container, a valve operating member associated with each connector for opening and closing the valve, and a gas pressure operated means in communication with each hose for actuating the valve operating member.

17. In a system for storing and utilizing high pressure gas, the combination comprising a plurality of containers for the gas, a service line, a conduit connecting each container with the service line, a gas pressure regulator in each conduit, each regulator including an adjustment member for controlling the outlet pressure of the same between upper and lower values, one of the regulator being set at a relatively high outlet pressure at the same time another is set at a lower outlet pressure.

18. In a system for storing and utilizing high pressure gas, the combination comprising a pluiality of containers for the gas, a service line, a conduit connecting each container with the service line, a gas pressure regulator in each conduit, each regulator including an adjustment member for controlling the outlet pressure of the same, having two extreme positions for producing a high and a low outlet pressure, the high and the 10w outlet pressure being substantially the same for the regulators, one of the regulators being set at a relatively high outlet pressure at the same time another is set at a lower outlet pressure.

19. In a system for storing and utilizing high pressure gas, the combination comprising a plurality of containers for the gas, a service line, a conduit connecting each container with the service line, a gas pressure regulator in each conduit, each regulator including an external adjustment member for controlling the outlet pressure of the same between upper and lower values, one of the regulators being set at a relatively high outlet pressure at the same time another is set at a lower outlet pressure.

20. In a system for storing and utilizing high pressure gas, the combination comprising a plurality of containers for the gas, a consumers service line, a conduit connecting each container with the service line, a valve controlling each conduit and having a gas inlet side and a gas outlet side, a valve operating member associated with each valve normally urged into valve opening position, gas pressure operated means in communication with each conduit on the outlet side of the valve coacting with the valve operating member to change the position of the same in response to change in pressure, adjustment means associated with the gas pressure operated means and having limited movement between two extreme Positions.

21. In a system for storing and utilizing high pressure gas, the combination comprising a plurality of containers for the gas, a consumers service line, a conduit connecting each container with the service line, a valve controlling each conduit and having a gas inlet side and a gas outlet side, a valve operating member associated with each valve, spring means associated with each valve operating member normally urging the same into valve opening position, gas pressure operated means in communication with each conduit 0n the outlet side of the valve coacting with the spring means to operate the valve, external adjustment means acting on said spring means and having limited movement between two extreme positions to selectively act on said spring means in an opposite manner.

ROSSWELL W. THOMAS.

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