Fluid handling – Line condition change responsive valves – Pilot or servo controlled
Patent
1995-04-07
1996-04-30
Hepperle, Stephen M.
Fluid handling
Line condition change responsive valves
Pilot or servo controlled
137209, B65D 9044, B64D 3732
Patent
active
055115802
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The subject of the present invention is a device for the inert rendering of a storage container, using a cylinder of pressurized inert gas, which has a pressurizing pipe and an inert-rendering pipe which are intended to be connected to the storage container, and an inert-gas intake pipe intended to be connected to the cylinder of inert gas. The invention relates more particularly to a device for low-pressure inert-rendering.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The inert rendering of a storage container consists of replacing the air existing in the storage container with an inert gas. The inert-rendering is, in particular, employed for the storage of inflammable products, for the storage of products which degrade in contact with the oxygen in the air, or even for reactions under an inert atmosphere. In order to render a storage container inert, it is possible to employ various methods, for example a method of pressurization/depressurization or of scavenging by the chosen inert gas. These methods enable the concentration of oxygen in the storage container to be gradually lowered.
The pressure of the inert gas in the storage container is called "inert-rendering pressure". Generally, this pressure is slightly greater than ambient pressure, so that leaks between the storage container and ambient atmosphere do not lead to a decrease in the quality of the inert-rendering.
The problem which the invention is provided to solve is that of maintaining the inert-rendering pressure. In fact, during the use of the storage container and once inert-rendering has been achieved (for example by pressurization/depressurization), manifold factors tend to cause the inert-rendering pressure to decrease. Leading off the product held in the storage container decreases the inert-rendering pressure. Temperature variations of the walls of the storage container may have the same effect. It is therefore necessary to maintain the inert-rendering pressure at its rated value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Systems exist enabling this function to be fulfilled. These systems are generally dedicated systems which are fairly complicated, difficult to move and expensive to service. They generally have a device for adjusting the pressure in the enclosure to be rendered inert, which involves a bypass of the adjustment point, which is difficult to control. These systems are not always effective for very low pressures, and often display a random behaviour in ranges of pressure below 10 mb. They do not enable the maximum inert-rendering flow rate to be adjusted and they require a significant supply pressure.
The present invention enables the drawbacks of these systems to be overcome. In the inert-rendering device according to the invention, the pressure in the enclosure to be rendered inert is fixed by construction, which avoids any bypassing. The device remains effective for very low pressures, with high accuracy. It has a maximum inert-rendering flow rate which is variable and easily adjustable. Finally, it operates even with very low supply pressures. The invention provides a reliable system, which ensures rapid inert-rendering and which is capable of being easily adjusted in order to be fitted to various storage containers or adapted to various pressures. The inert-rendering device according to the invention consists of elements which are simple and available on the market, which allows rapid servicing and limits its cost.
The subject of the present invention is a device for the inert-rendering of a storage container, using a cylinder of pressurized inert gas, which has a pressurizing pipe and an inert-rendering pipe which are intended to be connected to the storage container, and an inert-gas intake pipe intended to be connected to the cylinder of inert gas. According to the invention, the device comprises a pilot valve, having one control inlet, one outlet and two inlets which are capable of communicating alternately with said outlet, depending on the pressure at the said control inlet, and a supply valve having one control inl
REFERENCES:
patent: 1982045 (1934-11-01), Clithero et al.
patent: 3227171 (1966-01-01), Woelfel
patent: 3788341 (1974-01-01), Athy et al.
patent: 3820562 (1974-06-01), Roberts
patent: 5048559 (1991-09-01), Mathieu et al.
Elf Atochem S.A.
Hepperle Stephen M.
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