Valve for a pressurised fluid, and container provided with such a valve

0001The present invention relates to a valve for pressurized fluid and a reservoir provided with such a valve.

0002The invention relates more particularly to a valve for pressurized fluid, with or without integrated pressure regulator, comprising a body housing a fluid circuit having an upstream end for linking with a supply of pressurized fluid and a downstream end intended to be placed in connection with a user device, the circuit comprising an isolation valve for selectively closing the circuit, the valve being controlled by a lever pivotally mounted on the body between a rest position in which the isolation valve is maintained in a circuit closing position and an active position in which the lever moves the isolation valve in a circuit opening position.

0003The invention relates in particular to the fluid pressure valves, including pressurized gas, including a manual actuator lever type swivel.

0004Non-limiting examples of such valves are disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP1421305B1"><text>EP1421305B1</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP747796A"><text>EP747796</text></patcit> or <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="EP1421305A"><text>EP1421305</text></patcit>.

0005The inventors strive to continually improve the technical solutions for users of pressurized fluid valves.

0006In particular, it is desirable to provide pressurized fluid to valves which retain or increase the number of functions without increasing the volume or size (and preferably by reducing their size or volume). Indeed, ideally, the valves shall be able to adapt to different sizes and form of protective caps.

0007The document <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US3035605A"><text>US3035605</text></patcit> discloses a faucet according to the preamble of claim 1 wherein, in the closed position, one end of the forked lever is placed astride a filling coupling / withdrawal to allow a nut then fixed to the connecting block lever in closed position.

0008In addition, the increase in strength and or the safety of such device is always desirable.

0009An object of the present invention to improve at least some of the characteristics of the fluid under pressure taps. The object is achieved according to claim 1.

0010The invention thus makes it possible to improve the compactness of the valve and, if applicable, provides additional protection from the tap.

0011According to other possible features: <ul><li>the tap comprises a measuring element of a physical quantity of the fluid in the circuit, the measuring device comprising a display, the opening of the lever having a shape conjugate with the display of the measuring member when the lever is in its rest position, at least a portion of the display of the measuring element is housed in the opening of the lever, that is to say that the display is at least partially surrounded by the body of lever fits into the volume of the lever,</li><li>the tap comprises a measuring element of a physical quantity of the fluid in the circuit, the measuring device comprising a display, the opening of the lever having a shape conjugate with the display of the measuring member when the lever is in its active position or an intermediate position between the operative position and the rest position, at least a portion of the display of the measuring element is housed in the opening of the lever, that is to say the display is at least partially surrounded by the lever body and fits within the volume of the lever,</li><li>the measuring element is a pressure gauge indicator for pressure or content,</li><li>the lever comprises one or reinforcements forming cross between two ends of the opening,</li><li>when the lever is in at least one of the active positions or rest, at least a portion termed "support" of the lever cooperates in abutment with the valve body so as to limit movement of the lever,</li><li>one end of the lever is articulated to the body and at least a bearing portion of the lever is located near the axis of articulation of the lever,</li><li>at least a bearing portion of the lever is located near the end of the lever which is opposite to the hinge axis,</li><li>the opening is circular, oval, square, rectangular or parallelepiped and is located near an end of the lever,</li><li>the lever is made of a plastic material and / or a metal molded material,</li><li>the lever is composed of a stamped metal material.</li></ul>

0012The invention also relates to a pressurized fluid container comprising a tap according to any of the features above or below.

0013Other features and advantages will appear on reading the following description, with reference to the figures in which:<ul><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> shows a perspective view, partial schematic illustrating a possible example of pressurized gas valve according to the invention mounted in the neck of a bottle of pressurized fluid, </li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> shows a side view schematic of a detail of the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, Illustrating the structure and operation of a rocking lever for actuating a valve,</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">3</figref> shows a perspective view of a detail of another possible embodiment of a valve lever of the invention.</li></ul>

0014The valve illustrated by way of non limiting example in <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> comprises a body 1 comprising a threaded base 14 mounted in the orifice of a tank 12 of pressurized gas. The body 1 has a circuit 2 for withdrawing fluid having the 3 input end for linking with the storage volume of a reservoir 12 of fluid under pressure and a downstream end 4 destined to be connected with an apparatus user.

0015The downstream end 4 of the circuit 2 may open into an outlet fitting 13 for connection to a pipe and / or a gas supplied by the valve user apparatus. The valve may optionally include a connector 13 to separate filling with a valve (not shown) for injecting gas into the tank 12 via an internal circuit to the tap (separate or partly common to circuit 2 bleed) .

0016Conventionally, the circuit 2 withdrawal may include such control bodies a pressure reducing valve, a valve residual pressure, ...

0017Circuit 2 comprises in particular filling a valve 5 of insulation (see schematically in <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>) For selectively interrupting the flow of gas. In the case where the valve includes a pressure regulator, the valve 5 may be disposed upstream or downstream of the regulator.

0018The valve also comprises a manometer 7 measures the pressure in the circuit 2 of racking, for example upstream of the valve 5.

0019The valve may also include a knob 15 for manually controlling the flow and / or the pressure delivered by the tap.

0020The valve 5 is controlled by a lever 8 pivotally mounted on the body 1 of the valve between a rest position in which the valve 5 of insulation is maintained in a circuit closing position 2 (solid lines to <figref idrefs="f0001">Figures 1 and 2</figref>) And an active position in which the lever 8 moves the valve 5 of insulation in a circuit opening position 2 (see dashed lines in <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>).

0021For example, rotation of the lever 8 selectively actuates a valve-member 16 pushes.

0022For example, in its rest position, the lever 8 is positioned against or along the valve body 1, preferably in a stable position.

0023In its active position (preferably stable), the lever 8 is for example shifted by a non-zero angle relative to the rest position.

0024In this nonlimiting example, the lever 8 is articulated (axis 11) at one of its ends and, in the rest position, the free end of the lever 8 is oriented towards the base 14 of the valve. Of course, this configuration is not exhaustive. For example, it is possible to envisage a rest position with the lever 8 facing away from the base (up), or in any direction (to the side) and any suitable predetermined angle. Similarly to the active position which can be defined in any other direction and angle relative to the body 1.

0025According to an advantageous feature, lever 8 comprises at least one opening 6 and, when the lever 8 is in its rest position, the opening 6 accommodates therein at least a portion of the manometer 7.

0026That is to say that the pressure gauge 7 (at least part of its display) is inscribed in Volume 8 of the lever.

0027This configuration allows to increase the compactness of the assembly. Moreover, the lever 8 thus provides additional protection of the manometer 7, but also of the valve user. In position around the manometer 7, the lever 8 form an additional protective framework for protecting the manometer 7 direct or indirect impact without requiring additional parts. In addition, this framework formed by the lever 8 also form a strapping holding the gauge in case of failure of the latter (eg in case of gauge 7 eject risk subjected to high pressure).

0028This increases the reliability and lifetime of the assembly.

0029Of course, the invention is not limited to this embodiment.

0030Thus, it is possible to envisage an alternative or cumulative configuration in which, when the lever 8 is in its active position, the opening 6 accommodates therein a further portion of the body 1 of the valve and / or a block member mounted on the body 1 of the faucet.

0031Similarly, reciprocating or cumulatively, it is possible to envisage a configuration in which in an intermediate position of the lever 8 (when moved between its rest and active positions), the opening 6 passes around at least a portion of the body 1 of the valve and / or a block member mounted on the body 1 of the valve.

0032This increases the compactness of the assembly.

0033In the example described, the opening 6 is circular and combined from the circular shape of the manometer 7. Of course, the shape and / or orientation of the opening 6 may be different and complementary to any other form of any other faucet body (flowmeter selector member to float, temperature sensor ...).

0034Similarly, the opening 6 can be carried out by a cutting and / or one or more folds or bends 8 of the lever.

0035And the opening 6 may be delimited by a closed contour as illustrated in FIGS. Of course, alternatively the opening 6 may be delimited by an open profile, that is to say for example by bending a material which does not close on itself (e.g. in the manner of the loop 'a question mark).

0036As shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>When the lever 8 is in its rest position, at least one said portion 10 "support" of the lever 8 cooperates in abutment with the body 1 of the valve so as to limit movement of the lever 8 toward the body 1.

003710 the bearing portion of the lever 8 is for example located near the axis 11 of articulation of the lever 6. Of course, a similar bearing portion may be provided at the free end of lever or its middle part. This will further enhance the strength of the assembly because the support can optionally limit the deformation of the lever 8 in case of major shocks.

0038In the variant of the <figref idrefs="f0001">3</figref>The lever 8 has one or more reinforcements 9 forming cross between two ends of the opening 6. These reinforcements 9 form an additional protection (shocks, ejections) of the manometer 7 without significantly affecting the continuous reading of pressure gauge 7 dial.

0039As shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>The free end 116 of the lever 8 may have a tapered limiting possible snagging the finger of a user during handling.

0040Preferably, when the opening 6 Tap hosts within it a portion of the valve body and / or a portion of a functional body there is no mechanical coupling between the opening 6 and the portion received.

0041It can therefore easily that, while being of a simple and inexpensive structure, the structure according to the invention makes it possible to improve the compactness and optionally the strength of the tap.

0042The invention may also relate to any alternative device or method comprising any combination of the above characteristics.