Apparatus and method for dispensing and refilling highly pressurized gases

Abstract

An apparatus ( 60 ) for dispensing gas stored in a highly pressurized container ( 61 ) and then refilling the container ( 61 ) with more gas. The apparatus includes a regulator ( 30 ) that in turn includes a first valve assembly ( 5, 6, 7, 8 ) on a first gas flow path to permit the flow of gas from the container ( 61 ) into the regulator ( 30 ) and to maintain a substantially constant output gas pressure or speed, regardless of the internal pressure of the highly pressurized gas container ( 61 ). The regulator ( 30 ) also includes a second valve assembly ( 2, 13, 17, 18, 19 ) on a second gas flow path to refill the container ( 61 ) with highly pressurized gas and to seal the second gas flow path at times when the container ( 61 ) needs not be refilled. The over-pressure relief mechanism ( 9, 10, 11, 12 ) of the regulator ( 30 ) releases gas from the highly pressurized container ( 61 ) in response to a condition where the internal pressure of the container ( 61 ) exceeds one and two thirds of the maximum internal pressure of the container ( 61 ).

1 . A regulator for providing a substantially constant outlet gas pressure with varying inlet gas pressure, the regulator comprising: 
 a pin valve and sealing disc for inter-engagement so as to releasably seal an outlet gas flow path, the pin valve having a pin portion extending through the sealing disc such that depression of the pin portion disengages the pin valve from the sealing disc and breaks the seal;    a diaphragm forming a cavity downstream of the seal and configured to depress the pin portion of the pin valve, and having an outlet port having a flow constriction;    an actuator for applying force to a diaphragm engagement spring, which in turn applies force to the diaphragm so as to engage the pin portion of the pin valve;    wherein a gas pressure within the cavity opposes the force of the diaphragm engagement spring on the diaphragm, such that the pin valve is controllably disengaged from the sealing disc and a substantially constant pressure is maintained within the cavity during actuation of the actuator, such that a substantially constant outlet pressure/gas speed is provided through said outlet port.    
   
   
       2 . A method of regulating gas flow to provide a substantially constant outlet gas pressure with varying inlet gas pressure, the method comprising: 
 providing a releasable seal of a gas flow path;    providing a cavity downstream of the releasable seal;    applying an actuation force to release said seal such that gas flows past said released seal into said cavity;    applying a gas pressure within said cavity against the actuation force, such that the seal is controllably released and a gas pressure within said cavity remains substantially constant; and    providing an outlet gas port having a constriction for egress of gas from said cavity.    
   
   
       3 . A device for regulating the flow of pressurized gas into and out of a pressurized container, comprising: 
 a first gas flow path for the flow of gas from the pressurized container; and    a second gas flow path for the flow of gas into the pressurized container.    
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 3  further comprising a third gas flow path for the flow of gas from the pressurized container when the pressurized container is over-pressurized.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus capable of dispensing gas stored in a highly pressurized container and then refilling the container with more gas, comprising: 
 a regulator, the regulator including a first valve assembly on a first gas flow path permitting the flow of gas from the container into the regulator and maintaining a substantially constant output gas pressure or speed, regardless of the internal pressure of the highly pressurized gas container; and a second valve assembly on a second gas flow path for refilling the container with highly pressurized gas and sealing the second gas flow path when the container is not being refilled.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first valve assembly includes a pin valve and a sealing disc the pin valve engaging the sealing disc to releasably seal the outlet gas flow path.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein a pin portion of the pin valve extends through the sealing disc such that depression of the pin portion disengages the pin valve from the sealing disc and breaks the seal.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the first valve assembly also includes a diaphragm forming a cavity downstream of the seal and configured to depress the pin portion of the pin valve, and having an outlet port providing flow constriction.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the first valve assembly further includes an actuator for applying force to a diaphragm engagement spring, which in turn applies force to the diaphragm so that a pin engagement end of the diaphragm engages the pin portion of the pin valve.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein a gas pressure within the cavity opposes the force of the diaphragm engagement spring on the diaphragm, such that the pin valve is controllably disengaged from the sealing disc and a substantially constant pressure is maintained within the cavity during actuation of the actuator, such that a substantially constant outlet pressure/gas speed is provided through said outlet port.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein a gas filter is present along the first gas flow path to capture particulates in the gas flowing from the highly pressurized container.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second valve assembly includes a filler valve needle and an O-ring.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the O-ring is positioned externally of the filler valve needle and an engagement of the filler valve needle with the O-ring forms a seal of the second gas flow path.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the refilling process may be effected by applying an external pressure greater than an internal pressure of the pressurized container and/or the pressure applied by a spring, such that the filling valve needle is forced away from the O-ring by the external pressure, thereby opening the second gas flow path.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including an over-pressure relief mechanism to release gas from the highly pressurized container in response to a condition where the internal pressure of the container exceeds one and two thirds of the maximum internal pressure of the container.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the over-pressure relief mechanism includes a burst disc which will burst or tear when the internal pressure of the container is between one and two thirds of the maximum internal pressure of the container and greater than or equal to 90% of one and two third of the maximum internal pressure.  
   
   
       17 . A gas dispensing apparatus comprising: 
 a pressure vessel including a pressure bearing wall defining an internal chamber for housing a gas and an opening through the pressure bearing wall to the internal chamber;    a regulator including a valve assembly for dispensing gas from the internal chamber through an outlet gas flow path, the valve assembly defining a preexhaust pressure regulating cavity in the outlet gas flow path;    an actuator assembly for operating the valve assembly to release gas from the pressure vessel.    
   
   
       18 . The gas dispensing apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the valve assembly further includes a pin valve, a pin valve spring biasing the pin valve into a closed position against a sealing disc.  
   
   
       19 . The gas dispensing apparatus according to  claim 18  where in the pin valve includes a pin portion smaller than an aperture of the sealing disc.  
   
   
       20 . The gas dispensing apparatus according to  claim 18  where in the pin valve includes a pin portion slidably and sealably received in an aperture of the sealing disc, and the pin portion defining a gas passageway bypassing the seal between the pin portion and the sealing disc when the pin valve is in an open position, and thereby forming a portion of the outlet gas flow path.  
   
   
       21 . The gas dispensing apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the preexhaust pressure regulating cavity varies in size depending on the pressure in the preexhuast cavity.  
   
   
       22 . A gas dispensing apparatus comprising: 
 a pressure vessel including a pressure bearing wall defining an internal chamber for housing a gas and an opening through the pressure bearing wall to the internal chamber;    a regulator including a valve assembly for dispensing gas from the internal chamber through an outlet gas flow path, the valve assembly including a diaphragm defining an internal passageway forming a portion of the outlet gas flow path;    an actuator assembly for operating the valve assembly to release gas from the pressure vessel.    
   
   
       23 . A gas dispensing apparatus comprising: 
 a pressure vessel including a pressure bearing wall defining an internal chamber for housing a gas and an opening through the pressure bearing wall to the internal chamber;    a regulator including a valve assembly for dispensing gas from the internal chamber through an outlet gas flow path, the valve assembly including a movable diaphragm defining a preexhuast pressure regulating cavity, and the diaphragm being biased by a regulator spring toward a small cavity position; and    an actuator assembly for operating the valve assembly to release gas from the pressure vessel.