Patent ID: 6135170
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: F17C

Abstract:
An apparatus for filling at least one container with a gas at a pre-selected pressure comprising a fixed volume vessel for containing the gas at a pressure P.sub.1, a line extending from the fixed volume vessel to a buffer volume vessel, a pressure controller for monitoring and controlling the pressure of gas in said line so that said gas reaches the buffer volume vessel at a pressure P.sub.2 where P.sub.2 is less than P.sub.1, a further line extending from the buffer volume vessel to at least one filling nozzle, a mass flow controller located downstream of said pressure controller, thereby effecting a constant leak which matches the minimum downturn of said pressure controller, a valve located in the further line for controlling the flow of gas from the buffer volume vessel to the or each gas capsule to be filled, and wherein the buffer volume vessel has a capacity which is greater than the volume or the sum of the volumes of the containers to be filled.