Pressurized gas vessel port assembly

A pressurized gas vessel port assembly incorporating a wall; a port extending through the wall; a nipple extending inwardly from the wall and having a hollow bore communicating with the port; a plug received within the hollow bore for movement between first and second positions, the plug residing at an inner end of the nipple at the first position and being displaced outwardly from the first position upon movement toward the second position; a venturi port opening the first nipple's hollow bore, the venturi being positioned outwardly from the first position for inducing an outward flow of the gas within the hollow bore; and incorporating a seat which outwardly overlies the venturi port, the seat being fitted for, upon a completion of the outward movement of the plug toward the second position, annularly contacting the plug and staunching the outward gas flow.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to vessels, tanks, and bottles which are adapted for storing and dispensing pressurized gas such as oxygen or acetylene. More particularly, this invention relates to safety assemblies which are mechanically associated with such vessels for preventing catastrophic releases of pressurized gases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

High pressure rated vessels such as oxygen bottles and acetylene bottles commonly comprise a hermetically walled chamber which is capable of storing and allowing controlled dispensation of a volume of the pressurized gas. The walls of such vessels commonly form a nipple which mounts a stop cock or on/off valve. A violent impinging contact against a pressure vessel's stop cock valves, such as an accidental contact with a floor upon mishandling and dropping of the vessel, may break the valve at its attachment neck or may tear the valve away from its threaded mount within the vessel's nipple. Upon such accidental valve breakage, a violent emission of the pressurized gas may commence, causing the nipple to forcefully emit the gas in the manner of a rocket nozzle. Such accidental violent gas emission may undesirably propel the vessel through spaces occupied by persons or valuable property, causing injury, death, and property damage.

The instant inventive pressurized gas vessel port assembly solves or ameliorates the problems and challenges discussed above by providing a specially adapted inwardly extending nipple including and supporting a slidably mounted plug element which instantaneously mechanically reacts to a gas pressure release event of the type described above to staunch the flow of the gas.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises a section or portion of a wall of a pressurized gas vessel, such wall section having a high pressure inner side, and having a relatively low pressure outer side. In a preferred embodiment, the vessel wall section component is positioned at the vessel's upper end, and includes specialized mechanical features which are described and discussed below.

A further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises a port or through channel which completely traverses the vessel wall section component from its inner end to its outer end.

A further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises a first nipple which has a hollow bore. The first nipple necessarily extends inwardly from the vessel wall, and the first nipple is preferably positioned so that its hollow bore communicates with the port component.

A further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises a plug which is slidably and/or rollably mounted and received within the hollow bore of the first nipple. In the preferred embodiment, the plug component is spherical and is movable between first and second positions. At the first position, the plug rests at an inner end of the first nipple and, upon movement of the plug to the second position, the plug displaces outwardly from the first position to seal against an outwardly overlying reduced diameter annular surface. In a preferred embodiment, the plug is normally negatively buoyant within the compressed gas environment of the vessel, and is biased downwardly by gravity against a slide stop which may partially occlude the first nipple's lower or inner opening.

A further structural component of the instant inventive vessel wall port assembly comprises at least a first venturi which is preferably connected operatively to or is formed wholly with the first nipple's side wall. In a preferred embodiment, the at least first venturi comprises at least a first aspiration port which is adapted for, upon an exposure of the outer end of the port to a low pressure environment (e.g., atmospheric pressure), inducing an outward flow of gas within the first nipple's hollow bore. In the preferred embodiment, such venturi is positioned to underlie the vessel wall and to outwardly overlie the plug's slide stopped first position.

The reduced diameter annular surface component of the instant inventive assembly preferably comprises a valve seat which is fitted for hermetically sealing against an outer end of the plug component. In the preferred embodiment, such seat component is operatively positioned to underlie the outer opening of the port, and to overlie the at least first venturi, such positioning allowing the plug to pass outwardly beyond the venturi without allowing any outward passage of the plug from the port.

In operation of the instant inventive pressurized gas vessel port assembly, a stop cock valve which is threadedly mounted to an outer end of the port may accidentally come into striking contact with a floor surface or other object. Such contact may break the valve or may tear the valve away from its threaded vessel port mounting, resulting in an immediate forceful outward emission of gas. The onset of such accidental gas flow substantially instantaneously actuates the invention's venturi component to induce a pressure differentiating flow of the gas within the hollow bore of the inwardly extending nipple. Such pressure differentiating flow advantageously causes the plug component to buoyantly rise within the nipple bore, and to move toward its second position. Hermetic annular sealing contact of the plug with the seat component is quickly established at the plug's second position within the hollow nipple bore. Accordingly, upon such accidental stop cock valve breakage, the instant inventive assembly substantially immediately terminates and prevents the forceful emission of the gas.

In a useful alternative embodiment, the inventive assembly incorporates modular and interchangeable components which are commonly useable with multiple gas vessels having similar outwardly extending nipples, such alternative embodiment functionally incorporating a second outwardly extending nipple which is concentrically segmented. In such alternative embodiment, the first nipple suspends from a concentric radially underlying segment of the second nipple.

Accordingly, objects of the instant invention include the provision of a pressure tank port assembly which incorporates structures, as described above, and which arranges those structures in relation to each other in manners described above, for the performance and achievement of the beneficial functions described above.

Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the instant invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to DrawingFIGS. 1-3, a prior art pressurized gas vessel having an installed on/off valve or stop cock valve14is referred to generally by Reference Arrow1. Such pressure vessel has an upper wall section2, and such wall section and the vessel's remaining enclosure hermetically seals and closes a gas containing interior space3. A port8having interior or female helical threads10extends through the wall section2from its high pressure inner side to its lower pressure outer side. Such port8is commonly surrounded by and comprises a hollow bore of an outwardly extending nipple4which provides structural rigidity to and reinforcement of the port8, and provides a vertically lengthened span of the helical threads10for secure valve attachment.

The on/off or stop cock valve14has a tubular base end16which presents exterior or male helical threads18fitted for engagement with and mounting upon the female threads10of the outwardly extending nipple4, such valve14having an outlet port22and an actuator knob20. Helical threads6about the annular outer surface of the nipple4facilitate threaded mounting of a protective cap (not depicted within views).

Pressurized gas vessels such as the prior art tank1may, as a result of mishandling, fall from a raised surface such as a loading dock platform. Such vessels also may become damaged by a vehicle collision experienced during carriage of the vessel upon a truck cargo bed. Such accidental events may, upon occasion, direct extreme lateral forces against the stop cock14, causing it to fracture or tear away from its threaded socket mount8,10within nipple4, resulting in damage12to the nipple4. Such accidental damage to the stop cock14and/or nipple socket8,10may cause an immediate violent release of the pressurized gas from the vessel. Upon such accidental gas release, the nipple4may undesirably function in the manner of a rocket nozzle, potentially accelerating the entire tank through spaces occupied by persons or valuable property. Such vessel rocketing effect is potentially fatal, and the instant invention's primary purpose and objective is to lessen the risk of damage, injury, and death resulting from such pressurized gas vessel accidents.

Referring simultaneously toFIGS. 4 and 5, an upper pressure vessel wall section24has an outlet port30which extends from the high pressure inner surface of wall24to such wall's outer surface. A tubular first nipple36is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the tank wall24, and a hollow bore35of the first nipple36is preferably positioned in alignment and communication with the hollow bore of port30. In the preferred embodiment, such nipple attachment or whole formation extends annularly about the lower or inner lip of the port30.

A movable plug44is preferably slidably received within the hollow bore35of the inwardly extending first nipple36, and a slide stop40is preferably positioned at the extreme inner end of the nipple36for retaining the plug44within the hollow interior35, and for resisting any inward movement of the plug44beyond the lower or inner end of the nipple36. In the preferred embodiment, such slide stop40is annularly configured and forms and defines a restricted diameter downwardly opening back pressure relieving port42.

A on/off or stop cock valve46having a tubular base end48is threadedly mounted by male threads50upon female threads34which radially inwardly define the outer end of port30. In normal operation of the instant invention, knob45may be turned counter-clockwise to open the valve46and to emit a moderate flow of pressurized gas such as oxygen or acetylene into an output line47. During such normal outward flow, the gas travels from the interior space26of the vessel into the interior35of the nipple36via an at least a first venturi port or gas aspiration port38. Such normal gas flow is directed outwardly toward port30, resulting in a relatively small pressure differential between the inner surface of the plug44which is exposed over port42, and the upper surfaces of such plug. Calibrated weighting of the plug44assures that negative buoyancy of the plug is maintained during such normal gas flow, and during negative buoyancy conditions, the plug44advantageously remains at its normal inward and slide stopped first position.

FIG. 6shows the stop cock valve46accidentally broken away and shows resultant damage52to the threads34of a second outwardly extending nipple component28. Upon such accidental breakage, gas flow from the vessel's interior26through the venturi ports38, instantaneously increases to a level markedly greater than that which is experienced during normal usage and normal gas output flow. Such increased gas flow increases the pressure differential between the inner surfaces of plug44exposed within port42and the upper surfaces of such plug, causing the plug44to buoyantly rise away from its first position within the hollow nipple bore35. Upon commencement of such buoyant rising of the plug44toward its second position, the plug typically outwardly accelerates until it contacts and annularly nests against a convexly fitted annular seat46. In the preferred embodiment, such seat46is positioned above or outwardly from the gas aspirating venturi38, and inwardly from the extreme outer end of the port30.

In the preferred embodiment, the plug44has a weight which is marginally greater than that which is necessary to maintain negative buoyancy within a maximum gas pressure environment and during a maximum normal rate of gas flow. Upon the selection and incorporation of a plug having such calibrated weight, the increased gas flow resulting from a valve breakage event will always markedly exceed such normal gas flow, guaranteeing an onset of positive buoyancy for seating the plug and staunching the gas flow.

In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of gas aspirating second venturi ports38are additionally circumferentially arrayed about the annular periphery of the inwardly extending nipple36. As an alternative means of adjusting and calibrating the plug raising venturi force produced by ports38during normal gas flow, one or more of the venturis may be advantageously vertically oblongated as indicated by the dashed line venturi38adrawn uponFIG. 5. Such vertical venturi oblongation may advantageously allow a durable and relatively light plastic plug44to maintain negative buoyancy during normal gas flow levels. Adjustments to the diameter of the plug in relation to the diameter of the nipple and/or adjustments to the length of the nipple represent further alternative means for maintaining an appropriately low venturi force during normal gas flow.

The spherically drawn plug component44is representative of other cylindrically shaped plugs having a convex upper or outer ends. Notwithstanding, the depicted spherical plug44is preferred because such plug shape advantageously allows the plug to rollably move under the force of gravity toward its seated second position upon an accidental upsetting of the tank, such rolling motion being independent of buoyancy/venturi propulsion.

Referring simultaneously toFIGS. 7-12, an advantageous alternative embodiment of the instant inventive pressurized gas vessel port assembly is presented. In theFIGS. 7-12embodiment, the outwardly extending second nipple component59forms and defines a port78which extends through wall54of a pressure vessel61. Such ported outwardly extending second nipple59is preferably concentrically segmented to include a radially overlying segment56and a radially underlying segment58. Helical threads57are preferably provided at the annular joint between the concentric nipple segments56and58, such threads advantageously allowing screw turning of the radially underlying segment58to assemble and disassemble the second nipple59.

In theFIGS. 7-12embodiment, an inwardly extending nipple64is configured substantially identically with the inwardly extending nipple36of theFIGS. 4-6embodiment, with the exception that the upper or outer end of nipple64is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the lower or inner end60of the radially underlying segment58of the second outwardly extending nipple59. In the preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the inwardly extending first nipple64is less than the inside diameter of the radially overlying segment56of the outwardly extending second nipple59so that, upon threaded installations and deinstallations of the radially underlying segment58into and out of the radially overlying segment56, such first nipple64may freely pass through the hollow bore of radially overlying segment56.

A helically threaded coupler, preferably in the form of an internally helically threaded socket82, is preferably fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the outer end of the second nipple's radially underlying segment58. In the preferred embodiment, such coupler and nipple segment interconnection comprises a wholly formed ring segment80whose undersurface advantageously functions as a screw turning installation stop. The socket82preferably has exterior wrench jaw lands85, and has interior helical threads84which match, referring toFIG. 3, the nipple threads10of a common pressure vessel1. Male threads57extending about concentric nipple segment58preferably similarly match such threads10.

In assembling theFIGS. 7-12embodiment, the outwardly extending or second nipple component59may be structurally completed by initially downwardly or inwardly extending the first nipple64concentrically through the radially overlying second nipple segment56. Thereafter, wrench jaws may be engaged with lands85of coupler82, and a screw threading installation of the radially underlying nipple segment58may proceed. Continuation of such screw threading causes the second nipple64to occupy the installed position ofFIG. 9.

Upon such modular assembly of components, the first nipple64suspends inwardly or downwardly from the lower or inner aspect of second nipple59in the same manner as the downward extension ofFIG. 5's nipple36from the inner aspect of that embodiment's second nipple28. Thereafter, the external helical threads86of the base tube88of stop cock valve90may be mounted within helically threaded socket82in the same manner as the threaded valve mount of the prior artFIG. 1installation, and in the same manner as the threaded mounting of valve46within the nipple28of theFIGS. 4-6embodiment.

Following pressurization of the vessel61, and during normal operation of theFIGS. 7-12embodiment, plug71remains negatively buoyantly biased by gravity to the lower or inner end of nipple64, and rests upon the outer surface of slide stop68. Normal rates of radially inward gas flow through venturi ports62, and thence outwardly along bore66, maintains such normal negative buoyancy and downward first positioning of the plug71.

In the event that the valve90is damaged or broken away, cracking damage83to the threads84of the helically threaded socket82and opening of nipple59may occur. However, such damage typically does not interfere with the flow checking function of the plug71. Excess gas ejecting flow resulting from such valve damage enhances the venturi effect of the flow into and outwardly through the bore66. Such enhanced venturi effect induces positive buoyancy which raises the plug71within hollow bore66to upwardly seal at its second position in contact with the annular seat72.

In order to subsequently unseat the gas pressure biased plug71, and to allow a subsequent controlled release of the pressurized gas, a helically threaded channel77and helically threaded plunger76combination may be advantageously provided. Such combination's channel77preferably opens radially inwardly at the surface of the annular seat72. The combination's helically threaded plunger76may normally reside at the upwardly and radially outwardly retracted position indicated inFIG. 9. Upon plug seating as indicated inFIG. 10, and upon clockwise screw turning of the helically threaded plunger76, such plunger travels inwardly to bias its inner end79against the plug71, deflecting the plug71from itsFIG. 10sealed and seated position to the inwardly deflected and unseated position depicted inFIG. 12. Accordingly, upon screw actuation of the plunger76, the vessel may be depressurized in a controlled fashion following damage to the valve90and following actuation of the plug71.