Metering column

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metering column of electronic carousels for the bottling of liquified petroleum gases. This metering column has an integral boddy in vertical arrangement including a basically cylindrical volume which is fixed to the ground through an anchor (20) and in which several sections can be seen from which an upper one is defined by an antideflagrant box (2) which includes a power revolving collector (1). The bottom part includes an electrical power supply (3), whereby the upper section is connected by its base to other two sections of the column with similar characteristic and a basically cylindrical outline.

Description: The invention relates to a metering column of electronic carousels for bottling fluids and, particularly, liquified petroleum gases. The metering column of electronic carousels for bottling liquified petroleum gases of the present invention has many advantages with regard to the preceding known models of metering columns described in the state of the art. Metering columns of carousels for bottling of fluids known at present have all in common the metering of fluids only, i.e elements characterized for their changeable form and volume. These metering columns are those generally used for bottling some gases. It is known that the packing carousels comprise circular layout in which the bottles and containers which are progressively filled flow, and several places to which the bottles following a circular track arrive, whereby distinct operations are provided in the aforesaid places. These operations are: weighing of bottles, bottling and checking of the fitness of their locking devices and even the external conditions of the container. In the carousels for bottling gases known up-to-date only forced air operated devices are used. Electricity and electronics are not used in these known carousels for two main reasons, namely: 1) the explosive character of the gases that are in contact with any electric discharge or spark, and, 2) The main mechanical disadvantage of installation of the circuits and wirings of the electrical and electronic devices. In fact, after installation in the carousels and in particular in the metering columns, the circuits and wirings of the electrical and electronic devices, owing to their movement of rotation, show the problem, which is not solved, of the twisting of the wires, with the relevant serious disadvantages and consequences which this undesirable phenomenon could cause. It is an object of the present invention to solve these problems and the relevant disadvantages. According to the present invention, the above problems are solved by the features in the characterizing part of claim 1. The present invention introduces considerable improvements in relation to the previous known metering columns; In fact, it allows with its new features the use of electronics and the electrical power, which enables the definition of electronic carousels, by solving perfectly the problems of tracking of the wiring of the electrical supply and of the optical fibres which help to the operation of the electronic mechanisms; Moreover, the electric wires and those of the optical fibre don't twist during the whole process and, on the contrary, they stay in a stable condition. To enable the invention to be fully understood, it will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which represents a schematic, partially in section, lateral view of one embodiment of the invention. The metering column of electronic carousels of the present invention, suitable for bottling liquified petroleum gases basically exhibits an integral configuration with a vertical arrangement and a cylinder-like contour having several subsections. The metering column is anchored to the ground through anchors (20), and comprises fixed and revolving parts. The gas is introduced through a bottom inlet (10) the opening of which is provided with a flange (18) to which the flange of a gas supply pipe is externally fitted from the ground. The gas follows an ascending rack through an internal piping of the vertically arranged column, that ends in an elbow rotatable outlet (11), through which the gas is distributed. The metering column comprises fixed parts (6) and revolving parts (7). In the process of admission and subsequent distribution of the gas, specially in its track from the fixed part (6) to the revolving one (7), a series of seals (16) are provided to prevent undesirable gas leakages. The movement of the revolving part (7) on the fixed one (6) is made possible by means of bearings (15) which support the loads and which determine that the rotation of the moving part is smooth. The fixed parts (6) basically operate like a vertical shaft on which the movable parts (7) rotate through the bearings (15) installed in four main points between the parts. The column has an upper admission (4) for the air that flows through a pipe which is descending vertically arranged to reach a lower cranked exit, (5). The air admission (4) and the piping are located in the fixed part (6) of the column, while the exit (5) of the air is located in the revolving part (7). The air operates a series of pressure devices. The exit (5) of the air has a mechanism similar to the one of the exit (11) of the gas, including a set of seals (17) to prevent air leakages, but it has small size because the pressure of the air is less than the pressure of the gas. Obviously, despite the fixed devices and on the rotatable ones, the flow of the gas or the air does not cause any problems of twisting of these members, This problem could logically appear with the electric wires (9) and the wires (8) of optical fibres which distribute the electric and electronic power. These problems can be solved through revolving collectors. The metering column for electronic carousels for bottling liquified petroleum gases of the present invention has two revolving collectors,: one (1) of them, the upper, is the revolving collector for power, provided with an admission of electrical power (3), and is located inside an deflagration-proof box (2). The power revolving collector (1) allows the internal part to be fixed while the external part is rotatable and nevertheless the electricity is passing, or inversely like in this case, i.e., the inside part is rotating while the outside one is fixed. The light or power enters through static conductors, but exits through other rotating places. The metering column of electronic carousels for bottling liquified petroleum gases of the present invention solves the problem by driving through the center of the column the electrical power wires (9) introduced by the upper side and the optical fibre (8) introduced by the bottom side through its corresponding revolving collector (19) and this keeping in mind that a part (6) of the column stays fixed and anchored and that another part (7) is movable. The present invention is possible thanks to a mounting of a set of planetary gears (12). The gears are bevel toothed wheels, with gears (13,14) that are screwed to the fixed shaft and vertically arranged. Therefore, they are motionless and mate with other bevel gears arranged on the movable part of the vertically arranged column; when in contact both bevel gears engage each other and the moving gears rotate engaging the fixed ones. There are two fixed bevel gears: one upper bevel gear (13) and a bottom bevel gear (14). Both these bevel gears (13,14) are fixed, in an symmetrical and opposite arrangement, one in each half of the shaft or fixed part. Other two movable bevel gears are located in the same vertical plane, one besides another, in the internal side of the revolving part, which slide over the internal fixed gears (13,14) when moving in a direction and engage the internal fixed gears. A planetary gear train (12), with the moving bevel gears, engages the moving upper vertical gear to the fixed horizontal upper bevel gear (13) and the moving bottom vertical gear to the fixed horizontal bottom bevel gear (14). The moving vertical bottom gear of the planetary set, when rotating on the fixed horizontal bottom gear, drives the moving vertical upper gear with the same relative movement; this determines on the fixed horizontal upper gear counteracting each other both movements, getting that the moving external part rotates and that, the fixed upper part of the shaft, despite not being attached to the bottom one, is fixed and that it is not necessary to fix it in any way. Although the gears shown in the moving part of the set of fixed planetary gears rotate, they don't produce any movement of the fixed gears, so that the gear (13) shown in the upper half of the shaft or fixed part and the gear (14) in the bottom half of the shaft stay static. It follows that by means of the planetary set of gears which has just been described, the perfect immobility of the parts of the shaft, which must be fixed, can be reached; while, the movement of an external part of the column is guaranteed which requires a circular movements. These different operations of the components do not create any risk of twisting of the wiring relative to the electrical power or the optical fibre, enabling all these electronic carousels to transmit optical signals to the automaton which controls tile different functions of the carousel, and the making of the electrical and electronic connections or the diverse relays, with no risk of deflagration or any other similar accident, enabling a considerable improvement in the functions of the carousel and in its operating speed. Four bearings, (15) located in main positions between the revolving and fixed parts of the column, are provided to support the loads and smooth the rotation of the moving part.

Claims: A metering column of electronic carousels for bottling liquified petroleum gas comprising: a deflagration-proof box (2); an upper (1) and bottom (19) vertically arranged revolving collectors, the upper one (1) being the collector for power, provided with an admission of electrical power (3) and being fixed to and located inside the deflagration-proof box (2); the upper collector (1) comprises an upper inner fixed part (6) and an upper external revolving part (7), and the bottom collector (19) comprises a bottom inner fixed part (6) and a bottom external revolving part (7); electrical power wires (9) introduced by the upper side of the upper fixed part (6) and optical fibre wires (8) introduced by the bottom side of the bottom fixed part (6) through the bottom revolving collector (19), said electrical power wires (9) and optical fibre wires (8) extending through the central portion of each fixed part (6); an air inlet (4) and a vertically descending air pipe arranged in the upper fixed part (6), and an air exit (5) arranged in the upper revolving part (7); a gas inlet (10) and an ascending gas internal pipe arranged in the bottom fixed part (6) and gas exit (11) arranged in the bottom revolving part (7); fixed bevel gears (13) screwed to the upper fixed part (6); fixed bevel gears (14) screwed to the bottom fixed part (6); movable bevel gears located in the internal sides of the upper and bottom revolving parts (7), in the same vertical plane of the corresponding fixed gears (13, 14); and a planetary gear train (12) engaging the movable upper gear to the fixed upper gear (13) and the movable bottom gear to the fixed bottom gear (14). The metering column according to claim 1, wherein the bottom fixed part (6) is anchored to thee ground through anchors (20) and the upper fixed part (6) is not fixed. The metering column according to claim 1 or 2, wherein four bearings (15) are located between the revolving parts (7) and the fixed parts (6). The metering column according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the gas inlet (10) is provided with a flange (18). The metering column according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein a series of seals (16, 17) are provided between the gas inlet (10) and the gas exit (11) and, respectively, between the air inlet (4) and the air exit (5). The metering column according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the air exit (5) has a size smaller than that of the gas exit (11). The metering column according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the fixed bevel gears (13, 14) and the movable bevel gears are two and located in the same vertical plane.

Inventors: ANTUNEZ JIMENEZ JOSE, VELA LUMBRERAS ANTONIO, ANTUNEZ JIMENEZ, JOSE, VELA LUMBRERAS, ANTONIO, Antunez Jiménez, José
Applicants: REPSOL BUTANO SA, REPSOL-BUTANO, S.A.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: F17C5
IPC codes: F17C5