DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING/CLOSING THE VALVE OF A GAS BOTTLE

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjusting/closing the shut-off valve (2) of a gas bottle or a similar container. The device comprises a frame (7), a turning means (5), a coupling element (6) fitted to the regulating element (3) of the shut-off valve (2) of the gas bottle, and power transmission elements (8, 9, 10, 11) for the transmission of the motion of the turning means (5) to the regulating element (3). The turning means makes it easier to open/close the gas bottle. The turning means can serve as a valve state indicator.

Description: DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING/CLOSING THE VALVE OF A GAS BOTTLE The present invention relates to a device for adjusting/closing a gas bottle valve as defined in the preamble of claim 1. Gas bottles or gas cylinders used e.g. in industry in conjunction with welding as containers of combustible gas and/or shielding gas are provided with a rotatable shut-off valve, placed in the top part of the gas bottle. The shut-off valve is provided with a regulating wheel, " and the valve is closed by turning the valve manually by the regulating wheel in the clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, depending on the valve type, and opened by turning in the opposite direction. The state of the valve, i.e. whether the valve is open or closed, is difficult to determine by merely looking. Therefore, in practice the state of the valve is checked manually by turning the regulating wheel. Sometimes it happens that a gas bottle valve is left open for a longer time, e.g. over a weekend, which may lead to dangerous situations and also economic losses. Gas bottle shut-off valves used at present are provided with a protective cap, which is open on two sides and has a handle-like neck at its top. This protective cap makes it still more difficult to open/close the valve. Further problems in the handling of the bottle result from the pressure reduction valve and associated indicators that the bottles are usually provided with. The object of the present invention is to achieve a completely new type of valve solution that eliminates the drawbacks of prior art. The invention is based on the idea that the gas bottle valve is provided with an accessory that allows the valve to be more easily opened and closed and at the same time acts as a valve state indicator. The invention is characterized by what is presented in the claims. The solution of the invention has several significant advantages. The state of the valve of the gas bottle can be discerned from a distance by the position of a lever comprised in the device of the invention. Moreover, the device -makes it substantially easier to operate the valve. The acts of opening and closing the gas bottle are substantially easier to carry out. The valve will not be left open by mistake as often as in prior-art solutions. The device prevents the shut-off valve from being turned too far in the tightening direction, thus increasing the useful life of the valve. In a danger situation, the valve can be quickly closed with a single movement of the hand. In the following, the invention will be described by the aid of an example by referring to the attached drawings, in which Fig. 1 presents a partially sectioned view of the upper part of a gas bottle provided with a device according to the invention, and Fig. 2 presents a protective cap for a gas bottle and a regulating/closing device according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows a shut-off valve 2 for a gas bottle 1, provided with a conventional regulating element 3, such as a regulating wheel or the like, for the opening and closing of the valve. Moreover, the gas bottle is provided with a protective cap 4 primarily to protect the valve 2. The protective cap 4 is attached by its collar to a screw thread usually provided on the bottle. The protective cap is open on two opposite sides. The upper part 14 of the protective cap has the shape of an ear handle. The device of the invention for adjusting/closing the shut-off valve 2 of a gas bottle or a similar container comprises a frame 7, a turning means 5, a coupling element 6 fitted to the regulating element 3 of the shut-off valve 2 of the gas bottle, and power transmission elements 8, 9, 10, 11 for the transmission of the motion of the turning means 5 to the regulating element 3. In the example in Fig. 1, the turning means 5 is a handle-shaped element. The shaft 8 of the turning means 5 is disposed in a direction transverse to the shaft 9 of the coupling element 6. Thus, according to the embodiment illustrated by the figure, the turning means 5 is turned about an axis substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis of the gas bottle 1. The shaft 8 of the turning means is thus substantially at right angles to the shaft of the regulating element 3 of the shut-off valve 2. The power transmission elements 8, 9, 10, 11 comprise a primary shaft 8 connected to the turning means 5, a secondary shaft 9 connected to the coupling element 6 and a transmission 10, 11 provided between said shafts. The transmission 10, 11 consists of a herringbone gear. The transmission ratio of the gear is 2:1, so that when the handle 5 is turned e.g. through about 90°, the secondary shaft will turn through about 180°. This angle of rotation of about 180° is usually sufficient to open/close the valve of the gas bottle. In the example in the figure, bevel gears are used to achieve power transmission. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention can be implemented using any known power transmission system. The turning means 5 and/or a separate accessory provided in conjunction with it work as an indicator of the state of the valve 2. For example, when the handle 5 of the turning means is pointing downward, the valve 2 is closed, and when the handle is pointing in a sideways direction, the valve is open. In an other example the valve 2 is closed when the handle 5 of the turning means is pointing upward, and when the handle is pointing in a sideways, the valve is open. The device of the invention is provided with fixing elements 12, 13. The frame of the device can be removably attached e.g. to the protective cap 4 of a gas bottle. The shaft 8 extends through the aperture in the protective cap 4, preferably e.g. to the side opposite to the side where the pressure reduction valves and gauges are placed. The coupling element 6 is replaceable and it can be adapted so as to fit the regulating element 3 used. Thus, the device is independent of the design of the regulating element of the valve of the gas bottle. The device can be provided with a detector for indicating the state of the valve. In this case, it is possible e.g. to equip a welding machine with a detector that, after disconnection of electric power to the welding machine, gives an indication if the gas bottle valve has been left open. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but that it may be varied within the sphere of protection defined by the claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device for adjusting/closing the shut-off valve (2) of a gas bottle or a similar container, characterized in that the device comprises a frame (7) , a turning means (5), a coupling element (6) fitted to the regulating element (3) of the shut-off valve (2) of the gas bottle, and power transmission elements (8, 9, 10, 11) for the transmission of the motion of the turning means (5) to the regulating element (3) . 2. Device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the shaft (8) of the turning means (5) is disposed in a direction transverse to the shaft (9) of the coupling element ( 6) . 3. Device as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shaft (8) of the turning means (5) is substantially at right angles to the shaft of the regulating element (3) of the shut-off valve (2) . 4. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the power transmission elements (8, 9, 10, 11) comprise a primary shaft (8) connected to the turning means (5), a secondary shaft (9) connected to the coupling element (6) and a transmission (10, 11) provided between said shafts. 5. Device as defined in claim 4, characterized in that the transmission (10, 11) consists of a herringbone gear . 6. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the turning means (5) and/or a separate accessory provided in conjunction with it functions as an indicator of the state of the valve (2) . 7. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the frame (7) of the device can be removably attached to the protective cap (4) of a gas bottle. 8. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the shaft (8) extends through an aperture in the protective cap (4). 9. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the coupling element (6) is replaceable and can be adapted so as to fit the regulating element (3) used. 10. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the device is provided with a detector for indicating the state of the valve.

Inventors: HATTUNEN MAURI, HATTUNEN, MAURI
Applicants: HATTUNEN MAURI, HATTUNEN, MAURI
Application year: 1997
Main classification: F16K1
IPC codes: F16K1, F16K31