This application is a 371 of International PCT Application PCT/FR2008/050537, filed Mar. 27, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a method for controlling an electronic manometer and a corresponding manometer.
The invention relates more particularly to a method for controlling an electronic manometer for measuring the pressure inside a receptacle, particularly a pressurized gas bottle, said manometer comprising at least one pressure sensor, an electronic unit designed for the acquisition, storage and processing of data and at least one information device capable of transmitting at least one item of information.
Such a manometer is described for example in document FR2868160A1.
Because they are reused many times, fluid bottles are successively faced with many cases of use with users who have different needs.
The information displayed or transmitted by the individual manometers measuring the pressure in the bottles are not adapted to the usage situations.
To solve this problem, such electronic manometers require many human interventions (actuation of buttons, sensors or other actuators). Because of this, such manometers have to provide means of actuation, interrogation or configuration which increase the structure and hence the cost of such devices. Moreover, the interventions on such electronic manometers may be the cause of operating errors and increase the electricity consumption of the manometer.
Document WO 01/6934 A1 describes a method for controlling the content of a liquefied gas bottle (propane) only during its use via a pressure sensor associated with electronics to indicate the level of product remaining as a function of pressure measurements compared with predefined thresholds.
One object of the present invention is to alleviate some or all of the drawbacks of the prior art listed above.
The present invention provides a method for controlling an electronic manometer for measuring the pressure (P) inside a pressurized gas receptacle. The manometer comprises at least one pressure sensor, an electronic unit designed for the acquisition, storage and processing of data, and at least one information device capable of transmitting at least one item of information (P). The method comprises at least one step of measuring the pressure (P) in the receptacle by the pressure sensor, a step of automatic modification of the operating mode of the manometer and/or the information (P) transmitted by the manometer in order to adapt the operating mode or the items of information (P) to the current operating state (A, B-C, D) of the receptacle from a plurality of predefined operating states (A, B-C, D), the operating states (A, B, C, D) being predefined by pre-established reference pressure-threshold values (S1 to S3), the operating states (A, B-C, D) being linked chronologically so as to form a chronological cycle, the modification step being carried out following the detection of a switchover from a first operating state (A, B-C, D) to a second operating state when the pressure values (P) measured during the first operating state and compared with the pre-established reference pressure-threshold values (S1 to S3) correspond to the second operating state and the second operating state is the next in the chronological cycle. With regard to the present method, the predefined operating states (A, B-C, D) are chronologically linked according to a closed-loop chronological cycle and the manometer is connected to the receptacle and is capable of measuring the pressure within the receptacle throughout the closed-loop chronological cycle.
The method according to the invention, moreover according to the generic definition given thereto in the above preamble, is essentially characterized in that it comprises:
The invention also relates to an electronic manometer for measuring the pressure inside a receptacle, particularly a pressurized gas bottle, comprising at least one pressure sensor, an electronic unit designed for the acquisition, storage and processing of data, at least one information device capable of transmitting at least one item of information, the electronic data processing unit being designed to receive the pressure values measured by the pressure sensor and comprising logic for comparing the measured pressure and measured pressure change values with pre-established or stored respective reference values, the electronic data processing unit storing at least two operating states of the receptacle representative respectively of a state of fill of the receptacle when the pressure change is positive and a state of tapping off (negative pressure change), as a function of the measured pressure and measured pressure change values relative to the pre-established pressure and pressure change reference values, and the electronic data processing unit being designed to automatically change the operation and/or the nature of the information transmitted by the manometer as a function of the operating state of the receptacle that is determined in real time based on the measured pressure and pressure change values.
Moreover, embodiments of the invention may comprise one or more of the following features:
The invention preferably applies to gas bottles with tap with or without built-in regulators, of the industrial or medical type, onto which an electronic pressure measurement system (electronic manometer) is fitted.
For a further understanding of the nature and objects for the present invention, reference should be made to the detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers.
As shown in
The manometer 1 may also comprise at least one of the elements from:
According to an advantageous particular feature of the invention, the operating mode of the manometer and/or the information delivered by the latter are automatically adapted to the current operating state detected in real time and compared with predefined operating modes. The predefined operating modes are based on a typical cycle of pressure change which the manometer is capable of measuring during a conventional usage cycle of the receptacle.
The usage cycle of a gas bottle may be represented symbolically according to a pressure curve (
Beginning, for example, with a full gas bottle, it is possible to isolate a first zone A during which the bottle is, for example, at an “end” user.
In this usage zone A, the pressure P measured by the sensor is between a first low threshold S1 and a first high threshold S2 (for example 205 bar). Depending on the need, the user may or may not draw off gas from the bottle in a continuous manner, which lowers the pressure inside (negative pressure change).
The manometer exits this first usage state (at the end user or when it is flushed out at the factory before refilling for example) when the pressure measured by the manometer 1 falls below the first low threshold S1 (of the order, for example, of 10 bar or 5 bar).
Then the manometer detects or defines a second state in which the bottle is called “empty” or being refilled.
Thus, when the manometer is in the usage zone A and the measured pressure descends below the first low threshold S1, the manometer detects the transition to a second state, empty or being refilled (zone B-C). The transition from the zone A (usage) to the zone B-C (empty or being refilled) is detected and preferably taken into account even if the measured pressure falls or rises (relative to the low threshold S1) or remains stable.
With reference to
In the next zone C, the bottle is being refilled with compressed gas (positive pressure change). Because of the compression, the gas is heated during this operation (in order to make it comprehensible, in this instance this is simplified in a single straight line).
The manometer detects the exit from this second state (empty or being refilled) when the measured pressure passes above a second high pressure threshold S3 (for example: 210 bar). It should be noted that this second high threshold S3 is not necessarily the highest pressure reached during refilling.
Then, (zone D), refilling is complete, the gas heated up in the previous step will progressively return to ambient temperature. Since the pressure is proportional to the temperature, the measured pressure P will slowly fall back to the nominal pressure of use of the bottle.
Therefore, at the end of refilling and cooling, or at the beginning of the first usage, the apparatus exits the refilling/cooling state when the pressure P returns below the first high threshold S2 (for example: 205 bar).
The cycle A to D can then recommence.
By means of this pressure representation, the manometer 1 can then detect with certainty the use (state) that is in progress and the type of user using the pressurized receptacle.
The system can then adapt the data display and the operation of the manometer to the detected state. For example, the manometer can
The behavior of the manometer and the information shown or transmitted to the user may therefore be automatically adapted according to the current context and use, without human intervention via a button, a sensor or another actuator, and this increases the user-friendliness of the system.
Being able to dispense with the above technical means (buttons, sensors, etc.), it is possible to simplify the design and cost of the manometer and to improve its seal and its reliability.
The system therefore proposes a definition of several operating states, the chronology between these states, the transition from one to the other and the detection of the present state of the receptacle the pressure of which is measured.
The system also proposes an adaptation of the behavior of the manometer to the detected state.
This system or method may be applied in a particular and different manner to a multitude of industrial and medical applications.
The electronic unit 44 may therefore comprise stored parameters (which may or may not be reprogrammable) defining various operating states and operating/communication modes (which also may or may not be reprogrammable) specially adapted to these states.
The manometer 1 may comprise a port (radio) or a communication interface capable of receiving in particular configuration/programming data of the electronic unit.
The electronic unit may comprise a stored “inactive” state in which the manometer performs minimal functions for minimal energy consumption. In this inactive state, the display, the acquisition of pressure data, the transmission of data can be disabled. This inactive state may be adopted, for example, via a communication interface or automatically when the state of the electric power supply appears insufficient.
Even if the time interval is reduced between two measurements or two operations carried out by the manometer, the latter can be configured to switch off almost completely, so as not to switch back on until after a time interval (ten seconds for example).
Therefore, the apparatus is almost off during approximately ten or several tens of seconds whereas it is on for only a few tens of milliseconds on each period of use. During the switched-off phase, only the display (in order to prevent blinking) the radio reception and the time counter that determines the reactivation time remain active.
The electronic unit may comprise a stored “standby” state in which the manometer is capable of operating but is not being drawn off. This standby state may correspond to a “substate” of the usage zone A. In this state, the manometer is switched to an operating mode in which, for example, at least one of the following actions are carried out:
The electronic unit may comprise a stored “usage” state (zone A above when the pressure drops). This state may correspond to a second substate of the usage zone A.
In this state, the manometer is in an operating mode in which, for example, at least one of the following actions is carried out:
The electronic unit may also comprise a stored “filling” state (zone C above when the pressure increases) in which, for example, at least one of the following actions is carried out:
In summary, the system can define three loop-linked states:
The usage state A may itself be divided into two “substates”:
The system may define and detect another independent state of the cycle:
The system may define and detect yet another independent state of the cycle called “degraded”.
The invention is in no way limited to the examples described above. Therefore, the parameters, transmitted information, operating states and modes can be adapted and modified according to all the possible combinations as a function of the needs of an application.
Similarly, the invention relates to a manometer comprising elements for the use of some or all of the functions or steps described above.
The manometer can also be used in particular for measuring the pressure in a duct of a gas network or on removable regulators.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0754840 | May 2007 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/FR2008/050537 | 3/27/2008 | WO | 00 | 10/27/2009 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2008/139075 | 11/20/2008 | WO | A |
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