JP2025008129A - Pressure Regulators and Gas Supply Systems - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a pressure controller having a structure capable of reducing an intrusion risk of foreign matter to the inside, and a gas supply system using the same.SOLUTION: A pressure controller adjusts a pressure of gas, and has a gas inflow part and gas outflow part, a first gas flow path, a second gas flow path, a third gas flow path, and a pocket portion, where the second gas flow path and the third gas flow path are parallel to a vertical direction, and the first gas flow path intersects with the second gas flow path. Further, the second gas flow path has a pocket part on an extension line facing the third gas flow path. The third gas flow path is connected to either one, which is arranged vertically above, of the gas inflow part or gas outflow part, and one end of the second gas flow path is connected to the first gas flow path and the other end thereof is connected to the third gas flow path.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a pressure regulator and a gas supply system.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to supply high-pressure gas from a gas cylinder to gas consuming equipment, a pressure regulator for reducing and regulating the gas, such as a parent-child pressure regulator, has been used.
A parent-child pressure regulator has a parent regulator and a child regulator with different set pressures. Under normal circumstances, gas is supplied to the gas consumption equipment via the parent regulator and the child regulator, and when the gas flow rate becomes very low, gas is supplied to the leak detection unit only via the child regulator.

JP 2013-217387 A Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-2500

When connecting a pressure regulator to piping, the screw tightening process can scrape off the surface of the threads, generating cutting chips. If corrosive materials from inside the piping get into the inside of the pressure regulator (especially the pressure reduction chamber), there is a risk of poor sealing or leakage.
In a parent-child pressure regulator, if a child regulator and a parent regulator are arranged in two layers vertically, there is a high risk that foreign objects will enter the upper pressure regulator (child regulator) when the regulator is installed on the piping.

In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a pressure regulator having a structure that can reduce the risk of foreign matter entering the interior, and a gas supply system using the same.

The pressure regulator according to the present invention comprises:
A pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure of gas.
a gas inlet portion, a gas outlet portion, a first gas flow passage, a second gas flow passage, a third gas flow passage, and a pocket portion;
the second gas flow path and the third gas flow path are parallel to a vertical direction,
the first gas flow path intersects with the second gas flow path;
the pocket portion is located on an extension line of the second gas flow passage facing the third gas flow passage,
the third gas flow path is in communication with one of the gas inlet portion and the gas outlet portion, the one being disposed vertically above the gas inlet portion,
One end of the second gas flow passage communicates with the first gas flow passage, and the other end of the second gas flow passage communicates with the third gas flow passage.

By configuring the pressure regulator in this way, even if a foreign object falls, it is received within the pocket and remains within the pocket, reducing the risk of foreign objects entering the pressure regulator.

The pressure regulator according to the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration,
The second gas flow passage is horizontally displaced relative to the third gas flow passage.

By configuring the pressure regulator in this way, the risk of foreign matter entering the pressure regulator can be further effectively reduced.

The pressure regulator according to the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration,
The gas outlet is disposed vertically above the pressure regulator,
The third gas flow passage may communicate with the gas outlet port.

By configuring the pressure regulator in this way, it is possible to reduce the risk of foreign objects entering the pressure regulator, which is located vertically above the gas outflow section.

The parent-child pressure regulator according to the present invention comprises:
The pressure regulator having the above configuration is provided as a slave regulator, and a master primary regulator and a master secondary regulator are provided,
the child regulator is disposed vertically above the parent primary regulator;
The parent primary regulator is characterized in being disposed vertically above the parent secondary regulator.

By using a parent-child pressure regulator with this configuration, it is possible to reduce the risk of foreign objects or the like entering the child regulator located vertically above the parent-child pressure regulator.

The gas supply system according to the present invention comprises:
The device is provided with the above-described parent-child pressure regulator, a gas cylinder, and a leak detector,
The gas cylinder is in communication with the parent primary regulator;
the parent primary regulator is in communication with the parent secondary regulator and the child regulator;
The slave regulator is in communication with the leakage detection unit,
The parent secondary regulator is in communication with a gas supply line;
The leakage detection unit is characterized in that it communicates with a gas supply path.

By configuring the gas supply system in this way, it is possible to reduce the risk of foreign objects entering the child regulator located vertically above the parent-child pressure regulator during construction to build the gas supply system.

The present invention provides a pressure regulator with a structure that can reduce the risk of foreign matter entering the interior, and a gas supply system using the same.

FIG. 1 is an external view showing the main configuration of a parent-child pressure regulator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main configuration of the gas supply system 100, and showing the installation state of the parent-child pressure regulator 1. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views showing an example of the internal structure of the secondary regulator 4. Fig. 3A is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the secondary regulator 4, and Figs. 3B, 3C, and 3D are cross-sectional views of the vicinity of the second gas outflow portion 8.

The following describes embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. However, none of the following embodiments should be interpreted in a restrictive manner in determining the gist of the present invention. In addition, the same reference symbols are used for identical or similar components, and descriptions may be omitted.

Furthermore, terms used in this specification that specify shapes and geometric conditions as well as their degrees, such as "parallel," "orthogonal," "same," "vertical," and "horizontal," as well as values of length and angle (direction), are to be interpreted without being bound by strict meanings, but including the range in which similar functions can be expected.

FIG. 1 is an external view showing the main configuration of a parent-child pressure regulator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the drawing, the arrow Y indicates the vertical direction. Hereinafter, the "pressure regulator" may be simply referred to as the "regulator".

The parent-child pressure regulator 1 comprises a parent primary regulator 2, a parent secondary regulator 3, a child regulator 4, a first gas inlet portion 5a, a second gas inlet portion 5b, a switching lever 6, a first gas outlet portion 7 and a second gas outlet portion 8.
Fuel gas (LP gas) is introduced from a gas cylinder 10 (LP gas cylinder) into the parent primary regulator 2 through the first gas inlet port 5a or the second gas inlet port 5b selected by the switching lever 6.

In the parent-child pressure regulator 1, the child regulator 4 is disposed vertically above the parent primary regulator 2, and the parent secondary regulator 3 is disposed vertically below the parent primary regulator 2 (see FIG. 2).
The gas outlet of the parent primary regulator 2 is connected to the gas inlet of the child regulator 4 and the gas inlet of the parent secondary regulator 3 .

The parent secondary regulator 3 has a first gas outlet 7 and the child regulator 4 has a second gas outlet 8 .
Gas introduced from the first gas inlet port 5a or the second gas inlet port 5b is depressurized to a first pressure by the parent primary regulator 2. The gas depressurized to the first pressure flows into the parent secondary regulator 3, is depressurized to a second pressure by the parent secondary regulator 3, and flows out through the first gas outlet port 7. In addition, the gas depressurized to the first pressure flows into the child regulator 4, is depressurized to a third pressure by the child regulator 4, and flows out through the second gas outlet port 8. The third pressure is set to a pressure slightly higher than the second pressure.
The set values of each pressure can be publicly known values.

2 is a schematic diagram showing the main configuration of the gas supply system 100 and showing the installation state of the parent-child pressure regulator 1. The gas supply system 100 includes, as its main components, a gas cylinder 10, the parent-child pressure regulator 1, and a leak detection unit 13. These components are connected by pipes, valves, etc., during construction to build the gas supply system 100.
In addition, the gas supply system 100 may (optionally) include a single-stage regulator RG and a bypass pipe BL for supplying gas to the single-stage regulator RG for the purpose of inspection or the like.

The first gas inlet 5a of the parent-child pressure regulator 1 is connected to a gas cylinder 10 by a pipe 10a (first pipe). The gas in the gas cylinder 10 flows into the parent-child pressure regulator 1 through the pipe 10a. Similarly, the second gas inlet 5b is connected to a gas cylinder (not shown) by a pipe 10b (second pipe).
The second gas outflow section 8 is connected to an inlet 13 a of a leak detection section 13 by a pipe 12 .

The first gas outflow part 7 is connected to a pipe 14. The outlet 13b of the leakage detection part 13 is connected to a pipe 15, and the pipe 15 is connected (merged) to a pipe 14. The pipe 14 is connected to a gas consumption facility 17 via a gas meter 16.
The pipe 14 is a gas supply path that supplies gas to a consumption facility 17 , and the gas supplied through the pipe 14 is consumed in a gas appliance 18 of the consumption facility 17 via a gas meter 16 .
The leakage detection unit 13 can constantly monitor the presence or absence of gas leakage using a known method.

Under normal circumstances, gas is supplied to the consumption equipment 17 via the parent secondary regulator 3 and the child regulator 4, but when the gas flow rate becomes very low, due to the difference in the above-mentioned set pressures between the third pressure and the second pressure, gas is supplied to the consumption equipment 17 only via the child regulator 4.
This minute flow rate is constantly monitored by the leak detection unit 13, and when it is determined that a leak has occurred, an alarm is displayed.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic example of a pressure adjustment mechanism portion, which is the internal structure of the child regulator 4. Figure 3(A) is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the child regulator 4, and Figures 3(B), (C), and (D) are cross-sectional views of the vicinity of the second gas outflow portion 8. The pressure adjustment mechanism of the child regulator 4 is similar to the pressure adjustment mechanism of a known pressure reducer (pressure regulator). The gas inlet portion 70 communicates with the gas outflow outlet of the parent primary regulator 2, which is not shown in Figure 3 (see Figure 1).

The secondary regulator 4 has a reduced pressure chamber 41 and an atmospheric pressure chamber 42, and a diaphragm 43 is provided between the reduced pressure chamber 41 and the atmospheric pressure chamber 42. A spring 44 is provided in the atmospheric pressure chamber 42 to apply a biasing force to the diaphragm 43.
Gas flows from the parent primary regulator 2 into the pressure reduction chamber 41 inside the child regulator 4 through the gas inlet portion 70. The diaphragm 43 bends in response to the difference between the gas pressure in the pressure reduction chamber 41 and the atmospheric pressure in the atmospheric pressure chamber 42, and the biasing force of the spring 44.
The operating portion 45 connected to the diaphragm 43 has a flange portion 45a, and the flange portion 45a receives stress from the diaphragm 43. Therefore, the operating portion 45 moves in the X direction in the figure in response to the curvature of the diaphragm 43.

One end of the lever 46 is connected to the tip of the actuation part 45, and the other end of the lever 46 is connected to the valve body support part 47. The tip of the valve body support part 47 supports the valve body 48. When the actuation part 45 moves in the X direction in the figure, the lever 46 converts the X direction movement into Y direction movement, and the valve body support part 47 and the valve body 48 move in the Y direction in the figure. When the valve body 48 moves in the Y direction in the figure, the distance (opening degree) between the valve body 48 and the valve seat 49 changes. The valve body 48, which communicates with the gas inflow passage 71, adjusts the gas flow that flows in from the gas inflow part 70 (child regulator gas inflow part) through the gas inflow passage 71, and can reduce and adjust the gas pressure in the decompression chamber 41, the gas outflow part 8, and downstream of the child regulator 4. The pressure to be adjusted can be set to a desired value by adjusting the biasing force of the spring 44 by operating the pressure adjusting screw AS.
Since the gas flow path is narrow near the valve body 48, the risk of blockage due to falling foreign objects or poor flow control can be reduced by arranging the gas inlet 70 vertically downward.
The gas pressure adjusting mechanism is not limited to the above example.

The second gas outlet 8 of the secondary regulator 4 is screwed to the pipe 12 (see Figure 2). During the screwing process, for example, dust or the like may be generated and fall into the reduced pressure chamber 41, adhering to the valve body 48 or flange portion 45a, etc., which may cause a malfunction in the pressure adjustment mechanism.

In order to reduce the risk of foreign matter such as dust falling into the decompression chamber 41, the secondary regulator 4 is provided with a gas flow path 80 for flowing gas from the decompression chamber 41 to the second gas outlet 8, and further has a pocket portion 84 (recessed portion) for receiving foreign matter.
The gas flow path 80 has, in order from the decompression chamber 41, a first gas flow path 81, a second gas flow path 82, and a third gas flow path 83. The first gas flow path 81, the second gas flow path 82, and the third gas flow path 83 are configured as through holes having, for example, a circular cross section, but the shape is not limited thereto.
The first gas flow passage 81 communicates with the interior of the secondary regulator 4 (particularly the decompression chamber 41), and the third gas flow passage 83 communicates with the second gas outflow portion 8. In addition, one end of the second gas flow passage 82 communicates with the first gas flow passage 81, and the other end communicates with the third gas flow passage 83.

3B, the third gas flow passage 83 has a third central axis a (outlet central axis), and the second gas flow passage 82 has a second central axis b. The third central axis a and the second central axis b are provided parallel to the vertical direction.
On the other hand, the first gas flow passage 81 has a first central axis c (intersecting axis) that is provided in a direction intersecting with the second central axis b of the second gas flow passage 82 (parallel to the horizontal direction).
The pocket portion 84 is provided on an extension line of the second gas flow passage 82 vertically downward (on the side facing the third gas flow passage 83 ) and communicates with the second gas flow passage 82 .
The pocket portion 84 is configured to have a non-restrictively circular cross section, but has a bottom for holding foreign objects and the like.

When foreign matter is generated due to screwing of the second gas outflow portion 8, the foreign matter passes through the third gas flow passage 83 and the second central axis b, and falls into the pocket portion 84. The fallen foreign matter remains in the pocket portion 84.
Preferably, it has an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the third gas flow passage 83, so that only a portion of the foreign matter that falls through the third gas flow passage 83 passes through the second central axis b, further reducing the risk of foreign matter entering the inside of the sub-regulator 4 (particularly the decompression chamber 41).
More preferably, the second central axis b (offset axis) is displaced (offset) toward the outer periphery in the horizontal direction with respect to the third central axis a, and the displacement amount D can be set to, for example, equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the second gas flow passage 82. This makes it possible to effectively reduce the amount of foreign matter that falls directly from the second gas outflow portion 8 into the pocket portion 84, and further reduce the risk of foreign matter entering the first gas flow passage 81 due to bouncing off the bottom of the pocket portion 84.
That is, the second gas flow passage 82 and the third gas flow passage 83 are parallel to the vertical direction, and the first gas flow passage 81 is configured to intersect with the second gas flow passage 82. More preferably, the second gas flow passage 82 is offset (displaced in the horizontal direction) with respect to the third gas flow passage 83.

3C, when the foreign matter Pt falls from the second gas outflow portion 8, it moves along the third gas flow path 83. After that, a part of the foreign matter Pt falls in the second gas flow path 82 that is offset with respect to the third gas flow path 83, but finally falls into a pocket portion 84 on the extension line of the second gas flow path 82.
Since the bottom of the pocket 84 is located below the first gas flow passage 81, the foreign matter Pt that falls into the pocket 84 remains there.

3D shows the gas flow near the second gas outlet 8 of the secondary regulator 4 incorporated in the gas supply system 100 (see the dotted arrow in the figure).
Gas flows from the decompression chamber 41 into the first gas flow passage 81 and moves in the horizontal direction (X direction in the figure). The gas then flows into the second gas flow passage 82 and flows vertically upward. Since the inner diameter of the third gas flow passage 83 is larger than the inner diameter of the second gas flow passage 82 and the pressure loss is small, the gas flows through the third gas flow passage 83 which has low resistance and flows out from the second gas outflow portion 8. Therefore, the pocket portion 84 is not located on the gas flow passage indicated by the dotted line.
Since the gas flow indicated by the dotted line in the figure is formed above the pocket portion 84 , the foreign matter Pt remains at the bottom of the pocket portion 84 .

It is also possible to install a filter (net) in the second gas outflow portion 8 to capture the foreign matter Pt and prevent the foreign matter Pt from falling from the second gas outflow portion 8 into the decompression chamber 41.
In this case, however, the filter must be installed when the slave regulator 4 is manufactured or when the piping is laid, which increases the number of work steps, and further requires the preparation of a separate filter and inventory management of the filters.
Furthermore, if foreign matter Pt falls onto the filter, the filter placed in the gas outflow path will become clogged, hindering the smooth flow of gas and causing an increase in pressure loss.
Furthermore, by flowing the gas from the second gas outflow portion 8 to the consumption equipment 17, there is an increased risk that some of the foreign matter Pt captured by the filter will be carried by the gas to the downstream consumption equipment 17.

On the other hand, by adopting a configuration including a gas flow path 80 having a first gas flow path 81, a second gas flow path 82, and a third gas flow path 83, and a pocket portion 84 provided in the middle of the gas flow path 80, no additional parts are required, the load of the assembly work for the secondary regulator 4 can be reduced, and also, it is possible to contribute to reducing manufacturing costs.
In addition, since the pocket portion 84 that captures foreign matter is not present in the gas flow path, it is possible to avoid the risk of pressure loss that occurs when a filter is used.

Furthermore, the configuration of the gas flow path 80 and the pocket portion 84 is not limited to application to the gas outflow portion of the child regulator 4 of the parent-child pressure regulator 1, but can be adopted in a pressure regulator connected vertically to a piping that supplies gas to the consumption equipment 17, between the gas outflow portion or gas inflow portion to which the piping is connected vertically upward and the internal structure of the pressure regulator (pressure reduction chamber or valve body).
It can also be used in bulk supply type parent-child pressure regulators.

It should be noted that the use of a filter for the child regulator 4 is not excluded.
For example, a filter may be inserted in the gas inlet passage 71 of the secondary regulator 4 to prevent foreign matter carried from upstream along with the gas from entering the valve body 48 inside the secondary regulator 4 .

The present invention provides a pressure regulator having a structure capable of reducing the risk of foreign matter entering the inside during piping construction, etc., and can also contribute to reducing the workload of assembling the pressure regulator and reducing manufacturing costs, and has high industrial applicability.

100 Gas supply system 1 Parent-child pressure regulator 2 Parent primary regulator (parent primary pressure regulator)
3. Parent secondary regulator (parent secondary pressure regulator)
4. Sub-regulator (sub-pressure regulator)
Reference Signs List 41: Decompression chamber 42: Atmospheric pressure chamber 43: Diaphragm 44: Spring 45: Actuating portion 45a: Flange portion 46: Lever 47: Valve body support portion 48: Valve body 49: Valve seat 5a: First gas inlet portion 5b: Second gas inlet portion 6: Switch lever 7: First gas outlet portion 70: Gas inlet portion (secondary regulator gas inlet portion)
71 Gas inlet passage 8 Second gas outlet portion 80 Gas flow passage 81 First gas flow passage 82 Second gas flow passage 83 Third gas flow passage 84 Pocket portion (recess portion)
10 Gas cylinder (LP gas cylinder)
10a Pipe (first pipe)
10b Pipe (second pipe)
12 Pipe 13 Leak detection unit 13a Inlet 13b Outlet 14 Pipe (gas supply path)
15 Piping 16 Gas meter 17 Consumption equipment 18 Gas appliance AS Pressure adjusting screw RG Single stage regulator BL Bypass piping a Outlet central axis (third central axis)
b offset axis (second central axis)
c Intersecting axis (first central axis)

Claims (5)

A pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure of gas.
a gas inlet portion, a gas outlet portion, a first gas flow passage, a second gas flow passage, a third gas flow passage, and a pocket portion;
the second gas flow path and the third gas flow path are parallel to a vertical direction,
the first gas flow path intersects with the second gas flow path;
the pocket portion is located on an extension line of the second gas flow passage facing the third gas flow passage,
the third gas flow path is in communication with one of the gas inlet portion and the gas outlet portion, the one being disposed vertically above the gas inlet portion,
a pressure regulator comprising: a first end of said second gas passage communicating with said first gas passage; and a second end of said second gas passage communicating with said third gas passage. The pressure regulator of claim 1, characterized in that the second gas flow path is horizontally displaced relative to the third gas flow path. The gas outlet is disposed vertically above the pressure regulator,
3. The pressure regulator according to claim 1, wherein the third gas flow passage communicates with the gas outlet port. A pressure regulator according to claim 3 is provided as a slave regulator, and a master primary regulator and a master secondary regulator are provided,
the child regulator is disposed vertically above the parent primary regulator;
A parent-child pressure regulator, characterized in that the parent primary regulator is disposed vertically above the parent secondary regulator. A gas pressure regulator comprising the parent-child pressure regulator of claim 3, a gas cylinder, and a leak detector,
The gas cylinder is in communication with the parent primary regulator;
the parent primary regulator is in communication with the parent secondary regulator and the child regulator;
The slave regulator is in communication with the leakage detection unit,
The parent secondary regulator is in communication with a gas supply line;
The gas supply system is characterized in that the leakage detection unit is in communication with a gas supply path.

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