초록 ▼

A cylinder-filling system includes plural manifolds, for respectively coupling to groups of product containers to be filled, each manifold being connected through suitable valving and pumps to sources of different compressed gases. Respectively connected to the manifolds are reference cylinders whic

A cylinder-filling system includes plural manifolds, for respectively coupling to groups of product containers to be filled, each manifold being connected through suitable valving and pumps to sources of different compressed gases. Respectively connected to the manifolds are reference cylinders which are in turn connected to load cells. A processor, coupled to a touch screen display, executes a program routine which enables user selection of the gas or gas mixture to be added through each manifold, including the identity and proportions of gases in each mixture and the order in which they are to be added, a number of operating parameters including vent and evacuation pressures, number of purge cycles, purge gas, alarm levels and pump and valve operating delay times. The processor controls automatic calculation of gas mixture fill weights from mixture proportions, and controls manual or automatic filling of the containers. The processor recalculates target weights for the gases based upon a predetermined fraction of variance between original target weights and fill amounts after a settling time, and controls the rate of filling separately for each gas based on the target amount of the gas to be added.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A controller for a container filling system which includes plural conduits for respectively coupling to sources of a plurality of different compressed gases, a manifold coupled to the conduits and adapted to be coupled to plural product containers to be filled, and pumps respective

[ We claim:] [1.] A controller for a container filling system which includes plural conduits for respectively coupling to sources of a plurality of different compressed gases, a manifold coupled to the conduits and adapted to be coupled to plural product containers to be filled, and pumps respectively coupled between the sources and the conduits, the controller comprising:valves connected between the conduits and the manifold,a reference container communicating with the manifold,a weight sensor coupled to the reference container for providing a weight signal representative of the weight of gas in the reference container,a user interface, anda processor coupled to the pumps and to the weight sensor and to the valves and to the user interface and executing a stored program routine automatically to operate the pumps and the valves for filling the product containers with a gas load in accordance with a predetermined formula which specifies the proportions of the gases in the load and the order in which they are to be added to the product containers, the program routine including (a) a portion responsive to the user interface for establishing and storing the formula, (b) a portion for calculating the weight of each gas to be added based upon the formula proportions, and (c) a portion responsive to the weight signal and the calculated weights for selectively actuating the pumps and the valves for filling the reference container with the calculated gas weights and simultaneously filling the product containers in accordance with the formula.