초록 ▼

A canister filling system is provided for independently filling multiple canisters from a common set of storage stations prioritized in a cascaded manner. The system includes first and second fill stations configured to receive and independently fill canisters with pressurized gas. First and second

A canister filling system is provided for independently filling multiple canisters from a common set of storage stations prioritized in a cascaded manner. The system includes first and second fill stations configured to receive and independently fill canisters with pressurized gas. First and second storage stations store gas at corresponding first and second charge pressures, respectively. A supply-chain joins each of the first and second fill stations to both of the first and second storage stations. First and second valve assemblies are provided in the supply-chain to monitor, independent of one another, the canister pressures at the corresponding first and second fill stations. The canister pressures represent the pressure within corresponding canisters. The first and second valve assemblies automatically open and close to permit and prevent discharge of gas from the first and second storage stations, independent of one another, to automatically switch between the first and second storage stations based on the canister pressures. In one embodiment, the valve assembly includes a combination of sequence valves and check valves. Alternatively, the valve assembly may be controlled by electronic sensors and electronic solenoids. The electronic sensors detect the canister pressures and the charge pressures at the storage stations. The electronic solenoids open and close the valves based on the sensed canister pressures.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A canister filling system, comprising: first and second fill stations configured to receive and independently fill canisters with pressurized gas; first and second storage stations storing gas at corresponding first and second charge pressures, respectively, the first and sec

What is claimed is: 1. A canister filling system, comprising: first and second fill stations configured to receive and independently fill canisters with pressurized gas; first and second storage stations storing gas at corresponding first and second charge pressures, respectively, the first and second storage stations being prioritized in a cascaded manner; a supply-chain independently joining each of the first and second fill stations to both of the first and second storage stations; and first and second valve sub-assemblies provided in the supply-chain, the first and second valve sub-assemblies monitoring, independent of one another, canister pressures at the corresponding first and second fill stations, the canister pressure representing a pressure within a corresponding canister, the first and second valve sub assemblies automatically opening and closing to permit and prevent discharge of gas from the first and second storage stations, independent of one another, to automatically switch between the first and second storage stations based on the priority and the canister pressures. 2. The canister filling system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second valve sub-assemblies compares the first charge pressure and the corresponding canister pressure and based thereon performs the independent and automatic switching. 3. The canister filling system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second valve sub-assemblies includes first and second valves located in the supply-chain between the corresponding fill station and of the first and second charge stations, respectively. 4. The canister filling system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second valve sub-assemblies automatically opens the first storage station and automatically closes the second storage station when the corresponding canister pressure is below the first charge pressure. 5. The canister filling system of claim 1, further comprising a third storage station configured to discharge gas at a third charge pressure, each of the first and second valve sub-assemblies maintaining the third storage station closed until the corresponding canister pressure rises to within a predefined range of the third charge pressure. 6. The canister filling system of claim 1, wherein the canisters represent self contained breathing apparatus for use by fire fighters. 7. The canister filling system of claim 1, further comprising first and second fill station sensor lines attached to, and interconnecting, the first and second fill stations and the first and second valve sub-assemblies, respectively, and first and second storage station sensor lines attached to, and interconnecting, the first and second storage stations and the first and second valve sub-assemblies, respectively. 8. The canister filling system of claim 1, wherein the first and second valve sub-assemblies further comprise first and second sequence valves and check valves joined to one another and to the first and second fill stations, respectively. 9. A valve assembly for independently and automatically filling canisters from a common set of cascade storage stations, the valve assembly comprising: first and second discharge ports configured to be joined to, and independently supply gas to, first and second fill stations to fill canisters with pressurized gas; first and second inlet ports configured to be joined to prioritized first and second storage stations storing pressurized gas at corresponding first and second charge pressures, respectively; and a valve assembly provided between the first and second inlet and outlet ports, respectively, the valve assembly monitoring individual canister pressures at the corresponding first and second fill stations, the canister pressures representing a pressure within a corresponding individual canister, the valve assembly automatically opening and closing to permit and prevent discharge of gas from the first and second outlet ports, independent of one another, to automatically switch between the first and second storage stations based on the priority and the individual canister pressures. 10. The valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the valve assembly is organized into first and second fill station valve sub-assemblies that independently priority fill canisters at the first and second fill stations by automatically moving from the first and second storage station. 11. The valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the valve assembly includes first and second valve sub-assemblies that each includes first and second valves located between the corresponding first and second inlet and outlet ports, respectively. 12. The valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the valve assembly includes first and second valve sub-assemblies that each automatically permits gas to discharge from the first storage station and automatically prevents gas to discharge from the second storage station when the corresponding canister pressure is below the first charge pressure. 13. A method of independently filling multiple canisters from a common set of cascade storage stations, the method comprising: attaching canisters to first and second fill stations, the first and second fill stations being joined along separate lines to a common set of prioritized storage stations, the storage stations including first and second storage stations storing gas at corresponding first and second charge pressures; separately monitoring a canister pressure at each of the individual canisters at the first and second fill stations; individually comparing the canister pressures from each of the canisters to the first and second charge pressures; automatically opening and closing discharge of gas from the first and second storage stations to the first fill station to automatically switch between the first and second storage stations based on the priority and the corresponding canister pressure; and automatically opening and closing discharge of gas from the first and second storage stations to the second fill station, independent from the first fill station, to automatically switch between the first and second storage stations based on the priority and the corresponding canister pressure. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein each individual canister is progressively filled to low pressure, then medium pressure and then high pressure while coupled to a single fill station throughout the complete progressive filling process. 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising removing the canister from the first fill station while the canister at the second fill station is being filled. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the automatically opening and closing includes filling the canister in the first fill station from the first storage station while simultaneously filling the canister in the second fill station from the second storage station. 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising replacing the canister at the first fill station while the canister at the second fill station is being filled, the filling method being performed at a fire while fire fighters are fighting the fire. 18. The method of claim 13, further comprising maintaining at least one of the canisters attached to the first fill station throughout a complete filling process from a low pressure to a high pressure. 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the canisters at the first and second fill stations have different volumes. 20. The method of claim 13, further comprising completing a filling operation of the canisters at the first and second fill stations at one of different first and second time intervals and different first and second flow rates.