• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
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    • 专利摘要:
    The invention relates to a handle (4) for a mobile fluid reservoir (1), in particular a gas cylinder, of the type intended to be mounted on a main body (2) of a mobile tank (1) around its valve. dispensing device (3), said handle (4) being characterized in that it comprises a communication device (6) for transmitting data relating to the mobile reservoir (1) to a remote server (8), the transmission of data by the communication device (6) being adapted to give information on the geolocation of said handle (4) and the mobile tank (1) on which it is mounted to said remote server (8).
    公开号:FR3019623A1
    申请号:FR1452907
    申请日:2014-04-02
    公开日:2015-10-09
    发明作者:Jerome Janin
    申请人:Compagnie des Gaz de Petrole Primagaz SA；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    [0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention generally relates to mobile tanks for transporting and storing fluid products, such as compressed gas cylinders or chemicals.
    [0002] BACKGROUND ART In the field of mobile or transportable tanks used for the transport of compressed gas or chemicals, it is often difficult to determine in a simple, fast and precise way the location of the various tanks or their content to a given moment. Typically, in the case of gas cylinders, their normal cycle of use includes the following successive steps: - Maintenance and filling of the bottle in a dedicated filling center; - Transport of the bottle, usually by truck, to a depot for storage; - Transport, usually by truck, from the bottle to a given distributor; - Sale of the bottle to a consumer by the distributor and his zo transport by the consumer to his home; - Use and storage of the bottle by the consumer at home; - Transport and return to the distributor of the bottle once emptied by the consumer; 25 - Transport of the empty bottle in a depot, usually in a truck; - Transport of the empty bottle from the depot to the filling center, usually by truck. The Applicant has also found that part of its fleet of gas cylinders 30 could come out of this normal cycle of use and be abandoned on public roads, in landfills or other local authorities for example, even stolen and stored in conditions of safety that do not comply with the regulations. Among the stolen bottles, some are exported outside the national territory by boat. However, the quantity of abandoned or stolen gas cylinders can not be determined precisely, and it may be difficult to find them in order to reintroduce them into the normal cycle of use of the bottles. A cylinder of gas is thus moved several times and can be at any time at any point of the cycle indicated above - or even outside - namely in the filling center, one of the many deposit centers. , one of the many distributors or even one of the many consumers who are neither identified nor located. This results in a very great difficulty for the supplier of the gas bottles to predict in real time the gas requirements of the distributors and the consumers and to adjust the delivery of the bottles according to these needs taking into account their geographical location or to respond to a request, for example from the public authorities, for precise location of a gas cylinder that would have come out of the normal cycle of use. These logistical problems also entail very significant costs for the gas supplier. In fact, in order to be able to meet the needs of their customers, suppliers overload the delivery trucks of gas cylinders, which therefore come back often loaded (up to 30% on average). The means of delivery must also systematically perform the same delivery route, which implies significant costs in terms of manpower, fuel consumption, maintenance, etc. and is also detrimental to the environment. Another constraint relates more particularly to gas cylinders, in case of fire or incident is to identify the presence of gas bottles on sites especially in case of fire, to ensure the safety of public authorities and in particular personnel likely to intervene, such as firefighters. It has already been proposed in US Pat. No. 7,512,488 to monitor the level of propane in tanks by means of a dedicated monitoring system in order to adjust the delivery route of the propane delivery trucks. For this purpose, the system includes a level gauge which evaluates the level of propane in the tank and transmission means for transmitting propane level information to a central server which processes this information and transfers it via a satellite to the propane distributor. The distributor can then anticipate propane deliveries and optimize the loading of its delivery trucks. However, this monitoring principle is difficult to transpose to gas cylinders, which are mobile, so easily interlocked, and are subject to regulations including design of the envelope very demanding in terms of safety. For example, the bottles must include an immovable handle capable of protecting the valve of the bottle during defined impacts (for example, reference may be made to the EN ISO 11117: 2008 standard, which defines the loads to be supported by the handle. a bottle of gas), be periodically maintained to check their resistance to pressure (re-test), etc. These regulations make it difficult to change the design of gas cylinders.
    [0003] In addition, gas cylinders are smaller than tanks and therefore require a space-saving, low-cost system that is robust enough to be used for the duration of use of the cylinder (ie first use and its re-test after a decade) without hindering their mobility. Typically, the level gauge of US 7,512,488 which is used to monitor the level of propane in the tank is intrusive, and therefore can not be used in the field of gas cylinders. Moreover, in the case of gas cylinders, many dimensional constraints must be taken into account, such as the size and shape of the storage bins and transport pallets or the different machines used when filling the bottle of gas. gas, which can not be modified to accommodate a new bottle shape or allow the addition of a dedicated monitoring system. It has also been proposed in document EP 2 521 104 to optimize the management of a stock of gas cylinders by means of a system comprising several displays, each including several bins for receiving bottles of gas, capable of detect the presence of bottles. The system further comprises a control terminal of the displays to detect the addition or removal of a display. For this purpose, the terminal communicates with the displays by means of a radio transceiver system and with a remote server for the management of the stock. This system effectively makes it possible to count a number of gas bottles present in a given display, regardless of the shape or volume of these bottles, while respecting the safety standards relating to gas cylinders. However, it does not make it possible to trace information relating to the needs of the consumers, insofar as it is not able to determine whether the bottles present in the display stand are full or must be filled. Finally, this system does not locate gas cylinders outside this display and therefore follow them in their life cycle (normal cycle of use or outside) and provide information on their location to anyone who request it, such as the public authorities. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is therefore to provide a mobile reservoir for the transport of fluids such as compressed gas or chemicals, which is compact, easy to implement and meets the design constraints associated with its storage. and filling it without requiring modification of devices and machines conventionally used for this purpose.
    [0004] For this, the invention provides for a handle for a mobile fluid reservoir, in particular a gas cylinder, of the type intended to be mounted on a main body of a mobile reservoir around its dispensing valve, said handle comprising a device for transmitting data relating to the mobile tank to a remote server, the transmission of data by the communication device being adapted to give information on the geolocation of said handle and the mobile reservoir on which it is mounted to said remote server.
    [0005] Some preferred but non-limiting features of the handle described above are the following: the handle further comprises a sensor configured to generate an indication on a fluid level in the reservoir, the information given by the communication device comprising said indication, - the sensor is non-invasive and comprises, for example, an ultrasonic sensor, - the communication device comprises a low-frequency radio frequency transmitter, - the radio transmitter is equipped with an induction rechargeable battery, - the fluid distribution of the reservoir is provided with an external fixing thread, and the handle comprises a base adapted to be mounted on the main body of the reservoir, said base comprising a central through hole configured to playfully accommodate the dispensing valve, and a fixing ring comprising an inner annular wall comprising a threaded inner surface configured for ooperate with the external thread of the dispensing tap, and a shoulder, configured to abut against an upper surface of the base, - the handle further comprises a seal mounted on a bottom wall of the base, said seal being intended to come in contact with the main body of the mobile reservoir, the fixing ring is formed in a shape memory material of the polyamide type, the base has a first portion extending opposite a nozzle of the distribution valve, and a second portion, opposite to the first portion, and wherein a height in a screwing direction of the fixing ring of the first portion is less than a height of the second portion, - the second portion is hollow and defines a chamber configured to receive the sensor, - the handle further comprises a gripping area, extending away from the base and adapted to be manipulated by a user for movement. acer the movable tank and at least two uprights, preferably three ascending, extending between the base and the gripping area. - The handle further comprises a housing formed in one of the uprights, and wherein the radio transmitter is housed in said housing of the handle, - the radio transmitter further comprises an antenna, said antenna being overmolded in the one of the amounts of the handle, - the gripping zone is generally curved in an arc and has a lateral opening in an area adjacent to the dispensing tap, - the arc of the gripping zone has an internal diameter to less than 140 mm and an external diameter less than or equal to 200 mm, - the gripping zone has extra thicknesses on both sides of the lateral opening in order to locally reinforce the impact resistance of the handle, - the base is substantially annular and has an outer diameter of between 70 mm and 80 mm, for example of the order of 74 mm, - the communication device is configured to communicate radiofrequency-free contact with communication stations of an operator network, - the operator network comprises a local area network or a national network, - the communication device is configured to enable the location of the mobile tank by determining the flight time of the radio frequency waves or by determining the communication station to which the data is transmitted by the mobile reservoir, and - the handle further comprises structural reinforcing elements attached to the handle, housed in a recess of the handle or formed integrally and in one piece with said handle. According to a second aspect, the invention also proposes a mobile fluid reservoir, in particular a gas cylinder, comprising: a main body, configured to receive the fluid, a fluid distribution valve, and a handle as described herein. above, said handle being mounted on the main body around the dispensing valve. According to a third aspect, the invention also proposes a system for managing a fleet of mobile fluid reservoirs, comprising: a series of mobile fluid reservoirs as described above, and a remote server connected to a network operator, adapted to communicate with the series of mobile tanks. According to a preferred but nonlimiting aspect of this management system, the communication device is adapted to transmit said terrestrial radio-frequency waveform information to communication stations (9a), said communication stations retransmitting said data to the remote server via the network. operator. According to a third aspect, the invention also proposes a method for managing a fleet of mobile fluid reservoirs using a management system as described above, comprising the following steps: - send a request to at least one mobile tank via the operator network to obtain data relating to the mobile tank and adapted to give information on the geolocation of the mobile tank, - to obtain the data adapted to allow the geolocation of the mobile tank, - to transmit the data adapted to allow geolocation of the mobile tank via the operator network to the remote server, and - locate the mobile tank. Some preferred but non-limiting features of the management method described above are the following: the handle of the mobile reservoir further comprises a sensor configured to generate an indication of the level of the fluid in the reservoir, the information given by the device during the transmission step comprising said indication, - the fluid level in the mobile reservoir is determined by the remote server from the data representative of the fluid level provided by the sensor, - the data transmission is performed without radio-frequency contact with communication stations of an operator network, - the mobile tank is located by means of the communication stations by determining the flight time of the radio-frequency waves or by determining the communication station at which they are transmitted data by the mobile tank, and - the operator network c includes a local network or a national network. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description and with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mobile fluid reservoir according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the handle of the reservoir of FIG. 1, FIG. Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the handle of the handle of the reservoir of Figure 1, and Figure 5 is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment. of a management system of a fleet of mobile fluid tanks according to the invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart representing various stages of an exemplary embodiment of the method of managing a fleet mobile fluid reservoir according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT In what follows, the invention will more particularly be described in its application to mobile compressed gas cylinders 1. This is however not limiting, insofar as it applies to any type of mobile fluid reservoir, such as in particular the drug bottles or the chemical tanks. An example of a gas bottle 1 has been illustrated in FIG.
    [0006] The gas cylinder 1 comprises: - a main body 2, configured to receive the gas in liquid form, having a main direction of extension defining a longitudinal axis X, - a gas distribution valve 3, extending substantially according to the longitudinal axis X, and - a handle 4, mounted on the main body 2 around the dispensing valve 3. The handle 4 comprises a communication device 6 for transmitting data relating to the bottle 1 to a server remote 9, the transmission of data by the communication device 6 being adapted to give information on the geolocation of the bottle 1 to said remote server 9. Where appropriate, to improve the management of the fleet of bottles 1 and adjust in particular the delivery of the bottles 1 to the needs of consumers and distributors, the handle 4 may further comprise a sensor 5, configured to generate an indication on a fluid level in the r Tank 1. In this embodiment, the information given by the communication device then comprises the indication generated by the sensor 5. The main body 2 and the distribution valve 3 of the gas cylinder 1 are conventional and will not not further described here. The volume and shape of the gas cylinder 1 are furthermore not limiting. It may be in particular a domestic consumption gas cylinder 1 of the B6 or B13 type (conventional butane bottle 6 kg or 13 kg respectively), P13 or P35 (13 kg or 35 kg propane cylinder 1 respectively). ), or a gas cylinder 1 of the type C13 (carburettor bottle 13 of 13 kg).
    [0007] The handle 4 is configured to fix the communication device 6 on the gas cylinder 1. This configuration makes it possible to comply with current safety standards and by allowing the conventional storage, transportation and filling of the bottle 1 without requiring its removal or the adaptation of the machines usually used. Communication of the remote server 9 with the handle 4 The handle 4 is configured to transmit data relating to the gas cylinder 1 to give information on the geolocation of the bottle 1 to the remote server 9. For this purpose, it may comprise a Non-contact communication device 6. This communication device 6 may, for example, be configured to communicate by radio waves, typically at high frequency, with communication stations 9a of an operator network 9. The network 9 may be local (management of data). inputs and outputs on the site of a gas supplier) or national (such as a national network operator).
    [0008] The communication device 6 can then be in the form of a low-frequency radio frequency broadband transmitter (commonly known as "RFID tag" or "RFID transponder" of the English RadioFrenquency Identifier) comprising an electronic chip 6 associated with an antenna 7. The microchip may be of the transponder type and be configured to receive and respond to radio requests transmitted from the communication stations 9a. The communication stations 9a of the operator network 9 may for example be terrestrial antennas 9a. A radio transmitter can be "passive" and powered by received radio signals, or "active" and include a suitable battery. In one embodiment, the radio transmitter is active. If necessary, the battery of the radio transmitter 6 can be configured to be recharged by induction. Here, the radio transmitter 6 is for example a transceiver according to LoRa technology (acronym for Low Range) of the company SEMTECH ultra-high frequency (UHF) adapted for long distance communication. Thanks to this type of communication, it is possible to wirelessly transmit data representative of the level of gas in the bottle 1 to terrestrial antennas 9a of an operator network 9, the operator network 9 then relaying these data to a remote server 8 able to treat them. The use of radiofrequency waves, for example according to the LoRa technology, has the advantage of being usable in most countries, using the ISM frequency bands (acronym for Industrial, Scientific and Medical) available and not reserved in these different countries (typically the frequency band of 868 MHz in France, or 915 MHz in Brazil). In addition, it has a very low energy consumption which makes it possible to optimize the lifetime of the battery of the radio transmitter 6, so that the radio transmitter 6 can be used until the re-test of the gas cylinder 1 without the need for repair or new battery. Moreover, this type of technology makes it possible to communicate with terrestrial antennas 9a located at a great distance (several kilometers, on average about ten kilometers in urban area), which guarantees the possibility of communicating with the gas cylinders 1 whatever or their geographical position through the operator network 9. By way of comparison, a Wi-Fi type wireless local area network does not have a sufficient range to ensure communication between the various gas cylinders 1 and the operator network 9 regardless of the geographical position of the bottle 1, and would also be more energy-consuming, which would imply the constant need to recharge the battery of the communication device 6. Geolocation of the handle 4 In a first embodiment, the device 6 may include means configured to geolocate the gas bottle 1 by satellite of the GPS type ( acronym for Global Positioning System, for Global Positioning System). According to a second embodiment, the radio transmitter 6 is used for the geolocation of the gas cylinder 1. For this, it is possible to determine the communication station 9a to which the data are transmitted by the handle 4. The accuracy of the geolocation is of the order then of the kilometer. This accuracy is sufficient to determine whether the gas cylinder 1 is located in a filling center, at a bottle dispenser 1 (the dispenser can then be identified), or if the gas cylinder 1 is at a consumer (the nearest distributor can be identified). Alternatively, it is also possible to determine the flight time of the radio frequency frame between the interrogation of the radio transmitter 6 by the operator network 9 and the reception of the response transmitted by the radio transmitter 6. The geographical position terrestrial antennas 9a with which the radio transmitter 6 being interrogated is known, it is then possible to determine a fairly precise geographic area in which the gas cylinder 1 is located. Current technologies and the density of the terrestrial antenna network 9a on the French territory thus allow nowadays to locate a radio transmitter 6 to a hundred meters close on the French territory.
    [0009] In this second embodiment, a dedicated geolocation system of the GPS type is therefore not necessary. Determining an indication of the level of liquid in the bottle 1 Optionally, the handle 4 can comprise means for generating an indication of the level of the liquid gas (full / empty, liquid gas level or liquid gas volume, etc.) in the bottle 1. For this purpose, it may in particular comprise a sensor 5. In the case of a gas cylinder 1, the sensor 5 is preferably non-intrusive, that is to say that it is configured to determine the level without damaging or entering the gas cylinder 1. For example, it may be an ultrasonic sensor, comprising a membrane capable of sending ultrasonic waves into the gas cylinder 1 in order to give an indication of the volume of liquid (gas) in the bottle 1. The sensor 5 further comprises a microphone configured to detect the waves reflected by the surface of the liquid in the bottle 1. The ultrasonic sensor 5 presents the advantage of being compact and robus in time, because the risk of damage due for example to friction or corrosion are limited insofar as it has only few moving parts. The measurements made by this type of sensor 5 are furthermore little influenced by the ambient temperature. Preferably, the sensor 5 is placed close to the gas bottle 1, here at the handle 4. The data (frequencies of the waves received by the sensor 5) can then be processed directly by an electronic chip, connected or integrated in the sensor 5 on the gas cylinder 1.
    [0010] As a variant, the data can be transmitted directly to the remote server 8 via the communication device 6. This variant embodiment has the advantage of reducing the size of the sensor 5 and its cost, since the size of the memory and necessary energy is reduced. The remote server 8 then comprises a computer capable of processing the raw data of the sensor 5 representative of the level of gas in the bottle 1 transmitted by each communication device 6 in order to determine the level of gas in each of the bottles 1.
    [0011] In another variant embodiment, the sensor 5 may comprise a member configured to apply a shock against the main body 2 of the bottle 1 and to determine, from the sound waves reflected on the surface of the liquid (gas) contained in the bottle 1 , the level of liquid gas.
    [0012] Configuration of the handle 4 The handle 4 may in particular comprise a base 10, adapted to be mounted on the main body 2, comprising a central orifice 12 through configured to accommodate the dispensing valve 3. In one embodiment, the central orifice 12 is configured to accommodate the dispensing valve 3 with play and the handle 4 further comprises a fixing ring 14 adapted to fix and hold the handle 4 in position on the main body of the bottle 1. The fixing ring 14 may in particular comprise a longitudinal annular wall having, at a free end, a shoulder 16 forming a longitudinal stop. The annular wall 15 is adapted to be introduced into the central orifice 12 of the base 10 of the handle 4 along the longitudinal axis X and to cooperate with the valve in order to fix the handle 4 on the bottle 1. For this purpose, the annular wall 15 has a threaded inner surface 15a, configured to engage complementary threads 3a formed on the dispensing valve 3. In order to attach the handle 4 to the bottle 1, the base 10 of the handle 4 is placed on the main body 2 of the bottle 1, centered on the longitudinal axis X around the dispensing valve 3, then the fixing ring 14 is introduced into the central orifice 12 and screwed along the longitudinal axis X on the dispensing valve 3 until the shoulder 16 of the fixing ring 14 abuts against the upper surface of the base 10 of the handle 4. In this configuration, the fixing ring 14 then plates the handle 4 against the main body 2 of the gas bottle 1 and locks it in position. To prevent unwanted unscrewing, the fixing ring 14 may in particular be made of a shape memory material of the polyamide type. In this way, the screwing of the fixing ring 14 causes the deformation of its threads, and thus prevents any third party from unscrewing the fixing ring 14 and thus removing the handle 4. The handle 4 is therefore fixed permanently on the gas cylinder 1. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the base 10 is of generally annular shape and therefore has a central orifice 12 generally circular. The diameter of the central orifice 12 is then adjusted to the external diameter of the valve 3 to allow the insertion of the valve 3 into the central orifice 12 with clearance and allow the introduction of the fixing ring 14 between the central orifice 12 and the valve 3 as indicated above. For example, for conventional gas bottles 1, the diameter of the central orifice 12 may be between 70 mm and 80 mm, for example of the order of 74 mm. Where appropriate, the fixing ring 14 may comprise a notch arranged to allow screwing and unscrewing by a dedicated machine of the fixing ring 14 to allow the re-test of the gas cylinder 1 when the time comes. In order to protect the dispensing valve 3, the handle 4 further comprises a gripping zone 18, extending away from the base 10 and adapted to be manipulated by a user to move the bottle 1, and at least two uprights 20, extending between the base 10 and the gripping zone 18 along the longitudinal axis X.
    [0013] The handle 4 is dimensioned so as to allow filling and use of the gas cylinder 1 without requiring removal from the bottle 1. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the gripping zone 18 has a lateral opening 22 in an area adjacent to the dispensing valve 3, dimensioned so as to allow the passage and the fixing of a filling spout on the nozzle 3b of the dispensing valve 3, and a sensor 5 of an orienting bell . The adjustment of the position of the lateral opening 22 of the handle 4 relative to the nozzle 3b can be facilitated by the fixing of the handle 4 by the fixing ring 14. It is indeed possible to correctly position the handle 4 with respect to the nozzle 3b thanks to the clearance between the central orifice 12 and the valve 3, then to maintain said handle 4 in this position and this orientation relative to the nozzle 3b during the screwing of the fixing ring 14. The orientation of the handle 4, and in particular of the lateral opening 22 with respect to the nozzle 3b, is thus independent of the thread pitch of the threads 3a of the dispensing valve 3. Furthermore, the external diameter of the dispensing zone 3 gripping 18 is chosen so as to allow the passage of a transport fork of the gas bottles 1 when they are placed on a pallet of transport. Thus, the gripping zone 18 may have an outer diameter less than or equal to 200 mm to prevent damage to the handle 4 by the fork during the transport of the bottles 1 on the pallet. Furthermore, the handle 4 preferably has a maximum height (along the longitudinal axis X) of the order of 15 mm above the free end of the dispensing valve 3 to facilitate its introduction into the pallet. Note further that, in order to allow the passage of a bell of a missing flow limiter detector, the outer diameter of the base 10 of the handle 4 is preferably greater than 140 mm. Optionally, the shape of the handle 4 may be chosen to allow its injection molding of a suitable plastic material. In order to limit the manufacturing costs of the handle 4 while ensuring its plastic quality, the handle 4 can in particular be obtained by gas injection. The amounts 20 of the handle 4 can then form an angle of between 10 ° and 30 ° with the longitudinal axis X, typically of the order of 15 °, to facilitate the injection of the material into the mold and improve its homogeneity . Moreover, the current regulations require that the handle 4 be able to protect the dispensing valve 3 even in the event of a fall. For example, the aforementioned EN ISO 11117: 2008 standard provides that the handle 4 must be able to withstand without breaking a 1.20 meter drop on the wafer with an inclination of 30 ° relative to the vertical when the bottle 1 is full, to protect the dispensing valve 3. In order to meet the requirements of this standard, the shape and the material constituting the handle can be adapted to strengthen structurally against shocks.
    [0014] For example, the handle 4 may be made of a polymer material of the polypropylene type additive (typically with anti-UV and antistatic additives in accordance with the ATEX regulations in force). This type of polymer is indeed compatible with a gas injection process as mentioned above.
    [0015] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the gripping zone 18 may have extra thicknesses 19 on either side of the lateral opening 22 in order to locally reinforce the impact resistance of the handle 4, particularly in the event of a fall in the gas cylinder 1. If necessary, and always in order to structurally reinforce the handle 4 and to improve its mechanical strength, in particular when the gas bottle 1 falls, the handle 4 may further comprise structural reinforcement elements (not shown in the figures), typically a metal frame. These reinforcing elements may be attached to the handle 4, housed in a recess of the handle 4 or formed integrally and in one piece with said handle 4. These reinforcing elements may in particular be used for gas bottles of large volume of type P35.
    [0016] Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the handle 4 is made by injecting polypropylene gas and includes a base 10 of generally annular shape, three uprights 20 forming an angle of the order of 15 ° with the longitudinal axis X and a gripping zone 18 of generally curved shape in a circular arc and having the lateral opening 22 with extra thicknesses at its free ends. In this embodiment, the gripping zone 18 thus has a cross section (that is to say perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X) in the form of C. This specific form of handle 4 meets the requirements of the EN standard ISO 11117: 2008 and has the further advantage of avoiding the use of drawers for the ejection of the handle 4 during demolding. Furthermore, in order to reduce the amount of material required to make the handle 4, it can be hollow (at the uprights and the gripping area 18) and include locally thinned portions. The locally thinned portions are preferably selected from areas of the handle 4 that do not require significant mechanical strength. This is particularly the case of the portion of the gripping zone 18 which extends between two adjacent uprights 20. The handle 4 may further comprise a housing 26 configured to receive the communication device 6. In the case where the communication device 6 comprises a radio transmitter 6, the radio transmitter 6 can be housed in the uprights 20. For example, a first of the uprights 20 may comprise a housing 26 intended to receive the electronic chip of the radio transmitter 6, while its antenna 7 may be housed either in this first upright 20 or in a second upright 20.
    [0017] In one embodiment, the antenna (7) can be overmolded in one of the uprights 20 of the handle 4 at the time of manufacture of the handle.
    [0018] The base 10 may further comprise a chamber 28 for receiving the sensor 5. For example, in the case of an ultrasonic level sensor 5, the chamber 28 may be formed in a bottom wall of the base 10 intended to come facing the main body 2 of the gas cylinder 1, so that the sensor 5 is adjacent to the main body 2. In one embodiment, the handle 4 can then include means 30 for damping the sound waves emitted by the sensor 5. These damping means 30 may for example comprise one or more seals, typically lip seals, fixed around the chamber 28 to isolate it acoustically. In order to allow the realization of the chamber 28 in the handle 4 while taking into account the storage constraints of the gas cylinders 1 in the conventional bins, the base 10 may have a different height along the longitudinal axis X between a first portion 11a , underlying the nozzle 3b of the distribution valve 3, and a second portion 11b, opposite the first portion 11a. The second portion 11 b is then intended to receive the chamber 28 for the sensor 5, and therefore has a size sufficient to allow its formation. The base 10 of the handle 4 thus comprises, at the level of this second part 11b, a recess opening into its bottom wall which defines the chamber 28 of the sensor 5. The first part 11a can be finer (this is that is, less high along the longitudinal axis X) than the second part 11b, insofar as it is not necessary to house there devices (in particular when the communication device 6 is housed in the at least one of the uprights 20 of the handle 4). Moreover, the conventional bins generally comprise a transverse bar 32, intended to maintain in position the P13 type gas cylinders 1. By thinning the first part 11a of the base 10, it is therefore possible to allow the passage of the base 10 under this cross bar 32, the nozzle 3b of the valve 3 then being opposite said bar 32 during storage of the bottle gas 1 in the bin. The handle 4 thus makes it possible to make a gas bottle 1 communicating without having to modify the main body 2 of the bottle 1 or its dispensing tap 3, while ensuring compliance with the current regulations on the safety of gas cylinders 1 Moreover, it can be adapted to any type of gas cylinder 1, and does not require any adaptation of the means of transport, storage and filling of conventional gas cylinders 1. In addition, its manufacturing and installation cost are lower and thus allow its industrialization. Finally, the integration of the communication device 6, and if necessary the sensor 5, in the handle 4, makes it possible to functionalize the gas bottle 1 regardless of the shape and content of the latter, in a manner that is transparent to the consumer and for the distributor, in a simple, practical, fast and inexpensive way. The choice of the integration of the communication device 6 in the handle 4 also makes it possible to communicate the bottle 1 (via the handle 4) with a remote server 8, which would have been very difficult to accomplish with a dedicated device attached to the main body 2, the latter being made of a metal material preventing any communication itself. The invention also relates to a management system 34 for a fleet of gas cylinders 1. Each of the gas cylinders 1 then comprises a handle 4 provided with a communication device 6, as described above. , and optionally a level sensor. If necessary, the sensor 5 can be housed in the handle 4.
    [0019] The management system 34 further comprises a remote server 8 connected to an operator network 9 comprising a set of communication stations 9a, typically terrestrial antennas 9a.
    [0020] In this way, the remote server 8 can interrogate via radio waves via the operator network 9 the communication devices 6 of the handles of the different gas bottles 1 in order to determine the position and possibly the level of liquid gas in these bottles 1.
    [0021] Note that a management system 34 comprising bottles 1 provided with handles 4 comprising the communication device 6 can reduce by about 10% the number of gas bottles loaded unnecessarily in the delivery trucks. This reduction can be increased up to about 30% when the geolocation of the gas cylinders 1 is accompanied by the determination of the level (full or empty) of the gas cylinders 1. In fact, in addition to geolocate the gas cylinders 1, the gas supplier can anticipate the needs of consumers and distributors through real-time indications using sensors, rather than simply using standard statistical estimates. Management method SA preliminary title, it will be noted that the fleet of gas cylinders 1 may comprise several bottles 1, typically several thousand bottles 1, distributed over a given territory between one or more filling centers, deposit centers, distributors , consumers, or in transit (eg in trucks or in areas not identified by the gas supplier).
    [0022] The management S of the gas cylinder park 1 can then take place in accordance with the following steps. During a first step S1, the remote server 8 can send a request via the operator network 9 to the different gas cylinders 1 in order to determine their geographical position and, where appropriate, the level of gas contained in each of these bottles 1. This request can be made on the whole territory determined or zone by zone.
    [0023] For example, the remote server 8 can send a request via terrestrial antennas 9a of an operator network 9, which transmit this request by radio frequencies to the different communication devices 6 of the gas cylinders 1. In the case where the communication devices 6 comprise a radio transmitter operating at ultra-high frequency, for example according to a LoRa-type modulation, the terrestrial antennas 9a relay the request by radio-frequency waves to the different radio transmitters 6. Optionally, during a second step S2, each radio transmitter 6 interrogates the level sensor 5, which generates them and returns an indication of the level of gas in the cylinder 1. As indicated above, these indications on the level of gas in the cylinder 1 can comprise either raw data (frequencies detected by the sensor 5 following acoustic stimulation of the gas cylinder 1), which will then be processed by the computer at the remote server 8 (step S5), the level of gas in the cylinder 1 determined by the sensor 5 itself (at the time of step S2). During a third step S3, data relating to the gas cylinder 1 are transmitted by radio waves to the terrestrial antennas 9a, which retransmit via the operator network 9 to the remote server 8. This communication data relating to the bottle of gas 1 make it possible to geolocate the gas cylinder 1 thanks to the communication stations 9a of the operator network 9. For example, the location of each gas cylinder 1 can be determined (step S4) from the flight time of the transmitted wave by the corresponding radio transmitter 6 between the gas cylinder 1 and the terrestrial antenna 9a, by geolocation of the terrestrial antenna 9a which receives the information, or by any other suitable localization means.
    [0024] Where appropriate, the data representative of the gas cylinder 1 may also include an indication of the level of gas generated by the sensor in step S2.
    [0025] The remote server 8 thus receives data relating to the gas cylinders 1 making it possible to geolocate the bottles 1, for the entire surveyed territory.
    [0026] The interrogation of the communication device 6 of the gas cylinders 1 by the remote server 8 can be performed periodically. For example, the interrogation can be performed once a week, in order to limit the energy consumption by the communication device 6 and by the sensor 5.
    [0027] For a given gas cylinder 1, the remote server 8 can then deduce whether the gas cylinder 1 is located in a consumer, a distributor, a filling center, etc. and possibly find gas cylinders 1 which are out of their normal cycle of use.
    [0028] Knowing the geographical location of each of the handles 4, and therefore the associated bottles of gas 1, and where appropriate the level of gas in each of the bottles 1, the gas supplier can then more easily anticipate the needs of the consumers and the distributors, to adapt the loading of the means of delivery of the gas cylinders 1 (trucks, etc.) and consequently to reduce the quantity of uncommitted gas cylinders 1, the environmental footprint of the bottle dispensing trucks 1, the fuel costs, etc. . The geolocation of the bottles 1 also makes it possible to locate the gas cylinders 1 possibly misplaced or stolen, these gas cylinders 25 1 being generally grouped in zones that do not correspond to one of the points of the operating cycle described above. The geolocation of the bottles 1 also makes it possible to guarantee the public authorities the capacity to locate quickly and effectively a gas cylinder 1 on a hilly site, requiring, for example, the intervention of firefighters or law enforcement officers, and to ensure so their security.
    [0029] Lastly, the indications relating to the level of gas and the location of bottles 1 make it possible to develop marketing and commercial services adapted to the real needs of consumers.5
    权利要求:
    Claims (30)
    [0001]
    REVENDICATIONS1. Handle (4) for a mobile fluid reservoir (1), in particular a gas cylinder, of the type intended to be mounted on a main body (2) of a mobile tank (1) around its dispensing valve (3) , said handle (4) being characterized in that it comprises a communication device (6) for transmitting data relating to the mobile reservoir (1) to a remote server (8), the transmission of data by the communication device (6) being adapted to give information on the geolocation of said handle (4) and the mobile tank (1) on which it is mounted to said remote server (8).
    [0002]
    2. Handle (4) according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor (5) configured to generate an indication on a fluid level in the reservoir (1), the information given by the communication device (6) comprising said indication.
    [0003]
    3. Handle (4) according to claim 2, wherein the sensor (5) is non-invasive and comprises for example an ultrasonic sensor.
    [0004]
    4. Handle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication device (6) comprises a low frequency radio frequency transmitter. 25
    [0005]
    5. Handle (4) according to claim 4, wherein the radio transmitter (6) is equipped with a rechargeable battery by induction.
    [0006]
    6. Handle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 5, the distribution valve (3) of the fluid reservoir (1) being provided with an external fixing thread (3a), comprising: - a base ( 10) adapted to be mounted on the main body (2) of the tank (1), said base (10) comprising a central orifice (12) through which is configured to playfully accommodate the dispensing valve (3), and - a bushing fastener (14) comprising an inner annular wall (15) comprising a threaded inner surface (15a) configured to cooperate with the external thread (3a) of the dispensing valve (3), and a shoulder (16) configured to abut against an upper surface of the base (10).
    [0007]
    7. Handle (4) according to claim 6, further comprising a seal (30) mounted on a bottom wall of the base (10), said seal (30) being intended to come into contact with the main body (2) of the mobile tank (1).
    [0008]
    The handle (4) according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the fixing ring (14) is formed of a polyamide type shape memory material.
    [0009]
    9. Handle (4) according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the base (10) has a first portion (11a), extending opposite a nozzle (3b) of the dispensing valve ( 3), and a second portion (11b), opposite the first portion (11a), and wherein a height in a screw direction (X) of the fastening ring (14) of the first portion (11a) is less than a height of the second part (11b). 25
    [0010]
    Handle (4) according to claim 9, wherein the second portion (11b) is hollow and defines a chamber (28) configured to receive the sensor (5).
    [0011]
    11. Handle (4) according to one of claims 6 to 10, further comprising: - a gripping zone (18), extending away from the base (10) and adapted to be manipulated by a user for moving the mobile reservoir (1), and - at least two uprights (20), preferably three uprights (20), extending between the base (10) and the gripping zone (18).
    [0012]
    12. Handle (4) according to claims 4 and 11 taken in combination, further comprising a housing (26) formed in one of the uprights (20), and wherein the radio transmitter (6) is housed in said housing (26) of the handle (4).
    [0013]
    13. Handle (4) according to claim 12, wherein the radio transmitter (6) further comprises an antenna, said antenna being overmolded in one of the uprights (20) of the handle (4).
    [0014]
    14. Handle (4) according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the gripping zone (18) is generally curved in a circular arc and has a lateral opening (22) in an area adjacent to the dispensing valve ( 3).
    [0015]
    15. Handle (4) according to claim 14, wherein the circular arc of the gripping zone (18) has an internal diameter of at least 140 mm and an outer diameter less than or equal to 200 mm. 25
    [0016]
    16. Handle (4) according to one of claims 14 or 15, wherein the gripping zone (18) has extra thicknesses (19) on either side of the lateral opening (22) to locally strengthen the impact resistance of the handle (4). 30
    [0017]
    17. Handle (4) according to one of claims 6 to 16, wherein the base (10) is substantially annular and has an outer diameter of between 70 mm and 80 mm, for example of the order of 74 mm. 20
    [0018]
    18. Handle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the communication device (6) is configured to communicate radiofrequency contactless contact with communication stations (9a) of an operator network (9) .
    [0019]
    19. Handle (4) according to claim 18, wherein the operator network (9) comprises a local network or a national network.
    [0020]
    20. Handle (4) according to one of claims 18 or 19, wherein the communication device (6) is configured to allow the location of the mobile reservoir (1) by determining the flight time of the radio frequency waves or by determining the the communication station (9a) to which the data is transmitted by the mobile tank (1).
    [0021]
    21. Handle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 20, further comprising structural reinforcement elements attached to the handle (4), housed in a recess of the handle (4) or formed integrally and in one piece with said handle (4).
    [0022]
    22. Mobile fluid reservoir (1), in particular a gas cylinder, comprising: - a main body (2), configured to receive the fluid, - a fluid distribution valve (3), and - a handle (4). according to one of claims 1 to 21, said handle being mounted on the main body (2) around the dispensing valve (3).
    [0023]
    23. A management system (34) for a fleet of mobile fluid tanks, comprising: - a series of mobile fluid tanks (1) according to claim 22, and- a remote server (8) connected to an operator network ( 9), adapted to communicate with the series of mobile tanks (1).
    [0024]
    24. Management system (34) according to claim 23, wherein the communication device (6) is adapted for transmitting said terrestrial radio-frequency waveform information to communication stations (9a), said communication stations (9a) retransmitting said data to the remote server (8) via the operator network (9).
    [0025]
    25. Management method (S) of a fleet of mobile fluid tanks using a management system (42) according to one of claims 23 or 24, comprising the following steps: - send (S1) a request to at least one mobile tank (1) via the operator network (9) to obtain data relating to the mobile tank (1) and adapted to give information on the geolocation of the mobile tank (1), - obtain ( S2) the data adapted to allow the geolocation of the mobile reservoir (1), - transmit (S3) adapted data to allow the geolocation of the mobile reservoir (1) via the operator network (9) to the remote server (8), and - locate (S4) the mobile tank (1).
    [0026]
    26. The management method (S) according to claim 25, wherein the handle (4) of the mobile reservoir (1) further comprises a sensor (5) configured to generate an indication of the level of the fluid in the reservoir (1). , the information given by the communication device (6) during the transmission step (S3) comprising said indication.
    [0027]
    27. Management method (S) according to claim 26, wherein the fluid level in the mobile reservoir (1) is determined (S5) by the remote server (8) from the data representative of the fluid level provided by the sensor. (5).
    [0028]
    28. Management method (S) according to one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the transmission (S3) of the data is carried out without contact by radiofrequency waves with communication stations (9a) of an operator network (9) .
    [0029]
    29. Management method (S) according to claim 28, wherein the mobile reservoir (1) is located using the communication stations (9a) by determining the flight time of the radio frequency waves or by determining the radio station. communication (9a) to which the data is transmitted by the mobile tank (1).
    [0030]
    30. Management method (S) according to claim 29, wherein the operator network (9) comprises a local network or a national network.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    WO2015150487A1|2015-10-08|
    FR3019623B1|2021-01-22|
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    法律状态:
    2015-10-29| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 2 |
    2016-04-27| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 3 |
    2017-04-07| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 4 |
    2018-04-13| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 5 |
    2019-04-11| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 6 |
    2020-04-30| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 7 |
    2022-01-07| ST| Notification of lapse|Effective date: 20211205 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    FR1452907A|FR3019623B1|2014-04-02|2014-04-02|HANDLE FOR A MOBILE TANK, INCLUDING A COMMUNICATION DEVICE|FR1452907A| FR3019623B1|2014-04-02|2014-04-02|HANDLE FOR A MOBILE TANK, INCLUDING A COMMUNICATION DEVICE|
    PCT/EP2015/057251| WO2015150487A1|2014-04-02|2015-04-01|Handle for a gas cylinder, comprising a level sensor|
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