GAS SUPPLY DEVICE COMPRISING A PORTABLE CONTAINER AND A RECHARGING BASE
(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (54) Title GAS SUPPLY DEVICE COMPRISING A PORTABLE CONTAINER AND A RECHARGING BASE (21) Application No: 2003246787 (22) Application Date: 2003.04.07 (87) WIPONo: WO03/087651 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date (33) Country 02/04G10 2002.04.12 FR (43) Publication Date : 2003.10.27 (43) Publication Journal Date : 2003.12.04 (71) Applicant(s) L'AIR LIQUIDE, SOCIETE ANONYME A DIRECTOIRE bl CONSEIL DE SURVEILLANCE POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATIO (72) Inventor(s) CANTACUZENE, Serban; LECOUFFE, Jean-Francois (H) Application NoAU2003246787 A1(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (54) Title GAS SUPPLY DEVICE COMPRISING A PORTABLE CONTAINER AND A RECHARGING BASE (21) Application No: 2003246787 (22) Application Date: 2003.04.07 (87) WIPONo: WO03/087651 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date (33) Country 02/04G10 2002.04.12 FR (43) Publication Date : 2003.10.27 (43) Publication Journal Date : 2003.12.04 (71) Applicant(s) L'AIR LIQUIDE, SOCIETE ANONYME A DIRECTOIRE bl CONSEIL DE SURVEILLANCE POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATIO (72) Inventor(s) CANTACUZENE, Serban; LECOUFFE, Jean-Francois Gas supply device comprises a portable storage tank that can be coupled to a gas source when it requires filling. To refill the tank it is connected to a refilling base (1) that is in turn connected to the gas source. The portable tank has an electronic label, which is read by a read device (20) associated with the refilling base. The reader is connected to a control unit (9) for controlling gas supply via the base. 1. A gas supply device including a portable container that (,an be coupled to a recharging base for filling purposes, said base being able to be connected to a gas source and including an area for receiving the portable container, wherein the container includes an electronic label and the base includes, in the vicinity of said area, a read device for reading such a label when the container is coupled to the base, the read device being connected to a control unit for controlling the supply of gas via the base. 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the label and the read device are respectively arranged in the vicinity of the members for fluid connection between the container and the base. 3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the label is of the passive type with emulation by radiofrequency induction. 4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the read device includes an antenna surrounding the nozzle for coupling to the container. 5. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes, in the low-pressure gas circuit, a solenoid valve connected to the control unit. 6. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes, in the high-pressure gas circuit, a pressure sensor connected to the control unit. 7. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes means for displaying data contained in the control unit. 8. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes means, connected to the control unit, for externally transmitting data contained in the control unit. 9. A gas supply device, substantially as herein described with reference the accompanying drawings.
Date: 13 October, 2004 Phillips Ormonde & Fitzpatrick Attorneys For:
L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance Pour I'Etude et I'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude