Flow control tap for gas pressure vessel - has capacitive sensor probe with gas-tight connector so that capacitance depends on liq. gas level

摘要

The tap assembly has a body (2) of electrically conductive material with a tapered thread (4) which screws into the neck of a standard gas cylinder. When the knob (7) on the valve is opened, gas flows from the cylinder out of the outlet connection (6) on the side of the body. A capacitive sensor probe (8) is installed in the inlet aperture (3) of the valve. The probe consists of two concentric copper alloy tubes (9, 10), held apart by a spiral spacer (11). The lower end (12) of the probe is open and there is a radial hole (16) in the wall of the outer tube. The probe is connected to a sensing circuit via a gas-tight connector (13, 14, 15) on the side of the valve body.