The present invention relates to cylinder discharging systems used to discharge combustible gases in problematical cylinders. Prior Art

Combustible gases, such as LPG, LNG and natural gas are supplied to consumers by being stored in cylinders. These cylinders, after the combustible gases therein are consumed, are reused by being refilled. In time, problems may occur with reused cylinders, especially with their valves. When a problem is experienced with a cylinder filled with combustible gas, the combustible gas therein should be discharged before the cylinder is repaired or discarded. Otherwise, there arise such risks as inflammation and/or explosion of the combustible gas in the cylinder. With the traditional methods, combustible gases in the problematical cylinders are manually discharged by an employee. However, such a manual discharging process takes a long period of time, and it is also not sufficiently safe due to errors originating from the employee. The prior art utility model document no. TR200704184Y discloses a system for changing ruined valves of the cylinders. In this said system, a pressurized medium is created on the valves of the cylinders. Afterwards, the valve of the cylinder is changed in the said pressurized medium without discharging the combustible gas. Even though the said method is fast, it is not sufficiently safe. Besides, only the valves of the cylinders can be changed with this system, and the combustible gases in the cylinders, which become unusable due to faults not resulting from valves, cannot be removed from the cylinder. Brief Description of the Invention

With this invention, there is provided at least one discharging system for discharging combustible gases available in problematical cylinders. The said discharging system comprises at least one fixed body; at least one movable body which is connected to the said fixed body by means of at least two movement pins in a movable manner, and which has at least one lower part, where the said cylinder is placed, and at least one upper part provided on the lower part in such a way that there exists a space therebetween, where the cylinder can be placed; at least one discharging arm which moves in such a way that it gets close to a cylinder placed on the lower part from the said upper part towards the lower part and moves away from the said cylinder, and which has at least one arm connection which settles on the valve of the cylinder as it gets close to the cylinder and which constrains the cylinder between itself and the lower part, and which discharges the combustible gas in the cylinder; at least one transfer line for transferring the combustible gas received by the discharge arm to at least one storage unit, and at least one movement element which ensures that the cylinders placed on the movable body takes an an upside-down position by moving the movable body relative to the fixed body.

In the discharging system according to the present invention, it is enabled that combustible gas available in at least one (preferably, a plurality of) cylinder(s) is discharged. Since the cylinder takes an upside-down position during the discharging process, the combustible gas in the cylinder can be discharged in a fast and efficient way.

Object of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder discharging system for discharging gases in cylinders.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rapid, practical and safe cylinder discharging system. Description of the Figures

The illustrative embodiments of the cylinder discharging system according to the present invention are shown in the attached figures, in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inventive cylinder discharging system;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a usage position of the cylinder discharging system;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another usage position of the cylinder discharging system;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further usage position of the cylinder discharging system;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a discharging arm used in the cylinder discharging system.

All the parts illustrated in the drawing are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed as follows:

Discharging system (S)

Cylinder (T)

Valve (T1)

Fixed body (1 )

Movable body (2)

Discharging arm (3)

Arm holder element (4)

Movement element (5)

Lower part (6)

Upper part (7)

Supporting element (8)

Movement pin (9)

Arm connection (10)

Opening (1 1 )

Safety pin (12)

Passage space (13) Flexible element (14)

Sealing element (15)

Tap (16)

Inner seat (17)

Description of the Invention

The cylinders in which combustible gases are stored may become unusable as a result of damages occurring in many ways. Such problematic cylinders are either repaired, or if they cannot be repaired, they are discarded. In both cases, the combustible gas in the cylinder must be discharged for safety purposes. Therefore, a cylinder discharging system for discharging the gas in the cylinder is developed with this invention.

The discharging system (S) according to the present invention, illustrative views of which are shown in figures 1 and 4, comprises at least one fixed body (1 ); at least one movable body (2), which is movably connected to the said fixed body (1 ) by means of at least two movement pins (9), and which has at least one lower part (6) on which at least one (preferably at least two, for example eight) cylinder (T) to be released from the combustible gas is placed and at least one upper part (7) which is located on the lower part (6) in such a way that there exists a space therebetween where the cylinder (T) can be placed; at least one discharging arm (3) which moves in such a way that it gets close to the cylinder (T) to be placed on the lower part (6) from the said upper part (7) towards the lower part (6) and moves away from the said cylinder (T), which has at least one arm connection (10) that settles on the valve (T1 ) of the cylinder (T) as it gets close to the cylinder (T) and which constrains the cylinder between itself and the lower part (6), and which discharges the combustible gas in the cylinder; at least one transfer line (not shown in the figures) for transferring the combustible gas received by the discharging arm (3) to at least one storage unit (not shown in the figures); and at least one movement element (5) which ensures that the cylinders (T), which are placed on the movable body (2), take an upside-down position by moving the movable body (2) relative to the fixed body (1 ). The said discharging system (S) also comprises at least two supporting elements (8) which are positioned on the movable body (2) and which connect the lower part (6) and the upper part (7). The said movement pins (9) are preferably connected to the supporting elements (8) which are located at the sides of the moveable body (2). In an illustrative embodiment of the discharging system (S) according to the present invention, at least one cylinder (T) to be released from the gas therein is placed between the said lower part (6) and the upper part (7), as shown in figure 2. Then, as shown in figure 3, the discharging arm (3) is moved so as to be placed on the valve (T1 ) of the cylinder (T). The discharging arm (3) also prevents the cylinder (T) from moving by constraining the cylinder (T) between itself and the lower part (6). As shown in figure 4, the movable body (2) is moved by the movement element (5) in such a way that the said cylinder (T) takes an upside-down position. When the cylinder (T) takes an upside-down position, all the combustible gas in the cylinder (T) is received by the discharging arm (3) with the effect of gravity, and sent to a storage unit through the said transfer line. Finally, by moving the movable body (2), the cylinder (T) is returned to its initial position and, by moving the discharging arm (3) in such a way that it moves away from the cylinder (T), the cylinder (T) is released. The released cylinder (T) is taken away from the lower part: (2) and sent to a relevant unit. In the discharging system (S) according to the present invention, it is ensured that the combustible gases in the cylinders (T) are discharged rapidly and practically.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the discharging system (S) comprises at least one arm holder element (4), which is located on the upper part (7) and controls the movement of the discharging arm (3). Preferably, the said arm holder element (4) is in the form of a piston which surrounds the discharging arm (3). Thus, the movement of the discharging arm (3) is controlled easily and safely.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the discharging arm (3), a detailed view of which is shown in figure 5, comprises at least one opening (1 1 ), which is located inside the arm connection (10) and in which the valve (T1 ) is placed; at least one passage space

(13) which is located in the arm connection (10) for transferring the combustible gas in the cylinder (1 ) to the said transfer line; at least one safety pin (12) which is located in the passage space (13), which allows passage of the gas through the passage space (13) when the discharging arm (3) settles on the valve (T1 ); and at least one flexible element

(14) (i.e. a spring) which prevents passage of the gas through the passage space (13) by moving the safety pin (12) when the discharging arm (3) moves away from the valve (T1 ). In this embodiment, when the discharging arm (3) ^' is settled on the valve (T1 ), the safety pin (12) takes a position in which the gas passage through the passage space (13) is enabled. Thus, the combustible gas received from the valve (T1 ) passes through the passage space (13) and reaches to the discharging line.

Preferably, the said discharging arm (3) comprises at least one inner seat (17), which is provided in the arm connection (10), which allows passage of the gas from the passage space (13) to the transfer line and the width of which is larger than the passage space

(13) . In this embodiment, the safety pin (12) comprises at least one tap (16) located in the inner seat (17) and capable of closing the passage space (13). The said flexible element

(14) applies a force on the tap (16) in such a way that it closes the passage space (13). When the discharging arm (3) is settled on the valve (T1 ), the safety pin (12) moves so as to compress the flexible element (16). In this case, the tap (16) does not close the passage space (13) any longer. Thus, gas passes through the passage space (13). When the discharging arm (3) is moved away from the valve (T1 ), the flexible element; (14) pushes the tap (16) so as to ensure that the passage space is closed. Thus, gas in the transfer line is prevented from being released out through the discharging arm (3) when the gas in a cylinder (T) is not discharged.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the said discharging arm (3) comprises at least one sealing element (15) which is located in the opening (1 1 ), and provides a sealing between the arm connection (10) and valve (T1 ). Thus, it is ensured the combustible gas is prevented from leaking and thus spreading into the environment during the discharge of the combustible gas in the cylinder (T) so that that the discharging system (S) functions safely. In the discharging system (S) according to the present invention, there is ensured that the combustible gas available in at least one (preferably a plurality of) cylinder(s) (T) is discharged. Since the cylinder (T) takes an upside-down position during the discharging process, the combustible gas in the cylinder (T) can be discharged in a fast and efficient manner.