WO2015150487A1

WO2015150487A1 - Handle for a gas cylinder, comprising a level sensor

Info

Publication number: WO2015150487A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/057251
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jérôme JANIN
Original assignee: Compagnie Des Gaz De Petrole Primagaz
Priority date: 2014-04-02
Filing date: 2015-04-01
Publication date: 2015-10-08
Also published as: FR3019623B1; FR3019623A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a handle (4) for a mobile gas tank, comprising a sensor (5) configured to provide information regarding the fluid level in the tank (1) and geopositioning means (6) associated with an RFID tag allowing the stock of tanks to be managed. The sensor (5) comprises at least a piezoelectric emitter (50) and a piezoelectric receiver (52) which are separated by a distance of at least 8 millimetres.

Description

HANDLE FOR A GAS BOTTLE COMPRISING A LEVEL SENSOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to mobile tanks for transporting and storing fluid products, such as compressed gas cylinders or chemicals.

BACKGROUND

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 accurate way the location of the various tanks or their content at a given time.

Typically, in the case of gas cylinders, their normal cycle of use comprises the following successive stages:

- 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 its 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;

- Transport of the empty bottle to a depot, usually by truck;

- Transport of the empty bottle from the depot to the filling center, usually by truck. The Applicant has also noticed that part of its gas cylinder park 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 not in conformity with the regulation. 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 one of many consumers. 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 carry out the same delivery route, which implies significant costs in terms of labor, 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, in order to guarantee the safety of the public authorities and in particular of the 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 have an immovable handle capable of protecting the valve of the bottle during defined impacts (for example, reference may be made to the EN ISO 1 1 1 17: 2008 standard, which defines the loads to be supported by the handle of a gas cylinder), be periodically maintained to check their resistance to pressure (re-test), etc. These regulations make it difficult to change the design of gas cylinders.

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 sensor described in US 7,512,488, a level gauge, is used to monitor the level of propane in the tank is intrusive, and therefore can not in any case 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 storage bins and transport pallets or the different machines used when filling the gas cylinder, which can not be modified to accommodate a new form of bottle or allow the addition of a dedicated monitoring system.

In the case of a gas cylinder, the sensor is preferably non-intrusive, i.e. it is configured to determine the level of gas without damaging or entering the gas cylinder.

The sensor must be able to give an indication of the level of fluid in the gas cylinder at a reasonable cost to enable its large-scale industrialization. In addition, the gas cylinders are small and therefore require the sensor to be compact and robust enough to be used for the entire life of the bottle (ie between its first use and its retested after a decade).

However, at present, the proposed sensors are either too expensive, or too bulky, or intrusive.

For example, the document FR 82 02750 proposes to determine the level of fluid in a tank by measuring the flight time in the gas phase to the surface of the liquid. However, the external placement of the sensors creates a coupling with the wall of the bottle that generates noise and thus makes the data difficult to interpret accurately. Moreover, the sensor is very complex and its cost is too important for the application in question.

It has therefore been proposed to carry out resonance measurements, by analyzing the frequency spectrum of the bottle when it receives a shock. The spectrum of frequencies thus makes it possible to reveal the properties of the bottle and, if it is full, of its container. This has notably been proposed in document US Pat. No. 6,247,361, which describes the use of a sound transceiver for determining the volume of fluid in a gas cylinder. For this purpose, a loudspeaker is mounted on the bottle to excite its contents by scanning a determined frequency range. The phase of the signals thus emitted is then compared with that of the signals received by a microphone, also mounted on the bottle, in order to determine the resonance frequency of the gas cylinder. This resonance frequency being a function of the contents of the bottle, it is then possible to determine the level of filling of this bottle. However, the sensor described in this document needs to be recharged regularly, which implies a waste of time, additional costs and logistics that are difficult to envisage in the field of gas cylinders. In addition, the sensor is large and requires human intervention to be applied against the bottle during the measurement, so that it is difficult to use in the context of monitoring the remote gas level.

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 in outside) and provide information on their whereabouts to anyone who requests it, such as the public authorities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first 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 related to its storage and filling. without requiring modification of devices and machines conventionally used for this purpose.

A second object of the invention is to provide a mobile reservoir for transporting fluids such as compressed gas or chemicals, comprising a sensor for remotely determining a fluid user's needs, and which is furthermore robust enough to guarantee its use until the re-test of the tank, while being of a moderate cost allowing an industrialization of the tank.

For this, the invention proposes 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 tank around its dispensing valve, comprising:

a sensor configured to generate an indication on a fluid level in the reservoir,

means configured to give information on the geolocation of the handle, and

a communication device, connected to the sensor and the means configured to give information on the geolocation of the handle, said communication device being configured to transmit data relating to the mobile reservoir to a remote server, said data comprising indication on the level of fluid in the reservoir and information on the geolocation of said handle.

Some preferred but non-limiting features of the handle according to the invention are the following, taken individually or in combination:

the sensor is non-invasive,

the communication device comprises a low-frequency radio frequency transmitter,

the means configured to give information on the geolocation of the handle comprise the low-frequency radio frequency transmitter,

- the radio transmitter is equipped with a rechargeable battery by induction,

the tank fluid distribution valve is provided with an external fixing thread, comprising: a base adapted to be mounted on the main body of the tank, said base comprising a central through orifice configured to playfully accommodate the dispensing tap; and a fixing ring comprising an inner annular wall comprising a threaded internal surface configured to cooperate 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 into 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 dispensing valve, and a second portion, opposite to the first portion, and wherein a height in a direction of screwing of the fixing ring of the first part is less than a height of the second part, the second part is hollow and defines a chamber configured to receive the sensor,

the handle further comprises: a gripping zone, extending at a distance from the base and adapted to be manipulated by a user to move the mobile reservoir, and at least two uprights, preferably three upright, extending between the base and the gripping area,

the handle further comprises a housing formed in one of the uprights, and in which the radio transmitter is housed in said housing of the handle,

the radio transmitter further comprises an antenna, said antenna being overmolded in one of the uprights of the handle,

the gripping zone is generally curved in a circular arc and has a lateral opening in an area adjacent to the distribution valve,

the circular arc of the gripping zone has an internal diameter of at least 140 mm and an external diameter of 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 external 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 communication device is configured to locate 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 tank,

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,

the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, the ultrasonic sensor comprises at least one piezoelectric transmitter and a piezoelectric receiver,

the piezoelectric transmitter and the piezoelectric receiver are separated by a distance of at least 8 millimeters, preferably at least 10 millimeters,

the piezoelectric transmitter is configured to scan frequencies between 100 Hz and 1300 Hz,

the sensor is fixed on the handle by means of a structure comprising a support configured to receive the piezoelectric transmitter and / or the piezoelectric receiver, said support being fixed on a lower face of the handle,

the structure comprises means adapted to support the piezoelectric transmitter and / or the piezoelectric receiver chosen from the following list: pins configured to face a central zone of the piezoelectric transmitter and / or the piezoelectric receiver, pins configured to face a periphery of the piezoelectric transmitter and / or the piezoelectric receiver, and / or a foam interposed between the support and the piezoelectric transmitter and / or the piezoelectric receiver,

the handle further comprises a cover, delimiting with the support a housing configured to receive the piezoelectric transmitter and / or the piezoelectric receiver,

the reservoir comprises a fluid dispensing valve and the handle comprises a base adapted to be fixed on the reservoir and comprising a central through orifice configured to house the dispensing valve of the reservoir, the piezoelectric transmitter and the piezoelectric receiver being fixed on the base of the handle in an annular zone of the base having an outer diameter of about 145 millimeters and an inner diameter of about 85 millimeters,

the sensor further comprises a device for applying the sensor against the reservoir, said device being configured to ensure a surface contact between the sensor and the reservoir, the application device comprises a magnet or a spacer configured to apply the piezoelectric transmitter against the reservoir and a magnet or a spacer configured to apply the piezoelectric receiver against the reservoir,

the cover further comprises a through orifice adapted to receive all or part of the device for applying the piezoelectric transmitter and / or the piezoelectric receiver, so that when the handle is attached to the reservoir, the application device comes in contact with said reservoir,

the handle further comprises self-calibration means, configured to determine a shape and a content of the fluid reservoir and to deduce therefrom frequencies to be scanned by the sensor,

the self-calibration means comprise: a receiver, configured to receive activation instructions in order to trigger the sensor's self-calibration, and a memory, housed in the sensor and configured to record the frequencies to be scanned by the sensor according to the type of fluid reservoir on which the handle is attached, and / or

- The handle further comprises a temperature sensor and temperature compensation means. According to a second aspect, the invention also relates to 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 above, said handle being mounted on the main body around the dispensing valve.

According to a third aspect, the invention also relates to a management system for a fleet of mobile fluid tanks, comprising:

a series of mobile fluid reservoirs as described above, and - A remote server connected to an operator network, adapted to communicate with the series of mobile tanks.

In an alternative embodiment, the communication device is adapted to transmit said terrestrial radiofrequency information to communication stations, said communication stations retransmitting said data to the remote server via the operator network.

According to a third aspect, the invention finally relates to a method for managing a fleet of mobile fluid reservoirs using a management system as described above, comprising the following steps:

sending a request to at least one mobile tank via the operator network in order to obtain data relating to the mobile tank including an indication on a level of the fluid in the tank, information on the geolocation of the mobile tank,

- obtain said data,

transmit the data via the operator network to the remote server,

- locate the mobile tank, and

- determine the fluid level in the mobile tank.

- The fluid level in the mobile tank is determined by the remote server from the data representative of the fluid level provided by the sensor.

the transmission of the data is carried out radiofrequency-free contact with communication stations of an operator network,

the mobile reservoir is located by means of the communication stations by determining the flight time of the radiofrequency waves or by determining the communication station to which the data is transmitted by the mobile reservoir, the operator network comprises a local network or a national network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, and with reference to the appended 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 tank of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the handle of the handle of the reservoir of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the handle of the handle of the tank of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a management system for a fleet of mobile fluid tanks according to the invention, and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart representing various steps of an exemplary embodiment of the method for managing a fleet of mobile fluid tanks in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 7 is a view in longitudinal section of the handle of the handle of the reservoir of FIG. 1,

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an area in which a transmitter and a piezoelectric receiver can be placed on a mobile fluid reservoir, and

Figures 9a to 9c illustrate different examples of attachment of a transmitter or a piezoelectric receiver of a 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. The gas bottle 1 comprises:

a main body 2, configured to receive the gas in liquid form, having a main extension direction defining a longitudinal axis X,

a gas distribution valve 3, extending substantially along the longitudinal axis X, and

- A handle 4, mounted on the main body 2 around the dispensing valve 3.

The handle 4 may comprise a communication device 6 for sending data relating to the bottle 1 to a remote server 9, the data transmission by the communication device 6 being adapted to give information on the geolocation from bottle 1 to remote server 9.

The handle 4 is configured to fix the communication device 6 on the gas bottle 1. This configuration makes it possible to comply with current safety standards and by allowing conventional storage, transport and filling of the bottle 1 without requiring removal or adaptation of the machines usually used. If necessary, in order to improve the management of the bottle stock 1 and in particular to adjust the delivery of the bottles 1 to the needs of the consumers and distributors, the handle 4 can furthermore comprise a sensor 5, configured to generate an indication on a fluid level in the 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 be further described herein. 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). Remote Server 9 Communication with 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 contactless 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 inputs and outputs on the site of a gas supplier) or national (such as a national operator network).

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 Radio-Frenquency Identifier) comprising an electronic chip 6 associated with An antenna 7. The electronic chip 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 following 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 9 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, by using the frequency bands ISM (acronym of 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 that optimizes the life of the battery of the radio transmitter 6, so that the radio transmitter 6 can be used until the re-test of the radio. gas bottle 1 without 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 their geographical position thanks to the operator network 9.

By way of comparison, a wireless local area network of the Wi-Fi type does not have a sufficient range to ensure communication between the different gas cylinders 1 and the operator network 9 whatever the geographical position of the bottle 1, and would be in addition 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 communication device 6 may comprise means configured to geolocate the gas cylinder 1 by satellites of the GPS (Global Positioning System) type.

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 of one 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 distributor the closest can then 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 of the radio frequency frame terrestrial antennas 9a with which the radio transmitter 6 being interrogated is known, it is then possible to determine a fairly precise geographical 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 make it possible today to locate a radio transmitter 6 to a hundred meters close on the French territory.

In this second embodiment, a dedicated geolocation system of the GPS type is therefore not necessary.

Configuring the handle 4

The handle 4 may in particular be of any shape likely to allow the transport of the gas cylinder 1. Preferably the handle 4 is configured to meet the design constraints related to its storage and filling and the requirements of the current regulation (including the standard EN ISO 1 1 1 17: 2008, which provides that a handle of a gas cylinder 1 must be able to withstand without breaking a drop of 1, 20 meter on the slice with an inclination of 30 ° relative to the vertical when the bottle 1 is full, to protect the dispensing valve).

Without limitation, the handle 4 may include 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 clearance and the handle 4 further comprises a fixing ring 14 adapted to fix and hold the handle 4 on the main body 2 in position. the bottle 1.

The fixing ring 14 may in particular comprise a longitudinal annular wall 15 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 cooperate with the valve to fix the handle 4 on the bottle 1. For this purpose, the annular wall 15 has a threaded internal surface, configured to engage complementary threads 3a formed on the dispensing valve 3.

In order to fix the handle 4 on 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 to the dispensing valve 3 until the shoulder 16 of the fixing ring 14 abuts against the upper surface of the base 10 of the 4. In this configuration, the fixing ring 14 then plates the handle 4 against the main body 2 of the gas cylinder 1 and locks it in position.

In order 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 bottle 1.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the base 10 is generally annular in 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 cylinders 1, the diameter of the central orifice 12 may be between 70 mm and 80 mm, for example of the order of 74 mm.

If necessary, 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. For example, the handle 4 can be attached to the main body 2 of the gas cylinder with a nut whose shape does not meet current standards and therefore requires a specific key associated to release the handle 4 If necessary, the nut can be configured so that the effort required to unscrew it in the order of 50 DN.

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.

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 which an area adjacent to the dispensing valve 3, dimensioned to allow the passage and fixing of a filling spout on the nozzle 3b of the dispensing valve 3, and a sensor of a bell orientator.

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 therefore independent of the thread pitch of the threads 3a of the distribution valve 3.

Furthermore, the outer diameter of the gripping zone 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 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 also 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 greater than 140 mm reference.

Optionally, the shape of the handle 4 can 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 uprights 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.

In addition, the current regulation requires 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 1 1 1 17: 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 constituent material of the handle can be adapted to strengthen structurally against shocks.

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.

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 bottle 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 can 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 can be used in particular for large volume gas bottles. of type P35.

Thus, in the exemplary 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 a 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 1 1 1 17: 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 needed to make the handle 4, it can be hollow (at the uprights 20 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 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 These damping means 30 may for example comprise one or more seals, typically lip seals, fixed around the chamber 28 in order to isolate it acoustically.

Optionally, in order to allow the embodiment 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 part 1 1 a, underlying the nozzle 3b of the dispensing valve 3, and a second part 1 1 b, opposite the first part 1 1 a.

The second part 1 1 b is then intended to receive the chamber 28 for the sensor 5, and therefore has a dimension sufficient to allow its formation. The base 10 of the handle 4 thus comprises, at this second part 1 1 b, a recess opening into its bottom wall which defines the chamber 28 of the sensor 5.

The first part 1 1 may be thinner (that is to say, less high along the longitudinal axis X) than the second part 1 1 b, insofar as it is not necessary to accommodating devices therein (in particular when the communication device 6 is housed in 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 1 1 a of the base 10, it is possible to allow the passage of the base 10 under this crossbar 32, the nozzle 3b of the valve 3 then being opposite said bar 32 during the storage of the gas bottle 1 in the bin.

The handle 4 may further comprise a housing 26 configured to receive the communication device 6.

The communication device 6 can be connected to the sensor 5 in order to communicate the information on the fluid level (liquid or gaseous phase, according to the interrogation carried out and the measured resonance frequencies) contained in the bottle 1 to a remote server 9 The integration of the communication device 6 in the handle 4 makes it possible to communicate the bottle 1 (via the handle 4) with a remote server 9, which would have been very difficult to accomplish with a dedicated device attached. on the main body 2, the latter being made of a metal material preventing itself any communication. 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 can be housed either in this first amount 20, or in a second amount 20.

In one embodiment, the antenna 7 may be overmolded in one of the uprights 20 of the handle 4 at the time of manufacture of the handle.

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 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. Determination of an indication of the level of liquid in the bottle 1

Optionally, the handle 4 may comprise means for generating an indication of the level of the fluid in the bottle 1. By fluid level, it will be understood the level of gas in the liquid phase or in the gas phase.

In the following, the invention will be more particularly detailed in the case of information on the level of gas in the liquid phase in the bottle 1. This is not however limiting, the invention being applicable mutatis mutandis in the case of information on the level of gas in the gas phase.

The sensor 5 is preferably non-intrusive, i.e. 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 bottle 1 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 has the advantage of being compact and robust over time, as the risk of damage due for example to friction or corrosion is 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 near the gas cylinder 1, here at the level of the handle 4.

The data (frequencies of the waves received by the sensor 5) can then be processed directly by processing means connected to or integrated with the sensor 5 on the gas cylinder 1.

As a variant, the data can be transmitted directly to the remote server 9 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 9 then comprises a computer capable of processing the raw data of the sensor 5 representative of the level of gas in the cylinder 1 transmitted by each communication device 6 in order to determine the level of gas in each of the bottles 1. In another variant embodiment which will not be further detailed herein, 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.

The sensor 5

The sensor 5 may notably comprise:

a piezoelectric transmitter 50, in contact (direct or indirect) with the main body 2, and

a piezoelectric receiver 52, in contact (direct or indirect) with the main body 2.

The piezoelectric transmitter 50 is configured to scan frequencies between 100 Hz and 1300 Hz in order to obtain information on the level of liquid gas in the bottle from the resonance frequencies measured by the piezoelectric receiver 52.

For example, the piezoelectric transmitter 50 may comprise a transmitter of the SMA-30 type marketed by SONITRON and having the following characteristics: 87 dB SPL (acronym for Sound Pressure Level for sound pressure level), maximum frequency of 2500 Hz, voltage between 1.5 and 24 V, 4.2 mA.

The piezoelectric receiver 52 may comprise a transmitter of the type:

- SMA-24, marketed by SONITRON and having the following characteristics: 92 dB SPL, maximum frequency of 3000 Hz, voltage between 1 .5 and 24 V, 4.1 mA,

- SMAT-30, marketed by SONITRON and having the following characteristics: 94 dB SPL, maximum frequency of 5000 Hz, voltage up to 30 V, 4.1 mA), or - KPEG812 (marketed by KINGSTATE ELECTRONICS and having the following characteristics: 92 dB SPL, maximum frequency of 4000 Hz, voltage up to 10 V, 1 1 mA). The resonance frequencies measured by the piezoelectric receiver 52 are then processed by the processing means in order to identify, from the frequencies measured by the piezoelectric receiver 52, the resonant frequencies of the liquid gas and to deduce the information therefrom. the level of liquid gas in the bottle,

The processing means can be accommodated in the handle 4, for example in the electronic chip 6 comprising the communication device, or alternatively in the computer on the remote server 9.

The detection sensitivity of the volume of liquid gas contained in the bottle can be disturbed by the resonance frequencies of the gas phase contained in the bottle 1 as well as by the mechanical structure of the main body 2. It remains however sufficient to determine if the gas cylinder 1 is full or if the level of liquid gas contained in the bottle 1 has decreased by at least a third. Indeed, the Applicant has found that the resonance frequencies measured when the volume of gas in the liquid state is large (full bottle 1) are high while the resonant frequencies measured when the volume of gas in the state liquid is low (bottle 1 empty or in use) are low. The information on the level of liquid gas in the bottle therefore comprises here two states: full bottle or bottle at least partially emptied.

These resonant frequencies and their emission power vary according to the shape of the gas cylinder, its internal volume and the type of gas (propane, butane, etc.) contained in the bottle.

For example, for a 13 kg bottle of propane (P13) or butane (B13), the resonance frequencies measured by the piezoelectric receiver 52 are greater than 700 Hz when the bottle is full. and therefore that the volume of propane in the liquid state is high, and less than 400 Hz when the volume of gas in the liquid state is less than 50% of the initial volume and that the bottle 1 is empty or in the process of to be emptied. For a P13 propane cylinder 1, the resonance frequency of 450 Hz corresponds moreover to the case of a bottle 1 comprising as many gases in the liquid state as in the gaseous state. It will be understood, of course, that for a gas cylinder with a lower initial volume (respectively higher), such as bottles of 6 kg of gas (respectively 35 kg of gas), the frequencies will be higher (respectively lower).

The information on the volume of gas in the liquid state in the bottle thus makes it possible to determine whether the gas cylinder 1 is stored at the supplier or the distributor before it is sold to a user, in which case the bottle is full, or if this is in a user's house and in use, in which case the liquid level is lower than the initial liquid level. The supplier can thus more easily anticipate a refueling of the user.

It will of course be understood that, conversely, the information on the level of liquid gas in the bottle can be determined by measuring the volume of gas in the gaseous state in the bottle 1, that is to say by seeking the frequencies resonance of the gas phase in the bottle 1 rather than the resonance frequencies of the liquid phase.

Fixing the sensor 5 in the handle 4 makes it possible to comply with current regulations by allowing the storage, transport and conventional filling of the bottle 1 without requiring removal or adaptation of the machines usually used, while ensuring that a third party can not access the sensor 5 and possibly disrupt the measurements that can be made.

This configuration also makes it possible to optimize the positioning of the sensor 5 and to guarantee the repeatability of the measurements. The sensor 5 can in particular be housed in the base 10 of the handle 4 which is mounted on the main body 2, around the distribution valve 3. In order to guarantee the contact between the main body 2 and the piezoelectric transmitter 50, on the one hand, and between the main body 2 and the piezoelectric receiver 52 of the sensor 5, the chamber 28 can be formed in the face 10a of the handle 4 which is applied against the main body 2 of the gas bottle 1. In the case of the handle 4 described in the document FR 1452907 cited above, the face 10a corresponds to the bottom wall of the base 10 of the handle.

If necessary, the sensor 5 can be embedded in the mass of the handle 4. For this, the sensor 5 can for example be placed in the mold of the handle 4, prior to the injection of the plastic material.

The reservoir 1 may further comprise an application device 8 of the sensor 5 configured to ensure the surface contact (direct or indirect) between the main body 2 and the piezoelectric emitter 50 and the piezoelectric receiver 52. For this purpose, the application device may comprise at least one magnet 8, attached to the piezoelectric transmitter 50 and the piezoelectric receiver 52. Preferably the device 8 comprises a magnet for the piezoelectric transmitter 50 and a magnet for the receiver piezoelectric 52. The implementation of a magnet 8 rather than any other fixing means makes it possible to guarantee the contact of the piezoelectric transmitter 50 and the piezoelectric receiver 52 with the main body 2 during the entire cycle of use, at least ten years, without hindering the emission or reception of ultrasound by the piezoelectric transmitter 50 and the piezoelectric receiver 52.

Alternatively, the application device 8 of the sensor 5 may comprise a mechanical clamping of the piezoelectric transmitter 50 and the piezoelectric receiver 52 of the sensor 5 and the main body 2, as illustrated in Figure 9A. For example, the application device 8 may comprise a spacer.

Optionally, the sensor 5 may further comprise self-calibration means, configured to determine the shape and the content of the gas bottle on which the handle 4 is fixed and to deduce the resonance frequencies making it possible to obtain an indication of the level of liquid gas in the bottle.

For this purpose, the self-calibration means may in particular comprise:

a receiver, configured to receive activation instructions in order to trigger the self-calibration of the sensor 5,

a memory, housed in the sensor 5 and configured to record the frequencies to be scanned by the sensor 5 according to the type of bottle 1 on which the handle 4 is fixed.

The memory and the receiver are in communication with the sensor 5. In use, the receiver may for example receive an autocalibration instruction (for example via the communication device 6, or via a communication system specific) and then transmit it to the piezoelectric transmitter 50 so that it performs a frequency scan.

The auto-calibration can in particular be performed at the moment when the handle 4 is fixed on the main body 2 and where the bottle 1 of gas is full of gas in the liquid phase. The resonance frequencies of the different types of bottles 1 (P13, B13, etc.) being known, the frequency scanning by the piezoelectric emitter 50 and the measurement of the resonance frequencies by the piezoelectric receiver 52 during the autocalibration then allow the sensor to identify the type of bottle 1 on which is fixed the handle 4.

The memory can then record information relating to the type of bottle 1 on which the handle 4 is fixed. For the following interrogations in order to determine the information on the level of liquid in the bottle 1, the interrogation frequencies of the bottle 1 by the piezoelectric emitter 50 can then be limited to the resonance frequencies corresponding to the type of bottle 1 (P13, B13, etc.) that has been identified. In order to ensure good reception of the signals, the piezoelectric receiver 52 is preferably placed close to the piezoelectric transmitter 50, with a minimum distance of eight millimeters, preferably 10 millimeters, in order to prevent them from being disturbed. one another. Furthermore, the piezoelectric transmitter 50 and the piezoelectric receiver 52 are mounted on the handle 4 so that, when the handle 4 is fixed on the reservoir, they are located in an annular zone Z centered on the valve 3, including an outer diameter D _e is about 145 millimeters and an inner diameter D is about 85 millimeters, so as to exclude the area corresponding to the tap 3.

The piezoelectric transmitter 50 and the piezoelectric receiver 52 not being side by side on the gas bottle, the handle 4 may comprise two chambers 28, namely a chamber 28 for the piezoelectric transmitter 50 and a chamber 28 for the receiver piezoelectric 52. Each chamber 28 is then adjusted to the dimensions of the part of the sensor 5 it receives, in order to maintain the part in question (piezoelectric emitter 50 or piezoelectric receiver 52) and to avoid echoes in the handle 4.

Figures 9a to 9c illustrate examples of attachment of the piezoelectric transmitter 50. Note that the piezoelectric receiver 52 can be fixed identically.

The piezoelectric transmitter 50 can be fixed on a structure 54, 56 adapted to be housed in the chamber 28.

The structure 54, 56 may in particular comprise a support 54 and a cover 56, defining together a housing configured to receive the piezoelectric transmitter 50. The cover 56 may for example be fitted on the support 54 and / or fixed thereto at using an adhesive or means mechanical fasteners such as spikes. The support 54 may in particular comprise pins 55 configured to face a central zone of the piezoelectric emitter 50 (FIG. 9a) in order to support the piezoelectric emitter 50 without hindering its transmission efficiency (respectively, its reception efficiency in the case of the piezoelectric receiver 52) nor limit its transmission power. In a variant, the cover 56 or the support may comprise pins 55 configured to face the periphery of the piezoelectric emitter 50 (FIG. 9b), or a foam 58 interposed between the support 54 and the piezoelectric emitter 50 and ensuring a surface contact on the transmitter 50 (Figure 9c).

When the bottle 1 comprises a spacer 8 (or any other equivalent application device 8), it can be placed against the piezoelectric transmitter 50, opposite the support 54. Preferably, the spacer 8 is placed opposite a central zone of the piezoelectric transmitter 50. Where appropriate, the cover 56 may comprise a through orifice 57 adapted to receive all or part of the spacer 8. Where appropriate, the damping means 30 (such as seals) can be placed between the spacer 8 and the through hole 57.

The assembly formed of the support 54, the piezoelectric transmitter 50, the application device 8 and the cover 56 can then be placed in the chamber 28, by positioning the support 54 against the face 10a of the handle 4 which is applied against the main body 2. In this position, the application device 8 then comes into direct contact with the main body 2 and thus ensures the continuous (indirect here) contact between the piezoelectric transmitter 50 and the main body 2. If necessary, the support 54 can be overmolded in the handle 4.

The sensor 5 may further comprise a battery.

In one embodiment, the battery of the sensor 5 comprises a battery for powering the piezoelectric transmitter 50 and the electronic chip 6. The implementation of a battery makes it possible to guarantee a supply of the sensor 5 during a period of at least ten years, for a very limited cost. The life of the battery can be further improved by limiting the interrogation frequencies of the sensor 5.

This is however not limiting, the battery can in particular comprise, in a variant, means configured to allow remote excitation of the piezoelectric transmitter 50, typically by electromagnetic induction or with the aid of a recovery system. the kinetic energy (resulting from the movement of the bottle).

The battery may in particular be housed in the housing 26 of the upright 20 of the handle.

Where appropriate, the sensor 5 may further comprise a detector configured to determine the ambient temperature of the bottle 1. This measurement of the temperature can thus be used by the sensor or by the processing means to compensate for temperature variations, which may have an effect on the determination of the information on the level of liquid gas in the bottle 1.

Management System 34

The invention also relates to a management system 34 of 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 5. If necessary, the sensor 5 can be housed in the handle 4.

The management system 34 further comprises a remote server 9 connected to an operator network comprising a set of communication stations 9a, typically terrestrial antennas 9a.

In this way, the remote server 9 can interrogate by radio waves via the operator network 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. 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 to approximately 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 geolocating gas cylinders 1, the gas supplier can anticipate the needs of consumers and distributors thanks to real-time indications using sensors, rather than being satisfied with statistical estimates. usually used.

Management method S

As a preliminary, 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, depot centers, distributors, consumers , or in transit (eg in trucks or in areas not identified by the gas supplier).

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 9 can send a request via the operator network 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.

For example, the remote server 9 can send a request via terrestrial antennas 9a of an operator network, 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 waves to the various 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 bottle 1. As indicated above, these indications on the level of gas in the bottle 1 can comprise either raw data (frequencies detected by the sensor 5 following the acoustic stimulation of the gas cylinder 1), which will then be processed by the computer at remote server 9 (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 to the remote server 9. This communication data relating to the gas cylinder 1 make it possible to geolocate the gas cylinder 1 thanks to the communication stations 9a of the operator network. For example, the location of each gas cylinder 1 can be determined (step S4) from the flight time of the wave emitted 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.

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.

The remote server 9 thus receives data relating to the gas cylinders 1 making it possible to geolocate the bottles 1, for the entire surveyed territory. The interrogation of the communication device 6 of the gas cylinders 1 by the remote server 9 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.

For a given gas cylinder 1, the remote server 9 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.

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 1 being generally grouped in zones that do not correspond to one of the points of the operating cycle described above.

The geolocation of bottles 1 also makes it possible to guarantee to the public authorities the capacity to locate quickly and efficiently a gas cylinder 1 on a hilly site, requiring for example the intervention of firemen or police forces, and thus to ensure their security.

Finally, the indications relating to the level of gas and the location of the bottles 1 makes it possible to develop marketing and commercial services adapted to the real needs of the consumers.

Claims

1. 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 sensor (5) configured to generate an indication on a fluid level in the reservoir (1),

means (6) configured to give information on the geolocation of the handle (4), and

- a communication device (6), connected to the sensor (5) and the means configured to give information on the geolocation of the handle (4), said communication device being configured to transmit data relating to the mobile reservoir (1) to a remote server (8), said data including an indication of the level of fluid in the tank (1) and information on the geolocation of said handle (4).

2. Handle (4) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (5) is non-invasive.

3. Handle (4) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the communication device (6) comprises a low frequency radio frequency transmitter.

4. Handle (4) according to claim 3, wherein the means configured to give information on the geolocation of the handle (4) comprise the low frequency radio frequency transmitter (6).

5. Handle (4) according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the radio transmitter (6) is equipped with a rechargeable battery by induction.

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 fastening net (3a), comprising:

- a base (10) adapted to be mounted on the main body (2) of the reservoir (1), said base (10) comprising a central orifice (12) through which is configured to playfully accommodate the dispensing valve (3), and

a fixing ring (14) comprising an internal annular wall

(15) comprising a threaded inner surface (15a) configured to cooperate with the external thread (3a) of the dispensing tap (3), and a shoulder

(16), configured to abut against an upper surface of the base (10).

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).

8. Handle (4) according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the fixing ring (14) is formed in a shape memory material of the polyamide type.

9. Handle (4) according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the base (10) has a first portion (1 1 a), extending opposite a nozzle (3b) of the dispensing valve ( 3), and a second part (1 1b), opposite to the first part (1 1 a), and in which a height in a direction of screwing (X) of the fixing ring (14) of the first part ( 1 1 a) is less than a height of the second part (1 1 b).

10. Handle (4) according to claim 9, wherein the second portion (1 1 b) is hollow and defines a chamber (28) configured to receive the sensor (5).

1 1. 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 to move the mobile reservoir (1), and

at least two uprights (20), preferably three uprights (20), extending between the base (10) and the gripping zone (18).

12. Handle (4) according to claims 3 and 1 1 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).

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).

14. Handle (4) according to one of claims 1 1 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).

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.

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).

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.

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) .

The handle (4) according to claim 18, wherein the communication device (6) is configured to locate the mobile reservoir (1) by determining the flight time of the radio frequency waves or by determining the communication station (9a). to which data are transmitted by the mobile tank (1).

20. Handle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 19, 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).

21. Handle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the sensor (5) is an ultrasonic sensor.

The handle of claim 21, wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises at least one piezoelectric emitter (50) and a piezoelectric receiver (52).

23. Handle (4) according to claim 22, wherein the piezoelectric transmitter (50) and the piezoelectric receiver (52) are separated by a distance of at least 8 millimeters, preferably at least 10 millimeters.

24. Handle (4) according to one of claims 22 or 23, wherein the piezoelectric transmitter (50) is configured to scan frequencies between 100 Hz and 1300 Hz.

25. Handle (4) according to one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the sensor (5) is fixed on the handle (4) with a structure (54, 56) comprising a support (54) configured to receive the piezoelectric transmitter (50) and / or the piezoelectric receiver (52), said support (54) being fixed on a lower face (10a) of the handle (4).

The handle of claim 25, wherein the structure (54, 56) comprises means adapted to support the piezoelectric transmitter (50) and / or the piezoelectric receiver (52) selected from the following list:

pions (55) configured to face a central zone of the piezoelectric transmitter (50) and / or the piezoelectric receiver (52),

pins (55) configured to face a periphery of the piezoelectric transmitter (50) and / or the piezoelectric receiver (52), and / or

a foam (58) interposed between the support (54) and the piezoelectric emitter (50) and / or the piezoelectric receiver (52).

27. Handle according to one of claims 25 or 26, further comprising a cover (56) defining with the support (54) a housing configured to receive the piezoelectric transmitter (50) and / or the piezoelectric receiver (52). .

28. Handle (4) according to one of claims 22 to 27, wherein the reservoir (1) comprises a dispensing valve (3) of the fluid and the handle (4) comprises a base (10) adapted to be fixed on the tank (1) and comprising a central orifice (12) through which is configured to accommodate the distribution valve (3) of the tank (1), the piezoelectric transmitter (50) and the piezoelectric receiver (52) being fixed on the base ( 10) of the handle (4) in an annular area (Z) of the base (10) having an outer diameter (De) of about 145 millimeters and an inner diameter (Di) of about 85 millimeters.

29. Handle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the sensor (5) further comprises a device (8) application of the sensor

(5) against the reservoir (1), said device being configured to provide surface contact between the sensor (5) and the reservoir (1).

The handle (4) of claim 29 taken in combination with claim 22, wherein the application device (8) comprises a magnet or spacer configured to apply the piezoelectric transmitter (50) to the reservoir (1) and a magnet or spacer (8) configured to apply the piezoelectric receiver (50) to the reservoir (1).

31. Handle according to claim 30 taken in combination with claim 27, wherein the cover (56) further comprises a through hole (57) adapted to receive all or part of the device (8) for applying the piezoelectric transmitter (50). ) and / or the piezoelectric receiver (52), so that when the handle (4) is attached to the reservoir (1), the application device (8) comes into contact with said reservoir (1).

32. Handle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 31, further comprising self-calibration means, configured to determine a shape and a content of the fluid reservoir (1) and deduce frequencies to be scanned by the sensor (5).

33. Handle (4) according to claim 32, wherein the self-calibration means comprise: a receiver, configured to receive activation instructions in order to trigger the auto-calibration of the sensor (5), and

- A memory, housed in the sensor (5) and configured to record the frequencies to be scanned by the sensor (5) according to the type of fluid reservoir (1) on which is fixed the handle (4).

34. Handle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 33, further comprising a temperature sensor and temperature compensation means.

Mobile tank for fluid (1), in particular a gas cylinder, comprising:

a main body (2) configured to receive the fluid,

a distribution valve (3) for the fluid, and

- A handle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 34, said handle being mounted on the main body (2) around the dispensing valve (3).

36. A management system (34) for a fleet of mobile fluid tanks, comprising:

a series of mobile fluid reservoirs (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).

The management system (34) of claim 36, wherein the communication device (6) is adapted to transmit said terrestrial radio frequency information to communication stations (9a), said communication stations (9a) retransmitting said data to the remote server (8) via the operator network (9).

38. Method of managing (S) a fleet of mobile fluid tanks with the aid of a management system (42) according to one of claims 36 or 37, comprising the following steps:

sending (S1) a request to at least one mobile tank (1) via the operator network (9) in order to obtain data relating to the mobile tank (1) comprising an indication on a level of the fluid in the tank (1) information on the geolocation of the mobile tank (1),

obtain (S2) said data,

transmitting (S3) the data via the operator network (9) to the remote server (8),

locating (S4) the mobile reservoir (1), and

- determine the fluid level in the mobile tank (1).

39. The management method (S) according to claim 38, 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).

40. Management method (S) according to one of claims 38 to 39, wherein the transmission (S3) of the data is performed without radiofrequency contact with communication stations (9a) of an operator network (9). .

41. Management method (S) according to Claim 40, in which the mobile tank (1) is located by means of the communication stations (9a) by determining the flight time of the radio frequency waves or by determining the communication station ( 9a) to which data are transmitted by the mobile tank (1).

42. Management method (S) according to claim 41, wherein the operator network (9) comprises a local network or a national network.