DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pressure gauge for liquefied petroleum gas [LPG] cylinder. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light weight, cost effective, easy to use pressure gauge, which independently indicates quantum of LPG in a cylinder. Advantageously, the present invention helps to check and indicate pressure of the LPG in the cylinder at the time of delivery and / or before sending empty cylinders for replacement / refilling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, fuels such as propane and liquefied petroleum gases are stored in cylinders for various applications. These gas cylinders come in varying sizes having varying capacities depending on the requirements. Usually, the gas cylinders are sized such that the user can transport the cylinders to a dealer for refilling when the gas in the cylinders becomes depleted.

Typically, the gas cylinders are made up of metal to sustain high pressures, and thus the user cannot visually observe the level of gas in the cylinders. When a compressed gas is contained in the closed steel cylinder as a liquefied form, measuring the amount of gas in the cylinder is tedious. More often, a user realizes the emptiness of the cylinder only when the gas does not flow. To know the interim status while the cylinder is in use the user needs to lift the gas cylinder to check the weight or place the cylinder on a weighing machine. If the gas cylinder weighs less, he would decide that the gas needs to be refilled.

EP0853235A1 discloses a weighing system. The weighing system has load sensing system and is programmed with the initial full weight, or with the final empty weight of the bottle. The weighing can be mechanical via a tip lever which presses a spring loaded pointer over a scale or an electronic load sensing system. The measurement is done at the base of the gas cylinder. The measurement is done by placing the cylinder on the top of the device.

Similarly, CN2037841U discloses a gas capacity indicator for liquefied gas bottle belonging to a device measuring how much the storage capacity of the liquefied gas in a liquefied gas bottle is remained after the consumption during the using term of the liquefied gas. This is an electro mechanical device to measure volume of the cylinder by placing on top of the cylinder. However, these methods are subjective, can be done only by or with the help of able bodied persons and involve considerable effort/exertion.

Conventionally, regulators with integrated gas level gauge are used to check the pressure of the gas in the gas cylinder and to measure the volume of the gas cylinder.
US4507961 discloses a safety level gauge for liquefied gas tanks, has an external graduated dial mounted on a suitably-adapted valve body, dial comprising a freely-rotatable central spindle with an indicating hand and a cross-shaped member incorporating a needle constituting a ferrous member which is magnetically affected an indirectly actuated by the internal element which is moved by the float and attendant drive system. The desired parameter can be measured only by fastening the device to the cylinder. However, the user needs to connect the regulator by removing it from existing gas cylinder and connect it to gas cylinder to be checked which is expensive, tedious and time consuming process.

US2007022816 discloses a pressure indicating apparatus. The apparatus indicates pressure change in a device, the apparatus comprises: a pointer, optical sensing means, a planar element and indicating means. The pointer moves in response to the change in pressure, which in turn moves the planar element. Light from the optical sensing means is incident on the planar element. The planar element varies the incident light, which is picked up by a conversion means. The conversion means converts light energy to electrical energy that is used to illuminate LED from an array of LED's or activates any one LCD component from the array LCD's in the display provided in the indicating means to indicate pressure of the gas. However, the apparatus involves high level of sophistication and complexity to attain the indication of the pressure of the gas.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a light weight, cost effective, handy, independent pressure gauge device which measures the pressure of gas in a LPG cylinder by which indicative quantum of gas in the cylinder can be checked and which thereby eliminates the need to connect with an integrated device such as regulator or safety device which are very expensive.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One or more of the problems of the conventional prior art may be overcome by various embodiments of the present invention.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a light weight, cost effective, handy pressure gauge, which independently measures pressure of LPG in a cylinder.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an independent handy pressure gauge device which measures the pressure of LPG in the cylinder by which indicative quantum of gas in the cylinder can be checked.

It is another object of the present invention to eliminate the need to connect with an integrated device such as regulator or safety device for checking the level of LPG in the cylinder.

It is another object of the present invention for correlating the pressure of the gas to the level of the LPG in the cylinder.

It is another object of the present invention to measure multiple cylinders with a single device.

It is another object of the present invention to detect gas pilferage in the cylinder.

It is another aspect of the present invention to check the leakage of gas due to cylinder nozzle washer failure with the provision of snap lock arrangement.

It is another object of the present invention to detect worn out washers in the nozzle of the cylinder during the process of checking the level of LPG in the cylinder.

It is another object of the present invention to check and indicate the pressure of the LPG in the cylinder at the time of delivery and / or before sending empty cylinders for replacement / refilling.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Thus according to the basic aspect of the present invention, a pressure gauge for a liquefied petroleum gas [LPG] cylinder, comprising of:
base portion [1];
gauge [4];
stem [3];
a fixing mechanism; and
a locking mechanism,
wherein the base portion [1] consists of a flat extended portion [1a] at its bottom,
wherein the base portion [1] consists of a center hole [2] of pre-defined dimension at top portion,
wherein the gauge [4] is fixed to the top of the base portion [1] at the center hole [2] using the fixing mechanism, and
wherein the bottom of the base portion [1] along with gauge [4] is locked with the nozzle of the LPG cylinder at the stem portion [3] using the locking mechanism to measure pressure in the cylinder.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the stem [3] is machined at the bottom surface of the base portion.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the stem [3] is pressed to non-return valve [NRV] in the LPG cylinder.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the gas in the cylinder flows out to the gauge [4] through the stem [3] of the base portion [1], thereby the gauge [4] measures and indicates the pressure of the gas present in the LPG cylinder.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the stem [3] is modified to suit the nozzle of the LPG cylinder for varying dimensions.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the fixing mechanism for fixing the gauge [4] to the base portion [1] includes:
screwing mechanism; and
flow control knob [5].

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the flow control knob [5] is fixed in between the top and bottom portion of the base portion [1].

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the locking mechanism for locking the base portion [1] to the nozzle of the LPG cylinder includes:
press fitting; and
snap lock mechanism.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the snap lock mechanism/stem [3] also assists in eliminating/ checking the leakage of gas from the LPG cylinder caused by worn out washers in the nozzle of the cylinder.
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It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the gauge [4] is connected to top of the base portion [1] and the bottom of the base portion [1], provided with snap lock arrangement to lock into nozzle of the gas cylinder to eliminate leakage of gas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
So that the manner in which the features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, may be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only a preferred embodiment of the invention and is therefore not to be considered limitation of the invention's scope as it may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
Figure 1: illustrates front view of the handy pressure gauge according to the present invention.
Figure 2: illustrates bottom view of the handy pressure gauge according to the present invention.
Figure 3: illustrates front view of the handy pressure gauge with flow control knob according to the present invention.
Figure 4: illustrates front view of the handy pressure gauge according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
The present invention as herein described relates to a light weight, cost effective, handy pressure gauge, which independently measures pressure of LPG in a cylinder by which indicative quantum of gas in the cylinder can be checked.
Referring to figures 1 and 2, a pressure gauge for a liquefied petroleum gas [LPG] cylinder, comprising of: base portion [1]; gauge [4]; and stem [3]. The base portion [1] consists of a flat extended portion [1a] at its bottom and a center hole [2] of pre-defined dimension at top portion of the gauge. The gauge [4] is fixed to the top of the base portion [1] at the center hole [2] using the fixing mechanism. The base portion is made of material that includes but not limited to zinc, aluminum, steel, alloys, plastic and polymers. The fixing mechanism for fixing the gauge [2] to the base portion [1] includes: screwing mechanism; and flow control knob [5]. The bottom of the base portion [1] along with gauge [4] is locked with the nozzle of the LPG cylinder at the stem portion [3] using the locking mechanism to measure pressure in the cylinder.

Referring to the figure 4, the locking mechanism for locking the base portion [1] to the nozzle of the LPG cylinder includes: press fitting; and snap lock mechanism. The bottom of the base portion [1] is press fitted into nozzle of the gas cylinder to eliminate leakage of gas. The pressure gauge is connected to the gas cylinder through snap lock mechanism to assist in eliminating/ checking the leakage of gas due to cylinder nozzle washer failure from the LPG cylinder.

Referring to the figure 3 in another aspect, the flow control knob [5] is fixed in between the top and bottom portion of the base portion [1] to eliminate the need to connect with an integrated device such as regulator or safety device for checking the level of LPG in the cylinder.

In another aspect, the stem [3] is machined at the bottom surface of the base portion. The stem [3] is pressed on the non-return valve [NRV] on the outlet nozzle of the LPG cylinder. Upon pressing, the gas in the cylinder flows out to the gauge [4] through the stem [3] of the base portion [1], thereby the needle in the gauge [4] rises to measure the pressure of the gas present and further to provide the corresponding indicative quantum of gas in the LPG cylinder. The level of the pressure is displayed by the movement of a needle. The stem [3] is modified to suit the nozzle of the LPG cylinder for varying dimensions.

In another aspect, the various levels of gas can be differentiated using different colours for different pressure zones depending upon the level of the needle or pointer. The indication of the level of gas in the LPG cylinder can be represented for various zones as desired. An example for various zones of amount of gas, with respective colour indication is as given
- “High Pressure” – Yellow Zone
- “Gas” – Green Zone
- “Refill” – Red Zone
The embodiments of the present invention been disclosed in this specification are purely for illustrative purposes and the present invention can be embodied in many other forms or carried out in other ways, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. It is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to those skilled in the art, and all such variations or modifications lies within the scope of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A pressure gauge for a liquefied petroleum gas [LPG] cylinder, comprising of:
base portion [1];
gauge [4];
stem [3];
a fixing mechanism; and
a locking mechanism,
wherein the base portion [1] consists of a flat extended portion [1a] at its bottom,
wherein the base portion [1] consists of a center hole [2] of pre-defined dimension at top portion,
wherein the gauge [4] is fixed to the top of the base portion [1] at the center hole [2] using the fixing mechanism, and
wherein the bottom of the base portion [1] along with gauge [4] is locked with the nozzle of the LPG cylinder at the stem portion [3] using the locking mechanism to measure pressure in the cylinder.

2. The pressure gauge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stem [3] is machined at the bottom surface of the base portion.

3. The pressure gauge as claimed in claim 3, wherein the stem [3] is pressed to non-return valve [NRV] in the LPG cylinder.

4. The pressure gauge as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gas in the cylinder flows out to the gauge [4] through the stem [3] of the base portion [1], thereby the gauge [4] measures and indicates the pressure of the gas present in the LPG cylinder.

5. The pressure gauge as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stem [3] is modified to suit the nozzle of the LPG cylinder for varying dimensions.

6. The pressure gauge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing mechanism for fixing the gauge [2] to the base portion [1] includes:
screwing mechanism; and
flow control knob [5].

7. The pressure gauge as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flow control knob [5] is fixed in between the top and bottom portion of the base portion [1].

8. The pressure gauge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism for locking the base portion [1] to the nozzle of the LPG cylinder includes:
press fitting; and
snap lock mechanism.

9. The pressure gauge as claimed in claim 8, wherein the snap lock mechanism/stem [3] also assists in eliminating/ checking the leakage of gas from the LPG cylinder caused by worn out washers in the nozzle of the cylinder

10. The pressure gauge as claimed in claim 8, wherein the gauge [4] is connected to top of the base portion and the bottom of the base portion, provided with snap lock arrangement to lock into nozzle of the gas cylinder to eliminate leakage of gas.