Importance

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Abstract

A canister filling system is provided for independently filling multiple canisters from a common set of storage stations prioritized in a cascaded manner. The system includes first and second fill stations configured to receive and independently fill canisters with pressurized gas. First and second storage stations store gas at corresponding first and second charge pressures, respectively. A supply-chain joins each of the first and second fill stations to both of the first and second storage stations. First and second valve assemblies are provided in the supply-chain to monitor, independent of one another, the canister pressures at the corresponding first and second fill stations. The canister pressures represent the pressure within corresponding canisters. The first and second valve assemblies automatically open and close to permit and prevent discharge of gas from the first and second storage stations, independent of one another, to automatically switch between the first and second storage stations based on the canister pressures. In one embodiment, the valve assembly includes a combination of sequence valves and check valves. Alternatively, the valve assembly may be controlled by electronic sensors and electronic solenoids. The electronic sensors detect the canister pressures and the charge pressures at the storage stations. The electronic solenoids open and close the valves based on the sensed canister pressures.

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First Claim