Abstract: A system and a method for managing replacement of consumables, the system including an installed base of equipment assemblies, an installed base of consumables, the consumables including recyclable gas purifiers having a limited lifetime and being used in combination with a said equipment assembly. The system includes a server for registering the consumables and having a module for calculating a replacement advice with respect to the consumable that has been registered in the server. A web portal provides a provider or an end user access to the server via the internet. Various data relating to the end user, its equipment assemblies and its consumables may be inputted via the web portal and the replacement advice that is associated with the registered consumables may be outputted via the web portal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out a laser operation, wherein a laser source is provided, wherein lasing gas is supplied from at least one lasing gas source to the laser source for the formation of a laser beam, wherein, with the aid of the laser beam, an operation is carried out, such as for instance a welding, a drilling, a cutting or a lighting operation, wherein the lasing gas which comes from the at least one lasing gas source is fed through at least one lasing gas filter before the gas is supplied to the laser source. The invention further relates to the use of a quick-change filter for cleaning gases consumed in laser processing apparatuses.

Abstract: A gas bottle (1) provided with a container (2) in which a gas, for instance an Ultra High Purity Gas is receivable, with an outlet opening (3) for letting the gas out of the container, wherein the gas bottle (1) is provided with filter means (4) for operatively filtering the gas flowing out of the container (12), wherein the container (2) comprises a protective element (6) for protecting the outlet opening (3), wherein the filter means (4) are provided downstream of the outlet opening (3), on an outside of the container (2) and are surrounded by the protective element (16) and/or the filter means (4) are arranged such that they can resist a load exerted thereon. The invention further relates to a protective element (6) and a filter (4) for use with such a gas bottle (1).

Abstract: An in-line filter provided with a substantially elongated filter housing (1; 51) in which filtering material (A) is included, the filter housing being provided on a first end with an inflow opening (2) and, on a second, opposite end with an outflow opening (3), while at the inflow opening (2) and the outflow opening (3) fastening means (4-7) are provided for fastening a supply or discharge tube, respectively (8 or 9, respectively), while the fastening means (4-7) are quick-change couplings (4-7), a respective quick-change coupling (4, 5; 6, 7) having a coupled condition and an uncoupled condition, while in the quick-change coupling (4, 5; 6, 7) a shut-off valve (10) is provided which, in the coupled condition, assumes an open position thus allowing gas to pass and which, in an uncoupled condition, assumes a closed position thus not allowing gas to pass.

Abstract: A quick-change filter system including at least one base, and at least one quick-change filter having an inlet, an outlet, and a filter housing. The base includes a filter coupling part having a gas inlet stub for connection to the inlet, and a gas outlet stub for connection to the outlet. The filter housing is at least partly filled with filter material, and is connected to the inlet and the outlet. The quick-change filter further includes quick-change coupling containing the inlet and the outlet of the quick-change filter and arranged for cooperation with the filter coupling part. The base is configured for manual connection to the quick-change filter, and for automatic, gastight sealing of the gas outlet stub and the gas inlet stub when decoupling the quick-change filter from the base.