Gas supply system

A gas capsule comprising:

• a housing defining a cavity for containing gas, the cavity being enclosed at one end by a pierceable diaphragm;
• a spacer element adjacent the pierceable diaphragm, the spacer element having a channel providing access to the pierceable diaphragm, the channel being configured to receive a shaft terminating with a piercing tip for piercing the pierceable diaphragm, and
• a seal provided in a recess in the spacer element adjacent the channel, wherein the arrangement of the channel and the seal is such that when a shaft terminating with a piercing tip for piercing the pierceable diaphragm accesses the pierceable diaphragm via the channel, the shaft is caused to enter into a sealing engagement with the spacer element via the seal before the piercing tip pierces the pierceable diaphragm.

A gas supply apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining a docking station for receiving a gas capsule enclosed at one end by a pierceable diaphragm, having a spacer element adjacent the pierceable diaphragm, the spacer element having a channel providing access to the pierceable diaphragm and a seal in a recess in the spacer element adjacent the channel;
• and
• a shaft terminating in a piercing tip arranged relative to the housing so that when the docking station receives a gas capsule, the shaft is caused to access the pierceable diaphragm of the gas capsule via the channel in the spacer element of the gas capsule, with the shaft entering into a sealing engagement with the spacer element via the seal before the piercing tip pierces the pierceable diaphragm.

A gas supply apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining a docking station for receiving a gas capsule enclosed at one end by a pierceable diaphragm, having a spacer element adjacent the pierceable diaphragm, the spacer element having a channel providing access to the pierceable diaphragm;
• and
• a shaft carrying a seal and terminating in a piecing tip, the shaft being arranged relative to the housing so that when the docking station receives a gas capsule, the shaft is caused to access the pierceable diaphragm of the gas capsule via the channel in the spacer element, with the shaft entering into a sealing engagement with the spacer element via the seal before the piercing tip pierces the pierceable diaphragm.

A gas capsule comprising:

• a housing defining a cavity for containing gas, the cavity being enclosed at one end by a pierceable diaphragm;
• and
• a spacer element adjacent the pierceable diaphragm, the spacer element having a channel providing access to the pierceable diaphragm, the channel being configured to receive a shaft terminating with a piercing tip for piercing the pierceable diaphragm, wherein the shaft is caused to enter into a sealing engagement with the spacer element via the seal before the piercing tip pierces the pierceable diaphragm.