Patent Application
20150089769
Portable cylinders are commonly used to supply a variety of pure and mixed gas standards for use in industrial, medical, commercial, or residential applications. The portable cylinders may contain reactive, non-reactive, as well as flammable gas mixtures in pure form or mixed concentrations. These cylinders are used in many applications including but not limited to welding and cutting, the calibration of medical devices, as well as fixed and portable confined space and breath alcohol testing monitors.
Most portable cylinders have a relatively high ratio of length (or height) to diameter. They usually have a flat bottom and a rounded top. As these cylinders typically have service pressures of 155 psi to over 2200 psi, they are constructed with very thick walls. They are often made of steel or aluminum. These cylinders tend to be unstable whether they are standing vertically or lying horizontally. When standing vertically, especially if they have a relatively heavy regulator attached, they are prone to tipping over. When lying horizontally, they tend to roll, especially during transport.
The consequences of a pressurized cylinder accidentally discharging its contents due to tipping over or rolling can be disastrous. The accidental release of the potential energy within the cylinder can cause immediate danger to both life and property. Although the cylinders may look small, the contents can be under significant pressure, and when released uncontrollably they can displace air, creating an asphyxiation hazard. In some cases the cylinders may contain flammable or even poisonous gas.
Hence, a need exists in the industry, for a simple, safe, and effective means to transport and provide a stable working platform for portable, high pressure cylinders.
A cylinder caddy, adapted to a bottle with a neck, a bottom, and a center of gravity is provided. The caddy may have a strap configured to affix circumferentially to the cylinder at a location that may be higher than the center of gravity, a bottom cup configured to affix circumferentially to the cylinder along the bottom, at least one axial strap configured to connect the strap and the bottom cup, and a storage compartment. The storage compartment may be attached to the at least one axial strap. The caddy includes a handle with a first end pivotally attached to the upper strap, and a second end configured to detachably connect to the neck or a valve attached to the neck. In a first position, the handle is pivoted to allow the second end to be attached to the neck, thereby requiring the removal of a regulator, allowing the storage compartment to hold a regulator, protecting the neck, and allowing a user to safely carry the cylinder. In a second position, the handle may be pivoted to allow the second end to form a strut or brace, thereby providing the user a more stable operating position
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
As illustrated in
Therefore, during the usage of the cylinder assembly, safety and stability are concerns. If the cylinder is simply laid on its side, rolling instability is now a potential problem. There is also a concern about contamination, should the cylinder assembly simply be laid down on its side. The regulator and any attached hoses might inadvertently come into contact with surfaces that could taint the gas. So, laying the cylinder on the side is not an ideal solution due to this inherent instability.
Turning to
As some flow regulators 105 may include rechargeable batteries, a charging connector (not shown) may be included in storage compartment 202 which may, for example, connect to an automotive 12 volt charging port. One non-limiting example for such a usage would be for law enforcement officers using the caddy for road side breath alcohol screenings.
A handle 203 is pivotally attached to strap 201. In a first position, handle 203A is pivoted to allow the second end to attach to the neck or valve 104 of the cylinder. In this first position, it will be required that the regulator 105 be removed from the cylinder, thereby encouraging the industry recognized best practice of removing the flow regulator 105 when the cylinder is not in use, or in transit. If flow regulator 105 is left attached to the cylinder when not in use, the regulator may be damaged, or the entire contents of the cylinder my vent if there is a regulator leak. During the first position, storage compartment 202 is available to store regulator 105.
In a second position, handle 203B may be pivoted to allow the second end to form a brace, strut, or stand, thereby providing the user a more stable mode of operation (such as calibration). In the second position, storage compartment 202 may collapse and help support handle 203 in the strut position.
As indicated in
As indicated in
As indicated in
In an alternate embodiment, still indicated in
As indicated in
