Claims
- 1. A head ring assembly for protecting a valving assembly on a pressure vessel, the head ring assembly comprising:
a base securable to a regulator end of the pressure vessel; a plurality of posts distributed about the perimeter of the base and extending vertically upward from about the base to beyond the valving assembly, each of the plurality of posts having a first end and a second end; a collar having a plurality of radially-extending flanges, the collar secured to and extending vertically downward from a portion of the base, the first end of at least two opposing posts secured to at least two of the flanges; and a plurality of horizontally-extending rings secured to each of the plurality of posts adjacent to the first and/or second ends, the plurality of rings radially positioned outward of the valving assembly.
- 2. The head ring assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gauge protection plate extending vertically downward from a portion of the perimeter of the first ring, the gauge protection plate having an interior wall defining an opening sized to allow visual access to a content gauge.
- 3. The head ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises an interior wall defining a base opening sized to allow passage of a portion of a flow adjuster through the base opening.
- 4. The head ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of posts comprises four or more posts.
- 5. The head ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of posts are distributed equally about the perimeter of the base.
- 6. The head ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the collar is supportable against a necked end of the pressure vessel for providing additional stability to the head ring assembly.
- 7. The head ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the collar and the plurality of flanges are integrally formed.
- 8. The head ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rings comprises a first ring and a second ring.
- 9. The head ring assembly of claim 8, wherein the first ring is secured to each of the plurality of posts adjacent to the first ends.
- 10. The head ring assembly of claim 8, wherein the second ring is secured to each of the plurality of posts adjacent to the second ends.
- 11. The head ring assembly of claim 1, further comprising attachments for securing the base, posts, collar, rings, and gauge protection plate, the attachments having sufficient strength for withstanding the forces of a dropped or toppled pressure vessel.
- 12. The head ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the head ring assembly is sized to protect the valving assembly of more than one size or configuration of pressure vessel.
- 13. A head ring assembly for protecting a valving assembly on a pressure vessel, the head ring assembly comprising:
a base securable to a dispensing end of the pressure vessel; a plurality of posts equally distributed about the perimeter of the base and extending vertically upward from about the base to beyond the valving assembly, each of the plurality of posts having a first end and a second end; a collar having a plurality of radially-extending flanges, the collar secured to and extending vertically downward from a portion of the base, the first end of at least two opposing posts secured to at least two of the flanges; a first horizontally-extending ring secured to each of the plurality of posts adjacent to the first ends, the first ring radially positioned outward of the valving assembly; a second horizontally-extending ring secured to each of the plurality of posts adjacent to the second ends, the second ring radially positioned outward of the valving assembly; and a gauge protection plate extending vertically downward from a portion of the perimeter of the first ring, the gauge protection plate having an interior wall defining an opening sized to allow visual access to a content gauge.
- 14. The head ring assembly of claim 13, wherein the base further comprises an interior wall defining a base opening sized to allow passage of a portion of a flow adjuster through the base opening.
- 15. The head ring assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of posts comprises four or more posts.
- 16. The head ring assembly of claim 13, wherein the collar is supportable against a necked end of the pressure vessel for providing additional stability to the head ring assembly.
- 17. The head ring assembly of claim 13, wherein the collar and the plurality of flanges are integrally formed.
- 18. The head ring assembly of claim 13, further comprising attachments for securing the base, posts, collar, rings, and gauge protection plate, the attachments having sufficient strength for withstanding the forces of a dropped or toppled pressure vessel.
- 19. The head ring assembly of claim 13, wherein the head ring assembly is sized to protect the valving assembly of more than one size or configuration of pressure vessel.
- 20. A head ring assembly for protecting a regulator, a flow adjuster, and a content gauge on a pressure vessel of more than one size or configuration, the head ring assembly comprising:
a base secured to a regulator end of the pressure vessel, wherein a threaded portion of the flow adjuster passes through a base opening, the base secured to the regulator end of the pressure vessel when the regulator is threaded onto the flow adjuster; four or more posts equally distributed about the perimeter of the base and extending vertically upward from about the base to beyond the regulator, each of the posts having a first end and a second end; a collar having a plurality of radially-extending flanges, the collar secured to and extending vertically downward from a portion of the base for mating with a neck of the pressure vessel for providing additional stability to the head ring assembly, the first end of at least two opposing posts secured to at least two of the flanges; a first horizontally-extending ring secured to each of the posts adjacent to the first ends, the first ring radially positioned outward of the regulator, the flow adjuster, and the content gauge; a second horizontally-extending ring secured to each of the posts adjacent to the second ends, the second ring radially positioned outward of the regulator, the flow adjuster, and the content gauge; a gauge protection plate extending vertically downward from a portion of the perimeter of the first ring, the gauge protection plate having an interior wall defining an opening sized to allow visual access to the content gauge; and attachments for securing the base, posts, collar, rings, and gauge protection plate, the attachments having sufficient strength for withstanding the forces of a dropped or toppled pressure vessel.
- 21. The head ring assembly of claim 20, wherein the first and second horizontally extending rings have an outer diameter in the range of 3 inches to 5 inches.
- 22. The head ring assembly of claim 20, wherein the four or more posts have a height in the range of 4 inches to 6 inches.
- 23. The head ring assembly of claim 20, wherein the base has an inner diameter in the range of ½ inch to 1½ inches.
- 24. A pressure vessel assembly, comprising:
a pressure vessel having a dispensing end including a valving assembly; a base securable to the dispensing end of the pressure vessel; a plurality of posts distributed about the perimeter of the base and extending vertically upward from about the base to beyond the valving assembly, each of the plurality of posts having a first end and a second end; a collar having a plurality of radially-extending flanges, the collar secured to and extending vertically downward from a portion of the base, the first end of at least two opposing posts secured to at least two of the flanges; a plurality of horizontally-extending rings secured to each of the plurality of posts adjacent to the first and/or second ends, the plurality of rings radially positioned outward of the valving assembly; and a gauge protection plate extending vertically downward from a portion of the perimeter of the first ring, the gauge protection plate having an interior wall defining an opening sized to allow visual access to a content gauge.
- 25. A package assembly for protecting a pressure vessel having a valving assembly, the package assembly comprising:
a head ring assembly, comprising:
a base securable to a dispensing end of the pressure vessel; a plurality of posts distributed about the perimeter of the base and extending vertically upward from about the base to beyond the valving assembly, each of the plurality of posts having a first end and a second end; a collar having a plurality of radially-extending flanges, the collar secured to and extending vertically downward from a portion of the base, the first end of at least two opposing posts secured to at least two of the flanges; a plurality of horizontally-extending rings secured to each of the plurality of posts adjacent to the first and/or second ends, the plurality of rings radially positioned outward of the valving assembly; a gauge protection plate extending vertically downward from a portion of the perimeter of the first ring, the gauge protection plate having an interior wall defining an opening sized to allow visual access to a content gauge; and an outer pack defining a bag sized to surround the pressure vessel, the valving assembly, and the head ring assembly, the outer pack comprising a durable material.
- 26. The package assembly of claim 25, further comprising a pressure vessel having a dispensing end with the valving assembly secured to the dispensing end, the valving assembly including at least one component selected from the group consisting of a regulator, a flow adjuster, and the content gauge.
- 27. The package assembly of claim 25, wherein the outer pack comprises a bag made of a flame resistant material.
- 28. The package assembly of claim 25, further comprising one or more straps, wherein the outer pack is secured to the pressure vessel with the one or more straps.
- 29. The package assembly of claim 25, wherein the outer pack further comprises a flap portion that folds over the head ring assembly.
- 30. The package assembly of claim 25, wherein the outer pack further comprises a clear window.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/196,358, filed Apr. 12, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60196358 |
Apr 2000 |
US |