A pressure vessel transport system, in accordance with various embodiments, consists of a housing surrounding a pressure vessel with the pressure vessel having a valve. The housing may continuously extend along a longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel to position the valve within the housing.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to a system for safely and efficiently transporting a pressurized vessel. It is noted that a pressure vessel is hereby meant as any sealed contained with an internal chamber having a pressure above ambient atmospheric pressure. As such, a pressure vessel can be constructed with any shape, size, number of pieces, and material.
Regardless of what fluid is contained within the pressure vessel 102, a valve 106 of the pressure vessel 102 connects to a receiver 108 of the pressurized system 104 to allow selective engagement of the contained fluid with the pressurized system 104. Hence, the valve 106 can have a manual and/or manual knob, solenoid, switch, or button that allows the fluid within the pressure vessel 102 to escape into the receiver 108 of the pressurized system 104. The pressure vessel 102 may additionally have one or more integrated handles 110 and a base 112 that simplify vessel storage and movement, but such vessel 102 aspects are optional, as illustrated by the segmented boxes in
It is contemplated that the pressure vessel 102 can be cyclically filled by a compressor and/or pump followed by fluid release into the receiver 108. However, conventional vessel fill stations are cumbersome, bulky, and resident in a location distal and separated from the pressurized system 104. Hence, transportation of a pressurized pressure vessel 102 from a fill station to the pressurized system 104 is often necessary. Such transport can be difficult due to pressure vessel 102 weight and size and can be dangerous due to the relatively high pressure and volatility of the fluid being contained in the pressure vessel 102.
Accordingly, assorted embodiments are directed to incorporating the pressure vessel 102 into a transport system that allows the vessel 102 to be moved more easily and safely.
Positioning the vessel's handle 110 and base 112 outside of the housing 122 can correspond to a substantially central center of gravity 124 due to the weight and size of the handle 110 and base 112 relative to the vessel housing 122. The second pressure vessel 130 of
The lack of a handle 110 in the second vessel 130 creates a dangerous situation where a user will grasp the vessel valve 106 during transport. Such activity can stress the joint between the valve 106 and housing 132 and/or inadvertently open the valve 106 and create a hazardous situation. Without any extra exterior housing material to form a handle 110 and/or base 112, the second vessel 130 has a center of gravity 134 that is offset from the housing center towards the valve 106, which can make the vessel unbalanced and awkward to transport, store, and mount.
Accordingly, various embodiments integrate the first 120 or second 130 pressure vessels into a vessel transport system where an external transport housing surrounds the vessel to protect the valve 106 while providing a handle to ease moving the vessel.
The transport housing 144 is configured to be a single piece of material that folds along predictable grooves to surround the pressure vessel 142. The transport housing 144 further continuously extends along the longitudinal axis of the vessel, parallel to the Z axis, to position the vessel valve 146 within the areal extent of the transport housing 144. That is, the transport housing 144 wraps around the pressure vessel 142 and defines an interior areal extent 148 that corresponds with the internal dimensions of the housing 144. By positioning the valve 146 within the areal extent 148 of the housing 144, the valve 146 is protected from external trauma and inadvertent activation.
As shown, the transport housing 144 can have one or more valve apertures 150 that allow access to the vessel valve 146. The valve apertures 150 allow the pressure vessel 142 to remain in the transport housing 142 while being connected to a receiver, such as receiver 108 of
Although not required or limiting, the external handle 154 defined by the transport housing 144 can be complemented by a hoist handle 156 that is proximal the vessel valve 146. It can be appreciated that the housing handle 154 allows for efficient transport of the pressure vessel 142 in a horizontal orientation while the hoist handle 156 allows for efficient transport of the pressure vessel 142 in a vertical orientation. The hoist handle 156 can be a part of a hoist assembly 158 that positions a centering member 160 in contact with the housing 144 and vessel 142 to secure the hoist handle 156.
The combination of differently oriented handles 154/156 allows for convenient and balanced movement of the transport system 140 without concern for the integrity of the valve 146 or the location of the vessel's center of gravity. It is contemplated that the transport housing 144 can be loosely wrapped around the pressure vessel 142, as shown, or is secured with one or more fastening means. In other words, engagement of the exterior handle 154 by a user may sufficient to retain the transport housing 144 in contact with, and surrounding, the pressure vessel 142 or a fastening means, such as a screw, rivet, or magnet, can secure the transport housing 144 in the configuration shown in
As shown, the pressure vessel 142 is loosely integrated into the transport housing 144 without any direct mounting hardware. That is, the pressure vessel 142 is not secured directly to the transport housing 144 and instead is loose to move and vibrate within the areal extent 148 defined by the transport housing 144. Although the hoist assembly 158 centers the pressure vessel 142 via contact of the centering member 160 with the vessel housing, the pressure vessel 142 remains free to move and vibrate. By configuring the transport system 140/170 to maintain the pressure vessel 142 in a loose arrangement, any pressure, trauma, and force is absorbed by the entirety of the pressure vessel housing 142 instead of a particular mounting point, or points. Thus, the loose vessel arrangement allows the strength of the entire vessel housing to be used to combat external contact.
The loose pressure vessel 142 arrangement in the transport housing 144 is complemented by the shape and size of the transport housing 144 that provides the planar ends 152 at locations outside the extent of the pressure vessel 142 or valve 146. In some embodiments, the planar end 152 distal the valve 146 is covered with a base plate that protects the bottom of the pressure vessel 142 and provides a rigid surface to support the transport system 170 in an upright orientation. Meanwhile, the opposite planar end 152 remains open to allow the hoist handle 156 and valve be individually accessed selectively.
As previously noted, the transport housing 144 can be secured in the cylindrical configuration shown in
Other fastening apertures may also be positioned on various regions of the transport housing 144. For instance, one or more baseplate apertures 176 can be positioned proximal a planar end 152 to allow fasteners to extend into and secure a baseplate in position covering the planar end 152 distal the vessel valve 146. Hoist apertures 178 may be positioned proximal the valve 146 to allow fasteners to extend into and secure at least the centering member 160 in contacting position with the pressure vessel housing. It is contemplated that hoist apertures may be utilized to secure the hoist handle 156 to the transport housing 144. However, such hoist handle 156 securement does not necessitate a stationary hoist handle 156 as the fastening means via the hoist apertures 178 may allow for rotation of the hoist handle 156 relative to the centering member 160 and transport housing 144.
The hoist assembly 158 can consist of one or more dampening members 180 that are disposed between the centering member 160 and the pressure vessel 142. The dampening member(s) 180 can be any material, such as polymers, rubbers, elastomers, and cork, that are conducive to vibration and/or movement absorption. The dampening member(s) 180 may further soften any movement of the pressure vessel 142 against the centering member 160. The ability to tune the materials and size of the dampening member(s) 180 of the hoist assembly 158 allows the movement characteristics of the pressure vessel 142 to be customized, which can increase safety and transport efficiency.
It is contemplated that the transport housing 190 consists of a plurality of separate rigid slats that are attached in a manner to allow articulation of the slats around a cylindrical pressure vessel. However, such rigid slats can exacerbate the transfer of force to the pressure vessel compared to the semi-rigid transport housing 190 that can bend, flex, and absorb external force. Hence, some embodiments configure the transport hosing 190 of a flexible material, such as a rubberized coating, rubber, foam, or combination thereof, that will retain a pre-defined shape as well as absorb reasonable amounts of force.
The end view of
A baseplate 202 may be positioned inside the transport housing 144 at the planar end 152 to allow one or more fasteners to continuously extend through the housing 144 into the baseplate 202. A baseplate 202 can be positioned outside the housing's areal extent 148, such as on the planar end 152, to partially, or completely cover the planar end 152. For instance, a baseplate 202 may be attached to the transport housing 144 with fasteners extending parallel to the Z axis and have an ornamental and/or practical design that consists of holes and/or open regions. The ability to utilize one or more baseplates 202 is a variety of different configurations can provide a rigid, or semi-rigid, structure that protects a pressure vessel contained in the housing's areal extent 148 while providing additional surface area for the transport system 200 to balance upon when stored in an upright position where the longitudinal axis (LA) of the pressure vessel is parallel to the Z axis.
The side view line representation of an example pressure vessel transport system 210 depicted in
While the transport housing is open and unassembled, step 224 proceeds to place a pressure vessel in contact with the transport housing, such as in substantially the center of the transport housing. The transport housing is then manipulated in step 226 to surround the pressure vessel. It is noted that the transport housing is arranged in step 226 to contact the periphery of the pressure vessel along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel. In other words, the transport housing is wrapped around the pressure vessel in order to bring the connection flanges and external handle together and define an internal areal extent between two planar ends.
The assembled configuration of the transport assembly can be secured in-place via one or more fasteners extending through the connection flanges and/or external handle. Decision 228 evaluates if fasteners are to be incorporated into the transport housing. If so, step 230 attaches the fastener(s) through predefined apertures in the transport housing. At the conclusion of step 230, or if no fasteners are to be used, step 232 positions a hoist assembly in contact with the pressure vessel within the transport housing. The hoist assembly can consist of at least a centering member that continuously surrounds the pressure vessel to center the vessel within the areal extent of the transport housing and a hoist handle.
The position of the hoist assembly is not required, but in some embodiments, is proximal vent apertures in the transport housing and the valve portion of the pressure vessel. Decision 234 determines if a baseplate is to be incorporated into the transport assembly. Step 236 attaches a baseplate to a planar end of the transport housing, opposite the vessel valve, with at least one fastener in step 236 if prompted by decision 234.
In the event no baseplate is chosen, or after the baseplate is attached, the routine 220 can advance to either step 238 where the pressure vessel is transported by holding only the external housing handle or step 240 where the hoist handle is only engaged to transport the pressure vessel. It is noted that engagement of the external handle will transport the housing and pressure vessel in a horizontal orientation just as holding the hoist handle will transport the housing and pressure vessel in a vertical orientation.
Regardless of how the transport housing and pressure vessel is oriented during transport, step 242 opens the transport housing, disassembles the hoist assembly, and removes the pressure vessel so that it can be utilized as part of a pressurized system. It is contemplated that the pressure vessel can be connected to the pressurized system via a receiver prior to the valve of the pressure vessel being opened either manually or remotely. The connection of the pressure vessel in the pressurized system results in the transport housing, hoist assembly, and baseplate free to be utilized to transport a different pressure vessel. That is, the transport system can be employed repeatedly with different pressure vessels of different sizes, shapes, pressures, and destinations.
Through the various embodiments of a pressure vessel transport system, a pressure vessel can be more safely moved between locations due to the valve and vessel housing being protected. The planar end configuration of the transport housing allows for reliable upright pressure vessel storage even though the vessel may only have curvilinear sidewalls and no planar base. The combination of multiple different system handles allows the pressure vessel to be efficiently moved by hand or by rope without exposing any part of the pressure vessel outside of the transport housing.
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