Stabilization mechanism for cylinderically shaped objects

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6702244
  • Patent Number
    6,702,244
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, December 20, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 9, 2004
    20 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Wood; Kimberly
    Agents
    • Buchel, Jr.; Rudolph J.
Abstract
The present invention relates to a safety device for stabilizing cylindrically shaped objects and thereby reducing the occurrences of uncontrolled releases of their contents. With respect to an exemplary embodiment, a stabilization mechanism is presented which comprising a cylindrically shaped barrel, having a first opened end and a second opened end and which is fitted with a plurality of stabilization outriggers. Each of the plurality of outriggers extends from the exterior surface of the barrel, radially outward away from the barrel. The interior diameter of the barrel is sufficient to accept a pressurized cylinder or tank. The outriggers effectively increase the diameter of the base of the cylinder, and so doing, provides an added measurement of stabilization with respect to toppling over from an inadvertent action. In the other exemplary embodiments, as few as three outriggers provide stabilization for the cylinder. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a ring is fixed to the outriggers and in still another exemplary embodiment, the circular plate is attached to the lowermost extent of the barrel, the plate also having an opening sufficient for passage of the pressurized cylinder. Wheels may be attached to the outriggers in order that the tank may be moved by using the stabilization mechanism as a cart or dolly.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Technical Field




The present invention relates to a safety device for stabilizing cylindrically shaped objects.




2. Description of Related Art




It is common practice in the industrial arts to pressurize various gaseous elements and compounds and then contain them in a cylindrically shaped pressure vessel or tank, normally called a cylinder. Typical contents of a cylinder include elements such as Argon (Ag), oxygen (O


2


), nitrogen (N


2


) chlorine (Cl


2


), fluorine (F), hydrogen (H


2


), helium (He), etc. and compounds such as acetylene (hydrocarbons having one or more carbon—carbon triple bonds), liquid petroleum gas (LPG, i.e., C3 or C4 such as propanes, butanes, etc.), carbon dioxide (CO


2


), compressed air, etc. There are two types of hazards associated with the use, storage and handling of these compressed gas cylinders: the chemical hazard associated with the cylinder's contents and the physical hazards represented by the presence of a high-pressure vessel proximate to people or property. The chemical hazard potential associated with the contents of these cylinders include corrosive, toxic, flammable, etc., while the physical hazard relates to the extremely high pressures at which the contents are contained. Compressed gas cylinders have extremely high potential energies due to the latent energy of their highly compressed contents.




Typically, these cylinders have a combination value and port stem at the upper extent of the cylinder that penetrates the cylinder's wall to its inner cavity. Filling and unfilling the cylinder is accomplished through the valve and port stem. If the contents of a tank are released under controlled conditions, the corrosive, toxic, flammable and high energy attributes of the tank and its contents are of little consequence to a user. However, should an uncontrolled release occur, which may result from the tank toppling over and sheering its valve and port stem off, persons in the proximity of the release are in immediate danger. In fact, the potential energy contained in the fully 1.75 cu. ft. (ft


3


) pressurized cylinder of nitrogen gas, 1.74×10


6


ft. lb. (2.359×10


6


J), is comparable to the latent energy equivalent to about 0.5 lb. (0.25 kg) of TNT, the potential energy of TNT being 3.42×10


6


ft-lb. (4.63×10


6


J).




From the description above, it is apparent that any device for lessening the occurrence of uncontrolled releases from compressed gas cylinders would be beneficial.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a safety device for stabilizing cylindrically shaped objects to reduce the possibility of cylindrically shaped tanks toppling over and possibly shearing off the tank's valve assembly. The safety device, therefore, reduces the occurrences of uncontrolled releases of the contents of a tank. With respect to an exemplary embodiment, a stabilization mechanism is presented which comprises a cylindrically shaped barrel, having a first opened end and a second open end and which is fitted with a plurality of stabilization outriggers. Each of the plurality of outriggers extends from the exterior surface of the barrel, radially outward away from the barrel. The inner diameter of the barrel is sufficient to accept a pressurized cylinder or tank. The outriggers effectively increase the diameter of the base of the cylinder, and in so doing, provide an added measurement of stabilization with respect to the cylinder toppling over from an inadvertent action. In the other exemplary embodiments, as few as three outriggers provide stabilization for the cylinder. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a horizontal ring is fixed to the outriggers and in still another exemplary embodiment, the horizontal plate is attached to the lower most extent of the barrel, the plate also having an opening sufficient for passage of the pressurized cylinder. Wheels may be attached to the outriggers in order that the tank may be moved by using the stabilization mechanism as a cart or dolly.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:





FIG. 1A

is a pictorial representation of a tank or cylinder which may have gases contained within under extreme pressures;





FIG. 1B

is a pictorial representation of an enlarged cross sectional view of the base of the tank at rest on a floor surface;





FIG. 1C

is an illustration of a commercially available welding cart designed for transporting compressed gas cylinders such as acetylene, argon, helium and oxygen;





FIGS. 2A-2D

are pictorial representations of a slip-over tank stabilizer for use with, for example, cylindrical containers filled with compressed gases in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3

illustrates the slip-on functionality of the stabilization mechanism in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 4A-4C

are pictorial diagrams depicting a slipover tank stabilizer used in combination with a spin-on valve protector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 5A-5D

are pictorial representations illustrating two outrigger arrangements for slipover tank stabilizers in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 6A

to


6


C are pictorial diagrams that illustrate a wedge-type collet anti-slip mechanism in accordance with exemplary embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 7A

to


7


C are pictorial diagrams which illustrate a second type of anti-slip mechanism, a cam-type lock, in accordance with exemplary embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 8A-8C

are diagrams illustrating three similar slipover tank stabilizers which depict other anti-slip mechanisms in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 9A-9D

are pictorial representations of slipover tank stabilizers configured in a horizontal stabilizer configuration in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 10A and 10B

are pictorial representations of flexible finger, self locking, stackable, slipover tank stabilizer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 11A-11F

are pictorial representations of various aspects of a slipover tank stabilizer comprised of a plurality of self locking, wedge-type fin stabilizers in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 12A and 12B

are pictorial representations of another anti-slip mechanism which incorporates a self locking, two-piece interlocking collet barrel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 13A-13D

are pictorial representations of views of a slipover stabilizer with interlocking fins in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 14A-14B

are pictorial representations of views of a slipover stabilizer with hinged outriggers in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 15A-15B

are pictorial representations of views of a spin-on slipover stabilizer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and





FIGS. 16A-16C

are pictorial representations of views of a slipover stabilizer with dolly wheels in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




With reference now to the figures,

FIG. 1A

is a pictorial representation of a tank or cylinder which may have gases contained within that are confined under extreme pressures. Protective cap


102


is securely fastened onto the neck of tank


100


by means of the cap's inner threads coupling with exterior threads protruding from the neck of tank


100


. Filling and unfilling tank


100


is accomplished through valve and port stem


106


. Valve and port stem


106


traverses the upper wall of tank


100


and thereby provides a convenient entry point for accessing the contents of tank


100


, however, the stem


106


is also the source of extraordinary danger because the stem can easily be sheared from tank


100


during an accidental toppling.




Tank


100


may be any cylindrically shaped pressure vessel such as 1.55 cu. ft. or 1.75 cu. ft. cylinders. These exemplary cylinders each have with a diameter of approximately nine inches and are between 50 and 54 inches high at the neck of the cylinder-protective cap


102


extends another six to eight inches from the neck. With respect to the description of the present invention, the dimensions of the 1.74 cu. ft. cylinder will be used throughout, but those of ordinary skill in that art would readily realize that the dimensions of the cylinder in no way limit the scope of the present invention. Additionally, the tare (empty) weight of a nine-inch diameter cylinder (1.55 cu. ft.—1.75 cu. ft.) is between 114 lbs. and 188 lbs. Therefore, apart for the danger associated with uncontrolled tank releases, an empty nine-inch diameter cylinder presents a credible hazard with regard to the tank being accidentally toppled over on an individual. The force generated by gravity on the weight of the empty tank in a toppling is substantial. A person in the path of a toppling cylinder may be severely injured without an uncontrolled release of the tank's contents.




In an upright position, tank


100


rests with the lower surface of its base in contact with floor surface


104


. An adequate contact interface between tank


100


and floor


104


is essential for tank


100


to be stable in its upright position. For the purposes herewithin, stability refers to the property of an object that causes it, when disturbed from a condition of equilibrium or steady motion, to develop forces or moments that restore the original condition. Stability, with respect to stationary objects such as compressed gas cylinders, is inexorably linked to the center of gravity of the object. Tank


100


, filled or unfilled, has a center of mass, R, also called the centroid or center of gravity. One of ordinary skill of the art would understand the center of gravity to be the point of a body at which the force of gravity can be considered to act and which undergoes no internal motion. For a discrete distribution of masses m


1


, located at positions r


1


, the position of the center of mass R is given as:










R





i




m
i



r
1






i



m
i








i




m
i



r
1



M









Where





M

=



i



m
i







(
1
)













For a compressed gas cylinder with gaseous contents, the center of mass R can be approximated at a point midway between the base of the cylinder and its neck, at the center of the cylinder's diameter, shown in

FIG. 1A

as R. In a cylinder with liquid contents the center of mass R will be somewhat lower due to the liquid settling to the bottom of the cylinder. For the discussion herewithin, the cylinder contents will be considered gaseous.




By finding the center of gravity of an object, the object's stability can be estimated based on the simple truths that the stability of a given object is inversely proportional to the vertical height of R and proportional to horizontal distance from R to the closest edge of its base. With respect to compressed gas cylinders, shortening a cylinder's overall height can increase stability, but this has the disadvantage of decreasing the cylinder's capacity and thus requiring more cylinders to be available to provide an equivalent amount of capacity. Similarly, the stability of a compressed gas cylinder may be increased by increasing its diameter, thus increasing the diameter of its base that contacts the floor surface. While it is true that compressed gas cylinders come in a variety of diameters, some more stable than others, it cannot be said that cylinder manufacturers are pushing forward any efforts for increasing the diameter of compressed gas cylinders as a safety initiative. The pragmatic truth with respect to the manufacture, transportation and use of compressed gas cylinders is that industries that depend on compressed gas for their livelihood have long since settled on the basic dimensions of gas cylinders. Any minimal stability increases realized by increasing the diameter of standard compressed gas cylinders would be far outweighed by the expense and inconvenience of implementing the new cylinders' design.




Turning back to

FIG. 1A

, tank


100


can be seen in two positions, first with the base parallel to floor surface


104


, thus causing R to be centered within the circumference of the base. There, tank


100


is in its most stable position possible because R is approximately equidistant from any edge of the base. However, as tank


100


it tilted φ degrees such that R (shown as R


1


) is positioned vertically over an edge of the base, the cylinder is at its most unstable. Defined herein, φ is the tip angle, or the angle at which an object is rotated such that it can no longer return to its equilibrium state. With respect to tank


100


, once the position of R


1


traverses the circumference of the base, the cylinder can no longer return to its equilibrium state and the cylinder will topple over, the result of which may be catastrophic. In general, compressed gas cylinders are not considered to be stable objects because almost without exception their heights are greater than their bases by some factor.




Another problem that affects stability is that the base edges are often rounded, thereby reducing the tank's effective base diameter as depicted in FIG.


1


B.

FIG. 1B

is a pictorial representation of an enlarged cross sectional view of the base of tank


100


while it is resting on floor surface


104


. Note that the outer surface of the base does not completely make contact with floor surface


104


. Squared, sharp edges at the base are important in order to maximize tank


100


's contact diameter with floor surface


104


. However, due to manufacturing and/or frequent rolling of compressed gas cylinders, the sharp edges at the base are often worn away or rounded thereby reducing the effective contact diameter of the base. The rounded edges on the base further reduce the stability of tank


100


by decreasing the effective diameter of its base.




Table I below illustrates the relationship between an object's height and base diameter to its tip angle, φ, for homogeneous, cylindrically shaped objects such as compressed gas cylinders. For ease of computation the height is taken from the neck of the cylinder, thus disregarding any increased instability due to the protective cap and valve.














TABLE I











Tip Angle






Height




Base




(Degrees)

























1.00




1.00




45.00






2.00




1.00




26.56






3.00




1.00




18.43






4.00




1.00




14.03






5.00




1.00




11.30






6.00




1.00




9.462






50.00




9.00




10.20






50.00




8.50




9.65






50.00




8.00




9.09






50.00




14.00




15.64






5000




18.20




20.00






50.00




19.00




20.80






50.00




29.00




30.11











(For homogeneous, cylindrically shaped objects)













From Table I it is apparent that as the height increases relative to the base diameter, the tip angle decreases, making the cylinder less stable. The first six entries are for cylinders having a base of one unit while the heights vary from one unit to six units. Notice that a cylinder having a height to base ratio of one to one has a tip angle of 45 degrees, a very stable cylinder. As the height of a cylinder doubles to two units from one unit with respect to a base of one unit, the cylinder's tip angle decreases correspondingly to 26.56 degrees, less stable than one to one height to base ratio, but still a very stable cylinder. As the ratios of height to base progresses through the next four entries in Table I to a six to one height to base ratio, the tip angle is further reduced a corresponding amount to 9.46 degrees. Clearly, a cylinder with a six to one height to base ratio is not very stable and considering the amount of potential energy stored in a compressed gas cylinder, such a cylinder could present a potential hazard.




The dimensions of a typical 1.75 cu. ft. cylinder are approximately fifty inches in height and nine inches in diameter. As can be seen in Table I, a cylinder with fifty to nine height to base ratio has a tip angle of approximately 10.20 degrees. From Table I it can be inferred that should an operator accidentally tip a 1.75 cu. ft. cylinder filled with compressed gas more than 10.20 degrees, the tank will topple over as it has passed its maximum tip angle and has no possibility of returning to its equilibrium. Such an accident may have catastrophic effects due to potential energy stored in a filled tank.




The succeeding two entries in Table I show the differences in tip angles for a cylinder with rounded edges at it base. Rounded edges reduce the effective base of the tank that makes contact with the floor surface. Reducing the effective base diameter of a 1.75 cu. ft. cylinder to 8.50 inches decreases the cylinder's tip angle to 9.65 and further reducing the effective base diameter to eight inches decreases the tip angle to 9.09 degrees. From Table I it can be seen that even a minimal amount of base rounding has an effect on a cylinder's stability.




On the other hand, notice that if the effective diameter of a 1.75 cu. ft. cylinder could be increased by ten inches, the tip angle would realize a corresponding increase to 20.80 degrees, as shown in the second from last row. Even further, if that cylinder's radius could be further increased by an additional five inches, the cylinder's tip angle would increase to 30.11 degrees as can be seen the last row of Table I. A cylinder with a tip angle of 30.11 degrees is a very stable tank.




Rules regarding tank stability seem to be rather relative concepts in most industries. For instance, most industries have safety rules that require that compressed gas cylinders be capped with a protective safety cap and stored in a secure manner. A secure manner usually entails a mechanism for confining a cylinder to a semi-permanent structure such as a wall, support pole or workbench. The confinement mechanism may be a chain or cable that is attached to the structure and secures the cylinder at a point at least one half the height of the cylinder. Most facilities have designated tank storage areas that comply with these storage rules. Rules for handling and transportation of compressed gas cylinders may be found, for instance, in 29 CFR Part 1919, OSHA Standards from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, available from U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210 and the Compressed Gas Association, Inc., 1725 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Suite 1004, Arlington, Va. 22202-4102 and rules for construction and maintenance of portable cylinders used for storage and shipment of compressed gases may be found, for instance, in 49 CFR Parts 171-179 DOT Standards from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Publications are available from the U.S. Department of Transportation at U.S. DOT/RSPA/HMS/OHMIT/DHM-50, 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590-0001.




Operational or staging areas of a facility are usually not equipped with the perquisite safety mechanisms for securing compressed gas cylinders. For example, loading docks are rarely equipped to safely confine compressed gas cylinders, so whenever a shipment of cylinders arrive, the tanks are often temporarily positioned against a wall, or merely left standing in place until the cylinders can be carted to the storage area. It is tempting to lay compressed gas cylinders horizontally on the floor surface until they can be transported to the storage area. While laying tanks on their sides does reduce the chance of a tank being upset, this practice may increase other risks associated with the tanks. For example, an acetylene cylinder is filled with a “monolithic filler” in which acetone is added to absorb and stabilize the acetylene. However, if the acetone/acetylene solution is not held within the fiber, it is easy to produce acetone from the cylinder and leave volatile, unsuspended acetylene in the tank.




Even when compressed gas tanks are being used, they are sometimes arranged in a manner which is no more stable than a standing compressed gas cylinder.

FIG. 1C

is an illustration of a commercially available welding cart designed for transporting compressed gas cylinders such as acetylene, argon, helium and oxygen. Notice that although the base of the cart is 25 ½ inches wide at the wheeled side, it is only 10 ⅝ inches deep at the handle side, thus only marginally increasing stability in the direction of the handle. It should be understood that while the center of gravity of the tank/cart combination is somewhat lower than a cylinder alone, thereby further increasing stability over a cylinder alone, the horizontal position of the center of gravity is now toward the handle. The new horizontal position of the center of gravity tends to negate some of the advantageous effects of the lower center of gravity. The advantageous effects are further negated when two compressed gas cylinders are present in the cart which causes the center of gravity to be higher than when a single tank is present in the cart. While compressed gas cylinders are only marginally more stable in a welding cart, such as that shown in

FIG. 1C

, the consequences resulting from a cylinder falling may be much more severe. Accidents tend to be more catastrophic whenever compressed gas cylinders are toppled from a cart because the cylinder's protective cap is often removed and a regulator is attached to the valve and port assembly. It is therefore much more likely that the valve and port assembly will be sheared off and an uncontrolled, catastrophic release occurs.




What is needed in the art is a realistic understanding that present safety measures, with regard to compressed gas cylinders, are incongruous which results in a false sense of security. While the incidents of catastrophic releases may have been reduced with respect to storage and transportation of compressed gas cylinders, releases at staging and waypoint areas remain a problem. The inventor of the present invention understands that the cause of these incidents to be a combination of unskilled personnel, complex and time consuming safety procedures combined with inconvenient, complex and sometimes antiquated safety equipment.




Firstly, it should be recognized that some personnel who handle compressed gas cylinders are not as experienced, as well trained or as cognizant of the catastrophic potential of gas cylinders as personnel who handle gas cylinders on a regular basis. This is evident in the staging areas such as loading docks and procurement areas. There, personnel handle gas cylinders infrequently and tend to forget or circumvent safety requirements. Many times these workers seem oblivious to the consequences that may result from their actions or omissions. Next, it should also be recognized that workers, no matter how experienced, well trained or cognizant, will take shortcuts around safety procedures that they perceive to be cumbersome and inconvenient. Workers tend to rationalize these safety shortcuts by the savings of time and effort. Finally, it should also be recognized that management might have many of the same limitations of the worker in understanding safety equipment and procedures but additionally resist implementing expensive safety solutions. Many times complicated safety equipment is also expensive to buy, install and maintain so management is less than eager to implement it.




Therefore, in an effort to alleviate the shortcomings in the prior art, the present invention provides for a convenient, inexpensive means to reliably stabilize compressed gas cylinders from inadvertently toppling over.

FIGS. 2A-2D

are pictorial representations of a slipover tank stabilizer for use with, for example, cylindrical containers filled with compressed gases in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. With respect to

FIGS. 2A-2D

, slipover tank stabilizer


210


comprises cylindrically shaped barrel


212


, having a first opened end and a second opened end, which is fitted with a plurality of stabilization outriggers, outriggers


214


. Outriggers


214


extend from the exterior surface of barrel


212


and extend radially outward away from barrel


212


. Slipover tank stabilizer


210


may be formed from any one of a number of strong, rigid materials, such as metals, plastics, acrylics, composite material, etc. Outriggers


214


must be rigidly affixed to barrel


212


and themselves have strength enough to support the compressed gas cylinder without distorting. In

FIGS. 2A-2D

, outriggers


214


are depicted as being “fin” or delta shaped, but in practice may be of any shape which is capable of contacting the floor surface at its outermost extent while maintaining the prerequisite cantilevered loading forces exerted by the tank.




Configured thusly and positioned on the base of a cylinder, outriggers


214


greatly increase the effective base of the cylinder and therefore a corresponding increase in the tip angle is also realized. The tank's stability is thereby increased with slipover tank stabilizer


210


in place. Notice that the interior openings of barrel


212


are sufficient to accept a cylindrically shaped tank of a given diameter without requiring an extraordinary effort from a worker. Once in place at the base of a cylinder, slipover tank stabilizer


210


resists “riding up” on the cylinder partially due to close tolerance of the barrel's internal diameter to the outer diameter of a given cylinder. For added assurance against slipover tank stabilizer


210


riding up on the cylinder, slipover tank stabilizer


210


is fitted with an anti-slip mechanism, shown in

FIGS. 2C and 2D

as internal ridges


216


. Internal ridges


216


exert horizontally directed force directly on the surface of a cylinder when a vertical force is applied to one or more of outriggers


214


. The horizontal force causes the inner surface of barrel


212


to bind with the exterior surface of the cylinder. Internal ridges


216


further bind with the exterior surface of the cylinder by gripping any paint or surface imperfections on the cylinder. Internal ridges


216


may be positioned along the entire length of the interior surface of barrel


212


or may instead only occupy a portion of the internal surface. Note that

FIGS. 2C and 2D

depict internal ridges


216


on the extreme upper and lower portions of the interior surface of barrel


212


. Internal ridges


216


are considered to be a passive anti-slip mechanism because the mechanism requires little or no intervention by the user to be effective.





FIG. 3

illustrates the slip-on functionality of the stabilization mechanism in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The stabilization mechanism of the present invention is both useful, in that it increases the stability of cylinders and convenient because it is easily deployed by personnel with little or no special training. Operation of the slipover tank stabilizer is largely intuitive and requires very little time or preparation for successful deployment. As depicted in

FIG. 3

, a user merely positions the center opening of the barrel of slipover tank stabilizer


310


over protective cap


302


and then around tank


300


. Slipover tank stabilizer


310


is oriented with the maximum radial extent of the outriggers positioned downward. Once slipover tank stabilizer


310


is situated around tank


300


, the user simply pushes slipover tank stabilizer


310


downward toward the base of tank


300


. After slipover tank stabilizer


310


makes contact with the floor surface, slipover tank stabilizer


310


is in its optimum position. Following positioning a slipover tank stabilizer with a passive anti-slip mechanism, no further action is required by the user because as the stabilizer will remain in its most downward position and resist riding upward on tank


300


until removed by the user. Removal of slipover tank stabilizer


310


is likewise intuitive, the user merely pulls slipover tank stabilizer


310


up and over tank


300


. Due to resistance from the anti-slip mechanism, removal might require the user to wiggle slipover tank stabilizer


310


from side to side as it is moved upward on tank


300


.





FIGS. 4A-4C

are pictorial diagrams depicting a slipover tank stabilizer used in combination with a spin-on valve protector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A

shows tank


400


in which slipover tank stabilizer


410


has been properly deployed, thereby stabilizing tank


400


without the need for extravagant and complicated stabilization equipment. Those skilled in the art will realize that normally a compressed gas cylinder is transported with protective cap


402


securely threaded to the neck of tank


400


, but while in service protective cap


402


is normally removed to allow for coupling valve and port assembly


406


with a manifold. With protective cap


402


removed, tank


400


is most vulnerable to an uncontrolled release of its contents by valve and port assembly


406


and/or the manifold striking an object during a fall and shearing valve and port assembly


406


from tank


400


. Spin-on protector


430


is designed to protect valve and port assembly


406


during a fall by providing a buffer interval between valve and port assembly


406


and any object that might contact it, such as the floor surface.

FIGS. 4B and 4C

illustrate spin-on protector


430


in detail. Spin-on protector


430


is designed with interior threads


432


that cooperate with the exterior threads on tank


400


in a similar fashion as the interior threads on protective cap


402


. The body of spin-on protector


430


is composed of sufficiently resilient material to absorb the impact from a fall. Spin-on protector


430


may also be lined with shock absorbing edge material


436


, such as foam, rubber, neoprene, etc., in order to further absorb impact forces and provide cushioning during a fall. The height of internal threads


432


is kept to a minimum in order for spin-on protector


430


to be used simultaneously with protective cap


402


. Alternatively, spin-on protector


430


may be fitted with inner threads


432


for cooperating with the outer threads on tank


400


and also fitted with outer threads for cooperating with the inner threads on protective cap


402


. In this configuration (not shown), the neck portion spin-on protector


430


must be of sufficient length to accommodate inner threads


432


on the lower portion, then step down in diameter for accommodating the outer threads on the upper portion of the neck portion. In either embodiment, valve and port assembly


406


is always protected by spin-on protector


430


in the event of tank


400


being toppled. In a further refinement, spin-on protector


430


is fitted with several handholds


434


for gripping. Handholds


434


provide users with a convenient gripping surface during transportation and service. While

FIGS. 4A-4C

depict spin-on protector


430


as having a substantially planar body, the body may instead be concave shaped with the exterior extent of spin-on protector


430


extending above valve and port assembly


406


while leaving enough space for insertion of protective cap


402


.




In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, the valve protector may accommodate tanks without external threads. For those types of tanks the valve protector is fastened to an upper portion of tank


400


using set screws or a snap ring or a hose clamp. The set screws, snap ring or hose clamp provides a gripping mechanism for the outer surface of tank


400


as will be described below with respect to slip over tank stabilized shown on

FIGS. 8B and 8C

.




Slipover tank stabilizers may be configured in a number of outrigger arrangements.

FIGS. 5A-5D

are pictorial representations illustrating two outrigger arrangements for slipover tank stabilizers in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B

illustrate slipover tank stabilizer


510


as having three evenly spaced outriggers


514


which each extends radially from barrel


512


. In order for slipover tank stabilizer


510


to provide minimal stabilization benefits around the circumference of a cylinder, slipover tank stabilizer


510


must comprise at least three outriggers


514


to be effective.

FIGS. 5C and 5D

show slipover tank stabilizer


510


configured with eight evenly spaced outriggers


514


as opposed to three shown in

FIGS. 5A and 5B

. While slipover tank stabilizer


510


may have as few as three outriggers to offer some minimal stabilization benefits, the effective base diameter of slipover tank stabilizer


510


is proportional to the number of evenly spaced outriggers, therefore, more than three outriggers is usually desirable.















TABLE II












Relative Increase of







Number of Equally




Outrigger Length to







Spaced Outriggers




Effective Base



























3




1.00







4




1.41







5




1.62







8




1.84







10




1.90















Table II above demostrates the relationship between the relative increase of outrigger length to the effective base of a slipover tank stabilizer and the number of outriggers configured on a stabilizer. For example, by increasing the radial length of the three outriggers on slipover tank stabilizer


510


by five inches, the effect base would only increase by five inches. The diameter of a cylinder's effect base is a trigonometric function based on the angle between adjacent outriggers and not merely a product of opposing outrigger lengths. Therefore, the effective base for a 1.75 cu. ft. cylinder would increase to thirteen inches by using slipover tank stabilizer


510


having three-five inch outriggers. By returning to Table I, it can be seen that the tip angle for a 1.75 cu. ft. cylinder and slipover tank stabilizer configured with three-five inch outriggers is 14.75 degrees. If, however, the diameter of a cylinder's effect base could be calculated as a product of opposing outrigger lengths, then the effective base would equal 18 inches and the cylinder's tip angle would increase to 19.80 degrees. This can only be accomplished by configuring the slipover stabilizer with an infinite number of equally spaced outriggers, thereby bringing the angle between adjacent outriggers to zero degrees.




From Table I it can be realized that as the outrigger spacing get tighter, the tip angle is reduced for a similarly sized outrigger. In another example, taking a slipover tank stabilizer configured as shown in

FIGS. 5C and 5D

with eight outriggers, if the radial length of an outrigger is five inches, the effect base would increase by 17.2 inches because the angle between adjacent outriggers has decreased. From Table I above it can be seen that the tip angle for a slipover tank stabilizer configured with eight-five inch outriggers increases to 18.98 degrees.




In addition to the variance of outrigger configurations,

FIGS. 5A-5B

also illustrate other options available to a user for optimizing cylinder stability. For example,

FIGS. 5A and 5B

show leveling adjusters


550


at the outward extent of each outrigger


514


. Leveling adjusters


550


are used in cases where the floor surface is uneven, which has the effect of decreasing the effective tip angle. By adjusting one of leveling adjusters


550


, a user can compensate, somewhat, for an uneven floor surface. Also shown in

FIGS. 5A and 5B

is anti-slip mechanism


540


, which engages the cylinder and prevents slipover tank stabilizer


510


from riding up on the cylinder body and destabilizing the tank.




One benefit of the present invention is the convenience of increasing stability afforded to users by sliding the slipover tank stabilizer over the cylinder into place without unnecessary exertion or effort. By design, the slipover tank stabilizer slides into place with ease. However, in order for the slipover tank stabilizer to provide maximum stabilization benefit, the slipover tank stabilizer cannot ride up on the cylinder when pressure is exerted on the outriggers. The anti-slip mechanism prevents the slipover tank stabilizer from riding up on the cylinder unless controlled by the user, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Two basic types of anti-slip mechanisms are disclosed here within: passive and active. A passive anti-slip mechanism works to prevent slippage between the slipover tank stabilizer and the cylinder without intervention from the user. In contrast, an active anti-slip mechanism requires some intervention by the user.

FIGS. 6

to


8


are diagrams which illustrate exemplary anti-slip mechanisms in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.





FIGS. 6A

to


6


C are pictorial diagrams which illustrate a wedge-type collet anti-slip mechanism in accordance with exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Wedge-type collet


640


is an example of a passive type of anti-slip mechanism which binds teeth on ramped or wedged collet


642


to the outer wall of the cylinder. Ramped collet


642


automatically locks into place whenever a user manipulates the slipover tank stabilizer in position at the base of a cylinder. Compression spring


643


forces wedged collet


642


downward within opposing ramped channel


644


, which is formed within barrel


612


of the slipover tank stabilizer. In so doing, the teeth on wedged collet


642


are forced inward toward the cylinder and resist against any unwanted upward movement of the slipover tank stabilizer on the cylinder. Should upward pressure be applied to the slipover tank stabilizer, from, for instance, the cylinder being tilted, opposing ramped channel


644


would further force the teeth on wedged collet


642


inward toward the cylinder. Wedge-type collet


640


is released while removing the slipover tank stabilizer from the cylinder by grasping ring


641


, thereby applying upward pressure on wedged collet


642


and against compression spring


643


.





FIGS. 7A

to


7


C are pictorial diagrams illustrating a second type of anti-slip mechanism, a cam-type lock, in accordance with exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Cam-type lock


740


is an example of an active type of anti-slip mechanism that binds teeth


742


on cam


746


against the outer wall of the cylinder. Cam-type lock


740


is locked in place by the user exerting upward force on ring


741


. Note that cam


746


is rotatably joined to barrel


712


by screw


747


thereby allowing cam


746


and teeth


742


to rotate inward toward the outer cylinder wall. Teeth


742


contact the cylinder wall and bind the slipover tank stabilizer in position with respect to the cylinder. Again, should the cylinder be tilted an amount which applies upward pressure to the slipover tank stabilizer, the weight of the cylinder on teeth


742


will force cam


746


to rotate further inward on the cylinder, thereby tightening cam-type lock


740


even more. The slipover tank stabilizer is removed by merely applying downward pressure on ring


741


, from there the slipover tank stabilizer can be removed without teeth


742


binding on the cylinder. Due to the extreme forces exerted on both the wedge-type collet and cam-type lock types of anti-slip mechanisms, it is necessary to fashion both from high strength steel or equivalent.





FIGS. 8A-8C

are diagrams illustrating three similar slipover tank stabilizers which depict other anti-slip mechanisms in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A

illustrates a slipover tank stabilizer having barrel


812


and outriggers


814


and further comprises interior liner


820


. Interior liner


820


provides an anti-slip functionality to barrel


812


via friction resistance base on the composition of the liner. In an exemplary composition, liner


820


is a pliable material with a high coefficient of friction, such as rubber, certain plastics, abrasive or anti-skid adhesives, sand paper, etc. Liner


820


is also considered to be a passive anti-slip mechanism because the liner needs no intervention by the user to be effective.

FIGS. 8B and 8C

, on the other hand, are consider to be active passive anti-slip mechanisms because each requires minimal intervention by the user to be effective.

FIG. 8B

depicts a slipover tank stabilizer having barrel


812


and outriggers


814


and which further comprises setscrews


822


that can be tightened against the exterior of a cylinder by a user. Setscrews


822


are depicted in

FIG. 8B

as recessed setscrews but might instead consist of a one-piece screw shaft and exposed torque handle that can be adjusted by a user without the aid of an adjustment tool, thus providing a convenient means of tightening screw


822


. Once tightened, the slipover tank stabilizer is securely fastened to the base of the cylinder until the user loosens the screws and moves the slipover tank stabilizer. While barrel


812


and outriggers


814


may be fabricated from any of the above-mentioned materials, it is expected that set screws


822


and the threaded hole are high strength steel for resisting stripping.

FIG. 8C

depicts a similar slipover tank stabilizer to that shown in

FIG. 8B

, having barrel


812


and outriggers


814


, but which further comprises clamp


826


. Clamp


826


is similar to any adjustable clamp in that it provides a means to apply a force radially inward on the cylinder and thereby thus tightening the barrel against the exterior of a cylinder. Here clamp


826


is shown as a common hose clamp but other clamping mechanisms will suffice, for instance a snap ring, nylon tie, etc. Here again the screw portion may consist of an exposed screw head or might instead have a permanently connected handle for ease of tightening without the aid of a screwdriver.




Up to this point, each slipover tank stabilizer described consists of an open-ended barrel and a plurality of outriggers that are attached to the barrel and which extend radially outward, thereby increasing a cylinder's stability by increasing the effective base of the cylinder. However, in some configurations outriggers have the disadvantage of tending to shift laterally at their distal ends and thereby decreasing the effective base and the stability of the cylinder. Individual outriggers have the further disadvantage of reduced effective base, and therefore reduced stability, by increased outrigger spacing. The fewer number of equally spaced outriggers on a stabilizer, the lower the added stability. Still further, individual outrigger configurations have the disadvantage of having only a finite number of contact points with the floor surface, usually at the distal end of each outrigger. In conditions where the floor surface is uneven, one or more outriggers may not contact the floor surface. The maximum tip angle is only realized when each outrigger is securely in contact with the floor surface, thereby preventing the cylinder from rocking. The aforementioned shortcomings are eliminated by configuring the stabilizer in a horizontal base configuration.





FIGS. 9A-9D

are pictorial representations of slipover tank stabilizers configured in a horizontal base configuration in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A and 9B

are pictorial representations of slipover tank stabilizer


910


with horizontal plate


960


. Horizontal plate


960


is attached to the base of barrel


912


whereby horizontal plate


960


rests against the floor surface when slipover tank stabilizer


910


is in position on the cylinder. Of course, an opening is fashioned into horizontal plate


960


approximately equal to the size of the barrel opening for deploying the stabilizer over a cylinder. Supports


962


may also be added for strengthening horizontal plate


960


if needed. Slipover tank stabilizer


910


which includes horizontal plate


960


maybe fashioned from any of the above mentioned materials.

FIGS. 9C and 9D

are pictorial representations of slipover tank stabilizer


910


with horizontal ring


966


. Horizontal ring


966


is connected to barrel


912


via ring support members


966


. When deployed, horizontal ring


966


rests against the floor surface in a similar fashion as the horizontal plate described above. Notice that barrel


912


is much shorter in horizontal ring configuration than in other configuration because ring support members


966


provide a more uneven, binding force against the cylinder wall than other exemplary embodiments described above. It is expected that slipover tank stabilizer


910


which includes horizontal ring


966


is substantially comprised of medium strength steel or other similar metals due to the extreme forces exerted on support members


966


and barrel


912


.





FIGS. 10A and 10B

are pictorial representations of flexible finger, self locking, stackable, slipover tank stabilizer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is presumed that in many instances, especially during transportation, that the slipover tank stabilizers would be transported separate from the compressed gas cylinders, in order to more efficiently stack the cylinders. In those case's providing space for a corresponding number of slipover tank stabilizers may pose a problem. Flexible finger, self locking, stackable, slipover tank stabilizer


1010


reduces the need for storage space by providing stackable, interlocking fingers


1070


which interlock with adjacent fingers on adjoining slipover tank stabilizers. In addition, flexible finger, self locking, stackable, slipover tank stabilizer


1010


includes anti-slip teeth


1012


on the upper portion of the inferior surfaces of fingers


1070


which reduce upward slippage. Unlike previously described stabilizers, flexible finger, self locking, stackable, slipover tank stabilizer


1010


is formed by molding a high impact plastic, acrylic or composite material. These materials allow flexible finger, self locking, stackable, slipover tank stabilizer


1010


to remain resilient and retain its precise shape. Fingers


1070


bow slightly inward toward the cylinder providing a slight tension on anti-slip teeth


1012


toward the cylinder. Outriggers


1014


provide a complementary bias on anti-slip teeth


1012


whenever upward force is exerted on the outriggers. Notice that unlike other outriggers, outriggers


1014


are attached only and the upper fingers


1070


of barrel


1012


. This arrangement causes upward forces from the lower portion of the outriggers to cantilever inward on individual fingers


1070


. While this arrangement lends itself to eliminating unwanted slippage, removal of flexible finger, self locking, stackable, slipover tank stabilizer


1010


can sometimes be problematic because of the natural bias toward the cylinder. In order to facilitate removal of the aforementioned stabilized, handholds


1034


are present on each outrigger for spreading fingers


1070


away from the cylinder and allowing flexible finger, self locking, stackable, slipover tank stabilizer


1010


to move freely up the tank.




In accordance with other exemplary embodiments, the slipover tank stabilizer is comprised of self locking, wedge-type fin stabilizer which cooperate with the barrel to prevent the stabilizer from riding up on the cylinder.

FIGS. 11A-11F

are pictorial representations of various aspects of a slipover tank stabilizer comprised of a plurality of self locking, wedge-type fin stabilizers in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A

depicts a side view of the exemplary slipover tank stabilizer


1110


including barrel


1112


and outriggers


1114


, which are of the self locking, wedge-type fin design. One feature of self locking, wedge-type fins, unlike previously described outrigger configurations, is that the present fin is slidablly interlocked with barrel


1112


, in a similar manner as described above with respect to wedge-type collet


640


anti-slip mechanism shown in

FIGS. 6A-6C

above. In the present embodiment, rather than having a passive type of anti-slip mechanism with exposed ring


641


affixed to wedged collet


642


, the exposed portion of the anti-slip mechanism of stabilizer


1110


in

FIG. 11

is outrigger


1114


, as will become apparent with the description of the following figures. Similarly with wedge-type collet


640


described above, slipover tank stabilizer


1110


with self locking, wedge-type fins is a passive type anti-slip mechanism requiring little or no effort from a user to prevent the stabilizer from riding up on a cylinder.





FIG. 11B

is a pictorial representation of a cross sectional cut away view of an exemplary embodiment of a slipover tank stabilizer with self locking, wedge-type fins in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Notice that each fin is composed of fin portion


1180


and wedge-type collet


1182


. Barrel


1112


, in addition to having openings for receiving a cylinder, has vertical slots for receiving individual fin portions


1180


. Each vertical slot is slightly larger than the traveling portion of outrigger


1114


to allow for vertical movement within barrel


1112


that results in the wedge-type fin binding or locking against the exterior surface of a cylinder. Notice also that each wedge-type collet


1182


has interior facing teeth for gripping the exterior wall of a cylinder.




As can be seen from

FIGS. 11C

to


11


H, much of the design of slipover tank stabilizer comprised of a plurality of self locking, wedge-type fin stabilizers borrows from the wedge-type collet


640


anti-slip mechanism shown in

FIGS. 6A-6C

above.

FIG. 11C

is a cut-away side view of barrel


1112


, which shows vertical slots


1186


and opposing wedged channel


1184


which is formed within the interior wall of barrel


1112


. Notice that opposing wedged channel


1184


is thicker on its upper end and thinner on its lower end within barrel


1112


.

FIG. 11D and E

show vertical slot


1186


and opposing wedged channel


1184


from an outer and inner view of barrel


1112


, respectively. Turning to

FIGS. 11F-11H

, pictorial representations of outrigger


1114


are depicted in top, cutaway side and bottom views, respectively. Here, in contrast with opposing wedged channel


1186


, wedge-type collet


1182


is thicker at the bottom and thinner at the top. By opposing the angled wedges on collet


1182


and channel


1184


, the teeth on collet


1182


are forced into the outer surface of a cylinder whenever an upward force is applied to outrigger


1114


. Although not shown in the figure, the lower base of outriggers


1114


is expected to hang slightly below the lower opening of barrel


1112


, which facilitates locking because the upward force needed for locking is applied by merely positioning slipover tank stabilizer


1110


on a cylinder. When outriggers


1114


contact the floor surface, locking is automatic. However, unlocking may pose a problem in certain circumstances, therefore, although not shown in the figures, an upper lip or handholds may be included on barrel


1112


to give a user a sufficient gripping surface to unlock the stabilizer. It is expected that slipover tank stabilizer


1110


may be comprised of any of the materials listed above. However, because the potential exists for outriggers


1114


to wobble inside vertical slot


1186


, a minimum of four outriggers is suggested for this particular configuration. Outriggers


1114


, themselves may be made from any material but high impact plastic, acrylic or composite materials provide an efficient cost benefit tradeoff because although synthetic materials may not have the life expectancy of steel, their cost is low. Additionally, unlike some previously described embodiment, only defective outriggers need be replaced-which can be accomplished with a minimum amount of time and effort.





FIGS. 12A and 12B

are pictorial representations of another anti-slip mechanism which incorporates a self locking, two-piece interlocking collet barrel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Similar to slipover tank stabilizer


1110


with self locking, wedge-type fins described above in

FIGS. 11A-11H

, self locking, two-piece interlocking collet barrel


1212


is a passive type anti-slip mechanism requiring little or no effort from a user to prevent the stabilizer from riding up on a cylinder. Here, upper barrel portion


1212


A has a plurality of toothed collets that are tapered inward, oriented in the downward direction. Lower barrel portion


1212


B has an outward tapered landing sleeve at its upper end for receiving the tapered collets of upper barrel portion


1212


A. Outriggers


1214


are attached to only lower barrel portion


1212


B. Retainers


1286


keep upper barrel portion


1212


A proximate to lower barrel portion


1212


B. The barrel portions are locked to a cylinder by merely deploying the stabilizer on at the base of the cylinder. An upper lip is provided as a handhold for gripping during unlocking.




As discussed above, it is expected that each compressed gas cylinder for an enterprise will have a slipover stabilizer available to it, although not always deployed on the cylinder. The accumulation of large quantities of stabilizes might require an inordinate amount of storage space and therefore be disadvantageous for the enterprise. In an effort to relieve the space requirement, as well as providing a slipover stabilizer with improved maintenance characteristics, a slipover stabilizer is presented.

FIGS. 13A-13D

are pictorial representations of views of a slipover stabilizer with interlocking fins in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. With respect to the present exemplary embodiment, the stabilizer is comprised of separate interlocking fin panels


1390


which join together at seams


1391


to form a barrel and fin assembly similar to those described above. However, here, each interlocking fin panels


1390


has both a male slide assembly


1393


and a female slide assembly


1392


at the connecting edges of interlocking fin panel


1390


which form the barrel when assembled. Panels merely slide together with one another. Once assembled the interlocking fin stabilizer may be used in a manner described above to provide added stability to a cylinder.




With respect to storing cylinders, it is advantageous to stack multiple cylinders in a vertical or upright orientation and in groups for storage. Within these groups of cylinders, cylinders on the interior of the group have four points of contact with surrounding cylinders. While the above described slipover tank stabilizers have the advantages of stabilizing individual cylinders, they have the disadvantage of having to be removed prior to stacking cylinders in groups for storage. In an effort to relieve the users from the task of completely removing each slipover stabilizer prior to stacking cylinders for storage, a slipover tank stabilizer with hinged outriggers is presented.

FIGS. 14A-14B

are pictorial representations of views of a slipover stabilizer with hinged outriggers in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. With respect to the present embodiment, barrel


1412


is a shorter ring-like barrel with pairs of pin receivers


1496


securely fastened to, or incorporated in barrel


1412


. Each pair of pin receivers


1496


is separated by the approximate width, or diameter, of outriggers


1414


and has openings for receiving pins


1496


. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention outriggers


1414


function as a lever with pin


1496


inserted through the outrigger's body at the fulcrum. Outriggers


1414


have a particular shape for providing stability and anti-slip functionality, while still allowing the outrigger to completely close along the body of a cylinder, shown herein in FIG.


14


B. Here the outriggers are shown as being fabricated from a round stock material, but may instead be formed from other stock shapes. In their deployed positions show in

FIG. 14A

, outriggers


1414


make contact with the exterior side of a cylinder at the surface of the upper end and then form a right angle downward between opposing pin receivers


1496


, where pin


1494


is inserted through the outrigger's body at the fulcrum. The outrigger body then continues away from the cylinder at a downward angle for a predetermined distance, that distance determines the effect base. Teeth are scored into outrigger


1414


's upper end to reduce slippage between the cylinder and the slipover stabilized.




The slipover tank stabilizer with hinged outriggers is deployed by merely sliding or dropping the stabilizer around a cylinder. If outriggers


1414


do not fully open, the user merely pulls the distal end of any outriggers not fully opened. Removing the slipover tank stabilizer merely entail lifting the stabilizer off of the tank. Unlike previously described stabilizers, barrel


1412


in the present embodiment is primarily provided for structural integrity and does not afford a significant anti-slip benefit, therefore barrel


1412


may be loosely fit to the cylinder's diameter. Coil springs may also be provided for each outrigger in order to maintain outriggers


1414


in the closed position when not deployed. The collapsible feature of outriggers


1414


is highly advantageous when cylinders are stacked in storage. Because each outrigger collapses closed to only a fraction of its open length, slipover tank stabilizers with hinged outriggers may be left on stacked cylinders by orienting the closed outriggers between contact points of the group of cylinders. When gas cylinders are arranged with four contact points between cylinders, four spaces are also created between cylinders in the group, the closed outriggers are positioned in those spaces. Thus, when using the four contact point cylinder stacking arrangement, a stabilizer should have four hinged outriggers in order to take advantage of spaces in the cylinder stacking arrangement.





FIGS. 15A-15B

are pictorial representations of views of a spin-on slipover stabilizer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15A

shows spin-on stabilizer


1510


in the open or deployed position, while

FIG. 15B

shows spin-on stabilizer


1510


in the retracted or closed position. Spin-on stabilizer


1510


departs from the aforementioned exemplary slipover stabilizers in that spin-on stabilizer


1510


takes advantage of the threaded neck on a cylinder for its anti-slip control. The barrel of spin-on stabilizer


1510


is divided in the exemplary embodiment into upper spin-on neck barrel


1512


A and lower slipover barrel


1512


B. Outriggers


1514


are hinged to upper spin-on neck barrel


1512


A and also hinged to cross members


1515


, which are, in turned, hinged at their opposite ends to lower slipover barrel


1512


B.




In practice, lower slipover barrel


1512


B is slid over tank


1500


until spin-on neck barrel


1512


A contacts the threaded neck of tank


1500


. From that point, spin-on stabilizer


1510


is spun or threaded onto tank


1500


, thereby threading spin-on neck barrel


1512


A to the outer threads of the neck of tank


1500


. Once spin-on stabilizer


1510


is securely threaded onto tank


1500


, lower slipover barrel


1512


B can be slipped of tank


1500


causing each of cross members


1515


to force each of outriggers


1514


outward, away from tank


1500


. Each of cross members


1515


is fitted with a horizontal stop (not shown) that constricts the position of lower slipover barrel


1512


B to an approximate horizontal co-plane plane with the cross members


1515


, thus contravening each of outriggers


1514


is in its outwardly most extended position. After spin-on stabilizer


1510


has been positioned on tank


1500


, protective cap


1502


may be threaded onto the remaining exposed threads on the neck of tank


1500


, thereby further protecting valve and stem assembly


1506


.




Outriggers


1514


can be manipulated inward to a position approximately parallel to the side of tank


1500


, as shown in

FIG. 15B

, by forcing lower slipover barrel


1512


B upward along tank


1500


. Each outrigger


1514


is fitted with a length adjustment means for adjusting outrigger length to accommodate opening and closing outriggers


1514


as well as uneven floor surfaces. In the exemplary embodiment the length adjustment means is telescoping outriggers which are locked using telescoping outrigger locks


1513


.




In the exemplary embodiment three individual outriggers are shown but those of ordinary skill in the art would understand from this teaching that any number of outriggers may be used above three. Also, for additional protection against accidental toppings, spin-on neck barrel


1512


A may be combined on or with spin-on valve protector


430


show in

FIGS. 4A-4C

. Still further, slipover barrel


1512


B and cross members


1515


may be eliminated from spin-on stabilizer


1510


in embodiments where spin-on neck barrel


1512


A comprises a means for constraining outriggers


1514


to the maximum extension. Of course, in this embodiment in might be necessary to strengthen both spin-on neck barrel


1512


A and outriggers


1514


.




In an effort to offer users even more convenience for handling compressed gas cylinders, wheels may be incorporated on the outer extents of outriggers in order to aid in transporting cylinders. Normally a user must located a dolly or hand truck, secure the cylinder onto the dolly, relocate the cylinder and then return the dolly from wherever it came. The present invention greatly diminishes this task by providing a semi-permanent transport means.

FIGS. 16A-16C

are pictorial representations of views of a slipover stabilizer with dolly wheels in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Slipover stabilizer


1610


may be any of the solid barrel, secure outrigger stabilizer embodiments discussed above that positively lock to the cylinder, such as with set screws or clamps shown in

FIGS. 8B and 8C

. At the distal end of at least two adjacent outriggers


1614


, dolly wheels


1698


are affixed by means of axle


1699


, for instance. Dolly wheels


1698


are positioned on the outrigger such that the wheels do not contact the floor surface within the tip angle for the particular stabilizer, to do so would decrease the tip angle and reduce the stability of the cylinder. A user merely tips the cylinder onto dolly wheels


1698


and then moves the cylinder as though it was on a hand truck. Convenient handholds for moving are available by spin-on valve protector


430


, shown in

FIGS. 4A-4C

, which could be used in conjunction with a protective cap during movement. While

FIGS. 16A-16C

depict fin-type outriggers, horizontal ring or horizontal plate stabilizers, as shown in

FIGS. 9A-9D

, could also accept dolly wheels


1698


.




The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the vertical heights of barrel and outrigger may vary from the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Ordinary artisans would readily realize that a number of different materials might be used in the construction of the present invention. Also, various anti-slip mechanisms may be employed in view of the present disclosure without departing from the intent of the present invention. In another example, while the present invention has been most often referred to within with respect to a pressurized tank or cylinder, many of the benefits of the present invention may be realized in use with any cylindrically shaped object. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.



Claims
  • 1. A slipover device for stabilizing cylindrically shaped tank in a substantially upright position, said slipover device comprising:a cylindrically shaped tank, said cylindrically shaped tank having an outer diameter being fitted for holding compressed gases; a barrel for slipping over said outer diameter of said cylindrically shaped tank while in a substantially upright position and for resisting riding up on said cylindrically shaped tank while cantilevered loading forces are exerted by said cylindrically shaped tank, said barrel comprising: a first slipover opening, said first slipover opening having a sufficiently large first opening diameter for slipping over said outer diameter of said cylindrically shaped tank, and, said first opening diameter of said first slipover opening having a sufficiently close tolerance to said outer diameter of said cylindrically shaped tank for resisting riding up on said cylindrically shaped tank while cantilevered loading forces are exerted by said cylindrically shaped tank; and a second slipover opening, said second slipover opening having a sufficiently large second opening diameter for slipping over said outer diameter of said cylindrically shaped tank, and, said second opening diameter of said second slipover opening having a sufficiently close tolerance to said outer diameter of said cylindrically shaped tank for resisting riding up on said cylindrically shaped tank while cantilevered loading forces are exerted by said cylindrically shaped tank; and a plurality of outriggers for opposing cantilevered loading forces exerted by said cylindrically shaped tank, each of said plurality of outriggers comprising: a barrel outrigger end, said barrel outrigger end joined to said barrel; an outrigger body extending from said barrel outrigger end in an approximate radial direction from said barrel; a distil outrigger end, said distil outrigger end defining an outer extent of said outrigger body, thereby increasing an effective radius of said cylindrically shaped tank while in the substantially upright position; and a contact point proximate to said distil outrigger end, said contact point for contacting a surface for opposing cantilevered loading forces exerted by said cylindrically shaped tank.
  • 2. The slipover device recited in claim 1 above, wherein said cylindrically shaped tank has a valve port at an upper end of said cylindrically shaped tank the slipover device further comprises:an upper protector, wherein said upper protector extends radially past the diameter of the valve port and connects to said cylindrically shaped tank using one of threads, fastener, snap ring and clamp.
  • 3. The slipover device recited in claim 1 above, wherein at least one of the plurality of outriggers further comprises:a leveling mechanism, said leveling mechanism being vertically adjustable for one of increasing and decreasing a vertical length of said at least one of the plurality of outriggers, thereby providing leveling of said device irrespective of a floor surface level.
  • 4. The slipover device recited in claim 1 above, wherein said barrel further comprises:an anti-slip mechanism, said anti-slip mechanism resisting upward movement of said barrel with respect to said cylindrically shaped tank.
  • 5. The slipover device recited in claim 4 above, wherein said anti-slip mechanism being a passive anti-slip mechanism thereby resisting upward movement of said barrel with respect to said cylindrically shaped tank with minimal intervention from a user.
  • 6. The slipover device recited in claim 5 above, wherein said passive anti-slip mechanism further comprises one of binding teeth, friction lining, wedged insert, resilient flexible member and cantilevered outrigger.
  • 7. The slipover device recited in claim 4 above, wherein said anti-slip mechanism comprising one of barrel fastener, manual locking wedge, manual locking cam, manual locking wedged outrigger, two-piece interlocking barrel and threads.
  • 8. The slipover device recited in claim 1 above further comprises:a horizontal member, said horizontal member affixed to at least two of said plurality of outriggers whereby said horizontal member provides circumferential contact with a horizontal floor surface.
  • 9. The slipover device recited in claim 8 above, wherein said horizontal member being one of a ring and plate.
  • 10. The device recited in claim 1 above, wherein said barrel further comprises vertical slots, each vertical slot adapted for accepting each of the plurality of outriggers, said barrel further comprising a wedge-shape channel proximate to said each of the vertical slots for opposing a wedge-shaped member disposed on each of the plurality of outriggers.
  • 11. The slipover device recited in claim 1 above, wherein said barrel and said plurality of outriggers are rigidly joined.
  • 12. The slipover device recited in claim 1 above, wherein said barrel comprises a plurality interlocking portions, whereby each of the plurality of outriggers is rigidly fastened to one of said interlocking portions and each interlocking portion of said barrel cooperatively interlocks with each other interlocking portion of said barrel.
  • 13. The slipover device recited in claim 1 above, wherein each of the plurality of outriggers is connected to said barrel via a hinged connection, thereby allowing said barrel outrigger end to close toward said barrel, the slipover device further comprises:an outrigger travel stop, said outrigger travel stop restricts upward travel of said distil outrigger end of each of said plurality of outriggers and thereby allowing at least some of said plurality of outriggers to deploy securely on a horizontal floor surface.
  • 14. The slipover device recited in claim 1 above further comprises:at least two wheels, each of said wheel being fastened to one of said plurality of outriggers.
  • 15. The slipover device recited in claim 4 above, wherein said anti-slip mechanism being formed by minimizing an orifice between an outer surface of said cylindrically shaped tank and an inner surface of said barrel.
  • 16. The slipover device recited in claim 1 above, wherein said plurality of outriggers comprises at least three outriggers.
  • 17. The slipover device recited in claim 1 above, wherein each of said plurality of outriggers being configured as one of substantially planar, round and tubular.
  • 18. The slipover device recited in claim 1 above, wherein each of the plurality of outriggers is connected to said barrel via a hinged connection, and at least one of the plurality of barrel outrigger ends abuts said barrel.
  • 19. The slipover device recited in claim 18 above, wherein said at least one of the plurality of barrel outrigger ends abutting said barrel is in response to said contact point of a respective outrigger body contacting said surface.
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