Patent Application
20190127139
This invention relates, in general, to containers for holding compressed gas cylinders and, in particular, to a compressed gas cylinder container capable of protecting a compressed gas cylinder from impact.
Compressed gas cylinders are used in various applications. Typically, compressed gas cylinder comprises a steel cylindrical body having a valve means at the top thereof which may include a pressure gauge. The compressed gas within the cylinder is maintained within the cylinder at high pressures. Therefore, it is often necessary to avoid impact, puncture, or other damage to the cylinder which could create extreme danger or even an explosion. There presently exist, containers for compressed gas cylinders. However, such containers suffer from a variety of shortcomings and may not adequately protect the compressed gas cylinders therein from impact.
In one type of gas cylinder container, four radially directed through-slots are spaced circumferentially around the midsection of a body that can receive a gas cylinder. The user threads a strap through the slots and operates a toggle on the strap to alternatively tighten or release the strap around a gas cylinder inserted into the body. Handles are located on the midsection and end of the body for improved handling. Footings are located on the body exterior in order to prevent rolling of the body about its longitudinal axis. This type of container, however, does not prevent longitudinal movement or shifting of the gas cylinder. The body does not adequately protect the inserted gas cylinder against radial exterior impact or denting. Also, the slots do not adequately seal the gas cylinder against exterior-contaminant exposure.
In another types of container, upper and lower cap-skirts receive the ends of a gas cylinder. A user threads a strap through apertures and grooves on the cap-skirts and runs the strap along sides of a gas cylinder received between the cap-skirts. The user alternatively tightens and releases the strap around the received gas cylinder by operating spring clasps on the strap. A number of radial projections appear on one or more of the cap-skirts in order to prevent rotation of the received gas cylinder about its longitudinal axis. However, the cap-skirts do not protect the received gas cylinder against radial exterior impact or denting.
Thus, a need exists for an impact resistant compressed gas cylinder container that protects the gas cylinder against exterior impact or denting, preferably during transport, and that does not allow for accidental opening of the container during a collision event. A further need exists to provide such protection and to secure the container against longitudinal movement or shifting.
The present invention discloses a storage and protection assembly for transporting gas cylinders.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the storage and protection assembly is comprised of:
In one embodiment the container of the present invention is a gas cylinder.
In one embodiment, the body of the assembly can have a circular or square outer shape, however preferably the inner shape of the body conforms to the shape of a gas cylinder, which is typically cylindrical. This is a non-limiting embodiment, as other geometries can also be envisioned, and will be familiar to one of ordinary skill in the art.
The body of the assembly is preferably composed of a sturdy material, including but not limited to a polymeric material, a metal material, reinforced material, a combination of metal and polymer material, and other such known materials which will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
In one embodiment, the body of the assembly includes an internal bottom portion which comprises a resilient design. This can include an upwardly curved surface of raised bottom portion which will adapt to the shape of a bottom section of a gas cylinder. Additionally, or alternatively, the bottom portion of the body can also include a plurality of springs, which are disposed and movable vertically within the bottom portion, so that the cylinder does not have impact with the bottom portion during movement and transport of the assembly.
The cap of the assembly is adapted to fit in the top portion of the body. In one embodiment, the cap includes a primary and secondary locking mechanism.
The primary locking mechanism can comprise a threaded channels on the outer walls of the cap, which correspond with threaded channels on the internal walls of the body. This locking mechanism is confined to the top portion of the body. Therefore in operation of the primary locking mechanism, a user would simply place the cap within the internal cavity of the body in the top portion, and twist the cap so as to engage the threaded connection between the cap and body. The twisting movement continues under all the threaded channels within the cap and on the internal walls of the body are engaged with each other.
In one embodiment, the cap of the assembly also comprises a secondary locking mechanism, as disclosed above. The secondary locking mechanism is provided so that there can be additional security and impact prevention to the cylinder during storage and transport, while the cylinder is within a vehicle for example, and in any event where the stability of the cylinder may be disturbed, such as for example, bumpy roadways, or in the event of an accident.
In one embodiment the secondary locking mechanism comprises a plurality of spring assisted assemblies which are movable from an unlocked position to a locked position. During engagement of the secondary locking mechanism these spring assisted assemblies are placed in a locking position by engaging with the plurality of cavities circumferentially located in the top side of the internal hollow portion of the body. This is accomplished by the spring assemblies sliding into the plurality of cavities so as to engage the spring assemblies into a locked position, thereby actuating the secondary locking means of the cap and body together.
Similarly, the secondary locking mechanism can be disengaged or placed in an unlocked position by the sliding of the spring assisted assemblies away from and/or outside of the plurality of cavities contained within the top side of the internal hollow portion of the body.
In one embodiment, the spring assisted assemblies are comprised of a rigid metal wire, connected to cylindrical stopper. A spring resides around the rigid metal wire. The spring assemblies are coupled at the opposite end to a central handle of the cap, and it is this central handle that is used to engage or dis-engaged the secondary locking mechanism.
In one embodiment the secondary locking mechanism is placed in a engaged or locked position when the central handle is pushed down by a user. Similarly, the secondary locking mechanism is placed in a dis-engaged or unlocked position when the central handle is pulled upwards by a user, thereby actuating the motion necessary to slide the spring assisted assemblies out of the plurality of cavities which reside within the internal portion walls of the body.
In one embodiment, the spring assisted assemblies are comprised of a metallic material. That is, the rigid wire, the cylindrical stopper and the spring which is around the wire are all comprised of a metallic material. In a preferred embodiment, the metallic material is a resilient and strong metal, such as steel.
The central handle is located, as the name suggest, within a central portion of the cap. Due to its function with engaging and dis-engaged the secondary locking mechanism the central handle is coupled to the wire portion of the spring assisted assemblies. The central handle and the cap itself are preferably comprised of a metallic material. While the central handle is located on the top portion of the cap, the spring assisted assemblies are located within the cap, so that they externally extend outside of the cap circumferentially during engagement, and retract back within slots located within the cap during disengagement.
The accompanying figures are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The figures illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
In the figures:
In the following Detailed Description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. Directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of embodiments of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.
The present invention discloses a storage and protection assembly for transporting containers which may contain hazardous materials. In one embodiment the containers can be gas cylinders. Although one of ordinary M the art will understand that the type of container which the protection assembly can be designed for will vary and such modifications are within the scope of this invention.
As can be seen in
More particularly,
The body 100 has a bottom side 102 and a top side 104, which forms the entrance where the gas cylinder can enter through and also where the cap 300 (
Moving now to
As can be seen in
In one embodiment the central handle 350 is configured to be pressed down towards the body 100 to engage the secondary locking mechanism 340 to a locked position, and to be pulled upwards away from the body to disengage the secondary locking mechanism to an unlocked position. Disengaging the secondary locking mechanism 340 through upward movement of the central handle causes the spring assisted assemblies 400 to retract away from the plurality of cavities 220 contained in the body 100 and rest within internal channels disposed throughout the cap 300.
Moving now to
As can be seen in
As can be seen in
The stopper 430 can have a cylindrical, square or rectangular shape, although preferably a cylindrical shape. Each component of the spring assisted assemblies 400, including the wire 450, the stopper 430 and the spring 440 are preferably comprised substantially of a metal material, although other materials having sufficient strength and resilience can be envisioned and will be known to those skilled in the art. The central handle 350 is also preferably comprised of the same material of the spring assisted assembly as it is connected to the assemblies 400 and requires resiliency and sturdiness. A metal material is preferred for this purpose, for example steel.
During operation of the secondary locking mechanism 340, for purposes of engaging the locking mechanism 340, the spring assisted assemblies 400 are placed in a locking position by engaging with the plurality of cavities 220 circumferentially located in the top side 104 of the internal hollow portion of the body 100. This is accomplished by stoppers 430 sliding into the plurality of cavities 220 so as to engage the spring assisted assemblies 400 into a locked position, thereby actuating the secondary locking means of the cap 300 and body 100 together. Therefore in a locked position the central handle 350 is pressed down, and this motion pushes the metal wire 450 outwardly from the cap, and also pushes the stopper 430 attached to the wire 450 outwardly towards and into the cavities 220 contained on the internal walls of the body. As can be understood, for this locking motion to work, the plurality of cavities 220 and the spring assisted assemblies should be the same number. For example in the Embodiment shown in
If a user wishes to unlock or disengage the secondary locking mechanism 340, then the user would have to pull upwards on the central handle 350, and this retracts the stoppers 430 from cavities 220 and back into the internal channels contained within the cap. The narrowed portion of the internal channels as can be seen in
The combination of the primary locking mechanism containing the threaded channels 320 on the cap and threaded channels 200 on the body, in addition to the secondary locking mechanism 340 provide a dual locking means for the assembly of the present invention, which protects the contents within and does not allow for the contents to be accidentally dislodged from the container, thus protecting them during transport. This is particularly important in terms of dangerous materials such as those typically contained in gas cylinders.
The body 100 of the assembly is preferably composed of a sturdy material, including but not limited to a polymeric material, a metal material, reinforced material, a combination of metal and polymer material, and other such known materials which will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
In one embodiment, the body 100 of the assembly includes an internal bottom portion which comprises a resilient design. This can include an upwardly curved surface or raised bottom portion (not shown) which will adapt to the shape of a bottom section of a gas cylinder 50. Additionally, or alternatively, the bottom portion of the body 100 can also include a plurality of springs (not shown), which placed throughout the bottom section and are disposed and movable vertically within the bottom portion, so that the cylinder does not have impact with the bottom portion during movement and transport of the assembly, but rather is cushioned instead by the motion of the springs underneath it.
In a further embodiment, the body 100 of the present invention can also further comprise a layer of a reinforcing material on the internal walls, either within the walls and/or on the surface of the walls. This reinforcing material can be dispersed throughout the body in a lattice configuration, a matrix, a repeating or a randomized pattern configuration. The reinforcing material placed throughout the body's internal walls can be selected from a polymer, a polymer composite, a metal, a metal wire, a reinforced fiber, inorganic fibers, and a metal polymer composite.
While particular embodiments of present invention have been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broadest aspects. Various combinations of these embodiments can be made. The aim of the appended claims, therefore, is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
