Abstract:
An LPG tank insertion apparatus for automobiles includes a rotary column with a lift body, a support arm mounted to the lift body, an actuating cylinder hingedly connected to the support arm, and a kingpin connected to the support arm. The actuating cylinder and the kingpin are both attached to a rotating plate that rotates in response to the actuating cylinder. The rotating plate is connected to a clamping device that selectively clamps an LPG tank which, in turn, rotates in response to the actuating cylinder so that it can be inserted in an automobile trunk whose opening is smaller than the length of the tank.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Korean Application Serial Number 10-2005-0101197, filed on Oct. 26, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to LPG tank insertion apparatuses for automobiles and, more particularly, to an LPG tank insertion apparatus for automobiles which makes it possible for an LPG tank to be easily inserted into a trunk of an automobile even if the LPG tank is larger than the opening of the trunk. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Generally, in automobiles using liquid petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel, an LPG tank is installed in the trunk of the automobile. Typically, because the LPG tank is smaller than the opening of the trunk, there is no particular problem with the insertion and installation of the LPG tank. 
   However, recently, automobile models having trunks, the openings of which are smaller than the size of an LPG tank (in detail, the length of a mounting plate, to which a lower side of the LPG tank is mounted, is longer than the length of the opening of the trunk), have been marketed. In this case, it is not easy to insert the LPG tank into the trunk using a typical hanger having a wire and a pulley. 
   To insert the LPG tank into the trunk having the above-mentioned condition, the LPG tank should be rotated and then kept in the rotated position until the LPG tank is inserted into the trunk. However, when using a conventional hanger, because the wire connected to the LPG tank interferes with the edge of the opening of the trunk, there is difficulty in insertion of the LPG tank into the trunk after the LPG tank has been rotated to a position suitable for insertion. Furthermore, it is very difficult for a worker to manually adjust the position of the relatively heavy LPG tank (approximately 27 kg) and to insert the LPG tank into the trunk while maintaining the position thereof. As well, if the body of the LPG tank or the wire bumps against the edge of the opening of the trunk or a trunk panel disposed in the trunk, the LPG tank or the trunk panel may be damaged. Therefore, this burdens the worker, thus reducing workability and productivity and increasing safety hazard occurrences. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Embodiments of the present invention provide an LPG tank insertion apparatus for automobiles which makes it possible for an LPG tank to be adjusted to a position suitable for insertion of an LPG tank into the trunk of an automobile and to be maintained in that position, so that a worker can easily insert the tank using a small force, and the LPG tank does not interfere with a trunk panel during the insertion process. 
   An LPG tank insertion apparatus for an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a rotary column provided with a lift body. A support arm is horizontally mounted to the lift body. An actuating cylinder is coupled at one end to a fastening plate, which is attached near an end of the support arm by a hinge. A rotating plate is coupled to a cylinder rod of the actuating cylinder by a hinge. A kingpin rotatably couples an end of the support arm to the rotating plate, so that, when the actuating cylinder is operated, the rotating plate is rotated to a position allowing the LPG tank to be inserted into the trunk of the automobile. A clamping device is mounted at each of upper and lower positions to the rotating plate. A pneumatic pressure supply device supplies pneumatic pressure both to the actuating cylinder and to clamping cylinders provided in the clamping devices. A control switch is provided on the support arm so as to enable a worker to control the pneumatic pressure supply device, thus operating the actuating cylinder and the clamping cylinders. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an LPG tank insertion apparatus for automobiles, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of an important part of the LPG tank insertion apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the LPG tank insertion apparatus of  FIG. 1  when is not in operation; and 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view showing the operation of the LPG tank insertion apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
   As shown in the drawings, the LPG tank insertion apparatus of the present invention includes a rotary column  10 , which is fixed at upper and lower ends thereof, but a body of which is rotatable. A lift body  20  is provided on the rotary column  10  so as to be movable upwards and downwards along the rotary column  10 . A support arm  30  is mounted to the lift body  20  in a direction parallel to a support surface. 
   An end of the support arm  30  is bent at a right angle. A support plate  40  is provided near the end of the bent portion of support arm  30 . 
   Furthermore, an end of a main body of an actuating cylinder  50 , which is supplied with pneumatic pressure from a pneumatic pressure supply device (not shown), is coupled to the support plate  40  by a hinge. 
   A cylinder rod  51  of the actuating cylinder  50  is hinged to a front surface of a rotating plate  60 . 
   The end of the support arm  30  is hinged to the front surface of the rotating plate  60  by a kingpin  70 . The kingpin  70  is provided at a predetermined angle such that, when the rotating plate  60  is completely rotated and pushed by the cylinder rod  51  of the actuating cylinder  50 , an LPG tank (T) held by clamping devices  80 , which will be explained later herein, is oriented in a position allowing the LPG tank (T) to be inserted into the trunk of an automobile without interference. 
   Meanwhile, the clamping devices  80  are mounted at respective upper and lower positions to a rear surface of the rotating plate  60 . Each clamping device  80  includes a fastening plate  81  which is mounted to the rotating plate  60 , and a clamping cylinder  82  which is mounted to a front surface of the fastening plate  81 . Each clamping device  80  further includes a clamping member  83  which is moved by a cylinder rod  82   a  of the clamping cylinder  82  along a guide slot  81   a  formed through the fastening plate  81 , and a support  84  which is provided on each of upper and lower side edges of the fastening plate  81 . A surface contact part  84   a , which is brought into surface contact with the outer surface of the LPG tank (T), is provided under a lower end of the support  84 . 
   Furthermore, latch holders (T′) are mounted to the LPG tank (T), so that, when the surface contact part  84   a  of each support  84  is brought into close contact with the outer surface of the LPG tank (T) and each clamping member  83  is advanced by the associated clamping cylinder  82 , an insert latch  83   a  provided on an end of the clamping member  83  is inserted into and locked to the associated latch holder (T′). 
   The two clamping devices  80 , positioned at upper and lower positions, have the same construction, but their installation directions and operating directions are opposite to each other. 
   As well, a handle  85  may be provided on the fastening plate  81  of the upper clamping device  80  for ease of handling by a worker during an insertion process. 
   The actuating cylinder  50 , which rotates the rotating plate  60 , and the clamping cylinders  82 , which advance and retract the clamping member  83 , are pneumatic cylinders connected to the pneumatic pressure supply device through pressure hoses, but this construction is well known to those skilled in the art and, therefore, is omitted in the drawings. 
   Furthermore, in the case that there are several LPG tank insertion apparatuses in a plant, the pneumatic pressure supply device may comprise several independent devices, each of which includes a compressor, a pressure tank, a valve, etc., and each of which is independently coupled to a respective LPG tank insertion apparatus. Alternatively, the pneumatic pressure supply device may comprise a single pneumatic pressure supply system disposed at a predetermined position in the plant. The present invention is not limited to any one case. 
   A control switch  90  controls the electronic valve of the pneumatic pressure supply device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the control switch  90  is provided on the support arm  30 . 
   Fastening plates  81  of the clamping devices  80  are mounted to the rotating plate  60  through an arch rod  86 , which is made of spring steel and has an arch shape. This construction mitigates impact when the surface contact parts  84   a  of the clamping devices  80  are brought into contact with the outer surface of the LPG tank (T). The arch rod  86  is fastened at a medial portion thereof to the rotating plate  60  and is fastened at opposite ends thereof to the respective fastening plates  81  of the upper and lower clamping devices  80 . That is, in the plan view of  FIG. 3 , the characteristic shape of the arch rod  86  is not shown, but, when viewing the arch rod  86  from the direction indicated by the arrow A, the medial portion of the arch rod  86  is convex towards the rotating plate  60 , and the opposite ends thereof points in directions opposite to the rotating plate  60 , that is, in directions of the fastening plates  81 , thus forming an arch shape. 
   The coupling of the arch rod  86  to the rotating plate  60  and the fastening plates  81  is conducted by welding or by coupling units, such as mounting brackets and locking bolts. 
   The operation and effect of the present invention will be described herein below. 
   The worker contacts the surface contact part  84   a  with the outer surface of the LPG tank (T) by moving the support arm  30  in upward, downward and circumferential directions such that the clamping members  83  are placed adjacent to the latch holders (T′). 
   Subsequently, the worker manipulates the control switch  90  such that pneumatic pressure is supplied from the pneumatic pressure supply device to the clamping cylinders  82 . When each clamping cylinder  82  is operated, each cylinder rod  82   a  pushes the associated clamping member  83 , so that the insert latch  83   a  of the clamping member  83  is inserted into and locked to the latch holder (T′). 
   Then, the LPG tank (T) is securely coupled to the support arm  30  and is movable along with the support arm  30 . 
   The worker completely raises the support arm  30 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Here, because a balance weight (not shown), which has the same weight and uses a pulley and a wire, is provided in the lift body  20 , the worker can easily raise the support arm  30  with a small force. In another embodiment, the power assist uses a spring (not shown). Balance weights and spring are well-known techniques in the art, therefore further explanation is deemed unnecessary. 
   As such, after the support arm  30  is lifted, the worker manipulates the control switch  90  to operate the actuating cylinder  50 . 
   When the cylinder rod  51  of the actuating cylinder  50  is completely advanced, the rotating plate  60  is rotated around the kingpin  70 . Then, the LPG tank (T) is rotated at desired angles on the X, Y and Z axes. As a result, the LPG tank (T) is oriented in a position allowing the LPG tank (T) to be inserted into a trunk of an automobile without interfering either with the edge of the opening of the trunk or with a trunk panel disposed in the trunk. This state is shown from the downward direction in  FIG. 4 . 
   Therefore, the worker need not worry about damaging the LPG tank (T) or the trunk panel due to the LPG tank (T) contacting the edge of the opening of the trunk or the trunk panel. Thus, the worker can rapidly rotate the support arm  30  and insert the LPG tank (T) into the trunk. As a result, the workability and productivity are markedly enhanced. 
   As is apparent from the foregoing, the present invention makes it possible for an LPG tank to be adjusted in a position suitable for insertion of the LPG tank into a trunk of an automobile without interfering either with the edge of the opening of the trunk or with a trunk panel disposed in the trunk, merely by simple control of a control switch, so that a worker can easily perform an insertion process with a small force without worrying about damage to the LPG tank or to other elements of the automobile.