Abstract:
The present invention relates to the movement of a stabilized safety device for cylindrically shaped objects to reduce the possibility of cylindrically shaped tanks toppling over and possibly shearing off the tank&#39;s valve assembly. The stabilization mechanism generally comprises a cylindrically shaped barrel, having a first open 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 stabilization mechanism further comprises one or more fixtures for cooperating with and receiving a counterpart fixture on a cart. The fixtures are securely fastened to various components of the stabilization mechanism at locations thereon which are accessible to the cart. The cart generally comprises a handle and wheel arrangement which may be suggestive of a warehouse (or appliance) hand truck or the like. The cart further comprises one or more fixtures which are disposed thereon at corresponding locations to the arrangement of the respective corresponding fixtures on the stabilization mechanism. In the event that a gas cylinder is to be moved from one location to another, an operator merely engages the cylinder cart to the stabilization mechanism via the coupling fixtures and tows the cylinder on the cart.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims the benefit of copending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/859,125, filed Nov. 15, 2006 and entitled “STABILIZATION MECHANISM WITH COUPLER FOR ENGAGING WITH A CART AND TOWING CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED OBJECTS”, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a safety device for stabilizing and towing cylindrically shaped objects. 
         [0003]    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 (O2), nitrogen (N2), chlorine (Cl2), fluorine (F), hydrogen (H2), 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 (CO2), 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&#39;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 energy of their highly compressed contents. 
         [0004]    Typically, these cylinders have a combination valve and port stem at the upper extent of the cylinder that penetrates the cylinder&#39;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. (ft3) pressurized cylinder of nitrogen gas, 1.74×106 ft. lb. (2.359×106 J), is comparable to the latent energy equivalent to about 0.5 lb. (0.25 kg) of TNT, the potential energy of TNT being 3.42×106 ft-lb. (4.63×106 J). 
         [0005]    For any applications, these cylinders are transported to a location and installed at a station, typically by restraining compressed gas cylinders upright and securing them with a chain, strap, or cable to a stationary building support (i.e., a structural beam) or to a stabilization mechanism or cylinder cart to prevent cylinders from tipping or falling. Larger cylinders are moved from the transport vehicle to a storage area or usage station with a cylinder cart. 
         [0006]    From the description above, it is apparent that any device for lessening the occurrence of uncontrolled releases from compressed gas cylinders and which further facilitates safely moving pressurized cylinders would be beneficial. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    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&#39;s valve assembly, while simultaneously providing the operator with a means for safely transporting the cylinder using the safety device. The mobility/safety device, therefore, reduces the occurrences of uncontrolled releases of the contents of a tank even during transport. With respect to an exemplary embodiment, a stabilization mechanism and cart are presented for stabilizing and transporting high pressure gas cylinders. The stabilization mechanism generally comprises a cylindrically shaped barrel, having a first open 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 stabilization mechanism further comprises one or more fixtures for cooperating with and receiving a counterpart on a cart. The fixtures are securely fastened to various components of the stabilization mechanism at locations thereon which are accessible to the cart. The cart generally comprises a handle and wheel arrangement which may be suggestive of a warehouse (or appliance) hand truck or the like. The cart further comprises one or more fixtures which are disposed thereon at corresponding locations to the arrangement of the respective corresponding fixtures on the stabilization mechanism. In the event that a gas cylinder is to be moved from one location to another, an operator merely engages the cylinder cart to the stabilization mechanism and moves the cylinder. If desired, the operator merely disengages the cart from the stabilization mechanism. Thus, whenever a cylinder is at rest, the cart may be disengaged from a particular stabilization mechanism and used for transporting other cylinders. The aforementioned fixtures may take many forms, such as a pin and barrel coupler and/or a hub and fork type coupling mechanism. Furthermore, the couplers may be either horizontally or vertically oriented on the stabilization mechanism and cart. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The novel features believed characteristic of the present 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 be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a commercially available welding cart designed for storing and transporting compressed gas cylinders such as acetylene, argon, helium and oxygen; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts a top view of an engagable slipover tank stabilizer configured in a horizontal ring configuration and adapted for engaging a wheeled cart in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  depicts a forward-side view of an engagable slipover tank stabilizer configured in a horizontal ring configuration and adapted for engaging a wheeled cart in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  depicts a rear view of an engagable wheeled cart adapted for engaging a slipover tank stabilizer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  depicts a side view of an engagable wheeled cart adapted for engaging a slipover tank stabilizer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  depicts a front view of an engagable wheeled cart adapted for engaging a slipover tank stabilizer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  depicts a rear view of a wheeled cart fully engaged with cart tank stabilizer, with an onboard compressed gas tank, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  depicts a side view of a wheeled cart fully engaged with cart tank stabilizer, with an onboard compressed gas tank, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  depicts a front view of a wheeled cart fully engaged with a tank stabilizer, with an onboard compressed gas tank, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  depicts a wheeled cart in the process of engaging a tank stabilizer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  depicts a tank stabilizer with an onboard tank in tow on a wheeled cart in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  depict a tank stabilizer and cart with a horizontally oriented pin and barrel type coupling mechanism in accordance with still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  depict a tank stabilizer and cart with a hub and fork type coupling mechanism in accordance with still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 14A ,  FIG. 14B  and  FIG. 14C  depict a tank stabilizer without fixture couplers and cart with a coupling mechanism in accordance with still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       
    
    
       [0023]    Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the following detailed description. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Mechanisms for safely storing pressurized gas cylinders are well understood in the prior art and include devices for chaining, strapping, or cabling the canisters to a stationary building support. These types are permanently mounted devices, while safe, do not offer the operator any flexibility where the cylinders can be stored and/or used. Recently, other devices have been realized for stabilizing gas cylinders, which offer portability. Several types of portable stabilization mechanisms for gas cylinders are disclosed by the inventor of the present application in U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,244 entitled “Stabilization Mechanism for Cylinderically Shaped Objects,” and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. These stabilizers may be configured as a “slipover” type, and generally comprise a cylindrically shaped barrel, having a first open end and a second open end and which are 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. Some include wheels for moving the tank from one location to the next without the need of a cylinder cart or dolly. 
         [0025]    Another type of device known in the prior art for temporarily storing gas tanks in the upright position, which also offer added mobility, is a cylinder cart or welding cart.  FIG. 1  is an illustration of a commercially available welding cart designed for storing and transporting compressed gas cylinders such as acetylene, argon, helium and oxygen. Typically, welding cart  100  is generally comprised of vertical support structure(s)  101  which is affixed to wrap-around handle  102  and to the rear end of nose plate  106 . Either end of wrap-around handle  102  may also be connected to the forward end nose plate  106 . Wheels  104  are secured to vertical support structure  101  via an axle, which is positioned proximate to the rear end of nose plate  106 . Tanks  110  are loaded onto welding cart  100  at the forward end of nose plate  106  and secured to the cart with strap  108 . Welding cart  100  offers moderate stability and mobility but is too expensive to use for tank applications where the cylinders are not continually being moved from one place to another. For those instances, it is more economical to store the tanks in a permanent vertical tank storage or cabinet and employ a welding cart only when the tank is in use. 
         [0026]    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, but which also offer a mechanism for safely transporting the cylinder. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are pictorial representations of an engagable slipover tank stabilizer configured in a horizontal ring configuration and adapted for engaging a wheeled cart in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  depicts a top view of engagable slipover tank stabilizer  200  and  FIG. 3  depicts a forward-side view of engagable slipover tank stabilizer  200 . This particular slipover configuration is used herein merely for describing aspects of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Engagable slipover tank stabilizer  200  comprises stabilizer barrel  202  and horizontal ring  204 , which is connected to stabilizer barrel  202  via a plurality of ring support members  206 . When slipover tank stabilizer  200  is deployed on a cylindrical tank, horizontal ring  204  rests against the floor surface. Slipover tank stabilizer  200  will generally maintain its position on the cylindrical tank due to friction between the inner surface of stabilizer barrel  202  and the outer surface of the tank, however, an anti-slip mechanism may also be employed, such as set screw  218 . 
         [0028]    Engagable slipover tank stabilizer  200  differs from other slipover stabilizers in that it may be selectively engaged with a cart for moving an onboard tank from one location to another. This is accomplished by placement of one or more fixtures on the various components of engagable slipover tank stabilizer  200 , but at locations thereon which are accessible to a cart. As depicted in the present figure, a pin and barrel coupling mechanism is employed for selectively engaging slipover tank stabilizer  200  to a cart. Here, three barrel couplers ( 210 ,  212  and  214 ) are disposed on the stabilizer. Barrel couplers  210  and  212  are located proximate to the lower extremity of slipover tank stabilizer  200  on one or both of horizontal ring  204  and support members  206 . Barrel couplers  210  and  212  are approximately horizontally coplanar and positioned symmetrically with stabilizer barrel  202  for increased the stability under tow. A third coupler, barrel coupler  214 , is affixed to stabilizer barrel  202  above the horizontal plane defined by barrel couplers  210  and  212  but is also symmetrical with stabilizer barrel  202 . Barrel coupler  214  may be fitted with a hole (hole  217  depicted in  FIG. 10 ) for receiving safety pin  216  while engaged with the cart. 
         [0029]    It should be readily apparent that the present invention as embodied in cart  300 , differs from prior art hand trucks in that the present cart lacks the nose plate typically employed for supporting the weight of the gas cylinders during towing. The mating couplers of the present invention eliminate the necessity of a nose plate on the cart, and more importantly, allow the operator to load a tank onboard cart  300  without tilting the tank. Essentially, the operator merely engages cart  300  with stabilizer  200 , locks safety pin  216 , and tows the tank with stabilizer  200  using cart  300 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  are pictorial representations of an engagable wheeled cart adapted for engaging a slipover tank stabilizer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  depicts a rear view of cart  300 ,  FIG. 5  depicts a side view and  FIG. 6  depicts a front view of engagable cart  300 . In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, cart  300  generally comprises handle  302  and a wheel chassis. The wheel chassis includes axle  304  for supporting each of wheels  308 , and trucks  306  which are connected to either end of handle  302  for holding axle  304 . Horizontal member  318  is securely affixed to the forward side of handle  302 , at a position slightly higher than the top of stabilizer barrel  202 . As mentioned above, engagable wheeled cart  300  provides a means for securely engaging with the fixtures on stabilizer  200  for towing stabilizer  200  and an adjoined tank. 
         [0031]    Since exemplary stabilizer  200  is depicted with three barrel-type couplers, wheeled cart  300  should be fitted with three pin-type couplers at locations on the cart that correspond to the respective positions of the three barrel-type couplers. Hence, pin couplers  311  and  313  are formed on a horizontal plane corresponding to the respective locations of barrel couplers  210  and  212 . In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, pin couplers  311  and  313  are formed by the lower extents of handle  302 . It should be appreciated that the outer diameter of pin couplers  311  and  313  should correspond to the respective inner diameters of the barrel couplers  210  and  212 , with, of course, some insertion clearance, therefore it may be necessary to increase or decrease the diameter of handle  302  to form barrel couplers  210  and  212 . A third pin coupler, coupler pin  315 , is connected to the rear-facing side of horizontal member  318  which correlates to the position of barrel coupler  214  on stabilizer barrel  202 . Coupler pin  315  may be fitted with a hole for alignment with hole  217  on barrel coupler  214  and for receiving safety pin  216 / 316  once engaged in barrel coupler  214 . As depicted in the figure, coupler pin  315  is approximately coplanar with the left and right portions of handle  302 , and thus hidden by handle  302  in the side view. Coupler pin  315 , or any of the couplers, may be fitted with a hole (not shown) for receiving safety pin  316 . Safety pin  316  provides an extra measure of security, during towing, for engaging stabilizer  200  and cart  300 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9  depict stabilizer  200  fully engaged with cart  300  with a compressed gas tank onboard in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  depicts a rear view of cart  300  and stabilizer  200  loaded with tank  110 .  FIG. 8  depicts a side view and  FIG. 9  depicts a front view of cart  300 , stabilizer  200  and tank  110 .  FIG. 10  depicts cart  300  in the process of engaging with stabilizer  200  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this particular exemplary embodiment, each of barrel couplers  210 ,  212  and  214  are vertically oriented, top opening couplers on stabilizer  200 . Therefore, in order to receive the corresponding pin couplers, each of pin couplers  311 ,  313  and  315  should have a corresponding vertical orientation and be downward-looking, i.e., each pin should have the lower portion open to be received in a corresponding barrel. As suggested by the illustration, cart  300  is engaged with stabilizer  200  by aligning the lowermost couplers with the body of cart  300 , i.e., pin coupler  311  to barrel coupler  210  and pin coupler  313  to barrel coupler  212 . Cart  300  is positioned at a slight incline from vertical and away from tank  110 . Once pin coupler  311  is aligned with barrel coupler  210  and pin coupler  313  is aligned with barrel coupler  212 , handle  302  is raised toward tank  110  and upper pin coupler  315  is then aligned with upper barrel coupler  214 . When the alignment is true, cart  300  will drop as the coupler mates. It may be advantageous for the upper pin coupler to be slightly shorter than the lower pin coupler to allow the lower couplers to partially engage before mating the upper coupler. In so doing, the operator need not align all three couplers simultaneously, but merely the lower two and then by swinging the handle forward, the remaining upper coupler will then be aligned. 
         [0033]    Safety pin  216 / 316  can then be inserted into hole  217 . With stabilizer  200  fully engaged with cart  300 , the onboard compressed gas tank can be towed in a manner similar to using a conventional hand truck, by tilting handle  302  rearward and rolling cart  300  by either pulling or pushing on the handle (see  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0034]    It should be appreciated that, although the present invention has been described with reference to vertically oriented pin and barrel type couplers, the orientation and type of the coupler can be altered without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, one or more of the barrel and pin couplers may be horizontally oriented as depicted in  FIGS. 12A and 12B .  FIGS. 12A and 12B  depict a top view of stabilizer  1200  and cart  1300 ;  FIG. 12A  depicts stabilizer  1200  and cart  1300 , apart and disengaged, while  FIG. 12B  shows stabilizer  1200  fully engaged with cart  1300 . Here, notice that the vertically oriented upper coupler has been replaced with a horizontally oriented pin and barrel coupler. Pin  321  extends vertically from horizontal member  318  and corresponding barrel coupler  220  extends vertically from stabilizer barrel  202  toward the corresponding pin. Here, the operator aligns the lower two vertical couplers and swings the handle forward. As pins  311  and  313  are received in barrels  210  and  212 , cart  1300  drops causing pin  321  to align with corresponding barrel coupler  220 , which is received therein as the handle comes to vertical. Safety pin  216 / 316  can then be inserted into hole  217 . 
         [0035]    In accordance with still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a hub and fork type coupling mechanism can be employed for mating stabilizer  1202  engaged with cart  1302 , as shown in  FIGS. 13A and 13B . Here, stabilizer barrel  202  is fitted with ring  230 . Ring  230  extends beyond the outer circumference of barrel  202  and is disposed on the lower surface of ring  230  as one or more concentric seating grooves  232 . Disposed on horizontal member  318  of cart  1302  is fork  331 . Fork  331  is configured with a concave U-shaped opening that corresponds in size and shape with ring  230 . Also, on the upper surface of fork  331  concentric ring seating grooves  333  that correspond with concentric seating grooves  232 . 
         [0036]    In accordance with still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, couplers on cart  300  are configured to cooperate with an existing structure on the tank stabilizer. Thus, the tank stabilizers need not be modified for engaging with cart  300 . For instance, the coupler on cart  300  may be configured to cooperate with the geometry of horizontal ring  204  or outrigger  206 , or to the cross-sectional shape of the tank. For instance,  FIGS. 14A and 14B  depict a tank cart modified to engage with a conventional tank stabilizer, such as one taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,244, with a tank cart modified to cooperate with the stabilizer.  FIG. 14A  depicts a top view of tank cart  1404  disengaged from tank stabilizer  1402 , while  FIG. 14B  depicts a top view of tank cart  1404  engaged with tank stabilizer  1402  and  FIG. 14C  depicts a side view of tank cart  1404  engaged with tank stabilizer  1402 . Notice that stabilizer  1402  is essentially identical to tank stabilizer  200 , with the exception that stabilizer  1402  does not have any special fixture couplings for engaging with corresponding coupling on the cart. This is so because, in this instance, cart  1404  is configured with tank fork  333  which engages tank  110  and the lower rim of tank barrel  202 . Thus, the upper coupler on stabilizer  1402  can be dispensed with. Furthermore, while couplers  311  and  313  remain, their purpose is to bias the outer edge of horizontal ring  204 . In so doing, tank  110  and tank stabilizer  1402  are effectively locked in place and able to be towed from one location to the next as discussed directly above. 
         [0037]    The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. 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 without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 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. 
         [0038]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.