Patent Publication Number: US-6209749-B1

Title: Gas cylinder safety shield

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention pertains to safe fluid handling, more specifically to a guard for protecting the valve, gauge, and regulator of a compressed gas cylinder from impact by foreign objects. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The prior art is replete with patented designs for caps and covers for standard compressed gas cylinder for protecting elements at the top of the cylinder from impact by foreign objects. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,370 patented by S. Childress on Oct. 5, 1982 describes a vertical first half-cover attached to the cylinder by a strap that is closed by a nut and screw through ears on the strap. The nut is welded to an ear so that it cannot be turned. A vertical second-half cover is hinged with the first half cover so that it swings open on the vertical hinge to provide access to the tank valve, gauge and regulator, and swings closed to the first half-cover to enclose the valve, gauge and regulator, and to cover the screw head with a tab that is configured for a padlock. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,033 patented by M. Baron on Jul. 15, 1986 describes an incomplete cylindrical collar, being an incomplete circle in cross section, wraps around the body of the tank and extends, with the same diameter, higher than the valve, gauge and regulator. The collar is open at the top, has hand openings through it on opposite sides near the top, and has a wide vertical gap defined by a pair of parallel vertical radial flanges, one flange on each end of the incomplete circle, and maintained by a pair of horizontal bars that space the gap but allow for drawing the collar tight around the outside of the tank. The opening provides access by the user to the valve, gauge, and regulator. The valve can also be reached through the open top of the collar. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,758 patented by B. Suddeth on Oct. 22, 1991 describes two chambers mounted on the threads of a compressed gas cylinder, the first chamber is a cube containing the gauges and regulator, and the second chamber which is domed contains the cylinder valve. A shatter-proof transparent window is provided on the side of the first chamber to view the gauges. The cylinder valve can be operated by a “T” handle shaft through a small hole in the dome at the top of the second chamber. For strength, adjustable opposing impact blocks are wedged between the interior surface of the second chamber and on opposing sides of the exterior surface of the body of the cylinder valve. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,858 patented by Gettinger et al. on Jun. 17, 1997 describes a chamber having perforated metal sides for viewing the gauges contained therein, and a hinged door or hinged upper portion for opening the chamber for access to the regulator and valve. The chamber has a horizontal bottom plate that is releasably threadedly to the threaded top of a compressed gas cylinder, and the chamber is also attached to the body of the cylinder by a circular clamp. The bottom plate has a hole for passing hose through from outside the chamber to the valve. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,152 patented by Van Straaten et al. on Jul. 4, 1995 describes a cap that has a lower stepped central split recess for fitting and clamping the cap on the neck of a portable oxygen cylinder. The upper end of the cap has lateral ribs which receive a horizontally ribbed handle. One side of the cap has a recess at the bottom for hanging the cylinder on a hook by the cap. Two lateral openings in the upper portion of the cap provide access to low pressure and medium pressure gas outlets. A lateral opening on the opposite side of the upper portion of the cap is provides access to a coupling for filling the cylinder. An central cylindrical passage through the top of the cap provides access to a flow rate regulator. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one object of the invention to provide a shield for high pressure gas cylinders that protects the valve, regulator, and gauges that are mounted on the top end of the cylinder from blows or strikes from foreign objects. 
     It is another object of the invention that the shield can be moved down from the regulator, gauges and valve. 
     It is another object that the shield can be moved down on the cylinder, away from around the regulator, gauges and valve. 
     It is another object that the shield can be installed on the tank from the bottom end of the tank. 
     It is another object that the shield can be molded in one piece. 
     It is another object that the valve control can be operated while the shield is in-place. 
     It is another object that the valve control can be operated from the top of the tank, and that piping can be attached to or tightened on the valve while the shield is mounted on the tank. 
     A gas cylinder safety cover for protecting a valve, gauge and regulator mounted on the top of a gas cylinder from damage, includes: 
     a shell having a top, a lower portion of the shell, slidable along the length of the body of the gas cylinder, 
     an upper portion of the shell larger in diameter than the lower portion, open at the top of the shell, including a wall configured to laterally surround the valve, gauge and regulator as the top of the upper portion moves with the lower portion past at least one of the valve, gauge, and regulator when the lower portion is slid along the length of the body of the gas cylinder away from the valve, gauge and regulator. 
     In one construction of the invention, the top of the upper portion of the cover is configured for passing the valve, gauge, and regulator when the lower portion is slid along the length of the body of the gas cylinder away from the top of the cylinder. 
     The wall forms an opening in the shell adjacent to the second portion. 
     A gas cylinder safety shield for protecting a valve, gauge and regulator mounted on one end of a gas cylinder, said safety shield includes: 
     a bar, a rigid shield mounted on the bar, a first bracket mounted on the bar fixed against rotation around the bar, configured for receiving a gas cylinder, 
     means for pressing the gas cylinder against the bracket, mounted on the bar, 
     the rigid shield being configured for extending over a lateral periphery of the valve, gauge and regulator group when the gas cylinder is pressed against the bracket to protect the group from damage by a foreign object. 
     A second bracket is spaced along the bar from the first bracket, mounted on the bar fixed against rotation around the bar, configured for receiving the gas cylinder for preventing rotation of the cylinder around the bar. 
     The first bracket is configured for receiving a second gas cylinder for preventing rotation of the second cylinder around the bar. 
     The rigid shield is angled from a plane that is perpendicular to the bar. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention be more fully comprehended, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a shield with removable cover mounted on a tank. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the shield and tank of FIG. 1 with the cover removed. 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the removable cover of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of another shield of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the shield of FIG. 4 taken along  5 — 5 . 
     FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the cover for the shield of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the cover of FIG. 6 taken along  7 — 7 . 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the cover of FIG. 4 in cross section, on a tank. 
     FIG. 9 is a side schematic view of a shield with fixed covers, mounted on two tanks. 
     FIG. 10 is a top cross section schematic view of a bracket of the shield of FIG. 9, viewed along  10 — 10 , without the strap. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the detail of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed is for the purpose of description only and not of limitation. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, cover  20  fits on shell  24  of shield  26  that fits on tank  30 . 
     Tank  30  is a standard pressurized gas tank. Such pressurized tanks include oxygen, acetylene, and nitrogen tanks like those used for welding and medical applications. Examples of pressurized tanks are tank  30 ,  122 , and  124 . The tanks respectively have cylindrical bodies  40 ,  123  and  125 . 
     Shell  24  is made of impact resistant material. Metals such as steel and aluminum, and high impact plastics are suitable. 
     Shell  24  upper portion  58  surrounds control system  22  which includes regulator  34 , valve  38 , and gauges  46 , preventing damage to them from blows from objects of all size hitting from the side, and from blows from objects larger than opening  44  hitting from the top. Control system  22  preferably includes control handle  36 . 
     Removable cover  20 , made of impact resistant material, fits on shell  24 . Cover  20  extends over control system  22  and as far laterally as the lateral periphery  42  of control system  22 . The cover prevents damage to the control system from the top by objects smaller than opening  44  at the top  52  of shell  24 . 
     The shell may have a transparent portion, not shown, for monitoring of gauges  46  through the side of the shield by a user. 
     Pipe  23  enters shell  24  through opening  54  in bottom  56  of upper portion  58  of the shell. The bottom of upper portion  58  is larger in diameter than the diameter of lower portion  37   
     Shell  24  can be mounted on standard pressurized gas tank  30  from top end  31  of the tank when there are no attachments to the tank on the top that extend beyond radius  35  of the tank. The inner diameter of lower portion  37  of shell  24  is slightly larger than the outer diameter  39  of the cylindrical body of tank  30 . 
     Shell  24  can be mounted on tank  30  from bottom end  33  of the tank, slid up  43  the tank until the shell surrounds control system  22 , then tightened on body  40  by tightening bolts on the pair of flanges  28 . 
     Access to the regulator for attaching pipes and maintenance is made easy with the invention. Shell  24  is slid down  45  the tank until control system  22  is accessible from the side or bottom of the control mechanism, say for attaching pipe  23 . 
     In FIGS. 4-8, shield  47  is molded in one piece of impact resistant plastic. Preferably the plastic is transparent so that the control system is visible from any side of the shield. 
     Inside diameter  48  is slightly larger than the outside diameter  50  of tank  51 . Shield  47  is slid up  71  the body of constant diameter  50  of the tank until the shield surrounds control system  55  mounted on the tank. Access to pipe  57  and valve  59  is through opening  60  or from any direction when shield  47  is slid down  61  on tank  51  body  53  until the top end  62  is sufficiently below pipe  57  to attach a delivery pipe configured so that the delivery pipe can pass through opening  60  when the shield is slid back up over the control system. 
     Cover  65  inside diameter  66  is slightly larger than outer diameter  67  of upper portion  64  of the shield, so that cover  65  fits snugly on the shield. The cover protects control system  55  from strike by a foreign object from above shell  68  of the shield. 
     Shell  68  of the shield is tightened around the tank by ring  63  which is tightened around shell  68  by drawing together flanges  69 . Relieved slot  41  is reduced by tightening of the ring. 
     Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, fixed cover  74  of shield  70  extends over the top of control system  72  and at least as far laterally as the lateral periphery  76  of gauge  80 , valve  84 , regulator  78  and control handle  88  of control system  72 . Cover  74 , made of impact resistant material, is welded  92  or fixedly bolted to arm  93  which is welded  92  or bolted to post  94 . Cover  74  prevents damage to control system  72  by impact from objects above system  72 . 
     Preferably post  94  is made of steel square tube, arm  93  is made of steel square bar, and cover  74  is made of steel plate. 
     Control system  102  includes regulator  108 , gauge  110 , valve  114 , and control handle  118 . Cover  104  of shield  70  extends over the top of the regulator, gauge and valve of control system  102  and at least as far laterally as the lateral periphery  106  of control system  102  so that the valve, gauges and regulator are protected from impact from objects above the valve, gauges and regulator. Cover  104  is welded  200  to arm  120  which is welded  200  to post  94  cover  104  is angled obliquely downward from apex  98 , not below the valve. Lateral access is provided to at least one of the valve, regulator and gauge. Cover  104  prevents damage to control system  102  by impact from objects above system  102 . 
     High pressure tanks  122  and  124  are attached to post  70  by strap  128  which is tightened by ratcheting buckle  130 . Preferably buckle  130  is welded to bracket  134 . 
     Bracket  134  has two inward radius arcs  140 ,  142  for receiving tanks  122  and  124  respectively. Two inward radius arcs  156 ,  158  on bracket  152  receive tanks  122  and  124  respectively. 
     Tightening the belt presses tanks  122  and  124  against and into arcs  140  and  142 . Tanks  122  and  124  rest in arcs  156  and  158 . 
     The belt can be wrapped around the tanks below bracket  134  so that it presses tanks  122  and  124  into arcs  140 ,  142 ,  156 , and  158 . 
     Brackets  134  and  152  are mounted on post  94  fixedly against rotation around the post. Although welding the brackets to the post is preferred, the brackets may be bolted or otherwise affixed to the post against rotation around the post. They may be made resistant to rotation around the post by keying on the shape of the post, for example in FIG.  10 . The brackets may be made of metal, steel for example, or strong plastic. 
     A single bracket, longer than either of brackets  134  or  152  may be used instead of two or more brackets spaced on the post so that they are spaced along the length of a tank mounted on the post. 
     The single bracket must be long enough to keep post  94  parallel with axis  136  of a single tank and axis  138  of a second tank when a the tank or tanks are pressed against the bracket. 
     Although the present invention has been described with respect to details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details be limitations upon the scope of the invention. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 
     Drawing Designators (informal list) 
       20  cover, removable 
       22  control system 
       23  pipe 
       24  shell 
       26  shield 
       28  flange 
       30  tank 
       31  top end of tank  30   
       33  bottom end of tank  30   
       34  regulator 
       35  radius of tank 
       36  control handle 
       37  lower portion of shell  24   
       38  valve 
       39  outer diameter of tank  30   
       40  cylindrical body of tank  30   
       41  relieved slot 
       42  lateral periphery 
       43  slid up, direction arrow 
       44  opening at top 
       45  slid down, direction arrow 
       46  gauge 
       47  shield 
       48  inside diameter 
       50  outside diameter 
       51  tank 
       52  top of shell  24   
       53  body of tank 
       54  opening in bottom  56   
       55  control system 
       56  bottom of upper portion  58   
       57  pipe 
       58  upper portion of shell  24   
       59  valve 
       60  opening 
       61  slid down, direction arrow 
       62  top end of shell 
       63  ring 
       64  upper portion 
       65  cover 
       66  inside diameter of cover 
       67  outer diameter 
       68  shell 
       69  flange 
       70  shield 
       72  control system 
       74  cover, fixed 
       76  lateral periphery 
       78  regulator 
       80  gauge 
       84  valve 
       88  control handle 
       92  welded 
       93  arm 
       94  post 
       102  control system 
       104  cover, fixed 
       106  lateral periphery 
       108  regulator 
       110  gauge 
       114  valve 
       118  control handle 
       120  arm 
       122  tank, high pressure 
       123  cylindrical body 
       124  tank, high pressure 
       125  cylindrical body 
       128  strap 
       130  buckle 
       134  bracket 
       136  axis of tank 
       138  axis of tank 
       140  arc, inward radius 
       142  arc, inward radius 
       152  bracket 
       156  arc, inward radius 
       158  arc, inward radius 
       200  welded