AU772612B2 - An apparatus for transporting and steadying a cylinder - Google Patents

Description

WO 01/38157 PCT/AU00/01424 1 AN APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AND STEADYING A CYLINDER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus which can be clamped to a cylinder and which allows the cylinder to be wheeled from place to place.

The invention is also directed to a cylinder steadying apparatus to prevent cylinders from tipping over. While the invention will be described generally with reference to pressurised gas cylinders, the apparatus need not be limited thereto and can also extend to an apparatus for use with other articles such as drums.

BACKGROUND ART Gas cylinders are extremely well-known and are widely used in hospitals and industry. The compressed gas can include air, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, LPG and the like.

The gas cylinders are cylindrical, have a flattish bottom wall and a rounded top wall with a valve fitted to the top wall. The cylinder wall is formed of thick steel and the larger commercial cylinders are quite large and heavy. The cylinders have a long thin design which means that the cylinders are quite easy to tip over.

For many people, moving these gas cylinders is a daily chore of their employment and can pose many problems. For instance, the cylinders have a quite large range of lengths and diameters which makes it difficult to find a mechanical device that can easily transport these cylinders with safety.

The cylinders can be quite heavy and existing mechanical devices require the cylinders to be lifted on and off the devices. This can result in injury to the operator and present a risk of inadvertent damage to the cylinder for instance if the cylinder is accidentally dropped.

During transportation of the cylinder, some form of restraint is required to steady the cylinder. Because the gas cylinders have different configurations and are not designed to be self-steadying, it has been difficult to find a device which can achieve this objective quickly and with safety.

When cylinders are used outdoors or in low security environments, there is always the problem of theft or swapping of the WO 01/38157 PCT/AU00/01424 2 cylinders.

Workplace health and safety regulations prohibit workers from lifting weights of more than 25kg. Many gas cylinders have weights of over and can cause back injury if lifted. For instance, Mig and Tig welders have a cabinet box housing the parts of the welder, the box being supported on wheels or legs. The welders have a platform on which the gas bottle is supported to allow the gas bottle to be steadied and moved with the welder.

However, these gas bottles have to be lifted onto the plate. Simply having the gas cylinder next to the welder is insufficient as no means for steadying the cylinder is provided (the steadying means is provided by the welder itself but requires the cylinder to be lifted onto the welder).

Regulations state that if cylinders are to be lifted, cranes or safe cradles or carry platforms are required. Regulations prohibit cylinders from being rolled, slid or dragged from place to place.

To date, hand trolleys are used to transport cylinders and the hand trolleys may be provided with belts to hold the cylinder onto the trolley when being transported. However, the cylinder must still be lifted onto the trolley plate, or tipped and rolled, or dragged onto the trolley plate. Lifting the heavy cylinders can cause back injury while rolling the cylinder or dragging the cylinder onto the trolley plate is not recommended. At the destination, the cylinder must be removed from the trolley and again either needs to be lifted off the trolley plate or rolled or dragged off the trolley plate.

Gas cylinders must not be allowed to fall over as this can result in catastrophic consequences. Compressed gas cylinders must always be handled with care, and the high pressure under which the gas is stored is a potential danger if the pressure is released in a sudden or uncontrolled manner. Some gases are highly flammable hydrogen), other gases can be extremely toxic chlorine), while some gases argon or nitrogen) are odourless and undetectable and can cause asphyxiation in high concentrations should the gas cylinder leak.

The most common accident with gas cylinders is in having unrestrained cylinder falling over causing breaking of the safety valves or WO 01/38157 PCT/AU00/01424 3 pressure regulators. A falling G-sized cylinder produces about the same or greater impact as a blow from a general sized hammer which is enough to break a person's hand, foot, ribs or create severe head injuries. For this reason, workplace health and safety faculties around the world have outlawed free standing gas cylinders in the work environment.

If the gas cylinder falls over and the valve or pressure regulator breaks away, it is found that a 6mm hole with 2000psi passing through it produces up to 1 tonne of thrust which make the cylinder become a torpedo capable of going through multiple concrete block walls. A cylinder becomes a lo lethal missiles if the valve is broken off.

Another danger is uncontrolled release of the gas, and if the gas is flammable, the risk of fire or explosions is extreme as is the potential for gas poisoning or death by asphyxiation.

Cylinders can tip over when being lifted or dragged onto or off a trolley. Therefore, the use of conventional trolleys is not a safe option.

In medical applications, gas cylinders oxygen cylinders) are vital for life saving situations and with specific gas application for individual patient emergencies, the cylinders have to be mobile so they face the same problems as industrial gas consumers. Trolleys are found to be cumbersome 2o and difficult to use and most trolleys do not allow the cylinder to be upright and in a manner where it is extremely difficult to tip the cylinder over.

It is known to provide a load transporting trolley having a pincer clamp with the trolley having a pair of handles which can be pushed apart to open the pincer clamp. The trolley is particularly suitable for moving bags of sand.

It is known to provide a transporter for gas cylinders where the transporter comprises a wheelable frame which has a tubular body into which the gas cylinder can be inserted, the tubular body being resilient. In this arrangement, it is still necessary to lift the gas cylinder onto or into the tubular body. The tubular body makes it difficult to accommodate gas cylinders of quite different diameters.

It is known to attach a wheel assembly to a gas cylinder. The WO 01/38157 PCT/AU00/01424 4 wheel assembly has a pair of clamping jaws. A pair of wheels are mounted to a common axle and the axle is attached relative to the clamping jaws. The gas cylinder must be laid in a flat horizontal position to allow the wheel assembly to be attached. After attachment, the gas cylinder needs to be s lifted from the horizontal position through the upright position and to an inclined position to allow the gas cylinder to be moved about. The gas cylinder needs to be initially in a horizontal position (usually laid on the ground) to allow a part of the wheel assembly to extend over the base wall of the gas cylinder. While it might be possible to attach the wheel assembly to lo an upright gas cylinder, it will be necessary to incline or lift the gas cylinder which may cause the gas cylinder to topple over with potentially catastrophic results.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an apparatus which can be attached to a cylinder, without requiring the cylinder to be lifted off the ground and which allows the cylinder to be wheeled about without requiring any lifting, dragging or rolling of the cylinder. The present invention may also be directed to a cylinder steadying means which is attached to the cylinder and which can reduce the possibility of the cylinder falling over.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which may overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the public with a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the invention resides in an apparatus for transporting a cylinder, the apparatus having clamping means clampable about the side wall of the cylinder and ground engageable wheel members attached to the clamping means, the construction and arrangement being that when the cylinder is in the upright position, the cylinder sits substantially on the floor, and when the cylinder is tilted, the weight of the cylinder is supported by the wheel members, to allow the cylinder to be transported.

In another form, the invention resides in a cylinder steadying means which comprises a plurality of ground engaging projections extending radially from the cylinder to prevent the cylinder from tipping over.

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WO 01 /38157 PCT/AU00/01424 Preferably, the clamping means is in the form of a clamping band and therefore a preferred form of the invention resides in an apparatus for transporting a cylinder, the apparatus having clamping band which is extendible about a lower part of the cylinder wall and which is clampable to the cylinder wall, and at least two wheel members which are fixed to the band, the wheel members being positioned such that the cylinder sits on the floor when upright, and is supported by the wheel members when tilted thereby allowing the cylinder to be wheeled from place to place.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes a cylinder steadying means which comprises a plurality of ground contacting arm members extending radially from the clamping band and which prevent the cylinder from falling over.

The apparatus is able to be attached to the side wall of the cylinder and therefore the cylinder does not need to be lifted onto a trolley plate or tilted, rolled, dragged or otherwise moved.

The cylinder is typically a pressurised gas cylinder although it may also include a drum or other type of article which is difficult or dangerous to move.

The clamping means may be in the form of a clamping band which may comprise a steel band member which can extend at least partially but suitably substantially about the cylinder wall. The band may be fairly rigid and have a curved shape. The band preferably has length adjusting means to allow it to clamp about cylinders of different diameters.

The band may be formed from a number of separate band portions which are hinged together through hinges to allow the band to be opened up widely and attached about a cylinder wall without needing to be passed over the top of the cylinder. An advantage of this is that the top of the cylinder may be provided with rather delicate regulators and valves or may be attached to tubing or other conduits which may make it difficult or finicky to slide the band over the top of the cylinder. The band is not required to slide over the bottom of the cylinder as this will require lifting of the cylinder which is a feature no longer required with the apparatus according to the invention.

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WO 01/38157 PCT/AU00/01424 6 The inside of the band may be provided with cushioning and/or gripping material which may be in the form of rubber beads to cushion the clamping action against the cylinder wall.

The clamping means is clampable about the side wall of the cylinder and is preferably clamped adjacent the bottom wall of the cylinder.

Ground engageable wheel members are attached to the clamping means and if the clamping means is a clamping band, the ground engageable wheel members are suitably attached to the clamping band. The wheel members suitably comprise a rotating wheel attached to an axle, the axle being bolted or otherwise attached to the band.

It is preferred that the wheel members are releasably attached to the band and that they can be adjustably attached to different places on the band. Thus, the band may be provided with an array of spaced fastening means, for instance apertures, and the wheel member can be bolted to the band via one or more apertures.

The band can be locked or clamped by an overcentre locking mechanism.

The wheel members can be attached in such a way that when the cylinder is in the upright position, the wheel members are either slightly 2o above the ground or only lightly touch the ground but do not appreciably support the weight of the cylinder. However, the wheel members are arranged such that the cylinder can be tipped once the apparatus is attached with the cylinder now being supported by the wheel members to allow the cylinder to be wheeled about.

The apparatus may include a cylinder steadying means which can steady the cylinder in the upright position. The cylinder steadying means may comprise a plurality of ground contacting arm members which extend radially from the clamping band and which can prevent the cylinder from falling over.

The ground contacting arm member can have an inner end pivotally attached to the clamping band, and an outer end which may contain a ground engaging foot or pad.

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WO 01/38157 PCT/AU00/01424 7 The arm members may be pivotally moveable between an extending ground contacting use position and a retracted position where the arm members extend upwardly along the cylinder wall. A retention means of sorts may be provided to hold the arm members, when in the retracted position, from inadvertently moving to the extended position.

An operating means may be provided which can move the arm members between their retracted position and their extended position. The operating means may comprise a second band, which can be similar to the clamping band described above. The second band can also be clamped to the cylinder wall but can be loosened to enable the second band to slide up and down along the cylinder wall.

A number of link members may be provided, which may be rigid and which have one end pivotally attached to the second band and the other end pivotally attached to the arm member.

A third band which may be similar to the clamping band or second band can be provided adjacent an upper part of the cylinder and which may have a handle means (the second band may also have a handle means) to facilitate tilting and moving of the gas cylinder. The third band may also be formed with some form of lock means to allow it to lock to an anchor point to secure the gas cylinder against theft or unauthorised movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 1 but including a cylinder steadying means.

Figure 3 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 2 attached to the cylinder in such a manner that the cylinder can be tilted and transported.

Figure 4 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 3 in the cylinder steadying position.

WO 01/38157 PCT/AU00/01424 8 BEST MODE Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, there is shown an apparatus which can be clamped to the bottom of a gas cylinder. The apparatus has a clamping band 10 which is formed from two approximately equal sized but oppositely curved band portions 11, 12 both of which are hinged to a small substantially square rear band portion 13 through hinge pins 14. This allows portions 11, 12 to hinge about their respective hinge pins and to swing widely open to allow the apparatus to be easily attached about the lower end of a gas cylinder or drum.

3o Band portion 12 is provided with an array of linearly aligned spaced apertures 15 the purpose of which is to allow various components to be easily fixed to the band portion. Similarly, band portion 11 has a series of apertures 16, but these apertures do not extend all the way to the free end of band portion 11. Instead, the free end area of band portion 11 is formed with an array of rectangular slots 17.

Band portion 12 has a lock 18 on its end, lock 18 having an extending lock tongue 19 which is formed with a peripheral plate-like lip 20, lip being configured to engage into one of slots 17 on band portion 11. Once so engaged, lock 18 has an "overcentre" mechanism which includes a locking handle 21 which is moveable between an outwardly extending release position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 where the lip 20 on tongue 19 can extend into a desired slot to loosely engage the band around the gas cylinder, and a locking position where handle 21 is pushed against the outside of band portion 12 to lock the clamping band to the outside wall of the cylinder.

The inside wall of each of portions 11, 12 and 13 is provided with an upper and lower cushioning strip 22, 23 which can improve clamping grip and reduce scratching.

Attached to band 10 are two wheel members 24, 25, each wheel member comprising a wheel 26 rotatably attached to a bifurcated strut 27 the strut being fixed to an attachment plate 28 which is slightly curved to conform with the curve of band portion 11, 12. Plate 28 is provided with two apertures 29 which align with the apertures in the band portion such that plate WO 01/38157 PCT/AU00/01424 9 28 can be fastened to a desired place along band portion 11, 12 via bolts passing through the aligned apertures. With this arrangement, the wheel members 24, 25 can be adjustably mounted to the band to adjust the spacing between the wheels if desired. The strut and backing plate arrangement is such that wheels 26 are spaced off the ground or only lightly touch the ground when the cylinder is in the upright position, this being illustrated in Figure 3.

With this arrangement, the band can be easily clamped to the side wall of the cylinder and adjacent the bottom of the cylinder. Once clamped, the cylinder can be tilted backwardly such that the wheels support the weight of the cylinder and the cylinder can now be safely wheeled about.

When placed in the upright position, the bottom wall of the cylinder sits on the ground, and the weight of the cylinder is not appreciably supported by the wheels. This arrangement does away with the need to lift, drag or roll cylinders onto a trolley plate for transportation.

Figures 2 to 4 illustrate a cylinder steadying means which, when activated, adopts the orientation illustrated in Figure 4 to prevent the cylinder from tipping over.

The cylinder steadying means includes a second band which, for the sake of manufacturing simplicity, can be identical to clamping band 10. Second band 30 can therefore be clamped against the cylinder wall at a position spaced from the bottom wall of the cylinder.

Attached to second band 30 are four equally spaced apart rigid link members 31 which comprise steel rod or box section. Link members 31 are pivotally attached to second band 30. This is achieved by attaching a pivot block 32 to second band 30 using an appropriate aperture and bolt to fasten pivot block 32 to the band. Pivot block 32 fits within a hollow 34 in the top end of each link member 31, and the pivot block is provided with a transverse aperture 33 as is each side wall of hollow 34 such that a pivot pin can pivotally attach the upper end of each link member 31 to second band 30 through a respective pivot block 32.

The lower clamping band 10 pivotally supports four ground contacting arm members 36. Each arm member 36 is rigid and has a WO 01/38157 PCT/AU00/01424 channel-like body. The lower or inner end of each arm member 36 is pivotally attached to band 10 though pivot blocks 32 which are identical to the pivot blocks described above. The arm members can therefore pivot between extending substantially horizontal positions illustrated in Figure 4 and retracted substantially vertical positions illustrated in Figure 3.

Upper ends of each arm member 36 are pivotally attached to lower ends of each rigid link member 31 via pivot pins 37 which pass through one of a series of linearly aligned apertures 38 on each arm member. The apertures 38 provide adjustability to the position of hinging between link lo members 31 and arm members 36.

The second band 30 and the four link members 31 function as an operating means to operate arm members 36 between their extended positions illustrated in Figure 4 and their retracted positions illustrated in Figure 3. Referring initially to Figure 3, second band 30 has been positioned on gas cylinder 39 in such a manner to pull up arm members 36 to their retracted position. To achieve the extended position illustrated in Figure 4, second band 30 is unclamped by lifting of handle 21 on the second band member, the loosened band member can then be pushed downwardly with the assistance of handle 40 and in doing so, the link members 31 will push arm members 36 to the horizontal extended position. When in this position (illustrated in Figure second band 30 is clamped tight against the outer wall of the gas cylinder 39 which now holds the arm members in the extended position and prevents the arm members from moving. The arm members provide a secure stabilising effect and prevents the cylinder from tipping over.

When the cylinder needs to be transported, second band 30 can be loosened and lifting up to the position illustrated in Figure 3 which will pull up arm members 36 into the retracted position. Cylinder 39 can now be tilted such that wheel members 24 can take the weight of the cylinder and the cylinder can then be wheeled to another suitable place.

The arrangement provides a simply yet efficient mechanism to transport cylinders without requiring the cylinder to be lifted, dragged or rolled and to steady the cylinders against tipping. The cylinders themselves do not WO 01/38157 PCT/AU00/01424 need to be altered.

If desired, a third band (not illustrated) can be provided adjacent the upper end of the cylinder, and the third band may be identical or substantially identical to the previously describes bands. The third band may be lockable to an anchor point through a padlock or like member to prevent the cylinder from being stolen or to prevent unauthorised movement of the cylinders. For gas barbecues or for smaller cylinders, the third band member may be used by itself to provide a secure locking arrangement but without requiring the second band or the clamping band.

Link members 31 are attached to arm members 36 below the outermost edge of the arm members which means that when the link members and the arm members are in the retracted position illustrated in Figure 3, the entire arrangement is self-supporting as the link members 31 are held upright by having the lower ends nesting in the upper ends of arm members 36. This allows the entire arrangement to be moved next to a gas cylinder in the position illustrated in Figure 3 and then the second band and the clamping band 10 can be attached in a simple and efficient manner.

For larger cylinders, the third band is preferred as it is also provided with handle 40 which means that the cylinder can be grasped by the handle on the third band and the handle on the second band for easier transportation.

A member 41 is bolted onto band 10 and has an inward lip which will sit under the bottom of the cylinder when the band is clamped shut.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims (14)

1. An apparatus for transporting a cylinder, the apparatus having a clamping band which is extendible about a lower part of the cylinder sidewall and which is clampable to the cylinder sidewall, and at least two wheel members which are fixed to the band, the wheel members being positioned on the band such that when the cylinder with the attached band is in an upright position, the bottom of the cylinder sits substantially on the floor, and when the cylinder is tilted, the cylinder is supported by the wheel members to allow the cylinder to be wheeled from place to place, and a cylinder steadying means to steady the cylinder in the upright position associated with the clamping band, the cylinder steadying means comprising a plurality of ground contacting arm members which extend radially from the clamping band, the arm members moveable between an extended cylinder steadying position which can prevent the cylinder from falling over and a retracted, cylinder transport position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the band extends at least partially and suitably substantially about the cylinder wall.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, comprising band length adjusting mean adapted to allow the band to clamp about cylinders of S 20 different diameters.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the band is formed from a plurality of separate band portions which are hinged together through hinges to allow the band to be opened up widely and attached about a cylinder wall without needing to be passed over the top of the cylinder. 25

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the band has an inner wall, and cushioning means is provided on said inner wall to cushion the clamping action of the band against the cylinder wall.

6. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each said wheel member comprises a rotatable wheel which is attached to an axle, the axle being attached to the band.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each said wheel member is releasably attachable to the band.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the band is provided with an 13 array of spaced apertures, and each said wheel member is bolted to the band via one or more of said apertures.

9. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wheel members are positioned on the band such that when the cylinder is in the upright position, the wheel members are either slightly above the ground or only lightly touch the ground but do not appreciably support the weight of the cylinder.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein each said ground contacting arm member has an inner end which is pivotally attached to the clamping band, and an outer end.

11. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein said arm members pivot between an extending ground contacting steadying position and a retracted position where the arm members extend upwardly along the cylinder wall.

12. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims comprising an operating means to move the arm members between the retracted position and the extended position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the operating means comprises a second band which is clampable to the cylinder wall and which 20 can be loosened to enable the second band to slide up and down along the cylinder wall, and a rigid link member which has one end pivotally attached to the second band, and the other end pivotally attached to a said arm member.

14. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. loll o