FR2975380A1 - Mobile device for use in transportation system of e.g. large propane bottles, for sealing sloped roof of industrial building, has blocking element cooperating with fixing and positioning elements to temporarily fix fixing element at mast - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a mast (12) whose lift element (70) lifts and transports the mast. Fixing elements (14, 16) fix a gas bottle (20) at the mast. One fixing element is fixed at the mast. Another fixing element is slidably fixed to the mast to successively cooperate with positioning elements of the mast and to occupy fixed discrete longitudinal positions along the mast. A blocking element i.e. pin, cooperates with the latter and positioning elements to prevent sliding of the latter element when the latter element occupies the position and to temporarily fix the latter element at the mast. An independent claim is also included for a transportation system for gas bottles.

Description

The invention relates to a mobile device for transporting gas cylinders and an associated system. There is a need to be able to transport and maintain in vertical position cylinders of gas (such as propane) used, for example, on construction sites of buildings, especially for waterproofing roofs. Moreover, insofar as several sizes of gas cylinders can be used on such sites it would be useful to have a device for transporting gas cylinders to adapt to several sizes of bottles.

The present invention aims at satisfying at least one of the above-mentioned needs by proposing a mobile device for transporting gas cylinders and holding them in a vertical position, characterized in that it comprises: an elongate mast in a longitudinal direction and which is equipped with a lifting member for lifting and transporting the mast; two sets of attachment of a plurality of gas cylinders to the mast, a first attachment assembly being fixedly attached to the mast, a second mobile coupling assembly being slidably mounted along the mast to cooperate successively with several positioning elements of the mast each identifying a different longitudinal position along the mast, the second attachment element being adapted to occupy several discrete longitudinal positions fixed along the mast; a locking mechanism being adapted to cooperate with the second attachment assembly and with one of the elements of the mast, so as, on the one hand, to prevent any sliding movement when the second attachment assembly occupies the discrete longitudinal position; corresponding, and on the other hand, temporarily fix the latter on the mast.

The second mobile attachment assembly is movable along the mast to occupy one or other of the discrete longitudinal positions provided for this purpose along the mast (each defined by one of the positioning elements of the mast) in order to adapt to different heights (heights) of gas cylinders. The locking mechanism then cooperates with the corresponding positioning element and with the second attachment assembly to fix the latter to the mast for the chosen position. The first set of attachment remains, meanwhile, in a fixed position.

Thus, a gas cylinder is attached to the mast through the first and second attachment assembly which are, for example, disposed respectively at the bottom and the top of a gas cylinder. Several gas cylinders can thus be hitched / hitched to the mast in vertical position when the mast is arranged vertically. The bottles are distributed along the mast so as to surround it. Note that the lifting member attached to the mast allows the handling of the mast with or without gas cylinders and its transport from one place to another for example by means of a crane.

The device equipped with cylinders in a vertical position can thus, for example, be transported in a hard-to-reach zone such as, for example, the roof of an industrial building which is generally slightly sloping or even flat. Such bottles comprising for example propane are used for the realization of waterproofing roofs.

It will be noted that such a device is designed to be particularly stable and in particular to remain upright even when only one bottle is attached to said device. The center of gravity of the vacuum device is in fact arranged in a relatively low position. The stability of the device equipped with one or more gas cylinders ensures its secure maintenance on a roof of a house, a building ... The device according to the invention is also particularly simple design and large efficiency.

According to one characteristic, each fastening assembly comprises a plurality of fastening elements distributed around the mast in the same transverse plane and which are each adapted to cooperate with a first part or zone of a gas cylinder. Each attachment assembly is thus adapted to hook / tackle simultaneously several gas cylinders of the same size. For example, the first attachment assembly can cooperate with the lower part of a gas cylinder while the second attachment assembly cooperates with the upper part thereof.

According to another possible feature, the first attachment assembly comprises a plurality of hooks each having a free end which is raised to serve as a support for a gas cylinder placed above. These hooks are for example used to receive the bottom of a gas cylinder and thus support the latter. They have suitable dimensions (height) to effectively support a gas cylinder. These hooks or lugs may take different forms although a right angle shape is the simplest to achieve in the embodiment described here. According to another possible characteristic, the first attachment assembly comprises a four-armed cross, each branch comprising a base connected to the bases of the other branches and an end portion which, on the one hand, is connected to the base and, on the other hand, has a free end which is folded relative to the base so as to form a hook. In a particularly simple manner this four-armed cross is attached to one of the two opposite ends of the lifting mast, for example the lower end, and an end portion of each of the branches is curved upwardly so as to form a hook. intended to serve as a support for a gas cylinder. According to another possible feature, the second attachment assembly comprises, firstly, a central body mounted coaxially and sliding relative to the mast and, secondly, a plurality of fastening elements mounted on the central body being distributed around said central body in the same transverse plane. This second attachment assembly forms a sort of removable nut slidably mounted along the mast and which is capable of being fixed temporarily to the latter in the desired discrete longitudinal position by cooperating with one of the elements of the mast at the corresponding position. More particularly, this second attachment assembly is made particularly simple by a central body which is mounted around the mast and several fastening elements arranged on the central body all around the latter to distribute the arrangement of different gas bottles that the device will have to support. It should be noted that there are provided as many hooking elements as gas cylinders to support. According to a possible characteristic depending on the preceding, the plurality of fastening elements comprises a plurality of attachment brackets fixed to the central body and a plurality of fastening members, each fastening member being fixed by one end to a hooking support and being adapted, by its opposite end, to be attached to a second part of a gas cylinder. Thus, the attachment brackets are secured to the central body and are therefore fixed, while the attachment members are fixed at one end to said support and are articulately movable relative to this end in order to adjust to a part of a gas bottle and hang on it. For example, these fasteners may take the form of flanges which are intended, by their ends opposite to those connected to the hooking support, to surround the cap or the cap of a gas cylinder. According to another possible characteristic, each hooking support has the general shape of a U-shaped section whose open part is opposite the central body and fixed to the latter, two slots being made facing each other. screw one of the other respectively in the walls forming the two branches of the U to receive an end of a fastening member for fixing the latter, the two slots being arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mast and in the same transverse plane. The attachment brackets of the second attachment assembly are thus made in a particularly simple manner from a U-shaped section which is, for example, cut transversely into several sections so as to constitute the various attachment brackets necessary.

The two slots made in these profiles allow for example to fix the aforementioned holding flanges. According to another possible characteristic, the first attachment assembly is attached to a first of the two opposite ends of the mast, while the second attachment assembly is capable of being provisionally fixed to the mast in one of the discrete longitudinal positions provided. for this purpose along the mast. The first of the two ends is, for example, the lower end of the mast. According to another possible characteristic, the lifting member is fixed to the second of the two opposite ends of the mast. This second end is for example the upper end of the mast. The lifting member is for example a lifting ring which extends from the end of the mast to which it is attached away from said mast. The member extends in a vertical plane forming a vertically arranged gripping loop to facilitate manipulation of the device from above. The invention also relates to a gas bottle transport system which comprises: a mobile gas bottle transport device according to the foregoing brief description, and a plurality of gas cylinders attached to the device mast by intermediate first and second sets of attachment. The gas cylinders are thus arranged longitudinally, parallel to each other, along the mast being distributed around the latter.

The assembly thus formed can be easily lifted by the lifting member and transported from one area to another according to the needs of use. With this system the bottles are held in a vertical position on the device which is for example installed on the roof of a building.

Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is an overall overview of a device according to the invention; - Figures 2 to 4 are schematic views showing the device of Figure 1 equipped with gas cylinders of different sizes; - Figure 5 illustrates the device of Figure 1 in the storage position; Figure 6 illustrates in perspective the first cross-shaped fastening assembly; - Figure 7 is an enlarged partial schematic view showing the arrangement of the first attachment assembly on the lower end of the mast; Figure 8 is an exploded diagrammatic view of the second fastening assembly; - Figure 9 is a schematic view of the second attachment assembly of Figure 8 in the assembled position without the attachment members; Figure 10 is a schematic top view showing the locking mechanism in position of the second fastening assembly; Figure 11 is an enlarged partial schematic side view of the locking mechanism of Figure 10; and FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic overall plan view of a system comprising the device of FIG. 1 according to the invention and carrying four gas bottles.

As represented in FIG. 1 and designated by the general reference denoted 10, a device for transporting gas cylinders according to the invention generally comprises: a mast 12 of generally elongate shape in a longitudinal direction which, in the drawing , is arranged vertically (position of stable use), and - two sets or attachment units / hitch 14 and 16 which are used for the attachment or fixing of gas cylinders on the mast. The two attachment assemblies are attached to the mast, one being permanently attached while the other is temporarily attached to a position selected from a plurality of possible discrete positions. The attachment assembly which is temporarily fixed to the mast is able to move in translation along the mast and occupy one of the different discrete longitudinal positions provided for this purpose on the mast for its provisional fixation. This hanging set is commonly called a "moving doll". The first attachment assembly 14 is secured permanently to the mast to prevent relative movement between them. As shown in Figure 1, the first attachment assembly is attached to one of the two opposite ends 12a, 12b of the mast and, more particularly at the lower end 12a. The second attachment assembly 16 (movable doll) is, for its part, slidably mounted around the mast and along it as symbolized by the rising and falling arrows in FIG. 1.

This longitudinal displacement of the second attachment assembly 16 makes it possible to adjust the height at which this attachment assembly will be positioned temporarily relative to the mast. This allows to adjust this position depending on the size of the gas cylinders to transport and, in particular, their height.

Figures 2 to 4 respectively illustrate two possible height adjustments of the second attachment assembly 16 which allow the device to be adapted to transport small bottles 18 (for example bottles referred to as P13), average bottles 19 (by examples of bottles referred to as P30) and large bottles (eg, bottles designated P35). It will be noted that according to the invention a plurality of discrete longitudinal positions corresponding to a plurality of different cylinder sizes of gases is possible. The embodiment illustrated in the drawings shows four discrete positions, namely the three positions of Figures 2 to 4 and a low storage position shown in Figure 5. The latter position allows to bring the second set of FIG. 16 hanging (movable doll) in the storage position against the first attachment assembly 14 or close thereto. As shown in the drawings, the mast has a cross section of generally square shape.

However, according to alternative embodiments, the cross section of the mast may adopt other forms: rectangular, round, triangular ... Each of the two attachment assemblies 14 and 16 comprises a plurality of attachment elements (as many anchoring elements that are intended to hang gas cylinders mast) which are distributed evenly around the mast for the sake of balance and stability of the device. The various fastening elements of each fastening assembly are arranged in the same transverse plane, that is to say at the same longitudinal position or height. They are each adapted to cooperate mechanically with a part or area of a gas cylinder, namely for example the lower or upper part of the bottle according to the attachment assembly concerned. As shown in the accompanying drawings, the first attachment assembly 14 is secured to the lower end 12a of the mast for example by welding although other fastening means can be envisaged (fixing by screw and bolt ...) . The first attachment assembly 14 is for example shown in FIG. 6 in the form of a four-armed cross, it being understood that in the example embodiment presented here the device according to the invention is able to carry four bottles of gas. However, according to one variant, the device may be designed to carry fewer bottles (for example three) or more (for example five, six, etc.) The cross-shaped shape offers a structure lighter in weight. The cross comprises four branches 22, 24, 26, 28 arranged at right angles to each other. Each branch comprises a base portion noted respectively for the four branches 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a which are fixed to each other. Each branch also comprises an end portion comprising the free end of the branch and which is connected to the base portion. The end portion of each leg is respectively noted 22b, 24b, 26b, 28b and is folded relative to the base portion in the upward direction, for example at a 90 degree angle, to form a raised end in shape. hook or lug to serve as a support for a gas cylinder, as shown in Figures 2 to 4. Indeed, in these figures the gas bottle 18, 19 or 20 according to the figure is based on the portion of raised end 22b of the cross.

More particularly, the gas bottles 18, 19 and 20 have at their lower end, under their bottom flange or collar, 18a, 19a and 20a respectively, which extends parallel to the cylindrical wall of the bottles away from the bottom so forming a hollow cylindrical space between the bottom of the bottle and the free end of this rim.

Moreover, in known manner, openings or lights are arranged circumferentially with respect to this rim. Thus, the raised end portions forming hooks of the first attachment assembly 14 constitute retaining members of the gas bottle rims insofar as these end portions fit into the cylindrical interior space delimited by the rim. 18a in Figure 2, 19a in Figure 3 and 20a in Figure 4.

This cooperation between the retaining hooks of the first attachment assembly 14 and the rim or skirt of the gas cylinder prevents it from moving away from the mast in a direction transverse to the latter.

7 illustrates an enlarged partial view showing the first attachment assembly 14 mounted on a base or plate 30. The base or the plate 30 is for example fixed by welding under the cross 14 of FIG. 6. This base 30 has dimensions greater than the sum of the lengths of the two base portions of two branches arranged in alignment with each other such that the base portions 22a and 26a. Note that the base has a shape with cut sides (eg six sides) rather than with right angles to avoid the risk of injury. In addition, right angles are areas of weakness of the base to use. Moreover, such a shape is a relief in weight compared to a square shape. The cross is inserted into the lower end portion of the mast which is provided with four indentations or notches in which are inserted the four portions 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a of the branches of the cross. The cross is thus welded to the mast and a flange 27 surrounding the lower part of the mast is disposed above the cross and is welded, on the one hand, to the latter and, on the other hand, to the periphery of the mast. This collar stiffens the lower part of the mast and limits the deformation of the cross. Note that the weight of the base and the cross gives stability to the device when in the vertical position. Figure 8 illustrates an exploded view of the second attachment assembly 16 while Figure 9 illustrates the same assembly assembly in the assembled position, except for the attachment members.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the second attachment assembly comprises a hollow central body 32 whose cross section is adapted to that of the mast so as to slide around the latter.

Here, the cross section of the central body 32 is square. A plurality of hooking supports 34, 36, 38, 40 (as many hooking supports that are intended to carry gas bottles) are distributed around the central body 32 in the same transverse plane and are fixed at this point. last to adopt the position shown in Figure 9. The fixing is for example performed by welding. In the exemplary embodiment, the device 10 is able to carry four gas bottles and the number of hooking supports is therefore four.

As shown in the figures, each hooking support 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 is in the form of a U-shaped section whose open part is arranged opposite the central body and which is fixed at this point. the last as shown in Figure 9. Moreover, two slots are formed in the two parallel walls vis-à-vis forming the two branches of the U. These two slots are parallel to each other and arranged from the free end each branch of the U towards the base of the U. Thus these slots are open at one end (that located at the end of the corresponding U-branch) to serve as a housing for receiving a fastening member such as a flange or a retaining ring such as those referenced 42, 44, 46, 48 in Figure 8. These closed rings have at one end a rectilinear portion, such as the end portion 46a for the ring 46, and s' extends towards the opposite end 46b by adopting a e generally oblong shape closed by the opposite end portion 46b. Thus constituted, the attachment member 46 has a general shape of a ring, in particular in its curved end portion 46b which is intended to be passed around the neck of a gas bottle in order to act as an organ. restraint and thus prevent any spacing of the gas cylinder from the mast in a transverse direction. The various attachment members 42, 44, 46 and 48 are mounted as shown in FIG. 8 by inserting their rectilinear end part inside the grooves 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b, 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b. arranged in the respective attachment brackets 34, 36, 38 and 40. Once the attachment members 42, 44, 46, 48 each fixed at one end to their respective attachment support, the latter are fixed to the central body 32 as previously explained in order to permanently prevent inadvertent withdrawal of fasteners. When the second attachment assembly is mounted on the mast by one of the two ends, the two slots in each of the attachment brackets are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mast and in the same transverse plane. The position of the second attachment assembly 16 on the mast is that illustrated in Figure 9. Furthermore, a bracket or mounting plate 50 is fixed to the central body 32 in the extension of one of the walls thereof.

This tab has a light 52 of longitudinal general shape. Several elements are provided along the mast to identify each a longitudinal position or different height along said mast. These elements are, in the embodiment example of four: 54, 55, 56 and 58.

This is in this case for each element of two through openings made respectively in two walls vis-à-vis the mast (the mast being constituted by four walls arranged two by two vis-à-vis and whose meeting forms a square cross-section mast). These through openings facing each other are intended to cooperate with the light 52 of the bracket 50 of the second attachment assembly 16 and with a locking mechanism provided for temporarily fixing the second assembly latching in one of the discrete longitudinal positions corresponding to one of the through openings 54, 55, 56 and 58.

It will be noted that alternative embodiments may be envisaged in order to replace through apertures by other elements capable of cooperating with a complementary locking mechanism.

Depending on the height of the gas cylinder the second attachment assembly 16 is slidably moved along the mast to the corresponding longitudinal position or height so that the pair of through or corresponding openings 54, 55 or 56 is arranged in to the light 52 of the bracket 50. Figures 2 to 4 illustrate such a mapping. In this position, a fastening element forming part of the locking mechanism such as a pin 60 is inserted into the pair of through apertures in order to block the sliding movement of the second attachment assembly and temporarily immobilize it in this position. Figure 10 illustrates in top view the positioning of the pin 60 which passes right through the two opposite walls 12c and 12d of the mast through the corresponding through openings 54a and 54b.

As shown in the figures, the pin 60 has an L shape whose long side 60b is intended to pass through the mast and the short side 60a is intended to remain outside and act as a stop in order to stop the axial movement. crossing the mast by the pin. In addition, the short side 60a also serves as a handle. On the opposite side where is located the short side of the L as an abutment, a blocking element such as a clip or a key is fixed on the emergent end 60c of the pin 60 to prevent inadvertent axial withdrawal thereof. this.

FIG. 11 illustrates an enlarged partial view showing the provisional immobilization of the second attachment member 16 after placement of the locking mechanism, namely here the pin 60. As shown in this figure, a chain 62 is connected, by a end, at one end of the short side 60a of the pin and, at its opposite end, to the second attachment member 16. This avoids misplacing the locking mechanism and thus to permanently associate it with second set of hanging.

On the end 60c end of the pin, a locking member such as a key is provided to prevent axial removal of the pin. This key is connected to a chain 64 which is fixed by its opposite end to the second attachment assembly 16 so as not to mislay the blocking element of the pin. In addition, the device 10 comprises a lifting member 70 which is in the form of a ring attached to the upper end 12b of the mast. This ring whose curved portion forms a handle handle extends in a substantially vertical plane as shown in the figures away from the mast. This lifting member is used for example to cooperate with a hook of a crane to lift the device equipped with several gas cylinders and thus transport the system consisting of the device and bottles at the desired location.

The introduction of gas cylinders on the device 10 according to the invention is particularly simple to achieve. Firstly, the second attachment assembly 16 is adjusted to the desired height by introducing the locking mechanism (for example a pin) into the opening in question and positioning the base of the bottle (by its skirt 18a on FIG. 2, 19a in FIG. 3 or 20a in FIG. 4) on one of the four hook end portions of the first fastening assembly 14 (anchoring assembly of the base) while slightly tilting thereof . Note that these raised end portions forming hooks 25 not only serve as retaining members but also serve to support the weight of a bottle. The bottle is then brought back in vertical position against the mast so that the corresponding fastening member of the second attachment assembly 16 (that is to say the member arranged vis-à-vis the upper portion of the bottle), namely the ring or the holding flange, is hooked to the upper part of the bottle.

More particularly, the attachment ring 46 which has been previously arranged in the raised position before the installation of the bottle is then folded over the cap or the cap of the bottle so as to be positioned around it .

Note that the light 52 provided in the bracket or bracket 50 secured to the second attachment assembly can slide axially the latter over a short longitudinal distance. This arrangement thus provides the necessary mechanical clearance to facilitate the adjustment of the snap or hold ring around the cap of the bottle. It will also be noted that the depth of the slots provided in the attachment brackets 34, 36, 38, 40 also provides a certain amount of movement to the fastening or holding ring corresponding to allow it to be adjusted around the bottle cap concerned.

The other bottles are placed around the mast in the same way. Figure 5 illustrates the rest position used to store the second attachment assembly 16 (doll) when no gas cylinder is present.

The temporary immobilization of the second attachment assembly in this position is identical to that explained above for the positions indicated by the openings 54, 55 and 56 (mast elements defining longitudinal positions also called positioning elements). However, in this storage position, the second attachment assembly 16 is brought into the lower position with the rings or holding or gripping members oriented downwards so as to come in folded position against the corresponding base portions of the branches. of the cross forming the first attachment assembly 14. As shown in Figure 5, the rings or members 30 for attachment or holding are in contact with the arms of the cross and the second attachment assembly is thus fixed temporarily to the mast.

Figure 12 illustrates schematically from above a system comprising the device according to the invention equipped with four bottles 80, 82, 84, 86 of gas evenly distributed around the mast of the device.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Mobile device for transporting gas cylinders, characterized in that it comprises: - a mast (12) elongate in a longitudinal direction and which is equipped with a lifting member (70) for lifting and transporting the mast; two attachment assemblies (14, 16) of a plurality of gas cylinders at the mast, a first attachment assembly (14) being fixedly attached to the mast, a second mobile coupling assembly (16) being slidably mounted along the mast in order to cooperate successively with a plurality of mast positioning elements each identifying a different longitudinal position along the mast, the second attachment element thus being able to occupy several discrete longitudinal positions fixed along the mast; ; a locking mechanism being adapted to cooperate with the second attachment assembly and with one of the elements of the mast so as, on the one hand, to prevent any sliding movement when the second attachment assembly occupies the corresponding discrete longitudinal position; and, secondly, temporarily fix it to the mast. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each attachment assembly (14, 16) comprises a plurality of fastening elements distributed around the mast in the same transverse plane and which are each adapted to cooperate with a first part of a gas bottle. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first attachment assembly (14) comprises a plurality of hooks each having a free end which is raised to serve as a support for a gas cylinder. 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first attachment assembly (14) comprises a cross with four branches, each branch having a base connected to the bases of the other branches and an end portion, which, on the one hand, is connected to the base and, on the other hand, has a free end which is folded relative to the base so as to form a hook. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second attachment assembly (16) comprises, on the one hand, a central body mounted coaxially and sliding relative to the mast and, d ' on the other hand, a plurality of fastening elements mounted on the central body being distributed around said central body in the same transverse plane. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the plurality of fastening elements comprises a plurality of attachment brackets attached to the central body and a plurality of fastening members, each fastening member being fixed by one end to a hooking support and being adapted, by its opposite end, to be attached to a second part of a gas cylinder. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that each hooking support has the general shape of a U-shaped section whose open portion is vis-à-vis the central body and fixed thereto, two slots being made opposite each other respectively in the walls forming the two branches of the U to receive an end of a fastening member for fixing the latter, the two slots being arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the mast and in the same transverse plane. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first attachment assembly is fixed to a first of the two opposite ends of the mast, while the second attachment assembly is likely to be fixed temporarily. at the mast in one of the discrete longitudinal positions provided for this purpose along the mast. 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the lifting member (70) is fixed to the second of the two opposite ends of the mast. 10. A system for transporting gas cylinders, characterized in that it comprises: - a mobile device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9; a plurality of gas cylinders (80, 82, 84, 86) hooked to the mast of the device via the first and second attachment assemblies, the gas cylinders thus being arranged along the mast and distributed around it. last parallel to each other.5