NZ209131A - Transporting connected gas cylinders on vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Device, destined for the transport of gas bottles (8, 105) by lorry, the gas bottles being tied together to form at least one bundle and the filling ports and outlets of the gas bottles (8, 105) being connected via junction tubes, characterised in that the bottles forming the bundles are rigged together by means of flexible rigging devices (5, 113) around the bundle, and that the bottlenecks (10, 104) point through the orifices (11, 103) of a connecting piece (12, 13, 14, 102, 123) for several bottles (8, 105), equipped with a groove-shaped cross-section ; the bottlenecks being fastened to the groove or groove by means of nuts (17, 108), wedges or similar devices.

Description

2091 31 jaasfce cilfe..BfAQ£&,.j. ....- ••i '^.npr{feisfe S^yaffiraifrair ffilfesiti; ■ 3.?B;: I-fci&JiiBtfiitfn Oitette: .... MMtm tei3D.4&Mjrrrc^, Nfo: Patents Form No. 5 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING GAS CYLINDERS OF VEHICLES" X, WE DDIPL. ING. DR.TECHN. ERNST ZEIBIG, of Austrian Nationality, of 1190 - wlen, Kreindlgasse 4, AUSTRIA, hereby declare the invention, for which I/we pray that a patent may be granted to me/»»r and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- ~1- (followed by page IA.^ 2 0913 1 -la- Device for Transporting gas cylinders on vehicles.

The present invention relates-to a device for transporting gas cylinders on vehicles, the cylinders being combined in at least one cluster, and the filling and outlet openings of the gas cylinders being connected via connecting pipelines.

Devices of this type are used for transporting gases under high pressure, which cannot, in practice, be transpor- r ted in tank vehicles because of the thickness of the tank j-needed.

In known devices an auxiliary frame with a loading platform is built onto the vehicle's frame. A cluster stand is placed on top of this loading platform. The cluster stands are in most cases frames formed from profiles in which the gas cylinders are lying side by side and/or on .top of each other. A disadvantage of the known devices is their relatively heavy dead weight, resulting from the use of an auxiliary frame, a platform, and the massive top-structure of cluster stands. 209131 It is an object ot' the present invention to create a device which is substantially lighter than the known devices and cheaper, to boot.

Starting from a device of the type aforementioned, this object is achieved by bracing the cylinders by means of flexible bracing elements running around them.

To further link individual cylinders in a simple manner the necks of the cylinders do, according to a further characteristic of the invention, protrude through openings in a connecting element associated with several cylinders and are fixed to it by nuts, wedges, or by some similar means. The connecting elements advantageously have a groove-type cross section, resulting, on the one hand, in a stiffening of the connecting element and, on the other hand, allowing the connecting pipes to run in the groove where they are thus protected. It is advantageous to cover with a plate the groove of the connecting element and the connecting pipes running in it.

The bracings can be anchored in a simple manner to the vehicle by running the bracings along supporting beams which are situated crosswise to the axis of the vehicle, and over bolts or similar elements fixed to said supporting beams. For protection of the bracings it is of advantage to have these bracings run inside supporting beams which are formed as hollow sections.

A further disadvantage of known devices is that often there remains water in. the cylinders after the cylinders have been emptied of gas. According to a further characteristic of the invention this disadvantage is avoided by having the gas cylinder: standon a support with their filling and outlet openings facing downward. Such a device according to the invention, by having the outlets of the cylinders facing downwards, permits 2091 3 1 the water/ too, to be emptied out.

To highly stiffen the support, it is advantageous for it to consist of corrugated sheet metal, U-beams or similar elements.

To additionally fasten the gas cylinders, the clusters may be tightened by ropes against the support and/or the vehicle.

The following is a more detailed description of the invention illustrated way of example of embodiments shown in the Figures. These show: Fig.l the side view of a vehicle equipped with a device according to the invention, Fig.2 a section in the line 11 — 11 in Fig.l, Fig.3 a rear view, Fig/4 the detail IV according to Fig.2, Fig.5 a top plan view according to the line V in Fig.4, Fig.6 the fastening of a bottle to a connecting element, big.7 the rear view, Fig.8 the side view, and Fig.9 the top plan view of a further device ac-coring to the invention, situated on a vehicle, and Fig. 10, 11, and 12, each, on an enlarged scale, the fastening of a cylinder with such a device.

The trailer for trucks shown by way of example in Fig.l through 6 has a frame 1 and two wheels 2. Connected to the frame 1 are supporting beams 3, on which there is resting one plate 4 each. The supporting beams 3 which are running crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the trailer consist of hollow sections inside which there runs a brace 5, which also runs over bolts 6. The supporting beams 3 have openings 7 which permit the brace 5 to pass through. In the example shown, ^ the brace 5 is wound round a cluster of six gas cylinders 8, wherein the individual cylinders 8,with elastic rings 9 interposed, supporting each other. Thus the entire cluster is firmly connected to the vehicle. 2091 3 i As additional means of fastening and as safety for the connecting pipes, the cylinders'necks 10 pass through openings 11 of a connecting element 12 or 13 or 14 and are fastened by nuts 17, with washers 15, 16 interposed. As shown in Fig.3, the three bottommost cylinders are connected by a connecting element 12, the intermediate two cylinders by a connecting element 13, and with the topmost cylinder there is associated a connecting element 14. The cross section of the connecting elements are groove-shaped so that the usual fittings 18 screwed into the cylinder's neck 8 for filling and discharge protrude into the groove of the relevant connecting element and the connecting pipes 19, which connect these fittings, run in the grooves. To protect the fittings 18 and the connecting pipes 19 the grooves of each of the connecting elements 12, 13, and 14 are covered by a plate 20.

The connecting elements in the example shown consist of a corrugated metal sheet, but also U-beams or similar elements may be used.

According to Figs. 7 through 10 a corrugated metal sheet 102 rests on the frame 101 of a truck or trailer and is particularly fastened with screws (not shown here). A material which, because of its light weight, proved particularly well-suited for said metal sheet is light metal.

As can particularly be seen from Fig.10 in conjunction with the remaining Figures, the metal sheet 102 has openings 103, through which the necks 104 of gas cylinders 105 are inserted and, with elastic washers 106, 107 interposed, are fastened by means of nuts 108. Thus, the fittings 109 for filling and discharge of gas screwed into the neck 104 of the cylinder protrude into the space 110 below the wave crest of the metal sheet 102 and the connecting pipes 111 (Fig.7) connecting these fittings run in the spaces 110 below the wave crests.

A cluster 112 of cylinders 105, in the example here given 7x7=49 cylinders, are braced together by means of braces 113. Thus, the cylinders 105 equipped with elastic rings 114 and forming a cluster 112 become a uniform package.

For additional security, covering profiles 115 are laid over the two cylinders at the sides (Fig.7) and tightened with ropes 116 against the metal sheet 102. For this purpose the ropes 116 run through and/or to locking screws 11 As a further means to secure the cylinders the illustrating example shows them tightened against the frame 101. For this purpose ropes 118 run to a beam 11? which is located on upright supports 120. From the other side of the ropes 118 the latter are again fastenea to the frame 101 via locking screws 117.

In the illustrating example according to Fig.11 there serves as a support a flat metal sheet 121 with reinforcing bridges 122 welded to it, in the illustrating example according to Fig.12 a U-beam 123 is provided as a support.

The invention offers room for numerous variations. Ihus, for instance the necks of the cylinders could be fastened by wedges or some similar element, instead of nuts. The bracing of the clusters of cylinders could be executed in a different way, or, in certain cases, be dispensed with altogether. 209131

Claims (10)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A vehicle-mounted device for transporting gas cylinders, in which the gas cylinders are combined to form at least one cluster, and each cylinder having an opening for filling and outlet of the gas, the openings of each cylinder being connected via connecting pipes, said device including flexible bracing elements running round said cylinders to brace them to the vehicle.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the necks of the cylinders protrude through openings of a connecting element associated with several cylinders and are fastened to same by means of nuts, wedges, or similar means.

3. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the connecting element has a.groove-formed cross section.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the groove of the connecting element with the connecting pipes running in it is covered by a plate.

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that the bracing elements run along supporting beams which are arranged crosswise to the vehicle's axis and over bolts or similar elements fixed to these supporting beams.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that elements the bracing/run within the supporting beams which are hollow sections.

7. Device according to any one of the claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the gas cylinders are resting on a • support with their filling and outlet openings facing downwards.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in_that the support consists of a corrugated metal sh« | or similar elements. m - i - ■2Q91S1 1

9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the clusters are tightened by ropes against the support and/or the vehicle.

10. A vehicle-mounted device for transporting gas cylinders on vehicles, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. DR. TECHN. ERNST ZEIBIG