US3301570A - Cylinder support dolly - Google Patents

Description

H. l. BERMAN (.;1'LINDER SUPPORT DOLL-'1' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Herber f 5 Barman IN VENTOR.

Q 7 wig/m. J M-4 w Y H. l. BERMAN 3,301,570

C filiNDER SUPPORT DOLLY Filed Nov. 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Herbert Barman JNVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,391,570 CYLINDER SUPPORT DOLLY Herbert I. Berman, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Penn- Chem Corporation, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 409,524 7 Claims. (Cl. 28047.13)

The present invention generally relates to the supporting and transporting of elongated cylindrical gas containers or cylinders, and is more particularly directed to the provision of a combination supporting base and carrier for such cylinders.

One of the primary objects of the instant invention is the provision of a device which is adapted to be engaged with the lower portion of a gas cylinder in a manner so as to form an enlarged stable supporting base therefor, and which also functions, upon a tipping of the cylinder, as a wheeled carriage for moving the cylinder.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also an object of the instant invention to provide for a stable supporting of the cylinder through the provision of an enlarged base, thereby eliminating the necessity of stnapping or chaining the cylinder to walls, laboratory benches, etc., such as is now conventionally required.

Likewise, a significant object of the instant invention is to provide a support which can be attached to or removed from a cylinder without the necessity of disturbing the various gauges, control valves, gas lines, etc., which might be attached to the cylinder.

In achieving the above object, it is contemplated that the device of the instant invention be made of releasably interlockable sections which are uniquely adapted for accommodating a variety of different diameter cylinders.

Furthermore, an important object of the instant invention is to provide a device which not only provides a stable support for the cylinder, but also insures that the cylinder will be, in effect, a completely mobile unit at all times.

In addition, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a device which is of a sturdy, safe and highly durable nature capable of being economically produced and conveniently used.

Basically, the device of the instant invention, made preferably of heavy cast iron with a non-sparking corrosion resistant finish, consists of a pair of low arcuate or semi-circular sections having vertically elongated dovetail or undercut type of tongue and groove joints on the facing ends thereof for releasable interlocking engagement in surrounding relationship to the lower portion of a cylinder. Both sections are provided with longitudinally adjustable threaded rods or bolts which engage and clamp the cylinder therebet'ween, this allowing for a variation in the size of cylinder to which the support can be attached. Finally, a pair of wheels or rollers, preferably of heavy-duty non-conductive rubber, are mounted on one of thesections in :a manner so as to be out of engagement with the floor when the support is horizontally orientated and the cylinder standing upright, and so as to contact the floor, and form a complete support for both the support and the cylinder, upon a tilting of the cylinder, thereby allowing a wheeling or moving of the cylinder at will.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming-a part hereof, wherein like numenals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional gas cylinder having the device of the instant invention mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the two sections which comprise the support and carrier of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a partial elevational view illustrating the orientation of the device during movement;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the device, with the cylinder being shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 5 is a general cross-sectional view through one of the sections; and

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of the device.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 19 is used to generally design-ate the support comprising the instant invention. This support, with reference to FIGURE 1, is to be engaged about the lower portion of a conventional gas cylinder 12 in a manner so as to have the fiat base thereof coplanar with the bottom of the cylinder 12 whereby both the base and cylinder bottom will engage the floor.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the support 10, which is in fact also a carrier, consists of two arculate or semi-circular sections 14 and 16. These sections 14 and 16 include semi-circular vertical inner walls 18 and 20 and integral outwardly tapered or diverging outer walls 22 and 24 terminating in a short vertical lower end portion. Bot-h walls of each of the sections 14 and 16 define hollow interiors and have the lower ends thereof coplanar so as to provide a flat base. In this manner a sturdy and stable base is provided without excessive weight. With reference to the bottom plan view of the support 10, FIGURE 6, it will be noted that transverse bracing ribs 26 are also provided between the inner and outer walls.

The section 16 differs from the section 14 in that the central or rear portion thereof is provided with a straight edge 28. This rear edge 28, along with the outer wall 24, includes a pair of vertical notches 30 therein, each notch receiving one of the wheels or rollers 32 which are in turn rotatably mounted between integral upwardly projecting ears 34. These wheels 32, as will be appreciated from the drawings, are mounted so as to project rearwardly from the straight rear edge 28 and, when the base is positioned flat on the floor in its supporting position as shown in FIGURE 1, out of contact or above the floor surface, thereby enabling the flat base of the support 10 to engage the floor in surrounding relation to the cylinder 12. It will be noted that the tapered wall 24 of the section 16 is slightly outwardly bulged between the wheels 32, while the elongated rear edge 28 is undercut, as at 36, thereby both reinforcing the support in the vicinity of the moving wheels, and also facilitating the rearward tipping of the cylinder 12 and support 10 so as to raise the combination onto the wheels 32 for movement.

As will be appreciated, the support 10 is provided in two sections 14 and 16 so as to enable it to be applied to a cylinder 12 without disturbing the cylinder or any elements attached thereto. Thus, in order to interlock the sections 14 and 16 after being positioned about the cylinder 12, the ends of the sections 14 and 16 are vertically elongated and provided with locking undercut or dovetailed tongues 38 and grooves 40, whereby one section can he slid vertically into engagement with the other section.

This movement of one section relative to the other section can be facilitated by various cut-out portions 42 in the lower portion of the outer wall of at least one of the sections, as shown on the section 16, these cut-out portions 42 providing finger-holes whereby the section 16 can be lowered to the floor in engagement with the section 14 without danger of catching ones fingers beneath the heavy cast iron unit.

The cylinder 12, which can vary in diameter, is fixed within the circular opening formed by semi-circular vertical inner walls 18 and 20 by a plurality, three being illustrated, of threaded rods of bolts 44 received through outwardly projecting bosses 46 and threadedly engaged with either nuts 48 welded to the outer ends of the bosses 46, or with the bosses 46 themselves which will accordingly be internally threaded. Each of the rods 44 is provided with an enlarged head 50 on the outer end thereof so as to facilitate its radial adjustment into or out of the opening formed by the sections 14 and 16, and consequently into or out of clamping engagement with the lower portion of the cylinder 12. While the tongue and groove interlock between the sections 14 and 16 is to be slightly loose or sloppy so as to allow for a convenient interlocking of the sections 14 and 16, it will be appreciated that upon bringing the rods or bolts 44 into clamping engagement with the cylinder 12, the sections 14 and 16 will be forced slightly away from each other so as to, through the tongues and grooves 38 and 40, rigidly interlock the sections both to each other and to the cylinder, so as to allow both the combination support and carrier and the cylinder 12 to function as a unit, in either vertically stabilizing the cylinder or transporting the cylinder.

From the foregoing, it will be recognized that a highly novel combination of a support and carrier has been defined. This support, consisting of two releasably interlockable sections, is engaged about the lower end of a conventional gas cylinder in a manner whereby the fiat base of the support is coplanar with the bottom of the cylinder, thereby providing an enlarged stabilizing base which effectively supports the cylinder in a vertical position. In addition, through a pair of rearwardly projecting wheels which are normally out of contact with the supporting floor, movement of the cylinder is possible. This movement of the cylinder is accomplished by merely physically grasping the cylinder and tilting it rearwardly upon the wheels, and then moving the cylinder in the manner of a conventional hand truck. Upon reaching its new destination, the cylinder is positioned upright, thereby moving the wheels out of contact with the floor, and at the same time, bringing the enlarged flat base of the support into engagement with the floor in surrounding relation to the cylinder, all of this being accomplished without chaining or strapping the cylinder in its installed position, or providing a separate cart or truck for moving the cylinder.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A cylinder support removably engageable about the lower portion of a cylinder, said support including a central opening and a flat base projecting outwardly from the central opening, means on said support for locking the lower portion of a cylinder in said opening, roller means, and means rotatably mounting said roller means on the support, said roller means projecting outward from said support, said roller means supporting the support and cylinder upon a tipping of the support about the projecting portion of the roller means, thereby enabling a movement of the support and cylinder on the roller means, said support consisting of a plurality of individual sections positionable about a cylinder, and means releasably interlocking adjoining ends of the sections so as to completely surround the cylinder.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for locking the lower portion of a cylinder in the opening comprises a plurality of rod means projecting into the opening at peripherally spaced points thereabout, and means for locking the rod means in a plurality of longitudinally projected positions for the clamping of the cylinder therebetween.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said roller means projects laterally outward from the support completely above the plane of the flat base.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein each support section includes a vertical inner wall defining a portion of the opening, and a tapered upper wall extending from the upper edge of the inner wall to the outer edge of the flat base.

5. A cylinder support removably engageable about the lower portion of a cylinder, said support including a central opening and a flat base projecting outwardly from the central opening, and means on said support for locking the lower portion of a cylinder in said opening, said support consisting of a plurality of individual sections positionable about a cylinder, and means releasably interlocking adjoining ends of the sections so as to completely surround the cylinder, the means for locking the lower portion of a cylinder in the opening comprising a plurality of rod means projecting into the opening at peripherally spaced points thereabout, and means for locking the rod means in a plurality of longitudinally projected positions for the clamping of the cylinder therebetween.

6. A combination support and carrier for a gas cylinder comprising a pair of arcuate sections positionable about a cylinder in facing relation to each other so as to surround the cylinder, means for releasably interlocking the adjoining ends of the sections, said sections having flat coplanar bases orientatable in the same plane as the base of the cylinder, means locking the sections to the cylinder, and roller means rotatably mounted on one section, said roller means projecting laterally outward from said one section above the plane of the fiat coplanar bases to movably support the interlocked sections and the cylinder upon a tipping of the cylinder and sections locked thereto about the roller means.

7. A combination support and carrier adapted for removable engagement about the lower portion of an upright container, said support comprising a plurality of individual sections positionable about the lower portion of an upright container, means for releasably interlocking the adjacent ends of the sections so as to surround the container, means on said support for locking the lower portion of a surrounded upright container therein, said sections having horizontal bases forming a peripheral surface engaging support base positionable about a section surrounded upright container in outwardly extending relation thereto, roller means, and means rotatably mounting said roller means on one of said sections, said roller means projecting laterally outward from said one section above the plane of the horizontal base thereon, said roller means supporting the support and upright container upon a tipping of the support about the projecting portion of the roller means, thereby enabling a movement of the support and container on said roller means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 105,061 7/1870 French 248-346 X 806,885 12/1905 Focht 28047.26 2,318,231 5/1943 Katzman 28047.27 X 3,064,991 11/1962 Huthsing 28047.26 3,217,478 11/1965 De Geere 280--47.32 X

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

J. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CYLINDER SUPPORT REMOVABLY ENGAGEABLE ABOUT THE LOWER PORTION OF A CYLINDER, SAID SUPPORT INCLUDING A CENTRAL OPENING AND A FLAT BASE PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE CENTRAL OPENING, MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT FOR LOCKING THE LOWER PORTION OF A CYLINDER IN SAID OPENING, ROLLER MEANS, AND MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID ROLLER MEANS ON THE SUPPORT, SAID ROLLER MEANS PROJECTING OUTWARD FROM SAID SUPPORT, SAID ROLLER MEANS SUPPORTING THE SUPPORT AND CYLINDER UPON A TIPPING OF THE SUPPORT ABOUT THE PROJECTING PORTION OF THE ROLLER MEANS, THEREBY ENABLING A MOVEMENT OF THE SUPPORT AND CYLINDER ON THE ROLLER MEANS, SAID SUPPORT CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS POSITIONABLE ABOUT A CYLINDER, AND MEANS RELEASABLY INTERLOCKING ADJOINING ENDS OF THE SECTIONS SO AS TO COMPLETELY SURROUND THE CYLINDER.

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