WO2001030542A1

WO2001030542A1 - An accessory for use with gas bottles

Info

Publication number: WO2001030542A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/001546
Authority: WO
Inventors: Petrus Christiaan Gouws
Original assignee: Petrus Christiaan Gouws
Priority date: 1999-10-29
Filing date: 2000-10-26
Publication date: 2001-05-03
Also published as: AU7938400A

Abstract

The invention relates to an accessory for use with gas bottles containing gases that require ignition. The accessory comprises a body (12) that includes at least a first spanner formation (22) that permits opening and closing of the gas supply from a gas bottle and a spark inducing means (26,30) that is operable for inducing a spark that can ignite a gas released from a gas bottle. The body also incorporates a selection of additional formations and devices that can facilitate operations involving, or associated with, the use of gases, from gas bottles, such as heat welding.

Description

AN ACCESSORY FOR USE WITH GAS BOTTLES

THIS I NVENTION relates to an accessory for use with gas bottles

The accessory of the invention is particularly suitable for use with gas bottles containing flammable gases and where gases require ignition More particularly, the accessory of the invention is provided for use with gas bottles containing gases such as oxygen and acetylene, which are ignited in combination to provide a high temperature flame, via a hand held nozzle arrangement, whereby heat welding can be carried out

According to the invention there is provided an accessory for use with gas bottles, which comprises a body that includes a first spanner formation and that defines a lever formation with respect to the spanner formation, the combination being configured to permit opening and closing of the gas supply from a gas bottle, and which body has a spark inducing means located thereon that is operable for inducing a spark that can ignite a gas released from a gas bottle

The body forming the accessory typically comprises a fabricated body formed of aluminium However, the body may be formed also of any other suitable material using any suitable manufacturing process The body particularly defines an elongated configuration with the first spanner formation being located near one end of the body, thus permitting the body itself to define the lever formation for rotating the spanner formation

The first spanner formation may project from the general plane of the body for facilitating its engagement with the formation on a gas bottle which is to be rotated for opening and closing the gas supply from the gas bottle

The spark inducing means of the accessory may comprise a flint body located within the body of the accessory in a partially exposed configuration in which a spark inducer, displaceably connected to the body, can be displaced along the flint body while fπctionally bearing against the flint body for inducing a spark The spark inducing means essentially may be the equivalent of a conventional spark inducing means as is associated with a cigarette lighter, or the like

The body of the accessory of the invention further may define a second spanner formation that can serve to replace the regulator of a gas bottle, the second spanner formation being defined within the body near an end of the body As such, the accessory may include an insert element removably locatable within the second spanner formation for adjusting the effective size of the second spanner formation Thereby, the second spanner formation can serve to replace two different sizes of regulators, that are commonly associated with gas bottles

Further according to the invention, the body of the accessory may define a third spanner formation near an end thereof, which third spanner formation is formed to replace a safety regulator that forms a part of a hand-held nozzle arrangement that can be used for heat welding purposes

Still further according to the invention, the body of the accessory may have a clipping element secured thereto which can serve to clip the accessory to a clothing item of a user for facilitating the portability of the accessory. Thereby, the accessory of the in invention can be easily carried around, remaining accessible for use whenever required.

The body of the accessory of the invention still further may have a screwdriver head formation secured thereto and projecting therefrom, the screw driver head formation being configured to permit securing of a hose that is associated with the flow of a gas from a gas bottle to a hand held nozzle arrangement. As such, the body also may have a blade element pivotally mounted thereon, the blade element being pivotally displaceable between an inoperative position, in which the blade edge of the blade element is not exposed, and an operative position, in which the blade element is exposed and permits cutting-off the end of a hose.

The body of the accessory also may have a file segment securely located thereon and, in addition, may have a scπber pivotally mounted on the body, the scπber being pivotally displaceable between an inoperative position, in which the point of the scπber is not exposed, and an operative position, in which the point of the scπber is exposed and permits scribing

Still further according to the invention, the body of the accessory may define an internal compartment and have a displaceable closure formation displaceably located thereon for enclosing the internal compartment, the internal compartment being adapted to permit carrying pins, and the like, that can be used for cleaning the nozzles of hand-held nozzle arrangements that are associated with the use of gases contained in gas bottles

It must be appreciated that the accessory of the invention can incorporate any combination of the above features and the invention extends to all such different configuration accessories which incorporate the essential features of the accessory as defined above, in combination with any one or more of the additional features as defined The overall configuration of the accessory of the invention clearly is greatly variable and, as such, the invention extends also to all such different configuration accessories which still incorporate at least the essential features of the accessory of the invention as hereinabove defined

Insofar as a special purpose spanner is conventionally required to permit opening and closing of the gas supply from gas bottles, by combining such a spanner with a spark inducing means, to provide an accessory in accordance with the invention, the common problem of not having means for igniting a gas, released from a gas bottle, readily available, is essentially eliminated The additional features of the accessory of the invention clearly enhance still further the utility and versatility thereof, rendering readily available commonly required tools which may otherwise not be readily available, or not be available at all

The invention is now described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of an accessory for use with gas bottles, in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 shows a side view of the accessory of Figure 1 ,

Figure 3 shows a rear view of the accessory of Figure 1 , and

Figure 4 shows a front view of the body of a second embodiment of an accessory for use with gas bottles, in accordance with the invention

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a first embodiment of an accessory for use with gas bottles, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 For the sake of clarity, all the features of the accessory are not illustrated in each drawing The accessory 10 comprises a fabricated aluminium body 1 2 defining an outer perimeter profile as shown, the body 1 2 having a hole 14 defined therein near the end 1 6 thereof The hole 14 has the shank of a bolt member 1 8 passing therethrough, the head 20 of the bolt member 1 8 defining a first spanner formation 22 in the form of a socket formation which is formed to engage the screw closure of a gas bottle to permit opening and closing of the gas supply from the gas bottle The bolt member 1 8 is secured on the body 1 2 by having a nut 24 tightened thereon, particularly in a configuration in which the first spanner formation 22 can conveniently serve its purpose By having the spanner formation 22 formed as part of the head 20 of the bolt member 1 8, this formation effectively projects from the general plane of the body 1 2, rendering it conveniently positioned to permit the manipulation of the closure of a gas bottle

A flint body 26 is located within the body 1 2 near the end 28 thereof, the outer surface of the flint body 26 being partially exposed and positioned so that a spark mducer 30 is slidably displaceable along the flint body 26 for inducing a spark The spark inducer

30 is located at the end of an elongate lever 32 which is secured to the body 1 2 by a securing screw 34, in the configuration as shown, the lever 32 permitting the required displacement of the spark inducer 30, particularly by the manipulation of a thumb engaging formation 36 projecting from the lever 32 in the configuration illustrated clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings The lever 32 may be spring loaded, or may be formed of a resiliency deformable material, for permitting it to be urged into a start position from which it can be displaced for inducing a spark The operation of the spark inducing means, including the flint body 26 and spark inducer 30 essentially is the equivalent of a spark inducing means associated with a conventional cigarette lighter It is envisaged that the flint body 26 may be located in a configuration in which it is replaceable with a fresh flint body, whenever required

The body 1 2 further defines a second spanner formation 38 therein at the end 28 thereof, an insert element 40 being securable within this formation by a securing screw 42, for rendering the size of the formation 38 adjustable The second spanner formation 38 is provided in particular to permit the replacement of the regulator associated with a conventional gas bottle, it being well known that two different sizes of regulators are commonly associated with gas bottles The adjustability of the size of the spanner formation 38 ensures that both common regulator sizes are accommodated

The accessory 10, therefore, also can be conveniently used for replacing a gas bottle regulator which is indeed required from time to time for maintenance purposes

A third spanner formation 44 is formed in the body 1 2 nearer the end 1 6 thereof and this formation is particularly provided for replacing the safety regulator that is commonly associated with a hand held nozzle arrangement, that can be connected to a gas bottle, where gas from the gas bottle can be ignited to create a flame for welding purposes, and the like

Still further, the body 1 2 has a clip formation 46 attached to the side of the body opposite to the side where the lever 32 is operable, the clip formation permitting the accessory to clip onto a clothing part of a person to facilitate the portability of the accessory, rendering it conveniently available whenever required

As is illustrated only in Figure 1 of the drawings, a screwdriver head 48 optionally is secured to the body 1 2 at the end 1 6 thereof, the screwdriver head being particularly suitable for tightening hose fasteners that are associated with hoses provided for conveying gases from gas bottles to nozzle arrangements In order to still further facilitate the attachment and location of such hoses, a blade element 50 is pivotally secured on the body 1 2 in the configuration as shown in Figure 1 , the blade element being pivotally displaceable into a configuration in which it projects from the body 1 2 and in which it can cut-off the end of hoses, as may be required As is illustrated only in Figure 3 of the drawings, a file 60 and a displaceable scriber 62 optionally may be located on the body 1 2, thereby enhancing still further the utility and versatility of the accessory, in association with its use in conjunction with gas bottles and hand held nozzle arrangements of heat welding apparatus

Still further, the body 1 2 defines an internal compartment 52 therein that can contain needles for cleaning nozzles associated with nozzle arrangements, the compartment being closeable by a closure formation 54, which is pivotally displaceable for controlling access to the compartment 52

The accessory of the invention clearly is adapted particularly for use with gas bottles that supply flammable gases to nozzle arrangements, typically of welding apparatus, or the like, the accessory comprising a single unit that can provide for the gas supply from a gas bottle to be opened and closed, for gas released to be ignited, and for a gas bottle regulator to be replaced In relation to a nozzle arrangement it can provide for the safety regulator of the nozzle arrangement to be replaced, while also providing for the secure engagement of gas feed hoses between a gas bottle and the nozzle arrangement The accessory clearly is a multi-purpose device which will be extremely useful in relation to the use of gas bottles in general, but particularly for those general industrial applications where gas bottles are associated with the use of welding apparatus, and the like

It will be appreciated that the specific configuration of the accessory of the invention is greatly variable while it can still incorporate all the essential features of the invention as defined and described above, as well as one or more of the optional features in various different combinations as may be required for particular applications

For example, a second embodiment of an accessory for use with gas bottles, in accordance with the invention, is illustrated in Figure 4 and comprises a fabricated aluminium body 1 1 2, the body 1 1 2 being configured to receive all the attachable components and parts of the accessory 10 as described above thereon. The body 1 1 2 has a second spanner formation 1 38 at the end 1 28 thereof, the spanner formation 138 being a ring formation as opposed to the spanner formation 38 of the accessory 10 as shown in Figure 1 . Also, the body 1 1 2 defines a further ring spanner formation 1 60 which can cooperate with an alternative configuration gas bottle, which renders the accessory including the body 1 1 2 usable for a wider range of applications. For the remainder the body 1 1 2 is essentially the equivalent of the body 1 2 of the accessory 10.

The invention extends also to all alternative configuration accessories which incorporate the essential features of the accessories as described above.

Claims

1 An accessory for use with gas bottles, which comprises a body that includes a first spanner formation and that defines a lever formation with respect to the spanner formation, the combination being configured to permit opening and closing of the gas supply from a gas bottle, and which body has a spark inducing means located thereon that is operable for inducing a spark that can ignite a gas released from a gas bottle.

2 An accessory as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the body defines an elongated configuration and the first spanner formation is located near one end of the body, permitting the body itself to define the lever formation for rotating the spanner formation

3 An accessory as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the first spanner formation projects from the general plane of the body for facilitating its engagement with the formation on a gas bottle which is to be rotated for opening and closing the gas supply from the gas bottle

4 An accessory as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the spark inducing means comprises a flint body located within the body of the accessory in a partially exposed configuration in which a spark inducer, displaceably connected to the body, can be displaced along the flint body while fπctionally bearing against the flint body for inducing a spark

5 An accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body defines a second spanner formation that can serve to replace the regulator of a gas bottle, the second spanner formation being defined within the body near an end of the body An accessory as claimed in Claim 5, which includes an insert element removably locatable within the second spanner formation for adjusting the effective size of the second spanner formation

An accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body defines a third spanner formation near an end thereof, which third spanner formation is formed to replace a safety regulator that forms a part of a hand held nozzle arrangement that can be used for heat welding purposes

An accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body has a clipping element secured thereto which can serve to clip the accessory to a clothing item of a user for facilitating the portability of the accessory

An accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body has a screwdriver head formation secured thereto and projecting therefrom, the screwdriver head formation being configured to permit securing of a hose that is associated with the flow of a gas from a gas bottle to a hand held nozzle arrangement

An accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body has a blade element pivotally mounted thereon, the blade element being pivotally displaceable between an inoperative position, in which the blade edge of the blade element is not exposed, and an operative position, in which the blade element is exposed and permits cutting-off the end of a hose

An accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a file segment securely located on the body

2. An accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which has a scriber pivotally mounted on the body, the scriber being pivotally displaceable between an inoperative position, in which the point of the scriber is not exposed, and an operative position, in which the point of the scriber is exposed and permits scribing .

1 3. An accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body defines an internal compartment and has a displaceable closure formation displaceably located thereon for enclosing the internal compartment, the internal compartment being adapted to permit carrying pins, and the like, that can be used for cleaning the nozzles of hand held nozzle arrangements that are associated with the use of gases contained in gas bottles.

14. An accessory for use with gas bottles substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.