Storage box for bottles of pressurized fluid and associated storage frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10458599-B2
Application number	US-201615757069-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2016
Priority date	Sep 4, 2015
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

A storage frame for cylinders of pressurized fluid, including a primary structure and at least one storage box including at least one cylinder of pressurized fluid extending along a longitudinal axis between two ends, having at least one first retaining member configured to collaborate fixedly with one end of the at least one cylinder and blocking the rotation of the cylinder, and at least one second retaining member configured to collaborate with the other end of the cylinder.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A storage frame for at least one cylinder of pressurized fluid, comprising:
a primary structure and at least one storage box,
the storage box comprising at least one cylinder of pressurized fluid extending along a longitudinal axis between two ends, said storage box being mounted in the primary structure and comprising at least one first retaining member configured to collaborate fixedly with one end of the at least one cylinder and blocking the rotation of the at least one cylinder, and at least one second retaining member configured to collaborate with the other end of the at least one cylinder,
the at least one second retaining member configured to maintain a position of the other end of the at least one cylinder while at the same time exhibiting at least one determined degree of freedom, and
the storage box forming, in the primary structure, a unit assembly of at least one cylinder fixed firmly at one end and floatingly at the other end, wherein there is no firm mechanical connection at one end of each of the at least one cylinder so as to allow each of the at least one cylinder a longitudinal movement in a region of retention making it possible to absorb the expansion of the volume of the at least one cylinder as each is being filled.

2. The frame of claim 1 , wherein the storage box comprises at least one first plate extending in a first direction, the first plate comprising at least one passage orifice configured to accept, in the mounted position, at least part of the first end of the at least one cylinder which collaborates with the first retaining member.

3. The frame of claim 2 , wherein the storage box comprises several passage orifices equipping the first plate and configured to each accept the first end of each of the at least one cylinder mounted in the storage box, the passage orifices being arranged on the first plate a regular or irregular distance apart.

4. The frame of claim 2 , wherein the first plate is equipped with the first retaining member of the storage box, said first retaining member being configured to collaborate with a collar equipping the first end of the at least one cylinder.

5. The frame of claim 4 , wherein the at least one first retaining member exhibits an internal screw thread configured to collaborate with an external screw thread formed on the collar of the first end of the at least one cylinder.

6. The frame of claim 2 , further comprising at least one second plate extending in the first direction and positioned facing the first plate from a determined distance.

7. The frame of claim 6 , wherein the second retaining is configured to at least partially accept the second end of the at least one cylinder.

8. The frame of claim 6 , further comprising several retaining members corresponding to passage orifices made in the second plate and configured to each accept the second end of each of the at least one cylinder mounted in the storage box, said retaining members being arranged a regular or irregular distance apart.

9. The frame of claim 8 , wherein each passage orifice of the second plate is configured to collaborate, through having a complementary shape, with the second end of each of the at least one cylinder.

10. The frame of claim 6 , further comprising an immobilizing device configured to connect the first plate to the second plate while at the same time exhibiting at least one degree of freedom.

11. The frame of claim 10 , wherein the immobilizing device comprises at least one screw or nut assembly extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the first plate and the second plate extend.

12. The frame of claim 11 , wherein the screw or nut assembly passes through the first plate and the second plate.

13. The frame of claim 6 , wherein the storage box is fixed to the primary structure by means of at least one fixed mechanical connection at the level of the second plate and by means of at least one mobile mechanical connection at the level of the first plate.

14. The frame of claim 13 , wherein the at least one fixed mechanical connection immobilizes the storage box on the primary structure in all three directions in space.

15. The frame of claim 13 , wherein the at least one mobile mechanical connection immobilizes the storage box on the primary structure in the two directions of the plane of the first plate while at the same time allowing limited axial travel in the third direction in space which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the at least one cylinder.

16. The frame of claim 6 , wherein the primary structure of the frame comprises at least one wedging element intended to accept the second end of at least one cylinder so that, in the mounted position, the second end of each of the at least one cylinder rests on a wedging element of the primary structure.

Assignees

• Air Liquide
• Air Liquide Oil And Gas Services Ltd
• Air Liquide Oil & Gas Services Ltd

Inventors

• Baune Emmanuel
• Arnaud Guillaume
• Burgin Paul
• Robertson Steve
• Aksnes Nils
• Blakeman Tom

Classifications

• F17C2201/0109

  with exteriorly curved end-piece · CPC title

• F17C2205/0157

  for transport · CPC title

• F17C2260/015

  Facilitating maintenance · CPC title

• F17C13/084 Primary

  for small-sized storage vessels, e.g. compressed gas cylinders or bottles, disposable gas vessels, vessels adapted for automotive use · CPC title

• F17C2201/032

  with substantially vertical main axis · CPC title