Plastic stand and method of attachment to a pressure vessel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9528659-B2
Application number	US-201114124050-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2011
Priority date	Oct 4, 2010
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A stand for supporting a pressure vessel includes a support body having an upper wall and a sidewall extending downwardly from the upper wall. A locking aperture is defined in the upper wall to permit passage of pressure vessel components therethrough. A plurality of locking latches is disposed along an inner dimension of the locking aperture. The locking latches are configured and adapted to couple with a pressure vessel retaining ring passing through the locking aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stand for supporting a pressure vessel, the stand comprising:
a support body having an upper wall and a sidewall extending downwardly from the upper wall;
a single locking aperture defined in the upper wall to permit passage of pressure vessel components through the upper wall; and
a plurality of locking latches disposed along an inner dimension of the single locking aperture, the plurality of locking latches configured to couple with a pressure vessel retaining ring passing through the locking aperture, wherein a lower surface of each locking latch is helical relative to the inner dimension of the single locking aperture for engaging with a pressure vessel by twisting.

2. The stand of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the locking latches further includes a helical locking detent recessed relative to the lower surface to lockingly couple the support body to pressure vessels of multiple different shapes.

3. The stand of claim 1 , wherein the upper wall is configured to bias the plurality of locking latches in a locked position when engaged with a pressure vessel retaining ring.

4. The stand of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of locking latches are arcuately shaped.

5. The stand of claim 1 , wherein the upper wall further comprises a plurality of drainage apertures defined therethrough to permit airflow and drainage through the upper wall.

6. The stand of claim 1 , further comprising at least one access aperture defined in the sidewall to permit a fluid conduit to pass through the sidewall.

7. The stand of claim 1 , further comprising a lower wall extending outward from a lower end of the sidewall to present a flat contact surface with the ground to prevent sinking of the stand.

8. The stand of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of stiffening ribs are disposed within the support body below the upper wall and inboard of the sidewall, the stiffening ribs radiating outwardly from the locking aperture for improving resistance of the support body to applied forces.

9. The stand of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the sidewall includes an outer circumferential recess for engaging a pressure vessel base.

10. A pressure vessel comprising:
a vessel body defining an interior space for containing fluid;
a retaining ring mounted to the vessel body; and
a stand for supporting the vessel body, the stand including:
a support body having an upper wall and a sidewall extending downwardly from the upper wall;
a single locking aperture defined in the upper wall to permit passage of pressure vessel components therethrough; and
a plurality of locking latches disposed along an inner dimension of the single locking aperture, the plurality of locking latches coupled with the retaining ring passing through the locking aperture, wherein a lower surface of each locking latch is helical relative to the inner dimension of the single locking aperture for engaging with the retaining ring by twisting.

11. The pressure vessel of claim 10 , wherein the retaining ring has a plurality of tabs extending radially outward, each tab configured to engage with a corresponding locking latch.

12. The pressure vessel of claim 10 , wherein the locking latches each are adapted to rotatably engage a respective radially outward extending tab of the retaining ring.

13. The pressure vessel of claim 10 , wherein the support body is coupled with the vessel body by radially outward extended tabs on the retaining ring, the tabs each being locked in a helical detent in a respective locking latch.

14. The pressure vessel of claim 10 , wherein the sidewall of the support body is configured with circumferential periodic concave recesses for enhancing rigidity of the support body.

15. The pressure vessel of claim 10 , wherein the support body is removable from the retaining ring by overcoming a predetermined locking preload force.

16. The pressure vessel of claim 10 , wherein a plurality of stiffening ribs are disposed within the support body below the upper wall and inboard of the sidewall, the stiffening ribs radiating outwardly from the locking aperture for improving resistance of the support body to applied forces.

17. The pressure vessel of claim 10 , wherein the upper wall is configured to bias the plurality of locking latches in a locked position when engaged with the pressure vessel retaining ring.

18. The pressure vessel of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the locking latches further includes a plurality of locking detents to lockingly couple the support body to pressure vessels of multiple shapes.

19. The pressure vessel of claim 10 , wherein the retaining ring has a plurality of tabs extending radially outward, each tab including a helical surface to engage with a corresponding locking latch.

20. A pressure vessel comprising:
a vessel body, the vessel body defining an interior space for containing fluid;
a retaining ring connected to the vessel body, the retaining ring having a plurality of tabs extending radially outward from the ring; and
a stand for supporting the vessel body, the stand including:
a support body having an upper wall and a sidewall extending downwardly from the upper wall;
a single locking aperture defined in the upper wall to permit passage of pressure vessel components therethrough; and
a plurality of locking latches disposed along an inner dimension of the single locking aperture, each locking latch configured to rotatably engage with a respective retaining ring tab to couple the vessel body to the support body, wherein a lower surface of each locking latch is helical relative to the inner dimension of the single locking aperture for engaging with the retaining ring by twisting, wherein the upper wall is configured to bias against the vessel body which biases the retaining ring tabs against the locking latches for locking.

Assignees

• Manser Roger
• Van Haaren Christopher A
• Amtrol Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Manser Roger
• Van Haaren Christopher A

Classifications

• F17C13/083

  for medium-sized mobile storage vessels, e.g. tank vehicles or railway tank vehicles · CPC title

• F17C2201/032

  with substantially vertical main axis · 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

• F17C2205/018

  Supporting feet · CPC title

• F17C2205/0126

  One vessel · CPC title