Protective Device for Compressed Gas Cylinders

Conventional compressed gas cylinders generally include at a neck end thereof a valve assembly which in a most simplified form would include an inlet, an outlet and a manual control valve. If, as has happened on numerous occasions in the past, a compressed gas cylinder is dropped or tips with a force sufficient to fracture the valve assembly, the rapid exodus of the compressed media essentially transforms the cylinder into a missile which is capable of creating extensive damage, not only to inanimate objects but humans as well. Recognizing the dangers attributable to compressed gas cylinders whose valve assemblies have been fractured or damaged, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently set up standards under Title 29, Chapter XVII concerning compressed gas equipment for diving purposes. "Compressed gas equipment, such as cylinders, must be stored in a well ventilated area and protected from heat or falling. They must have protection caps over the necks and valves when not in use." Though Section 1910.437 of Title 29, specifically exempts "Scuba Cylinders" therefrom, Paragraph (b) states that but with this exception "Compressed gas cylinders shall have a protection cap over the cylinder neck and valve when not in use." It is thought that this exemption is due to the fact that the pressurization of scuba tanks or cylinders is generally lower than in other commercial areas, but the danger created by a valve assembly being broken from a scuba tank is just as potentially hazardous as that from any other pressurized cylinder.

In accordance with the foregoing, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel protector cap for the valve or valve assembly of any type of compressed gas cylinders, commercial or otherwise, but specifically for scuba cylinders.

In further keeping with this invention, a primary purpose is to provide a novel protector cap which is generally of a frusto-conical configuration defined by an end wall and a frusto-conical peripheral skirt, a pair of diametrically opposite grooves in the peripheral skirt merging with a groove in the end wall of the cap, and strap means disposed in these grooves and passing through aligned apertures for securing the protector cap in overlying relationship to the neck end and valve or valve assembly of an associated compressed gas cylinder.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel device of the type aforesaid wherein a bottom portion of the compressed gas cylinder is also received in a cap having an end wall and a peripheral skirt, the end wall and periphal skirt likewise including aligned grooves and apertures, and the strap means pass through the latter apertures and grooves to retain the compressed gas cylinder captively sandwiched between the two caps.

A further object of this invention is to form the grooves of the protector cap by diametrically opposed inwardly directed ribs which effectively define a divided chamber in the protective cap into which portions of the valve assembly are readily received.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide the protector cap with a plurality of spaced radially outwardly directed projections which preclude the cylinder from rotating when resting upon a supporting surface.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a protector cap of the type aforesaid wherein inwardly directed ribs are further provided for aligning the neck portion of the compressed gas cylinder with the protector cap.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a novel device constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a pair of caps held to a compressed gas cylinder by a strap with one of the caps being of a frusto-conical configuration, and having projections which prevent rotation of the assembly when placed with the axis of the cylinder generally parallel to a supporting surface.

FIG.2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 2--2 of FIG. 1, and illustrates the manner in which a valve assembly of the compressed gas cylinder is housed within a chamber of an uppermost one of the caps.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 in the absence of the compressed gas cylinder, and illustrates internal details of the upper or protector cap.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4--4 of FIG. 2 in the absence of the compressed gas cylinder, and illustrates interior details of the bottom cap.

A novel device constructed in accordance with this invention for protecting values or valve assemblies of compressed gas cylinders is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and includes an upper protector cap 11, a lower cap 12, and a pair of straps 13, 14. The device 10 is associated with a compressed gas cylinder C which may be but is not limited to a scuba tank which includes a bottom portion B, a top portion T having a neck N and a valve assembly V, the latter of which includes at least an inlet port, an outlet port, and a manual valve (unnumbered). The valve assembly V may be more sophisticated and further include a check valve at the inlet side, a pressure gauge, and a relief valve so as to prevent excessive pressure buildup within the cylinder C. The valve knob or handle (unnumbered) and inlet or outlet are generally in alignment and are normal to and project radially in diametrically opposite directions from each other normal to the axis (unnumbered) of the cylinder C.

The upper generally frusto-conical protector cap 11 includes an end wall 15 and a frusto-conical peripheral skirt 16 having a lower terminal edge portion 17. The end wall 15 has a generally central circular depression 18 traversed by a groove 20 which bisects the axis (unnumbered) of the protector cap 11, the cylinder C and the lower cap 12. The groove 20 merges with diametrically opposite grooves 21, 22 which also lie in an axial plane of the protective cap 11, the cylinder C and the bottom cap 12. The grooves 21, 22 open in an outward direction and are defined by respective walls 23 through 25 and 26 through 28 (FIG. 3). As viewed from the exterior of the protector cap 11, the grooves 21, 22 open generally radially outwardly while as viewed from the interior (FIG. 3.), the walls 23 through 25 and 26 through 28 define inwardly directed ribs 30, 31, respectively.

The terminal peripheral edge portion 17 of the peripheral skirt 16 of the protector cap 11 includes a pair of apertures 32, 33 which are in alignment with the respective grooves 21, 22 as is best illustrated in FIG. 2. The apertures 32, 33 are formed in radially outwardly directed sleeve portions 34, 35, respectively, of the terminal edge portion 17 of the peripheral skirt 16. The strap means or strap 13 passes through both of the apertures 32, 33 and is disposed in the grooves 20 through 22 in the manner best illustrated in FIG. 2.

Adjacent the terminal edge portion 17 of the peripheral skirt 16 are a plurality (four) of radially outwardly directed projections each being designated by the reference numeral 36 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The projections 36 are arranged in pairs to either side of an axial plane passing through the protector cap 11 which bisects the sleeve portions 34, as is best illustrated in FIG. 3, and the projection 36 at each side of the latter-noted plane most adjacent the sleeve portions 34 is spaced therefrom approximately sixty degrees . The purpose of the projections 36 is to prevent rotation of the container C when the device 10 is attached thereto and the overall assembly as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is resting upon a supporting surface which may be horizontal or slightly inclined. Preferably the projections 36 project radially outwardly to a point which at least contacts an imaginary line tangent to an exterior surface (unnumbered) of the terminal peripheral edge 17 of the peripheral skirt 16, as is best illustrated in FIG. 3, with the imaginary tangential line being indicated by the reference character L. Due to the latter arrangement, two of the projections 36 will at all times contact a supporting surface which is horizontal or for that matter inclined and thus prevent rotation of the cylinder C which might otherwise occur in the absence of the protector cap 11. Such rotation of the cylinder C apart from the device 10 could, of course, cause the valve assembly V to strike an object, become fractured or broken and cause damage heretofore noted. However, due to the radially outwardly directed projections 36 rotation of the cylinder C during storage positions is virtually precluded even if the cylinder C is not tied down or otherwise tethered.

An identical inwardly directed rib 37 is associated with each of the projections 36. Each rib 37 is defined by side walls 40, 41, a wall 42 which is parallel to the axis of the protector cap 11 and an inclined wall 43 which defines an included angle of approximately twenty-five degrees relative to the axis of the protector cap 11. The walls 43 of each of the inwardly directed ribs 37 contact the top end portion T (FIG. 2) of the compressed gas cylinder C and center the protector cap 11 thereupon.

The bottom cap 12 includes an end wall 45 and a peripheral skirt 46. The end wall 45 includes a pair of outwardly opening crossing grooves 47, 48 which are normal to each other and which have center lines lying in an axial plane of the cap 12 and the container C when the bottom portion B of the latter is disposed therein, (FIG. 2). The grooves 47, 48 are in alignment with respective diametrically opposed pairs of apertures 50, 50 and 51, 51 of the peripheral skirt 46 which are formed by respective sleeve portions 52, 53. The groove 48 and the apertures 51 are aligned with the apertures 32, 33 and the grooves 20 through 22, as is readily apparent from FIG. 2. The strap 14 passes through the apertures 51 and the groove 48 with a terminal end portion 55 of the strap 14 being connected to a spring clasp 56 of the strap 13 while a terminal end portion 57 of the strap 13 is locked to a spring clasp 58 carried by the strap 14 in the manner best illustrated in FIG. 2. In this manner, the container C is securely captively held between the caps 11, 12 and damage to the valve assembly V is precluded by the protector cap 11.

Obviously the length of the straps 13, 14 can be selected such that the device 10 is suitable for use with cylinders C of varying lengths, and should it be desired straps identical to the straps 13, 14 can be utilized in conjunction with the apertures 50, 50. In the latter case, the protector cap 11 can be modified to dispose a sleeve portion 34 and an associated aperture 32 between adjacent pairs of projections 36, 36 and further provide the cap 11 with additional grooves 21, 22 in diametrically opposed relationship to each other lying in an axial plane normal to the axial plane passing through the illustrated grooves 21, 22.

While preferred forms and arrangement of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.