US3503536A - Manipulatable cryogenic container - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1970 R. c. 'WOERNER ETAL 3,

MANIPULATABLE CRYOGENIC CONTAINER Filed Jan. 18, 1968 s m m E V m RAlPA/JI HSI/k/O/PT/J Je Jena/Aka c. n/aaeA/zp BY United States Patent 3,503,536 MANIPULATABLE CRYOGENIC CONTAINER Richard C. Woerner, Scotch Plains, N.J., and- Ralph S.

Ashworth, Jr., South Euclid, Ohio; said Woerner assignor to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York, and said Ashworth assignor to Ryan Industries, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 698,788 Int. Cl. B65d 25/00 US. Cl. 220--85 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A manipulatable cryogenic container having an annular ring rigidly secured to the top of the container and surrounding the top end valving and conduit apparatus to protect it from being struck and to provide a hand grip for manipulating the container as by tilt rolling.

This invention relates generally to hand manipulatable tank-like containers for cryogenic fluids and the like and more particularly to a protective structure for facilitating the manipulation of such containers.

Heretofore, it has been difiicult for a workman to manipulate by hand relatively small tank-like cryogenic containers, i.e., those having capacities of from 40- to 80 gallons and weighing from 600 to 1200 pounds. Generally, such cryogenic tanks take the form of elongated cylinders having various apparatus such as valves and fittings protruding from the uppermost end. Because of its location this apparatus is suspectible to being struck or otherwise damaged during handling and, therefore, must be adequately protected.

The shape and weight of these tanks also makes it difficult for an unassisted workman to manipulate them safely by hand. Therefore, when moving a tank of this type there is a natural tendency to grasp a portion of the protruding apparatus in order to obtain a good hand hold on the tank. This handling procedure is both inefiicient and dangerous for it is cumbersome to move a tank any distance and the valves and fittings may be overstressed and damaged.

To overcome these disadvantages, it has been proposed to provide an upward extension corresponding to the cylindrical sides of the tank which serves as both a protector for the protruding apparatus as well as a hand hold for manipulating the tank. However, such prior art structures have not been wholly satisfactory when applied to cryogenic containers inasmuch as they tend to restrict access from the sides to the valving and conduits at the top and do not provide an adequate gripping means for handling the tanks.

The present invention overcomes the above disadvantages by permanently and rigidly securing a continuous annular guard ring to the top end portion of the tank which is also provided with a bottom end constituted for free tilt rolling. The ring surrounds the top end apparatus in such a manner as to efiectively protect it, yet is spaced far enough above the tank to permit easy access to the apparatus from the sides. This arrangement permits a workman to grip the ring in both hands and eifectively tilt roll the tank to transport it. Also, the outer diameter of the ring is such that the tank can be placed next to similar tanks, walls, or other objects without the ring interfering with the placement of the tank or injuring the workmans hands.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved manipulating means for a cryogenic tank or the like.

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Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved protective apparatus for a cryogenic tank or the like.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will readily become apparent upon an examination of the drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cryogenic tank made in accordance with the present invention tilted up on one edge for tilt rolling;

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross sectional view of the bottom end of the tank;

FIGURE 3 is a partial elevational view showing the guard ring at the top end of the tank;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the tank; and,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a guard ring support bracket.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, FIGURE 1 shows a vertically storable tank or container, indicated generally at 10, for cryogenic fluids or the l ke. The illustrated container is of the Dewar type and comprises a vacuum tight cylindrical outer vessel 12 in which a smaller vacuum tight cylindrical inner vessel 16, FIGURE 2, is suspended by a suitable suspension system (not shown). The inner vessel 16 is suspended within the outer vessel 12 in such a manner that the two vessels are separated from each other by an insulating space 18. The space 18 is evacuated and may be either partially or wholly filled with a suitable insulating material (not shown).

As shown in FIGURE 2, the bottonrend of the outer vessel 12 comprises a rounded convex portion 14. The bottom end of the outer vessel 12 is provided with a base in the form of a cylindrical skirt portion 20 having a planar annular bottom edge 21. The bottom edge 21 may be substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical portion of the outer vessel 12 and will be seen to be constituted for free tilt rolling of the tank, as well as stable support thereof when the tank is upright.

The upper end of the outer vessel comprises a rounded convex portion 13 from which protrude a plurality of valves, gauges and fluid conduits, generally indicated by the top end apparatus 25. The apparatus 25 is connected to the inner vessel for the purpose of charging and discharging the inner vessel with cryogenic fluid. The apparatus 25 is exposed and susceptible to being struck or otherwise damaged during the normal handling of the container.

Relatively small cryogenic containers of this type, i.e., those with capacities ranging from 40 to gallons and weighing from 600 to 1200 pounds are normally manipulated by grasping the upper end of the container and manhandling it for short distances. In so handling these containers, there is a natural tendency to utilize a portion of the apparatus 25 as a hand hold, however, the apparatus 25 is of such a nature that it does not provide the best hand hold when the container is moving and it is easy for a workman to either lose control of the container or to over stress and damage a connection between the apparatus 25 and the container or damage some part of the apparatus.

To protect the apparatus 25 and to provide relatively easy handling and continuous gripping means at the uppermost end of the container 10, a continuous annular guard ring 30 surrounds the apparatus 25. The ring 30 is spaced above the top end 13 and rigidly secured to the container by a pair of opposed U-shaped support brackets 33 rigidly and permanently secured to the end portion 13. Since only two relatively small brackets 33 are required to support the ring 30, the apparatus 25 is easily accessible from the sides yet is sufficientlysurrounded by the ring 30 so as to be protected from being struck from the side.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be seen that the outer diameter of ring 30 is substantially equal to but preferably slightly less than the outside diameter of the cylindrical portion of vessel 12. This relationship between the outer diameters permits a workman to obtain sufiicient leverage on the container by gripping the ring in both hands and twisting to start it rolling and keep it rolling while it is being moved. The bottom end skirt portion allows tilt rolling in coaction with the annular ring and yet provides stability when the vessel is upright.

Since the ring 30 is no larger than the outside diameter of the outer vessel 12, the ring does not interfere when the container is placed close to similar ones in a con fined area such as a cart, loading dock, or truck. As a safety measure the outer diameter of the ring 30 may be slightly less than the outside diameter of the outer vessel 12 to provide a space between the ring and any adjacent object will minimize the likelihood of a workmans fingers being crushed whenever the container is placed next to a wall or similar containers.

In the illustrated embodiment each of the support brackets 33 is formed from a U-shaped channel member having a pair of leg portions 34 connected by a web or base portion 35. As shown in FIGURE 5, each leg portion 34 is cut out along its bottom edge at 36 to conform to the contour of the rounded end portion 13, and along its top edge at 37 to receive the ring 30. The web or base portion of each channel is also cut out at 38 to provide a convenient opening through the web for the purpose of lifting the container with overhead cranes, etc. and also attaching to a two wheel handtruck locking mechanism.

Each bracket 33 is permanently secured to the top of the outer vessel 12 as by welding at 40 and to the ring 30 as by welding at 44 along the cut out 37 and at 45 along the top end edge of the web 35. When brackets 33 40 are mounted on the outer vessel 12, the outer sides of the leg portions 34 form a pair of closely annularly spaced projections 41 extending slightly beyond the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the outer vessel 12.

The invention is not restricted to the slavish imitation of each and every one of the details described above which have been set forth'merely by way of example. Obviously, devices may be provided which change, eliminate or add certain specific structural details without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A manipulatable container for cryogenic fluids and the like including tank structure of generally cylindrical shape having a bottom end and a top end, and valving and fluid conduit structure fixed externally on the tank top and including both structure located centrally on the tank top and structure located non-centrally on the tank top, characterized by the provision both of a bottom end constituted for free tilt rolling and a top end having a protective manipulation ring forming an annular gripping handle permanently and fixedly spaced above the tank end and above at least all of the said valving and fluid conduit structure that is located noncentrally on the tank top, said ring thereby being in annularly surrounding and protecting relation with said structure, said ring having an outside diameter the same as or only slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the tank, said ring being secured to said top tank end by a pair of substantially U-shaped brackets mounted on opposite sides of said tank, each of said brackets having a web portion with a hole therethrough to facilitate handling of the container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,796,940 6/ 1957 Somers. 2,964,054 12/ 1960 Weatherhead. 3,050,207 8/ 1962 Oxenham 220-69 FOREIGN PATENTS 187,103 10/1956 Austria. 190,911 7/1957 Austria.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner US Cl. X.R. 22069, 94

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