Carrier for containerized fluids

Abstract

The safe storage and transportation of tanks containing compressed fluids is facilitated by a carrier which, in a preferred embodiment, can hold up to six such tanks in stable, fixed relation. Each tank is positioned in a compartment formed by front and rear members and a pair of sidewalls. The front member has a plurality of apertures for receiving the valve stems of the tanks. The rear member has a plurality of apertures for receiving the bottle ends of the tanks. Locking members can be adjusted to selectively lock the bottle ends at the rear member. A buffer region is preferably formed in front of the front member using a spaced front wall surface to prevent inadvertent contact with the valve stems. The sidewalls have handles to permit easy lifting and placement of the carrier.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application takes priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 858,529 field on Nov. 13, 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to storage of containerized fluids and more specifically to storage of containers of compressed fluids such as oxygen tanks or the like.[0004]2. Background Art[0005]Moving containerized fluids, such as bottled liquid oxygen, has been a long-standing problem, especially if the movement of the liquid containers may result in an injury or a volatile gas explosion. For example, unless oxygen bottles are securely held when traveling, the oxygen bottles may roll around leading to a stem breach releasing the oxygen to the surrounding atmosphere.[0006]Where such gas containers have an outer protective shell, keeping such gas containers secure also prevents damage to such shell, as well as helping to prevent damage to the gas container within ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus configured to securely support one or more containers of fluid such as liquefied gas. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a front member, a rear member, and sidewalls configured to form a carrier for gas bottles. The front member may be configured with an opening sized and configured to support a stem of a gas bottle disposed therethrough and to prevent the bottle from exiting the front of the apparatus. The rear member

Problems solved by technology

Moving containerized fluids, such as bottled liquid oxygen, has been a long-standing problem, especially if the movement of the liquid containers may result in an injury or a volatile gas explosion.

For example, unless oxygen bottles are securely held when traveling, the oxygen bottles may roll around leading to a stem breach releasing the oxygen to the surrounding atmosphere.

Unfortunately, contemporary methods of securing containerized gasses are cumbersome for the individual to use as such methods usually involve a commercial container vehicle, and are difficult to manage and to store in conventional storage locations such as an apartment, home, or storage facility not-equipped to store such gas containers.

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