PROTECTIVE RING FOR GAS CYLINDERS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a protective ring for the base ring of a gas cylinder, wherein the base ring has a circumferential wall which is connected to the gas cylinder via fastening elements, with a base surface whose inside is intended to receive the base ring of a gas cylinder, a wall circumferentially surrounding the base surface for contact with the wall of the base ring of a gas cylinder and a plurality of locking arms for fixing the protective ring to the base ring of a gas cylinder.

[0002] Conventional gas cylinders consist of a cylinder with a valve at the top and a base ring at the bottom. The gas cylinder and base ring are usually made of metal, particularly steel suitable for the respective contents and pressure. The gas cylinder and base ring are usually welded together using fasteners, with openings or gaps remaining between individual fasteners.

[0003] Stand rings typically have a wall surrounding the base, which is roughly aligned with the contour of the printing cylinder. The base is an inwardly deformed portion of the wall, which usually forms a ring with a width of about 1 cm.

[0004] Due to the weight of the gas cylinder and the material—high-strength steel—the base rings can cause significant damage to the surface. This is particularly problematic for gas cylinders used in households, such as those used for gas stoves in kitchens and for barbecues on patios.

[0005] The friction between the base ring and the surface also causes damage to the base ring's paint, which primarily serves as corrosion protection. As a result, the base rings begin to rust, leaving traces of rust on the surface that are difficult to remove. Corrosion damage to the base rings requires extensive repair during gas cylinder inspections.

[0006] Protective devices for gas cylinder base rings are well known, but have not yet gained widespread acceptance because they are complex to manufacture, difficult to handle, and not very durable. In particular, the existing devices proved unsuitable for injection molding, and the holders on the gas cylinder base ring were unreliable – during handling of gas cylinders, the protective devices repeatedly became detached due to bumping into edges and friction with the surface.

[0007] US 2010 / 0147859 A1 discloses a stand system for a gas cylinder according to US standards, in which a protective ring is snapped onto a ring-shaped collar. The collar rests on an outward-facing fleece portion of the gas cylinder's stand ring. The stand ring rests in the base of the protective ring.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a protection for gas cylinder base rings that solves the problems described above. In particular, such protective devices should be easy to manufacture, preferably by injection molding, easy to attach, and permanently adhere to the gas cylinder.

[0009] This object is achieved with a protective ring having the features of claim 1 and its use as defined in claim 10.

[0010] Protective rings according to the invention protect the base ring of a gas cylinder from damage caused by contact with the ground, and also protect the ground from damage caused by the gas cylinder. They can be manufactured using injection molding and are easy to install. The elasticity of the locking arms ensures a secure hold on the base ring of the gas cylinder, even under mechanical stress, such as when moving the gas cylinder on a hard surface or when it hits an edge.

[0011] The protective ring essentially replicates the external shape of a gas cylinder's base ring—minus the fastening elements. The base of the gas cylinder's base ring rests on the base surface, and the outer wall of the protective ring rests against the side wall of the base ring. A rim can be provided on the inside of the base of the protective ring, which rests against the inner edge of the base ring's surface. Locking arms engage from the wall of the protective ring over the wall of the base ring and / or from the inner edge of the protective ring over the base ring's surface.

[0012] In particular, the protective ring has a plurality of locking arms on its surrounding wall, which overlap the wall of the base ring. The annular shape of the protective ring ensures a secure fit of the protective ring on the base ring. The lateral notches next to the locking arms ensure a high degree of flexibility, allowing the protective ring to be easily slipped over the base ring. The inward-facing arms of the locking arms snap into the openings or gaps on the top side of the base ring wall between the base ring's fastening elements, ensuring a secure fit.

[0013] In particular, the protective ring according to the invention has as many locking arms as there are fastening elements or openings between fastening elements of the base ring. Typically, this is six locking arms.

[0014] Preferably, the locking arms used according to the invention have an insertion bevel on the side facing the base ring, which facilitates slipping the protective ring over the base ring. The insertion bevel runs from top to bottom on the inside of the locking arm, i.e., toward the base of the gas cylinder.

[0015] The locking arms are preferably flush with the wall of the protective ring, but extend beyond it. This creates a smooth curve on the outer wall of the protective ring, which both provides lateral protection and prevents damage to the locking arms if the gas cylinder collides with the side of a locking arm.

[0016] The protective ring according to the invention can be equipped with locking arms on the outside and / or inside for locking with the base ring of the gas cylinder. Externally arranged locking arms are located at the upper end of the wall of the protective ring. Internally arranged locking arms are expediently arranged on an inner edge of the protective ring that extends beyond them and overlap the base surface. In any case, the locking arms are elastic, i.e., they are flanked by lateral notches. All locking arms expediently have insertion bevels.

[0017] Preferably, the protective ring according to the invention has locking arms both on the outside and on the inside. In this case, the inner locking arms are expediently offset from the outer locking arms.

[0018] All locking arms are conveniently arranged above openings in the protective ring, which on the one hand increases flexibility and on the other hand creates a drainage option for water accumulating on the base surface.

[0019] The protective rings according to the invention are expediently made of a thermoplastic material that possesses sufficient elasticity while maintaining high strength. Preferred materials are polyalkylenes, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, especially HDPE. These materials can be used by injection molding, with the special design of the protective rings allowing them to be demolded "through the mold," i.e., without the aid of additional mechanical elements or tools. Thermoplastic elastomers with a Shore hardness of 50 to 85 are also suitable.

[0020] Installing the protective ring requires only one step. Since the locking arms are spring-loaded and feature chamfered edges, the ring can be easily pressed onto the gas cylinder base ring. You can either place the ring on the ground and press it into the cylinder, or turn the cylinder upside down and press the ring into place. Due to their high flexibility and spring-loaded segments, manufacturing tolerances of the gas cylinder base ring can be compensated for. The protective rings can also be easily removed, allowing for separate recycling of the protective ring and cylinder.

[0021] The protective rings according to the invention are particularly suitable for attachment to propane gas cylinders for domestic use, such as those used for heating and grilling. They reliably prevent rust rings on the base and damage to both the base ring and the surface.

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail in the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 shows a protective ring according to the invention together with the base ring of a gas cylinder; Fig. 2 shows an enlarged section of the protective ring according to the invention of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 shows an outer locking arm of the protective ring according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows an inner locking arm of the protective ring according to the invention; and Fig. 5 shows the interaction of the protective ring and the base ring of the gas cylinder using a sectional drawing.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a protective ring 1 according to the invention, snapped onto the base ring 2 of a gas cylinder, which is not shown for the sake of clarity.

[0024] The base ring 2 has a base 3 which is surrounded by an outer wall 4. The outer wall 4 has six individual fastening elements 5 which are curved inwards and establish the connection to the gas cylinder. As a rule, the gas cylinder and base ring 2 are made of metal and welded together via the fastening elements 5. The relatively high outer wall 4 gives the base ring 2 stability and also protects the curved cylinder base from contact with the ground. The base 3 can be surrounded on its inside by a small rising edge. The base 3 itself can be flat or have a slight outward curvature. In the case shown, the base ring 2 has six fastening elements 5 which are evenly distributed around the circumference and spaced apart from one another.

[0025] The protective ring 1 is snapped onto the base ring 2, with an outer circumferential wall 7 and an inner circumferential edge 8. The base area 6, which connects the circumferential wall 7 and the edge 8, is covered by the base ring 2.

[0026] The protective ring 1 has locking arms 9 at the upper end of the circumferential wall 7, which are aligned with the outer side of the wall 7 and have an inwardly pointing projection which engages over the upper edge of the outer wall 4 of the base ring 2 in the area of ​​the gaps between the fastening elements 5.

[0027] The inner edge 8 of the protective ring 1 also has locking arms 10 which interact with the inner peripheral edge 8 of the base ring 2.

[0028] All locking arms 9, 10 are flanked by notches 11.

[0029] Figure 2 shows a section of the protective ring 1 according to Figure 1without fitted base ring 2. The slightly curved base 6 with the outer circumferential wall 7 and the inner circumferential edge 8 can be seen. The base 6 is intended to accommodate the base 3 of the base ring 2 of the gas cylinder.

[0030] The locking arm 9 is located on the outer circumferential wall 7, and the locking arm 10 is located on the inner circumferential edge 8. The locking arms 9, 10 are flanked laterally by notches 11, which give the locking arms a certain degree of flexibility and enable the protective ring 1 to be easily pushed onto the base ring 2. The length of the notches 11 depends on the degree of flexibility desired and is dependent on the material selected for the protective ring.

[0031] Below the locking arms 9, 10, in the area of ​​the transition of the base area 6 to the outer wall 7 or to the inner peripheral edge 8 (concealed), there are openings 13 which also promote the flexibility of the locking arms 9, 10, but at the same time also provide a drainage option for rain and condensate water.

[0032] Figure 3shows a detailed section of the protective ring 1 with the outer wall 7, the base area 6 and the inner circumferential edge 8. The opening 13 can be seen, the lateral extent of which corresponds to the length of the locking arm 9. The locking arm 9 projects inwards by approximately the thickness of the wall 7 so that it can overlap the outer wall 4 of the base ring 2. On the inside, the locking arm 9 has an insertion bevel 12 which makes it easier to slide it onto the base ring 2. The notches 11 are located in the immediate vicinity of the locking arm 9, but can also be offset further outwards. Their length is generally about ¼ to ½ the height of the wall 7.

[0033] Figure 4shows in detail a locking arm 10 arranged on the inner edge 8 of the protective ring 2 with the insertion bevel 12 and the opening 13 located below it, which is located at the transition from the base surface 6 to the inner edge 8. In the case shown, the notches 11 are offset laterally outwards. This is necessary for stability reasons in order to ensure a sufficient distance from the opening 13. The curved design of the base surface 6 is also clearly visible.

[0034] It is advantageous to offset the locking arms 9, 10 arranged on the wall 7 and on the edge 8, as this facilitates the locking with the base ring 2.

[0035] Figure 5shows a cross-section of the interaction between protective ring 1 and base ring 2. The wall 7 of protective ring 1 lies closely against the outer wall 4 of base ring 2. The locking arm 9 engages over base ring 2 at the upper edge of outer wall 4 in the area of ​​a gap between fastening elements 5. The opening 13 and an opening 14 in the base surface 3 of base ring 2, which serves for water drainage, can be seen.

[0036] The base ring 2 itself has a vertically rising wall 4 extending from the curved base surface 3. On the inside, the base surface 3 is formed into a rising edge, against which the edge 8 of the protective ring 2 rests. The locking element 10 on the inner edge 8 of the protective ring 2 engages over the inner edge of the base ring 2. The insertion bevels 12 of the locking arms 9, 10 are clearly visible.

Claims

1. Protective ring for the stand ring (2) of a gas bottle, wherein the stand ring (2) has a stand area (3) and a circumferential outer wall (4) which is connected to the gas bottle via fastening elements (5), with • a ground area (6), the inside of which is intended to receive the stand area (3) of the stand ring (2) of the gas bottle, • an edge (8) running around the inside of the ground area (6) • a wall (7) running around the outside of the ground area (6), which is intended to be placed against the outer wall (4) of the stand ring of a gas bottle • a plurality of locking elements, wherein the locking elements are elastic latching arms (9) which are flanked on both sides by incisions (11) in the protective ring (1), wherein the latching arms (9) are arranged on the circumferential wall (4) of the protective ring (1), characterized in that the latching arms (9) are intended to engage over the outer wall (4) of the stand ring (2) and to secure the protective ring (1) to the stand ring (2) of the gas bottle, wherein the latching arms (9) have inwardly pointing arms which are intended to snap into the openings or gaps present between the fastening elements (5) of the stand ring (2).

2. Protective ring according to claim 1, characterized in that he latching arms (9, 10) have insertion bevels (12) on their side facing the stand ring (2).

3. Protective ring according to claim 1, characterized in that the latching arms (9) on their outer side are aligned with the wall (7) of the protective ring (1) and protrude beyond the wall (7).

4. Protective ring according to claim 3, characterized in that openings (13) are arranged below the latching arms (9) in the region of the transition of the ground area (6) to the wall (7) of the protective ring (1), which correspond in length to the extent of the latching arms (9).

5. Protective ring according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that it has an edge (8) running around the inside of the ground area (6), which is intended to be placed against the inner edge of the stand ring (2) of a gas bottle.

6. Protective ring according to claim 5, characterized in that openings (13) are arranged below the latching arms (10) in the region of the transition of the ground area (6) to the edge (8) of the protective ring (1), which correspond in length to the extent of the latching arms (10).

7. Protective ring according to any one of the above claims, injection molded from polyalkylene.

8. Gas bottle with a protective ring (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 8.

9. Propane gas bottle according to claim 9.

10. Use of protective rings according to any one of claims 1 to 7 for the protection of stand rings of gas bottles.