APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AND STORING CYLINDERS
The invention provides a cylinder skid for transporting and storing cylinders in a stackable configuration within a cargo shipping container. In one embodiment, the cylinder skid includes four vertical members attached to a horizontal base. Extending from the top of each vertical member is a stacking means, for example a pin. In another embodiment, a second cylinder skid has a horizontal base including four receiving means, for example four holes on the bottom of the horizontal base, for receiving each of the stacking means.
This application claims priority from International Application Ser. No. PCT/US2006/032391, filed 18 Aug. 2006, published as WO 2008/020854 A1, with publication date 21 Feb. 2008.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an apparatus for transporting and storing cylinders. More specifically, the present invention provides a novel cylinder skid for transporting and storing cylinders in a stackable configuration within a cargo shipping container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFluids are often transported in cylinders (e.g., 450 liter DOT 3AA high pressure steel cylinders also known as ton containers or Y-cylinders) between locations all over the world. For example, a manufacturer may fill a ton container in Texas and ship it to a consumer in Australia. The ton containers are typically loaded onto cargo shipping containers which may be transported over land, rail and sea. Accordingly, a variety of forces act on the ton containers and their supporting skids during transport. For example, highway transit creates lateral, vertical and longitudinal shocks and vibration resulting from braking and acceleration, impact with loading docks, and sway in turning and cornering. Such forces typically equal about 1.5 G. Railway transportation produces similar lateral, vertical and longitudinal stresses, but to a greater degree than those experienced in highway transit. This is partly due to the intensity and duration of humping operations in rail depots. Railway forces typically equal 4.0 G. Ocean transit produces an even wider range of motions, resulting from the free flowing nature of water. For example, dynamic motions about a ship's axis include: yawing, rolling, and pitching. In addition, there are bodily motions: heave, sway and surge. In heavy seas, a loaded cargo shipping container may travel over an arc of 70 degrees with each complete roll of the ship, and this can occur 7 to 10 times per minute. In heavy seas, a roll of 40 to 50 degrees is common. Dynamic forces from severe storms cause the most severe stresses as compared to all other modes of transport. Even under normal conditions, forces from 1.8 to 2.4 G can be expected during ocean transport.
For decades, ton containers carrying liquids, liquefied gases and compressed gases have been shipped in cargo shipping containers in a single-level arrangement. In this arrangement, the cylinders lie in a horizontal orientation on the floor and parallel to the long-axis of the cargo container. Shipping the ton containers in a vertical orientation is precluded due to their length relative to the height of the cargo containers.
A standard prior art cylinder skid 300 is shown in
While the prior art skid 300 is sufficient for shipping ton containers, the space above the cylinders in the cargo shipping containers is not utilized. Thus, there exists a need for an improved cylinder skid for transporting and storing ton containers in a stacked configuration in cargo shipping containers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a cylinder skid comprising a horizontal base, a plurality of vertical members connected to the horizontal base and a stacking means extending from each vertical member.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a skid for transporting and storing cylinders comprising a first horizontal base, a second horizontal base wherein a bottom surface of the second horizontal base forms a plurality of receiving means, a plurality of vertical members connected to the first horizontal base and a stacking means extending from the top of each vertical member.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a stackable cylinder skid comprising a first unit defining a space for holding a cylinder comprising a horizontal base having a plurality of longitudinal members and a lateral member connected perpendicularly and joining the plurality of longitudinal members, a plurality of vertical members connected to the lateral member, and a stacking means extending from the top of each vertical member, and a second unit defining a space for holding a cylinder comprising a horizontal base having a plurality of longitudinal members, and a plurality of vertical members connected to the lateral member wherein the second unit includes receiving means located on a bottom surface of the horizontal base of the second unit and adapted to receive the stacking means of the first unit.
The present invention relates to an apparatus for storing and transporting cylinders (e.g., 450 liter 3AA high pressure steel cylinders also known as ton containers or Y-cylinders) in a stacked configuration. More particularly, the invention is a novel cylinder skid for stacking ton containers during transport and storage. Notably, the stackable configuration of the cylinder skid according to the present invention doubles the number of cylinders that can be shipped and stored in cargo shipping containers (i.e., 12 cylinders per 20 foot cargo container and 24 cylinders per 40 foot cargo container, two cylinders per 21 square feet).
The skid 400 further includes a vertical member connected to the horizontal base, preferably four vertical members 415, 419 and 417, 421 connected to the horizontal base as shown in
When connected, the vertical members 415, 417, 419, 421, longitudinal members 401, 403, and lateral members 405, 407 define a cylinder space for holding a ton container as shown by the dash-dot line in
Each vertical member 415, 417, 419, 421 includes a stacking means, for example a pin 431, 433, 435, 437, that enables the stacking of one cylinder skid on top of another. Preferably, the pin is of circular cross-section (e.g., about ⅝ inch in diameter and about 2 inches long) and may be a bolt. In addition, the pin 431, 433, 435, 437 could be of any geometrical cross-section such as a square, triangle or pentagon. The horizontal base of each skid 400 preferably includes a receiving means 432, 434 for each pin 431, 433, 435, 437 two of which are shown in
The cylinder skids may also include a locking means, for example, a locking pin 501 as shown in
Referring again to
In other embodiments of the invention, the cylinder skid may be constructed in a stacked configuration as shown in
The cylinder skids of the present invention can be constructed of any rigid and anti-corrosive material sufficient to withstand the various forces applied to the assembly when carrying cylinders over land, rail or sea. Preferably, all of the longitudinal, lateral and vertical members are constructed of a tube steel that is either galvanized or painted to withstand corrosion. All joints are preferably bolted and welded to withstand applied forces and corrosion. The pads may be constructed of plastic, rubber or foam and are preferably resistant to corrosion.
The present invention as described above and shown provides a novel apparatus for storing and transporting compressed gas cylinders in a stackable configuration. It is anticipated that other embodiments and variations of the present invention will become readily apparent to the skilled artisan in light of the foregoing description and examples, and it is intended that such embodiments and variations likewise be included within the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A cylinder skid comprising:
- a horizontal base;
- a plurality of vertical members connected to the horizontal base; and
- a stacking means extending from each vertical member.
2. The cylinder skid of claim 1 wherein the horizontal base comprises a plurality of longitudinal members and a lateral member connected perpendicularly to the plurality of longitudinal members.
3. The cylinder skid of claim 2 wherein the plurality of vertical members are integrated with the lateral member.
4. The cylinder skid of claim 1 wherein each stacking means comprises a pin.
5. The cylinder skid of claim 4 wherein the pin has a diameter of about ⅝ inch and a length of about 2 inches.
6. The cylinder skid of claim 1 wherein each stacking means is adapted to be positioned in a receiving means.
7. The cylinder skid of claim 6 wherein each stacking means is adapted to be positioned in different receiving means.
8. The cylinder skid of claim 6 wherein the receiving means is formed in a horizontal base of a second cylinder skid.
9. The cylinder skid of claim 1 further comprising a cargo shipping container wherein the cylinder skid is positioned in the cargo shipping container.
10. A skid for transporting and storing cylinders comprising:
- a first horizontal base;
- a second horizontal base wherein a plurality of receiving means is formed on a bottom surface of the second horizontal base;
- a plurality of vertical members connected to the first horizontal base; and
- a stacking means extending from the top of each vertical member.
11. The skid according to claim 10 further comprising a cargo shipping container wherein the skid is positioned in the cargo shipping container.
12. A stackable cylinder skid comprising:
- a first unit defining a space for holding a cylinder comprising a horizontal base having a plurality of longitudinal members and a lateral member connected perpendicularly and joining the plurality of longitudinal members, a plurality of vertical members connected to the lateral member, and a stacking means extending from the top of each vertical member; and
- a second unit defining a space for holding a cylinder comprising a horizontal base having a plurality of longitudinal members, and a plurality of vertical members connected to the lateral member;
- wherein the second unit includes receiving means located on a bottom surface of the horizontal base of the second unit and adapted to receive the stacking means of the first unit.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 18, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 7, 2010
Inventors: Frank Homer (Murray Hill, NJ), Art Pernsteiner (White City, OR)
Application Number: 12/377,751
International Classification: B65D 19/44 (20060101); B65D 19/38 (20060101);