Abstract: A gas cylinder tank storage rack uses groups of load cells to sense the presence and fill state of tanks in storage locations on shelves. Tanks can be stored lying down horizontally on parallel rails. The rails are hinged to a crossbar of a frame of the rack and rest at an opposite end upon load cells attached to another crossbar of the frame. Multiple tanks can also be stored upright upon platforms resting upon at least one pair of load cells affixed to front and/or back crossbars of the frame. Sensor outputs from pairs of cells are processed in tandem to yield an average load value. The measured load in relation to threshold values determine the number and fill state of tanks on the shelves. Tank inventory can be communicated to a server to handle ordering of replacement tanks when needed.

Abstract: A gas cylinder tank storage rack uses groups of load cells to sense the presence and fill state of tanks in storage locations on shelves. Tanks can be stored lying down horizontally on parallel rails. The rails are hinged to a crossbar of a frame of the rack and rest at an opposite end upon load cells attached to another crossbar of the frame. Multiple tanks can also be stored upright upon platforms resting upon at least one pair of load cells affixed to front and/or back crossbars of the frame. Sensor outputs from pairs of cells are processed in tandem to yield an average load value. The measured load in relation to threshold values determine the number and fill state of tanks on the shelves. Tank inventory can be communicated to a server to handle ordering of replacement tanks when needed.

Abstract: A tank inventory signaling apparatus that has gas cylinder tanks stored in an array at a tank farm. The gas cylinder tanks are placed where weight sensors detect whether a tank of the array is substantially full or not, say greater than 75% full. The substantially full tanks form the tank inventory at a tank farm that is transmitted to a networked local server. The information is relayed to a remote server having tank management software that orders replacement gas cylinders. A threshold level can be set in the inventory for order generation for all non-substantially full tanks in the array with the order generated at the remote server when the inventory drops below the threshold at a local server.

Abstract: A gas cylinder counting apparatus that has a cage or rack with aligned parallel rows or bins of industrial gas cylinders stored in the cage or cage having upright posts with gas cylinder movement detectors. Gas cylinders in each bin are separated from each other to form an x-y cylinder array. Sensors attached to posts count cylinder removals by changes of state of the cylinder array and report removal of a cylinder from the bin to a local server. When gas cylinders are removed from cages, local servers report to a remote server that may be in a cloud having management software for gas cylinder delivery using orders from each local server.

Abstract: A tank inventory signaling apparatus that has gas cylinder tanks stored in an array at a tank farm. The gas cylinder tanks are placed where weight sensors detect whether a tank of the array is substantially full or not, say greater than 75% full. The substantially full tanks form the tank inventory at a tank farm that is transmitted to a networked local server. The information is relayed to a remote server having tank management software that orders replacement gas cylinders. A threshold level can be set in the inventory for order generation for all non-substantially full tanks in the array with the order generated at the remote server when the inventory drops below the threshold at a local server.

Abstract: A tank inventory signaling apparatus that has gas cylinder tanks stored on a pad having an array of spots to mark tank placement. Tanks are placed directly over the spots in a grid of rows and columns. Sensors below each spot act as weight or proximity sensors indicating the presence or absence of a tank. The sensors are connected to logic that monitors the state of all sensors. Tank inventory is inferred by changes of state of the sensor grid since it is necessary to change sensor state to remove a tank. Sensor states are reported to a remote server having associated tank management and supply software and route management software. In this manner, local tank usage can be tracked at remote locations for resupply of tanks and delivery of replacement tanks can be optimized.

Abstract: A gas cylinder counting apparatus that has a cage or rack with aligned parallel rows or bins of industrial gas cylinders stored in the cage or cage having upright posts with gas cylinder movement detectors. Gas cylinders in each bin are separated from each other to form an x-y cylinder array. Sensors attached to posts count cylinder removals by changes of state of the cylinder array and report removal of a cylinder from the bin to a local server. When gas cylinders are removed from cages, local servers report to a remote server that may be in a cloud having management software for gas cylinder delivery using orders from each local server.

Abstract: A gas cylinder counting apparatus that has bins with aligned parallel rows of industrial gas cylinders stored in a cage having upright posts with gas cylinder movement detectors. Gas cylinders in each bin are separated from each other to form a cylinder array. Proximity sensors attached to posts count cylinder removals by changes of state of the cylinder array and report removal of a cylinder from the bin to a local server. When gas cylinders are removed from other cages, local servers report to a remote server and to the management software for gas cylinder ordering and delivery.

Abstract: A lockout cover for restricting access to ports, valves, regulators and/or gauges shielded by a halo handling ring on top of a Dewar bottle. The lockout cover includes a cap seatable on the halo ring. A hatch on a side of the cap can be pivoted between an open position to allow access to the ports, valves, regulators and gauges, and a closed position to allow locking the cap to the halo ring to block access to the ports, valves, regulators and gauges.