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 tank inventory signaling apparatus that has bins with aligned parallel rows of industrial gas cylinder tanks stored in a cage having upright posts forming fences that define storage bins. Tanks in each bin are separated from each other by hinged gates that can be closed by magnetic or electronic latches. The logic state of all latches, open or closed, is reported to a local server that communicates gate state logic to a remote server. Tank inventory is inferred by opening of gates since it is necessary to open a gate to remove a tank. All gates in a cage have a collective gate state. Changes in the gate states of all tank storage units is 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 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 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.

Abstract: A hand cart useful in transporting one or two cylinders for example of the type used to contain compressed gasses. A preferred embodiment has at least one pair of cylinder-grasping arms rotatable apart to a spread open position for loading and unloading cylinders, and rotatable together to a closed position for holding cylinders. A fold-out prop helps support the cart and tanks so that vertical force is not needed to move the cart forward or backward, and stabilizes the cart while stationary.

Abstract: A device for prevention of particulate contamination of a valve fitting and for notification of whether actual access or tampering or potential access or tampering of a fluid from a fluid tank connected to the valve and/or the valve has occurred, featuring a fitting block which is insertable within the fitting or capable of receiving the fitting, and first and second straps bendable about the valve and fastenable to each other. One of the straps may include a ring through which a valve burst disk is insertable when the strap is bent about the valve. If the device was compromised and the cylinder was removed for access to the valve fitting, the ring of one of the straps would remain on the burst disk even though the cylinder was removed from the fitting. Thus, the compromised device would remain on the valve indicating that access to the valve or fluid had been attempted or achieved.

Abstract: A system and method for filling balloons. A reusable web holding uninflated balloons attached at the neck is loaded onto a machine for inflating balloons. This machine features a digital motion control apparatus which advances the web a precise distance. After the web advances, a supply nozzle is inserted into the neck of the uninflated balloon directly beneath the nozzle. The balloon is filled, the supply nozzle lifted, and the balloon is removed from the machine. The web is then advanced again and another balloon is filled.

Abstract: A device for prevention of particulate contamination of a valve fitting and for notification of whether actual access or tampering or potential access or tampering of a fluid from a fluid tank connected to the valve and/or the valve has occurred, featuring a fitting block which is insertable within the fitting or capable of receiving the fitting, and first and second straps bendable about the valve and fastenable to each other. One of the straps may include a ring through which a valve burst disk is insertable when the strap is bent about the valve. If the device was compromised and the cylinder was removed for access to the valve fitting, the ring of one of the straps would remain on the burst disk even though the cylinder was removed from the fitting. Thus, the compromised device would remain on the valve indicating that access to the valve or fluid had been attempted or achieved.