Repair apparatus

Abstract

A repair apparatus having a first assembly operable to be mounted on a work object to be repaired; a second assembly adapted to be secured on the first assembly in covering relation to a predetermined portion of the work object to be repaired; and a member interconnecting the second assembly and the work object to form a containment area bounded by the work object, second assembly and member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field Of The Invention

The present invention relates to a repair apparatus and, more specifically, to a repair apparatus which has particular utility in establishing, or restoring, to safe and dependable operation a work object, such as a cylinder containing a gas, a liquid, or virtually any other substance to be dispensed.

(2) Description Of The Prior Art

The continuous usage of a wide variety of types of devices is dependent upon their being maintained in a reliable operational condition. Where the specific device is, or may become, hazardous, the manufacture, storage, transport, use, and disposal of the device under reliable operational conditions is of critical importance. For example, where the device is pressurized, flammable, explosive, toxic, either by itself or in combination with other substances or environments, conditions must be maintained well within established parameters to insure that a calamity does not eventuate.

Devices which illustrate these and other concerns are pressurized metal cylinders, such as those employed in housing substances to be dispensed. Thus, it is known to house chlorine gas, oxygen gas, propane gas, and the like under pressure in such cylinders for dispensing when and for the purposes desired. The specific pressures under which the substances are maintained is dependent upon a multiplicity of considerations. These include the requirements for safely maintaining the specific substance to be contained; the use to which the substance is to be put; the form in which the substance is to be dispensed; the frequency with which it is to be dispensed; the length of time within which it is likely to take for the substance to be fully consumed; and still other considerations.

One type of such a metal cylinder is elongated along a longitudinal axis between a substantially flat bottom surface and an opposite, dome shaped upper surface. A mount is axially extended from the upper surface and is circumscribed by male screw threads. A valve assembly is mounted on and extends axially from the dome shaped upper surface and is in communication with the interior of the metal cylinder. The valve assembly has an axially extending nozzle through which the substance can be released from the cylinder through operation of a control handle borne by the valve assembly.

A protective housing is screwthreadably mounted on the male screw threads of the mount. The protective housing encloses the distal end portion of the metal cylinder and the valve assembly thereof to protect them from damage during transport, storage and the like. Before the cylinder is placed into use, the protective housing is screwthreadably removed from the mount to gain access to the valve assembly. Typically, a dispensing hose is then attached to the nozzle and the valve assembly operated as desired to dispense the contents from the cylinder through the hose.

During manufacture, storage, transport, use and disposal of the cylinder, there are inherent hazards as above noted. These existent hazards can be exacerbated in a variety of different circumstances. For example, corrosion, impact with other objects, improper installation of the valve assembly, loosening of the valve assembly over time and the like can cause leakage of the substance housed within the cylinder, or make such leakage more likely to be caused by an otherwise innocuous occurrence. The risk of the development of such a hazardous condition can become more acute over time. Further, two or more of these circumstances can interact to create a dangerous condition.

Conventionally, the means by which such hazards have been confronted have been less than satisfactory. The conventional remedies are dependent upon the specific conditions which have been encountered. Where the valve assembly is leaking, the cause may be a dislodged or defective seal, corrosion, damage to the valve assembly, a loosened valve assembly, or the like. In some instances such a leak can be repaired by simply tightening the valve assembly into place. However, such remedial action may lead to further leakage. Where the contents are flammable, a spark created by such a repair could cause an explosion or ignite a fire. In other circumstances, similar corrective action might be taken, but not without the risks associated therewith. In still other cases, devices have been employed in an effort to alleviate the problem. They typically require the attention of several people and may take a lengthy period of time in an attempt to achieve the desired result. As a consequence, the repair of such devices has been substantially unattainable without risks which may be unacceptable.

Therefore, it has long been known that it would be desirable to have a repair apparatus which was operable dependably to repair devices which have conventionally been difficult, if not impossible, to repair; which could alleviate a hazardous condition such as where the contents of the device are, for example, flammable, explosive, toxic, or the like; which possessed particular utility in repairing metal cylinders wherein the contents thereof are under pressure; which can be operated both safely and rapidly to achieve its operational objectives; which can be operated by a single person to achieve the desired result; and which is otherwise entirely successful in use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for repairing devices and particularly those presenting hazardous conditions.

Another object is to provide such a repair apparatus which is operable to return to a normal operating condition a device which has become compromised.

Another object is to provide such a repair apparatus which is operable to restore to dependable operative condition a device which presents a hazardous condition in its existent state.

Another object is to provide such a repair apparatus which is capable of being employed on, or in combination with, devices which are inherently dangerous and are in need of repair.

Another object is to provide such a repair apparatus which can be operated rapidly to repair a hazardous condition.

Another object is to provide such a repair apparatus which can be operated rapidly by a single individual to repair an otherwise dangerous condition.

Another object is to provide such a repair apparatus which permits the contents of a pressurized tank to continue to be used, as needed, until fully consumed.

Another object is to provide such a repair apparatus which is of uncomplicated and inexpensive construction so as to permit usage on a wide basis.

Another object is to provide such a repair apparatus which can be employed, or be readily adapted to be employed, in a wide variety of specific applications.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is dependable, economical, durable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a repair apparatus having a first portion operable to be mounted on the work object to be repaired; a second portion adapted to be secured on the first portion in covering relation to a predetermined portion of the work object; and a member interconnecting the second portion and the work object to form a containment area bounded by the work object, second portion and member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the repair apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat reduced, perspective view of the repair apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in typical operational position mounted on a pressurized cylinder.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal section taken on lines 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section of the conventional construction of a pressurized cylinder on which a protective housing is mounted prior to usage of the repair apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the repair apparatus of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in FIG. 2. The repair apparatus is shown in FIG. 2 in what can be considered to be a typical installed operational configuration and position 11. This same operational configuration and position is shown in FIG. 3 in a somewhat enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal section taken on lines 3-3 in FIG. 2.

The repair apparatus 10 can be employed on a wide variety of types of devices. In the illustrative example hereof, the specific device is a container or cylinder 20 which can be visualized as fabricated of steel and containing chlorine gas. More specifically, it is a cylinder containing chlorine gas maintained therewithin under a predetermined pressure and weighing about one hundred fifty pounds (150 lbs.). The pressurized cylinder 20 has a dome shaped or hemispherical upper end portion 21 having an outer surface 22. The pressurized cylinder has an opposite, substantially flat, lower end portion 23 upon which the pressurized cylinder is adapted to be rested in upright relation. The pressurized cylinder has a cylindrical wall 24 extending between the upper end portion and the lower end portion and elongated along a longitudinal axis of reference 25.

It will be understood that the pressurized cylinder 20 has an internal chamber containing the pressurized chlorine gas. A steel cylindrical valve mount 30 is mounted on the outer surface 22 of the hemispherical upper end portion 21 extending longitudinally therefrom along the longitudinal axis of reference 25 and concentric thereto, as shown in FIG. 3. The valve mount is circumscribed by male screw threads 31. The valve mount has an annular end surface 32 bounding an internal opening therein communicating with the internal chamber of the pressurized cylinder. The internal opening is bounded by female screw threads.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 4, the conventional pressurized cylinder 20 has a brass valve assembly 33 screwthreadably mounted in the female screw threads bounding the internal opening of the valve mount 30. The valve assembly has an endwardly extending discharge nozzle 34 communicating with the interior of the pressurized cylinder. A valve assembly control handle 35 is borne by the valve assembly and is operable to open or close the valve assembly. Typically, at the time of usage a hose is attached to the discharge nozzle through which the chlorine gas is released upon operation of the control handle of the valve assembly. Prior thereto, conventionally a steel protective housing 36 is screwthreadably mounted on the male screw threads 31 of the valve mount 30. This protects the valve assembly from damage during manufacture, transport, and storage. Conventionally, when the pressurized cylinder is to be placed into use, the protective housing is screwthreadably removed from the valve mount 30 to gain access to the valve assembly 33. A hose, if one is to be used, is attached to the discharge nozzle 34 after such removal of the protective housing 36.

The repair apparatus 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and includes, generally, a first portion, or securing assembly, 50 and a second portion, or housing, 51. The securing assembly has a steel collar or securing ring 60 with a cylindrical outer surface 61 and internal female screw threads 62. An inverted, U-shaped member 63 is mounted on the cylindrical outer surface 61, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The U-shaped member can be viewed as having a pair of spaced, substantially parallel leg members 64 interconnected by a cross member 65 in spaced, substantially parallel relation to the securing ring 60.

A securing shaft, or bolt, 70 is mounted, as by welding, on and centrally of the cross member 65 extending therefrom normal to the cross member a predetermined distance to a distal end portion 71. The securing bolt is circumscribed by male screw threads 72 extended thereabout the full length of the securing bolt.

The housing 51 has a containment vessel 80 with a cylindrical outer surface 81 and a cylindrical inner surface 82. The inner surface of the containment vessel bounds, or encloses, an interior chamber 83. The containment vessel has an anterior end portion 84 and an opposite posterior end portion 85.

The anterior end portion 84 forms an annulus 90 bounding a circular opening 91. An annular seal or gasket 92 is mounted on the annulus 90 of the anterior end portion, as best shown in FIG. 3. The gasket is preferably made of a flexible material capable of being compressed sufficiently to form an airtight seal. The gasket can be viewed as having an engagement shoulder 93 along which, in use, the gasket engages the outer surface 22 of the upper end portion 21 of the cylinder to form the seal, as will hereinafter be described in greater detail.

The posterior end portion 85 of the containment vessel 80 has an end wall 100 forming an integral portion of the containment vessel. A central passage 101 extends through the end wall concentric to the periphery of the end wall. A seal, or gasket, 102 is adapted to be mounted, as will hereinafter be described, on the end wall 100 in alignment with the central passage, as shown in FIG. 3. A securing nut 103 is adapted to be mounted, as will hereinafter be described, on the gasket in alignment with the central passage and bearing downwardly against the end wall 100 through the gasket, as shown in FIG. 3. The securing nut has a closed end 104 and internal or female screw threads 105.

A female coupling 110 is mounted on and extends laterally from the containment vessel 80, as best shown in FIG. 3. The female coupling has an internal passage 111 communicating with the interior chamber 83 of the containment vessel. The internal passage is bounded by female screw threads 112. An auxiliary valve assembly 113 has a male coupling 114 having male screw threads 115 extending thereabout and screwthreadably mounted in the female screw threads 112 or the female coupling 110.

The valve assembly 113 has a valve body or housing 120 which mounts the male coupling 114. The valve housing has a control handle 121 which can be turned clockwise or counterclockwise to open or, alternatively, to close the valve assembly to the passage of a gas, liquid or the like therethrough. A male coupling 122 is mounted on and extends axially from the valve housing. The male coupling is circumscribed by male screw threads 123. A nozzle 124 is mounted on the screw threads of the male coupling 122. The nozzle has a hose mount 125 extending axially therefrom. Thus, when the control handle 121 of the valve housing 120 is set in the open position, communication is established from the interior chamber 83 of the containment vessel 80 to the atmosphere, but for a hose attached to the hose mount 125.

Operation

The operation of the described embodiment of the present invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.

The pressurized cylinder 20, before use, is in the form shown in FIG. 4 with the protective housing 36 in place as shown. Typically, a plurality of such pressurized cylinders are stored together for use when needed, each having its individual protective housing in place. A representative example of an environment of usage of such a pressurized cylinder is a water treatment plant. In the representative example the pressurized cylinder contains chlorine gas. In such a plant, a continuous flow of chlorine gas is used for such water treatment. In normal use, the protective housing 36 is screwthreadably removed from one of the pressurized cylinders thereby providing access to the valve assembly 33 thereof. A hose, not shown, is attached to the discharge nozzle 34 of the valve assembly. The distal end of the hose is connected to a metering pump, not shown, of the water treatment plant. In normal usage the control handle 35 is, of course, operated to control release of the chlorine gas through the hose from the pressurized cylinder.

However, before such normal usage is begun, typically as a safety precaution the pressurized cylinder is examined for any damage, leakage, or the like. For example, damage to the valve assembly 33 may have taken place. Thus, it may be determined that the pressurized cylinder is not in condition for immediate usage. Where an anomaly exists, such as where the valve assembly 33, or some portion thereof, is leaking chlorine gas for any of the reasons heretofore set forth, this condition must be repaired before the pressurized cylinder can be used. Such repair by conventional means requires the efforts of several people and is otherwise less than satisfactory for all of the reasons heretofore set forth.

Apparatus 10 of the present invention requires that only one person perform the repair. This can be accomplished rapidly and without the hazards attendant to the use of conventional methods. In the case of the apparatus of the present invention, it will be understood that the protective housing 36 has been removed so that the pressurized cylinder 20 is as shown in FIG. 4, but absent the protective housing. As conditions warrant, the valve assembly 33 can either be left in place, but shut off using the control handle 35, or, alternatively, the valve assembly can be removed and the pressurized cylinder capped or plugged to prevent further leakage of the chlorine gas therefrom.

The securing assembly 50 is then positioned so that internal female screw threads 62 of the securing ring 60 engage the male screw threads 31 of the valve mount 30. The securing ring 60 is threaded downwardly on the valve mount preferably until the securing assembly reaches the position shown in FIG. 3. This leaves the securing bolt 70 extended therefrom along the longitudinal axis of reference 25, as shown therein.

The housing 51, or more precisely the containment vessel 80 thereof, is then promptly moved into the position shown in FIG. 3 with the securing bolt 70 extending through the central passage 101 of the end wall 100. The annulus 90 of the containment vessel rests gravitationally on the outer surface 22 of the upper end portion 21 with the gasket 92 therebetween.

Immediately prior to so positioning the containment vessel 80 as described, a flow of chorine gas from the pressurized cylinder 20 is reestablished. If the valve assembly 33 has been left in place on the pressurized cylinder, the control handle 35 is operated to open the valve assembly thereby releasing chlorine gas from the pressurized cylinder. Where the valve assembly 33 has been removed, as where it was too damaged safely to use, the cap or plug which has been used temporarily to seal the pressurized cylinder is removed. This establishes a flow of chlorine gas from the pressurized cylinder. The containment vessel 80 is then immediately forced downwardly into the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The gasket 102 is then placed in rested engagement with the end wall 100 about the distal end portion 71 of the securing bolt 70. The securing nut 103 is screwthreadably attached to the screw threads 72 of the distal end portion and tightened into a position bearing downwardly on the gasket 102 and end wall 100. This causes the gasket 92, or more specifically, the engagement shoulder 93 thereof to be forced downwardly on to the outer surface 22 forming a fluid, or gas, tight seal therewith.

The containment vessel 80 is thereby locked in place forming the seal with the outer surface 22. It will be understood that the specific contents of the pressurized cylinder, the pressure thereof, the environment of usage, the degree of hazard presented by the contents of the pressurized cylinder as well as other considerations will have a bearing upon the specific details of how the apparatus of the present invention is used. These details of usage, for example, include the speed with which the containment vessel 80 is placed in the described position, the amount of downforce placed upon the containment vessel, and thereby the engagement shoulder 93 thereof, and still other details.

The containment vessel 80 is thereby rendered operable to prevent the leakage of the contents of the pressurized cylinder 20 therebeyond. The valve assembly 113, or more specifically the control handle 121 thereof, is operable to control the passage of the contents of the pressurized cylinder into the interior chamber 83 of the containment vessel and therefrom into the hose for usage at the water treatment plant, or other work environment.

Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention is particularly well suited dependably to repair devices which have conventionally been difficult, if not impossible, to repair; is operable to alleviate a hazardous condition such as where the contents of the device are, for example, flammable, explosive, toxic, or the like; possesses particular utility in repairing containers in which the contents thereof are under pressure; can be operated both safely and rapidly to achieve its operational objectives; and is otherwise entirely successful in use.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is not to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed.

Claims

1. A repair apparatus comprising a first portion adapted to be mounted on a work object to be repaired; a second portion adapted to be secured on the first portion in covering relation to a predetermined portion of said work object to be repaired; and a member interconnecting said second portion and the work object to form a containment area bounded by the work object, the second portion and the member.

2. The repair apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second portion has an edge portion upon which said member is mounted and which, in a work position, engages said work object extending about said predetermined portion in substantially sealing engagement therewith.

3. The repair apparatus of claim 2 wherein said member is constructed of compressible material which, in said work position, is compressed between said edge portion and the work object to establish said substantially sealing engagement therewith.

4. The repair apparatus of claim 1 in which the work object to be repaired has a mounting portion which is conventionally used on the work object for a given purpose and wherein said first portion of the repair apparatus is adapted to be mounted on said mounting portion in a work position.

5. The repair apparatus of claim 4 in which said work object is a container housing a substance to be dispensed, said mounting portion is conventionally used on the work object for the given purpose of mounting a protective housing in covering relation to a valve assembly operable to dispense the substance from the container and in which said protective housing is conventionally removed from said mounting portion before dispensing of said substance from the container using said valve assembly and wherein, in the event said predetermined portion is leaking said substance from the container, the first portion of the repair apparatus can be mounted on said mounting portion in said work position.

6. The repair apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second portion of the repair apparatus is a containment vessel defining said containment area therewithin together with the work object, the first portion and the member substantially to seal said predetermined portion therewithin.

7. The repair apparatus of claim 6 wherein an auxiliary valve assembly is mounted on the containment vessel in communication with said containment area operable to release the contents of the containment area therethrough to the exterior of the containment area.

8. The repair apparatus of claim 7 wherein the auxiliary valve assembly has a nozzle operable to receive a conduit thereon for transporting said content therefrom to a secondary location and a handle operable to control the volume of said contents released from the containment area through said auxiliary valve assembly.

9. The repair apparatus of claim 6 in which said mounting portion of the container has screwthreads thereabout and wherein the first portion of said repair apparatus has screw threads dimensioned screwthreadably to engage the screw threads of said mounting portion to mount the first portion of the repair apparatus on the mounting portion of said container.

10. The repair apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first portion has a screw threaded securing bolt extending endwardly therefrom to a distal end portion, the containment vessel has a hole therein through which the securing bolt extends in a sealing configuration and a securing nut operable to be mounted on a distal end portion of the securing bolt bearing downwardly on the containment vessel in said sealing configuration to establish said containment area within the containment vessel.