Pressurized gas transportation system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a pressurized gas cylinder transportation system, which may be rapidly loaded, unloaded and refueled. A transportation system may include transportation equipment, a lift system, a cylinder holding cage, a single cylinder hand truck and a gas refueling station to deliver the cylinders.

1 . A method for handling and delivering pressurized gas cylinders, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of gas cylinders positioned within a cylinder holding cage, each cylinder holding cage positioned within a transportation equipment, the transportation equipment located at a cylinder refueling location;    charging at least one of the cylinders without removing the cylinder from the cylinder holding cage or from the transportation equipment;    moving transportation equipment to a desired location;    removing at least one of the cylinders from the cylinder holding cage using a portable lifting device, and leaving the cylinder at the desired location;    acquiring a second cylinder at the desired location and positioning the second cylinder within the cylinder holding cage within the transportation equipment using the portable lifting device; and    returning the transportation equipment to the cylinder refueling location.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cylinders are placed within the cylinder holding cage before the cylinder holding cage is positioned within the transportation equipment.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable lifting device is carried on the transportation equipment.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the portable lifting device is a forklift and the transportation equipment is configured to carry the forklift externally.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable lifting device is a single cylinder hand truck.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transportation equipment is a truck.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cylinders includes a gas level indicator.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein there are multiple desired locations to which the transportation equipment may be directed and steps ( b ) - ( d ) are repeated until all desired locations are reached.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder holding cage includes a frame with a base frame and a top face with sidewalls between the base frame and the top face, the frame further having a plurality of shelves between the base frame and the top face and extending between sidewalls, the frame defining an access end for receiving cylinders, the base frame including at least one receptacle positioned between the base frame and a first shelf, the receptacle adapted to receive a lift device to move the cylinder holding cage, and each of the plurality of shelves allowing for horizontal storage of the cylinders by insertion of the cylinders through the access end.  
   
   
       10 . A method for handling and delivering pressurized gas cylinders, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of gas cylinders positioned within a cylinder holding cage, each cylinder holding cage positioned within a transportation equipment, the transportation equipment located at a cylinder refueling location;    charging at least one of the cylinders without removing the cylinder from the cylinder holding cage or from the transportation equipment;    moving transportation equipment to a desired location;    removing the cylinder holding cage from the transportation equipment using a portable lifting device, and leaving the cylinder holding cage at the desired location;    acquiring a second cylinder holding cage at the desired location and positioning the second cylinder holding cage within the transportation equipment using the portable lifting device; and    returning the transportation equipment to the cylinder refueling location.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transportation equipment is a truck.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the portable lifting device is a forklift.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transportation equipment is configured to carry the forklift externally.  
   
   
       14 . A cylinder holding cage comprising: 
 a frame including a top face and base frame and sidewalls secured thereto and extending therebetween, a plurality of shelves positioned between the top face and the base frame extending between sidewalls, the frame defining an access end for receiving objects;    the base frame having at least one receptacle secured to the base frame and a first shelf,    the receptacle adapted to receive a variety of lifting device to move the cylinder holding cage; and    the plurality of shelves configured for generally horizontal storage of cylinders which are inserted through the access end of the frame.    
   
   
       15 . The cylinder holding cage of  claim 14 , wherein the access end includes at least one-hinged door attached to the frame which is movable between a first position blocking removal or insertion of cylinders within at least one of the shelves and a second position allowing removal or insertion of cylinders.  
   
   
       16 . The cylinder holding cage of  claim 15 , wherein the hinged door includes a lock.  
   
   
       17 . The cylinder holding cage of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the shelves include an upwardly positioned convex surface on which cylinders may be received.  
   
   
       18 . The cylinder holding cage of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the shelves includes a plurality of channels defining a plurality of locations to receive cylinders.  
   
   
       19 . The cylinder holding cage of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one shelf includes an upwardly positioned convex surface at each of the cylinder receiving locations.  
   
   
       20 . The cylinder holding cage of  claim 14 , wherein a plurality of support beams extend between and connect the plurality shelves.  
   
   
       21 . single cylinder hand truck comprising: 
 a base frame including two front stationary wheels and at least one movable rear wheel attached thereto, the base frame having at least one vertical support beam attached thereto;    the vertical support beam having a vertically movable horizontal platform and an actuator attached thereto, the actuator operable to move the horizontal platform vertically; and    the vertically movable platform having at least two horizontal beams to form a channel to hold a cylinder.    
   
   
       22 . The single cylinder hand truck of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the horizontal beams includes one receptacle for temporarily securing the hand truck to a cylinder holding cage within which a gas cylinder may be located.  
   
   
       23 . The single cylinder hand truck of  claim 21 , further comprising a clamp adjacent the horizontal beams to releasably secure the gas cylinder to the hand truck.  
   
   
       24 . The single cylinder hand truck of  claim 21 , wherein the actuator is mechanically actuated.  
   
   
       25 . The single cylinder hand truck of  claim 21 , wherein the actuator is electrically actuated.  
   
   
       26 . The single cylinder hand truck of  claim 21 , wherein a handle is attached to  5 the vertical support beam.