Apparatus and method for locking a storage tank above a scale during transportation

{
  "publication_number": "US10329037B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Apparatus and method for locking a storage tank above a scale during transportation",
  "abstract": "An apparatus including a storage tank, a frame positioned at least partially beneath the storage tank, a lever having a first end and a second end pivotally mounted to the frame, a scale system positioned beneath the storage tank, wherein in a first position, the storage tank exerts a force against the scale system, and in a second position, the second end of the lever exerts a force on a bottom of the storage tank such that the storage tank is positioned above, and out of contact with, the scale system.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus, comprising: a storage tank; a frame positioned at least partially beneath the storage tank; a lever having a first end and a second end, the lever pivotally mounted to the frame; and a scale positioned beneath the storage tank; wherein in a first position, the storage tank exerts a force against the scale, and in a second position, the second end of the lever exerts a force on a bottom of the storage tank such that the storage tank is positioned above, and out of contact with, the scale; wherein a cam attached to a lever shaft is rotatable to engage the first end of the lever to move the second end of the lever to exert a force on the bottom of the storage tank to move the storage tank from the first position to the second position.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage tank is configured to store refrigerant.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scale is a load cell.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a tank plate is secured to the bottom of the storage tank, and in the second position, the second end of the lever exerts a force against a bottom surface of the tank plate.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a frame reinforcement, and the lever is pivotally mounted to the frame reinforcement.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a base plate is positioned above the frame.",
    "7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second end of the lever includes a pair of upwardly extending flanges adapted to exert a force against the bottom of the storage tank when the storage tank is in the second position.",
    "8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein exposed ends of the pair of upwardly extending flanges extend through slots in the frame when the storage tank is in the second position.",
    "9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the exposed ends of the pair of upwardly extending flanges extend through a frame reinforcement that is part of the frame when the storage tank is in the second position.",
    "10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cam comprises a cylindrical member attached to a lever shaft that is offset from a centerline of the cylindrical member.",
    "11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cam includes a protuberance that engages the first end of the lever when the cam is rotated to move the storage tank from the first position to the second position.",
    "12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the protuberance engages a portion of the frame to prevent further rotation of the cam when the storage tank is in the first position.",
    "13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cam includes a recess adapted to receive a protrusion extending from the first end of the lever to lock the cam into a locked positioned when the storage tank is in the second position.",
    "14. An apparatus, comprising: a storage tank; a frame positioned at least partially beneath the storage tank; a lever having a first end and a second end pivotally mounted to the frame; and a scale positioned beneath the storage tank; wherein in a first position, the storage tank exerts a force against the scale, and in a second position, the second end of the lever exerts a force on a bottom of the storage tank such that the storage tank is positioned above, and out of contact with, the scale; wherein a cam attached to a lever shaft is rotatable to engage the first end of the lever to move the storage tank from the first position to the second position; and wherein the cam is rotatable by a user operated handle attached to the lever shaft.",
    "15. A method, comprising: providing a storage tank, a frame positioned at least partially beneath the storage tank, a lever having a first end and a second end, the lever pivotally mounted to the frame, a cam attached to a lever shaft, a scale positioned beneath the storage tank; and moving the storage tank from a first position wherein the storage tank exerts a force on the scale to a second position where the storage tank is positioned above, and out of contact with, the scale; wherein the step of moving the storage tank from the first position to the second position comprises the step of rotating the cam attached to the lever shaft against the first end of the lever such that the second end of the lever exerts a force against a bottom surface of the storage tank to lift the storage tank above, and out of contact with, the scale.",
    "16. The method of claim 15, wherein the scale is a load cell.",
    "17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second end of the lever includes a pair of upwardly extending flanges adapted to exert a force against the bottom surface of the storage tank when the storage tank is in the second position.",
    "18. The method of claim 15, wherein the cam comprises a cylindrical member attached to a lever shaft that is offset from a centerline of the cylindrical member.",
    "19. The method of claim 15, wherein the cam includes a protuberance that engages the first end of the lever when the cam is rotated to move the storage tank from the first position to the second position.",
    "20. The method of claim 19, wherein the protuberance engages a portion of the frame to prevent further rotation of the cam when the storage tank is in the first position.",
    "21. The method of claim 15, wherein the cam includes a recess adapted to receive a protrusion extending from the first end of the lever to lock the cam into a locked positioned when the storage tank is in the second position."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This application claims priority to Italian Application No. IT 102017000090844 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Locking a Storage Tank Above a Scale During Transportation,” filed on Aug. 4, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.\n\nMany vehicles come equipped with systems that utilize refrigerants, such as air conditioning systems, for example. The refrigerant (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane-R-134a, for example) contained within such systems may need to be supplemented, recycled, or removed on occasion. In order to remove or add the refrigerant, refrigerant recovery and delivery units can be used. To meet certain recovery standards, or to add refrigerant, such refrigerant recovery and delivery units can measure an amount of refrigerant that has been removed from or added to a vehicle.\n\nRefrigerant recovery and delivery units can be equipped with a storage tank for storing refrigerant. In order to determine the amount of refrigerant that has been removed from or added to the vehicle, the storage tank and any contents thereof may be weighed to determine the mass of refrigerant within the storage tank using a scale system that measure the weight of the storage tank and its contents. In some cases, the storage tanks and scale systems can be prone to vibration or movement during transportation of the refrigerant recovery and delivery unit from one location to another.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65B 1/46",
    "B65B 3/28",
    "F25B 2345/0051",
    "F25B 2345/0052",
    "F25B 2345/007",
    "F25B 45/00",
    "G01G 17/04",
    "G01G 23/02"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65B 1/46",
    "B65B 3/28",
    "F25B 45/00",
    "G01G 21/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Snap On Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Craig F. Govekar",
    "Rahhali Sanhaji"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-11-21",
  "publication_date": "2019-06-25",
  "grant_date": "2019-06-25",
  "priority_date": "2017-08-04",
  "application_number": "US-201715820058-A",
  "family_id": "60451129",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
  "citations": [
    "US2358770A",
    "US2693339A",
    "US4625944A",
    "US4878356A",
    "US5125626A",
    "US5739478A",
    "US6680442B1",
    "US6119475A",
    "US6124554A",
    "DE202006001376U1",
    "US20090145143A1",
    "US8602713B1",
    "US20140245809A1",
    "US20140144714A1",
    "US20150231583A1"
  ]
}