Gas tank-handling device

A method of handling a gas tank using a forklift truck, the gas tank comprising a tank body having a pair of ground engaging legs, the forklift truck comprising a gas tank-handling device comprising a mounting frame attached to a lifting assembly of the forklift truck, a pair of tines carried by the mounting frame and extending forwardly from the mounting frame in the direction of forklift truck travel, each of the tines comprising an L-shaped body having a substantially upright shank terminating in a heel portion at its lower end and a substantially horizontal blade extending forwardly from the heel and terminating in a tip, the blade having a top face, a bottom face and a pair of side faces, the pair of tines further being mounted on the mounting frame for movement towards and away from each other in a lateral direction relative to the direction of forklift truck travel, and in which each of the tines has a stub suitable for engagement of the leg of a gas tank, the stub being mounted on a side face of the tine's blade and protruding outwardly therefrom in a lateral direction relative to the direction of forklift truck travel, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing the tines under the tank body adjacent the pair of ground engaging legs;
• moving the tines on the mounting frame laterally in opposite directions relative to each other until the stubs engage the ground engaging legs;
• raising the tines on the lifting assembly thereby raising the tank and the ground engaging legs off the ground;
• moving the tank to a desired location, and, when at the desired location:
• lowering the tines on the lifting assembly until the ground engaging legs re-engage the ground;
• moving the tines on the mounting frame laterally in the opposite direction until the stubs disengage the ground engaging legs;
• and
• retracting the tines from under the tank body.