US 6,883,766 B1 · Quick release mechanical bracket

A. a frame means of aluminum extending vertically including;

(1) an upper flange means extending outwardly therefrom;

(2) a lower flange means extending outwardly therefrom at a position spatially disposed below said upper flange means to define a tank holding zone therebetween;

(3) a securement apparatus for facilitating mounting of said frame means to environmental structure, said securement apparatus including:

(a) an upper securement means positioned adjacent said upper flange means;

(b) a lower securement means positioned adjacent said lower flange means;

(c) an intermediate securement means positioned at an intermediate position below said upper securement means and above said lower securement means to facilitate fixed securement of said frame means to environmental structure;

B. a first driveshaft means made of steel and rotatably mounted within said upper flange means and rotatably mounted within said lower flange means and extending therebetween;

C. a second driveshaft means made of steel and rotatably mounted within said upper flange means at a position laterally spatially disposed from said first driveshaft means, said second driveshaft means being rotatably mounted within said lower flange means at a position spatially disposed laterally from said first driveshaft means, said second driveshaft means extending vertically between said upper flange means and said lower flange means at a position laterally displaced from said first driveshaft means, said second driveshaft means and said first driveshaft means extending vertically approximately parallel with respect to one another to define said tank holding zone therebetween below said upper flange means and above said lower flange means;

D. a tank clamping means secured to said first driveshaft beans and said second driveshaft means and being movable therewith between a closed position retaining a tank within said tank holding zone and an opened position releasing a tank to allow removal thereof from said tank holding zone, said tank clamping means including;

(1) an upper tank clamping member including

(a) a first upper clamping arm means;

(b) a second upper clamping arm means, said first upper clamping arm means being secured to said first driveshaft means at a position thereon closer to said upper flange means than to said lower flange means and said second upper clamping arm means being secured to said second driveshaft means at a position thereon closer to said upper flange means than to said lower flange means;

(2) a lower tank clamping member including;

(a) a first lower clamping arm means;

(b) a second lower clamping arm means, said first lower clamping arm means being secured to said first driveshaft means at a position thereon closer to said lower flange means than to said upper flange means and said second lower clamping arm means being secured to said second driveshaft means at a position thereon closer to said lower flange means than to said upper flange means;

E. a first guide boss means of aluminum and formed integrally with said frame means below said upper flange means and above said lower frame means at a position intermediate therebetween adjacent said first driveshaft means, said first guide boss means positioned immediately adjacent said intermediate securement means in order to facilitate maintaining of structural integrity of said frame means thereadjacent for minimizing lateral deflecting of said first driveshaft mean, said first guide boss means defining a first profiled guide surface being arcuate and at least partially encircling said first driveshaft means and positioned thereadjacent to prevent lateral deflection thereof, said first profiled guide surface of said first guide boss means being positioned adjacent said first driveshaft means diametrically opposite from said tank holding zone to restrict lateral flexing of said first driveshaft means away from said tank holding zone, said first profiled guide surface of said first guide boss means being laterally spaced from said first driveshaft means at a distance of 0.005 to 0.010 inches, said first profiled guide surface of said first guide boss means extending through an arc of approximately 120 degrees to further limit lateral deflecting of said first driveshaft means, said first guide boss means being located at an intermediate position adjacent said first driveshaft means below said first upper clamping arm means and above said first lower clamping arm means to minimize lateral deflection of said first driveshaft means, said first guide boss means being positioned adjacent said first driveshaft means at a position halfway between said upper flange means thereabove and said lower flange means therebelow, said first profiled guide surface including:

(1) a first upper guide edge;

(2) a first lower guide edge spaced apart from said first upper guide edge, said first upper guide edge and said first lower guide edge cooperating to further prevent deflection of said first driveshaft means laterally;

F. a second guide boss means of aluminum and formed integrally with said frame means below said upper flange means and above said lower frame means at a position intermediate therebetween adjacent said second driveshaft means, said second guide boss means positioned immediately adjacent said intermediate securement means in order to facilitate maintaining of structural integrity of said frame means thereadjacent for minimizing lateral deflecting of said second driveshaft means, said second guide boss means defining a second profiled guide surface being arcuate and at least partially encircling said second driveshaft means and positioned thereadjacent to prevent lateral deflection thereof, said second profiled guide surface of said second guide boss means being positioned adjacent said second driveshaft means diametrically opposite from said tank holding zone to restrict lateral flexing of said second driveshaft means away from said tank holding zone, said second profiled guide surface of said second guide boss means being laterally spaced from said second driveshaft means at a distance between 0.005 to 0.010 inches, said second profiled guide surface of said second guide boss means extending through an arc of approximately 120 degrees to further limit lateral deflecting of said second driveshaft means, said second guide boss means being located at an intermediate position adjacent said second driveshaft means below said second upper clamping arm means and above said second lower clamping arm means to minimize lateral deflection of said second driveshaft means, said second guide boss means being positioned adjacent said second driveshaft means at a position halfway between said upper flange means thereabove and said lower flange means therebelow, said second profiled guide surface of said second guide boss means including:

(1) a second upper guide edge;

(2) a second lower guide edge spaced apart from said second upper guide edge, said second lower guide edge and said second upper guide edge cooperating together to further prevent deflection of said second driveshaft means laterally;

and

G. an interengagement means operatively attached with respect to said first driveshaft means and said second driveshaft means for rotating both simultaneously, said interengagement means being operative to rotate said first driveshaft means counterclockwise and said second driveshaft means clockwise simultaneously to move said first clamping means and said second clamping means toward the closed position for retaining of a tank within said tank holding zone, said interengagement means being operative to rotate said first driveshaft means clockwise and said second driveshaft means counterclockwise simultaneously to move said first clamping means and said second clamping means toward the opened position for releasing of a tank from within said tank holding zone.

Quick release mechanical bracket

Life of this patent

Quick release mechanical bracket

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16