Patent US3596781A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3596781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for assembling cylinders in a minimum space, and product of that method and apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-02-27
•
Granted: 1971-08-03
•
Expires: 1989-02-27
Abstract
Abstract The method and apparatus for assembling, e.g., for storage or for transportation, right circular cylinders, e.g., tobacco hogsheads, in a minimum space. The cylinders are placed on end and are aligned in adjacent rows so that each cylinder is tangent to two cylinders in each adjacent row. If so aligned, the horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes of any three tangent cylinders intersect at angles of 60*. Pallet structures are disclosed which assist in aligning the cylinders according to the invention, and which also assist in distributing the load between tiers of stacked cylinders, so as to make the stack more stable. Particular dimensions for the pallets, related to the cylinder diameters, are disclosed, together with particular methods of arranging the pallets under one or more tiers of cylinders.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry Fred Burton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:33
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
The method of assembling right circular cylinders of equal diameter in a minimum space, comprising the steps of: a. arranging a plurality of pallets, each having a width equal to the cylinder diameter and a length within the range from about 1.56 to about 1.89 times the cylinder diameter, in at least two adjacent rows, with the long sides of the pallets in each row abutting and the short sides aligned, with one set of the aligned short sides of one row abutting one set of the aligned short sides of the adjacent row, and with each pair of abutting long sides of each row displaced by about one-half the width of a pallet from a pair of abutting long sides of the adjacent row; b. standing the cylinders on end on the rows of pallets so that, for each pallet, one cylinder rests on the pallet at one end thereof, with its bottom surface tangent to both long sides of the pallet, and two other cylinders rests on the other end of the pallet, both tangent to said one cylinder and overlapping the adjacent pallets, with said long sides of the pallet extending substantially diametrically of said two other cylinders; and c. aligning the cylinders in adjacent rows so thAt each cylinder is tangent to two cylinders in each adjacent row and horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at angles of 60*.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
234 words
The method of assembling right circular cylinders of equal diameter in a minimum space, comprising the steps of: a. arranging a plurality of pallets, each having a width equal to the cylinder diameter and a length within the range from about 1.56 to about 1.89 times the cylinder diameter, in at least two adjacent rows, with the long sides of the pallets in each row abutting and the short sides aligned, with one set of the aligned short sides of one row abutting one set of the aligned short sides of the adjacent row, and with each pair of abutting long sides of each row displaced by about one-half the width of a pallet from a pair of abutting long sides of the adjacent row; b. standing the cylinders on end on the rows of pallets so that, for each pallet, one cylinder rests on the pallet at one end thereof, with its bottom surface tangent to both long sides of the pallet, and two other cylinders rests on the other end of the pallet, both tangent to said one cylinder and overlapping the adjacent pallets, with said long sides of the pallet extending substantially diametrically of said two other cylinders; and c. aligning the cylinders in adjacent rows so thAt each cylinder is tangent to two cylinders in each adjacent row and horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at angles of 60*.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1, in which the cylinders overlap the aligned short sides at one side of each row of pallets, and are tangent to the aligned short sides at the other side of each row, and the pallet length is substantially 1.78 times the cylinder diameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 2, in which there are only two rows of pallets, and four rows of cylinders, with the cylinders in the two inner rows overlapping the two rows of pallets and the cylinders in the two outer rows tangent to the outer edges of the pallets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, in which the cylinders overlap the aligned short sides at both sides of each row of pallets and the pallet length is substantially 1.56 times the cylinder diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, in which the pallets at opposite ends of adjacent rows have a width equal to about 1.5 times the cylinder diameter, so that the long sides of the pallets at the ends of the rows are aligned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 5, including the steps of: a. arranging the pallets and cylinders in a plurality of tiers, each tier comprising one layer of pallets surmounted by at least one layer of cylinders; b. placing the wide pallets (1.5 times cylinder diameter) at the end of each row of pallets in vertical alignment with a narrow pallet ( cylinder diameter) in the next adjacent tier.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of assembling right circular cylinders of equal diameter in a minimum space, comprising the steps of: a. arranging a plurality of pallets, each having a width equal to the cylinder diameter and a length substantially 1.89 times the cylinder diameter in a row, with the long sides of the pallets abutting and the short sides aligned; and b. standing the cylinders on end in two rows along the row of pallets, with the cylinders of one row being tangent to both long sides and one short side of a pallet and each cylinder of the other row having a diameter of the cylinder aligned with the abutting long sides of adjacent pallets, and each cylinder of each row is tangent to two cylinders of the other row, and horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at angles of 60*.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of assembling right circular cylinders of equal diameter in a minimum space, comprising the steps of: a. arranging a plurality of pallets, each having a width equal to the cylinder diameter and a length substantially 1.89 times the cylinder diameter in a row, with the long sides of the pallets abutting and the short sides aligned; and b. standing the cylinders on end in two rows along the row of pallets, with the cylinders of one row being tangent to both long sides and one short side of a pallet and each cylinder of the other row having a diameter of the cylinder aligned with the abutting long sides of adjacent pallets, and each cylinder of each row is tangent to two cylinders of the other row, and horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at angles of 60*.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
An assemblage of right circular cylinders of equal diameter, occupying a minimum space, including two adjacent rows of cylinders standing on end, a single row of pallets supporting said two adjacent rows of cylinders, all said cylinders being tangent to the short sides of the pallets, with the cylinders of one row being tangent to the long sides of the pallets and the cylinders of the other row having diameters aligned with the long sides of the pallets, said pallets having a length about 1.89 times the cylinder diameters, and with each cylinder tangent to two cylinders in each adjacent row, so that horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at angles of 60*.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
An assemblage of right circular cylinders of equal diameter, occupying a minimum space, including two adjacent rows of cylinders standing on end, a single row of pallets supporting said two adjacent rows of cylinders, all said cylinders being tangent to the short sides of the pallets, with the cylinders of one row being tangent to the long sides of the pallets and the cylinders of the other row having diameters aligned with the long sides of the pallets, said pallets having a length about 1.89 times the cylinder diameters, and with each cylinder tangent to two cylinders in each adjacent row, so that horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at angles of 60*.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
188 words
An assemblage of right circular cylinders of equal diameter, occupying a minimum space, including: a. two adjacent rows of pallets supporting four adjacent rows of cylinders, standing on end, and with each cylinder tangent to two cylinders in each adjacent row, so that horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at 60*, each pallet having a width equal to the cylinder diameter and a length equal to about 1.78 times the cylinder diameter, the pallets of each row having their long sides abutting and their short sides aligned; b. with one set of the aligned short sides of one row of pallets abutting one set of the aligned short sides of the adjacent row of pallets; c. with each pair of abutting long sides of each row displaced by about one-half the width of a pallet from a pair of abutting long sides of the adjacent row; d. with the two outer rows of cylinders tangent to the two outer sets of aligned short sides Of the pallets; and e. with the two inner rows of cylinders overlapping the abutting short sides of pallets in the two rows.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
188 words
An assemblage of right circular cylinders of equal diameter, occupying a minimum space, including: a. two adjacent rows of pallets supporting four adjacent rows of cylinders, standing on end, and with each cylinder tangent to two cylinders in each adjacent row, so that horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at 60*, each pallet having a width equal to the cylinder diameter and a length equal to about 1.78 times the cylinder diameter, the pallets of each row having their long sides abutting and their short sides aligned; b. with one set of the aligned short sides of one row of pallets abutting one set of the aligned short sides of the adjacent row of pallets; c. with each pair of abutting long sides of each row displaced by about one-half the width of a pallet from a pair of abutting long sides of the adjacent row; d. with the two outer rows of cylinders tangent to the two outer sets of aligned short sides Of the pallets; and e. with the two inner rows of cylinders overlapping the abutting short sides of pallets in the two rows.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
174 words
An assemblage of right circular cylinders of equal diameter, occupying a minimum space, including: a. more than two adjacent rows of pallets, each providing the principal support for two adjacent rows of cylinders, standing on end, and with each cylinder tangent to two cylinders in each adjacent row, so that horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at 60*, each pallet having a width equal to the cylinder diameter and a length equal to about 1.56 times the cylinder diameter, the pallets of each row having their long sides abutting and their short sides aligned; b. with at least one set of the aligned short sides of each row of pallets abutting one set of the aligned short sides of the adjacent row of pallets; c. with each pair of abutting long sides of each row displaced by about one-half the width of a pallet from a pair of abutting long sides of the adjacent row; and d. with each inside row of cylinders overlapping the abutting short sides of pallets in two rows.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
174 words
An assemblage of right circular cylinders of equal diameter, occupying a minimum space, including: a. more than two adjacent rows of pallets, each providing the principal support for two adjacent rows of cylinders, standing on end, and with each cylinder tangent to two cylinders in each adjacent row, so that horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at 60*, each pallet having a width equal to the cylinder diameter and a length equal to about 1.56 times the cylinder diameter, the pallets of each row having their long sides abutting and their short sides aligned; b. with at least one set of the aligned short sides of each row of pallets abutting one set of the aligned short sides of the adjacent row of pallets; c. with each pair of abutting long sides of each row displaced by about one-half the width of a pallet from a pair of abutting long sides of the adjacent row; and d. with each inside row of cylinders overlapping the abutting short sides of pallets in two rows.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
180 words
An assemblage of right circular cylinders of equal diameter, occupying a minimum space, including: a. at least two adjacent rows of pallets supporting four adjacent rows of cylinders, standing on end, and with each cylinder tangent to two cylinders in each adjacent row, so that horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at 60*, the pallets of each row having their long sides abutting and their short sides aligned; b. with one set of the aligned short sides of one row of pallets abutting one set of the aligned short sides of the adjacent row of pallets; c. with each pair of abutting long sides of each row displaced by about one-half the width of a pallet from a pair of abutting long sides of the adjacent row; d. with each inside row of cylinders overlapping the abutting short sides of pallets in two rows; and e. pallets at the opposite ends of adjacent rows having a width equal to about 1.5 times the cylinder diameter, so that the long pallet sides at the ends of the rows are aligned.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
180 words
An assemblage of right circular cylinders of equal diameter, occupying a minimum space, including: a. at least two adjacent rows of pallets supporting four adjacent rows of cylinders, standing on end, and with each cylinder tangent to two cylinders in each adjacent row, so that horizontal lines connecting the cylinder axes intersect at 60*, the pallets of each row having their long sides abutting and their short sides aligned; b. with one set of the aligned short sides of one row of pallets abutting one set of the aligned short sides of the adjacent row of pallets; c. with each pair of abutting long sides of each row displaced by about one-half the width of a pallet from a pair of abutting long sides of the adjacent row; d. with each inside row of cylinders overlapping the abutting short sides of pallets in two rows; and e. pallets at the opposite ends of adjacent rows having a width equal to about 1.5 times the cylinder diameter, so that the long pallet sides at the ends of the rows are aligned.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
An assemblage as defined in claim 11, including: a. a plurality of tiers of pallets and cylinders, each tier comprising one layer of pallets surmounted by at least one layer of cylinders; b. with the wide pallet (1.5 times the cylinder diameter) at the end of each row of pallets in vertical alignment with a narrow pallet (width equals cylinder diameter) in the next adjacent tier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method of claim 12, in which said stack is assembled in a plurality of tiers, each tier comprising a layer of pallets surmounted by at least one layer of cylinders, comprising the further steps of: f. after each step (d), placing another pallet on the top of the cylinder tier and above said second and third cylinders; g. after the second repetition of step (f), repeating step (b) by placing a cylinder on the second tier of pallets placed during the two repetitions of step (f); h. after each subsequent repetition of step (f), repeating step (d) by placing at least two cylinders on said second tier of pallets.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
348 words
The method of assembling in a space accessible from one end, a stable stack comprising a plurality of right circular cylinders of equal nominal diameter but subject to minor variations in size and shape, comprising the steps of: a. placing on a supporting floor an initial array of elongated pallets, each having a width at least substantially equal to said cylinder diameter and a length equal to about 1.78 times said cylinder diameter, said array comprising two rows, each row comprising at least one pallet, with one short side of each pallet abutting a short side of a pallet in the other row, and one long side of a foremost pallet in one row spaced toward said accessible end of the space from the side of a pallet in the other row; b. placing on the pallet in the other row a first one of said cylinders, standing on end, with its bottom end overlapping the abutting end of at least one pallet in said one row; c. placing in said other row an additional pallet having a width substantially equal to the cylinder diameter and a length equal to about 1.78 times the cylinder diameter, with a long side of said additional pallet abutting a long side of the adjacent pallet in said other row and a short side of said additional pallet abutting a portion of a short side of the foremost pallet in said one row, so that the additional pallet becomes the foremost pallet in the two rows; d. placing on the pallets in said one row second and third cylinders, standing on end, with their surfaces tangent and with the surface of one of said second and third cylinders tangent to said first cylinder, and so that a horizontal line drawn between the axes of the second and third cylinder intersects a horizontal line drawn between the axes of the first and third cylinders at an angle of 120*; e. repeating steps (c) and (d), alternately beginning with a pallet in said one row, and then with a pallet in the other row.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
348 words
The method of assembling in a space accessible from one end, a stable stack comprising a plurality of right circular cylinders of equal nominal diameter but subject to minor variations in size and shape, comprising the steps of: a. placing on a supporting floor an initial array of elongated pallets, each having a width at least substantially equal to said cylinder diameter and a length equal to about 1.78 times said cylinder diameter, said array comprising two rows, each row comprising at least one pallet, with one short side of each pallet abutting a short side of a pallet in the other row, and one long side of a foremost pallet in one row spaced toward said accessible end of the space from the side of a pallet in the other row; b. placing on the pallet in the other row a first one of said cylinders, standing on end, with its bottom end overlapping the abutting end of at least one pallet in said one row; c. placing in said other row an additional pallet having a width substantially equal to the cylinder diameter and a length equal to about 1.78 times the cylinder diameter, with a long side of said additional pallet abutting a long side of the adjacent pallet in said other row and a short side of said additional pallet abutting a portion of a short side of the foremost pallet in said one row, so that the additional pallet becomes the foremost pallet in the two rows; d. placing on the pallets in said one row second and third cylinders, standing on end, with their surfaces tangent and with the surface of one of said second and third cylinders tangent to said first cylinder, and so that a horizontal line drawn between the axes of the second and third cylinder intersects a horizontal line drawn between the axes of the first and third cylinders at an angle of 120*; e. repeating steps (c) and (d), alternately beginning with a pallet in said one row, and then with a pallet in the other row.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA606644A
Cited
US1833764A
Cited
US2218316A
Cited
US2424395A
Cited
US2535828A
Cited
US2812727A
Cited
US3434602A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |