Encoded cap for a pressurized gas cylinder

Abstract

A protective cap for a pressurized gas cylinder includes a ferro-magnetic body having an outer surface which is provided with a linear array of holes arranged to encode cylinder data in binary form. The presence or absence of a hole in each of a plurality of linearly spaced positions indicates one of two logic states. While the presence of a hole in a given position indicates one logic state, the absence of a hole at that position indicates the opposite state. Data is encoded in a repetitive but inverse form in two linear side-by-side rows. The data is read by a dual-head inductive transducer which is moved along the linear array such that each of the heads senses the presence or absence of holes in separate ones of the side-by-side rows to generate two separate trains of electrical pulses which are indicative of the encoded data, with one of the trains of pulses being substantially inverse in form from the other of the trains of pulses. The cap structure includes a base which is configured to be rigidly affixed to a neck of a pressurized gas cylinder, and an upstanding part which protectively shrouds a cylinder valve. The upstanding part also forms a yoke which can be engaged by a crane hook for lifting and moving the cylinder. The yoke preferably carries a knob-like projection which extends axially with respect to the cylinder, and which can be grasped to facilitate one's rolling the cylinder to move it manually from place to place.