(Courtesy of the Bastian-Blessing Co.)
Fig. 33.—Various Types of Adaptors Used to Connect Regulators to Cylinders having Different Connection.
(55) The manufacturers of practically all regulators use the quarter-inch tapered pipe thread in attaching the cylinder connections to the regulator and do not depend upon the threads being gas-tight, so they solder them in. There are various types of cylinder connections put out by different manufacturers of the gases and occasionally it may be necessary to use a cylinder of gas which contains a different connection than is supplied on the regulator. Various adapters, such as shown in [Fig. 33], are supplied to overcome this difficulty, but at times the operator is confronted with the very embarrassing situation, of having a cylinder of gas and his regulator of different connections, but no adapter suitable. This predicament is usually found when some very important work is to be done and sometimes far from a supply depot. At times the operator may have an adapter which will fit the cylinder but not the regulator. If this is the case, his difficulty can be very easily overcome, for generally all adapters are made of two parts, “sweated” together, and have the same quarter-inch tapered thread as used in the cylinder connections on the regulator. The adapter can be separated, the tank connection removed and the correct connection “sweated” into the regulator.
(Courtesy of the U.S. Gauge Co.)
Fig. 34.—Showing Solid-front and Hinged-back Features of a “Safety-first” High-pressure Oxygen Gauge.
(56) Most gauges used in the oxy-acetylene industry to indicate gas pressure are of the Bourbon type. The most recent types of the oxygen high-pressure gauges are constructed with a hinged back and a solid front, which means that should an oil or foreign matter enter the gauge from any source whatsoever and tend to burst it, the back would be blown off and there would be no glass that could possibly fly around. This is a safety device which has been welcomed with much enthusiasm on the part of the oxy-acetylene industry. When leaks occur in gauges, it is always best to remove the gauge from the regulator, stopping the hole temporarily with a pipe plug and return the gauge to the manufacturers for repair. These gauges are very delicately constructed and can be rendered useless if handled by the inexperienced. A great many times after the case of the gauge has been jarred or loosened, the screws connecting this case to the inside working mechanism are tightened up, breaking the soldered connection holding the spring tube on the inside of the gauge. This causes a leak which can be repaired quite easily if the operator is able to solder it. It must be remembered, however, that if the flame is brought in contact with any of the springs that their tension will be lost and that the gauge may not operate correctly after this repair is made unless great care is exercised.
Fig. 35.—A 3000-pound High-pressure Oxygen Gauge.
(57) Undoubtedly there are many welders who in beginning to operate their welding apparatus conclude that their gauges must be at fault when they show a reading after apparently all pressure has been released in closing down the apparatus. It is to avoid the impression that the gauge is at fault that time is here taken to show that even though the cylinder valve is closed and the “cross-bar” on the regulator screwed out that when the torch valves are opened to drain the lines there will still be a reading on the high-pressure gauge if the regulator seat is in good working order. It is simply a case of gas being trapped between the regulator and the cylinder valve. To reduce this reading it is only necessary to screw in the “cross-bar,” thus opening the regulator seat. This could be avoided if the cylinder valve were closed first and the torch valves opened while the regulator “cross-bar” were still screwed in, then as soon as the gas had left the line, the torch valves could be closed and the “cross-bar” on the regulator could be screwed out until free.