using protective equipment.
A container with unknown contents should be cleaned (see paragraph above). Do NOT depend on sense of smell or sight to determine if it is safe to weld or cut.
Hollow castings or containers must be vented before welding or cutting. They can explode.
Explosive atmospheres. NEVER weld or cut where the air may contain flam- mable dust, gas, or liquid vapors (such as gasoline).
D. Compressed Gas Equipment
The safe handling of compressed gas equipment is detailed in numerous indus- try publications. The following general rules cover many of the most common situations.
1. Pressure Regulators
Regulator relief valve is designed to protect only the regulator from overpres- sure; it is not intended to protect any downstream equipment. Provide such protection with one or more relief devices.
Never connect a regulator to a cylinder containing gas other than that for which the regulator was designed.
Remove faulty regulator from service immediately for repair (first close cylinder valve). The following symptoms indicate a faulty regulator:
Leaks - if gas leaks externally.
Excessive Creep - if delivery pressure continues to rise with downstream valve closed.
Faulty Gauge - if gauge pointer does not move off stop pin when pressurized, nor returns to stop pin after pressure release.
Repair. Do NOT attempt repair. Send faulty regulators for repair to manufac- turer’s designated repair center, where special techniques and tools are used by trained personnel.
2. Cylinders
Cylinders must be handled carefully to prevent leaks and damage to their walls, valves, or safety devices:
Avoid electrical circuit contact with cylin- ders including third rails, electrical wires, or welding circuits. They can produced short circuit arcs that may lead to a seri- ous accident. (See
ICC or DOT marking must be on each cylinder. It is an assurance of safety when the cylinder is properly handled.
Identifying gas content. Use only cylin- ders with name of gas marked on them; do not rely on color to identify gas con- tent. Notify supplier if unmarked. NEVER DEFACE or alter name, number, or other markings on a cylinder. It is illegal and hazardous.
Empties: Keep valves closed, replace caps securely; mark MT; keep them sepa- rate from FULLS, and return promptly.
Prohibited use. Never use a cylinder or its contents for other than its intended use, NEVER as a support or roller.
Locate or secure cylinders so they cannot be knocked over.
Passageways and work areas. Keep cyl- inders clear of areas where they may be stuck.
Transporting cylinders. With a crane, use a secure support such as a platform or cradle. Do NOT lift cylinders off the ground by their valves or caps, or by chains, slings, or magnets.
Do NOT expose cylinders to excessive heat, sparks, slag, and flame, etc. that may cause rupture. Do not allow contents to exceed 55 degrees C (130 degrees F.) Cool with water spray where such exposure exists.
Protect cylinders, particularly valves from bumps, falls, falling objects, and weather. Replace caps securely when moving cyl- inders.
Stuck valve. Do NOT use a hammer or wrench to open a cylinder valve that cannot be opened by hand. Notify your supplier.
Mixing gases. NEVER try to mix any gases in a cylinder.
NEVER refill any cylinder.
Cylinder fittings should never be modified or exchanged.
3. Hose
Prohibited use. Never use hose other than that designed for the specified gas. A general hose identification rule is: red for fuel gas, green for oxygen, and black for inert gases.
Use ferrules or clamps designed for the hose (not ordinary wire or other substitute) as a binding to connect hoses to fittings.
No copper tubing splices. Use only stan- dard brass fittings to splice hose.
Avoid long runs to prevent kinks and abuse. Suspend hose off ground to keep it from being run over, stepped on, or otherwise damaged.
Coil excess hose to prevent kinks and tangles.
Protect hose from damage by sharp edges, and by sparks, slag, and open flame.
Examine hose regularly for leaks, wear, and loose connections. Immerse pressured hose in water; bubbles indicate leaks
Repair leaky or worn hose by cutting area out and splicing. Do NOT use tape.
4. Proper Connections
Clean cylinder valve outlet of impurities that may clog orifices and damage seats before connecting regulator. Except for hydrogen, crack valve momentarily, pointing outlet away from people and sources of ignition. Wipe with a clean, lintless cloth.
Match regulator to cylinder. Before con- necting, check that the regulator label and cylinder marking agree, and that the regulator inlet and cylinder outlet match. NEVER Connect a regulator designed for a particular gas or gases to a cylinder contain-
ing any other gas.
Tighten connections. When assembling threaded connections, clean and smooth seats where necessary. Tighten. If con- nection leaks, disassemble, clean, and retighten, using properly fitting wrench.
Adapters. Use a CGA adapter (available from your supplier) between cylinder and regulator, if one is required. Use two wrenches to tighten adapter marked RIGHT and LEFT HAND threads.
Regulator outlet (or hose) connections may be identified by right hand threads for oxygen and left hand threads (with grooved hex on nut or shank) for fuel gas.
5. Pressurizing Steps:
Drain regulator of residual gas through suitable vent before opening cylinder (or manifold valve) by turning adjusting screw in (clockwise). Draining prevents excessive compression heat at high pressure seat by allowing seat to open on pressurization. Leave adjusting screw engaged slightly on
Stand to side of regulator while opening cylinder valve.
Open cylinder valve slowly so that regu- lator pressure increases slowly. When gauge is pressurized (gauge reaches regulator maximum) leave cylinder valve in following position: for oxygen and inert gases, open fully to seal stem against possible leak; for fuel gas, open to less than one turn to permit quick emergency
Use pressure charts (available from your supplier) for safe and efficient recom- mended pressure settings on regulators.
Check for leaks on first pressurization and regularly thereafter. Brush with soap solution. Bubbles indicate leaks. Clean off soapy water after test; dried soap is combustible.
E. User Responsibilities
Follow all Safety Rules.
Remove leaky or defective equipment from service immediately for repair. Read and follow user manual instructions.
F. Leaving Equipment Unattended
Close gas supply at source and drain gas.
G. Rope
Rope
1-3 ARC WELDING
Comply with precautions in
Python® Lincoln Compatible™ Owner's Manual - Page ii
