Philip Poburka on sat 9 mar 02
Regulators intended for mediating the pressures of specific Gases tend to
have on their ends, such fittings as are standardized and also complimentary
to
the fittings on the Kinds of Bottles the Gas for which they are
intended comes in.
Co2, Acetylene or Propane, Oxygen, etc all have their own paticular fittings
and the Regulators intended for them will not fit the Bottles of the others.
So far as I know, the Standard screw fitting for Acetylene Bottles is the
same, or was for a long time, as that of Propane. Except for those Bottles
as are used in Fork LIfts and Vehicles, which have their own
fitting-types...and those may be replaced if one like with the 'other'
Propane kind of fitting.
Any regulator which would work for Acetylene would work for Propane...or it
used to be so at any rate. I
have routinely used Propane Bottles to stand in for my Acetylene when I had
run out, and have been happy to just leave it that way as well.
Which 'fitting' that is on the Bottle, is a female-counter-clockwise thread
leading to a
concave recess, and on the Regulator a male-counter-clockwise threaded
Acorn-like 'nut'
which slides on a shaft with a rounded end...
Bottles anticipated to contain high pressures are dated with the year and
month of their manufacture, and are expected to be rated for the pressures
associated with that gas in question, for some period of years.
I do not know the span of years involved, but eventually one is obliged if
one wishes to be in good keeping with the Inter-State Commerce Commission,
and the Dep't of Transportation I think, to have out-of-date Bottles
Hydro-Tested by a licensed concern who does that sort of thing, and to then
get it
stamped with a fresher date.
A 'hydro-test' is a method for determining some notion of the pressures a
closable vessel may sustain, useing water for the 'test', which, being
non-compressable, in
the event of a burst, will not propell schrapnell or shards or startle the
technicians too badly.
Then the business who does the refilling of the gas, of the Bottle, will be
happy that the date is within the range which their license obliges them to
heed.
Any Regulator which has in it a viable flexable 'diaphram' , which does not
leak, is not conspicuously corroded, and which has a responsive 'needle' may
be found agreeable, or may be brought or sent to a Regulator rebuilding
concern for evaluation or remedial attentions as needed.
Regulators which now are approaching a hundred years old may or may not be
fine as-is, and may have their diaphrams renewed by any competent party who
can understand their workings to put them in good order, or bye a
professional concern who specializes in these matters.
Two-stage Regulators (having to them two Gauges or Dials) may be fun, though
not necessary for the Propane, as it is not contained to such high pressures
as is Acetylene, so a single stage (One Gauge) would tend to be fine.
A Regulator's adjustment for the election of that pressure one is wanting,
often has a 'wing-top-shaft' which ought be in the turned
'out', or turned to their relieved position, when the gas pressure is
allowed to be turned on.
Turning the Gas 'on' when the Regulator is attempting to mediate the
pressure can hurt the regulator, and should not be done.
Once the Gas is again 'off', the Regulator ought be turned 'out' in proper
ready
for the next occasion and to relieve the mechanical pressures on the
Diaphram.
Some of my Regulators are about ninety years old and are fine and happy
insturments ready and able to do what they do very well.
Some Regulators are not adjustable, and are set internally to anticipate the
particular
pressure the manufacturer supposes you to need for some purpose. These do
not have any gauges to wittness the pressures going through it.
Those which have to them a single or a dual 'dial' (or Gauge) for the
witnessing
of indicated (and elected') pressures, will be found adjustable to a range
of pressures
covering about any imaginable contingency or purpose you should have.
Any Welding Supply shop would carry Acetylene Regulators, and could advise
about choices among them or similar, for regulateing Propane for a Kiln, or
as well to recommend a competent Mail-Order-house or local
technician-mechanic for the evaluation or repair of an existing or 'found'
Regulator you may wish to use.
Phil
Las Vegas...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Working Potter"
To:
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 11:58 AM
Subject: Re: gas/fear
> What are some good regulators for raku and put to gether temporary kilns
> that are fired off propane portable tanks?WHAT CRITERIA ARE USED AS
> GUIDELINES?
>
>
> kmelpots@PCLINK.COM writes:
>
>
> > a regulator without fail. never use propane
> > straight from the tank. always buy and use
> > a regulator.
> >
> >
>
>
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