5
Ensure all valves are fully closed and that there are no leaks. Secure cylinders against movement within the vehicle. Do not
allow any part of the cylinder to protrude from vehicle (this prohibits cylinders being carried horizontally across forklift tines).
Disconnect all equipment (e.g. pressure regulators) from cylinders. Do not use cylinders in a closed vehicle.
Acetylene and LPG cylinders must be transported upright even when empty (this ensures that the safety device is in contact
with vapour and not liquid).
Handling
Do not move cylinders with the cylinder valves open.
Never lift a cylinder with magnets, chains or a sling. Use a cradle when lifting cylinders by crane. Never roll a cylinder along the
ground. This damages the identification labels, and may cause the valve to open. Use a trolley for manual handling. The trolley
should incorporate a heat shield because of the proximity of the fuel gas to the oxygen cylinder .
Cylinder Use
The manufacturer's instructions and recommendations should always be followed.
a)
Never "crack" a fuel gas cylinder valve when adjacent to any ignition source.
b)
Damaged valves or regulators or those suspected to be damaged should not be used until checked by a qualified
service agent/organisation or person.
c)
Cylinders must never be used as rollers to assist moving other objects.
d)
Acetylene and LPG cylinders must always be in the vertical or near vertical position when in use and when empty
e)
Acetylene can only be used to a maximum pressure of 150 kPa (gauge). With increasing pressure explosion may occur
due to instability of this gas.
f)
Opening of cylinder valves should only be carried out with approved keys or hand wheels. Do not use excessive
force or extension key to open or close cylinder valves.
g)
Acetylene valves should not be opened more than about one and a half turns, one turn is preferable to allow for
quick closing in an emergency.
h)
Empty cylinders should have the valves closed, any protective caps fitted and be suitably identified, eg "MT" in chalk.
Connection to regulators and hoses
Keep the cylinder valve clean, especially its outlet connection. No grit, dirt, oil or dirty water should be present. Particles of dirt
and residual moisture may be removed by "cracking" open the valve momentarily and then closing it. Note: great care must be
taken when "cracking" as serious injuries can occur.
Make sure the Uni-Flame pressure regulator is suitable for the gas and pressure in the cylinder and that its inlet connection is the
same thread as that in the cylinder valve. Fuel gas connections have left handed threads. Never force any connection that does
not fit.
Open the cylinder valve slowly using its hand wheel or a suitable key for key-operated cylinder valves. Do not over tighten
the spindle when shutting off the valve as this will destroy the soft seating material in the valve. If the valve spindle is too
stiff to turn with the hand wheel or the correct key, do not increase the leverage on the spindle and return the cylinder to the
gas supplier.
Equipment Specifications and Assembly
General
Uni-Flame gas cutting and welding equipment has been properly designed, manufactured and tested independently to meet
Australian standards. It must be maintained and used with full consideration of the hazards inherent to the use of oxy-fuel gas
mixtures detailed previously.
Pressure Regulators and Gauges
Gas cutting and welding applications should never be supplied directly from compressed gas cylinders. A Uni-Flame pressure
regulator must be connected to the gas cylinder to control the pressure of the gas at the welding or cutting blowpipe.
Uni-Flame regulators are fitted with two pressure gauges to allow monitoring of the cylinder contents and the delivery pressure
to the end application.
Although accidents rarely occur as a direct result of regulator failure, care must be continuously exercised because the
potential hazards are severe. This is particularly true of oxygen regulators where ignition and explosion is possible under
adverse conditions.
The following recommendations should be observed in order to ensure continued safe operations:
a)
Uni-Flame Regulators should be used only with the gas and maximum cylinder pressure for which they are designed
and labelled (see AS 4267).
b)
Never test a regulator for gas leaks with a naked flame.
INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR UNI-FLAME
GAS WELDING, FLAME CUTTING AND GOUGING KIT
