INTERESTING DEMONSTRATION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1936, 19 December 1913, Page 10

INTERESTING DEMONSTRATION

OXYGEN WELDING 'N IDLE \OL ( : ... • _ :■ WAIT:.%,;^y V :; V: ;F S Before some of tho Wellington Tram-' way and Union S.S. Company's, officials : a demonstration. was ■' given a Sow i days aga at the Harris Street 'poweri house cf ilio. Sandford (American) oxyacetylonc steel cutting and welding pro- ! cess._ This method of oxygen welding provides a complete and 'portable plant for making t'ho bases on the spot, and applying them direct .to the work in hand. This was done with success at the power-house yesterday, and a halfinch steel plate and a 901b. steel tramrail were cut into sections wiili compnrativo ease,' though tlsero was somo iittlo trouble with back-tiring owing to the hozk'o becoming heated. Thcro is something uncanny to the lay mind in watching the process. There are. two cylinders about 3ft. in height, and 2}ft. in diameter, oil a wheeled truck. Hie. front one (nearest the hand shaft) is charged with oxygen made by heating (by acetylene gas jots),' a mixture ot chlorate of potash and black oxide of manganese in two small troughs.' The gas from these is conducted into tho nearest cylinder, which has a- gauge indicating t'ho pressure. Carbide is placed in a receptacle at the top of the second cylinder, and the gas therefrom is conducted under pressure to the 1 other cylinder. Long indiarubber tubes lead from both to a single nozzle, fitted with control' cocks, ■ which need fairly constant attention during the ttmo . tho flame is. in operation.., The burner ejects a fierce white tongue of flame, ■ which is fined out under control to a dazzlinslv brilliant white point, which is applied direct to the object to be cut..The point of contact becomes. white-hot in a sordid or two, and a', sliowor of. hurtling sparks denotes, that.,the; doing its work. . At times tiny...,pools" : of-white-hot iron form under the !lnnu ; point ; and gradually 'subside;asi'the/heat' • pene•trates a"hn!e clean ontfit is said to bo erjually.fns.effrctive for welding, in 'which' ease' a (lux is needed to act as solder. ' Tho Sandford prqeess is at present in use. a. thc-.-.Addin&toii Railway Workshops, 'and ..lias-been' put to practical use at Oil; Works with comploto success.