WAR USES OF OXYGEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1917, Page 6

WAR USES OF OXYGEN.

BIG EXTENSION IN PAST THREE 1 YEARS. Of the industrial applications of oxygen undoubtedly metal cutting comes first/ The oxygen metal cutter is pro. bably the most rcmajkable labor-saving tool that has ever bceen introduced. It is 110 exaggeration to state that 70 per ceiit. 01 s the oxygen used ill the United Kingdom at the present time is employed for cutting, and its value for this purpose in the naval dockyards, shipbuilding and repairing yards, steel works and engineering establishments is such that its use is only limited by the supply of oxygen available. The other industrial uses of oxygen of outstanding importance at the present time are jhiefly in connection with the fusion w.elding of metals, and more especially, says "Engineering," oxy-aeety-lene welding. This valuable process is employed constructionally in the welding of bombs, mines, aeroplanes and a large variety of war material. Its value for repairs of every description is demonstrated by the extensive employment of the process in the motor transport and flying services at the front. Some thousands of men and women have been trained as expert oxy-acetylene welders since the outbreak of war, and in fact there are now very few engineering works in this country which.. are not equipped with the oxy-acetylene blowpipe. When it is remembered that every cubic foot of oxygen used industrially has to be distributed in cylinders, together with greatly increased supplies for military hospitals it must be admitted that the task which lies on the British Oxygen Company at the present time, is not a light one. One of the greatest difficulties the company has to contend with is the shortage of cylinders for the effective distribution of its output of o.yvgen. Whilst every effort has been made by the firm to obtain more cylinders, direct Government requirements have hitherto been given precedence, with (he result that although the production of oxygen has steadily increased, the number of cylinders available fot transporting the gas has remained almost stationary.