Gas cylinders on an angle?

[gsganzer]

Why do so many welding trailers and welding rigs have the cylinders on an angle? I understand that typically O2 and some of the inert shielding gas can be tipped. But the acetylene is a whole different deal. I just modified a skid that my welder is on and put the oxygen at 45 degrees and I kept the acetylene standing straight up. But it makes me wonder why I see so many trailers/rigs with BOTH cylinders angled.

Look at this photo, they have these cylinders tipped even further than 45 degrees. Has something changed with acetylene cylinders or maybe folks are running propane instead of acetylene?

 

[robstaples]

Looking at the trailer, I’d say it was for tank stability. Loading and holding tank for transport, that’s a great design. Lower overall height for wind resistance while protecting valves.

 

[PILOON]

Just a guess but I suspect the main criteria is to prevent liquid from entering the valve and at that angle the valve would be 'high and dry'.
O2 is only a gas under pressure but acetylene is stored in a liquid state , I believe.

 

[yomax4]

Some of the guys like to be able to reach the valves from the ground. Personally I wouldn't risk the acetylene on angle like that. They are short enough to stand up plus they take up less room standing. I'm not sure how far you could tip one before there's a problem.

 

[Big Barn]

Looking at the trailer, I’d say it was for tank stability. Loading and holding tank for transport, that’s a great design. Lower overall height for wind resistance while protecting valves.

I agree with you on the tank design mounting but I can’t speak with authority on the acetylene angle factor.

 

[Big Barn]

I realize the trailer isn’t the OP’s. Personally I would have relocated and elevated the welder to be more user friendly. The oxygen bottle could have been laid flat underneath it and the shorter acetylene bottle could have been mounted vertical to save space as yomax said.

Pretty much a very inefficient design IMO. Lots of better (and worse) ones to pick from on Google images.

 

[BukitCase]

All of these say pretty much the same thing; vertical ONLY - some even recommend transporting vertically only

https://www.boconline.co.uk/en/images/Facts-about-acetylene_tcm410-262700.pdf
https://ehrs.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/2018-02/Acetylene Fact Sheet.pdf
Importance of Acetoning - Dissolving Acetylene in Acetone
Acetylene - Wikipedia
Acetylene - Encyclopedia

Check out the pic on the second link if you're STILL not sure all this is important... Steve

 

[yomax4]

Around here the DOT will zing you a ticket for transporting with Regs attched. They sit at the scrap yard waiting for the scrap guys to come up the street. They are particularly strict with the scrap guys.

 

[gsganzer]

Around here the DOT will zing you a ticket for transporting with Regs attched. They sit at the scrap yard waiting for the scrap guys to come up the street. They are particularly strict with the scrap guys.

I think you can have regs attached if you have "in-service" cylinder safety caps, but I might be wrong.

 

[Big Barn]

I have a firm dislike for DOT. Not necessarily because of welding bottles but just BECAUSE......

 

[Peter 315]

I have a firm dislike for DOT. Not necessarily because of welding bottles but just BECAUSE......

The DOT is are friend just trying to make it safe for everybody I have tickets to prove it....LOL

 

[Big Barn]

The DOT is are friend just trying to make it safe for everybody I have tickets to prove it....LOL

Thanks Peter that made me chuckle.

 

[Ford850]

The DOT is are friend just trying to make it safe for everybody I have tickets to prove it....LOL

“Hello, I’m from the DOT, and I’m here to help”

 

[yomax4]

I think you can have regs attached if you have "in-service" cylinder safety caps, but I might be wrong.

I remember selling hundreds of those caps I think at the time were called Tulip caps. It worked for a while but the DOT in MN. found a way to still write tickets for regs on bottles even with Tulip caps. Hard asses.

 

[dstig1]

If that is an acetylene tank, that is a big no-no. Very dangerous. The pic it so small it is hard to tell. It might be a propane bottle, in which case, I think it is not so bad, though propane is partially liquid in the tank. That's a different issue than acetylene.

 

[dragoneggs]

What would be cool (to me anyway), a hinged set up for the tanks so you could transport in a lowered position and then pivot them to vertical at the job site.

 

[yomax4]

If that is an acetylene tank, that is a big no-no. Very dangerous. The pic it so small it is hard to tell. It might be a propane bottle, in which case, I think it is not so bad, though propane is partially liquid in the tank. That's a different issue than acetylene.

True, It's probably not propane due to the sizes of the tans it comes in but you have a point that it may an alternate fuel for sure. Propylene or Chemolene. They come in an acetylene sized tank and can be used at that angle. Anything more though and they can flame out like when you turn a 1# propane upside down with a turbo torch or similar attached. The pic is unclear.

 

[BukitCase]

"transport in a lowered position and then pivot them to vertical at the job site"

Let's see; move trailer to job site, tip up tanks, then (if acetylene) wait 12 hours for the acetylene tank to normalize, then - Oh, wait, time to go home :laughing:

Sorry mark, couldn't resist... Steve

 

[dragoneggs]

"transport in a lowered position and then pivot them to vertical at the job site"

Let's see; move trailer to job site, tip up tanks, then (if acetylene) wait 12 hours for the acetylene tank to normalize, then - Oh, wait, time to go home :laughing:

Sorry mark, couldn't resist... Steve

Oops... sorry I wasn't thinking acetylene!

 

[Big Barn]

Oops... sorry I wasn't thinking acetylene!

You were thinking Union job...