View Full Version : Transporting O2 safely
Michael Horowitz
October 23rd 07, 10:07 PM
Time to get a refill on my "J" size O2 cylinder.
I usually build a cradle out of 4x4 so it can't roll and something at
the ends to keep it from sliding. This goes in the back of the
Explorer.
Anyone have a better scheme for moving a full cylinder? Mike
Morgans[_2_]
October 23rd 07, 10:30 PM
"Michael Horowitz" > wrote in message 
...
> Time to get a refill on my "J" size O2 cylinder.
> I usually build a cradle out of 4x4 so it can't roll and something at
> the ends to keep it from sliding. This goes in the back of the
> Explorer.
> Anyone have a better scheme for moving a full cylinder? Mike
They are really supposed to be moved upright, only.  Do you have a utility 
trailer that you could chain it into the corner?  Chain is also the supposed 
requirement over rope or bungee cords.
-- 
Jim in NC
Wayne Paul
October 23rd 07, 11:57 PM
"Morgans" > wrote in message 
...
>
> "Michael Horowitz" > wrote in message 
> ...
>> Time to get a refill on my "J" size O2 cylinder.
>> I usually build a cradle out of 4x4 so it can't roll and something at
>> the ends to keep it from sliding. This goes in the back of the
>> Explorer.
>> Anyone have a better scheme for moving a full cylinder? Mike
>
>
> They are really supposed to be moved upright, only.  Do you have a utility 
> trailer that you could chain it into the corner?  Chain is also the 
> supposed requirement over rope or bungee cords.
> -- 
> Jim in NC
Jim,
Why does a J size oxygen bottle need to be transported upright?  Is the 
something different about the J bottle then the FAA approved "F" bottle 
horizontal mount in my glider?  Or the multiple welding size bottles that 
are mounted horizontal on a trailer at a recent FBO I visited?
http://www.mhoxygen.com/index.phtml?nav_id=33&prd_group_id=8
Wayne
HP-14 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder
Maxwell
October 24th 07, 12:42 AM
"Wayne Paul" > wrote in message 
...
>
> "Morgans" > wrote in message 
> ...
>>
>> "Michael Horowitz" > wrote in message 
>> ...
>>> Time to get a refill on my "J" size O2 cylinder.
>>> I usually build a cradle out of 4x4 so it can't roll and something at
>>> the ends to keep it from sliding. This goes in the back of the
>>> Explorer.
>>> Anyone have a better scheme for moving a full cylinder? Mike
>>
>>
>> They are really supposed to be moved upright, only.  Do you have a 
>> utility trailer that you could chain it into the corner?  Chain is also 
>> the supposed requirement over rope or bungee cords.
>> -- 
>> Jim in NC
>
> Jim,
>
> Why does a J size oxygen bottle need to be transported upright?  Is the 
> something different about the J bottle then the FAA approved "F" bottle 
> horizontal mount in my glider?  Or the multiple welding size bottles that 
> are mounted horizontal on a trailer at a recent FBO I visited?
> http://www.mhoxygen.com/index.phtml?nav_id=33&prd_group_id=8
>
My supplier claims it's a Federal DOT requirement for motor vehicles. So 
their employees will not load a vehicle that cannot be loaded vertically. 
But they have never stopped me (or anyone else) from loading one myself, 
laying down in my pick-up. This goes for all gasses. Ox, Argon, Nitrogen, 
CO2, Acty.
Morgans[_2_]
October 24th 07, 03:20 AM
"Wayne Paul" > wrote
> Jim,
>
> Why does a J size oxygen bottle need to be transported upright?  Is the 
> something different about the J bottle then the FAA approved "F" bottle 
> horizontal mount in my glider?  Or the multiple welding size bottles that 
> are mounted horizontal on a trailer at a recent FBO I visited?
> http://www.mhoxygen.com/index.phtml?nav_id=33&prd_group_id=8
All good questions, but the kicker is that it is DOT regulations for 
transporting bottles over the road.  Your plane and the FBO carts are not on 
the road.
I've just spent close to an hour looking for a reg to cite, but you know how 
it goes; when you want to find something specific on the web, you find 
everything but.....
Still, I'm pretty sure it exists.  I was able to find regs (OSHA) that 
requires upright transport and use, but not any DOT regs.
If anyone knows of a reg and how to find it, I would like to see it, or if 
you know of an exception that allows horizontal transport of compressed gas 
bottles, I'd like to see that, too.
-- 
Jim in NC
Drew Dalgleish
October 24th 07, 05:08 AM
I thought it was just acetelyne that needs to go upright or be upright
for 1/2 an hour before using. Oxygen can transport any way you please.
In my area all the gas companies deliver.
>
>"Michael Horowitz" > wrote in message 
...
>> Time to get a refill on my "J" size O2 cylinder.
>> I usually build a cradle out of 4x4 so it can't roll and something at
>> the ends to keep it from sliding. This goes in the back of the
>> Explorer.
>> Anyone have a better scheme for moving a full cylinder? Mike
>
>
>They are really supposed to be moved upright, only.  Do you have a utility 
>trailer that you could chain it into the corner?  Chain is also the supposed 
>requirement over rope or bungee cords.
>-- 
>Jim in NC 
>
>
Ron Natalie
October 24th 07, 03:28 PM
Michael Horowitz wrote:
> Time to get a refill on my "J" size O2 cylinder.
> I usually build a cradle out of 4x4 so it can't roll and something at
> the ends to keep it from sliding. This goes in the back of the
> Explorer.
> Anyone have a better scheme for moving a full cylinder? Mike
> 
The cylinder, if it is designed to have one, should be fitted
with a cap.  If not, it should have some other protection over
the valve.   I generally just cram in the seat of my extended
cab which will not let it roll.
For larger cylilnders, you can get foam blocks at any dive
shop that are designed to hold scuba cyls.
Morgans[_2_]
October 24th 07, 05:45 PM
"Drew Dalgleish" > wrote in message 
...
>I thought it was just acetelyne that needs to go upright or be upright
> for 1/2 an hour before using. Oxygen can transport any way you please.
> In my area all the gas companies deliver.
It does say that they have to be secured somehow, or in a rack.
-- 
Jim in NC
Morgans[_2_]
October 24th 07, 06:22 PM
"Marc J. Zeitlin" > wrote >
> See:
>    http://tinyurl.com/yvt3uj
>
> Looks to me like either vertical or horizontal is OK, judging by
> paragraph (1).
Interesting.  I was sure that upright was the only legal way.  It does say 
they need to be secure, and if the floor is not flat, in a rack of some 
type.
Thanks for locating the site.
Then you listed: > http://hazmat.dot.gov/files/gstomo.pdf
> says vertical or horizontal.
That was for medical oygen, and is speaking directly to the situation where 
the bus full of old people caught fire, and the oxygen cooked all of them. 
Sad.
Interesting that I found all kinds of links about that situation.
> Cryogenics look like they have to be vertical, however.
Because of the need for the relief valve to be in the vapor portion of the 
tank, I believe.  I think I read that if not vertical, the valve needs to be 
in communication to the vapor, or something like that.
Off this subject a bit, but perhaps not too far off.
How is the investigation to the explosion at Scaled getting along?  Any idea 
when a report will be released?
I'm sure you are not allowed to say much, but I (an others) are interested 
in seeing what caused the tragedy, and how it will be avoided in future 
situations.  I thought you might be able to at least say what the time table 
for results is likely to be.
I hope things are going well, with the progress on the next version.  Keep 
on, keeping on!
-- 
Jim in NC
Rich S.[_1_]
October 24th 07, 06:31 PM
"Morgans" > wrote in message 
...
>
> It does say that they have to be secured somehow, or in a rack.
That's so's we don't knock them over with our fire streams and bust their 
little heads off. Picture it. Firefighter crawls into burning room. Opens 
nozzle. Tanks falls away from him. Valve busts off when it hits floor. Tanks 
returns favor back at firefighter. Ouch!
Did you se the Mythbusters episode where they decapitated a cylinder and it 
whooshed through the concrete block wall?
Other than that, the reason to use an Acetylene cylinder while upright is 
that the Acetylene is dissolved in Acetone which is then infused in 
diatamacious earth within the tank. If used in anything but a vertical 
position, the Acetone may escape through the piping and hose.
See 
http://www.airproducts.com/nr/rdonlyres/9d325c49-7c62-41e5-aa0b-8411db4d84f8/0/safety13.pdf
Rich S.
jerry wass
October 24th 07, 09:18 PM
Rich S. wrote:
> "Morgans" > wrote in message 
> ...
>> It does say that they have to be secured somehow, or in a rack.
> 
> That's so's we don't knock them over with our fire streams and bust their 
> little heads off. Picture it. Firefighter crawls into burning room. Opens 
> nozzle. Tanks falls away from him. Valve busts off when it hits floor. Tanks 
> returns favor back at firefighter. Ouch!
> 
> Did you se the Mythbusters episode where they decapitated a cylinder and it 
> whooshed through the concrete block wall?
> 
> Other than that, the reason to use an Acetylene cylinder while upright is 
> that the Acetylene is dissolved in Acetone which is then infused in 
> diatamacious earth within the tank. If used in anything but a vertical 
> position, the Acetone may escape through the piping and hose.
> 
> See 
> http://www.airproducts.com/nr/rdonlyres/9d325c49-7c62-41e5-aa0b-8411db4d84f8/0/safety13.pdf
> 
> Rich S. 
> 
> 
More on acetylene---T.A. Wells,Chief Engr. for Beech, says, carryover of 
acetylene into a weld will contaminate it--He also stated, leave a small 
% in the cylinder to prevent rapid boil-off & carryover at the last 
moment of use.
He wrote a teriffic book--Well's Manual of aircraft materials and 
manufacturing processes.
Jerry
stol
October 24th 07, 10:03 PM
!
>
> Did you se the Mythbusters episode where they decapitated a cylinder and it
> whooshed through the concrete block wall?
>
..airproducts.com/nr/rdonlyres/9d325c49-7c62-41e5-aa0b-8411d...
>
> Rich S.
I saw that episode and I honestly thought it would have done alot more
damage then it did. Urban myths had tanks traveling thousands of feet
and going through poured concrete walls with ease.
Ben
Morgans[_2_]
October 24th 07, 11:17 PM
"Rich S." < wrote
> Did you se the Mythbusters episode where they decapitated a cylinder and 
> it whooshed through the concrete block wall?
>
Yep; and that confirms what I had heard, before.
At one time, I had a co-worker that was known for telling tall tales.  He 
had a doozie about the valve being broken off an Oxygen bottle, that I 
didn't quite buy in its entirety.  I don't recall exactly what it was now, 
but I didn't have a problem with the basics of the tale.
-- 
Jim in NC
Morgans[_2_]
October 24th 07, 11:22 PM
"stol" > wrote
> I saw that episode and I honestly thought it would have done alot more
> damage then it did. Urban myths had tanks traveling thousands of feet
> and going through poured concrete walls with ease.
That might be possible with an optimum sized hole, and nozzle, but even 
then, the weight of the container is substantial.  If it were a light 
container, it might accellerate quickly enough to build some momentum.
Poured concrete with rebar is probably above the realm of obtainable, 
though. <g>
-- 
Jim in NC
Rich S.[_1_]
October 25th 07, 03:02 AM
"Morgans" > wrote in message 
...
>
> At one time, I had a co-worker that was known for telling tall tales.  He 
> had a doozie about the valve being broken off an Oxygen bottle, that I 
> didn't quite buy in its entirety.  I don't recall exactly what it was now, 
> but I didn't have a problem with the basics of the tale.
Wonder if Moller could use a bunch of NO3 bottles as a "ballistic 
parachute"? Trigging them off would arrest the fall and render witnesses 
inert and happy. :)
Rich S.
Morgans[_2_]
October 25th 07, 03:32 AM
"Marc J. Zeitlin" > wrote
> As are we all.  We believe that we're beginning to understand the
> issues and can deal with them, but obviously I can't say anything
> until the full report(s) are released.
>
>> ... I thought you might be able to at least say what the time table
>>  for results is likely to be.
>
> Nope - sorry.
Well, good enough; it will have to be.  I am glad to hear that you are 
starting to understand what happened, and how to work around it.
Understand, that many of us think the work Scaled is doing is way too cool, 
and are very interested in what is happening with your programs.  I wish I 
had some expertise that would make me employable at Scaled, really! <g>
It is with that interest that I wondered how things are going with the 
investigation, and Scaled attempting to get things back to normal.
Good to hear from you, and looking forward to the "next generation" 
spaceship showing up at OSH! :-)
-- 
Jim in NC
Morgans[_2_]
October 25th 07, 03:38 AM
"Rich S." <> wrote
>
> Wonder if Moller could use a bunch of NO3 bottles as a "ballistic 
> parachute"? Trigging them off would arrest the fall and render witnesses 
> inert and happy. :)
The devil would be in the details, though.
Imagine that the (insert here, whatever his little "tether bound" Jetson's 
car is called) is upside-down, right close to the ground, and the bottles 
fire.
Ouch?
Not that they would have enough power to stop the fall, even if they were 
upright, anyway.
Inverted fired bottles would be a nice touch, though.  Kinda' like spiking 
the football after a touchdown, if you can conjure up the mental image! <g>
-- 
Jim in NC
Rich S.[_1_]
October 25th 07, 04:04 AM
"Morgans" > wrote in message 
...
>
> Imagine that the (insert here, whatever his little "tether bound" Jetson's 
> car is called) is upside-down, right close to the ground, and the bottles 
> fire.
>
> Ouch?
I was in the tower at Wright-Patterson AFB many years ago. There were a 
bunch of F-102's doing touch and go's just about sunset. The afterburners 
were clearly visible, throwing ten foot long flames as they went around.
The controller suddenly grabbed his mike and hollered, "Aircraft on short 
final, your gear is up! Go around, GO AROUND!".
The F-102 grabbed a handful of stick, pulled the nose almost vertical and 
shoved the throttle to the stop. As the attitude passed vertical, I saw the 
engine blow parts out of the nose and tail simultaneously. The plane 
continued it's rotation until it was inverted, flying backwards a few feet 
above the runway.
As it settled lower, the pilot ejected. He didn't quite clear the cockpit 
when the whole thing impacted. It slid a long way.
The next day, my brother took me for a ride in a TF-102 to clear my head. It 
worked.
Rich S.
Dave S
October 25th 07, 04:50 AM
Morgans wrote:
> "stol" > wrote
> 
>> I saw that episode and I honestly thought it would have done alot more
>> damage then it did. Urban myths had tanks traveling thousands of feet
>> and going through poured concrete walls with ease.
> 
Once upon a time, one of our firefighters was setting down his SCBA 
bottle (for firefighter breathing apparatus) and made a single error of 
omission. He had an OLD bottle with a rounded bottom, instead of a newer 
bottle with a flat bottom. Flat bottles stand upright.
This one fell over, striking the valve stem. It hop skipped and jumped 
100 yards to the treeline, then ricochet'd around in the forest. Nobody 
was in the way.
Morgans[_2_]
October 25th 07, 06:10 PM
"Rich S." <> wrote
> As it settled lower, the pilot ejected. He didn't quite clear the cockpit 
> when the whole thing impacted. It slid a long way.
>
> The next day, my brother took me for a ride in a TF-102 to clear my head. 
> It worked.
That is too ugly to hear about, let alone, having to see it happen right in 
front of you.
I imagine the ride helped, but that you can still picture the whole thing 
playing out in your mind's eye, in vivid color, even today.
-- 
Jim in NC
Rich S.[_1_]
October 25th 07, 07:00 PM
"Morgans" > wrote in message 
...
>
> That is too ugly to hear about, let alone, having to see it happen right 
> in front of you.
Fortunately it took place a mile or so away from the tower, so it's not like 
right in front. I was 13 or 14 at the time.
Rich S.
D.Smith
November 2nd 07, 10:50 PM
Morgans wrote:
> "stol" > wrote
> 
> 
>>I saw that episode and I honestly thought it would have done alot more
>>damage then it did. Urban myths had tanks traveling thousands of feet
>>and going through poured concrete walls with ease.
> 
> 
> That might be possible with an optimum sized hole, and nozzle, but even 
> then, the weight of the container is substantial.  If it were a light 
> container, it might accellerate quickly enough to build some momentum.
> 
Momentum should be the same - light or heavy container.  Only other 
effects would modify this (like scraping along the ground).
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