Aviation Oxygen Locations in Chicago Area?

On Jul 13, 10:51*am, jcarlyle wrote:
On Jul 13, 12:39 pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:

Maybe more useful discussions on saftey are not related to the O2
labeling but the handling of the cylinders, trans-filling procedures,
maintenance and servicing etc. I've seen some pretty blase/scary
handling of O2 by glider pilots, old steel bottles last inspected God
knows when, etc...

I'd welcome some discussion on the topics you mention. That would fill
a real need for pilots like myself who don't often use oxygen.

One thing I'm curious about is the hydrotesting requirement. If one of
the legendary arguments for using "aviation" oxygen is its low
moisture content (debunked above), then:

1. *how is water completely removed from a cylinder after
hydrotesting, and
2. *how can a user be assured that no corrosion will be created in his
cylinder as a result of hydrotesting?

-John

The cylinders are typically dried by blowing air or heated air in
them. Larger shops will have drying stations with a rows of hoses and/
or tubes that go down into the cylinders and dry them.

Cylinder testing requirements by DOT regulations, e.g. see 49 CFR
180.205. At each pressure test they required to be also be visually
inspected inside and out, for corrosion amongst other things.

You cannot be assured of anything in life. Like packing a parachute,
find somebody you really trust to inspect your cylinders.

Darryl

On Jul 13, 2:51 pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:
The cylinders are typically dried by blowing air or heated air in
them. Larger shops will have drying stations with a rows of hoses and/
or tubes that go down into the cylinders and dry them.

[ snip ]

You cannot be assured of anything in life. Like packing a parachute,
find somebody you really trust to inspect your cylinders.

Darryl

Thanks, Bill and Darryl. Heating would do the trick, given enough
time.

I ran across the following site: http://www.westernsalesandtesting.com/services.htm
where they talk about cleaning the interior of the cylinder. Is
cleaning done normally on aviation oxygen tanks? The chemical cleaning
sounds thorough!

Darryl, how would you recommend going about evaluating a cylinder
inspection company before deciding to use them?

-John

On Jul 13, 12:45*pm, jcarlyle wrote:
On Jul 13, 2:51 pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:

The cylinders are typically dried by blowing air or heated air in
them. Larger shops will have drying stations with a rows of hoses and/
or tubes that go down into the cylinders and dry them.

[ snip ]

You cannot be assured of anything in life. Like packing a parachute,
find somebody you really trust to inspect your cylinders.

Darryl

Thanks, Bill and Darryl. Heating would do the trick, given enough
time.

I ran across the following site: *http://www.westernsalesandtesting.com/services.htm
where they talk about cleaning the interior of the cylinder. Is
cleaning done normally on aviation oxygen tanks? The chemical cleaning
sounds thorough!

Darryl, how would you recommend going about evaluating a cylinder
inspection company before deciding to use them?

-John

Word of mouth from local folks, other pilots, scuba divers etc. Talk
to them (if they have time). Ask them what they do in an inspection.
Ask them about common problems or worse case things they find. How
clean/modern is their shop? Etc. usual stuff.

Also important is care in checking on service bulletins on your
cylinder. If they are not paying attention to this go elsewhere. You
can describe your cylinder and manufacturing numbers and ask them what
needs to be done. If they don't go and look up the manufacturer
website (or know by daily experience) go elsewhere. Like with aircraft
AD, SB and TNs you should be looking this up yourself and know before
taking the cylinder in.


Darryl