Welding Torches
The oxyacetylene welding torch is used to mix oxygen and acetylene gas in the proper proportions and control the volume of these gases burned at the welding tip.
Welding Torches
- Torches have two needle valves, one for adjusting the flow of oxygen and the other for adjusting the flow of acetylene.
- They have a handle (body), two tubes (one for oxygen and one for acetylene), a mixing head, and a tip.
- Welding tips are made from a special copper alloy, which dissipates heat (less than 60 percent copper), and are available in different sizes to handle a wide range of plate thicknesses.
Hoses
Hoses used to connect torches and regulators are strong, nonporous, flexible, and light enough to make torch movements easy. It is made to withstand high internal pressures, and the rubber to manufacture is specially treated to remove sulfur to avoid the danger of spontaneous combustion.
Oxygen and acetylene hoses
The hoses used for acetylene and oxygen are the same in grade, but they differ in color and have different types of threads on the hose fittings. The color codes are as follows:
- The oxygen hose is GREEN.
- The acetylene hose is RED.
For added protection against mixing of the hoses during connection:
- The oxygen hose has right-hand threads and the acetylene hose has left-hand threads.
- The acetylene fittings have a notch that goes around the fitting's circumference for an additional identification factor.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-3. Oxyacetylene equipment has two hoses: the oxygen hose is _____and the acetylene hose is _____.
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