E l S t e s Pat e nt [ 1 , ] [ 1 1 ] 4 , 0 1 4 , 7 7 7

Brown [ 4 5 ] Mar. 2 9 , 1 9 7 7
[ 5 4 ] WE LDING 3, 0 4 5 , 665 7 /1 9 62 Movat ......................... .. 2 0 4 /1 2 9 X
1 7 61 Inve nt or: Y u " Brown, 1 8 2 A u b u rn R oad , 332 31 2 33 31 1 32 2 1 5 32 2 332 1 2 1 : 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 35 5 33 5 2
A u b u rn; Ne w Sou t h Wal e s , 3, 31 0 , 4 8 3 3/1 9 67 R hod e s .................. .. 2 0 4 /1 2 9 x
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J u l y 2 0 , 1 9 7 3 A u s t ral i a ......................... .. 4 1 5 9 /7 3 [ 5 7 ] A BSTR A C T
1 35 .2 3 , 1 1 7 7 4 3 2 32 32 1 2 2 : 1 1 : ...... .1 1 1 1 ...... .5 1 : 1 31 1 /32 .i nve m i q n re l at e s t o we l d i ng , b raz i ng or t he l i k e
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2 2 0 4 /2 69 ; 2 0 4 /2 7 2 ; 4 31 /35 4 m i xt u re s o g e ne rat e d b e i ng p as s e d f rom t he g e ne rat or
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[ 5 8 ] F i e l d of Se arc h ........ .. 2 0 4 / 1 2 9 , 2 7 0 , 2 7 8 , 2 2 8 , whe re t he g as e s are i g ni t e c L The /i nve nt i on al s o re l at e s
2 0 4 /2 30 , 2 37 , 2 69 , 2 2 9 , 2 7 2 , 2 7 1 ; 1 36/8 6 R ; t o at om i c we l d i ng i n whi c h t he ab ove m e nt i one d m i x
5 5 /3 1 0 0 ; 2 9 /4 9 8 5 ; 2 1 9 /1 37 ; 4 31 /35 4 ; t u re i s p as s e d t hrou g h an are c au s i ng d i s s oc i at i on of
2 0 6/] b ot h t he hy d rog e n and oxy g e n i nt o at om i c hy d rog e n
[ 5 6] R e f e re nc e s C i t e d and oxy g e n whi c h on re c om b i nat i on g e ne rat e an i n
UNITE D STA TE S PA TE NTS t - e ns e l y hot ?am e
68 5 , 2 7 4 1 0 /1 9 0 1 Haas ................................ .. 2 0 4 /2 68
1 , 60 0 , 4 7 8 9 /1 9 2 6 Lawac z e c k .................. .. 2 0 4 /2 7 2 X 6 C l ai m s , 7 Drawi ng F i g u re s
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US. Pat e nt Mar. 2 9 , 1 9 7 7 She e t 3 of 4 4 , 0 1 4 , 7 7 7
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U.S. Pat e nt Mar. 2 9 , 1 9 7 7 She e t 4 of 4 4 , 0 1 4 , 7 7 7
4 , 0 1 4 , 7 7 7
1
WE LDING
Thi s i nve nt i on re l at e s t o we l d i ng , b raz i ng and t he
l i k e , u t i l i z i ng hy d rog e n and oxy g e n, and e xt e nd s t o
s u c h ap p l i c at i ons as oxy - we l d i ng , oxy - c u t t i ng , at om i c
we l d i ng , and we l d i ng or c u t t i ng i n c om b i nat i on wi t h
e l e c t ri c arc t e c hni q u e s . The i nve nt i on al s o p rovi d e s f or
t he g e ne rat i on of hy d rog e n and oxy g e n f or t he ab ove
m e nt i one d ap p l i c at i ons i n c om b i nat i on t he re wi t h or
s e p arat e l y . >
A m os t i m p ort ant ap p l i c at i on of t he i nve nt i on i s
at om i c we l d i ng u t i l i z i ng t he p rop e rt i e s of at om i c oxy
g e n i n c om b i nat i on wi t h at om i c hy d rog e n ( f or we l d i ng )
or at om i c oxy g e n s e p arat e l y ( f or c u t t i ng ) . Thi s p art i c u
l ar ap p l i c at i on of t he i nve nt i on i s b as e d , am ong ot he r
t hi ng s , on t he ap p re c i at i on t hat c ons i d e rab l e e ne rg y i s
as s oc i at e d wi t h t he d i s s oc i at i on of m ol e c u l ar oxy g e n
i nt o at om i c oxy g e n b y p as s i ng t hi s g as t hrou g h an arc ,
and t hat t hi s p rop e rt y c an b e u s e f u l l y e m p l oy e d t o
g e ne rat e t e m p e rat u re s e ve n hi g he r t han t hos e p re vi
ou s l y at t ai nab l e wi t h, f or e xam p l e , an at om i c hy d rog e n
?am e . The s i g ni ?c anc e of t he e ne rg y whi c h c an b e
ob t ai ne d i n t hi s way c an b e ap p re c i at e d f rom t he f ol
l owi ng re ac t i ons t hat t ak e p l ac e , and t he he at e ne rg i e s
as s oc i at e d t he re wi t h, whe n hy d rog e n and oxy g e n are
b ot h p as s e d t hrou g h an e l e c t ri c arc . Thu s :
l - l 2 H +H ab s orb i ng 1 0 1 , 0 0 0 c al . p e r g ram m ol e
0 :
0 +0 ab s orb i n l l 7 0 0 0 c a] . 1 ' ram m ol e
t oE l 2 1 8 , 0 0 0 c al . p e r g ram m ol e
On re c om b i nat i on of t he s e at om s t hi s e ne rg y i s re
l e as e d as he at t hrou g h a nu m b e r of c om p l e x c he m i c al
re ac t i ons and re s u l t s i n an e xt re m e l y hi g h ?am e t e m
p e rat u re . Pre vi ou s l y i t wou l d not have b e e n c ons i d e re d
p os s i b l e t o p rac t i c al l y p as s oxy g e n or a m i xt u re of oxy
g e n and hy d rog e n t og e t he r t hrou g h an are d u e t o t he
hi g hl y e xp l os i ve or i n?am m ab l e nat u re of s u c h g as e s .
Howe ve r i n ac c ord anc e wi t h t he c onc e p t s of t he p re
s e nt i nve nt i on t hi s i s i nd e e d b ot h p os s i b l e and p rac t i c al
and , as m e nt i one d ab ove , e nab l e s t he re al i z at i on of
m u c h hi g he r we l d i ng or c u t t i ng t e m p e rat u re s t han hi t h
e rt o ob t ai nab l e b y k nown p rac t i c al m e ans .
One of t he ob j e c t s of t he p re s e nt i nve nt i on i s t o p ro
vi d e a m e t hod - and ap p arat u s whe re b y hy d rog e n and
oxy g e n c an b e g e ne rat e d q u i c k l y and c onve ni e nt l y f or
i m m e d i at e u s e f or we l d i ng , e t c ., wi t hou t m any of t he
d i s ad vant ag e s as s oc i at e d wi t h c onve nt i onal g as we l d i ng
p rac t i c e . F or e xam p l e , t he p rac t i c e of e m p l oy i ng c y l i n
d e rs ( or b ot t l e s ) of g as , u s u al l y oxy g e n and ac e t y l e ne
c an have s i g ni ?c ant d i s ad vant ag e s , p art i c u l arl y f or
u s e rs work i ng re m ot e f rom a s u p p l y d e p ot and f or
whom t he re m i g ht b e an ap p re c i ab l e d e l ay b e t we e n t he
p l ac i ng of an ord e r f or a d e l i ve ry of g as t he t he ac t u al
d e l i ve ry . F or s u c h u s e rs , i n ord e r t o e ns u re an ad e q u at e
s u p p l y of g as whe n a p art i c u l ar j ob d e m and s i t , i t i s
of t e n ne c e s s ary t o ord e r f re s h s u p p l i e s i n ad vanc e , e ve n
b e f ore t he s u p p l y on hand i s f u l l y u s e d , or e l s e ri s k
ru nni ng ou t of g as b e f ore a j ob i s c om p l e t e d . Si nc e
b ot t l e s of g as are g e ne ral l y d e l i ve re d on a s t ri c t l y e x
c hang e b as i s i n t hat a u s e d b ot t l e m u s t b e re t u rne d
i n e xc hang e f or a re ?l l e d b ot t l e t he p rac t i c e c an
m e an a s i g ni ?c ant was t e , as f ar as t he u s e r i s c on
c e rne d , i f b ot t l e s c ont ai ni ng u s e f u l am ou nt s of u nu s e d
g as have t o b e re t u rne d t o t he s u p p l i e r.
5
2 0
30
35
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
2
The p rac t i c e of u s i ng b ot t l e d g as al s o has as s oc i at e d
wi t h i t a l arg e nu m b e r of ot he r p rob l e m s s u c h as t he
p os s i b i l i t y of g as l e ak i ng f rom b ot t l e s , p os s i b i l i t y of
i nd u s t ri al d i s p u t e s whi c h c an re s u l t i n s e ve re d e l ay s i n
d e l i ve ry and i n s u p p l y s hort ag e s , l i ab i l i t i e s , hi g h p u r
c has e and s t orag e c os t s , f re i g ht c harg e s , and s o on.
To i l l u s t rat e s om e of t he c ond i t i ons whi c h t he c on
s u m e r of b ot t l e d g as m u s t p u t u p wi t h, l i s t e d b e l ow i s a
s u m m ary of t he c ond i t i ons of s al e whi c h ap p l y t o t he
s al e and d i s t ri b u t i on of b ot t l e d g as .
a. The c y l i nd e r re m ai ns t he s ol e p rop e rt y of t he s u p
p l i e r, whi c h re t ai ns t he ri g ht t o e xe rc i s e at any t i m e i t s
p rop ri e t ory p owe rs i n i t s d i s c re t i on.
b . A l l c y l i nd e rs and c ont e nt s are f orward e d at t he
e xp e ns e and ri s k of t he c u s t om e rs .
c . It i s t he re s p ons i b i l i t y of t he c u s t om e rs t o p rovi d e
ad e q u at e l ab ou r f or t he l oad i ng and u nl oad i ng of al l
c y l i nd e rs at t he p re m i s e s . ,
d . C y l i nd e rs are t o b e re t u rne d t o t he s u p p l i e r as s oon
as e m p t y , c arri ag e and f re i g ht c harg e s p ai d .
e . A c y l i nd e r i s not re t u rne d u nt i l re c e i ve d b y t he
s u p p l i e r at i t s work s or ware hou s e or b y i t s t ru c k and a
re c e i p t on t he s u p p l i e rs f orm g i ve n f or t he s am e . No
d oc u m e nt p u rp ort i ng t o b e a re c e i p t f or any s u c h c y l i n
d e r s hal l b e val i d u nl e s s i t i s t he s u p p l i e rs p ri nt e d f orm
of re c e i p t .
- f . C y l i nd e rs are not t rans f e rab l e and m u s t not b e u s e d
f or any p u rp os e ot he r t han as c ont ai ne rs f or t he g as
s ol d b y t he s u p p l i e r and m u s t not b e d e l i ve re d or s e nt
f or re c harg i ng t o any p l ac e ot he r t han t he s u p p l i e rs g as
s t at i on.
g . The c u s t om e r ag re e s not t o re s e l l t o any p e rs on or
C orp orat i on, t he g as c ont e nt s of t he c y l i nd e rs of any
p art t he re of .
h. C u s t om e rs are he l d re s p ons i b l e f or al l l os s or d am
ag e t o c y l i nd e rs f rom what e ve r c au s e ari s i ng f rom t he
t i m e of d e l i ve ry u nt i l re t u rne d t o t he s u p p l i e rs . ( C u s
t om e rs are ad vi s e d t o c ove r t he c y l i nd e rs b y i ns u r
anc e ) .
i . Whe re a c u s t om e r has not re t u rne d a c y l i nd e r i n
g ood ord e r and c ond i t i on wi t hi n s i x m ont hs f rom t he
d at e of d e l i ve ry , t he s u p p l i e r m ay , at i t s op t i on, c harg e
t he c u s t om e r wi t h an am ou nt not e xc e e d i ng t he ag re e d
val u e of t he c y l i nd e r and t he d e m u rrag e d u e i n re s p e c t
t he re of , and s u c h am ou nt i s p ay ab l e b y t he c u s t om e r as
l i q u i d at e d d am ag e s f or t he d e t e nt i on of t he c y l i nd e r.
Not wi t hs t and i ng t he p ay m e nt of s u c h am ou nt i n re
s p e c t of any c y l i nd e r, i t re m ai ns t he p rop e rt y of t he
s u p p l i e rs and t he ri g ht of t he s u p p l i e rs t o re c ove r p os
s e s s i on t he re of i s not af f e c t e d i n any way .
j . No al l owanc e i s m ad e on any re s i d u al g as re t u rne d
i n t he c y l i nd e rs .
k ._ A nd m any ot he r c ond i t i ons vary i ng i n t he d i f f e re nt
c ou nt ri e s i n t he worl d .
A not he r d i s ad vant ag e , whi c h i s as s oc i at e d wi t h oxy
hy d rog e n we l d i ng ari s e s d u e t o t he m ark e d ab i l i t y of
hy d rog e n t o' b e ab s orb e d b y m os t m e t al s . Thu s whe n
we l d i ng s t e e l , f or e xam p l e , g re at c are m u s t b e t ak e n t o
e ns u re t hat e xc e s s hy d rog e n i s not p re s e nt ot he rwi s e i t
wi l l b e ab s orb e d i n t he m e t al t o c au s e l os s of s t re ng t h
and b ri t t l e ne s s . On t he ot he r hand , an e xc e s s of oxy g e n
wou l d c au s e b u rni ng of t he m e t al and s hou l d t hu s
e q u al l y b e avoi d e d . It i s m os t i m p ort ant t he re f ore t hat
wi t h oxy - hy d rog e n we l d i ng t he m i xt u re at t he b u rne r
b e ad j u s t e d t o p rod u c e a ne u t ral ?am e , t hat i s , one i n
whi c h t he re i s ne i t he r e xc e s s hy d rog e n nor e xc e s s oxy
g e n. In p rac t i c e i t i s m os t d i f ?c u l t t o m ai nt ai n ( and
vi rt u al l y i m p os s i b l e t o j u d g e b y ?am e c ol ou r) a ne u t ral
are a of t he e l e c t rod e s .
4 , 0 1 4 , 7 7 7
3 .
?am e , and f or t hat re as on oxy - hy d rog e n we l d i ng i s not
wi d e l y u s e d d e s p i t e t he i nhe re nt ad vant ag e s of l ow c os t
and hi g h he at val u e of f e re d b y hy d rog e n as a f u e l .
The s e and ot he r d i s ad vant ag e s c an b e ove rc om e t o a
s i g ni ?c ant e xt e nt b y t he p re s e nt i nve nt i on whe re b y
hy d rog e n and oxy g e n f u e l are g e ne rat e d s i m u l t a
ne ou s l y b y e l e c t rol y s i s i n an e l e c t rol y t i c c e l l and al
l owe d t o f re e l y m i x t he re i n t o f orm a s t oi c hi om e t ri c
m i xt u re t hat wi l l b u rn wi t h a ne u t ral ?am e . The f u e l g as
c an b e g e ne rat e d whe re and whe ne ve r re q u i re d
t he re b y e l i m i nat i ng t he ne e d f or s t orag e of b ot t l e s of
g as and re l i anc e on re g u l ar d e l i ve ri e s of g as whi c h
of t e n c annot b e g u arant e e d . ,
The m e t hod of t he p re s e nt i nve nt i on re q u i re s no
d i ap hrag m s or t he l i k e t o s e p arat e t he hy d rog e n and
oxy g e n l i b e rat e d b y t he e l e c t rol y s i s p roc e s s and
t he re b y e nab l e s c ons i d e rab l e ad vant ag e s t o b e re al i z e d
ove r c onve nt i onal e l e c t rol y t i c p rod u c t i on of t he s e
g as e s . Su c h d i ap hrag m s have norm al l y b e e n re g ard e d
as e s s e nt i al f or c onve nt i onal e l e c t rol y t i c g e ne rat ors i n
ord e r t o s e p arat e t he t wo g as e s t hat wou l d ot he rwi s e
f orm a hi g hl y e xp l os i ve m i xt u re ; howe ve r, i t has b e e n
f ou nd , i n ac c ord anc e wi t h t he p re s e nt i nve nt i on, t hat
t he t wo g as e s c an b e s af e l y , and u s e f u l l y , p rod u c e d and
u t i l i z e d as a m i xt u re f or f u e l p u rp os e s p rovi d e d t hat
s u i t ab l e s af e t y p re c au t i ons , s u c h as t he e m p l oy m e nt of
a ?as h- b ac k arre s t or, are t ak e n. Su c h s af e t y p re c au
t i ons m ay i nc l u d e , f or e xam p l e , t he e m p l oy m e nt of a
d e vi c e whi c h re m ove s e l e c t rol y t e vap ou r f rom t he g as
and at ' t he s am e t i m e ac t s as a ?as h- b ac k arre s t or. In
ob vi at i ng t he ne e d f or d i ap hrag m s or t he l i k e t he p re
s e nt i nve nt i on e nab l e s t he e l e c t rod e s t o b e p l ac e d
m u c h c l os e r t og e t he r and avoi d s t he hi g h re s i s t anc e
as s oc i at e d wi t h d i ap hrag m s , whi c h i n t u rn e nab l e s a
s i g ni ?c ant i nc re as e i n t he rat e of g as p rod u c t i on f or a
g i ve n s i z e of ap p arat u s . In s hort t he p re s e nt i nve nt i on
e nab l e s t he m anu f ac t u re of s m al l s i z e e q u i p m e nt t hat i s
u s e f u l f or a l arg e vari e t y of we l d i ng and s i m i l ar work
and t hat i s not p rohi b i t i ve l y b u l k y f or t he ave rag e s i t u a
t i on: s om e t hi ng whi c h i s i m p os s i b l e wi t h c onve nt i onal
hy d rog e n- oxy g e n g e ne rat i ng e q u i p m e nt .
In t he d e ve l op m e nt of ap p arat u s f rom t he b as i c c on
c e p t of g e ne rat i on of hy d rog e n and oxy g e n e l e c t rol y t i
c al l y i n a p rac t i c al m anne r s u i t ab l e f or l arg e i nd u s t ri al
ap p l i c at i ons on t he one hand , and s m al l d om e s t i c ap p l i
c at i ons on t he ot he r hand , a nu m b e r of f ac t ors had t o
b e t ak e n i nt o ac c ou nt , anal y s e d and we i g he d one
ag ai ns t t he ot he r. The f ol l owi ng i s a l i s t of s om e of
t he s e f ac t ors t o i l l u s t rat e what has b e e n i nvol ve d .
a. E nd os m ot i c p re s s u re t o .b e b al anc e d ag ai ns t t he
hy d ros t at i c p re s s u re of t he ?u i d .
b . R at e of ?ow of e l e c t ri c c u rre nt i n re l at i on t o t he
c . The p ri or art p rob l e m of re m ovi ng t he g as e s f rom
anol y t e and c at hol y t e , b e f ore d i f f u s i on and b e f ore t he
e l e c t rol y t e s are i nt e rm i xe d .
d . E f f e c t s of rap i d c hang e s i n t he rat e of ?ow of
e l e c t ri c i t y t hrou g h t he c e l l .
c . E f f e c t s of au xi l i ary d e c om p os i t i on wi t hi n t he
anod e and c at hod e s i d e s of t he c e l l .
f . The c hoi c e of t he m os t re ad i l y i oni z e d e l e c t rol y t e
of a m axi m u m c ond u c t i vi t y .
g . The l e as t p os s i b l e s p ac i ng b e t we e n anod e and
c at hod e t hat c an b e e m p l oy e d . ' '
h. A d e s i g n of c e l l i n whi c h p re vi ou s l y i t was re g ard e d
i m p os s i b l e f or t he H2 ' and O2 g i ve n .t o b e c om e m i xe d
wi t h s af e t y , . whi c h d oe s away wi t h d i ap hrag m s or t he
l i k e whi c h wou l d i nc re as e t he - i nt e rnal . re s i s t anc e , i n
4
whi c h b ot h hy d rog e n and oxy g e n c an b e m i xe d wi t hi n
t he c e l l , and i n whi c h c e l l s c an b e c onne c t e d i n s e ri e s ,
p aral l e l , or p aral l e l and s e ri e s t o s u i t re q u i re m e nt s .
' i . The c hoi c e of m at e ri al s f or t he e l e c t rod e s .
j . The q u ant i t y of ac i d s or al k al i t o b e .u s e d .
k . The s hap e s of c e l l s ac c ord i ng t o p u rp os e of t he
c e l l s , and t he ap p l i c at i on f or whi c h t he y are d e s i g ne d .
l . The p os s i b i l i t y of i m p rove m e nt wi t h p e rm ane nt or
. e l e c t ro- m ag ne t i c al l y i nd u c e d ?e l d s ap p l i e d t o t he e l e c
1 0
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
t rol y t i c c e l l s , t o c au s e c ont rol l e d s e p arat i on of a q u an
t i t y of t he g as e s g e ne rat e d i n t he c e l l s . .
m . E ns u ri ng e f f e c t i ve c i rc u l at i on of e l e c t rol y t e b e
t we e n t he e l e c t rod e s , wi t h as l i t t l e e l e c t ri c al re s i s t anc e
as p os s i b l e .
n. The p os s i b i l i t y of u s i ng s od i u m hy d roxi d e or p ot as
s i u m hy d roxi d e whi c h, i n c onc e nt rat i ons f rom 1 0 % u p
t o 30 %, whi c h has ne g l i g i b l e c orros i on ac t i on on i ron
or ni c k e l e l e c t rod e s , ap art f rom p rod u c i ng a s ol u t i on of
g ood c ond u c t i vi t y .
0 . The u s e of t he c ool i ng e f f e c t b y p as s i ng of hy d ro
g e n and oxy g e n g as e s , f or c ool i ng e l e c t rol y t e i n t he
c e l l , f or c ont rol l i ng t he c e l l t e m p e rat u re , p re f e rab l y
b e t we e n 4 0 C t o 60 C , at whi c h t e m p e rat u re t he
b ond s b e t we e n hy d rog e n and oxy g e n ne e d a m i ni m u m
of e l e c t ri c al e ne rg y t o b re ak .
p . The s e p arat i on of hy d rog e n and oxy g e n f rom a
m i xt u re , u s i ng , p os s i b l y , a p e rm ane nt m ag ne t i c ?e l d , or
an e l e c t ro- m ag ne t i c ?e l d whi c h c an b e c ont rol l e d t o
ob t ai n a d e s i re d l s e p arat i on b e t we e n t he hy d rog e n and
oxy g e n. Bas e d on t hi s p ri nc i p l e , t he oxy g e n c ou l d b e
s u b s t ant i al l y s e p arat e d f rom t he m i xt u re - and t he hy d ro
g e n c ou l d b e ab s orb e d b y , f or e xam p l e , s e l e c t e d m e t
al s , whi c h have hi g h ab s orp t i on af ?ni t y f or hy d rog e n
( f or e xam p l e , p al ad i u m whi c h ab s orb s 9 0 0 t i m e s m ore
hy d rog e n f rom i t s vol u m e ) . A l s o, u s i ng t he p ri nc i p l e of
t he i nve nt i on, hy d rog e n and oxy g e n c an b e g e ne rat e d
i n l arg e q u ant i t i e s wi t h s m al l u ni t s and t he oxy g e n
c ou l d , f or e xam p l e , b e s e p arat e d and u s e d t o s u p p l y
hos p i t al s , b ab y room s , ai r c ond i t i oni ng s y s t e m s , or f or
any ot he r ap p l i c at i on, whe n oxy g e n i s re q u i re d . Oxy
g e n c an, i n t hi s way , b e g e ne rat e d m u c h f as t e r and
m ore c onve ni e nt l y t han wi t h c onve nt i onal e l e c t rol y t i c
g e ne rat i ng e q u i p m e nt . I
q . The p os s i b i l i t y of ab s orb i ng t he hy d rog e n or oxy
g e n b y s p e c i al l y s e l e c t e d m at e ri al s i n s m al l c ont ai ne rs
and whe re t he ab s orb e d g as c an b e e xt rac t e d whe n
d e s i re d f or we l d i ng or b raz i ng whe re i t wou l d b e i nc on
ve ni e nt or i m p os s i b l e t o d o s o wi t h c onve nt i onal e q u i p
m e nt . '
r. Mak i ng t he we l d i ng op e rat or e nt i re l y i nd e p e nd e nt
of any g as s u p p l i e rs . -
s . The g e ne rat i on of c he ap g as , u p t o 6 t o 7 t i m e s
c he ap e r t han norm al g as s u p p l i e s .
t . The d e s i g n of e q u i p m e nt whi c h g i ve s not onl y p ro
f e s s i onal we l d e rs , b u t ' hand y m e n, or p e op l e who wou l d
l i k e t o d o we l d i ng at hom e wi t h oxy - we l d i ng ap p arat u s ,
b u t wou l d d o i t onl y oc c as i onal l y and c ou l d not j u s t i f y
t he e xp e ns e as s oc i at e d wi t h c onve nt i onal g as s u p p l i e s .
Su c h p e op l e c annot j u s t i f y p ay i ng f or b ot t l e s of g as f or
a s i ng l e we l d i ng onl y ( havi ng t o k e e p t he b ot t l e s , p ay
i ng re nt f or t he m t o k e e p t he m u p t o t wo y e ars , t o
p e rf orm t he ne xt we l d i ng ) ; F or t hi s re as on, t he we l d i ng
ap p arat u s m ad e p os s i b l e b y t he p re s e nt i nve nt i on i s
i d e al b e c au s e i t ' p rod u c e s g as e s f or we l d i ng at t he t i m e
and i n t he q u ant i t y t hat i s ne e d e d .
u . Hy d rog e n- oxy g e n we l d i ng has t he ad vant ag e t hat
i t d oe s not p ol l u t e t he at m os p he re as d oe s oxy ac e t y
l e ne we l d i ng ._ . I '
4 , 0 1 4 , 7 7 7
5
v. The d e s i g n of e l e c t rol y t i c c e l l s whi c h are s af e t o
u s e as we l l as c onve ni e nt , whi c h c e l l s m ay i nc orp orat e
t he i r own ?as h- b ac k arre s t ors as a s af e t y p re c au t i on or
an e q u i val e nt m e ans , t o p re ve nt t he haz ard s of e xp l o
s i on or ?re .
w. The c ont rol of t he c u rre nt whi c h p as s e s t hrou g h
t he c e l l s , t he t e m p e rat u re of t he c e l l , whi c h i s a f u nc
t i on of c u rre nt , t he c ont rol of t he s e p arat i on of t he
g as e s , and t he re m oval f rom t he g as e s of e l e c t rol y t e
vap ou rs . In t hi s re g ard t he re has b e e n d e s i g ne d a s p e
c i al u ni t wi t h p re f e rab l y c oni c al e l e c t rod e s , and a ?as h
b ac k arre s t or. The ?as h arre s t or m ay b e c ons t i t u t e d b y
a p e l l e t of p orou s m at e ri al , or a l ong c ap i l l i ary p i p e
l oc at e d b e t we e n t he g as g e ne rat or and a b u rne r he ad .
The ?re haz ard s as s oc i at e d wi t h a m i xt u re of hy d rog e n
and oxy g e n c annot b e ove re m p has i z e d and i nd e e d i t i s
p rob ab l y m ai nl y b e c au s e of t he re c og ni z e d d ang e rs
as s oc i at e d t he re wi t h t hat e xt re m e l e ng t hs have b e e n
t ak e n t o s e p arat e t he t wo g as e s c om p l e t e l y u nt i l t he y
re ac h t he b u rne r. In ac c ord anc e wi t h t he p re s e nt i nve n
t i on i t has b e e n re al i z e d t hat , c ont rary t o l ong s t and i ng
op i ni ons , t he g as e s c an b e s af e l y m i xe d t og e t he r e ve n
whe n b e i ng p rod u c e d and as a re s u l t m any d e s i rab l e
ad vant ag e s c an b e re al i z e d .
x. The p rovi s i on of one or m ore s af e t y val ve s ad
j u s t e d t o c onve ni e nt p re s s u re f or re l e as i ng e xc e s s i ve
p re s s u re s i n t he c e l l ( f or e xam p l e , g re at e r t han 30
p s i .) whi c h m ay re s u l t , f or e xam p l e , i f a c u rre nt c on
t rol m e c hani s m f ai l s . The s af e t y val ve s c ou l d b e at
t ac he d t o an al arm , f or e xam p l e , t o i nd i c at e a f ai l u re i n
t he c u rre nt c ont rol m e c hani s m or t he c u t - of f s wi t c he s ,
e t c .
y . Porou s m at e ri al m ay c onve ni e nt l y b e p l ac e d i n t he
b u rne r he ad , s o t hat b ac k ?re t hrou g h t he b u rne r i nt o
t he c e l l c annot oc c u r.
In s u m m ary , t he p re s e nt i nve nt i on c ont e m p l at e s , as
. an i m p ort ant f e at u re t he re of , a u ni ve rs al we l d i ng ap p a
rat u s c ap ab l e of b e i ng u s e d t o p e rf orm d i f f e re nt t y p e s
of we l d i ng op e rat i ons b as e d on t he u t i l i z at i on of hy d ro
g e n and oxy g e n, m ak i ng f u l l u s e of t he ad vant ag e s
whi c h c an t he re b y b e re al i z e d , and e q u i p m e nt whi c h
c an b e m ad e s m al l and p ort ab l e c om p are d wi t h e xi s t i ng
ap p arat u s s u c h as t hat p re s e nt l y u s e d f or g as we l d i ng
u s i ng b u l k y b ot t l e d hy d rog e n. To g e ne rat e t he f u e l , i n
ac c ord anc e wi t h t he i nve nt i on a s m al l c om p ac t e l e c t ro
l y t i c c e l l i s m ad e p os s i b l e i n whi c h t he onl y raw m at e
ri al whi c h has t o b e re p l e ni s he d f rom t i m e t o t i m e i s
wat e r and whi c h c an b e u s e d whe ne ve r a s ou rc e of
e l e c t ri c al e ne rg y i s avai l ab l e t o s u p p l y t he ne c e s s ary
am ou nt of hy d rog e n or hy d rog e n and oxy g e n m i xt u re
f or p e rf orm i ng at om i c we l d i ng or hy d rog e n- oxy g e n
?am e we l d i ng . In i t s s i m p l e s t f orm , t he g as g e ne rat i ng
ap p arat u s of t he p re s e nt i nve nt i on c om p ri s e s an e l e c
t rol y t i c c e l l ad ap t e d t o b e c onne c t e d t o an e ne rg y
s ou rc e , op t i onal l y t hrou g h a s t e p d own t rans f orm e r and
re c t i ?e r, and havi ng m e ans f or c onne c t i on t o a b u rne r,
p re f e rab l y t hrou g h a ?as h- b ac k arre s t or as a s af e t y
p re c au t i on.
The ap p arat u s m ay b e c om b i ne d wi t h a t rans f orm e r
as a s i ng l e c om p ac t u ni t and f or c onve ni e nc e t he t rans
f orm e r m ay b e p rovi d e d wi t h s e ve ral wi nd i ng s t o e n
ab l e i t t o b e u s e d f or au xi l i ary p u rp os e s s u c h as b at t e ry
c harg i ng , e l e c t rop l at i ng , arc we l d i ng or t o p rovi d e an
are f or at om i c we l d i ng .
It has b e e n f ou nd t hat a s i ng l e e l e c t rol y t i c c e l l op e r
at i ng wi t hou t d i ap hrag m s at s e ve ral hu nd re d am p s wi l l
g e ne rat e hy d rog e n and oxy g e n at a re as onab l e rat e f or
s m al l we l d i ng and b raz i ng work b u t f or l arg e r work ( f or
x.
2 0
2 5
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
6
e xam p l e , t he we l d i ng of 1 0 m m s t e e l p l at e ) t he re
q u i re d am p e rag e b e c om e s e xc e s s i ve ( t y p i c al l y of t he
ord e r of 9 0 0 A or m ore ) whe n c ons i d e ri ng t he s i z e of
c ond u c t ors and t rans f orm e r and t he p rob l e m of he at
g e ne rat i on. A c c ord i ng l y , i n one as p e c t of t he i nve nt i on
t he s e p rob l e m s c an b e s i g ni ?c ant l y re d u c e d b y arrang
i ng a p l u ral i t y of c e l l s i n s e ri e s and u s i ng a m u c h
s m al l e r c u rre nt t o ob t ai n t he s am e e f f e c t i ve g as ou t p u t .
In e f f e c t t he c ap ac i t y of a s e ri e s of c e l l s f or a g i ve n
c u rre nt i np u t i s t hat of a s i ng l e c e l l m u l t i p l i e d b y t he
nu m b e r of c e l l s . A l t e rnat i ve l y t he c u rre nt re q u i re m e nt
i s re d u c e d b y a f ac t or e q u al t o t he nu r' nb e r of c e l l s
f or a g i ve n rat e of g as p rod u c t i on.
E ve n s o a l arg e nu m b e r of s e p arat e c e l l s c an b e e x
c e s s i ve l y b u l k y f or p ort ab l e ap p l i c at i ons and i n a f u r
t he r as p e c t of t he i nve nt i on, t he re f ore , t he b u l k c an b e
g re at l y re d u c e d b y arrang i ng t he c e l l s as a s i ng l e u ni t i n
whi c h a nu m b e r of e l e c t rod e s , e f f e c t i ve l y i n s e ri e s , are
arrang e d ad j ac e nt e ac h ot he r i n a c om m on e l e c t rol y t i c
c ham b e r, t he c ham b e r b e i ng p rovi d e d wi t h a g as c ol
l e c t i on s p ac e and an ou t p u t f or c onne c t i on t o, f or e x
am p l e , g as b u rne r m e ans . F u rt he rm ore , onl y t he e nd
e l e c t rod e s ne e d b e c onne c t e d t o an e xt e rnal s ou rc e of
e l e c t ri c al e ne rg y and t he arrang e m e nt as a whol e c an
b e m ad e e xt re m e l y e f ?c i e nt and c om p ac t . A d d i t i onal l y
t he ne e d f or a t rans f orm e r f or m os t ap p l i c at i ons c an b e
e l i m i nat e d b y s u c h an arrang e m e nt s o t hat t he ap p ara
t u s c an b e d e s i g ne d t o b e e l e c t ri c al l y c onne c t e d d i
re c t l y t o a m ai n e l e c t ri c al s u p p l y , t hrou g h a b ri d g e
re c t i ?e r i f d e s i re d . By e l i m i nat i ng t he ne e d f or a t rans
f orm e r, t he g as g e ne rat i ng e q u i p m e nt as a whol e c an b e
m ad e s u rp ri s i ng l y c om p ac t , t o b e we l l s u i t e d f or s m al l
d om e s t i c re q u i re m e nt s as we l l as he avy i nd u s t ri al re
q u i re m e nt s .
In anot he r i m p ort ant as p e c t of t he i nve nt i on, t he re i s
p rovi d e d a s af e t y d e vi c e whi c h m oni t ors t he p re s s u re of
hy d rog e n and oxy g e n b e i ng g e ne rat e d and re g u l at e s
t he c u rre nt f l owi ng t hrou g h t he c e l l ( s ) t o i nc re as e or
d e c re as e t he rat e of g as p rod u c t i on d e p e nd i ng on t he
p re s s u re . In one f orm t he d e vi c e c om p ri s e s a c ham b e r
c ont ai ni ng t wo e l e c t rod e s , at l e as t one of whi c h i s c oni
c al , arrang e d i n t he c ham b e r ( whi c h norm al l y c ont ai ns
a c ond u c t i ve l i q u i d ) and t he e l e c t rod e s b e i ng c onne c t
ab l e i n s e ri e s wi t h one or m ore e l e c t rol y t i c c e l l s u s e d
f or oxy g e n- hy d rog e n p rod u c t i on.
The p re s s u re re s p ons i ve , c u rre nt re g u l at i ng d e vi c e
c an b e d e s i g ne d as an i nt e g ral p art of t he e l e c t rol y t i c
c e l l ( s ) or c an b e u s e d as an at t ac hm e nt c onne c t ab l e
e xt e rnal l y and i n s e ri e s wi t h t he g as g e ne rat i ng c e l l ( s ) .
The d e vi c e c an al s o b e d e s i g ne d t o c om b i ne t he f u nc
t i ons of a c u rre nt re g u l at i ng d e vi c e and a ?as h- b ac k
arre s t or, t he l at t e r f u nc t i on e ns u ri ng t hat a ?am e at t he
b u rne r d oe s not ac c i d e nt al l y p as s b ac k t hrou g h t he
hos e l i ne s t o t he hi g hl y e xp l os i ve m i xt u re i n t he g as
g e ne rat i ng c e l l ( s ) . The d e vi c e m ay i nc orp orat e a t ot al
c u rre nt c u t - ou t f e at u re or m ay b e u s e d i n c om b i nat i on
wi t h a c u t - o' u t d e vi c e whi c h f u l l y i nt e rru p t s t he s u p p l y
of e l e c t ri c al p owe r s hou l d t he p re s s u re i n t he c e l l ( s )
ac c i d e nt al l y e xc e e d a m axi m u m s af e val u e . The c u rre nt
re g u l at i ng d e vi c e m ay al s o op e rat e t o re g u l at e t he c u r
re nt p as s i ng t hrou g h t he c e l l s i n ac c ord anc e wi t h t he
t e m p e rat u re t o m ai nt ai n t he t e m p e rat u re wi t hi n a d e - '
s i re d rang e .
R e f e rri ng t o t he d rawi ng s , F IG. 1 s hows s c he m at i
c al l y a s i ng l e e l e c t rol y t i c c e l l 1 0 op e rat i ng t o p rod u c e a
m i xt u re of hy d rog e n and oxy g e n, whi c h m i xt u re i s
p as s e d t hrou g h a ?as h- b ac k arre s t or l l t o a b u rne r 1 2 .
The c e l l 1 0 c ont ai ns t wo p l at e e l e c t rod e s 1 0 a and 1 0 b
4 , 0 1 4 , 7 7 7
7
i m m e rs e d i n an e l e c t rol y t e c ons i s t i ng of a s ol u t i on of
K OI- I i n wat e r and c onne c t ab l e t hrou g h t e rm i nal s 1 3
and 1 4 re s p e c t i ve l y t o a s ou rc e of a.c . or d .c . e l e c t ri c
i t y . Pre f e rab l y , d .c . i s u s e d as t he e l e c t ri c al i m p e d anc e
of t he c e l l , i s m u c h l owe r f or d .c . t han f or a.c . The
s ou rc e of e l e c t ri c i t y m ay b e a t rans f orm e r, t y p i c al l y of
30 0 A m p s ou t p u t rat i ng , c onne c t e d t o t he c e l l t hrou g h
a b ri d g e re c t i ?e r. The ?as h- b ac k arre s t or 1 1 i s c ons t i
t u t e d b y a wat e r b at h i n whi c h g as l i b e rat e d i n t he c e l l
1 0 p as s e s t hrou g h a t u b e 1 5 i nt o t he wat e r b at h 1 1 and
t he nc e t hrou g h a t u b e 1 6 t o t he b u rne r 1 2 . The ar
rang e m e nt i s s u i t ab l e f or s m al l we l d i ng and b raz i ng
work b u t b e c om e s t oo b u l k y f or ve ry l arg e work .
F IG. 2 i l l u s t rat e s i n ve rt i c al c ros s - s e c t i on an e l e c t ro
l y t i c c e l l 2 0 whi c h re q u i re s a m u c h l owe r c u rre nt t han
t he c e l l i l l u s t rat e d i n F IG. 1 f or a g i ve n c u rre nt i np u t .
The c e l l 2 0 c om p ri s e s what i s i n e f f e c t a s e ri e s of c e l l s
c ons t i t u t e d b y a p l u ral i t y of p l at e e l e c t rod e s i m m e rs e d
i n a s ol u t i on of K OH i n wat e r. F or c onve ni e nc e t he
e l e c t rod e s are d e s i g nat e d as 2 0 a f or t he t wo e l e c t rod e s
at t he e nd s and 2 0 b f or t he i nt e rm e d i at e e l e c t rod e s .
The e l e c t rod e s 2 0 a are c onne c t e d , vi a c ond u c t ors 2 1 t o
t e rm i nal s 2 2 f or c onne c t i on t o an e xt e rnal s u p p l y of
e l e c t ri c i t y . The m i xt u re of hy d rog e n and oxy g e n whi c h
i s e vol ve d at t he e l e c t rod e s whe n an e l e c t ri c c u rre nt i s
ap p l i e d , p as s e s t hrou g h an ou t l e t op e ni ng 2 3 t o a ?as h
b ac k arre s t or and t he nc e t o a b u rne r ( not s hown i n
F IG. 2 ) . The s e ri e s of e l e c t rod e s 2 0 a and 2 0 b are s e al
i ng l y m ou nt e d i n a t u b e 2 4 of i ns u l at i ng m at e ri al whi c h
i s p rovi d e d wi t h re s t ri c t e d ap e rt u re s 2 4 a at t he t op and
2 4 b at t he b ot t om , b e t we e n e ac h p ai r of e l e c t rod e s .
The ap e rt u re s 2 4 a p e rm i t g as t o e s c ap e i nt o t he s p ac e
2 5 ab ove t he s u rf ac e of t he e l e c t rol y t e and t he ap e r
t u re s 2 4 b p e rm i t e l e c t rol y t e t o e nt e r f re e l y i nt o t he
s p ac e s b e t we e n e ac h p ai r of e l e c t rod e s . By vi rt u e of
t hi s arrang e m e nt t he e l e c t ri c al re s i s t anc e b e t we e n any
t wo ad j ac e nt e l e c t rod e s i s f ar l e s s t han t hat b e t we e n
non- ad j ac e nt e l e c t rod e s s o t hat t he arrang e m e nt i s
e f f e c t i ve l y one of a l arg e nu m b e r of i nd i vi d u al c e l l s
c onne c t e d i n s e ri e s . A ve ry c om p ac t arrang e m e nt i s
t he re f ore ob t ai ne d b u t one whi c h p e rm i t s a re l at i ve l y
hi g h g as p rod u c t i on rat e f or a re as onab l y l ow c u rre nt
i np u t . F or e xam p l e , a s t ru c t u re l i k e t hat s hown, c ons i s t
i ng of t he e q u i val e nt of , f or e xam p l e , 1 2 0 c e l l s c an
g e ne rat e g as at a c u rre nt i np u t of 1 5 A ( at , f or e xam p l e ,
2 4 0 V ) e q u al t o t hat of a s i ng l e c e l l re q u i ri ng a c u rre nt
i np u t of ap p roxi m at e l y 1 8 0 0 A . Thi s m e ans i n p rac t i c e
t hat a re l at i ve l y p ort ab l e ap p arat u s c an b e p rod u c e d
whi c h c an b e c onne c t e d d i re c t l y , wi t hou t a t rans
f orm e r, t o m os t d om e s t i c e l e c t ri c al s u p p l i e s and whi c h
c an m ai nt ai n a s u f ?c i e nt rat e of g as p rod u c t i on f or
m os t t y p e s of we l d i ng work .
A n ad vant ag e whi c h p art i c u l arl y d i s t i ng u i s he s t he
arrang e m e nt s d i s c l os e d f rom c onve nt i onal g as we l d i ng
ap p arat u s i s t hat t he hy d rog e n and oxy g e n are au t om at
i c al l y p rod u c e d i n s u b s t ant i al l y t he c orre c t p rop ort i ons
t o g i ve a ne u t ral ?am e . No m i xi ng val ve s are re q u i re d
and e ve n u ns k i l l e d p e rs onne l c an p rod u c e s at i s f ac t ory
we l d s wi t hou t d i f f i c u l t y . In f ac t i nd i c at i ons are t hat
m any we l d s c an b e p rod u c e d b e t t e r t han b y any ot he r
we l d i ng p roc e s s . ,
F IG. 3 i l l u s t rat e s a p re s s u re re s p ons i ve s af e t y d e vi c e
30 op e rab l y c onne c t e d i n s e ri e s ( e l e c t ri c al l y ) wi t h an
e l e c t rol y t i c hy d rog e n- oxy g e n c e l l 31 f or re g u l at i ng t he
c u rre nt p as s i ng t he re t hrou g h i n ac c ord anc e wi t h t he
g as p re s s u re b e i ng g e ne rat e d . The d e vi c e , or c e l l 30
c om p ri s e s a c ham b e r 30 ' i n c om m u ni c at i on wi t h a
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 5
5 0
5 5
65
re s e rvoi r 32 vi a a p as s ag e 33. Two c oni c al e l e c t rod e s
8
34 and 35 are m ou nt e d i n s p ac e d re l at i on wi t hi n t he
c ham b e r and c onne c t e d i n s e ri e s b e t we e n a d .c . s ou rc e
( not s hown) and t he e l e c t rol y t i c c e l l 31 . A n e l e c t ro
l y t i c s ol u t i on of K OI- I and wat e r i s p rovi d e d wi t hi n t he
c ham b e r, p ort i on of whi c h e nt e rs t he re s e rvoi r 32 .
Whe n t he c e l l 31 i s op e rat i ng t o p rod u c e hy d rog e n and
oxy g e n t he p re s s u re of t he g as b e i ng p rod u c e d ac t s on
t he s u rf ac e of t he e l e c t rol y t e i n t he c ham b e r 30 t o
d i s p l ac e an am ou nt of t he e l e c t rol y t e i nt o t he re s e rvoi r
32 ag ai ns t b ac k p re s s u re e xe rt e d b y ai r t rap p e d i n t he
re s e rvoi r, t he am ou nt of e l e c t rol y t e d i s p l ac e d d e p e nd
i ng on t he p re s s u re of t he g as i n t he c ham b e r 30 . A t
t he s am e t i m e t he are a of c ont ac t b e t we e n t he e l e c
t rod e s and t he e l e c t rol y t e i n t he c e l l 30 re d u c e s i n
p rop ort i on t o t he d rop i n e l e c t rol y t e l e ve l , c au s i ng t he
e l e c t ri c al re s i s t anc e of t he c e l l 30 t o ri s e and t he c u r
re nt p as s i ng t he re t hrou g h t o f al l . Shou l d t he g as p re s
s u re d rop t he e l e c t rol y t e l e ve l i n t he c e l l 30 wi l l ri s e
and t he c u rre nt p as s i ng i nt o t he c e l l 31 wi l l al s o ri s e .
Thu s t he c e l l 30 op e rat e s t o re g u l at e t he rat e of g as
p rod u c t i on i n ac c ord anc e wi t h t he p re s s u re p rod u c e d
and p re ve nt s e xc e s s g as p re s s u re t o b u i l d u p i n t he c e l l
31 .
F IG. 4 i l l u s t rat e s an al t e rnat i ve f orm of s af e t y d e vi c e
whi c h i s op e rab l e t o m ak e or b re ak t he c onne c t i on
b e t we e n an e l e c t rol y t i c hy d rog e n- oxy g e n c e l l ( not
s hown i n F IG. 4 ) and an e l e c t ri c c u rre nt s ou rc e . The
d e vi c e c om p ri s e s a c y l i nd ri c al c ont ai ne r 4 0 i n ?u i d
c om m u ni c at i on wi t h a l i q u i d re s e rvoi r 4 1 vi a a p as s ag e
way 4 2 , and a q u ant i t y of m e rc u ry 4 2 c ont ai ne d i n t he
c ont ai ne r and re s e rvoi r. Two e l e c t rod e s 4 3 and 4 4 are
d i s p os e d one ab ove t he ot he r i n t he c ont ai ne r 4 0 and
are norm al l y i m m e rs e d i n t he m e rc u ry wi t h a c ond u c
t i ve p at h t he re b y f orm e d b e t we e n t he m . The c ont ai ne r
i s c onne c t e d e l e c t ri c al l y i n s e ri e s wi t h an e l e c t rol y t i c
c e l l ( or c e l l s ) and i n g as e ou s c om m u ni c at i on t he re wi t h
t hrou g h a hos e 4 5 . A n i nc re as e i n g as p re s s u re re s u l t i ng
f rom g e ne rat i on of g as e s b y t he e l e c t rol y t i c c e l l ( s )
c au s e s t he m e rc u ry t o b e d i s p l ac e d t oward s t he re s e r
voi r and t he m e rc u ry l e ve l i n t he c ont ai ne r 4 0 t o f al l .
Whe n t he p re s s u re e xc e e d s a p re d e t e rm i ne d l e ve l t he
m e rc u ry l e ve l f al l s b e l ow t hat of t he e l e c t rod e 4 3 and
e l e c t ri c al c onne c t i on b e t we e n t he t wo e l e c t rod e s i s
b rok e n. The e l e c t ri c al c onne c t i on i s ag ai n re s t ore d
whe n t he g as p re s s u re f al l s . A non~i n?am m ab l e l i q u i d ,
s u c h as s i l i c one oi l or f re on i s p rovi d e d on t op of t he
m e rc u ry t o e ns u re t hat any arc whi c h m ay b e g e ne rat e d
b e t we e n t he e l e c t rod e 4 3 and t he m e rc u ry i s t ot al l y
i s ol at e d f rom t he g as e s ab ove t he l i q u i d s .
F IG. 5 s hows s c he m at i c al l y an arrang e m e nt whe re b y
an e xc e e d i ng l y hot ?am e c an b e p rod u c e d u s i ng t he
g as e ou s m i xt u re g e ne rat e d e l e c t rol y t i c al l y b y t he ap p a
rat u s p re vi ou s l y d e s c ri b e d . In t hi s arrang e m e nt a m i x
t u re of hy d rog e n and oxy g e n, p re f e rab l y i n s t oi c hi o
m e t ri c al p rop ort i on, i s p as s e d vi a a l i ne 5 0 b e t we e n a
p ai r of t u ng s t e n e l e c t rod e s 5 1 t o p rod u c e m ol e c u l ar
d i s s oc i at i on of t he hy d rog e n and t he oxy g e n and a ve ry
hot f l am e 5 2 . It c an b e ap p re c i at e d t hat whe re as i n an
at om i c hy d rog e n ?am e a s i g ni ?c ant t e m p e rat u re ri s e i s
ob t ai ne d b y s t ri k i ng an arc i n t he hy d rog e n, an e ve n
g re at e r t e m p e rat u re ri s e c an b e re al i z e d b y s t ri k i ng t he
are b e t we e n t he oxy g e n as we l l s i nc e t he d i s s oc i at i on
e ne rg y of m ol e c u l ar oxy g e n i s of t he s am e ord e r of
m ag ni t u d e as t hat of m ol e c u l ar hy d rog e n.
F IG. 6 i l l u s t rat e s an arrang e m e nt f or t he m ag ne t i c
s e p arat i on of oxy g e n f rom a m i xt u re of oxy g e n and
hy d rog e n, whe re b y t he oxy g e n c an b e u s e d f or ?am e
c u t t i ng . The ap p arat u s c ons i s t s of a c ham b e r 60 c on
4 , 0 1 4 , 7 7 7
9
t ai ni ng a m ag ne t 61 and i s l oc at e d i n a c ond u i t 62 . A
m i xt u re of hy d rog e n and oxy g e n i s p as s e d t hrou g h t he
c ond u i t and arou nd t he m ag ne t 61 . The d i am ag ne t i c
oxy g e n i s d i ve rt e d b y t he m ag ne t i c ?e l d i nt o a t rans
ve rs e p as s ag e way 63 t o a c e nt ral c ond u i t ( not s hown)
l e ad i ng f rom t hi s p as s ag e way and t he nc e t o a ?am e
c u t t i ng he ad . The p aram ag ne t i c hy d rog e n c ont i nu e s
al ong t he c ond u i t , p as t t he m ag ne t and c an b e al l owe d
t o e s c ap e or c an b e c ol l e c t e d , as d e s i re d . If t he m ag ne t
i s an e l e c t rom ag ne t i t c an b e t u rne d of f whe n hy d rog e n
and oxy g e n i s re q u i re d as a m i xt u re , and i n t hat c as e
t he d owns t re am s i d e of t he c ond u i t 62 c an b e c l os e d of f
t o p re ve nt t he l os s of g as .
F IG. 7 i l l u s t rat e s a c om p l e t e oxy - hy d rog e n g e ne rat or
and we l d i ng ap p arat u s c om p ri s i ng a g as g e ne rat or 7 0 , a
c u rre nt re g u l at i ng c e l l 7 1 and a p owe r s u p p l y 7 2 . The
c ons t ru c t i on of t he e l e c t rod e s 7 3 of t he g e ne rat or 7 0
and 7 4 of t he c e l l 7 1 are i d e nt i c al wi t h t hos e i l l u s t rat e d
i n F IGS. 2 and 3 re s p e c t i ve l y . In t hi s arrang e m e nt ,
howe ve r, t he g as g e ne rat or 7 0 and c e l l 7 1 are c om
b i ne d as an i nt e g rat e d u ni t and as s u c h has s om e f e a
t u re s not f ou nd i n t he arrang e m e nt s s hown i n F IGS. 2
and 3. In p art i c u l ar t he c ham b e r 7 5 of t he g e ne rat or 7 0
and t he c ham b e r 7 6 of t he c u rre nt re g u l at or c e l l 7 1 are
s e p arat e d b y t wo p art i t i ons 7 7 and 7 8 d e ?ni ng b e t we e n
t he m a p as s ag e way c om m u ni c at i ng b e t we e n t he t wo
c ham b e rs . The re s p e c t i ve e l e c t rod e s of t he c e l l 7 1 and
a g e ne rat or 7 0 are c onne c t e d e l e c t ri c al l y i n s e ri e s wi t h
t he p owe r s u p p l y .
Gas p rod u c e d b y e l e c t rol y s i s i n t he c ham b e r 7 5 ri s e s
i nt o t he s p ac e i n t he c ham b e r ab ove t he e l e c t rod e s 7 3,
p as s e s d own t he p as s ag e way b e t we e n t he p art i t i ons 7 7
and 7 8 , b u b b l e s t hrou g h t he e l e c t rol y t e i n_ t he c ham b e r
7 6 and t he nc e p as s e s t hrou g h an ou t l e t op e ni ng 7 9 t o a
b u rne r 8 0 . A n ai r t rap re s e rvoi r 8 1 i s f orm e d i nt e g ral l y
wi t h t he c e l l 7 1 and i s i n l i q u i d c om m u ni c at i on t he re
.wi t h t hrou g h an op e ni ng b e t we e n t he b ot t om of t he
re s e rvoi r and t he c e l l . Whe n t he p re s s u re of t he g as
g e ne rat e d b y t he g e ne rat or 7 0 ri s e s , t hi s p re s s u re
c au s e s t he e l e c t rol y t e i n t he c ham b e r 7 6 t o b e d i s
p l ac e d i nt o t he re s e rvoi r 8 1 re s u l t i ng i n a re d u c t i on of
t he c u rre nt b e i ng p as s e d t o t he g e ne rat or 7 0 b y t he
m e c hani s m p re vi ou s l y d e s c ri b e d i n re l at i on t o F IG. 3 of
t he d rawi ng s . In t hi s way t he c e l l 7 1 e f f e c t i ve l y m oni
t ors t he g as p re s s u re and re g u l at e s t he c u rre nt t o m ai n
t ai n an ap p roxi m at e l y c ons t ant p re s s u re . To e ns u re
ag ai ns t t he p os s i b i l i t y t hat t he p re s s u re s hou l d ac c i d e n
t al l y e xc e e d a p re d e t e rm i ne d m axi m u m s af e val u e , a
s p ri ng - l oad e d s af e t y p re s s u re val ve 8 2 i s p rovi d e d at
t he t op of t he re s e rvoi r 8 1 t o re l e as e t he e xc e s s p re s
s u re i nt o t he at m os p he re . '
The b u rne r 8 0 i s p rovi d e d wi t h a ?as h- b ac k arre s t or
i n t he f onn of a p orou s c e ram i c p e l l e t 8 3 l oc at e d i n t he
g as ?ow p at h b e t we e n t he hand l e p art 8 4 of t he b u rne r
and t he b u rne r t i p 8 5 . The ?as h- b ac k arre s t or ac t s b y
q u e nc hi ng any ?am e b l owi ng b ac k i nt o t he b u rne r
b e f ore t he ?am e has a c hanc e t o re ac h t he hos e 8 6
c onne c t i ng t he b u rne r wi t h t he g as g e ne rat or.
The p owe r s u p p l y i s of t he u ni ve rs al t y p e , t hat i s , i t i s
p rovi d e d wi t h a t rans f orm e r 8 7 c onne c t ab l e t o an al t e r
nat i ng c u rre nt e l e c t ri c al s u p p l y and p rovi d e d wi t h a
nu m b e r of e l e c t ri c al ou t l e t s f or vari ou s p u rp os e s . One
wi nd i ng of t he t rans f orm e r i s c onne c t e d t o a b ri d g e
re c t i ?e r whi c h p rovi d e s t he d c . c u rre nt f or t he g as
g e ne rat or. A not he r wi nd i ng i s u s e d f or arc we l d i ng or
c an b e u s e d t o s u p p l y an arc f or at om i c oxy - hy d rog e n
we l d i ng . It wi l l b e ap p re c i at e d t hat t he t rans f orm e r i s
op t i onal and t hat t he g e ne rat or c an b e c onne c t e d d i ,
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 5
5 5
65
1 0
re c t l y t o t he m ai ns . In f ac t t he b ri d g e re c t i ?e r i s not
e s s e nt i al e i t he r and c an b e om i t t e d i f d e s i re d .
In t he op e rat i on of ap p arat u s of t he t y p e d e s c ri b e d i t
i s of t e n re q u i re d t o c onve ni e nt l y c hang e b e t we e n ne u
t ral and oxi d i z i ng ?am e s , f or e xam p l e whe n c hang i ng
f rom a we l d i ng op e rat i on t o a c u t t i ng op e rat i on and t he
p re s e nt i nve nt i on m ak e s p rovi s i on f or t he vari at i on of
t he s e f u nc t i ons . Bri e ?y , i n ac c ord anc e wi t h t he p re s e nt
i nve nt i on, ap p arat u s f or e i t he r oxy - hy d rog e n we l d i ng
or c u t t i ng m ay c om p ri s e a f i rs t e l e c t rol y t i c g e ne rat or
f or g e ne rat i ng hy d rog e n and oxy g e n b y t he e l e c t rol y s i s
of wat e r i n s u b s t ant i al l y s t oi c hi om e t ri c p rop ort i ons t o
p rod u c e a ne u t ral ?am e and a f u rt he r e l e c t rol y t i c g e n
e rat or f rom whi c h hy d rog e n and oxy g e n are s e p arat e l y
d e l i ve re d , whi c h m e ans f or ad d i ng e i t he r t he hy d rog e n
f rom t hi s f u rt he r c e l l , or t he oxy g e n f rom t he f u rt he r
g e ne rat or t o t he g as m i xt u re ob t ai ne d f rom t he ?rs t
g e ne rat or. Thi s arrang e m e nt re s u l t s i n a m os t e f f i c i e nt
c om b i nat i on of f u nc t i ons whe n a ne u t ral ?am e or ot he r
i s re q u i re d . The hy d rog e n g as p rod u c e d b y t he f u rt he r
g e ne rat or, whe n ad d e d t o t he ?am e m i xt u re , b u rns wi t h
at m os p he ri c oxy g e n t he re b y p rod u c i ng a re d u c i ng
?am e . Whe n an oxi d i z i ng ?am e i s re q u i re d , t he ad d i
t i onal hy d rog e n i s c u t o? and t he oxy g e n p rod u c e d b y
t he f u rt he r g e ne rat or i s ad d e d t o t he ?am e m i xt u re . It
wi l l b e ap p re c i at e d t hat vari ou s d e s i g ns c an b e e m
p l oy e d f or e i t he r g e ne rat or, f or e xam p l e , t he y m ay b e
c om p l e t e l y i nd e p e nd e nt or t he y m ay s hare a c om m on
e l e c t rol y t e . The f u rt he r g as g e ne rat or c an al s o, i n p rac
t i c e , b e m ad e s om e what s m al l e r t han t he ot he r g e ne ra
t or s i nc e i t d oe s not have t o p rod u c e t he b u l k of t he g as
re q u i re d .
It has b e e n f ou nd t hat we l d i ng wi t h hy d rog e n and
oxy g e n i n an e xac t 2 t o l rat i o ( as whe n t he g as e s are
p rod u c e d e l e c t rol y t i c al l y ) re s u l t s i n a p art i c u l arl y
c l e an, oxi d e f re e we l d e d s u rf ac e and a s t rong we l d e d '
j oi nt . F or t he s am e q u al i t y we l d i ng t o b e p rod u c e d b y
c onve nt i onal g as we l d i ng t e c hni q u e s u b s t ant i al l y
g re at e r s k i l l i s re q u i re d and , i n t he c as e of c onve nt i onal
hy d rog e n we l d i ng , ' f or e xam p l e , g ood we l d e d j oi nt s are
ob t ai ne d onl y wi t h g re at d i f ?c u l t y d u e t o t he e xt re m e
d i f ?c u l t y i n ob t ai ni ng and m ai nt ai ni ng a ne u t ral ?am e .
Wi t h t he m e t hod of t he p re s e nt i nve nt i on t he re i s no
d i f ?c u l t y i n ob t ai ni ng a ne u t ral ?am e , and he nc e t he
e as e wi t h whi c h hi g h q u al i t y we l d s c an b e ob t ai ne d .
F i nal l y , i t c an s om e t i m e s b e c onve ni e nt t o s t ore hy
d rog e n and /or oxy g e n, g e ne rat e d e l e c t rol y t i c al l y i n a
s p e c i al l y d e s i g ne d c ont ai ne r, or t o s l owl y ac c u m u l at e
t he s e g as e s and t he n, whe n re q u i re d , u s i ng t he ac c u m u
l at e d s t ore d g as f or e xt ra he avy work f or a s hort t i m e .
It i s q u i t e haz ard ou s t o p re s s u ri z e a m i xt u re of hy d ro
g e n and oxy g e n u nd e r ve ry hi g h p re s s u re s , of c ou rs e ,
b u t i t i s p os s i b l e , i n ac c ord anc e wi t h one as p e c t of t he
i nve nt i on, t o s t ore a u s e f u l am ou nt of g as i n a re l at i ve l y
s m al l vol u m e at l ow p re s s u re s and t hi s c an b e d one b y
u s i ng a hi g hl y g as ab s orb e nt m e t al i n t he s t orag e c on
t ai ne r. The m e t al p al l ad i u m , f or e xam p l e , c an ab s orb
u p t o 9 0 0 t i m e s i t s own vol u m e of hy d rog e n and c an b e
u s e d wi t h ad vant ag e f or t hi s ap p l i c at i on. In f ac t u s e f u l
am ou nt s of hy d rog e n, f or s m al l s c al e b raz i ng work c an
re ad i l y b e s t ore d i n a s m al l hand he l d c ont ai ne r, c on
t ai ni ng a g as ab s orb e nt m at e ri al .
I c l ai m : '
1 . A p p arat u s f or g e ne rat i ng a s u p p l y of hy d rog e n g as
and oxy g e n g as i n p rop ort i on t o c ons u m p t i on of s ai d
g as e s c om p ri s i ng ,
4 , 0 1 4 , 7 7 7
1 1
a. an e l e c t rol y t i c c e l l m e ans f or e l e c t rol y t i c g e ne ra
t i on of s ai d g as e s , s ai d c e l l b e i ng e nc l os e d t o e nt rap
s ai d g e ne rat e d g as e s , ,
b . a g as ou t l e t c arri e d b y s ai d c e l l t o al l ow a p ort i on
of s ai d g e ne rat e d g as e s t o d i s c harg e f rom s ai d c e l l ,
c . a s ou rc e of e l e c t ri c al p owe r c onne c t e d t o s ai d c e l l
b y a s u i t ab l e c i rc u i t , and '
d . an e l e c t ri c al p owe r re g u l at i ng m e ans f or c ont rol
l i ng t he am ou nt of p owe r t o s ai d c e l l i nc l u d i ng :
a ?rs t c ham b e r havi ng a s e l e c t e d c ros s - s e c t i onal
are a and an u p p e r and l owe r i nl e t , s ai d u p p e r
i nl e t c onne c t e d wi t h s ai d g as ou t l e t of s ai d c e l l ,
a s e c ond c ham b e r havi ng a s e l e c t e d c ros s - s e c t i onal
are a at l e as t one hal f l e s s t han t hat of s ai d ?rs t
c ham b e r and a l owe r i nl e t , s ai d i nl e t c onne c t e d
t o s ai d l owe r i nl e t of s ai d ?rs t c ham b e r b y a
s u i t ab l e p as s ag e ,
a ?rs t and s e c ond i nve rt e d c oni c al l y - s hap e d and
c onc e nt ri c al l y al i g ne d re s i s t ant e l e c t rod e c arri e d
i n a ve rt i c al re l at i ons hi p i n s ai d ?rs t c ham b e r,
_ s ai d e l e c t rod e s c onne c t e d i n s ai d c i rc u i t b e t we e n
i s ai d p owe r s ou rc e and s ai d c e l l , and
a q u ant i t y of e l e c t rol y t i c s ol u t i on c arri e d i n s ai d
c ham b e rs t o p art i al l y ?l l s ai d c ham b e rs and i n_
, t e rf ac e wi t h s ai d e l e c t rod e s t o c l os e s ai d c i rc u i t ,
whe re i n an i nc re as e i n t he p re s s u re of s ai d e nt rap p e d
g as e s d e p re s s e s t he l e ve l of s ai d e l e c t rol y t i c s ol u ~
t i on i n s ai d ?rs t c ham b e r t o c au s e an i nc re as e i n
re s i s t anc e of s ai d e l e c t rod e s t he re b y re d u c i ng t he
am ou nt of p owe r t o s ai d c e l l .
2 . A p p arat u s f or g e ne rat i ng a s u p p l y of hy d rog e n and .
oxy g e n g as e s c om p ri s i ng ,
a. an e l e c t rol y t i c c e l l m e ans f or e l e c t rol y t i c g e ne ra
t i on of s ai d g as e s , s ai d c e l l b e i ng e nc l os e d t o e nt rap
s ai d g e ne rat e d g as e s , '
b . a g as ou t l e t c arri e d b y s ai d c e l l t o al l ow a p ort i on
_ of s ai d g e ne rat e d g as e s t o d i s c harg e f rom s ai d c e l l ,
c . a s ou rc e of e l e c t ri c al p owe r c onne c t e d t o s ai d c e l l
b y a s u i t ab l e c i rc u i t , and
d . an e l e c t ri c al p owe r re g u l at i ng m e ans i nc l u d i ng ,
a ?rs t c ham b e r havi ng a s e l e c t e d c ros s - s e c t i onal
are a and an u p p e r and l owe r i nl e t , s ai d u p p e r
i nl e t c onne c t e d t o s ai d ou t l e t of s ai d c e l l ,
a s e c ond c i rc u l ar c ham b e r havi ng a p re s e l e c t e d
c ros s - s e c t i onal are a, s ai d are a of s ai d s e c ond
c ham b e r b e i ng at l e as t one - hal f t hat of s ai d ?rs t
c ham b e r, and a l owe r i nl e t , s ai d i nl e t c onne c t e d
t o s ai d l owe r i nl e t of s ai d ?rs t c ham b e r b y a
p as s ag e , .
a q u ant i t y of e l e c t rol y t i c s ol u t i on c arri e d i n s ai d
c ham b e r t o p art i al l y ?l l s ai d c ham b e rs ,
a q u ant i t y of non- c ond u c t i ve l i q u i d havi ng a s p e
c i ?c g ravi t y l e s s t han s ai d e l e c t rol y t i c s ol u t i on
c arri e d i n s ai d ?rs t c ham b e r ab ove s ai d e l e c t ro
l y t i c s ol u t i on, and
a ?rs t and s e c ond e l e c t rod e c arri e d b y s ai d ?rs t
c ham b e r i n a ve rt i c al re l at i ons hi p and e xt e nd i ng
i nward l y t he re i n t o i nt e rf ac e wi t h s ai d e l e c t rol y t e
s ol u t i on, s ai d e l e c t rod e s c onne c t e d i n s ai d c i rc u i t
b e t we e n s ai d p owe r s ou rc e and s ai d c e l l t o c l os e
s ai d c i rc u i t ,
whe re i n a s u f f i c i e nt i nc re as e i n p re s s u re of s ai d e n
t rap p e d g as e s d e p re s s e s t he l e ve l of s ai d non- c on
1 2
d u c t i ve l i q u i d and s ai d e l e c t rol y t e t o i nt e rf ac e s ai d
u p p e r e l e c t rod e wi t h s ai d non- c ond u c t i ve m at e ri al
whe re b y s ai d c i rc u i t i s op e ne d .
3. A n ap p arat u s ac c ord i ng t o c l ai m 2 and f u rt he r
5 c harac t e ri z e d b y s ai d ap p arat u s c om p ri s i ng ,
a ?as h- b ac k arre s t or i n t he f orm - of an e l ong at e d
c ap i l l ary havi ng a ?rs t e nd ' c onne c t e d t o s ai d ou t l e t
of s ai d c e l l and a s e c ond e nd c onne c t e d , t o a g as
c ons u m p t i on m e ans .
4 . A n ap p arat u s ac c ord i ng t o c l ai m 2 and f u rt he r
c harac t e ri z e d b y s ai d ap p arat u s c om p ri s i ng ,
a ?as h- b ac k arre s t or i n t he f orm of an e l ong at e d
c ap i l l ary havi ng a ?rs t e nd c onne c t e d t o s ai d c e l l
ou t l e t and a s e c ond e nd c onne c t e d t o a g as c on
s u m p t i on m e ans . ' _
5 . Sy s t e m f or g e ne rat i ng a s u p p l y of hy d rog e n g as
and oxy g e n g as i n p rop ort i on t o a c ons u m p t i on of s ai d
g as e s and p rot e c t i ng s ai d s y s t e m c om p ri s i ng :
a. an e l e c t rol y t i c c e l l m e ans f or e l e c t rol y t i c al l y g e n
e rat i ng s ai d g as e s , s ai d c e l l b e i ng e nc l os e d t o e n
t rap s ai d g e ne rat e d g as e s , ,
b . a s ou rc e of e l e c t ri c al p owe r c onne c t e d t o s ai d c e l l
b y a s u i t ab l e c i rc u i t , and
c . a g as ou t l e t m e ans t o al l ow a d i s c harg e of s ai d
g as e s and p rot e c t s ai d c e l l f rom a ?as h- b ac k and
p rovi d e re g u l at i on of s ai d g as g e ne rat i on f u rt he r
i nc l u d i ng , _
a ?rs t ve rt i c al c ham b e r havi ng a t op i nl e t c on
ne c t e d wi t h s ai d c e l l and a b ot t om ou t l e t ,
a s e c ond ve rt i c al c ham b e r havi ng a s u b s t ant i al l y
g re at e r c ros s - s e c t i onal are a t han s ai d ?rs t c ham
b e r, s ai d s e c ond c ham b e r havi ng a t op ou t l e t f or
d i s c harg i ng s ai d g as t o a g as c ons u m p t i on m e ans ,
and a ?rs t and s e c ond b ot t om i nl e t , s ai d ?rs t i nl e t
c onne c t e d t o s ai d b ot t om i nl e t of s ai d ?rs t c ham
b e r b y a hori z ont al p as s ag e , . _ ,
a t hi rd ve rt i c al c ham b e r havi ng a b ot t om ' i nl e t c on
ne c t e d t o s ai d s e c ond b ot t om i nl e t of s ai d s e c ond
c ham b e r, s ai d t hi rd c ham b e r havi ng a c ros s - s e c
t i onal are a g re at e r t han s ai d ?rs t c ham b e r and
l e s s t han s ai d s e c ond c ham b e r,
a q u ant i t y of e l e c t rol y t i c s ol u t i on c arri e d i n s ai d
?rs t , s e c ond and t hi rd c ham b e r t o p art i al l y ?l l
s ai d c ham b e rs , . v i
a ?rs t and s e c ond i nve rt e d , c oni c al l y - s hap e d re s i s
t ant e l e c t rod e s c onc e nt ri c al l y al i g ne d and c ar
ri e d b y s ai d s e c ond c ham b e r i n a ve rt i c al re l a
t i ons hi p , s ai d e l e c t rod e s c onne c t e d i n s ai d c i rc u i t
t o c l os e s ai d c i rc u i t whe n i n c ont ac t wi t h s ai d
e l e c t rol y t e , , v _
whe re i n an i nc re as e i n p re s s u re i n s ai d s e c ond c ham
b e r d e p re s s e s t he l e ve l of s ai d e l e c t rol y t e t o d e
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
c re as e t he g e ne rat i on of s ai d g as e s b y i nc re as i ng .
re s i s t anc e i n s ai d c i rc u i t b y i nc re as i ng e xp os e d
p ort i ons of s ai d re s i s t ant e l e c t rod e s , s ai d e l e c t ro
l y t e ac t i ng as a p rot e c t i ve b arri e r b e t we e n s ai d g as
c ons u m p t i on m e ans and s ai d c e l l .
6. A n ap p arat u s ac c ord i ng t o c l ai m 5 and f u rt he r
c harac t e ri z e d b y s ai d ap p arat u s c om p ri s i ng ,
a ?as h- b ac k arre s t or i n t he f orm of an e l ong at e d
5 5
ou t l e t and a s e c ond e nd c onne c t e d t o a g as c on
s u m p t i on m e ans . _
* *' * *
65
c ap i l l ary havi ng a ?rs t e nd c onne c t e d t o s ai d c e l l _