United S ta tes Pa tent [ 1 9 1

[ 1 1 ] 4 , 0 8 1 , 6 5 6
Brown [ 4 5 ] M a r. 2 8 , 1 9 7 8
[ 5 4 ] ARC-AS S IS TED OXY/HYDROGEN [ 5 6 ] Ref erenc es Cited
WELDING us . PATENT DOCUM ENTS
[ 7 6 ] Inv entor: Yul l Brown, 1 8 2 Aub urn Rd. , Aub urn , New S outh Wa l es , Aus tra l l a 3 , 0 4 5 , 6 6 5 7 /1 9 6 2
3 , 2 6 2 , 8 7 2 7 /1 9 6 6
[ 2 1 ] Ap p l . No. : 7 2 2 , 1 2 5 3 3 1 0 4 8 3 3 /1 9 6 7
Prim a ry Ex a m iner Dona l d G. K el l y
[ 2 2 ] F il ed: S ep . 1 0 , 1 9 7 6 As s is ta nt Ex a m iner--K . J . Ra m s ey
Attorney , Ag ent, or F irm -Hil l , Gros s , S im p s on, Va n
_ _ S a nten, S tea dm a n, Ch ia ra & S im p s on
Rel a ted U. S . Ap p l ic a tion Da ta [ 5 7 ] ABS TRACT
[ 6 2 ] Div is ion of S er. No. 4 8 9 , 9 2 1 , J ul . 1 9 , 1 9 7 4 , Pa t. No. _ _ _ _ _ .
4 , 0 1 4 , 7 7 7 . Th is inv entl on rel a tes to wel ding , b ra z ing or th e l l k e
I util iz ing a m ix ture of h y drog en a nd ox y g en g enera ted in
. . . . . s ub s ta ntia l l y s toic h iom etric p rop ortions in a n el ec tro
[ 3 0 ] F orel g n Ap p h c a tl on Pnonty Da ta l y tic c el l b y el ec tric a l dis s oc ia tion of wa ter, th e m ix ture
J 1 1 1 - 2 0 , 1 9 7 3 Aus tra l ia - - - - - - - ~ - P1 3 4 1 5 9 s o g enera ted b eing p a s s ed f rom th e g enera tor th roug h a
Aug - 3 , 1 9 7 3 Aus tra l ia - - - i - - a ' - -- P1 3 4 3 4 1 f l a s h b a c k a rres tor a nd th enc e to a b urner wh ere th e
M a y 2 , 1 9 7 4 Aus tra l ia ----------------------------- -~ P1 3 7 4 1 8 g a s es a re ig nited, Th e inv ention a l s o rel a tes to a tom ic
wel ding in wh ic h th e a b ov e m entioned m ix ture is
[ 5 1 ] Int. Cl . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 3 K 1 7 /0 0 ; C2 5 B 1 5 /0 2 ; p a s s ed th roug h a n a rc c a us ing dis s oc ia tion of b oth th e
( 1 2 5 B ] /0 4 h y drog en a nd ox y g en into a tom ic h y drog en a nd ox y
[ 5 2 ] U. S . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 9 /1 3 7 . 3 1 ; 2 1 9 /7 5 ; g c n wh ic h on rec om b ina tion g enera te a n intens el y h ot
2 1 9 /1 2 1 P; 2 2 8 /2 4 2 ; 4 3 1 /2 ; 4 3 1 /1 1 ?a m o
[ 5 8 ] F iel d of S ea rc h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 8 /2 4 2 ; 2 1 9 /7 5 , 1 2 1 P,
GENERATOR
2 1 9 /1 3 7 R; 4 3 1 /2 , 1 1 ; 2 0 4 /1 2 9
TO
H2 +0 2 -_ _ _
5
1 7 Cl a im s , 7 Dra wing F ig ures
TO ARC
GENERATOR
US . Pa tent M a rc h 2 8 , 1 9 7 8 S h eet2 of 4 4 , 0 8 1 , 6 5 6
F IG 3 .
1 3
US . Pa tent M a rc h 2 8 , 1 9 7 8 S h eet3 of 4 4 , 0 8 1 , 6 5 6
F IG. 5 _ 5 1
T0
H2 +0 2 _ . . _ _ F IT
GENERATOR 0 /
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TO ARC
GENERATOR
US . Pa tent M a rc h 2 8 , 1 9 7 8 S h eet4 of 4 4 , 0 8 1 , 6 5 6
. 7
4 , 0 8 1 , 6 5 6
1
ARC-AS S IS TED OXY/HYDROGEN WELDING
Th is is a div is ion of a p p l ic a tion S er. No. 4 8 9 , 9 2 1 ?l ed
J ul y 1 9 , 1 9 7 4 , now US . Pa t. No. 4 , 0 1 4 , 7 7 7 .
Th is inv ention rel a tes to wel ding , b ra z ing a nd th e
l ik e, util is ing h y drog en a nd ox y g en, a nd ex tends to s uc h
a p p l ic a tions a s ox y -wel ding , ox y -c utting , a tom ic wel d
ing , a nd wel ding or c utting in c om b ina tion with el ec tric
a rc tec h niq ues . Th e inv ention a l s o p rov ides f or th e
g enera tion of h y drog en a nd ox y g en f or th e a b ov em en
tioned a p p l ic a tions in c om b ina tion th erewith or s ep a
ra tel y .
A m os t im p orta nt a p p l ic a tion of th e inv ention is
a tom ic wel ding util is ing th e p rop erties of a tom ic ox y
g en in c om b ina tion with a tom ic h y drog en ( f or wel ding )
or a tom ic ox y g en s ep a ra tel y ( f or c utting ) . Th is p a rtic u
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l a r a p p l ic a tion of th e inv ention is b a s ed, a m ong oth er ,
th ing s , on th e a p p rec ia tion th a t c ons idera b l e energ y is
a s s oc ia ted with th e dis s oc ia tion of m ol ec ul a r ox y g en
into a tom ic ox y g en b y p a s s ing th is g a s th roug h a n a rc ,
a nd th a t th is p rop erty c a n b e us ef ul l y em p l oy ed to g en
era te tem p era tures ev en h ig h er th a n th os e p rev ious l y
a tta ina b l e with , f or ex a m p l e, a n a tom ic h y drog en ?a m e.
Th e s ig ni?c a nc e of th e energ y wh ic h c a n b e ob ta ined in
th is wa y c a n b e a p p rec ia ted f rom th e f ol l owing rea c
tions th a t ta k e p l a c e, a nd th e h ea t energ ies a s s oc ia ted
th erewith , wh en h y drog en a nd ox y g en a re b oth p a s s ed
th roug h a n el ec tric a rc . Th us :
a b s orb ing 1 0 1 , 0 0 0 c a l . p er g ra m m ol e
a b s orb ing 1 1 7 , 0 0 0 c a l . p er g ra m m ol e
tota l 2 1 8 , 0 0 0 c a l . p er g ra m m ol e
On rec om b ina tion of th es e a tom s th is energ y is re-
l ea s ed a s h ea t th roug h a num b er of c om p l ex c h em ic a l
rea c tions a nd' res ul ts in a n ex trem el y h ig h ?a m e tem p er
a ture. Prev ious l y it woul d not h a v e b een c ons idered
p os s ib l e to p ra c tic a l l y p a s s ox y g en or a m ix ture of ox y
g en a nd h y drog en tog eth er th roug h a n a re due to th e
h ig h l y ex p l os iv e or in?a m m a b l e na ture of s uc h g a s es .
Howev er in a c c orda nc e with th e c onc ep ts of th e p res
ent inv ention th is is indeed b oth p os s ib l e a nd p ra c tic a l
a nd, a s m entioned a b ov e, ena b l es th e rea l is a tion of
m uc h h ig h er wel ding or c utting tem p era tures th a n h ith
erto ob ta ina b l e b y k nown p ra c tic a l m ea ns .
One of th e ob j ec ts of th e p res ent inv ention is to p ro
v ide a m eth od a nd a p p a ra tus wh ereb y h y drog en a nd
ox y g en c a n b e g enera ted q uic k l y a nd c onv enientl y f or
im m edia te us e f orwel ding , etc . , with out m a ny of th e
dis a dv a nta g es a s s oc ia ted with c onv entiona l g a s wel ding
p ra c tic e. F or ex a m p l e, th e p ra c tic e of em p l oy ing c y l in
ders ( or b ottl es ) of g a s , us ua l l y ox y g en a nd a c ety l ene
c a n h a v e s ig ni?c a nt dis a dv a nta g es , p a rtic ul a rl y f or
us ers work ing rem ote f rom a s up p l y dep ot a nd f or
wh om th ere m ig h t b e a n a p p rec ia b l e del a y b etween th e
p l a c ing of a n order f or a del iv ery of g a s th e th e a c tua l
del iv ery . F or s uc h us ers , in order to ens ure a n a deq ua te
s up p l y of g a s wh en a p a rtic ul a r j ob dem a nds tit, it is
of ten nec es s a ry to order f res h s up p l ies in a dv a nc e, ev en
b ef ore th e s up p l y on h a nd is f ul l y us ed, or el s e ris k
running out of g a s b ef ore a j ob is c om p l eted. S inc e
b ottl es of g a s a re g enera l l y del iv ered on a s tric tl y ex
c h a ng e b a s is in th a t a us ed b ottl e m us t b e returned in
ex c h a ng e f or a ref il l ed b ottl e - th e, p ra c tic e c a n m ea n
a s ig ni?c a nt wa s te, a s f a r a s th e us er is c onc erned, if
b ottl es c onta ining us ef ul a m ounts of unus ed g a s h a v e to
b e returned to th e s up p l ier. "
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Th e p ra c tic e of us ing b ottl ed g a s a l s o h a s a s s oc ia ted
with it a l a rg e num b er of oth er p rob l em s s uc h a s ' th e
p os s ib il ity of g a s l ea k ing f rom b ottl es , p os s ib il ity . of
indus tria l dis p utes wh ic h c a n res ul t in s ev ere del a y s in
del iv ery a nd in s up p l y s h orta g es , l ia b il ities , h ig h s p ur
c h a s e a nd s tora g e c os ts , f reig h t c h a rg es , a nd s oon. 1
To il l us tra te s om e of th e c onditions wh ic h >th e c on
s um er of b ottl ed g a s m us t p ut up with , l is ted b el ow is ' a
s um m a ry of th e c onditions of s a l e wh ic h a p p l y tol ' th e
s a l e a nd dis trib ution of b ottl ed g a s . - .
( a ) Th e c y l inder rem a ins th e s ol e p rop erty of . th e
s up p l ier, wh ic h reta ins th e rig h t to ex erc is e a t a ny tim e
its p rop rietory p owers in its dis c retion. '
( b ) Al l c y l inders a nd c ontents a re f orwa rded a t th e
ex p ens e a nd ris k of th e c us tom ers . - ' ~ .
( c ) It is th e res p ons ib il ity of th e c us tom ers to p rov ide
a deq ua te l a b our f or th ey l oa ding a nd unl oa ding of . a l l
c y l inders a t th e p rem is es ; - ~ \ a a
( d) Cy l inders a re to b e returned to th e s up p l ier-a s
s oon a s em p ty , c a rria g e a nd f reig h t c h a rg es p a id,
( e) A c y l inder is not returned until rec eiv ed b y th e '
s up p l ier a t its work s or wa reh ous e or b y . its truc k a nd a
rec eip t of th e s up p l iers f orm g iv en f or th e s a m e. No
doc um ent p urp orting to b e a rec eip t f or a ny s uc h c y l in
der s h a l l b e v a l id unl es s it is th e s up p l iers p rinted f orm
of rec eip t. '
( 0 Cy l inders a re not tra ns f era b l e a nd m us t not. b e
us ed f or a ny p urp os e oth er th a n a s c onta iners f or th e g a s
s ol d b y th e s up p l ier a nd m us t not b e del iv ered or s ent
f or rec h a rg ing to a ny p l a c e oth er th a n th e s up p l iers g
s ta tion. ,
( g ) Th e c us tom er a g rees not to res el l to a ny p ers on or
Corp ora tion, th e g a s c ontents of th e c y l inders of . a ny
p a rt th ereof . . - -
( h ) Cus tom ers a re h el d res p ons ib l e f or a l l l os s or
da m a g e to c y l inders f rom wh a tev er c a us e a ris ing f rom
th e tim e of del iv ery until returned to th e s up p l iers .
( Cus tom ers a re a dv is ed to c ov er th e c y l inders b y ins ur
a nc e) . . '
( i) Wh ere a c us tom er h a s not returned a c y l inder in
g ood order a nd c ondition with in s ix m onth s f rom th e
da te of del iv ery , th e s up p l ier m a y , a t it s op tion, c h a rg e
th e c us tom er with a n a m ount not ex c eeding th e a g reed
v a l ue of th e c y l inder a nd th e dem urra g e due in res p ec t
th ereof , a nd s uc h a m ount is p a y a b l e b y th e c us tom er a s
l iq uida ted da m a g es f or th e detention of th e c y l inder.
Notwith s ta nding th e p a y m ent of s uc h a m ount in res p ec t
of a ny c y l inder, it rem a ins th e p rop erty of th e s up p l iers
a nd th e rig h t of th e s up p l iers to rec ov er p os s es s ion
th ereof is not a f f ec ted in a ny wa y .
( i) No a l l owa nc e is m a de on a ny res idua l g a s returned
in th e c y l inders .
( it) And m a ny oth er c onditions v a ry ing in th e dif f er
ent c ountries in th e worl d.
Anoth er dis a dv a nta g e, wh ic h is a s s oc ia ted with ox
y /h y drog en wel ding a ris es due to th e m a rk ed a b il ity of
h y drog en to b e a b s orb ed b y m os t m eta l s . Th us wh en
wel ding s teel . f or ex a m p l e, g rea t c a re m us t b e ta k en to
ens ure th a t ex c es s h y drog en is not p res ent oth erwis e it
wil l b e a b s orb ed in th e m eta l to c a us e l os s of s treng th
a nd b rittl enes s . On th e oth er h a nd, a n ex c es s of ox y g en
woul d c a us e b urning of th e m eta l a nd s h oul d th us
eq ua l l y b e a v oided. It is m os t im p orta nt th eref ore th a t
with ox y /h y drc g en wel ding th e m ix ture a t th e b urner
b e a dj us ted to p roduc e a neutra l ?a m e, th a t is , one in
wh ic h th ere is neith er ex c es s h y drog en nor ex c es s ox y #
g en. -In p ra c tic e it is m os t dif ?c ul t to m a inta in ( a nd
v irtua l l y im p os s ib l e to j udg e b y f l a m e c ol our) a neutra l
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?a m e, a nd f or th a t rea s on ox y /h y drog en wel ding is not
widel y us ed des p ite th e inh erent a dv a nta g es of l ow c os t
a nd h ig h h ea t v a l ue of f ered b y h y drog en a s a f uel .
Th es e a nd oth er dis a dv a nta g es c a n b e ov erc om e to a
s ig ni?c a nt ex tent b y th e p res ent inv ention wh ereb y
h y drog en a nd ox y g en f uel a re g enera ted s im ul ta neous l y
b y el ec trol y s is in a n el ec trol y tic c el l a nd a l l owed to
f reel y m ix th erein to f orm a s toic h iom etric m ix ture th a t
wil l b urn with a neutra l ?a m e. Th e f uel g a s c a n b e
g enera ted wh ere a nd wh enev er req uired th ereb y el im i
na ting th e need f or s tora g e of b ottl es of g a s a nd rel ia nc e
on reg ul a r del iv eries of g a s wh ic h of ten c a nnot b e g ua r
a nteed. .
Th e m eth od of th e p res ent inv ention req uires no
dia p h ra g m s or th e l ik e to s ep a ra te th e h y drog en a nd
ox y g en l ib era ted b y th e el ec trol y s is p roc es s a nd th ereb y
ena b l es c ons idera b l e a dv a nta g es to b e rea l is ed ov er
c onv entiona l el ec trol y tic p roduc tion of th es e g a s es .
S uc h dia p h ra g m s h a v e norm a l l y b een reg a rded a s es
s entia l f or c onv entiona l el ec trol y tic g enera tors in order
to s ep a ra te th e two g a s es th a t woul d oth erwis e f orm a
h ig h l y ex p l os iv e m ix ture; h owev er, it h a s b een f ound, in
a c c orda nc e with th e p res ent inv ention, th a t th e two
g a s es c a n b e s a f el y , a nd us ef ul l y , p roduc ed a nd util is ed
a s a m ix ture f or f uel p urp os es p rov ided th a t s uita b l e
s a f ety p rec a utions , s uc h a s th e em p l oy m ent of a ?a s h
b a c k a rres tor, a re ta k en. S uc h s a f ety p rec a utions m a y
inc l ude, f or ex a m p l e, th e em p l oy m ent of a dev ic e wh ic h
rem ov es el ec trol y te v a p our f rom th e g a s a nd a t th e
s a m e tim e a c ts a s a f l a s h -b a c k a rres tor. In ob v ia ting th e
need f or dia p h ra g m s or th e l ik e th e p res ent inv ention
ena b l es th e el ec trodes to b e p l a c ed m uc h c l os er to
g eth er a nd a v oids th e h ig h res is ta nc e a s s oc ia ted with
dia p h ra g m s , wh ic h in turn ena b l es a s ig nif ic a nt inc rea s e
in th e ra te of g a s p roduc tion f or a g iv en s iz e of a p p a ra
tus . In s h ort th e p res ent inv ention ena b l es th e m a nuf a c
ture of s m a l l s iz e eq uip m ent th a t is us ef ul f or a l a rg e
v a riety of wel ding a nd s im il a r work a nd th a t is not
p roh ib itiv el y b ul k y f or th e a v era g e s itua tion: s om eth ing
wh ic h is im p os s ib l e with c onv entiona l h y drog en/ox y
g en g enera ting eq uip m ent.
In th e dev el op m ent of a p p a ra tus f rom th e b a s ic c on~
c ep t of g enera tion of h y drog en a nd ox y g en el ec trol y ti
c a l l y in a p ra c tic a l m a nner s uita b l e f or l a rg e indus tria l
a p p l ic a tions on th e one h a nd, a nd s m a l l dom es tic a p p l i
c a tions on th e oth er h a nd, a num b er of f a c tors h a d to b e
ta k en into a c c ount, a na l y s ed a nd weig h ed one a g a ins t
th e oth er. Th e f ol l owing is a l is t of s om e of th es e f a c tors
to il l us tra te wh a t h a s b een inv ol v ed.
( a ) Endos m otic p res s ure to b e b a l a nc ed a g a ins t th e
h y dros ta tic p res s ure of th e ?uid.
( b ) Ra te of ?ow of el ec tric c urrent in rel a tion to th e
a rea of th e el ec trodes .
( c ) Th e p rior a rt p rob l em of rem ov ing th e g a s es f rom
a nol y te a nd c a th ol y te, b ef ore dif f us ion a nd b ef ore th e
el ec trol y tes a re interm ix ed.
( d) Ef f ec ts of ra p id c h a ng es in th e ra te of ?ow of
el ec tric ity th roug h th e c el l .
( e) Ef f ec ts of a ux il ia ry dec om p os ition with in th e
a node a nd c a th ode s ides of th e c el l .
( i) Th e c h oic e of th e m os t rea dil y ionis ed el ec trol y te
of a m a x im um c onduc tiv ity .
( g ) Th e l ea s t p os s ib l e s p a c ing b etween a node a nd
c a th ode th a t c a n b e em p l oy ed.
( h ) A des ig n of c el l in wh ic h p rev ious l y it wa s re
g a rded im p os s ib l e f or th e H2 a nd O2 g iv en to b ec om e
m ix ed with s a f ety , wh ic h ' does a wa y with dia p h ra g m s
or th e l ik e wh ic h woul d inc rea s e th e interna l res is ta nc e,
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in wh ic h b oth h y drog en a nd ox y g en c a n b e m ix ed
with in th e c el l , a nd in wh ic h c el l s c a n b e c onnec ted in
s eries , p a ra l l el , or p a ra l l el a nd s eries to s uit req uire
m ents .
( i) Th e c h oic e of m a teria l s f or th e el ec trodes .
6 ) Th e q ua ntity of a c ids or a l k a l i to b e us ed. ,
( k ) Th e s h a p es of c el l s a c c ording to p urp os e of th e
c el l s , a nd th e a p p l ic a tion f or wh ic h th ey a re des ig ned.
( l ) Th e p os s ib il ity of im p rov em ent with p erm a nent or
el ec tro-m a g netic a l l y induc ed ?el ds a p p l ied to th e el ec
trol y tic c el l s , to c a us e c ontrol l ed s ep a ra tion of a q ua n
tity of th e g a s es g enera ted in th e c el l s .
( 1 1 1 ) Ens uring ef f ec tiv e c irc ul a tion of el ec trol y te b e
tween th e el ec trodes , with a s l ittl e el ec tric a l res is ta nc e
a s p os s ib l e.
( n) Th e p os s ib il ity of us ing s odium h y drox ide or p o
ta s s ium h y drox ide wh ic h , in c onc entra tions f rom 1 0 %
up to 3 0 %, wh ic h h a s neg l ig ib l e c orros ion a c tion on
iron or nic k el el ec trodes , a p a rt f rom p roduc ing a s ol u
tion of g ood c onduc tiv ity .
( 0 ) Th e us e of th e c ool ing ef f ec t b y p a s s ing of h y dro
g en a nd ox y g en g a s es , f or c ool ing el ec trol y te in th e c el l ,
f or c ontrol l ing th e c el l tem p era ture, p ref era b l y b etween
4 0 C to 6 0 C, a t wh ic h tem p era ture th e b onds b etween
h y drog en a nd ox y g en need a m inim um of el ec tric a l
energ y to b rea k . I
( p ) Th e s ep a ra tion of h y drog en a nd ox y g en f rom a
m ix ture, us ing , p os s ib l y , a p erm a nent m a g netic ?el d, or
a n el ec trom a g netic ?el d wh ic h c a n b e c ontrol l ed to
ob ta in a des ired s ep a ra tion b etween th e h y drog en a nd
ox y g en. Ba s ed on th is p rinc ip l e, th e ox y g en c oul d b e
s ub s ta ntia l l y s ep a ra ted f rom th e m ix ture a nd th e h y dro
g en c oul d b e a b s orb ed b y , f or ex a m p l e, s el ec ted m eta l s ,
wh ic h h a v e h ig h a b s orp tion a f f inity f or h y drog en ( f or
ex a m p l e, p a l a dium wh ic h a b s orb s 9 0 0 tim es m ore h y
drog en f rom its v ol um e) . Al s o, us ing th e p rinc ip l e of th e
inv ention, h y drog en a nd ox y g en c a n b e g enera ted in
l a rg e q ua ntities with s m a l l units a nd th e ox y g en c oul d,
f or ex a m p l e, b e s ep a ra ted a nd us ed to s up p l y h os p ita l s ,
b a b y room s , a ir c onditioning s y s tem s , or f or a ny oth er
a p p l ic a tion, wh en ox y g en is req uired. Ox y g en c a n, in >
th is wa y , b e g enera ted m uc h f a s ter a nd m ore c onv e
nientl y th a n with c onv entiona l el ec trol y tic g enera ting
eq uip m ent. ' v
( q ) Th e p os s ib il ity of a b s orb ing th e h y drog en or ox y
g en b y s p ec ia l l y s el ec ted m a teria l s in s m a l l c onta iners
a nd wh ere th e a b s orb ed g a s c a n b e ex tra c ted wh en
des ired f or wel ding or b ra z ing wh ere it woul d b e inc on
v enient or im p os s ib l e to do s o with c onv entiona l eq uip
m ent.
( r) M a k ing th e wel ding op era tor entirel y indep endent
of a ny g a s s up p l iers .
( s ) Th e g enera tion or c h ea p g a s , up to s ix to s ev en
tim es c h ea p er th a n norm a l g a s s up p l ies .
( t) Th e des ig n of eq uip m ent wh ic h g iv es not onl y
p rof es s iona l wel ders , b ut h a ndy m en, or p eop l e wh o.
woul d l ik e to do wel ding a t h om e with ox y -wel ding
a p p a ra tus , b ut woul d do it onl y oc c a s iona l l y a nd c oul d
not j us tif y th e ex p ens e a s s oc ia ted with c onv entiona l g a s
s up p l ies . S uc h p eop l e c a nnot j us tif y p a y ing f or b ottl es
of g a s f or a s ing l e wel ding onl y ( h a v ing to k eep th e
b ottl es , p a y ing rent f or th em to k eep th em up to two
y ea rs , to p erf orm th e nex t wel ding ) . F or th is rea s on, th e
wel ding a p p a ra tus m a de p os s ib l e b y th e p res ent inv en
tion is idea l b ec a us e it p roduc es g a s es f or wel ding a t th e
tim e a nd in th e q ua ntity th a t is needed.
4 , 0 8 1 , 6 5 6
5
( u) Hy drog en/ox y g en wel ding h a s th e a dv a nta g e
th a t it does not p ol l ute th e a tm os p h ere a s does ox y /a c e
ty l ene wel ding .
( v ) Th e des ig n of el ec trol y tic c el l s wh ic h a re s a f e to
us e a s wel l a s c onv enient, wh ic h c el l s m a y inc orp ora te
th eir own ?a s h -b a c k a rres tors a s a s a f ety p rec a ution or
a n eq uiv a l ent m ea ns , to p rev ent th e h a z a rds of ex p l o
s ion or ?re. '
( w) Th e c ontrol of th e c urrent wh ic h p a s s es th roug h
th e c el l s , th e tem p era ture of th e c el l , wh ic h is a f unc tion
of c urrent, th e c ontrol of th e s ep a ra tion of th e g a s es ,
a nd th e rem ov a l f rom th e g a s es of el ec trol y te v a p ours .
In th is reg a rd th ere h a s b een des ig ned a s p ec ia l unit
with p ref era b l y c onic a l el ec trodes , a nd a ?a s h -b a c k
a rres tor. Th e ?a s h a rres tor m a y b e c ons tituted b y a
p el l et of p orous m a teria l , or a l ong c a p il l ia ry p ip e l o
c a ted b etween th e g a s g enera tor a nd a b urner h ea d. Th e
?re h a z a rds a s s oc ia ted with a m ix ture of h y drog en a nd
ox y g en c a nnot b e ov er-em p h a s is ed a nd indeed it is
p rob a b l y m a inl y b ec a us e of th e rec og nis ed da ng ers
a s s oc ia ted th erewith th a t ex trem e l eng th s h a v e b een
ta k en to s ep a ra te th e two g a s es c om p l etel y until th ey
rea c h th e b urner. In a c c orda nc e with th e p res ent inv en
tion it h a s b een rea l is ed th a t, c ontra ry to l ong s ta nding
op inions , th e g a s es c a n b e s a f el y m ix ed tog eth er ev en
wh en b eing p roduc ed a nd a s a res ul t m a ny des ira b l e
a dv a nta g es c a n b e rea l is ed.
( x ) Th e p rov is ion of one or m ore s a f ety v a l v es a d
j us ted to c onv enient p res s uref or rel ea s ing ex c es s iv e
p res s ures in th e c el l ( f or ex a m p l e, g rea ter th a n 3 0 p s i)
wh ic h m a y res ul t, f or ex a m p l e, if a c urrent c ontrol
m ec h a nis m f a il s . Th e s a f ety v a l v es c oul d b e a tta c h ed to
a n a l a rm , f or ex a m p l e, to indic a te a f a il ure in th e c urrent
c ontrol m ec h a nis m or th e c ut-of f s witc h es , etc .
( y ) Porous m a teria l m a y c onv enientl y b e p l a c ed in
th e b urner h ea d, s o th a t b a c k ?re th roug h th e b urner
into th e c el l c a nnot oc c ur.
In s um m a ry , th e p res ent inv ention c ontem p l a tes , a s
a n im p orta nt f ea ture th ereof , a univ ers a l wel ding a p p a
ra tus c a p a b l e of b eing us ed to p erf orm dif f erent ty p es of
wel ding op era tions b a s ed on th e util is a tion of h y drog en
a nd ox y g en, m a k ing f ul l us e of th e a dv a nta g es wh ic h
c a n th ereb y b e rea l is ed, a nd eq uip m ent wh ic h c a n b e
m a de s m a l l a nd p orta b l e c om p a red with ex is ting a p p a
ra tus s uc h a s th a t p res entl y us ed f or g a s wel ding us ing
b ul k y b ottl ed h y drog en. To g enera te th e f uel , in a c c or
da nc e with th e inv ention a s m a l l c om p a c t el ec trol y tic
c el l is m a de p os s ib l e in wh ic h th e onl y ra w m a teria l
wh ic h h a s to b e rep l enis h ed f rom tim e to tim e is wa ter
a nd wh ic h c a n b e us ed wh enev er a s ourc e of el ec tric a l
energ y is a v a il a b l e to s up p l y th e nec es s a ry a m ount of
h y drog en or h y drog en a nd ox y g en m ix ture f or p er
f orm ing a tom ic wel ding or h y drog en/ox y g en ?a m e
wel ding . In its s im p l es t f orm , th e g a s g enera ting a p p a ra
tus of th e p res ent inv ention c om p ris es a n el ec trol y tic
c el l a da p ted to b e c onnec ted to a n energ y s ourc e, op
tiona l l y th roug h a s tep down tra ns f orm er a nd rec ti?er,
a nd h a v ing m ea ns f or c onnec tion to a b urner, p ref era b l y
th roug h a ?a s h b a c k a rres tor a s a s a f ety p rec a ution.
Th e a p p a ra tus m a y b e c om b ined with a tra ns f orm er
a s a s ing l e c om p a c t unit a nd f or c onv enienc e th e tra ns
f orm er m a y b e p rov ided with s ev era l winding s to en
a b l e it to b e us ed f or a ux il ia ry p urp os es s uc h a s b a ttery
c h a rg ing , el ec trop l a ting , a rc wel ding or to p rov ide a n
a rc f or a tom ic wel ding .
It h a s b een f ound th a t a s ing l e el ec trol y tic c el l op era t
ing with out dia p h ra g m s a t s ev era l h undred a m p s wil l
g enera te h y drog en a nd ox y g en a t a rea s ona b l e ra te f or
5
2 0
2 5
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
6
s m a l l wel ding a nd b ra z ing work b ut f or l a rg er work
( f or ex a m p l e, th e wel ding of 1 0 m m s teel p l a te) th e
req uired a m p era g e b ec om es ex c es s iv e ( ty p ic a l l y of th e
order of 9 0 0 A or m ore) wh en c ons idering th e s iz e of
c onduc tors a nd tra ns f orm er a nd th e p rob l em of h ea t
g enera tion. Ac c ording l y , in one a s p ec t of th e inv ention
th es e p rob l em s c a n b e s ig ni?c a ntl y reduc ed b y a rra ng
ing a p l ura l ity of c el l s in s eries a nd us ing a m uc h s m a l l er
c urrent to ob ta in th e s a m e ef f ec tiv e g a s outp ut. In ef f ec t
th e c a p a c ity of a s eries of c el l s f or a g iv en c urrent inp ut
is th a t of a s ing l e c el l m ul tip l ied b y th e num b er of c el l s .
Al terna tiv el y th e c urrent req uirem ent is reduc ed b y a
f a c tor eq ua l to th e num b er of c el l s f or a g iv en ra te of
g a s p roduc tion.
Ev en s o a l a rg e num b er of s ep a ra te c el l s c a n b e ex c es
s iv el y b ul k y f or p orta b l e a p p l ic a tions a nd in a f urth er
a s p ec t of th e inv ention, th eref ore, th e b ul k c a n b e
g rea tl y reduc ed b y a rra ng ing th e c el l s a s a s ing l e unit in
wh ic h a num b er of el ec trodes , ef f ec tiv el y in s eries , a re
a rra ng ed a dj a c ent ea c h oth er in a c om m on el ec trol y tic
c h a m b er, th e c h a m b er b eing p rov ided with a g a s c ol l ec
tion s p a c e a nd a n outl et f or c onnec tion to, f or ex a m p l e,
g a s b urner m ea ns . F urth erm ore, onl y th e end el ec trodes
need b e c onnec ted to a n ex terna l s ourc e of el ec tric a l
energ y a nd th e a rra ng em ent a s a wh ol e c a n b e m a de
ex trem el y ef f ic ient a nd c om p a c t. Additiona l l y th e need
f or a tra ns f orm er f or m os t a p p l ic a tions c a n b e el im i
na ted b y s uc h a n a rra ng em ent s o th a t th e a p p a ra tus c a n
b e des ig ned to b e el ec tric a l l y c onnec ted direc tl y to a
m a in el ec tric a l s up p l y , th roug h a b ridg e rec ti?er if de
s ired. By el im ina ting th e need f or a tra ns f orm er, th e g a s
g enera ting eq uip m ent a s a wh ol e c a n b e m a de s urp ris
ing l y c om p a c t, to b e wel l s uited f or s m a l l dom es tic
req uirem ents a s wel l a s h ea v y indus tria l req uirem ents .
In a noth er im p orta nt a s p ec t of th e inv ention, th ere is
p rov ided a s a f ety dev ic e wh ic h m onitors th e p res s ure of
th e h y drog en a nd ox y g en b eing g enera ted a nd reg ul a tes
th e c urrent ?owing th roug h th e c el l ( s ) to inc rea s e or
dec rea s e th e ra te of g a s p roduc tion dep ending on th e
p res s ure. In one f orm th e dev ic e c om p ris es a c h a m b er '
c onta ining two el ec trodes , a t l ea s t one of wh ic h is c oni
c a l , a rra ng ed in th e c h a m b er ( wh ic h norm a l l y c onta ins
a c onduc tiv e l iq uid) a nd th e el ec trodes b eing c onnec t
a b l e in s eries with one or m ore el ec trol y tic c el l s us ed f or
ox y g en/h y drog en p roduc tion.
Th e p res s ure res p ons iv e, c urrent reg ul a ting dev ic e
c a n b e des ig ned a s a n integ ra l p a rt of th e el ec trol y tic
c el l ( s ) or c a n b e us ed a s a n a tta c h m ent c onnec ta b l e
ex terna l l y a nd in s eries with th e g a s g enera ting c el l ( s ) .
Th e dev ic e c a n a l s o b e des ig ned to c om b ine th e f unc
tions of a c urrent reg ul a ting dev ic e a nd a ?a s h -b a c k
a rres tor, th e l a tter f unc tion ens uring th a t a ?a m e a t th e
b urner does not a c c identa l l y p a s s b a c k th roug h th e h os e
l ines to th e h ig h l y ex p l os iv e m ix ture in th e g a s g enera t
ing c el l ( s ) . Th e dev ic e m a y inc orp ora te a tota l c urrent
c ut-out f ea ture or m a y b e us ed in c om b ina tion with a
c ut-out dev ic e wh ic h f ul l y interrup ts th e s up p l y of el ec
tric a l p ower s h oul d th e p res s ure in th e c el l ( s ) a c c iden
ta l l y ex c eed a m a x im um s a f e v a l ue. Th e c urrent reg ul a t
ing dev ic e m a y a l s o op era te to reg ul a te th e c urrent
p a s s ing th roug h th e c el l s in a c c orda nc e with th e tem
p era ture to m a inta in th e tem p era ture with in a des ired
ra ng e.
Ref erring to th e dra wing s ,
F IG. 1 is a s c h em a tic v iew of a n em b odim ent of th e
inv ention,
F IG. 2 is a c ros s -s ec tiona l v iew of a n el ec trol y tic c el l
us ed in th e inv ention,
4 , 0 8 1 , 6 5 6
7
F IG. 3 is a v iew p a rtl y in s ec tion of a p res s ure res p on
s iv e reg ul a tor f or a el ec trol y tic c el l ,
F IG. 4 is a c ros s -s ec tiona l v iew of a m odi?ed p res
s ure reg ul a tor,
F IG. 5 is a s c h em a tic dia g ra m of th e torc h op era tion,
F IG. 6 s h ows a m a g netic g a s s ep a ra tion dev ic e, a nd
F IG. 7 is a deta il ed s c h em a tic v iew of a noth er em
b odim ent of th e inv ention.
Ref erring to th e dra wing s , F IG. 1 s h ows s c h em a ti
c a l l y a s ing l e el ec trol y tic c el l 1 0 op era ting to p roduc e a
m ix ture of h y drog en a nd ox y g en, wh ic h m ix ture is
p a s s ed th roug h a ?a s h -b a c k a rres tor 1 1 to a b urner 1 2 .
Th e c el l 1 0 c onta ins two p l a te el ec trodes 1 0 a a nd 1 0 b
im m ers ed in a n el ec trol y te c ons is ting of a s ol ution of
K OH in wa ter a nd c onnec ta b l e th roug h term ina l s 1 3
a nd 1 4 res p ec tiv el y to a s ourc e of a c . or d. c . el ec tric ity .
Pref era b l y , d. c . is us ed a s th e el ec tric a l im p eda nc e of
th e c el l , is m uc h l ower f or d. c . th a n f or a c . Th e s ourc e
of el ec tric ity m a y b e a tra ns f orm er, ty p ic a l l y of 3 0 0
Am p s outp ut ra ting , c onnec ted to th e c el l th roug h a
b ridg e rec ti?er. Th e ?a s h -b a c k a rres tor 1 1 is c ons tituted
b y a wa ter b a th in wh ic h g a s l ib era ted in th e c el l 1 0
p a s s es th roug h a tub e 1 5 into th e wa ter b a th 1 1 a nd
th enc e th roug h a tub e 1 6 to th e b urner 1 2 . Th e a rra ng e
m ent is s uita b l e f or s m a l l wel ding a nd b ra z ing work b ut
b ec om es too b ul k y f or v ery l a rg e work .
F IG. 2 il l us tra tes in v ertic a l c ros s -s ec tion a n el ec tro
l y tic c el l 2 0 wh ic h req uires a m uc h l ower c urrent th a n
th e c el l il l us tra ted in F IG. 1 f or a g iv en c urrent inp ut.
Th e c el l 2 0 c om p ris es wh a t is in ef f ec t a s eries of c el l s
c ons tituted b y a p l ura l ity of p l a te el ec trodes im m ers ed
in a s ol ution of K OH in wa ter. F or c onv enienc e th e
el ec trodes a re des ig na ted a s 2 0 a f or th e two el ec trodes
a t th e ends a nd 2 0 b f or th e interm edia te el ec trodes . Th e
el ec trodes 2 0 0 a re c onnec ted, v ia c onduc tors 2 1 to ter
m ina l s 2 2 f or c onnec tion to a n ex terna l s up p l y of el ec
tric ity . Th e m ix ture of h y drog en a nd ox y g en wh ic h is
ev ol v ed a t th e el ec trodes wh en a n el ec tric c urrent is
a p p l ied, p a s s es th roug h a n outl et op ening 2 3 to a ?a s h
b a c k a rres tor a nd th enc e to a b urner ( not s h own in F IG.
2 ) . Th e s eries of el ec trodes 2 0 a a nd 2 0 b a re s ea l ing l y
m ounted in a tub e 2 4 of ins ul a ting m a teria l wh ic h is
p rov ided with res tric ted a p ertures 2 4 a a t th e top a nd
2 4 b a t th e b ottom , b etween ea c h p a ir of el ec trodes . Th e
a p ertures 2 4 0 p erm it g a s to- es c a p e into th e s p a c e 2 5
a b ov e th e s urf a c e of th e el ec trol y te a nd th e a p ertures
2 4 b p erm it el ec trol y te to enter f reel y into th e s p a c es
b etween ea c h p a ir of el ec trodes . By v irtue of th is a r
ra ng em ent th e el ec tric a l res is ta nc e b etween a ny two
a dj a c ent el ec trodes is f or l es s th a n th a t b etween non
a dj a c ent el ec trodes s o th a t th e a rra ng em ent is ef f ec
tiv el y one of a l a rg e num b er of indiv idua l c el l s c on
nec ted in s eries . A v ery c om p a c t a rra ng em ent is th ere
f ore ob ta ined b ut one wh ic h p erm its a rel a tiv el y h ig h
g a s p roduc tion ra te f or a rea s ona b l y l ow c urrent inp ut.
F or ex a m p l e, a s truc ture l ik e th a t s h own, c ons is ting of
th e eq uiv a l ent of , f or ex a m p l e, 1 2 0 c el l s c a n g enera te
g a s a t a c urrent inp ut of 1 5 A ( a t, f or ex a m p l e, 2 4 0 V)
eq ua l to th a t of a s ing l e c el l req uiring a c urrent inp ut of
a p p rox im a tel y 1 8 0 0 A. Th is m ea ns in p ra c tic e th a t a
rel a tiv el y p orta b l e a p p a ra tus c a n b e p roduc ed wh ic h
c a n b e c onnec ted direc tl y , with out a tra ns f orm er, to
m os t dom es tic el ec tric a l s up p l ies a nd wh ic h c a n m a in
ta in a s uf ?c ient ra te of g a s p roduc tion f or m os t ty p es of
wel ding work .
An a dv a nta g e wh ic h p a rtic ul a rl y dis ting uis h es th e
a rra ng em ents dis c l os ed f rom c onv entiona l g a s wel ding
a p p a ra tus is th a t th e h y drog en a nd ox y g en a re a utom a ti
2 0
2 5
4 0
4 5
6 0
6 5
8
c a l l y p roduc ed in s ub s ta ntia l l y th e c orrec t p rop ortions
to g iv e a neutra l ?a m e. No m ix ing v a l v es a re req uired
a nd ev en uns k il l ed p ers onnel c a n p roduc e s a tis f a c tory
wel ds with out dif f ic ul ty . In f a c t indic a tions a re th a t
m a ny wel ds c a n b e p roduc ed b etter th a n b y a ny oth er
wel ding p roc es s .
F IG. 3 il l us tra tes a p res s ure res p ons iv e s a f ety dev ic e
3 0 op era b l y c onnec ted in s eries ( el ec tric a l l y ) with a n
el ec trol y tic h y drog en/ox y g en c el l 3 1 f or reg ul a ting th e
c urrent p a s s ing th ereth roug h in a c c orda nc e with th e
g a s p res s ure b eing g enera ted. Th e dev ic e, " or c el l 3 0
c om p ris es a c h a m b er 3 0 ' in c om m unic a tioig y v ith a res er
v oir 3 2 v ia a p a s s a g e 3 3 . Two c onic a l el ec f ti?odes 3 4 a nd
3 5 a re m ounted in s p a c ed rel a tiq n with in h ef j c h a m b er
a nd c onnec ted in s eries b etween a d u' i' c e i. \ ( not
s h own) a nd th e el ec trol y tic c el l 3 1 . A el ec trol y tic
s ol ution of K OH a nd wa ter is p rov ided with in th e
c h a m b er, p ortion of wh ic h enters th e res erv oir 3 2 .
Wh en th e c el l 3 1 is op era ting to p roduc e h y drog en a nd
ox y g en th e p res s ure of th e g a s b eing p roduc ed a c ts on
th e s urf a c e of th e el ec trol y te in th e c h a m b er 3 0 to
dis p l a c e a n a m ount of th e el ec trol y te into th e res erv oir
3 2 a g a ins t b a c k p res s ure ex erted b y a ir tra p p ed in th e
res erv oir, th e a m ount of el ec trol y te dis p l a c ed dep end
ing on th e p res s ure of th e g a s in th e c h a m b er 3 0 ' . At th e
s a m e tim e th e a rea of c onta c t b etween th e el ec trodes
a nd th e el ec trol y te in th e c el l 3 0 reduc es in p rop ortion
to th e drop in el ec trol y te l ev el , c a us ing th e el ec tric a l
res is ta nc e of th e c el l 3 0 to ris e a nd th e c urrent p a s s ing
th ereth roug h to f a l l . S h oul d th e g a s p res s ure drop th e
el ec trol y te l ev el in th e c el l 3 0 wil l ris e a nd th e c urrent
p a s s ing into th e c el l 3 1 wil l a l s o ris e. Th us th e c el l 3 0
op era tes to reg ul a te th e ra te of g a s p roduc tion in a c c or
da nc e with th e p res s ure p roduc ed a nd p rev ents ex c es s
g a s p res s ure to b uil d up in th e c el l 3 1 .
F IG. 4 il l us tra tes a n a l terna tiv e f orm of s a f ety dev ic e
wh ic h is op era b l e to m a k e or b rea k th e c onnec tion
b etween a n el ec trol y tic h y drog en/ ox y g en c el l ( not
s h own in F IG. 4 ) a nd a n el ec tric c urrent s ourc e. Th e
dev ic e c om p ris es a c y l indric a l c onta iner 4 0 in ?uid
c om m unic a tion with a l iq uid res erv oir 4 1 v ia a p a s s a g e
wa y 4 2 , a nd a q ua ntity of m erc ury ( 4 2 ' ) c onta ined in th e
c onta iner a nd res erv oir. Two el ec trodes 4 3 a nd 4 4 a re
dis p os ed one a b ov e th e oth er in th e c onta iner 4 0 a nd a re
norm a l l y im m ers ed in th e m erc ury with a c onduc tiv e
p a th th ereb y f orm ed b etween th em . Th e c onta iner is
c onnec ted el ec tric a l l y in s eries with a n el ec trol y tic c el l
( or c el l s ) a nd in g a s eous c om m unic a tion th erewith
th roug h a h os e 4 5 . An inc rea s e in g a s p res s ure res ul ting
f rom g enera tion of g a s es b y th e el ec trol y tic c el l ( s )
c a us es th e m erc ury to b e dis p l a c ed towa rds th e res er
v oir a nd th e m erc ury l ev el in th e c onta iner 4 0 to f a l l .
Wh en th e p res s ure ex c eeds a p redeterm ined l ev el th e
m erc ury l ev el f a l l s b el ow th a t of th e el ec trode 4 3 a nd
el ec tric a l c onnec tion b etween th e two el ec trodes is
b rok en. Th e el ec tric a l c onnec tion is a g a in res tored
wh en th e g a s p res s ure f a l l s . A non-?a m m a b l e l iq uid,
s uc h a s s il ic one oil or f reon is p rov ided on top of th e
m erc ury to ens ure th a t a ny a rc wh ic h m a y b e g enera ted
b etween th e el ec trode 4 3 a nd th e m erc ury is tota l l y
is ol a ted f rom th e g a s es a b ov e th e l iq uids .
F IG. 5 s h ows s c h em a tic a l l y a n a rra ng em ent wh ereb y
a n ex c eeding l y h ot f l a m e c a n b e p roduc ed us ing th e
g a s eous m ix ture g enera ted el ec trol y tic a l l y b y th e a p p a
ra tus p rev ious l y des c rib ed. In th is a rra ng em ent a m ix
ture of h y drog en a nd ox y g en, p ref era b l y in s toic h iom et
ric a l p rop ortion, is p a s s ed v ia a l ine 5 0 b etween a p a ir of
tung s ten el ec trodes 5 1 to p roduc e m ol ec ul a r dis s oc ia
4 , 0 8 1 , 6 5 6
tion of th e h y drog en a nd th e ox y g en a nd a v ery h ot
?a m e 5 2 . It c a n b e a p p rec ia ted th a t wh erea s in a n
a tom ic h y drog en ?a m e a s ig ni?c a nt tem p era ture ris e is
ob ta ined b y s trik ing a n a rc in th e h y drog en, a n ev en
g rea ter tem p era ture ris e c a n b e rea l is ed b y s trik ing th e
a rc b etween th e ox y g en a s wel l s inc e th e dis s oc ia tion
energ y of m ol ec ul a r ox y g en is of th e s a m e order of
m a g nitude a s th a t of m ol ec ul a r h y drog en.
F IG. 6 il l us tra tes a n a rra ng em ent f or th e m a g netic
s ep a ra tion of ox y g en f rom a m ix ture of ox y g en a nd
h y drog en, wh ereb y th e ox y g en c a n b e us ed f or ?a m e
c utting . Th e a p p a ra tus c ons is ts of a c h a m b er 6 0 c onta in
ing a m a g net 6 1 a nd l oc a ted in a c onduit 6 2 . A m ix ture
of h y drog en a nd ox y g en is p a s s ed th roug h th e c onduit
a nd a round th e m a g net 6 1 . Th e dia m a g netic ox y g en is
div erted b y th e m a g netic ?el d into a tra ns v ers e p a s s a g e
wa y 6 3 to a c entra l c onduit ( not s h own) l ea ding f rom
th is p a s s a g ewa y a nd th enc e to a ?a m e-c utting h ea d.
Th e p a ra m a g netic h y drog en c ontinues a l ong th e c on
duit, p a s t th e m a g net a nd c a n b e a l l owed to es c a p e or
c a n b e c ol l ec ted, a s des ired. If th e m a g net is a n el ec tro
m a g net it c a n b e turned of f wh en h y drog en a nd ox y g en
is req uired a s a m ix ture, a nd in th a t c a s e th e downs trea m
s ide of th e c onduit 6 2 c a n b e c l os ed of f to p rev ent th e
l os s of g a s .
F IG. 7 il l us tra tes a c om p l ete ox y -h y drog en g enera
ting / wel ding a p p a ra tus c om p ris ing a g a s g enera tor 7 0 , a
c urrent reg ul a ting c el l 7 1 a nd a p ower s up p l y 7 2 . Th e
c ons truc tion of th e el ec trodes 7 3 of th e g enera tor 7 0
a nd 7 4 of th e c el l 7 1 a re identic a l with th os e il l us tra ted
in F IGS . 2 a nd 3 res p ec tiv el y . In th is a rra ng em ent,
h owev er, th e g a s g enera tor 7 0 a nd c el l 7 1 a re c om b ined
a s a n integ ra ted unit a nd a s s uc h h a s s om e f ea tures not
f ound in th e a rra ng em ents s h own in F IGS . 2 a nd 3 . In
p a rtic ul a r th e c h a m b er 7 5 of th e g enera tor 7 0 a nd th e
c h a m b er 7 6 of th e c urrent reg ul a tor c el l 7 1 a re s ep a
ra ted b y two p a rtitions 7 7 a nd 7 8 de?ning b etween th em
a p a s s a g ewa y c om m unic a ting b etween th e two c h a m
b ers . Th e res p ec tiv e el ec trodes of th e c el l 7 1 a nd g ener
a tor 7 0 a re c onnec ted el ec tric a l l y in s eries with th e
p ower s up p l y .
Ga s p roduc ed b y el ec trol y s is in th e c h a m b er 7 5 ris es
into th e s p a c e in th e c h a m b er a b ov e th e el ec trodes 7 3 ,
p a s s es down th e p a s s a g ewa y b etween th e p a rtitions 7 7
a nd 7 8 , b ub b l es th roug h th e el ec trol y te in th e c h a m b er
7 6 a nd th enc e p a s s es th roug h a n outl et op ening 7 9 to a
b urner 8 0 . An a ir tra p res erv oir 8 1 is f orm ed integ ra l l y
with th e c el l 7 1 a nd is in l iq uid c om m unic a tion th ere
with th roug h a n op ening b etween th e b ottom of th e
res erv oir a nd th e c el l . Wh en th e p res s ure of th e g a s
g enera ted b y th e g enera tor 7 0 ris es , th is p res s ure c a us es
th e el ec trol y te in th e c h a m b er 7 6 to b e dis p l a c ed into
th e res erv oir 8 1 res ul ting in a reduc tion of th e c urrent
b eing p a s s ed to th e g enera tor 7 0 b y th e m ec h a nis m
p rev ious l y des c rib ed in rel a tion to F IG. 3 of th e dra w
ing s . In th is wa y th e c el l 7 1 ef f ec tiv el y m onitors th e g a s
p res s ure a nd reg ul a tes th e c urrent to m a inta in a n a p
p rox im a tel y c ons ta nt p res s ure. To ens ure a g a ins t th e
p os s ib il ity th a t th e p res s ure s h oul d a c c identa l l y ex c eed
a p redeterm ined m a x im um s a f e v a l ue, a s p ring -l oa ded
s a f ety p res s ure v a l v e 8 2 is p rov ided a t th e top of th e
res erv oir 8 1 to rel ea s e th e ex c es s p res s ure into th e a tm o
s p h ere.
Th e b urner 8 0 is p rov ided with a ?a s h -b a c k a rres tor
in th e f orm of a p orous c era m ic p el l et 8 3 l oc a ted in th e
g a s ?ow p a th b etween th e h a ndl e p a rt 8 4 of th e b urner
a nd th e b urner tip 8 5 . Th e ?a s h -b a c k a rres tor a c ts b y
q uenc h ing a ny ?a m e b l owing b a c k into th e b urner b e
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 -0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
1 0
f ore th e ?a m e . h a s a c h a nc e to rea c h th e h os e 8 6 c on
nec ting th e b urner with th e g a s g enera tor.
Th e p ower s up p l y is of th e univ ers a l ty p e, th a t is , it is
p rov ided with a tra ns f orm er 8 7 c onnec ta b l e to a n a l ter
na ting c urrent el ec tric a l s up p l y a nd p rov ided with a
num b er of el ec tric a l outl ets f or v a rious p urp os es . One
winding of th e tra ns f orm er is c onnec ted to a b ridg e
rec ti?er wh ic h p rov ides th e dc . c urrent f or th e g a s
g enera tor. Anoth er winding is us ed f or a rc wel ding or
c a n b e us ed to s up p l y a n a re f or a tom ic ox y -h y drog en
wel ding . It wil l b e a p p rec ia ted th a t th e tra ns f orm er is
op tiona l a nd th a t th e g enera tor c a n b e c onnec ted di
rec tl y to th e m a ins . In f a c t th e b ridg e rec ti?er is not
es s entia l eith er a nd c a n b e om itted if des ired.
In th e op era tion of a p p a ra tus of th e ty p e des c rib ed it
is of ten req uired to c onv enientl y c h a ng e b etween neu
tra l a nd ox idis ing ?a m es , f or ex a m p l e wh en c h a ng ing
f rom a wel ding op era tion to a c utting op era tion a nd th e
p res ent inv ention m a k es p rov is ion f or th e v a ria tion of
th es e f unc tions . Brie?y , in a c c orda nc e with th e p res ent
inv ention, a p p a ra tus f or eith er ox y -h y drog en wel ding
or c utting m a y c om p ris e a ?rs t el ec trol y tic g enera tor
f or g enera ting h y drog en a nd ox y g en b y th e el ec trol y s is
of wa ter in s ub s ta ntia l l y s toic h iom etric p rop ortions to
p roduc e a neutra l ?a m e a nd a f urth er el ec trol y tic g ener
a tor f rom wh ic h h y drog en a nd ox y g en a re s ep a ra tel y
del iv ered, with m ea ns f or a dding eith er th e h y drog en
f rom th is f urth er c el l , or th e ox y g en f rom th e f urth er
g enera tor to th e g a s m ix ture ob ta ined f rom th e ?rs t
g enera tor. Th is a rra ng em ent res ul ts in a m os t ef ?c ient
c om b ina tion of f unc tions wh en a neutra l ?a m e or oth er
is req uired. Th e h y drog en g a s p roduc ed b y th e f urth er
g enera tor, wh en a dded to th e ?a m e m ix ture, b urns with
a tm os p h eric ox y g en th ereb y p roduc ing a reduc ing
?a m e. Wh en a n ox idis ing ?a m e is req uired, th e a ddi
tiona l h y drog en is c ut of f a nd th e ox y g en p roduc ed b y
th e f urth er g enera tor is a dded to th e ?a m e m ix ture. It
wil l b e a p p rec ia ted th a t v a rious des ig ns c a n b e em
p l oy ed f or eith er g enera tor, f or ex a m p l e, th ey m a y b e
c om p l etel y indep endent or th ey m a y s h a re a c om m on
el ec trol y te. Th e f urth er g a s g enera tor c a n a l s o, in p ra c
tic e, b e m a de s om ewh a t s m a l l er th a n th e oth er g enera
tor s inc e it does not h a v e to p roduc e th e b ul k of th e g a s
req uired.
It h a s b een f ound th a t wel ding with h y drog en a nd
ox y g en in a n ex a c t 2 to 1 ra tio ( a s wh en th e g a s es a re
p roduc ed el ec trol y tic a l l y ) res ul ts in a p a rtic ul a rl y
c l ea n, ox ide f ree wel ded s urf a c e a nd a s trong wel ded
j oint. F or th e s a m e q ua l ity wel ding to b e p roduc ed b y
c onv entiona l g a s wel ding tec h niq ue s ub s ta ntia l l y
g rea ter s k il l is req uired a nd, in th e c a s e of c onv entiona l
h y drog en wel ding , f or ex a m p l e, g ood wel ded j oints a re
ob ta ined onl y with g rea t dif ?c ul ty due to th e ex trem e
dif ?c ul ty in ob ta ining a nd m a inta ining a neutra l ?a m e.
With th e m eth od of th e p res ent inv ention th ere is no
dif f ic ul ty in ob ta ining a neutra l ?a m e, a nd h enc e th e
ea s e with wh ic h h ig h q ua l ity wel ds c a n b e ob ta ined.
F ina l l y , it c a n s om etim es b e c onv enient to s tore h y
drog en a nd/or ox y g en, g enera ted el ec trol y tic a l l y in a
s p ec ia l l y des ig ned c onta iner, or to s l owl y a c c um ul a te
th es e g a s es a nd th en, wh en req uired, us ing th e a c c um u
l a ted s tored g a s f or ex tra h ea v y work f or a s h ort tim e.
It is q uite h a z a rdous to p res s uris e a m ix ture of h y drog en
a nd ox y g en under v ery h ig h p res s ures , of c ours e, b ut it
is p os s ib l e, in a c c orda nc e with one a s p ec t of th e inv en
tion, to s tore a us ef ul a m ount of g a s in a rel a tiv el y s m a l l
v ol um e a t l ow p res s ures a nd th is c a n b e done b y us ing
a h ig h l y g a s a b s orb ent m eta l in th e s tora g e c onta iner.
4 , 0 8 1 , 6 5 6
1 1
Th e m eta l p a l l a dium , f or ex a m p l e, c a n a b s orb up to 9 0 0
tim es its own v ol um e of h y drog en a nd c a n b e us ed with
a dv a nta g e f or th is a p p l ic a tion. In f a c t us ef ul a m ounts of
h y drog en, f or s m a l l s c a l e b ra z ing work c a n rea dil y b e
s tored in a s m a l l h a nd h el d c onta iner, c onta ining a g a s
a b s orb ent m a teria l .
I c l a im :
1 . A m eth od of ox y /h y drog en wel ding , b ra z ing or
th e l ik e, c h a ra c teriz ed b y el ec trol y tic a l l y g enera ting a
m ix ture of h y drog en a nd ox y g en in s ub s ta ntia l l y s toi
c h iom etric p rop ortions b y p a s s ing a n el ec tric c urrent
b etween el ec trodes im m ers ed in a n a q ueous el ec trol y te
c onta ined in a t l ea s t one el ec trol y tic c h a m b er, p a s s ing
th e m ix ture of h y drog en a nd ox y g en f rom s a id a t l ea s t
one c h a m b er th roug h a n a q ueous el ec trol y te c onta ined
in a p res s ure s ens itiv e reg ul a ting dev ic e h a v ing a t l ea s t
one p a ir of el ec trodes c onnec ted el ec tric a l l y in s eries
with s a id el ec trodes in s a id a t l ea s t one el ec trol y tic
c h a m b er, wh ic h el ec trol y te in s a id reg ul a ting dev ic e is
dis p l a c ea b l e a s a res ul t of p res s ure of s a id m ix ture of
h y drog en a nd ox y g en to p rop ortiona tel y inc rea s e th e
el ec trol y te res is ta nc e b etween s a id p a ir of el ec trodes
a nd c ons eq uentl y reduc e th e el ec tric c urrent p a s s ing
b etween s a id p a ir of el ec trodes in s a id reg ul a ting dev ic e
a nd s a id el ec trodes in s a id a t l ea s t one el ec trol y tic
c h a m b er in a c c orda nc e with a n inc rea s e in p res s ure
th erein, p a s s ing s a id g a s eous m ix ture th roug h f a l s h b a c k
a rres ting m ea ns a nd th enc e th roug h a b urner noz z l e,
p roduc ing a n a re b etween el ec trodes a rra ng ed down
s trea m of s a id b urner noz z l e a nd in th e p a th of s a id g a s es
s o a s to p roduc e dis s oc ia tion of s a id g a s es into a tom ic
h y drog en a nd a tom ic ox y g en, a nd b urning s a id h y dro
g en a nd ox y g en to p roduc e a ?a m e, th e tem p era ture of
th e ?a m e ex c eeding th e norm a l tem p era ture of c om b us
tion of m ol ec ul a r h y drog en a nd ox y g en.
2 . M eth od a s c l a im ed in c l a im 1 wh erein ex c es s ox y
g en is a dded to th e m ix ture of h y drog en a nd ox y g en a nd
th e ?a m e is us ed f or m eta l c utting .
3 . M eth od a s c l a im ed in c l a im 1 wh erein s a id el ec tric
c urrent is p a s s ed th roug h a p l ura l ity of el ec trol y tic c el l s
c onnec ted el ec tric a l l y in s eries , th e h y drog en a nd ox y
g en l ib era ted in ea c h c el l b eing c ol l ec ted a s a s toic h io
m etric m ix ture wh ic h is p a s s ed th roug h s a id p res s ure
s ens itiv e reg ul a ting dev ic e.
4 . M eth od a s c l a im ed in c l a im 3 , wh erein th e p l ura l ity
of el ec trol y tic c el l s is c ons tituted b y a p l ura l ity of el ec
trodes a rra ng ed s ide-b y -s ide in a n el ec trol y tic b a th in a
m a nner to b e el ec tric a l l y in s eries , with th e el ec trodes a t
ea c h end of th e s eries b eing c onnec ta b l e with a n ex ter
na l s ourc e of el ec tric a l energ y .
5 . Th e m eth od of c l a im 3 , f urth er c h a ra c teriz ed b y
us ing a n A. C. s up p l y in c om b ina tion with a tra ns f orm er
to p rov ide th e el ec tric a l c urrrent f or th e c el l s .
6 . M eth od a s c l a im ed in c l a im 3 , wh erein a dditiona l
h y drog en a nd ox y g en a re g enera ted s ep a ra tel y in a
f urth er el ec trol y tic c el l or c el l s a nd th e a dditiona l h y
drog en a nd/or ox y g en s o g enera ted is /a re a dded to th e
s a id m ix ture of h y drog en a nd ox y g en' b ef ore th e m ix
ture is p a s s ed th roug h s a id a rc .
7 . M eta l c utting a c c ording to c l a im 6 , wh erein th e
a dditiona l ox y g en is ob ta ined b y m a g netic s ep a ra tion
th ereof f rom a m ix ture of h y drog en a nd ox y g en.
8 . Th e m eth od a s c l a im ed in c l a im 1 , wh erein th e a rc
wel ding is a c c om p l is h ed b y th e us e of a n el ec tric a l
tra ns f orm er.
9 . Ap p a ra tus f or th e g enera tion of h y drog en a nd
ox y g en a nd util iz a tion of s a m e f or wel ding , b ra z ing or
th e l ik e, s a id a p p a ra tus c om p ris ing a t l ea s t one el ec tro
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
5 0
6 0
6 5
1 2
l y tic c h a m b er h a v ing el ec trodes im m ers ed in a n a q ue
ous el ec trol y te c onta ined in s a id c h a m b er, a p res s ure
s ens itiv e reg ul a ting dev ic e c onta ining a n a q ueous el ec
trol y te, a t l ea s t one p a ir of el ec trodes im m ers ed in th e
a q ueous el ec trol y te c onta ined in s a id reg ul a ting dev ic e '
a nd c onnec ted in s eries with s a id el ec trodes c onta ined
in s a id a t l ea s t one el ec trol y tic c h a m b er, a p a s s a g ewa y
c onnec ting s a id p res s ure s ens itiv e reg ul a ting dev ic e
with s a id a t l ea s t one el ec trol y tic c h a m b er, s a id a q ueous
el ec trol y te in s a id p res s ure s ens itiv e reg ul a ting dev ic e
b eing dis p l a c ea b l e rel a tiv e to s a id p a ir of el ec trodes
im m ers ed th erein s o a s to p rop ortiona tel y inc rea s e th e
el ec trol y te res is ta nc e b etween s a id p a ir of el ec trodes
a nd c ons eq uentl y reduc e th e el ec tric c urrent p a s s ing in
s eries b etween s a id p a ir of el ec trg des a nd s a id el ec
trodes in s a id a t l ea s t one el ec trol y h a m b er in a c c or;
da nc e with a n inc rea s e in p res s ure of s a id g a s es g ?ti,
outl et to s a id reg ul a ting dev ic e, m ea ns p a s s ing s a id
g a s eous m ix ture f rom s a id outl et th roug h a ?a s h b a c k
a rres ting m ea ns to a b urner noz z l e, a nd a p a ir of el ec
trodes a rra ng ed downs trea m of s a id b urner noz z l e in
th e p a th of s a id g a s es th eref rom , s a id el ec trodes b eing
c onnec ta b l e to a s ourc e of el ec tric a l a rc energ y f or
c a us ing dis s oc ia tion of s a id g a s eous m ix ture into a tom ic
h y drog en a nd a tom ic ox y g en.
1 0 . Ap p a ra tus a s c l a im ed in c l a im 9 , wh erein s a id a t
l ea s t one el ec trol y tic c h a m b er c om p ris es a p l ura l ity of
el ec trol y tic c el l s c onnec ted el ec tric a l l y in s eries or s e
ries p a ra l l el a nd a rra ng ed ea c h to g enera te a m ix ture of
h y drog en a nd ox y g en b y el ec trol y tic dis s oc ia tion of
s a id a q ueous el ec trol y te.
1 1 . Ap p a ra tus a s c l a im ed in c l a im 1 0 , wh erein th e
p l ura l ity of el ec trol y tic c el l s is c ons tituted b y a p l ura l ity
of el ec trodes a rra ng ed in c l os e-s p a c ed rel a tion in a m a n
ner to b e ef f ec tiv el y in s eries or s eries p a ra l l el th e el ec
trodes a t ea c h end of th e s eries b eing c onnec ta b l e
th roug h term ina l s to a s ourc e of el ec tric a l energ y .
1 2 . Ap p a ra tus a s c l a im ed in c l a im 1 1 , wh erein th e
el ec trodes , c ' 6 m p ris e a s eries of p a ra l l el p l a tes m ounted
in s p a c ed rel a tions h ip a l ong a n ins ul a ted tub e a nd in
s ea l ing rel a tions h ip th erewith , with a p ertures b eing
f orm ed in th e tub e b etween ea c h p a ir of a dj a c ent p l a tes
to p rov ide f or p a s s a g e of el ec trol y te into th e s p a c e
b etween ea c h p a ir of p l a tes , a nd th e es c a p e of g a s th ere
f rom .
1 3 . Ap p a ra tus a s c l a im ed in c l a im 9 , inc l uding m ea ns
f or th e s ep a ra tion of ox y g en f rom a m ix ture of h y dro
g en a nd ox y g en a nd p a s s ing th e ox y g en s o s ep a ra ted a s
ex c es s ox y g en to th e b urner h ea d.
1 4 . Ap p a ra tus a s c l a im ed in c l a im 1 3 , wh erein s a id
m ea ns c om p ris es a p a s s a g ewa y f or th e p a s s a g e of a
m ix ture of h y drog en a nd ox y g en, m ea ns f or p roduc ing
a m a g netic ?el d in th e p a s s a g ewa y , to s ep a ra te th e h y
drog en a nd th e ox y g en, a nd m ea ns f or c ol l ec ting eith er
of th e h y drog en or ox y g en s o s ep a ra ted.
1 5 . Ap p a ra tus a s c l a im ed in c l a im 9 , wh erein a s a f ety
p res s ure rel ea s e v a l v e m ea ns is p rov ided in c om b ina tion
with p res s ure s ens itiv e reg ul a ting dev ic e to rel ea s e g a s
p res s ure th eref rom wh en ex c eeding a p edeterm ined
v a l ue.
1 6 . Ap p a ra tus a s c l a im ed in c l a im 9 , inc l uding tra ns
f orm er m ea ns in c om b ina tion th erewith f or a rc wel ding ,
b a ttery c h a rg ing , s up p l y of c urrent of th e el ec trol y tic
c el l s or th e l ik e.
1 7 . Ap p a ra tus a s c l a im ed in c l a im 9 , inc l uding a
b ridg e rec ti?er in c irc uit with th e el ec trol y tic c el l ( s ) .
* I i t 1 '