THE OXYHYDRIC PROCESS 75 



On steel four inches thick, the width of the cut is only 

 one eighth of an inch, while on thin metal it is but five 

 sixty-fourths inch, and the metal is practically as smooth 

 as that coming from a saw. 



The principal item in the cost of cutting metal with this 

 process is the gases used, as the apparatus is much simpler 

 than that used for cutting metals by any other means, and 

 requires no power, and the time of cutting is as quick if 

 not quicker. The consumption of gas naturally depends 

 upon the thickness of the piece to be cut. 



From the large amount of work which has been done 

 and the numerous thicknesses of metal which have been 

 cut, the amount of gases which should be used are 

 pretty well known. In table II 1 is given the amount of 

 the two gases which should be used for all thicknesses 

 of metal from one tenth of an inch to five inches, as 

 well as the size of nozzle which should be used for each 

 gas. 



In a machine which is designed for accurate straight 

 cuts either parallel with or at right angles to the bed of 

 the frame, the torch is mounted on a carriage which is 

 moved longitudinally by hand wheels and a lead screw. 

 Another hand wheel on the side of the carriage moves the 

 torch away from or toward the machine, and as the oxygen 

 nozzle should always follow the preheating nozzle, the 

 torch may be turned around by a small lever. This torch, 

 as are all the torches, is provided with a valve for shutting 

 off the gas. At the bottom of the machine is located a 

 straight edge on which the nozzle slides. By means of an 

 additional attachment the torch can be made to cut in a 

 vertical direction. 



In Fig. 4 are shown some samples of the work done with 

 the above machine. The slabs themselves were first cut 

 off with the oxyhydric torch, and afterward the irregular 

 cuts were made in the slabs. The narrowness of the cut, 

 the square corners that it is possible to turn, and the fact 

 1 See original article for these figures, 



