CONCOA (www.concoa.com) expanded its line of Gas-Saver regulators with a tamper-resistant feature that the company says eliminates gas surge, reduces weld defects and lowers shielding gas usage and costs.

The regulator is designed for high-pressure/liquid cylinder or pipeline use. The key is removed after the appropriate flow rate is set to control process quality. The company says that this function eliminates inadvertent process tampering that can led to excess gas usage and weld defects.

Shielding gas surge is caused by excessive fixed pressure from a regulator to the vaiable flowmeter. The flow can vary as much as 20 psi to 80 psi. To set the flow, the operator adjusts the flowmeter control valve. When the equipment is idel, the hose from the flowmeter to the welding machine builds up to the static pressure of the preset regulator. As the weld begins, gas that is in the hose surges to the weld zone. This surge of gas contributes to erratic arc starts and porosity caused by the siphoned atmosphere.

The company says its flowmeter is coupled to an adjustible pressure regulator that is adjusted by an operator who is observing the flow on the flowmeter scale.