Re: [balloon-makers] forklift tanks?

[Donald L Piccard <private e-mail address>]

Yes, they are fine, but you will have to remove the "Excess Flow Shut
Off" valve in the base of the liquid withdrawal valve.  It is a spring
loaded disc that will pop into place and stop all propane if you draw on
the liquid too much.  Like using your blast valve.

Four "U" bolts into the two collars, top and bottom and you can connect
steel cables or chains to the four corners of your burner frame.  A
regular pony saddle will fit it really well, but your center of gravity
is high and it is hard to ride side saddle.  I prefer the bare tank so
that you can turn around easier.  Handles on the burner frame help.  Put
the U bolts at about two and ten o'clock.  That will let it hang stably.
(No pun intended, not even stable  sweepings.)  Make sure the pressure
relief valve is on top and that the liquid dip tube goes to the bottom. 
(It bends to a corner of the tank, so to get the last drop, you can rear
back - Yahoo!, Ride 'em cowboy.)

In landing, step off to the upwind side and hang onto the vent line, or
crown line.   If you do the latter, the whole rig will invert and the
tank and burner will drop inside the balloon for a moment and then as it
deflates, it will hang back out again, but often not through the same
portion of the cables, so you may have to un entangle the rig before re
inflating...

Aluminum tanks aren't quite so dangerous when used in an open rig like
that, but remember that they can burst at very low temperatures - long
before the pressure relief valve opens.

On Wed, 28 Mar 2001 13:36:00 -0500 Tom Deering <hot-air@deering.org>
writes:
> Who here has done anything propane tanks originally designed for 
> forklifts?
> 
> I have found I can buy a used aluminum tank for $100.  They call 
> them
> a 33 lb tank, which I assume is a 7.5 gallon tank.  They come with
> Rego fittings.
> 
> I will go out and visit the place sometime and report back.  I 
> don't
> know anymore than this.
> 
> Has anyone else tried this for an FAR 104 ultralight balloon?
> 
> Cordially,
> 
> Tom Deering
> 
> PS: the list now has 28 subscribers
> ---
> tmd@deering.org    http://www.deering.org
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Don Piccard, Balloon@Juno.Com,
1445 East River Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3625
http://balloon.freeyellow.com/Homepage.html  www.thepiccardsociety.com
612/333-6912
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