A little more from Mac-1 Airguns:
Bulk filling CO2 guns by Mac1
To charge a bulk fill gun make sure that it is at the same temp as the filling tank, is kocked, bolt open, and unloaded. Many guns won't charge if they are not kocked. If you are using a paintball tank with inline on/off valve install the Mac-1 Tank Top on the tank and this will allow you to screw onto the Crosman, QB, and Farco/phillipine type fill adapters. Tanks without the on/off valve can still be used but the tank top must be installed on the gun prior to putting the tank on. The pinvalve tank valve opens when the tank tightens into the tank top. First give the tank a little squirt to clear valve of debris. Usually the best method for getting a full charge in any gun is to situate the valve on the source tank down relative to the tank (except syphon tanks). The guns valve wants to be up relative to the inlet if possible. This is not possible with some systems and they just won't fill as much. Fire the gun a half dozen times for small capacity systems(1 CO2 capacity) and up to 12 times on large capacity systems (Extended QB's and old crosmans rifles). You can put as much as 1/2 oz for every 4 inches of reservior tube of standard 3/4" ID Tubing (the size that fits 12 grams). Usually manufacturers will give max capacity figures if the gun is factory made to work on Bulk.
Never exceed a recommended fill max because the pressure can damage the gun, cause valve lock-up, and a hazardous high pressure situation. If you have any questions about the proper filling procedures for your system find out from a qualified expert or the factory for the product.
Always use caution when operating any high pressure systems. To error on the side of safety is the smart bet. Good Luck.
Mac1
Compressed Air Technology by Pilkington
Airguns using compressed air (CA) technology are currently the
most popular equipment in 10-meter circles. For schools or other
junior programs shooting 3-position air rifle, compressed air is
touted as the only real competitive alternative, due to the
difficulties of kocking other type of airguns during the kneeling
and prone stages. Unfortunately CA is too often taken for
granted by shooters, primarily because they are not aware of the
potential danger, or the need for safe handling procedures.
Further in today's lawsuit riddled society, it is imperative that
coaches and match officials understand and enforce
recommended SCUBA safety procedures. This brief is an attempt
to make you aware of some of those guidelines.
For brevity and clarity's sake, SCUBA tanks will be referred to as
tanks and the small cylinders that remove from the airgun (rifle or
pistol), as cylinders.
BASIC SCUBA KNOWLEDGE
SCUBA stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing
Apparatus. Acronyms used by the airgun community for this
technology include CA, for Compressed Air, PC for Pre-Charged,
and PCP for Pre-Charged Pneumatic. The pressurized air normally
used is at 3000 PSI (pounds per square inch gauge) and has
enormous energy potential. The kinetic energy potential contained
within an average SCUBA tank is 1.3 MILLION foot-pounds. This
is enough energy to lift a 100-ton diesel locomotive off its tracks
and into the air.
Because of the potential dangers of using these high-pressure
vessels, manufacturers and other parties in the dive industry
have set specific guidelines and recommendations for safe usage
of these tanks. DOT and OSHA also have some regulations
pertinent to SCUBA tank usage, but these are typically beyond
the average user but do apply to commercial air fill stations and
employees where compressed air is used. Tanks are required to
be visually inspected at least once a year. The visual inspection
consists of removing the valve and having a thorough look inside
and outside the tank for evidence of corrosion, cracking or other
damage that could lead to an explosion or other failure of the
tank. After an inspection with no faults found, an Evidence of
Inspection (EOI) sticker is attached to the tank by the inspector,
with date and standards used to evaluate the cylinder noted.
SCUBA tanks must also be hydro-tested every five years by a
certified hydro-test facility and will bear stampings to this effect
including the date on the shoulder of the tank leading up to the
valve. Hydrostat testing is method of determining the cylinder's
expansion properties in an overfilled pressure state.
TANK AND VALVE TYPES
1. The tanks most commonly seen in use by divers and at airgun
matches are aluminum tanks that hold 80 cubic feet of air (80 cu).
Most SCUBA tanks in the US will be a 3000 PSIG tank with a
K-valve. A K-valve is basically a square head with a rubber o-ring
at the aperture point that allows a yoke to drop over the top and
clamp on to the K-valve and seal the connection.
2. Less often seen in the US are tanks with a 200 DIN valves,
which are a European type valve that is rated for 200 BAR or
2900 PSIG (one BAR equals 14.7 PSI). DIN valves use a threaded
connection rather than the clamping action of the yoke used here
in the US. 200 BAR is what most airgun cylinders are set up to
use.
3. If one does encounter a DIN valve in the US, it normally will be
a 300 DIN valve, which is for 300 BAR or 4351 PSIG tanks.
(Yokes are not considered strong enough for this additional
pressure). Because of the higher pressures involved, these are
more expensive. It is NOT recommended that any 300 BAR/4351
PSIG tanks be used at airgun events due to the possibility of
someone over pressurizing their 3000 PSI rated cylinder.
SCUBA TANK WARNINGS
As stated earlier, the energy potential within a fully filled 80 cu
tank is 1.3 million foot pounds. There have been cases of a tank
being dropped, causing the valve to be broken off, and the
resulting stream of air causing the tank to become a missile, and
propelling itself through solid concrete walls. With that in mind,
the following safety precautions should be adhered to when
handling tanks.
*SCUBA tanks should be secured well when travelling to prevent
damage to the valve or scraping, gouging or denting the tank
walls in the event of sudden stopping or lane changes of the
vehicle.
*Tanks also should be securely attached at their permanent
location to prevent tipping over, causing damage either to the
tank itself or to the feet of the user or bystander.
*There is an explosion danger possible from using typical firearm
solvents or oils on CA guns. Airgun users should be cautioned
against using petroleum based solvents or lubricants anywhere
near the air flow connections such as valves, cylinder connection
points, or the breech of the gun. Silicon grease such as Dow 111
" is typically the only dive industry recommended lubricant to be
used where exposure to high pressure air is possible, and that
should be applied sparingly.
*Buying a used SCUBA tank is not recommended unless you can
personally verify its history. A current concern in the dive industry
is that some technical divers are way over-pressurizing their
tanks, using them for a couple of years and then sell the tank
because they are afraid to continue using it.
*It is suggested by some folks that Dive shops should be asked
to overfill your tank if you are not going to use if for diving. Do
NOT ask someone to fill a tank over its prescribed fill pressure. To
do so is both an illegal act and causes long-term damage to your
tank
WAYS TO FILL AIRGUN CYLINDERS
1. SCUBA TANKS
The most common and easiest way to fill a cylinder is off a SCUBA
tank. When filling a cylinder (rifle or pistol) off a SCUBA tank you
are basically equalizing the air pressure between the two
containers. This means that if you have 3000 PSI in the scuba
tank and zero pressure in the cylinder the equalized pressure
between the two when you open the valve will be approximately
2950 PSI. The next time after you have shot and emptied the
cylinder and re-attached to the tank at 2950 PSI then the
equalized pressure will be say 2900 PSI and you will consequently
get a few shots less than the first time. And so on, each time you
fill you will get slightly fewer shots . Quite likely you could
probably have your scuba tank at ½ to 1/3 its pressure and a
filling of your cylinders still should be enough to go through a
60-shot match plus sighters. How many filled cylinders you get
off of a 80 cu ft SCUBA tank will vary quite a bit depending on a
number of factors such as the size of the airgun cylinders
themselves or the amount of remaining pressure prior to filling.
2. HAND PUMPS
Two are currently available in the US. One is the FX, made in
Sweden, by far the most common and sold by most 10m airgun
manufacturers with their label on it. The second pump, introduced recently, is a British made model we are now carrying, the Hill pump.
The FX pump allows you to screw the fill adapter directly into
the base of the unit. There is a gauge at the base of the pump to
show your progress. The gauge is in BARs and 200 BAR should
be your stopping point. The same 300 -600 PSI per minute fill
rate should be adhered to (600 PSI = 40 BAR)
The FX pump does contain a moisture trap and a blow-off
valve that MUST be used to prevent moisture from being
introduced into airgun cylinders. Moisture inside any pressure
vessel will eventually lead to corrosion, which ultimately could lead
to a failure of the cylinder. After pumping your cylinder to the
desired pressure, the brass valve opening is opened slightly
allowing a stream of moisture to remove itself from the pump
itself.
3. MINIATURE COMPRESSORS
Very rarely seen in this country, due to their great expense and
220 volt operating current, these allow for the filling of the airgun
cylinders directly. If you have one of these, then you should
follow all manufactures guidelines and safety warnings included
with the equipment. If you do not have the manufacturer's
instructions, and inspection schedules, you contact the
manufacturer directly to obtain this information.
AIRGUN FILL SAFTEY PARTICULARS
Most airgun manufactures use 200 BAR as the operating
pressure in their airgun cylinders. Some manufactures, Walther in
particular, allow the possibility of filling to 300 BAR, ie; their
cylinders are rated for this. But a 200 BAR filling is more than
sufficient to shoot any airgun match (twice over in most cases).
Each airgun comes with its own fill adapter; usually a machined
brass fitting that interconnects the DIN fitting with the detachable
cylinder.
Dive industry recommendations for filling of SCUBA tanks is
300-600 PSIG per minute. This is on tanks that are much larger
than our small airgun cylinders. This same guideline should be
applied to the filling of airgun cylinders. This means that the
shooter, having shot his full cylinder down to roughly 30% of its
full fill pressure (1000 PSIG), should not screw his cylinder on to
the tank, instantly open the valve wide open going from 1000 to
3000 PSIG in about 2 seconds. The sudden increase in pressure
generates a lot of heat, which can be felt by touching the cylinder.
This heat not only leads to premature failure of the rubber
O-rings but also the long term expansion and contraction in the
cylinder wall caused by this heating could cause metal fatigue.
*Cylinders when attached to the tank should be pointed in a safe
direction (i.e., not at people standing nearby) in the event of
thread failure on the tank, cylinder or adapter and the cylinder
itself suddenly becoming a missile.
*Prior to each fill, shooters should inspect thread of both
cylinders and adapter for evidence of dirt, foreign objects or signs
of cross-threading or other abuse. Threads in either the adapter
or cylinder showing ANY sign of wear or abuse should be
considered dangerous and discarded.
*When filling the cylinders, shooters should be advised not to
look directly at the manometer (gauge) present on the end of
some brands of cylinders. There have been instances of gauges
shearing their threads and the gauge itself becoming a projectile.
All safety precautions should be adhered to at all times.
*Shooters should be made to understand the potential dangers
of the individual cylinders, the potential energy of a fully charged
cylinder is equal to a stick of dynamite and cylinders should not
be dropped or abused in any way. Walking down a hallway and
throwing a cylinder up end over end and catching it on its
downward fall should be cause for a severe reprimand.
*Follow all of the manufacturer's current guidelines for filling,
handling, and using their product.
*Some manufacturers such as Anschutz have a small blow off
port that must be released prior to unscrewing the cylinders from
the adapter/tank. Shooters should be cautioned not to place their
thumb or fingers over this air outlet or embolism can result.
CONCLUSION
SCUBA air is safely used thousands of times around the world
each day in a variety of applications. My intent is not to scare, but
rather to encourage shooters and their coaches using this new
technology to understand and follow proper safety measures.
Just as firearms or the tank of gasoline within our vehicle can be
safely handled within their respective guidelines, so must we also
treat airguns using SCUBA air technology.
Individuals wishing to learn more or receive training about SCUBA
and other high pressure vessels handling and inspection
procedures are encouraged to contact:
PSI, Inc.
6351 NE 198th Street
Kenmore WA 90828
425-486-2252
fax 425-485-4422
www.marinestudio.com/sunpacific/psiThis document is made available to you courtesy of Pilkington
Competition Equipment, LLC.
It is not meant to supercede or replace knowledge of any or all
Federal, State, or local regulations regarding this subject matter.
Nor does it supercede or replace any manufactures written
policies with respect to use of their product.
These materials are distributed without charge with the understanding that neither Scott Pilkington or Pilkington Competition Equipment, LLC, assumes any liability or responsibility of any kind concerning the materials in this document. This information is not intended to replace independent professional advice, consultation or services, which readers should use, a competent professional person should be sought to provide expert assistance in these matters.
Jun 8, 2018 8:11:03 GMT 8
Jun 8, 2018 8:11:03 GMT 8