Air Cylinders

Details :

Principles of Operation :

Not applicable

Approvals & Standards:

Cylinders meet all applicable D.O.T. regulations for compressed air cylinders.

Applications :

Chemical
Electric Utility
Fire Fighting
Hazardous Materials
Nuclear
Oil and Gas
Paper & Pulp

Hazards :

Confined Space
Fire
Oxygen Deficiency
Toxic Atmosphere IDLH

Product Information :

In 1976, MSA introduced the Composite I Cylinder -- the first fully-wound composite cylinder. A combination of aluminum and fiberglass, the Comp I cut cylinder weight virtually in half at that time. Since then, more than 300,000 MSA fully-wound composite cylinders have been placed into service with an untarnished record of performance.

Designed exclusively for MSA Air Masks, Carbon-Wrapped Cylinders incorporate the same proven technology found in earlier MSA fully-wound composites. And they’re available in both high-and low-pressure models.

With the high-pressure Air Masks, you can choose from three 4500 psig Carbon-Wrapped Cylinders. The H- 30 Cylinder provides a 30-minute rated air supply and maximum maneuverability, which may be required for confined space rescues. For longer duration air supplies, you can choose either H-45, H-45LP (Low-Profile) or H-60 Cylinder, which provide a 45- or 60- minute air supply, respectively. Lowpressure Air Masks are suitable for use with the L-30 Cylinder, a 2216 psig cylinder rated for 30 minutes. Or, use the L-30 +, a 30-minute-rated cylinder pressurized to 3000 psig.

Like all MSA fully-wound composite cylinders, Carbon-Wrapped Cylinders are made with a seamless aluminum liner that is precision-formed by a six-step process with quality control inspections all along the way. After forming the neck of the liner by a computer-controlled spinning process, the cylinder is wound thousands of times with high-strength carbon fibers impregnated with epoxy resin. The process is then completed with a final overwrap of fiberglass fibers for enhanced abrasion resistance. As a final touch, MSA added a "glow-in-the-dark" luminescent band for improved visibility at night.

Carbon-Wrapped Cylinders also retain MSA’s proven cylinder valve design. Like all MSA cylinders, the valve features a handwheel mounted at a right angle to the valve stem. This design allows fast activation of the SCBA air supply, even when wearing bulky gloves. For higher quality and reliability, MSA manufactures its own cylinder valve.

Besides Carbon-Wrapped Cylinders, MSA offers two other air cylinders to meet your own needs and budget:

Fiberglass Hoop-Wound Composite Cylinder: Available in a 30-minute, low-pressure model, MSA’s hoop-wound cylinder features fiberglass wrapping and provides a cost-saving advantage over fully-wound composites. In general, hoop-wound cylinders are three to five pounds heavier than fully-wound fiberglass or carbonwrapped cylinders.

3AL Cylinder: Less expensive than MSA’s hoop-wound cylinder, this 30-minute low-pressure cylinder features all-aluminum construction. Because of its weight (approximately 18 pounds), it is designed primarily for customers who don’t use an SCBA frequently. The 3AL Cylinder also offers an indefinite service life.