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Compressed gases of various sorts are stored in elongated metal tanks, or cylinders. The tanks are topped with a valve for allowing the gas inside to be released in a controlled manner. When the Cylinder Valves are closed, the gas is totally contained within the tank. There usually will be another device, called a regulator, which is connected to the valve. The valve and regulator control and measure the gas flow.

Gases under pressure can be very dangerous and must be handled with care, even more so if they are flammable. It is essential that the cylinders are moved and shipped cautiously, as a broken or damaged valve can cause a disaster. Usually when not is use, the cylinder has a cap or collar placed over the valve to prevent accidents.

Valve bodies, or housings, are usually made of high tensile brass or stainless steel for strength and durability. This is very important, since valve failure could be very dangerous. All of the internal components of the valve assembly should be made of precision, high quality materials, whether they are aluminum, teflon, nylon or other substances. All the parts should fit precisely together for maximum safety.

Another safety issue is mistaking one type of gas for another, which could have devastating consequences. Several precautions help prevent this from happening, including having different sizes and shapes of valves for different types of gases. General types of gases include medical, industrial, and diving.

Valves usually have a pressure release, which is an important safety measure, attached to them. Called a burst disc, this is a metal gasket which is designed to break under a set amount of pressure, thus releasing the gas in a relatively controlled manner. Without the burst disc, the tank could potentially explode under adverse circumstances.

Another device designed to protect against a disastrous tank explosion in case of fire is a disc that is made of a metal with a low melting point. This is placed between the valve bottom and the cylinder top. When it melts, the gas will be leaked from the tank in a less explosive and therefore less dangerous manner. It works somewhat like the burst disc in this respect.

There are many types of cylinder valves, for different types of gas cylinders. While they are made to be very strong, it is necessary to handle them with care, as breaking them can have devastating consequences. Aside from safe handling, there are numerous safety features integrated with the valves to prevent accidents or minimize damage when accidents occur.

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