Abstract: An method and apparatus for testing of gas cylinders which combines a cylinder preparation station, a cylinder test station, a system controller for controlling data entry and cylinder testing, the system controller comprising a data entry device located near the cylinder preparation station, a test control device located near the cylinder station, and a memory comprising a cylinder test condition database and a cylinder test database. The apparatus is programmed to conduct a process comprising the steps of entering data from a cylinder into the data entry device, selecting test conditions for the cylinder from the cylinder test condition database, testing the cylinder using the test conditions, and adding test results for the cylinder to the cylinder test results database.

Abstract: An method and apparatus for filling packed cylinders with acetylene. The apparatus includes a variable speed compressor which delivers the gas to a manifold. The compressor is operated continuously to maintain a continuous flow of acetylene to the manifold and maintain either a substantially constant manifold pressure or a gradually increasing manifold pressure. The method and apparatus of the invention fills a large number of packed cylinders in less than half the time required by operation of conventional two-speed compressors. Furthermore, the method and apparatus of the invention simplifies the production and bottling of acetylene and enables complete automation of the bottling process after the packed cylinders are connected to the manifold.