by Chandra Morris, Comm. Dir., TechLink
A dramatic improvement in safety welding cart design patented by the U.S. Air Force Vandenberg Air Force Base Training Device Design and Engineering Center (TDDEC) to increase the safety and well being of airmen is now available commercially through Spika Welding & Manufacturing Inc., Moccasin, Montana.
The new design was developed in response to serious concerns about the safety of welders and others using traditional style welding carts at Vandenburg AFB. The new carts feature a stable four-wheel platform, enclosed regulators, a hose reel, a fire barrier separating the gas bottles, and a strong latching mechanism—all significant improvements.
Traditional carts are known to be dangerous. Their wobbly structures use a loose-fitting chain to secure two pressurized bottles containing highly flammable gases. The Air Force inventors regarded this as a workplace liability and sensed an opportunity to improve both worker safety and productivity.
The design improvements that resulted have proven to reduce the risk to employees at TDDEC. The new cart was rated as a "Best Practice" by the 2004 Air Force Space Command Inspector General Operational Readiness Inspection team. It also was submitted and accepted into the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness (IDEA) program for notable improvement, where it has been approved as mandatory and recommended for wide use at the Space Command level. It has been sent up to the Air Force level at the Pentagon for further evaluation.
The Air Force applied for a patent for the new safety-conscious system, and TechLink, a Department of Defense partnership intermediary, brought the Air Force together with Spika Welding and Manufacturing Inc., a manufacturer in central Montana already producing numerous products for the military. In the fall of 2007, Spika received a license from the Air Force to manufacture the system and, after some final modifications to the initial design, began production of what they have dubbed the "Gas Guardian."
"We are excited about adding the Gas Guardian welding cart to our product line," said Tom Spika, president of Spika Welding & Manufacturing Inc. "In visiting with numerous safety officers and maintenance personnel in the Army, National Guard, Air Force, Coast Guard – they all see the merit of this system, and are anxious to replace their outdated systems. While the daily use of the oxy systems is fairly minimal, practically every facility has one and needs it on occasion. The hazards that the Gas Guardian can minimize far outweigh the cost. When one considers the potential damage and injuries associated with the old-style carts, it's obvious it is not worth the risk. One sheared-off valve can do a million dollars worth of damage, or worse, take a life."
When TechLink became aware that the technology was available for licensing to industry, it looked for an ideal candidate and contacted Spika Welding and Manufacturing, Inc. Tom Spika agreed that the welding cart would be a beneficial addition to his company's products. TechLink assisted Spika Welding with its license application and commercialization plan and facilitated license negotiations with the Air Force. The licensing of this technology to Spika Welding and its subsequently successful manufacture and availability to military and commercial markets is an example of how government technology transfer can be highly effective even through small companies in rural communities.
The Gas Guardian comes complete with an industrial quality American-made cutting/welding kit, regulators, hose and self-recoiling hose reel, and high pressure supply lines that attach to the customersupplied cylinders.
The finish is powdercoated safety yellow, and the unit ships completely assembled. It is OSHA-compliant and available on the GSA. The system can also be purchased directly through Spika Welding at www.spikawelding.com or by phoning 406-423-5678.
The Gas Guardian, a new safety welding cart licensed from the Air Force and now available from Spika Welding & Manufacturing. (Click image to enlarge)
