Tanker Terminology 101

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by superpet39, Mar 2, 2013.

  1. Marc Letourneau

    Marc Letourneau Light Load Member

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    Worcester Massachusetts
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    The reason we set it up that way is because we only run a cross over pipe over the deck plate.. There isn't enough room to run a cross over under the frame. You need the cross over on the pump off side, Not the suction side.
     
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  3. skoshi130

    skoshi130 Light Load Member

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    Albuquerque, NM
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    Dust cover: Covers the outlet valve at the back of the trailer

    Outlet valve: Used for loading/offloading product

    CIP: Internal wash system in tanks

    Stinger: Used for tanks that don't have an internal wash system, it drops down into the tank

    Plunger: Part of the outlet valve assembly, maintains product in the tank or releases

    Wash ticket(Priors): Shows a history of what has been loaded in tank prior to this point
     
  4. jonboy29

    jonboy29 Light Load Member

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    Home Sweet Home... SW Ont.
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    Internal valve... is usually a hydraulic valve that needs to be pumped up for it to open. This is your safety valve that can be closed by breaking a line not unlike a cars hydraulic brake line.Usually mounted on the front fender near the kingpin, so it is far away from the valve for emergency operation. The hydraulic oil bleeds off, and the valve closes. Also the weight of the product keeps the valve closed. Designed to work that way.

    Product valve... is connected to the internal. It can be disasembled for inspectiion or cleaning. It has a hand crank that you open for liquid to flow. Its like a giant water tap on your house.

    Double conical... is like two cones welded together at the wide ends. It make the tank a center unloader. Because both ends drain to the center of the tank. Best used on level ground, and also product valve is closer to pump on truck than a rear unload.

    Rear Unload... as it sounds. the barrel is like a pipe or shot gun. Same diameter throughout. It drains to the rear, and works great on a slope to the rear. Most tanks are this design. Some times a pipe and elbow can be attached to convert this to a center unload.

    pressure relief valve... is a small valve that releases pressure. They are set to a safe working pressure for the trailer. It prevents over pressurizing the tank and making a bomb or rocket. It allows for a trailer to be pressurized to unload.

    Vacuum Valve.... opposite as above, and prevents the trailer from being sucked in and becoming scrap.

    These valves are safety devices, and can become pluged, or inoperative. Abuse can overcome their working capacity and create a dangerous situation. They are a precaution, not idiot-proof. These valves are located ontop of the tanks.

    These are on stainless chemical tanks I worked on. Not acid tanks or fuel tankers. I have no knowledge of fuel tankers, and limited with syphon acid tanks.
     
  5. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

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    Vapor recovery: A system by which vapors can be captured as the tank is loaded; can also serve as a vent while unloading. The VR fitting is usually at the right rear corner of the tank. Not always present on non-code tanks, but always present on DOT 307 (fuel) and DOT 407 (crude oil) tanks.

    Scully: An overfill prevention system used by fuel haulers. Connected to the loading rack (the facility where the drivers load product). Sensors in the top of each compartment, if they are wetted by high product level, will stop the loading process. This occurence is called "Scullying out," and may result in you being "locked out" - not allowed to load at that rack for a specified number of days.

    Camlock - the type of fitting normally used to secure hoses. The male end has a groove on the outside, the female end has "ears" that are closed, causing a cam lobe on the inside end of the ear to enter the groove on the male fitting.

    Blowdown - a valve that can be manually opened to relieve pressure/vacuum inside a trailer. This term is normally used on pneumatic and vacuum tankers.

    Belly valve - another term for the "internal valve" mentioned by Karhaulr.

    Popoff valve - another term for the "pressure relief valve."

    Ullage (pronounced YOU-ledge) - the amount of empty space in a loaded tanker. If a tanker is 80% full, it has 20% ullage, and 80% innage (the amount of space occupied by product in a loaded tanker). Be aware that a tanker is least stable at 80%. To determine percent innage, divide the gallons in the tank by the tanks's capacity, which will be engraved on a data plate near the front of the tanker. Then move the decimal two places to the right. Example: 6500 gallons in a 7000 gallon tanker. 6500 / 7000 = 0.9286 = 92.86% innage. The trailer is 92.86% full.

    Strapping chart: A chart that tells you how many gallons are in the tank at various depths. To use a strapping chart, you measure the product depth in the tanker (by dipping a measuring stick or a gauge line into the manhole until it touches the bottom of the tank), and read the product depth, usually in feet, inches, and quarter-inches. You then find the corresponding measurement on the strapping chart, and the quantity for that particular depth just to the right of the measurement.

    Hope this helps.
     
  6. xaxzax

    xaxzax Light Load Member

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    Lawrence, Ks.
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    Load Locks: make sure you have scuba gear
     
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  7. superpet39

    superpet39 Road Train Member

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    Bay Area California
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    Hate to clog this thread up with unnecessary post, but i just had to say that this thread turned into JUST what i was hoping for: lots of really good info for us guys/gals that wanna get into tankers.

    Thanks to all of you for the informative posts.
     
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  8. Dna Mach

    Dna Mach Road Train Member

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    Excellent info here. Got on with a great company pulling a flatbed loaded with gas cylinders from Irving Tx to San Jose Ca and back three months ago. The customer is consolidating the loads now and being the new guy...well. So I was offered a position pulling a tank. Ill be hauling oil additives out of LaPorte Tx within a 2.5 to 3 day radius of Houston. The company doesn't train tanker drivers but their making an exception for myself and another driver. Really overwhelmed at the moment but also very excited to have fallen into this opportunity.
     
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  9. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

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    CC, TX
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    Superpet39: You're welcome. If you hear/read something you're curious about, just ask, and one of us will be happy to break it down for you.
     
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  10. SLANT6

    SLANT6 Road Train Member

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    The Nut House
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    When doing pump work, be sure to use safety wire on hose ears...vibration when the pump is running can cause ears to open and then you have a big mess.

    Also, if pumping a hot product that hardens as it cools ( like asphalt)...and something happens to cause a spill. I recommend flushing your lines-yes you already have a mess, so a little more is insignificant. Otherwise your pump and lines will be slugged up.
     
  11. wsyrob

    wsyrob Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    They make Velcro straps for that purpose too or you can do it the Schneider way and use duct tape.
     
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