The Pneumatic Tanker Thread

Yea, I've had a few times where I turned on the blower and built tank pressure seeing a big leak. Once it got to about 7-10 psi all you could see was cement dust coming out big time. So I had to drain the pressure and wait. Then I had to go up there with a brush and chisel to see what was the problem. Even after cleaning at Lehigh, the lid sometimes won't close so you have to give it a bump with your foot. My trailers are 9 years old so obviously the new ones are going to be great but think about this: how are those 30 year old trailers with manual lids doing? A lot better than these...

 

Well, it's the end of another week and I'd figure I'd throw out a couple of questions so I have something to read at breakfast.

The first question may be difficult to answer as most of you pull semi trailers and I'm in a set of doubles. After unloading the rear trailer, I have a valve on the first trailer that if closed, stops air blowing through to the rear trailer. The air comes from the blower and goes straight through. I never picked up on it until the 4' or so hose that connects the steel pipes between blew a gasket. I heard an air leak and that's when I noticed that air still runs through to the empty rear trailer. Tonight I kept that valve closed while unloading the first trailer and I haven't timed it yet but it seemed to unload faster since all of the blower air was stopped in its place. I'll set my stopwatch next week and follow up. Thoughts?

Second question... does anyone use the tank valve while unloading cement products? I was never taught to. I heard it was good for sand. I'm referring to the valve that would build pressure to the tank overriding the aerator I suppose. None of the 6 drivers I work with use it. We had a very experienced owner operator that had years of experience that would use it on my trailers before he left. I never had a chance to ask him about it. I do know that he unloaded much faster than everyone else.

Here are a few pics. The tank valve is above the closed blowdown valve and the other is that valve that will cutoff air to the rear trailer.