Short, fat, 60 gallon compressor tank ?

[Indyducati]

Folks,

Am I seeing things ?
I hope I've attached a photo correctly.

Does someone make a short, fat, 60 gallon receiver ?
There are some images on Ebay, Craigslist etc... that
show what looks like a short 60 gallon tank.
I'll assume it's based on 80 gallon end bells with a shorter
cylinder in the middle .
What information I can find tells me the 'standard' 60 gallon
tank is 20" in diameter. The 'standard' 80 gallon is 24".

I may be the only person that cares about tank dimensions, other
than horizontal or vertical..

I'm building a compressor from scratch. I'll probably be buying a
new tank. If so, I want a wider footprint and lower COG,
without going to a horizontal. My motor-pump combo would be
undersized on an 80 gallon tank.

Might you have any ideas where this style tank might be available ?
Manchester, Grainger, McMaster etc, only list gallon capacity or the
standard sized tanks.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[rparent]

It looks similar to a 120 gallon tank.

 

[larry_g]

check graingers.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Miss_Sissy]

I may be the only person that cares about tank dimensions, other than horizontal or vertical.

Steve, I agree with you. I have no idea why compressor manufacturers insist on making tall, narrow, top-heavy 60 gallon compressors -- especially when there is a pump and motor hanging way past the outer edge of the tank on many of the V-twin models -- that's what defines the footprint. A shorter compressor would be easier to transport and more stable when sitting in place. Getting the motor and pump down below ear level would not ****, either.

I did some searching on Grainger and did not find any "lowboy" tanks, but there are some some sharp people on here, so I'd bet that someone can identify one.

 

[CNGsaves]

I would start with Global Industrial . . . . they have greatest selection and affordable prices. Surely someone there can help you out. Industry giant Campbell Hausfeld seems to be predominant supplier for smaller tanks, and Champion for large tanks.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/g/p...-tools/small-air-receivers-surge-tanks-101673

If you buy a tank from Grainger . . . you better grease up & bend over !!

 

[stonesfan68]

Steve, I agree with you. I have no idea why compressor manufacturers insist on making tall, narrow, top-heavy 60 gallon compressors --

Because tank manufactures make thousands of 60-gallon tanks that are tall and narrow, that's why.

OP, you're going to have to stick with the standard vertical tank size, or get someone to make a custom tank for you, which will cost you more money.

Alternatively, use a horizontal tank. A 60-gallon tank should be about 20" D x 48 " L.

 

[nickleone]

Short 60 gal tanks are available. In a past life I assembled compressor packages and
occasionally did a short 60 gal.
They might have been Manchester tanks.

Nick

 

[nickleone]

Try:
http://www.mantank.com/products/pressurevessels/vertical.htm

The specs show 60 gal at 48" high

Nick

 

[CNGsaves]

Try:
http://www.mantank.com/products/pressurevessels/vertical.htm

The specs show 60 gal at 48" high. Nick

Nope, 48" height with normal 20" diameter is normal tall 60 gal.

By looking at list . . . OP likely wants 24" diameter tank . . not sure height.

Any guru to work equation backwards??
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24" diam x Y height = 60 gal
. . . . . (ie solve for Y)

 

[spy604]

Nope, 48" height with normal 20" diameter is normal tall 60 gal.

By looking at list . . . OP likely wants 24" diameter tank . . not sure height.

Any guru to work equation backwards??
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24" diam x Y height = 60 gal
. . . . . (ie solve for Y)

About 31"

 

[volleyball]

Just use a 30 gal. and get a second 30 gal aux tank that could be anywhere in line. Probably cheaper than a custom or low production tank.

 

[Trey T]

^or just get a horizontal tank. It's rare to see 60gal fat tank and I've seen it once on craigslist.

 

[Miss_Sissy]

Because tank manufactures make thousands of 60-gallon tanks that are tall and narrow, that's why.

And if you ask them why they make them that way, they will tell you that it's because compressor manufacturers buy thousands of 60-gallon tanks that are tall and narrow.

I hope that compressor manufacturers recognize that a "lowboy" 60 gallon would appeal to many consumers and result in a more stable product that's better for transport, warehousing, and use.

 

[The Cobbler]

... then, when manufacturers switch over to short fat tanks, everyone will be saying, " Wish I had a taller slimmer tank, because these take up so much of a footprint on my floor" LOL

 

[volleyball]

Compressors have means to attach to make them stable. I don't think the demand would be great.

 

[Miss_Sissy]

Compressors have means to attach to make them stable.

Having holes in the feet doesn't do much for stability when you're taking a top-heavy, 60 gallon, vertical, V-twin compressor down two flights of stairs on an appliance hand truck.

Tall, top-heavy compressors also create challenges in warehousing and in shipping. When I went to pick up my Puma PK6060V, there were two others at the loading dock that had been damaged in shipment. From the looks of it, they fell over.

I don't think the demand would be great.

You might be surprised. I've got a 6x10 enclosed trailer that I transported my compressor in and, having hauled motorcycles all over the country, I'm pretty good at tying things down. But I'd have felt a lot better if the Cg was a foot lower. Same thing when moving it down stairs to the basement where it is installed in my workshop. Just look at the number of messages on here from people concerned about transporting vertical 60s.

 

[malibu101]

Somehow, someway it is probably cheaper to make (and/or ship) a tall narrow tank than a short fat one.

Shipping meaning large scale. Not the consumer getting it home.

 

[volleyball]

I have a 5hp puma 80 gal. so it is more stable but heavier. It is sitting on the factory pallet and is stable. I've moved it many times.
Bolt it to the floor or a large enough base and it is fine. In a trailer it would be easy to put a strap in the upper half.

 

[72Anthony]

Just my thoughts, but if you are trying to appreciably reduce the center of gravity I think you would almost end up with the footprint of a horizontal tank in order to overcome mass of the motor and pump located at the extreme end.

What size/horsepower are you looking at?
Maybe go with the 30 gallon tank, with a 100% duty cycle pump and aftercooler.

 

[Miss_Sissy]

I have a 5hp puma 80 gal. so it is more stable but heavier.

I like the dimensions of those better. If the 60s were just scaled down 80s, rather than just narrowed, they'd be a lot better.

It is sitting on the factory pallet and is stable. I've moved it many times. Bolt it to the floor or a large enough base and it is fine. In a trailer it would be easy to put a strap in the upper half.

Putting ratchet straps on my Puma 60 gallon compressor's motor/pump mounting plate and attaching them to the tie-downs was easy. But if I had needed to make an emergency stop, I would not have been surprised if a rear tie-down ripped out of the wooden floor. When you start examining the mass, pivot points, and effective lever ratios of a 300 pound, top-heavy, 60 gallon compressor responding to something like a 1g deceleration, it gets ugly fast.

I had to cut the pallet down to fit through doorways. Now that the compressor is down in my workshop, I've made round feet (CD diameter) using a 3/4" horse stall mat and they are bolted to the compressor feet. It's plenty stable where it is, but I'd prefer something shorter; I could put a shelf above it.

 

[sberry]

Millions of units are made the way they are but you could see if they would make a special one for you.

 

[Leadberry]

This CL ad near me is for what appears to be an old Sanborn with a short, fat tank:

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/pts/4783921336.html

Edit: Added pics.

 

[TTTTTT]

If your in Canada here's one. I'd be very surprised if there is something we can get but you can't south of the 49th and I'm sure at 1/2 the price

http://www.princessauto.com/en/deta...hi-flo-low-profile-air-compressor/A-p8475006e

Dave

 

[CNGsaves]

This CL ad near me is for what appears to be an old Sanborn with a short, fat tank:

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/pts/4783921336.html

Edit: Added pics.

That's looks exactly like what OP's wanting . . . RoadTrip !!!!

 

[volleyball]

I had a 1/2hp compressor on 30 gal. tank. It took awhile for the compressor to kick on and then to shut off but it did its job. I would not buy a more expensive shorty thinking it would be better than an 80.
Yo could always buy an 80, cut it down and reweld it.

 

[Indyducati]

Thanks again.

Leadberry, I saw an old Sanborn on the Indianapolis Craigslist that got this whole thing started !

TTTTTT, that Princess compressor looks just like the Northern Tools compressor I pictured at the start of all these.

Looking at Manchester's catalog, their vertical tanks are;
60 gal. 20"x48"
80 gal. 24"x46"
120 gal. 30"x45"

If my meager calculations are correct,
the short 60 would be 24"x35" or 30"x23"

I've currently got a vintage, 30 gallon, single cylinder, Quincy. In my crowded, dirty, family garage, it does everything I need. I just want a big ol, unusual compressor.
I've got an old QR 308 Quincy pump awaiting it's rebuild. I plan to spin it with a 3hp motor. 60 gallons just seems to be the correct size for that pump.

Steve

 

[BJ42LX]

Somehow, someway it is probably cheaper to make (and/or ship) a tall narrow tank than a short fat one.

Must be.

The least use of steel would come from a spherical tank. Failing that, a shorter tank closer to the dimensions of a sphere would be more material efficient than a tall skinny tank.

As you say there must be other factors involved.

 

[volleyball]

Would seem the smaller diameter tank would be stronger.

 

[sberry]

Floor space really. Considering construction cost could cost another 500 for footprint just for initial construction, more if you want to replace that space and to maintain it.

 

[Ruprect72]

Thats exactly the reason - the bigger the od (for a given wall thickness) of the cylindrical portion, the higher the circumferential stresses. So, you either lower the max allowable working pressure (MAWP) or increase the wall thickness. Its the same reason small bore tubing can be thin-wall and still have a high pressure rating.

Mostly though I suspect its economics - make a thousand hemi heads of the same od and weld them to different length cans to get the different capacities you want.

Rup.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ Yes . . Long skinny tanks DO handle higher pressure. Take a look behind fence of public cng pump and you'll see Triple Tube storage set of tanks . . . or multiple Triple Tubes. These are maybe 12" to 18" diameter and upwards of 20 feet long !!! One tube is "low" pressure of maybe 2,000 psi, middle tube "medium" pressure of 3,500 psi and "high" pressure tube of 4,000 psi !! These are thick-walled steel pressure vessel . . . yes welded steel. That shape can handle the high pressure so safe. Another analogy - - - shape of submarine is long tube !!

Other option for high pressure is SPHERE. Common size for cng might be 48" tall and hold 80 gge. Shape of sphere gives it incredible strength to handle pressure. These also used for hydrogen of 5,000 psi to 10,000 psi !!! Yikes.

Air compressor tanks (pressure vessels) follow same pattern so long skinny tank is easier/cheaper to build in that shape (ie thinner walls). Squatty fat tanks will need thicker steel walls.

 

[Indyducati]

Resurrecting an old thread, I started 9 years ago

I got one ! Sorta... I got a short, fat 30 gallon.

The blue, Quincy, is what I'd call a traditional sized tank.
About 16"x36" = 30 gallons.

The red, RamAir, is kinda chunky.
About 19"x25" = 30 gallons.

There's some truth in advertising... the sticker on the mounting plate .

"Attention this compressor not suitable for body shop use

The red, 1987, tank feels about 100lb lighter that the 1963 Quincy.
Looking at the tags, they're about the same. The Quincy mounting plate
is much thicker.


Merry Christmas,
Steve