Robert Venable
03-04-2008, 02:35 AM
I am planning on custom making accumulators and air tanks for my personal project. I want to maximize the amount of on-board air I carry (for air tools), and still be able to have 1/2-1gal accumulators at each wheel. All of the air tanks/accumulators will need to be hidden under the cab and bed (I don't want to use any of my bed space) of a "Mini Truck" (1990 Mitsubishi Mighty Max 2wd SWB Reg Cab). It would seem that the best way to maximize air capacity would be to build custom tanks that take up the available space, but this would give tanks that are almost exclusively cubed shaped.
It seems that every single air tank produced for sale is made in some kind of cylindrical shape. I understand that, for production purposes, this is a much more economical way of making air tanks. Cylindrical shapes allow for less welding, which reduce production time and reduce the possibility of air leaks. I also believe that a cylindrical shape is used for it's ability to keep a consistently shape under most pressures.
As a side benefit (as it seems to me), cylindrical air tanks seem to help funnel water down to the lowest point of the tank, where a drain can be placed to release the moisture that will naturally build over time.
The downside I find of these cylindrical shaped air tanks is the massive amount of waisted space they use up.
Other than the following facts. The flat surfaces of a cubed shaped tank might bow/flex outward with pressure. There will be considerably more fab time and leak testing/repairing times for the added welds, and the fact that water will have a harder time draining (marginally harder). What are the other downfalls of cube shaped air tanks?
It seems that every single air tank produced for sale is made in some kind of cylindrical shape. I understand that, for production purposes, this is a much more economical way of making air tanks. Cylindrical shapes allow for less welding, which reduce production time and reduce the possibility of air leaks. I also believe that a cylindrical shape is used for it's ability to keep a consistently shape under most pressures.
As a side benefit (as it seems to me), cylindrical air tanks seem to help funnel water down to the lowest point of the tank, where a drain can be placed to release the moisture that will naturally build over time.
The downside I find of these cylindrical shaped air tanks is the massive amount of waisted space they use up.
Other than the following facts. The flat surfaces of a cubed shaped tank might bow/flex outward with pressure. There will be considerably more fab time and leak testing/repairing times for the added welds, and the fact that water will have a harder time draining (marginally harder). What are the other downfalls of cube shaped air tanks?