On Board Air Pressure Tank

[Hedgehog]

Would an aluminum medical oxygen tank be suitable for an onboard air pressure tank? A friend of mine has one and is going to recycle the tank for scrap. The tank is solid with only one opening, the usual filler and valve, it is a nice tank. Would this work for air storage ..... naturally it doesn't have a bleed off valve for water, oil and such.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I would research the tank. It should have a PSI rating stamped on it somewhere. It has been a lot of years but when aluminum scuba tanks first came out they could not be filled to the same pressure as the steel tanks.

 

[Hedgehog]

Good point. The O2 tank should hold hundreds of pounds of pressure and I'm only going to run about AMC 150 . Good point none the less.

 

[Petescj]

Check the date stamp on it as well and find out how many years it's bee in service. I know CO2 tanks became obsolete after so many years and you weren't allowed to fill them anymore.

 

[caveman]

I don't see any reason that it couldn't be used. You can drill and tap new holes for the drain and the fill ports.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

How much PSI will you store?
You will use a 'pop-off' valve. 'Rite'??
Got to have a drain for fluids that will build up.
How big is the tank? Do you have a on-board air compressor?
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Lumpy - Many questions, shows you are engaged.

The 360 came with a York AC compressor and I've retained that for an air compressor. Evidently the York compressor is the one to have for this use.

Yes, I will have a full set of air compressor components. Filters, pop off valve, pressure shutoff switch, pressure gauge, oil return, check valve, manual on/off switch.

Drain - I was hoping a drain wasn't 100% necessary, but is logical. If I use this cylinder I'll look into drilling it, having a bung welded on, drilled and tapped for a proper drain. As you are probably aware, I rarely go 1/2 way on a project like this. Which is why I haven't actually started down the on board air road yet.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

A drain is needed on ANY air compressor tank. You may want a filter also-I have one on my system.
I too use a A/C unit for my on-board air. Found that a 2 cu/ft 'spit' tank from a city bus air brake system works well.
My shut of valve, shuts off at AMC 150 psi and starts at 135psi.
I run my engine at 1100 rpm(ele. solenoid)when using the compressor. Have no issue using a 1/2" drive impact wrench or any other air tool I carry in the Jeep.
Good luck,
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Where did you get your tank? I assume it's a surplus or junk yard tank, how much $ do they get for a used tank? Where did you mount your tank?

 

[hdgapeach]

Would an aluminum medical oxygen tank be suitable for an onboard air pressure tank? A friend of mine has one and is going to recycle the tank for scrap. The tank is solid with only one opening, the usual filler and valve, it is a nice tank. Would this work for air storage ..... naturally it doesn't have a bleed off valve for water, oil and such.

Get one off a bone yard air brake truck / truck tractor. It'll already be "plumbed" for all the hookups you'll need. Most trucks now days have more than one tank (for various reasons) and the same vehicle can have different size tanks to choose from. Mounting brackets and hardware are already attached, so you might not even have to fab some up from scratch.

Good luck. I'd like to see picks when you get rolling with the project.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Got my 'spit' tank bottle, when I was a commercial driving instructor for the local transit company.
Had a friend who is a welder for Northrop, weld a new bung for the drain and have been using it for 17+ years.
It's mounted to the PS fender skirt, just inside the hood.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Not a bad place, unfortunately there's a lot going on right there in my jeep ... battery ... stock scissor jack ... wires, relays and such.

 

[Torxhead]

Hedge, I was able to stuff a 2 1/2 gal. tank under the bed in front of the gas tank, if that helps.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Hedge, I was able to stuff a 2 1/2 gal. tank under the bed in front of the gas tank, if that helps.

Make's it hard to drain, doesn't it?
Hedge-You'll need a separator to return the oil to the compressor.
LG

 

[Torxhead]

Not at all, it has a drain at its lowest point with a easy twist knob. As I recall the York compressors like Hedge has does have its own oiling unit. I have a Sanden compressor with an oil separator that runs the stuff back into it.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Soon as my wife has a couple of minutes.
I'll have her post some pictures of my set-up.
Any tips would be appreciated--
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

I will have a full set of air compressor components. Filters, pop off valve, pressure shutoff switch, pressure gauge, oil return, check valve, manual on/off switch.

Lumpy dude all your advice is great and believe it or not I appreciate it. With that being said, I did cover the components in an earlier post in this thread.

Torx - The York does have it's own oil supply, but it drools a bit so an oil/air separator is necessary. The components can be set-up so the oil can be recovered and sent back into the compressor. It is likely that I will use the very same area in front of the fuel tank, but ... doesn't there always seem to be a but ... the PO welded two stacked 1 1/2" (3" total) steel plates between the frame rails in that location. When I pull the stock gas tank those plates will be removed. Why they are there I have no idea, possibly to add weight.

 

[johnnyreb]

just an FYI for O2 tanks. The tanks either steel or aluminum hold 2,000 psi

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Some tanks hold higher psi like dive tanks

First picture is my storage tank.
Second is the on/off and cut in/out switch.
Third is the seperator and oil return line to compressor.
Last is the converted A/C compressor. That's a sock on the manifold breather I use for the compressor's air filter
Hedge-I too had some electrical, to work around too
This setup has been trouble free for over 25 yrs.
LG

 

[johnnyreb]

well i speak from experience of lugging an O2 tank around on the ambulance fro 16 years.