A tube burst-What happened?

[parkedraccoon]

We had an outreach event for our team yesterday, and we were displaying our robot, driving it around, running the shooter, etc. Then we heard a very loud pop and one of our team members immediately pressed the power switch. We went over to take a look and found this:

http://i.imgur.com/gf2CB.jpg

Something crazy must have happened here. By looking at the whole, it looks like the tubing melted, which made the tubing thinner. Would the heat from that compressor (I believe it's the small one that is prone to overheating) be able to weaken the tubing enough to have it pop?

We were using the compressor for extended periods of time, due to using large amounts of pressure for our center wheels, which use up like 1-2 large PVC tanks of air per full cycle.

[Tom Line]

The new compressor isn't prone to overheating - but you do have to pay attention to its duty cycle and not run it all the time. That's true of all compressors though.

I have seen the compressor (run constantly) melt pneumatic tubing. It's a good bet that's what happened.

[mikemat]

Was it hot out? I heard (from across the tent) this happening to 469 at IGVC last year. The 100 degree heat combined with the short match turnarounds caused the tubing near the compressor to melt and burst.

[parkedraccoon]

Originally Posted by mikemat

Was it hot out? I heard (from across the tent) this happening to 469 at IGVC last year. The 100 degree heat combined with the short match turnarounds caused the tubing near the compressor to melt and burst.

I wouldn't say it was extremely hot out, but it was warm. And we had been running the robot for something like an hour when this happened.

[IndySam]

Compressors make heat. Hot enough to cause serious burns even under normal usage.

It's important to not use a push-on fitting connected directly to the compressor like that. Get some brass (t-fitting or extension tube) between the compressor and that fitting to help dissipate the heat before it gets to the hose.

[qzrrbz]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Compressors make heat. Hot enough to cause serious burns even under normal usage.

It's important to not use a push-on fitting connected directly to the compressor like that. Get some brass (t-fitting or extension tube) between the compressor and that fitting to help dissipate the heat before it gets to the hose.

What he said! We had the tube burst thing happen a lot with our practice robot this year, too, until we put some "insulation" between the outlet and the first push in tube. The new "little" compressors do run quite hot, enough to cause what you saw happen. Definitely need to cool the output side however you can manage to do it.

[ebarker]

PV = nRT

hot gas coming out....

[RayTurner1126]

same thing happened to our 2011 bot when running demos. just over-ran it a bit, bet that's what happened here.

[JonathanZur1836]

Yeah, the above posts are probably correct in that heat from the compressor caused the rupture. I would definitely suggest either brass or nylon fittings anywhere near the compressor, brass being the safer but mildly heavier bet.

[Camren]

Heat defiantly was the murderer but also replace that T just in-case there is a weird constriction.

[Ether]

Gotta love the internet.

There's even a website for that

[mikemat]

Originally Posted by Ether

Gotta love the internet.

There's even a website for that

It was the right spelling, just the wrong word.