Idea for push button air tank drain

[Gunfreak25]

It would be uber cool! The idea I had started with the pull cable type drain valves that most of us are already using on our deuce's. Then I simply thought about those "push pull" tiny electric solenoids that have small but powerful piston that....push and pulls. I thought, what if I could just mount this solenoid near the air tanks and use it to simply pull and release the air tank drain cables via a button on the dash? Course, my truck has a converter in it so I can run 12V and 24V stuff. So I am already one step closer.


Or am I just being lazy? I think I could make this work for a cost well under what store bought electric tank drain valves cost.

 

[bratpackdad]

My official response is Hmmmm....... interesting idea.

 

[Gunfreak25]

This is what everyday commercial Semi tractors use so I don't see why one couldn't be made or put on a deuce. Seems most semi's use the Bendix model D-2 which is just an electronic air tank drain valve who's circuit is controlled by a dash button. Yuma's home to many semi junk yards, I will have to go searching around for something like this.

 

[Billy Bobbed]

Some people are using these horn drains.I'm thinking ROBR had these on his deuce.

 

[mudguppy]

so why not just use an air-horn solenoid - that's exactly what it does. pipe it up to the drain port and wire it in to a momentary push button.

i think i may do that; they're cheap on eGay.

 

[biodeucel]

As long as the solenoid can apply the required amount of force and you can seal it up so it doesn't corrode, it should work fine. Just make sure you get the right type. They have them that have a spring return in one direction, so they don't apply force in both directions.

 

[3dAngus]

It's always a good idea to drain air tanks daily. My M1061e1 trailer has one built in and it is a required part of daily maintenance to drain daily. Great idea.

 

[dabtl]

OK, JT, get busy. A new product!

 

[Ferroequinologist]

I built one for my deuce a long time ago, used a 24vdc magnetic door timer device, and two 24vdc 1/4npt normally closed solenoid valves. When you shut the power off on the main switch, it started a 5min time cycle and would open the valves. after 5min they would close and there wouldn't be any more draw.

I'll need to dig it all out of storage and take pictures.

 

[mudguppy]

why 5 min? why do you want to completely drain your tanks every time you shut down?

 

[Ferroequinologist]

OPPS! I forgot to mention, it had an override switch, in case I was just stopping for a minute or for fuel, etc. I would sometimes let it blow until clear then hit the override when I stopped for fuel.

The 5min time was to completely drain the tanks if I knew I was done with it for awhile.

 

[hoop]

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=20-1452&catname=

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

I love the good ol' American Ingenuity around here <APPLAUSE>

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingenuity​

 

[kwiksilver]

If you drain your tanks with a wide open port, the air will blow right through the water. You would need some way of slowing down the flow. As far as the air horn valve, I've taken one of those apart and I can see that needle valve getting mucked up pretty easy.

 

[mudguppy]

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=20-1452&catname=

"100 psi max". although, there might be others that are in a more suitable range?




i just ordered two horn solenoids - they are the same solenoids used on the air horns that i just installed. i'll put one on the wet tank and the other in the glove box as a spare for the first of the two that bites it.

 

[Billy Bobbed]

Here is a picture of robr's auto horn drains installed.

 

[3dAngus]

Hey guys! Check this out!
I climbed up under my M106 to take some pics for you.
This is an incredibly simple mil-spec installation. Not push button, but pull, like an emergency brake. It should work and it could not be simpler.
The first pic is of the labels I told you about to drain daily. (Hope I get the sequence right)
The second is the "T Handle" for releasing the air and water out and in this case you walk to the back of the trailer after you unhook.
The third is the entire air tank under the trailer with the pettock tied to the mil-spec cable.
And the 4th pic is a close up of the pettock. Just looks like a swivel based ball for air and water release. I do recall, if you pull gently, it releases gently, and if you pull it all the way out, you get a gusher of air, so with the mechanical fixture you have some control over the amount of air pressure vs. water being released. Of course, this is a bottom fix too, so water would settle at the bottom. You could run the cable anywhere.
Hope it helps someone.

 

[Billy Bobbed]

I have 2 of these on mine.They work great until they freeze.

 

[harleyrkc]

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=20-1452&catname=

You beat me to it. I just went and found those exact vavles at Surplus Center right after reading the first post. I may actually try those since they're so cheap and I order from them somethimes anyway.

 

[Jones]

How about plumbing in an air dryer (Bendix has several in their catalog)?
If moisture never gets past the dryer, you have nothing to worry about draining.