T/CCI Manufacturing

Keeping Ambulances Operating and Avoiding Compressor Failure in Afghanistan

 

Decatur, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/30/2015 -- Performance and durability count. T/CCI customers rely on compressors to keep their vehicles running and their operators comfortable, even in the toughest environments. When a customer experiences issues with their compressors, the company is committed to fully investigate the situation and offer solutions that will keep everyone up and running.

While working with a customer who is contracted to provide ambulances to operations in Afghanistan, compressor failures were being reported. The following information was collected:

- Most failures were immediate or shortly after delivery
- Compressors showed extensive shoe damage
- Significant swash plate damage was also reported
T/CCI engineers worked closely with the customer to evaluate the conditions, the protocols, and the failure details in order to conduct a thorough evaluation of the situation. Testing included hot chamber testing with oil circulation studies, internal lab simulation, and onsite testing with the customer. The following conditions were present:
- Original refrigerant charge level was 7 lbs.
- Total compressor oil charge level was 6 oz. in the compressor and 5 oz. installed in the discharge line during assembly
- There was a darkened "star" pattern on all 10 shoes and a smudge through the center of the compression surface in an arc pattern
- Thermal migration during transport may be an issue

After completing a thorough situation analysis, the T/CCI engineers determined that the root cause of the failures was lack of lubrication between the swashplate and the "shoes."

About T/CCI
T/CCI (http://www.tccimfg.com) manufactures built to last quality, dependable, and environmentally safe compressors for a wide range of vehicle applications. Widely respected, ISO-certified T/CCI is a global leader with over 50 years' experience manufacturing heavy duty compressors and clutches for the mobile air-conditioning and refrigeration industries, including for a wide range of vehicles from construction and military to heavy-duty trucking and bus transit. This wide range of OEM heavy duty compressors supplies companies such as Caterpillar, CNH, Navistar, ThermoKing, and Carrier. Global customers recognize value of a well-respected HVAC supplier with advanced technologies including the custom LabView based acquisition system designed to protect the quality and accuracy of data.

T/CCI's global footprint spans manufacturing locations in China, Argentina, and Illinois with warehousing, sales, and engineering in Illinois, Texas, China, Argentina, Ireland, Germany, and Spain. A team of highly skilled engineers are dedicated to providing fast, responsive service, and custom designed solutions. T/CCI provides the industry with the latest in innovative compressor designs, testing, manufacturing, and quality assurance processes.

T/CCI's CNC Machining division is respected for high precision large format including metal turning, milling, drilling, and assembly. With services that range from design to assembly, T/CCI is a full service manufacturing partner to many large companies and in industries from construction to oil fracking to railroads. The T/CCI Climatic Wind Tunnel is located in Decatur, IL. Wind tunnel engineers are on-site with direct access to a multi-million dollar R & D lab and engineering test facility. The climatic wind tunnel tests air conditioning cool down, heater warm-up, defrosting, defogging, engine & transmission cooling, road loads, inclines, trailer towing, city traffic simulation, front end airflow, hot or cold soak evaluations and custom test development. Key attributes of the tunnel include temperature control, humidity range, airflow dynamometer, repeat-ability and solar simulation. Follow T/CCI on Twitter at @TCCI_Mfg.

T/CCI Manufacturing
http://www.tccimfg.com
DCC Marketing
Julie Armstrong
Senior Account Executive
jarmstrong@dccmarketing.com
TCCIEuropePR@tccimfg.com
217-521-6675 / 217-421-7580 ext 109