Field and Road Roller in the works

[Darryle]

It's going to be tough, the axle is going to go all the way thru the tank. I have rigid all steel casters to make me a roller so I can find center. Once I have center, I am going to use a carbide hole saw to make the holes for the axle. It's going to be tough to weld the axle in if I have water leaking out around the axle.

I was planning on using sand for the ballast, I am wondering if sand would mitigate any chance of explosion or expansion? I am honestly not worried, the last two guys who had it for a couple of years each, had left it open to the atmosphere, the first guy pulled all the valves.

I need someone else to calculate the volume to make sure I have the weight correct. Tank is 36" in diameter and overall it is 63" long, center section is 45" to the center of the cap welds and the caps are 8 1/2" deep from the center of the weld.

Thanks Darryle

 

[metalbender]

Water is just to purge for the initial cut. Once the cuts are made, drain and good to go.

 

[3Ts]

You have 3 parts to your roller: a dome 36" diameter at the base and 8.5" tall (not a hemisphere), a cylinder 36" diameter 45" long, and another dome. Since the dome is a small slice off of a bigger ball, we have to figure the radius of the bigger ball. Then can add all the pieces together.

First, need radius of the tank end domes:

R = (r^2 + h^2) / 2* h
R = 18^2 + 8.5^2) / 2 * 8.5 = 23.3 inches (radius)​

Volume of the dome:

V = 1/3 pi * h^2 (3R - h)
V = 4,645 cu in​

Volume of center cylinder:

B = pi * r^2 (area of circle)
V = B * h
V = pi * 18^2 * 45
V = 45,804 cu in.​

Summing the parts:

Dome + cylinder + dome:
4,645 + 45,804 + 4,645 = 55,094 cu in = ~31.9 cu ft = ~1.18 cu yd​

That's what I came up with. How well does it match your calculation?

 

[Darryle]

I calculated it at approximately 250gals. My original calculation was using the dimensions that the seller listed in the Craigslist ad. I recalculated it using the actual dimensions once I had it up on the rollers.

To be honest, I used an online calculator, while I use math a lot at work, volume calculations are not a part of my daily tasks, so I stink at.

 

[ArlyA]

I calculated it at approximately 250gals. My original calculation was using the dimensions that the seller listed in the Craigslist ad. I recalculated it using the actual dimensions once I had it up on the rollers. To be honest, I used an online calculator, while I use math a lot at work, volume calculations are not a part of my daily tasks, so I stink at.

And why are you overly worried about the finale weight? If I got that number with 20%, I'd call it perfect.

 

[Darryle]

My only concern with the weight is I have a long downhill section that crosses a cattle guard, figure I will have to use the truck versus the tractor for this section.

 

[3Ts]

My only concern with the weight is I have a long downhill section that crosses a cattle guard, figure I will have to use the truck versus the tractor for this section.

You don't have to fill the roller completely full. Just add enough sand/water/whatever to get to the weight you want.

As for the volume, the 250 gallons * 231 cu in per gallon equals 33.4 cu ft so, close enuf.

 

[redman135]

Using sand on a partly filled roller will result in high drag as you are mixing the sand while rolling. Water will be less draggy for the same volume. Will you use this in winter? If so what are your minimum tempertures.

 

[Darryle]

I live west of Fort Worth, while it doesn't get extremely cold for extended periods, 1 -2 days at most, it does get bitterly cold(for Texas) on occasion. It will be used in colder weather occasionally which is why I chose sand versus water. Usage will be dependent on the soil saturation. I have an area of about 1 1/2 acres around the old well head that is boggy and rough. Eventually I want to be able to cut and bale hay on every available acre.

I plan on filling it to capacity with sand to eliminate that friction.