It's time for the annual Truck Corner Quiz! First prize is a copy of my book, Pumper 101: The Complete Guide to Owning and Operating a Vacuum Truck, plus two CDs by yours truly and the Pumper Gang.
Simply answer the questions below and fax your answers to 254/598-2921 or email them to truckcorner@promonthly.com. It's that easy. The first correct sheet of answers wins the top prize.
1. I am operating the same vacuum pump at the same speed in four cities. In one of the cities, the pump works noticeably harder, even to the point of overheating. In which city does the pump have to work extra hard?
A. Phoenix
B. Denver
C. San Francisco
D. Houston
2. One of the main accessories on a vacuum tank is designed to prevent the tank from imploding. This equipment is:
A. Pressure relief valve
B. Primary shut-off
C. Vacuum relief valve
D. Oil catch muffler
3. The secondary moisture trap ...
A. Only works for a few seconds, hence the name
B. Releases vacuum trapped inside the primary shut-off
C. Acts as a safety device to prevent waste and liquids from entering
the vacuum pump
D. None of the above
4. To get the maximum strength built into a vacuum tank, the best shape is:
A. Obround
B. Round
C. Oval
D. Straight-side oval
5. The best place to locate the pressure relief and the vacuum relief valves is:
A. Inside the cab for easy reading of the monitor
B. On top of the tank, so it can best detect the pressure and/or
the vacuum
C. Near the rear head where the vacuum hose is connected
D. As close to the pump as possible for easy viewing
6. Baffles are built into both water and vacuum wastewater tanks. They add to the structural integrity of the tank, but also serve what important purpose?
A. Baffles add to the weight of the tank keeping it closer to the center
of gravity.
B. Baffles control the amount of front-to-back slosh when the tank is
only partly filled.
C. Baffles reduce the amount of vacuum required inside the tank.
D. Baffles, when placed within 6 inches of each other, serve to
eliminate the accordion effect of vacuum.
7. Vacuum is created inside a tank because much, if not all, of the air inside is expelled. What creates the force of vacuum?
A. The inside of the tank is wanting to normalize itself with the outside
air. Consequently, when a valve is then opened, the air rushes in.
B. By removing the air, the symbiotic relationship between the cab
and the rear axle is realized, and the air rushes in.
C. Newton's laws of physics play into the fact that an equal reaction by
the inner action of the rotating vanes forces the air into the tank.
D. None of the above
8. The purpose of the gearbox is:
A. To get the transmission to turn faster to better control the pump
B. To allow the RPMs of the pump to run efficiently and properly
C. To switch the standard transmission truck to an automatic
D. To allow for easy switching from vacuum to pressure inside
the tank
9. True or False: Pumping in all 48 continental states is basically the same because of their location above the equator. Location allows pumps to be equally efficient in any of those states.
10. You've been running the vacuum pump at about 19 inches Hg for several months. Then in the middle of the week, it struggles to reach 14 inches Hg. Which of the following is the most likely cause for the problem?
A. Driver malfeasance and improper techniques on the controls
B. The vanes inside the pump have worn down or are broken.
C. The vacuum relief valve will not open and allow the air to escape.
D. The four-way valve has been left in the pressure position.
