WorldWide Drilling Resource®

30 AUGUST 2020 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Raise the Bar by Tim Connor From time to time, everyone hits either a real winning streak or a real slump in their life. Life is about ups and downs. It is not a consistent upward rise to the top of the mountain nor is it a steady decline to the pits. It is give and take, winning and losing, and acceptance of life either way. Now don't get me wrong, I am not implying you should accept losing as a way of life and give up. I am suggesting, however, when you lose, even if you did your best, you won't win them all. It's not that kind of world. Raising the bar means just that: raising your self-expectations higher. People tend to get into ruts of performance. They accept their: $25,000 a year job, $50 million business, being “#2”, the inevitable loss of some kind, or re- tirement anywhere between 45 and 75 years of age, etc. I say: NO WAY. I can change the status quo, achieve more, become better, decide to do more with less, pour it on; and I can raise my personal bar to any position I choose. If I do not cross the bar, it doesn't matter. Life is not about crossing the bar; it is about the thrill, joy, and pleasure in trying to cross the bar. There is a distinct difference here, one I want to ensure you un- derstand. Having goals is important, but working toward goals is more important. Where is your bar set? Low enough so you can have a life filled with accomplishments? So high you continually stretch yourself to climb higher, but never make it? Somewhere in between: safe, yet a little, but not too challenging? Each of us can do more, be more, have more, learn more, etc. I am not suggesting you become a workaholic. I love to play, relax, read, travel, and do nothing, but I am also a believer in pouring it on. Most of us could accomplish a great deal more than we do; we just need to create the desire, get organized, have balance in our lives, and go for it. Where in your life could you be accomplishing more? - In your career, personal life, outside interests, a new hobby, a new sport, new relationship? Don't wait. The clock is ticking. Before you know it, you may be too old, too tired, too bored, or too sick to pour it on. And don't worry about missing the mark or failing - just keep at it. You need to fail often to succeed sooner. In His service, Tim Tim Connor may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com What is an Underbody Air Compressor? Adapted from Information by VMAC An underbody air compressor is designed to mount under the body of a service vehicle; they are small, but mighty. Oper- ators appreciate the convenience of them being out of sight. You may not be familiar with the term underbody air compressor because these systems are more commonly called underdeck air compressors, PTO air compressors, or vehicle-mounted air compressors. All underbody air compressors have one thing in common, they use rotary screw technology. Rotary screw air compressors are smaller and more efficient than reciprocating air compressors. Underbody air compressors use one of two existing power sources on a vehicle, the PTO or hydraulic port. In theory, it’s relatively straightforward to mount an air compressor to an existing PTO or hydraulic port. In reality, it’s a little more challenging than you may ex- pect. There is very limited space for additional components under a ve- hicle, so a little ingenuity is required to overcome this challenge. In addition to the two power sources, there are two common types of underbody air compressors, shaft and direct-mounted. The most basic way to fit all the components under a vehicle is using a shaft. This allows a manufacturer to place the components wherever they fit easily and then connect it to the air compressor with a shaft. Unfortunately, shafts can cause alignment issues, are more likely to break, contain unnecessary moving parts, require modifications to the truck’s transfer case, and add both parts and installation labor costs. The more professional type of underbody air compressor is direct- mounted. They are designed to place the air compressor directly on, or beside the power source. This requires proper engineering and manu- facturing capabilities, as components must be smaller and more inten- tonally designed, but result in compact, powerful, and durable systems. Many underbody air compressors come with a hydraulic option. This allows operators to add hydraulic power to their ve- hicles. Being able to run hydraulic and compressor systems at the same time makes underbody air compressors with hydraulics a popular choice among crane operators. Larger PTO air compressors have been built specifically for drilling rigs. VMAC’s direct-transmission mounted air compressor attached to the PTO port of a RAM truck. C&G