| Subject: CV fuel tank bladders leak - article |
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Date Posted: 20:49:15 08/19/02 Mon
2 fuel tank bladders on DPS test cars leak
By Jim Walsh
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 09, 2002 12:00:00
Two fuel tank bladders installed by the
state Department of Public Safety in
Ford Crown Victoria patrol cars have
leaked, raising doubts about whether
they would prevent fires after rear-end
collisions.
Meanwhile, de mand for the bladders
from Phoenix and other police
departments across the nation has delayed Ford's investigation into the deadly
patrol car crashes because the devices are not available for testing.
Three Arizona officers have died in Crown Victoria fires, another was severely
burned and at least nine other officers have died nationally in high-speed,
rear-end collisions.
A Ford executive on Wednesday criticized Fuel Safe Racing Cells of Bend,
Ore., the manufacturer of the device, for the delay.
To meet demand, Fuel Safe said it will interrupt
production of its Phoenix order to supply Ford, said
Jake Jacobsen, president of the Phoenix Law
Enforcement Association, on Thursday.
"That would be a great thing," said Sara Tatchio, a
Ford spokesman. "We need to start these tests as soon as possible."
Phoenix, which has ordered $1.5 million worth of bladders and plans to retrofit a
fleet of 735 Crown Victorias, is scheduled to receive its first shipment of 50 on
Monday. Chandler is scheduled to receive five and plans to retrofit 128 cars.
Each bladder costs about $2,500.
Production of fuel cell bladders is slow because each one is made by hand, Fuel
Safe Operations Manager Ty Rupert said. The company is trying to ramp up
production from about 40 per week to 100, he said.
Sgt. Randy Force, a Phoenix police spokesman, said Phoenix has no plans to
abandon the fuel bladders, despite the DPS leaks, and said his department plans
to work with Ford to test the bladders.
Force said it's not surprising that a new product aimed at correcting a complex
problem may need modifications.
"We never expected a quick fix," he said.
Officer Frank Valenzuela, a DPS spokesman, said an officer noticed a leak from
a patrol car equipped with a bladder during a routine inspection about three
weeks ago. Mechanics discovered that a faulty gasket was the apparent culprit.
"It's somewhat of a setback," he said. "We needed to see if they could withstand
(police) operation. After 600 miles, unfortunately, it leaked."
A second fuel tank bladder was used as a replacement and leaked immediately
when it was filled with gas, he said.
But Rupert said prototype tanks, including the ones supplied to the DPS, were
recalled in March when his company changed production methods. It was Fuel
Safe's first recall in 30 years.
No one, however, should doubt the new fleet tank's quality, he said.
"I'm not going to put production tanks out there that cause problems. I've got too
good of a reputation," Rupert said. "There is no doubt the bladder will increase
the safety of that car."
Rupert said he has no doubt the bladder will withstand any Ford test, saying it
uses all Ford stock parts. He said the bladder can withstand rear-end collisions
up to 200 mph.
The concept of a fuel cell bladder is relatively simple. A foam-filled bladder is
placed in a steel can that holds the fuel.
If the steel can, or fuel cell, is hit or smashed, the bladder conforms to the can's
shape and blocks the fuel from leaking.
Should the vehicle overturn, check valves automatically close to further prevent
spillage.
Besides bladders, the Ford tests include shielding the gas tanks in various ways,
fire suppression and potential changes in police practices, she said.
Ford agreed to test fuel bladders during negotiations with Arizona Attorney
General Janet Napolitano, who is scheduled Monday to address the National
Association of Police Associations at its Sedona convention.
Associated Press contributed to this article. Reach the reporter at
jim.walsh@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-7984.
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