New Inertia-Engaged Turbine Air Starter from TDI
TDI announced the introduction of a new, inertia-engaged turbine air starter designed to improve the reliability of mid size engines (up to 4,882 CID/80 Liters) on marine vessels, mine haul trucks and critical applications like emergency generator sets and fire pumps. The signature characteristic of the vaneless, TurboTwin T50-I is the 100% starting performance it delivers because of the inertia engagement.
“With inertia-engaged air starters there is never an abutment causing an abandoned start attempt, meaning the design of the air starter assures pinion engagement every time. This translates to 100% starting reliability,” states Dave Rawlins, TDI Senior Product Manager. “We have tens of thousands of inertia-engaged starters in the field. The new Model T50-I completes a mid-range product offering with additional performance in a smaller package than either the Model T100-F or the original 52 Series starters.”
The T50-I was built in response to marine and mining markets which demand the extra reliability of an inertia starter without the need for engagement controls. T50-I fits on mid-sized engines like the Caterpillar 3400, 3500 and C-175; Cummins KTA 38 and 50, and MTU/Detroit Diesel 2000 and 4000 Series. The simple design allows for one part number to cover a wide range of engines and applications commonly found in many large fleets.
Other reliability features built-in to the T50-I include 1) simplicity of design, 2) fewer moving parts, 3) the elimination of control lines common to pre-engaged starters, and 4) a high quality product made from all metal parts. It also features TDI’s TURBOTWIN turbine design with open air paths which allow large particles, pipe scale, and other contaminants to pass right through the starter instead of getting lodged inside and potentially causing starter failure. With no pre-engagement control lines required, there is no piston or sliding mechanisms to get clogged or stuck due to contaminants in the air supply.
“Whether you are at sea or in a quarry with a mine haul truck, the number one issue affecting revenue generation is the starter’s ability to crank and start the engine when you need it,” continued Rawlins. "The T50-I eliminates one of the biggest starting problems with pre-engaged starters: damage due to operator error caused by trying to repeatedly start the engine while the starter is coasting down. With inertia engagement, coast down re-engagements are virtually eliminated.”
T50-I features TDI’s TechTorque inertia drive. The vaneless turbine motor delivers 25% more starting power (50-70 hp) than comparable models and 260 lb/ft stall torque on just 100 psig.
