The main air compressor experienced a breakdown due to the stopper ring for the piston pin dropping off, which caused cracks in the high pressure compressing part and metal fragments. Inspection found the piston, cylinder block, and other parts were damaged and inoperative. The probable cause was determined to be tension decrease or a defective groove in the old, reused stopper ring due to deterioration over time. Blow-by to the crankcase was also caused by deterioration of the O-rings on both ends of the piston pin. Temporary repairs allowed operation on one main unit and one auxiliary unit until replacement parts could be obtained.
The main air compressor experienced a breakdown due to the stopper ring for the piston pin dropping off, which caused cracks in the high pressure compressing part and metal fragments. Inspection found the piston, cylinder block, and other parts were damaged and inoperative. The probable cause was determined to be tension decrease or a defective groove in the old, reused stopper ring due to deterioration over time. Blow-by to the crankcase was also caused by deterioration of the O-rings on both ends of the piston pin. Temporary repairs allowed operation on one main unit and one auxiliary unit until replacement parts could be obtained.
The main air compressor experienced a breakdown due to the stopper ring for the piston pin dropping off, which caused cracks in the high pressure compressing part and metal fragments. Inspection found the piston, cylinder block, and other parts were damaged and inoperative. The probable cause was determined to be tension decrease or a defective groove in the old, reused stopper ring due to deterioration over time. Blow-by to the crankcase was also caused by deterioration of the O-rings on both ends of the piston pin. Temporary repairs allowed operation on one main unit and one auxiliary unit until replacement parts could be obtained.
The main air compressor experienced a breakdown due to the stopper ring for the piston pin dropping off, which caused cracks in the high pressure compressing part and metal fragments. Inspection found the piston, cylinder block, and other parts were damaged and inoperative. The probable cause was determined to be tension decrease or a defective groove in the old, reused stopper ring due to deterioration over time. Blow-by to the crankcase was also caused by deterioration of the O-rings on both ends of the piston pin. Temporary repairs allowed operation on one main unit and one auxiliary unit until replacement parts could be obtained.
Because of severe blow-by to the crankcase of the above air compressor, overhaul maintenance was carried out at a domestic port by maker. Although no abnormality was observed in a trial run, abnor- mal sound was heard during patrol in the engine room. The equipment was stopped and operation was switched over to a stand-by unit. The high pressure valve was detached and inspection found and a number of metal fragments.
3. Outline of breakdown and Temporary Repair
When the fore side piston was pulled out and inspected, it was found that the stopper ring for locking the piston pin had dropped off. These fragments created cracks penetrating through the high pressure side compressing part and a number of hit traces. Concerning the low pressure cylinder, vertical scars were observed and sticking of the piston ring caused by partial deformation of the piston had occurred causing the piston, cylinder block, etc. to be inoperative. The aft side cylinder was also pulled out for inspection and which revealed that the stopper ring had almost dropped off but no damage had occurred. As defect of the stopper ring was suspected, the stopper ring on the aft side was replaced from the maker's original part with a JIS type C snap ring. As 2 main units plus 1 auxiliary unit are usually operated at the time of port arrival and departure, startup pressure drop was worried. Nevertheless, operation was continued with 1 main unit plus 1 aux- iliary unit until spare parts were obtained.
4. Probable Cause
Cause of failure is attributed to drop off of the stopper ring.
Although this equipment had been given maintenance by the maker before failure occurred, an old stopper ring was reused without replacement. Also at this time, secure mounting of the stopper ring had been confirmed. Considering that the stopper ring of the aft side piston pin also was almost drop- ping off, it is not likely that insufficient installment of the stopper ring had caused the drop off. It is presumed that the cause of drop off lies in tension decrease of the stopper ring due to deterioration, or a defective ring groove. The cause of blow-by to the crankcase was attributed to deterioration in the distance piece O-rings on both ends of the piston pin.
