Quote:Wichita Fire Dept has just ordered I believe 18-20 Dash CF Engines and 3 Dash CF Platforms over 4 years. First delivery this year is 8 engines and 1 platform. I was curious about what excatly PUC means? I understand its Pierce Ultimate Configuration, but WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Does ordering a PUC make it cheaper than piecing together a apparatus? Someone mentioned that the Dash CF will be a pain mechanically in a couple years, why do you think that? Some guys around Wichita think they got dueped into the Dash CF because no other large orderds have been placed for this chasis yet and Pierce is going to use their large Order as an example of the Dash CF being reliable. Please help educate me!
The CF is a little different in that the cooling system is routed out from under the cab and actually is on the "roof" of the body behind the cab. This is how they've accomplished so much room up front in the cab, as well as by moving the engine rearwards on the frame rails. If you snoop around the internet you can see where this cooling system goes. This is why you won't see a CF cab on a top mount pumper, unless they go nuts running the plumbing for cooling ever further to the rear of the body (who knows, maybe they'll do it). The cooling system utilizes a hydraulic fan to blow cooling air over the radiator(s). Interestingly there's already a recall regarding a cooling issue for the Dash CF if I'm not mistaken.
http://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/art...rence.html
The PUC is a PTO driven pump as opposed to a split shaft. PTOs have gotten stronger over the years, but are not as stout as a true split shaft coming off the transmission's main driveshaft. PTOs are also supposedly more maintenance intensive as well. And as has been mentioned, a PUC (and I believe every other PTO pump) is limited to 1,500 rpm or less, based on what the Allison transmissions can drive from their PTO ports, or REPTO (Rear Engine PTO) limitations. I believe the PUC is a REPTO application, which are usually a bit "stouter" than what comes off the ports on an Allison transmission. I can guarantee you one thing - my knowledge of all of this is not perfect, so forgive me if I'm wrong.
The argument about PTO durability and such may be a non issue now though with less and less fires and rigs not needing to pump as much as in years past.
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