Xantia suspension spheres in an aeroplane's hold - can they stand the pressure?

[kenbw2]

Taking my Xantia spheres over to Australia on the plane. Given they're pressurised, and the plane isn't, will they be alright in the hold or do I need to put them in hand luggage?

[GiveMeABreak]

I think your best answer will be to speak DIRECTLY to the Airline / Airport and get a reference as you know what will happen - you'll get there and likely have to leave them if you cannot prove what is contained inside the spheres - they may refuse them on that basis alone if the content cannot easily be verified.

[kenbw2]

Hmm yea I hadn't thought of that. From a physical point of view should they be ok?

[Stickyfinger]

Aircraft holds are pressurised, so you have no worries there.

My advice,

Make it known at check-in you are carrying "something strange"
Ask to have the spheres "special security checked" (overweight, large boxes, carrier wants inspection, delicate parts, something that requires explanation because it is "strange" ect)....take all paper work incld invoice etc.
A staff member should take you round to the "office" where a security staff member will listen to you then inspect the spheres (So DO NOT SEAL the boxes, they will)

I have done this many times into the USA.
The bonus is you get past the other side quickly because it has the stickers/tape on it.......normally

[myglaren]

Definitely make them aware of what they are well in advance.
The link is dead now but they caused a serious bomb scare a few years ago when someone dug some up in an allotment and took them to the police station.

[white exec]

Also accompany them with any paperwork you have identifying them as Citroen suspension parts.

[kenbw2]

Packed with all the invoices and official packaging and I'll notify them at checkin, thanks for the advice guys

[GiveMeABreak]

Make sure you have a good lawyer, loose the beard and hope they don't divert to Guantanamo

[Mandrake]

From a technical point of view a sphere should be able to survive perfectly well in a vacuum - for example an accumulator sphere is pressurised to 62 bars, so in a normal one atmosphere environment there is a differential pressure of 61 bars between inside and out. In a vacuum it only rises slightly to 62 bars. Inconsequential.

Of more concern would be very low temperatures which could cause damage to the diaphgrams. You wouldn't want them to spend significant time below about -20C to -30C or so, especially the multilayer Xantia spheres which can't operate at as low a temperature as the single layer types as the diaphgram materials start to become brittle.

[kenbw2]

Hmm, temperature isn't something I'd considered. Sounds like a good reason to take them in the cabin.

Although part of me wonders if they'll raise opposition to them being "liquid"

[white exec]

Agree with Simon's analysis. The "+1bar" effect of placing the sphere in a total vacuum pales into insignificance against the 170bar of internal pressure that an Acc sphere has to contend with when the system comes up to normal working pressure, or the rapid rise of pressure that wheel/centre spheres undergo when a dramatic bump is encountered.

Not that some carriers/airlines will understand any of this, of course!

[Stickyfinger]

You will NOT be able to take them in the cabin.....do not even ask.

[kenbw2]

You will NOT be able to take them in the cabin.....do not even ask.

But if they go in the hold they're at risk of becoming damaged by the temps?

[Stickyfinger]

Does your shampoo freeze ?

I have taken "strange liquids" (water based) in the hold many times without problems....I would not worry it does not "super freeze" in the hold.

[Mandrake]

You will NOT be able to take them in the cabin.....do not even ask.

But if they go in the hold they're at risk of becoming damaged by the temps?

Does anyone know what temperature a cargo hold in a passenger plane is though ?