here - Aerofilm Systems BV

Aerofilm Systems BV
Adr. Mulderweg 16
5657 EM Eindhoven
The Netherlands
Tel +31 40 255 03 03
Fax +31 40 255 03 77
[email protected]
www.aerofilmsystems.com
Trade register Eindhoven 17053698
A Ti r
Cushion
r a n s p o rt S ys t e m s
Aerofilm Systems B.V. produces air cushions and transport systems, also called Aerofilm transport systems.
Air cushions make it possible to transport light to very heavy objects in a simple, cost-effective and
particularly ergonomic manner by way of air flow. A weight of 1000 kg only requires 1 kg of pulling force.
An air cushion consists of a support plate under which there is an O-shaped flexible bellows which
is filled with forced compressed air. The escaping air forms a film of approx. 0.2 m between the air
cushion and the floor. A control system ensures that the added compressed air is divided among the
air cushions in the right manner. The load to be moved is only lifted by a few centimeters. Due to the
low pressure (1-2 bar), no dust cloud formation occurs and the floor does not get damaged because
there is no question of a point-concentrated load.
Advantages of air cushion transportation:
TS-SYSTEEM, MAX. CAP. 60.000 KG.
An air cushion transport system does not damage your expensive company floor, because when it is used, there is no point-concentrated load and there is, in principle,
no contact with the floor
Expensive adaptations, such as rails or cranes are no longer needed
Flexible handling of machines and products
Flexible use of storage and production space
Time saved on maintenance, topping up and production changes
Low-maintenance
Ergonomic
Relatively small investment
Long life span
For inside as well as outside
The power of air cushion transport is not just in the large weights, which can be moved simply, but also
in the fact that it simplifies the overall ergonomics of the transport.
By adjusting the air cushions, it is possible to transport, store and position objects in a very flexible and
efficient way in different directions. In addition to the two standard systems that Aerofilm systems B.V
is developing, it also produces client-specific, custom-made systems.
platform, MAX. CAP. 160.000 KG.
ST-System
The ST system consists of four air cushions and
a control unit. These can be used to create a
substructure for your products, machines and
peripheral installations and for transporting objects
of various diameters and weights (from 100 kg to
several tons) by making them float.
The support plates or the support frame and the
hoses for the air supply must be added by you. The
appropriate air control is chosen according to the
load on the air cushions.
Air cushion transport functions due to continuously
supplied air flow between the air cushion and the
floor. It is therefore important that the floor meets
certain criteria. The use of air is dependent on
setting, load and the floor.
Platforms
Objects that must be moved, and that need more
support, can be moved on an air cushion platform.
A platform equipped with air cushions, possibly
with a lifting function and an air motor drive,
offers many application possibilities to make
loads of 50 to more than 100,000 kg float and to
transport and position them exactly.
ST System
4 Air cushions, hose
connections and air
control.
Fitting height
25 mm.
Applications
To mobilize machines
and installations.
A built-in lift function also creates the possibility
to independently pick up and drop off objects, so
that a vertical move can also be performed. By
applying, for example, a scissors lift, one gets a
perfect aid for placing machines or products in
production lines. Not only machines, but also
combinations of objects, such as stage props, can
be placed on a platform.
model
Air cushion type A,
Wear-resistant and
suitable for use in
clean rooms.Various
air controls are
available.
In stock
PLP - PLATFORM
Steel construction
with air cushions
and drive.
Application
maintenance, supply/
remove products.
model
manual drive with/
without lift function.
P - PLATFORM
Steel construction
with air cushions.
Application
flexibilization of
production lines,
transformer transport.
model
client-specific, with
drive, radiographic
or remote control,
with lift function.
TS-Systeem
The TS system consists of four air cushions,
mounted on support plates with accompanying
control box, air pipes, connections and instructions. This system is not built permanently under
machines and is therefore open to all kinds of
logistic handling. Four air cushion elements of, for
example, 500 x 500 mm ensure that an object up
to 12,000 kg can be transported, positioned and
turned into any horizontal direction.
Particularly when there is a lot of twisting and
turning for sideways movement, and where the
work must be done quickly and in a controlled
manner, these air cushion transport systems are
a great acquisition.
Turn tables
TS SYSTEM
4-6 air cushions
with support plate,
hose connections,
control box, supply
and divider hoses.
Fitting height
From 22 mm.
Applications
transport of heavy
machines, intern
transport.
model
Air cushion type B.
in stock
Turn tables consist of an aluminum top plate and
a steel construction onto which the air cushions
are mounted. A drive on the side can ensure
an independent turning unit. Because the air
cushions do not have any direct contact with the
floor, there are no particular requirements for
the floor.
Turn table
Aluminum top plate
with air cushions.
Due to the exceptionally low building height,
very large loads and low maintenance, turn
tables, equipped with air cushions offer special
opportunities and a lot of advantages compared
to conventional turn tables.
Using PLC control, it is possible to set the
rotation of the turn table precisely.
Model
With/without drive.
Fitting height
70 mm.
Application
Testing, optimization
of a Product line.
Rolls
Floor & Compressed air
The internal transport of rolls is usually cumbersome
and labor-intensive. Paper rolls, cable rolls, coils, but
also other types of round objects can be moved
ergonomically with the roll transporters. Operation,
control and setting are done only with compressed
air.This means that the transporter can also be used
in explosion and fire hazards areas.
R – ROLL
TRANSPORTER
Steel construction
with air cushions.
Below are some practical examples that show how
versatile air cushion transport can be. Moving loads
of 50 kg to more than 100,000 kg, one or more
objects, for continuous or occasional use (for
example during disturbances; air cushion transport
makes it all possible. The air cushion transport
system is often not much bigger than the object that
needs to be moved.
Model
Client-specific,
with/without drive,
lift function, remote or
radiographic control.
Application
Transport of rolls
and reels in the paper,
steel and cable
industry.
To guarantee proper functioning of air cushions, there are only two requirements:
An adequate air supply and a reasonably (temporarily)
slippery floor.
A good floor is characterized by being AIRTIGHT, SMOOTH
and FLAT.
floor
An unsuitable floor must (temporarily) be improved in that part where
the air cushion transport system is floating.This can be done, for example,
with metal or plastic plates.
Less suitable floors cause higher air use, friction and wear. If the conditions
are too unsuitable, the system will not function properly.
Air
Air cushion transport functions by continuously supplied air flows
between the air cushion and the floor: the aero film. This requires
sufficient amounts of compressed air. Manometers have been mounted
on almost all installations in order to control the supply.
The air supply must be constant and remain high enough to guarantee
optimum functioning of the system. Insufficient air supply results in higher
friction, more wear and interrupted functioning.
Lift pads
A lift pad is a hermetically sealed cushion with a connection for
compressed air and can be connected both horizontally and vertically.
Lift pads can transfer large forces evenly and are very reliable because of
the simple technique.
Lift pads are cheap, have a long life span, are easy to assemble and can
transfer large forces.
The advantages of a lift pad, compared to a cylinder are enormous, and
because no lubrication is needed, this eliminates any concerns about oil
contaminating anything.
This makes lift pads ideal to use in the food industry.
Floor specifications
The right condition for the correct functioning of aircushion
systems is offered by a NON POROUS, SMOOTH and LEVEL
floor. Appropriate is a mechanically trowelled floor with a
smooth even finish. The surface can be impregnated to prevent
dust, porosity and reduce wear. The joints can be filled using a
silicone kit or plastic tape.
JOINTS
Expansion joints can be filled with a Urethane or Silicone kit.
The top shape of the filler should be rounded and convex, not
concave (ca. 0,2 of the width).
FLOOR CLASSIFICATION
To provide an example of the influence of the operating surface
on air consumption we made a comparison between several
surfaces. These have been given a suitable rating:
1 = optimum
10 = unacceptable
Smooth
floors ensure the air film to be as thin as possible. The air film
determines the air consumption. The aircushion principle is
based on the escape of excess air between the membrane and
the floor. This air film allows the load to float almost without
friction.
NON POROUS
floors are necessary to enable the aircushions to be inflated
with air and keep the loss of air to a minimum.
1 Glass 1
2 Epoxy floor 1-2
3 Galvanized steel plate 1-2
4 Hardboard, plastic, linoleum, 1-2
spray painted chipboard
5 Concrete floor, impregnated 2
6 Concrete floor, not treated 3-4
7 Concrete floor, not treated, 5-6
new to 3 months
8 Concrete, manually trowelled (not acceptable) 8 - 10
9 Asphalt (not acceptable) 10 - 15
OLD FLOORS
Old floors can be suitable if they are smooth and there
are no dents or cracks, otherwise improvement is necessary.
For minimum costs paint or an impregnation can be applied.
When, however, a new topcoat is necessary, a good attaching to
the original surface is very important when applying aircushion
transport.
NEW FLOORS
New floors are very appropriate if they are comparable to the
following standard:
LEVEL
floors prevent the load from drifting away, this will happen with
a sloping floor.
BSI-8204 Part 2 (UK), ASTM-E1155 M-87
(USA) or similar.
Deviation (t) in mm Length (L) in m 1
0,1
3
1
9
4
12 10 15
15
POROUS FLOORS
On a porous floor the loss of air may be so high, that insufficient
air is supplied to create a satisfactory air film. The average
concrete floor without special treatment is to a certain degree
porous. Normally, painting or sealing a concrete floor is sufficient
treatment to overcome porosity.
INCIDENTAL TRANSPORT
A floor can always be made suitable for aircushion transport
by covering it with f.i. a metal or plastic sheet. Joints and cracks
can be covered or taped. Thresholds or steps can be overcome
by using the tilt possibility of the aircushions and some filling
material.
UNEVEN FLOORS
Aircushions can, due to their elasticity, give limited adaptation
to unevenness in the floor up to a maximum of 2 % of the
aircushion diameter. Large fluctuations can work like a slope. An
object on aircushions will, because of the low friction, drift away
on a sloping floor.
Under the following conditions
an AIRCUSHION TRANSPORT SYSTEM
functions ALWAYS and EVERYWHERE:
The extra power, necessary to push the load “uphill” again, will
be: “slope percentage x weight i.e. 1% x 10.000 kg = (100 kg)
1.000 N.
sufficient air supply.
aircushions are parallel to the floor.
no over/under loading. Aircushions from 6.000 kg up,
need a minimum loading of ca. 20%.
a suitable floor.
A Ti r
Cushion
r a n s p o rt S ys t e m s