What Is An Air Bearing?
An air bearing is a device, usually made from a rubber-type
fabric, that is designed to inflate with compressed air and forms a floating
action above the floor surface it is sitting on.
Incorporated into an air caster load module, the air bearing
is then used, with others in a series of three or more, to simultaneously float
heavy loads away from the floor surface on a thin film of air thus allowing the
loads to be floated similar to a hovercraft to a new destination.
How Do Air Bearings Work?
Air bearings are designed to
lift loads away from the floor surface and float them off to their destination
on a thin film of air. Each individual air bearing is housed in a load module
which contains an air flow control valve to regulate the operation of that air
bearing.
When compressed air is
introduced into the air bearing, the bearing initially inflates to form a seal
between the bearing and the floor surface. As the air bearing is further
pressurized it is forced to expel compressed air from the exhaust holes in the
air bearing diaphragm. The force of this expelled air against the floor surface
causes the air bearing and load module to lift off the floor on a thin film of
air. The load should now be in flotation mode and ready for action.
Do Air Bearings Work
Individually?
No. Air bearings need to
be coupled with other air bearings, in sets of three or more, to form a system
that can handle an appropriate load. An individual air bearing is not able to
balance a load on its own - it will tip easily - nor is it capable of
being adjusted to accommodate variations in load weight and irregular shape.
The strength of air bearing lifting power becomes apparent when they are
grouped together and their collective lifting abilities are combined to offer
some formidable lifting capacities.
When air bearings are
grouped together to form an air bearing system, they then offer some real
lifting power. The beauty of using air bearings in groups of three or more is
that they can be individually adjusted to suit the properties of the load they
are carrying.
Where Does The Air Plug Into
The Air Bearing?
Compressed air is introduced
into an air bearing system in one of two ways:
If the air bearing is part of
a manually operated system, (no remote control unit) then each load module will
contain an air flow control valve on one of its edges. This air flow control
valve can be used to control an individual air bearing by increasing or
decreasing the amount of air being applied to the bearing.
If the air bearing is being
used as part of a remote controlled system, the load module will have an air
inlet port on one of its edges. This port accepts an air supply hose, fitted
with quick disconnects, which runs to an air outlet port from the remote
control unit. Air flow control to the bearing is controlled from the remote
control unit.
Where Does the Shop
Compressed Air Supply Connect?
Air bearing systems are
powered by regular compressed air that runs around most industrial facilities.
All of our systems and
air other powered products have an air inlet port, or flow control manifold, to
connect the shop compressed air supply to.
In the case of air
bearing systems using, say, a four or six station setup, the shop compressed
air supply would connect directly to an air flow control manifold. An on/off
ball valve on the manifold then controls the air flow to the air flow control
valves on each load module. Individual air bearing control is then applied at
the air flow control valves
.
In the case of air
bearing systems that are controlled via remote control, the shop compressed air
supply is connected directly to the inlet port of the remote control unit. The
remote control unit then controls the air flow to each individual load module
and air bearing.
What Minimum Air Pressure
Should My Shop Supply Be?
On a standard air
bearing system using regular A-type air bearings the required minimum air
pressure from the shop supply should be 70 psi.
On air bearing systems
using B-type air bearings the minimum required air pressure from the shop
supply should be 70 psi.
The volume of air
required will differ depending on the floor surface, the weight of the load,
and the type of bearing being used. All air requirements will be explained to
you at the time of order.
Here are the main
options to choose from:
A-type Air Bearings:
A-type air bearings
cause their loads to lift away from the floor surface just enough to allow them
to be floated off to the destination. A-type air bearings when use in series of
four or more are capable of lifting and moving loads of up to 100 tons and
beyond.
B-type Air Bearings:
B-type air bearings are
a high-lift bearing which, when energized, cause the load to lift vertically
away from the floor surface as much as 3 inches, depending on the type of
bearing being used. These bearings are used when vertical lift is required
before floating the load away. Such loads could be dropped on low level
custom-pallets or racking. B-type air bearings when use in series of four or
more are capable of lifting and moving loads of up to 100 tons and beyond.
What Is A Load Module Or
Air Caster?
A load module or air
caster is a machined assembly - either lightweight aluminum or steel - that
houses an air bearing.
Load modules - also
known as air casters - are available for each size of air bearing.
Load modules are fitted
with inlet ports, or air flow control valves, and contain air chambers that
allow air to flow from the inlet to the air bearing to cause pressurization and
eventual flotation to take place.
Shown to the right is a
typical square aluminum air caster module. The yellow part is the actual air
caster load module and the black inner section is the air bearing assembly
How Is A Load Module Or
Air Caster Used?
Load modules - also
known as air casters - are used primarily to house individual air bearings and
their load pads to make them ready for operation. An air bearing cannot work on
its own. It needs a load module to cause it to receive compressed air,
pressurize, and float away from the floor surface.
Load modules are used in multiples of three
and more and are flexible in that they can usually form a footprint of the load
to be moved, and have the load applied directly on the modules and then floated
off to their destination.
.
Shown to the right is a
typical air caster module footprint layout showing a four-module system
complete with air supply hose and tee-piece fittings back to the shop air
supply.
