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Model: AE00040
Air Bearing - Aluminum - Type B - Set of 4 - Set Capacity: 16 tons
Product Description
Manufacturer: Aerofilm | Country of Origin: The Netherlands
- Application: Designed to lift and float heavy loads over floors utilizing a thin film of pressurized air to provide a zero-friction effect between the load and the floor.
- Dimensions: These Air Bearings come in different capacities and shapes to accommodate various applications.
- Build Quality: Originally based on technology licensed from General Motors, air bearings consist of a tough neoprene membrane attached to an aluminum frame. This diaphragm can give a relatively high lift. These air bearings can be used on level and less than perfectly level floors.
- Ground conditions: Designed for solid floor conditions, Air Bearings are not meant to be used over cracks in the floor, expansion joints, or other floor imperfections that may compromise the film of air that the air bearings hover over. When going over areas like this, either have something solid and airtight like a steel sheet that the air bearings can easily hover over or use tape over imperfections.
- Industry Names: Also known as ‘air casters’, ‘air-skates’, and ‘air pads’
- Includes: (4) four load modules, (4) four 20 ft pneumatic hoses, (1) one 35 ft long pneumatic hose, (1) one control console to control pressure/volume to each air caster
WARNING: This system will only work on smooth floors. Cracks and seams in the floor surface should be filled or taped as they will cause the air bearings to leak. Poor floors may cause lower load capacity and higher air consumption. Never exceed rated capacity!
Features of Included Accessories:
- Control Console: Controls the airflow to each air bag.
- 20 ft pneumatic hoses: Connects from Control Console to Air Bearings.
- 35 ft pneumatic hose: Connects from Control Console to compressed air source.
Specifications
Product Education
Why do air bearings not work on poor floor conditions?
The floor over which the load is being moved is a critical part of the air bearing's efficient operation. It stands to reason that any holes or cracks in the floor will result in loss of air pressure and volume. Likewise, large vertical floor projections are a problem. Non-level floors or floors which will deflect under load present interference problems.
Conclusion: An air bearing's effectiveness as well as the amount and pressure of shop air required for its operation depend largely on floor conditions; moreover, how well it is sealed. Before air bearing use, a floor inspection, evaluation, and appropriate remedial repair actions are important.
What is an air bearing (also called "air caster")?
Air bearings are designed to float heavy loads across floor surfaces on a film of air. Using shop air, air pressure is channeled through the pneumatic hoses into the air bearings. Air bearings (also called "pneumatic casters") are designed like a rubber cup laying face down on the floor. The air fills up the cup then spills over the edge creating a continuous air film between the cup and the floor.
As a result, the cup is lifted off the ground creating a floating effect. Heavy loads such as machines, industrial equipment, and more can be placed onto the air bearings and floated across floors.
How do I need to set up the system?
Use the control console to regulate the airflow to each load module. This centralizes the control for the lift and movement for the entire system.
Connect the shop air to the standard air inlet fitting of the control console. The on/off valve at the air inlet fitting allows for a central shut off. Connect the pneumatic hoses from each of the load modules to the individual air outlets (outfitted with quick connectors) on the control console. Now the individual pressure regulators control the air flow to each load module.
How do air bearings work?
A pneumatic caster is an assemblage of two primary components: (1) a rubber-fabric inflatable diaphragm called an air bearing attached to a (2) rigid metal platform referred to as a load pad. With the addition of a needle valve for the control of airflow, original manufacturers refer to this assembly as a load module.
Bearing in this context is just another name for a support. An air bearing is simply a pneumatic support device that is pressurized with standard shop air. Air is supplied to the bearing through a hose and actually flows through and constantly escapes from the bearing. The design of the air bearing is such that this continual flow of pressurized air is sufficient to support the load atop the load pad. It might be best to think of it as a suction cup working in reverse.
