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Air Conveying Concept

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  1. Plan the nozzle pattern on the tables to be converted to air tables.

  • Make certain that there are no obstructions on the underside of the table such as ribs, wiring, junction boxes, legs, etc. in the area where the nozzles are to be inserted.

  • Mount adequate nozzles under the moving load to provide a cushion of air upon which the load will float based on size and weight of load. Nozzles are typically placed on 6" centers.

  • Nozzles should be located to provide full coverage of the moving load while allowing for adequate edge clearance.

  • Since plant air represents an expense it is desirable to minimize any air loses in your air handiling system. To significantly improve the load bearing characteristics of a system and reduce air consumption at the same time, put a spotface approximately 2" to 4" diameter by 1/64" (0.020"); deep around each nozzle and mount the nozzle slightly below flush with the base of this spotface.

    The net effect is that nozzle now supplies a lift pad of air 2" to 4"in diameter as compared to the lift pad of 1" diameter around the head of the nozzle itself. Since area varies as the square of the diameter, this lift will be 4 times (2" diameter spotface) to 16 (4" diameter spotface) as great as without it, and the system air pressure may now be reduced accordingly. This will significantly reduced the air consumption of the system.

    Maximum of 25 nozzles per regulator. For larger tables use multiple regulators (multiple zones).


  • Frequently Asked Design Questions .

    Q. How many nozzles are needed to move a 30" x 30" sheet of steel weighing 300 pounds? .

    A. The basic fundamental of buoyancy support by utilizing pressurized air is that the lift is a function of PRESSURE x AREA. Therefore a 300 lb. load is buoyant providing that the air pressure multiplied by the area exceeds the static load (300 lbs.).

    The full area (30" X 30"=900 Square Inches) is not operational at start-up when the load is setting on the table. At start-up, the only lift area is the combined area over the nozzles ( 0.78" sq./ nozzle). Assuming that nozzles are on 6" centers, there would be 16 nozzles under this load of 30" X 30". Therefore each of the 16 actuated nozzles has to lift 24 lbs.

    With this info as background, it is suggested that a shallow spotface 2" in diameter by 1/64" (0.020") deep be formed into the table surface where each nozzle will be located, with each nozzle mounted slightly below flush with the base of this spotface. With the nozzle in place in the spotface, an air lift pad of 3.14 square inches is created. If, for example, an air pressure of 8 PSI were applied to the nozzles, each nozzle would now provide a lift of over 25 lbs. (3.14 x 8 = 25.1 lbs.). The total lift of the 16 actuated nozzles would be 400 lbs. (16 nozzles X 25 lbs./nozzle=400 lbs.) with plenty of leeway to increase the regulator setting in case the load was increased. .

    Q. How many nozzles are needed to move a 20" x 25" sheet of plastic weighing 7 pounds? .

    A. The basic fundamental of buoyancy support by utilizing pressurized air is that the lift is a function of PRESSURE x AREA. Therefore a 7 lb. load is buoyant providing that the air pressure multiplied by the area exceeds the static load (7 lbs.).

    The full area (20" X 25"=500 Square Inches) is not operational at start-up when the load is setting on the table. At start-up, the only lift area is the combined area over the nozzles ( 0.78" sq./ nozzle). Assuming that nozzles are on 6" centers, there would be 20 nozzles under this load of 20" X 25". Therefore each of the 20 actuated nozzles has to lift 0.35 lbs.

    With this information as background, it is suggested that the 20 nozzles are set up in a rectangle shape at 6 inch centers. With the nozzles in place, an air lift pad of 0.78 square inches is created. If, for example, an air pressure of 1 PSI were applied to the nozzles, each nozzle would now provide a lift of 0.78 lbs. (0.78 x 1 = 0.78 lbs.). The total lift of the 20 actuated nozzles would be 15 lbs. (15 nozzles X 0.78 lbs./nozzle=15.6 lbs.). .

    Q. How many nozzles are needed to move a 25" x 25" tray carrying parts that in total (including the weight of the tray), weighs 75 pounds? .

    A. The basic fundamental of buoyancy support by utilizing pressurized air is that the lift is a function of PRESSURE x AREA. Therefore a 75 lb. load is buoyant providing that the air pressure multiplied by the area exceeds the static load (75 lbs.).

    The full area (25" X 25"=625 Square Inches) is not operational at start-up when the load is setting on the table. At start-up, the only lift area is the combined area over the nozzles ( 0.78" sq./ nozzle). Assuming that nozzles are on 6" centers, there would be 25 nozzles under this load of 25" X 25". Therefore each of the 25 actuated nozzles has to lift 3 lbs.

    With this info as background, it is suggested that the 25 nozzles are set up in a square pattern at 6 inch centers. With the nozzles in place, an air lift pad of 0.78 square inches is created. If, for example, an air pressure of 4 PSI were applied to the nozzles, each nozzle would now provide a lift of 3lbs. (0.78 x 4 = 3.12 lbs.). The total lift of the 25 actuated nozzles would be 78 lbs. (25 nozzles X 3.14 lbs./nozzle=78 lbs.). For additional lift, increasing the regulator setting by 1 PSI adds 25 lbs. in load carrying capacity of the nozzle table.





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Glasgow Products
Division of Steinen
29 East Halsey Rd.
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Phone: 973-887-6400
Fax: 973-887-4632