The foundry have four pneumatic valves on site, used for transferring silica sand from silo to silo. The temperature of the silica sand passing through the valves is ambient, being conveyed through at 2 bar. The valves are normally open, with the amount of cycles performed ranging from once to up to ten times per day.
AKO Recommendation
6 bar air pressure is used to close the valves. With the recommended differential control pressure of AKO UK Pinch Valves being 2 – 2.5 bar, we recommended to reduce the closing pressure down to 4 – 4.5 bar. This will not only save the amount of compressed air being used, but also help the rubber sleeve inside the valves to last even longer.
Pinch Valves used within this application: VF050.03X.31.30LA
VF model, air operated, aluminium body, aluminium flanges PN10/16 with mild steel bushings, natural rubber sleeve.
Performance of Valves with Silica Sand
The silica sand in the silos which is transported via the Pinch Valves, is used to feed the sand mixers. The Pinch Valves close other pipes off to prevent media going to them. The media is mixed with a resin and then put into moulds to mould the aluminium piece. Pieces made from moulds within this foundry range from foot control pedals for gear boxes, gates, aluminium gear lever controls, sound bending pedals for guitars, and more.
The Pinch Valves were already installed on the machinery when the Original Equipment Manufacturer designed and set up the whole system for this foundry 23 years ago, including the silos.
The users in the foundry are very happy with the durability of the valves that have been in operation for so long. The engineer on site that spoke to us said:
“The valves never let us down, it is only the sleeve that needs repairing but has not been changed since our initial set up 23 years ago. Can’t fault that.”