Month: June 2013

Back to School in June

Published on by Dave WoernerLeave a comment

This month I returned to EXAIR, after a three year hiatus. I had originally worked at EXAIR as a student, while I was attending the University of Cincinnati as part of a co-op program, so I thought I would be well versed in EXAIR’S products. EXAIR already had air knives, air nozzles, vortex tubes, Cabinet Cooler systems, Static Eliminators, vacuum generators, air operated conveyors, and so on. What else could they add to utilize compressed air?

Well, as our regular readers will be quick to point out, I was sorely mistaken – EXAIR has added and changed many things. Not only did they re-imagine, improve, or add to existing product lines with products such as the Heavy Duty HEPA Vac, Chip Shields, and the 1” Flat air nozzle but they have added whole new products lines like the Atomizing Spray Nozzle, which use liquid and compressed air to form a mist of liquid for precisely tuned applications. All models of nozzles are made from stainless steel for durability and corrosion resistance. The nozzles are completely adjustable by changing the ratio of air pressure and liquid pressure, or the liquid can be fed by gravity or siphoned using the compressed air. The nozzles use two different mixing methods: internal or external. There is also the choice of models which use a pressurized liquid source or siphon fed nozzles for a non-pressurized liquid. Each mixing methods supports several patterns and liquid flows rates. This wide range of products and adjustability give EXAIR the ability to help with thousands of applications, but I felt a little like Billy in the following clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMtkiS1SU_c

Except my dad couldn’t drive me to school in the Lincoln Town Car. Our car always looked more like the O’Doyles.

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Have a good weekend,

Dave Woerner
Application Engineer
davewoerner@exair.com
@EXAIR_DW

What I’ve Learned About The Emperor’s New Suit, from Foodies

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

I’m on vacation. But I had a revelation; an epiphany; that unfolded over the course of the last week that I just couldn’t wait to share, so, here goes my regularly scheduled Wednesday blog:

Last weekend, my youngest son was away on a school trip, so my wife and I took his older brother, a bona fide Teen Ager, out to dinner at a “grown up” type joint. We went to a place that was featured on a nationally televised show on a cable network devoted to “Foodies,” who I believe used to be called “Gourmets,” and, on a side note, I really really (really) don’t understand why they decided…or allowed…that change to take place.

Anyway, the local Foodies all rave about this place, especially their burgers. Since our “guest” that evening was the quintessential American Teen Male, who, of course, could live off burgers and fries, we thought this was a great chance to guarantee success via a known quantity (e.g. the fare), and broaden his horizons (e.g. the atmosphere). We were wrong on both counts.

Despite the hype, I had to throw the “Emperor’s New Suit” flag on the place. Both of our burgers (my wife had the fish, which, in all fairness, she said was OK) were raw in the middle, and charred on the outside. I’m no foodie (or gourmet, for that matter,) but there’s no way I would have served that mess at a neighborhood cookout, much less try to charge someone money for it.

Additionally, we had to wait over 40 minutes for a table…we were told it would be ½ hour; probably less. While we were waiting, though, we saw a quartet get seated 5 minutes after arrival, because a table for four magically opened up, and they were all about efficiency, regardless of the fact that the 4-person table would have accommodated our threesome a LOT better than the 2-person table we were eventually seated. So, now my son thinks that grown-ups pay a premium to eat amateurishly cooked food at cramped little tables, where they’re seated at the whimsy of a careless staff. Needless to say, we won’t be back, but don’t cry for their business…there seem to be plenty of “Foodies” that think the Emperor’s New Suit looks just fine, thank you very much.

Fast forward to Monday night: My wife and I were looking for a place to eat in a new town for both of us. Along the strip of restaurants in the “Market District,” there was a popular franchised eatery, known for their displays of musical memorabilia. I was a little skeptical of going to a place based on the ravings of the popular crowd, so we didn’t go there Monday. And I’m disappointed, because we DID go there last night, and it was OUT OF THIS WORLD…service AND food. Sometimes, the masses get it right, perhaps, in spite of themselves.

While food preferences are largely subjective, our industry is decidedly not. There are numerous areas in which we can absolutely quantify the benefits of using EXAIR Engineered Compressed Air Products: air consumption, sound levels, force applied, etc. And we tell the truth about these values, because selling Fool’s Gold isn’t good for anyone. So, if you have questions about our products and/or your application, we’ll answer them with as many facts and figures as we can. We can even fill in the blanks with some knowledge of similar experiences. At the end of the day, if it “looks good on paper,” our 30 Day Unconditional Guarantee means you’re free to find out how well it works, risk free…if it doesn’t, we’ll arrange return for full credit; easy as that.

Now that the sun (and my wife) are up, I’m going to rejoin my regularly scheduled vacation, already in progress. Thanks for reading…I’m feeling much better now.

Russ Bowman
Application Engineer
russbowman@exair.com
http://www.exair.com
Follow me on Twitter: @EXAIR_RB

Adjustable Spot Cooler Keeps Wheel Speed Sensors Cool for Assembly Operations

Published on by Neal RakerLeave a comment

abs_wheel_sensor

Wheel speed sensors are part of the feedback loop for a vehicle’s computer system to monitor the condition of the various systems and react accordingly. The wheel speed sensors monitor wheel speed at all four wheels and compares them to one another to activate traction control or the anti-locking braking system depending on the conditions of the road and traffic situation.

One of our customers recently called in and was looking for a way to keep these sensors cool prior to the manufacturing assembly process. Cooled sensors made for much easier installation into the wheel hub assembly.

The customer has a small cooling chamber of about 2 cubic feet and they wanted to keep it at 0°C. The external environment has a maximum, summer-time temperature of about 40°C. There is not any heat being produced by the sensors themselves, so we only have to worry about the external environment temperature.

The customer did not want to go the route of making a major purchase of a pre-made cooling chamber. Their preference was to make their own cooling chamber, using what they already had in place and using a Vortex Tube to provide the cooling. Running the necessary calculation, the application required approximately 280 Btu/hr. to maintain the target temperature.

In order to generate 280 Btu/hr. with 0°C as the target temperature, the net output flow of the Vortex Tube needs to be at approximately -10 to -15 degrees C. It is then just a matter of determining how much volume of cold air flow that is necessary to accomplish the goal. For this application, a 30 SCFM vortex tube set at 50% cold fraction and operating at 100PSIG would get the application to where it needs to be in terms of providing sufficient cooling power.

I did throw one curve to the customer though. Instead of suggesting a plain Vortex Tube, I suggested our model 3730 (Adjustable Spot Cooler). The reasons for suggesting the Adjustable Spot Cooler are that is it much more user friendly as it has heat shielding and sound muffling already built into its design. Also, it has complete flexibility to change the temperature of the output flow to be in the range that we needed for the application.

ASC

They took the advice and went with my suggestion. They now have a refrigerated chamber at the assembly area in order to chill down the sensors and problem is solved.

If you have a similar application where you need to create a small, chilled space on the manufacturing floor, consider building your own unit with a Vortex Tube or even Adjustable Spot Cooler as your cooling source.

Neal Raker, Application Engineer
nealraker@exair.com

We’re All In This Together

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We as Americans are a charitable society. Severe weather this year has devastated many families. Citizens from around the country have stepped up to the plate volunteering to help with the clean up as well with monetary and food donations.

bruce

Speaking of stepping up to the plate, the Cincinnati Reds players wives put together gift baskets filled with their husband’s favorite items to be raffled off. All proceeds went to Matthew 25: Ministries and the Oklahoma tornado victims.

Items included food and gifts from their home state, gift cards to their favorite stores along with books and DVDs and four Field Box tickets to an upcoming Reds game. Additionally, each raffle winner received an autographed jersey from the player. That’s awesome!

EXAIR Corporation shares in this exceptionalism. When the Hantavirus struck Mexico we shipped boxes of our respirator masks to our distributor who was in a position to help people around them. Annually EXAIR donates to local charities. One of the more fun events for our employees is the Rubber Duck Regatta (watch video) where 140,000 rubber ducks are dropped from the Purple People Bridge into the Ohio River and swim a quarter mile along the Serpentine Wall. The owner of the first duck to cross the finish line won a 2012 Honda Civic LX Sedan and possibly $1 million if their duck is the “Million Dollar duck”! Second place was a year’s worth of groceries from Kroger, and the remaining five runners-up won $500 cash! All money raised from duck sales go directly to the Freestore Foodbank to help those in the community in need. The company buys a rubber duck for each of us and then some. No one on our company was a winner but it was fun never the less and it went for a good cause.

Our company founder has been involved with the Special Olympics for many years, and recently helped the juvenile arthritis foundation by sponsoring the Concours d’Elegance here in Cincinnati. Our company president has a soft spot for underprivileged youth sports and has spent his time as a baseball coach for the cause. The list goes on…

We are fortunate to work for a company and leaders who show us this kind of example and encourage participation in events which benefit charitable foundations and causes. I have yet to see EXAIR turn down an employee who requests an entry or registration fee for a race or event which benefits a good cause.

With EXAIR’s help, we help – we’re all in this together.

Joe Panfalone
Application Engineer
Phone (513) 671-3322
Fax (513) 671-3363
Web: http://www.exair.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/exair_jp
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exair