As an Application Engineer, I get the pleasure to speak to many companies about finding a simple, long-lasting, powerful and quiet type of transfer system. Companies have operators that climb steps to dump bags of material into hoppers above. This can be dangerous and is not ergonomic. Other applications would include a compact way to remove scrap from a process; or budgetary constraints to convey material from point A to point B. If your company has to tackle any of these issues, EXAIR can help you. We manufacture Air Operated Conveyors that do not have any moving parts, very compact in design, and have a high throughput capacity. They can attach easily to standard hoses, pipes, or sanitary flanges. These inexpensive conveyors are designed to make conveyance safer and ergonomically better for your staff. EXAIR calls this product line, Line Vacs™.
Line Vacs use a small amount of compressed air to generate a vacuum by a Venturi effect. The unique design generates a high velocity to create a powerful vacuum on one side. Once the product reaches the throat area of the Line Vac, the compressed air will carry the product the rest of the way. We can reach horizontal distances up to 100 feet (30 meters) and vertical heights up to 20 feet (6 meters). EXAIR manufactures a variety of Line Vacs in different sizes, styles, and materials. Here is an overview of the Line Vacs that EXAIR offers.
Line Vacs: Our standard Line Vac is the most versatile product in this family. We have two types of connections, slip-on ends for hose connections and threaded ends for pipe connection. EXAIR can also mix the connection types on each end. They range in diameters from 3/8” (10mm) up to 5” (127mm). We manufacture the Line Vacs in aluminum, 303SS, and 316SS; but don’t let that deter you from asking for special types of materials. We have a high temperature version that can withstand temperatures up to 900oF (482oC). These Line Vacs work great in applications for loading plastic pellets in hoppers, discarding scrap pieces, trim removal, and transferring material. If an operator has to place a bag of dry material on his shoulder to climb stairs, a Line Vac would be a much better alternative.
Heavy Duty Line Vacs: They are made from a hardened alloy steel for abrasion resistance. The generators inside these Line Vacs are more powerful than the standard models; so, that they can convey heavier materials at higher conveyance rates. They can reach rates as high as 40 lbs./min. (18.2 Kg/min) of material. With the hardened alloy construction, they are great for sand blasting materials, ceramic, glass and steel shot. They are manufactured with inlet and outlet connections for ship-on hoses or threaded pipes. EXAIR stocks the Heavy Duty Line Vacs in the range from ¾” (19mm) to 3” (76mm) for both hose and NPT connections. These Line Vacs are our most powerful design with great wear resistance.
Light Duty Line Vacs: On the other end of the Line-Vac spectrum, EXAIR created the Light Duty Line Vac. They use much less compressed air than the other Line Vacs which is great for moving lightweight materials over short distances. They can also be used for removing smoke and fumes from a work area. The Light Duty Line Vac ranges from ¾” (19mm) up to 6” (152mm) diameter for slip-on hose connections. This two-piece design provides an effective way of moving material at a lower cost. It can be used in applications like hopper loading, fiber tensioning, filling operations, and smoke removal. For moving material within a short distance, the Light Duty Line Vac could be the proper product to use.
Sanitary Flange Line Vacs: Our latest engineering design within the Line Vac family is the Sanitary Flange Line Vacs. They can convert pipes into a useful conveyor for bulk material and waste removal. They use an ISO2852 flange for easy disassembly and cleaning to reduce bacterial entrapment. They ae made from 316 stainless steel material for superior corrosion resistance. They come in four different sizes to fit the sanitary flanges from 1 ½” up to a 3” flange. For sensitive applications where cleanliness is a major requirement, the Sanitary Flange Line Vac are manufactured for these conditions.
With all of the EXAIR Line Vacs above, they can be sold as kits. A kit will include a filter, regulator and a bracket. (Bracket are not sold with all types and sizes.) The filter will help keep the Line Vac clean as well as the product that it being conveyed. The regulator is a great tool to vary the conveyance rates for better control. The bracket helps to mount the Line Vac to a sturdy base for support.
If you need to convey solid materials in a quick and easy way, an EXAIR Line Vac could be a solution for you. We have them in a variety of formats to match your application. They are compact, quiet, and simple to use without any moving parts. As compared to a conveying system which are bulky and rigid, the Line Vacs are flexible and inexpensive. Ergonomically, they can save the back-wrenching labor of picking up bags, climbing stairs, and dumping material into hoppers. For our U.S. and Canadian customers, we are running a promotional ad. You will receive a 2” Flat Super Air Nozzle, a $75.00 value, for free from now until the end of October 2021 with a qualified purchase online. If you would like to discuss your conveying application further, please contact an Application Engineer at EXAIR. We may have the perfect solution for you.
John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb