Air Springs: Their Concept and Application
Air springs, also known as pneumatic springs, are an important type of applied technology which has been in use for many years. The basic concept is to use pressurized air as a medium to provide lift, dampening, and stability in machines. Although they application may be seen in many automobiles and aircraft today, the concept of these machines was first developed in the late 19th century.
In general, air springs are made up of an air chamber and a flexible diaphragm arrangement. This diaphragm allows the air to move freely inside the chamber, exerting pressure or lift on a specific surface. In this way, the system is able to support a load and absorb shocks, vibrations, and jumps.
The principles of work have been outlined in detail since the late 19th century. Basically, an air pump connected to a flexible tubing is used to charge the air chamber. This pump helps to maintain the required pressure and lift in the chamber, thus forcing the diaphragm to move. This is then transmitted to a system that needs the force - such as an automobile chassis, steering system, aircraft, truck suspension, and industrial machinery.
Air springs have evolved throughout the years to adopt different forms. For example, a conical spring uses the forces of tension and compression to provide stability. Similarly, load levelers are used to balance the load of an aircraft, while air shocks are used to absorbe bumps, vibrations, and jumps in the chassis systems. There are also airspring-like devices which are used to provide a boost in the pressure. They are usually found in commercial applications such as monorail systems.
The use of air springs is growing rapidly in industrial machines. Examples include all types of machines, from simple conveyor belts to sluices and power presses. The use of air springs in these cases provides a cushioning effect and dampening of vibrations, thereby prolonging the life of sensitive parts. Air springs could also replace mechanical solutions such as springs and dampers.
In all these applications, air springs can provide superior dampening, stability, and lift. This makes them ideal for heavy loads, machines in motion, and applications that need to absorb shocks, vibrations, and jumps.
Air springs are an essential technology which can be applied to a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. They have proved to be superior to conventional mechanical solutions, and can be used to reduce shock, vibration, and jumps in many systems. The use of air springs will continue to increase as more applications are discovered.
