End positions with industrial shock absorbers
The universe in the laboratory
Magnum industrial shock absorbers from ACE are used in one of the planned accelerator rings at the Fair facility in Darmstadt, the collector ring. They are used to secure the end positions of drive units equipped with powerful linear motors.
The GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt operates a large, globally unique accelerator facility for ions. Researchers from all over the world use the facility for experiments to gain new insights into the structure of matter and the development of the universe. They are also developing new applications in medicine and technology. The international accelerator center Fair, one of the largest research projects in the world, is currently being built in Darmstadt. Fair will be used to generate and research matter in the laboratory in a way that otherwise only occurs in the universe.
End position lock for drive units
At the heart of the future accelerator center is the SIS100 ring accelerator with superconducting magnets. This will have a circumference of 1.1 kilometers, while the existing GSI facility with the heavy ion synchrotron SIS18 will serve as a pre-accelerator for the new accelerator complex. Industrial shock absorbers from ACE's Magnum family will be used in one of the planned accelerator rings of the Fair facility, the collector ring, which will be used to store and cool the ions. They are used to secure the end positions of drive units equipped with powerful linear motors.
Mechanical securing of the drives
Their main task is to effectively absorb the inertial forces in the event of possible incorrect control of the linear motor drive unit and to protect the structure. As a rule, the linear motor drive units ensure that the drive carriages are moved in two directions over a defined distance. This normally takes place without contact at the end of the respective section at the stops. The engineers in Darmstadt opted for the adjustable ACE industrial shock absorbers with thread sizes M33 in order to mechanically secure the drives. These were designed in such a way that they can safely cushion the moving carriage should it move outside the specified range due to incorrect control of the motor's relay units.
Well equipped for the worst-case scenario
With a stroke of 23.2 millimetres, the hydraulic machine elements from ACE, which can be precisely adjusted at both the front and rear, are capable of absorbing 170 Newton meters of energy per cycle and can bring effective mass forces of between nine and 1,700 kilograms to a standstill safely, without rebound or damage. If the components are only used in an emergency, because the deceleration is otherwise also taken over by the linear drive, additional energy overruns are permitted.
Robust and durable in continuous operation
The Magnum family from ACE, which is considered the reference class for medium-sized industrial shock absorbers, is equipped with high-quality sealing technology that has been tried and tested in many thousands of applications. In addition, thanks to hardened guide bearings and integrated fixed stops, they prove to be extremely robust and durable under many operating conditions in continuous operation. They are used in all areas of mechanical engineering.
For handling, machine tools and machining centers
Typical fields of application are automation and handling, for example in machine tools and machining centers, as in the case described here as a mechanical safety element integrated into linear slides or at the end of the path of swivel units to increase cycle times. Designers also use the dampers, which are infinitely adjustable thanks to the easily accessible adjustment segments, in the end positions to protect gantries or in heavy industry to absorb masses on impact plates.
Special polyurethane impact heads keep you calm
In Darmstadt, the engineers opted for special impact sleeves on the one hand and polyurethane heads on the other. While the former reinforces the already above-average solid construction of the ACE industrial shock absorbers as standard, the use of the special impact heads enables a noise reduction of three to seven dB. With this chosen combination, everything has been done at the Fair plant to ensure peace and quiet even in the worst-case scenario, purely from a shock absorber point of view.
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