Medical Archives | ACE Controls

ACE Hydraulic Dampers Give Microbiological Sampler Users a Lift

ACEAdmin — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 17:14:16 +0000

It’s important to avoid the dispersion of microbial particles in hospital environments and cleanrooms that produce pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Compromised air quality can contaminate products or cause an infection in vulnerable patients. These high-grade areas require in-process sampling to detect microbial particles.

Recently, Pinpoint Scientific of Bridgend, Wales, U.K. set out to develop an innovative active air monitoring and sampling system — the ImpactAir®-140. This sampler works by drawing in air at high speeds. Particles and microbes impact and stick onto an agar surface in a Petri dish, where the unit measures them as colony forming units (CFU) per cubic meter and then displays the results.

The ImpactAir-140 Slit-to-Agar microbial air sampler offers several advantages versus conventional monitoring systems such as stainless steel construction with no particle shedding, low vibrations, easy operation and higher sampling efficiency. Its most important breakthrough is a built-in system that constantly monitors and adjusts the distance between the indent and the agar surface — a factor that causes significant performance variations in other samplers.

Enabling Easy Control of the Lid

Pinpoint Scientific decided to make the ImpactAir-140 more user-friendly than previous generations of microbial air samplers. To make the lid to the Petri dish easier to operate, the company turned to a local ACE distributor, Applied Automation, to provide a motion control device. Although the distributor could have recommended industrial gas springs, the customer’s specific requirements made hydraulic dampers the optimal choice. These dampers provide a constant feed rate, combined with easy adjustability, and only have to be tapped lightly to trigger the lid to open. They also allow gentle closure without additional damping.

With the help of the ACE distributor, Pinpoint Scientific equipped its sampler with HB15-50 type hydraulic dampers. A 15-millimeter outer body diameter and 50-millimeter stroke make these components an ideal choice for easily opening and keeping the lid at the desired, 60-degree opening angle. Making adjustments at the end position is easy, and these dampers offer a compressive and extension force adjustment range from 20 to 800 Newtons.

Additional features include:

A coated body
Piston rods with rear-resistant surface treatment
Long service life
Maintenance-free and ready to install

Since the ImpactAir-140 is intended for critical laboratory and cleanroom environments, mineral oil could not be used as a damping medium. Instead, ACE engineers filled the dampers with a specially refined vegetable oil with a similar viscosity and service life. Pinpoint Scientific also engineered stainless steel sleeves to cover the outer bodies of the dampers to adhere to strict hygienic requirements.

Lids Without Limits

The ImpactAir-140 Slit-to-Agar microbial active air sampler is positioned as the new gold standard in active air monitoring and sampling. And, due to the high quality and long service life of the HB15-50 hydraulic dampers, there are no limits to how often the lid of this high high-end instrument can be opened or closed. “Working together quickly with our distributor, Applied Automation, led to the desired result for Pinpoint Scientific,” says Wyn Gordge, Area Manager for ACE Fabreeka UK.

For more information about our HB15-50 hydraulic damper, visit our product page.

The post ACE Hydraulic Dampers Give Microbiological Sampler Users a Lift appeared first on ACE Controls Inc..

ACE Tips: Essential Data For Sizing Your Gas Spring

ACE Controls — Tue, 07 May 2019 15:57:41 +0000

Properly sizing your gas spring depends on the right data—from ambient temperature to mounting orientation. Identifying these parameters upfront will ensure you get the most out of your gas spring in terms of safety, reliability and operating life. And while it might seem like a lot to keep track of, ACE engineers can provide you with the tools, accessories and engineering support you need to get started.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the sizing parameters:

Hand force, or the amount of force required to move your load or hood. Our application engineers can help you determine the necessary hand force for different angles of movement.

Extension force. Gas springs use forces to counterbalance the weight of the moving load. Specifically, the amount of nitrogen inside the spring pushes the piston head—providing the necessary extension force.

Center of gravity (CoG). Understanding how gravity affects the geometry and weight of your load is critical when determining where to mount your gas spring, how much force you need to counterbalance the load—and where to reach that perfect balance. Flat lids with a uniform material have a CoG smack-dab in the center, whereas curved/angular hoods or hoods with multiple materials and densities can affect the CoG location. In these instances, the CoG is typically found using CAD.

Stroke length, or the distance the load must move. Consult your datasheet to learn how different forces will interact with the stroke, as well as how much force specific stroke lengths can handle.

Mounting. How you mount your gas spring will determine both the opening angle and stroke. Linear applications, for example, have a straight stroke. Be sure to account for any nearby equipment or other obstructions that could affect the mounting location.

Materials. Since most gas springs are used indoors, they’re usually made from carbon steel. But depending on the application—saltwater environments or food and medical applications, for example—your gas spring may require rust-inhibiting or UV-coated materials.

And more. It’s important to know a variety of other parameters, including the ambient temperature, dimensions and weight of the load, pivot point (top, middle or bottom) and starting and finishing angles.

To make things easier for you, we cover these parameters in our online calculation tool, which uses 3D simulation to help you size your gas spring in just a few steps. Based on your specifications, we’ll create an application report with all the technical information you need—mounting points included. Just drill four holes, and we do the rest.

Visit our calculation page to get started.

The post ACE Tips: Essential Data For Sizing Your Gas Spring appeared first on ACE Controls Inc..

Your Guide to Gas Spring Design and Customization: Part II

ACE Controls — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 19:51:01 +0000

Our last blog—which kicked off our series on designing and customizing standard gas springs—explored the differences between off-the-shelf and engineered components. But there are more factors to consider. Depending on your application, you’ll need to choose from a variety of gas spring types.

Let’s take a look at some of the common ones you’ll see, as well as examples of their typical uses:

Push-type gas springs to lift and lower loads. These gas springs suit devices that lift or lower loads with easy control and minimal exertion. They support covers and lids in many industries, including automation and machine building, medical technology, electronics—and more.

Pull-type gas springs to fit constrained spaces. These compact springs can mount in any orientation and position. Unlike push-type springs, the gas pressure in the cylinder retracts the piston rod. Pull-type gas springs are used in various industrial applications, as well as medical devices, electronics and furniture.

Locking gas springs to hold a position. Many chair-type applications, such as mobility systems, need to maintain a certain position to support the end user. For example, when a person triggers a chair into motion by pressing a button or lever, a piston valve opens—extending the spring and moving the seat into position. When the user triggers the seat again, the valve closes, locking the piston rod—and chair—into position.

Rust-inhibiting gas springs to protect against corrosion. Many gas spring vendors offer rust-inhibiting versions of their standard models to protect against corrosion in food or hygienically sensitive areas. ACE Controls, for example, offers standard gas springs with an advanced UV coating or stainless steel outer bodies that can also be filled with food-grade oil—conforming to FDA standards.

To learn more about gas spring design and customization, download our latest white paper.

Download the White Paper

The post Your Guide to Gas Spring Design and Customization: Part II appeared first on ACE Controls Inc..

Locking Gas Springs Ensure Safety And Flexibility of Medical System

ACE Controls — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 23:24:59 +0000

Industrial gas springs boost comfort and usability for caregivers and patients.

Heavy-duty gas springs are often used to replace or supplement human power when lifting or lowering heavy loads such as lids, hoods and flaps in construction and industrial applications. In medical settings, gas springs can be found on a variety of equipment, from operating tables and hospital beds to mobility systems for people with disabilities. In all these cases, precisely controlled motion is vital for the safety and comfort of both patients and caregivers.

ACE Controls designs and manufactures a wide range of maintenance-free gas springs in diameters from 8 to 70 mm and forces from 10 to 13000 N.

Download The Case Study

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