Problem-free diving with the DEPRAG pneumatic motor

Underwater_Collage_web

Underwater1_web

Underwater2_web

"No way, it doesn't exist" is the motto of the DEPRAG engineers, who take a lot of time to advise their customers. And if an air motor for a planned application is not listed in the catalog, they resort to individual drive solutions. The most diverse application variants, simple design, low power weight, wide speed range, and explosion safety ensure a broad range of applications for the pneumatic motor. DEPRAG pneumatic motors are used in almost all industrial sectors – even underwater.

With the ADVANCED LINE series of pneumatic motors, high-quality stainless steel drives are available, combining many advantages. Thanks to the robust design of the external parts made of stainless steel and sealing with two radial shaft seals, the lamella motors with power from 120 W to 1.2 kW are predestined for underwater use.

In underwater applications, it also depends on how the motor is used and at what water depth it is supposed to operate. If the pneumatic motor is operated underwater, it can only be used reliably up to a depth of 5 meters. If it is always started at the surface, it can even dive up to a depth of 20 meters.

If higher demands are to be met or if the pneumatic motor is to operate in saltwater, further modifications to the housing material, sealing, or coating of internal parts against corrosion are necessary.

To select a suitable pneumatic motor for the existing application, an intensive customer discussion is required beforehand, during which the application is clarified in detail. An example of this, which the DEPRAG engineers implemented for a customer: A motor is to be used in an acid-containing solution as a mixing drive, to stir the liquid and evenly distribute minerals. To ensure the motor withstands environmental conditions, the following questions must be answered: What acid is used? In what concentration is the acid present in the medium or derived from it: what stainless steel material is required?

The application determines! For this purpose, an stainless steel motor from the ADVANCED LINE series with the special requirement of acid resistance is selected. Additionally, a housing made of suitable acid-resistant material and a special seal against liquid ingress are designed. To ensure the pneumatic motor delivers the desired torque for the application, other operating conditions such as available operating pressure, required hose length, etc., must be coordinated. The technical data of DEPRAG pneumatic motors are based on an operating pressure of 6 bar. At reduced operating pressure, the torque decreases proportionally. For hose lengths over 3 meters, the cross-section of the hose should be increased accordingly.

Robust stainless steel motors are also in demand in the paper industry. For example, in the fiber preparation of paper manufacturing: Here, depending on the type of paper, wood pulp, cellulose, and recycled paper fibers are mixed in a specific ratio and dissolved in water. Further, chemical fillers and auxiliary substances are added. This aggressive "mash" must be stirred repeatedly. A pneumatic motor in special design with acid-resistant stainless steel housing in V4A quality is recommended as a drive solution.

If a pneumatic motor needs to be sterilizable, as is common in medical technology applications, it is equipped with corresponding special lamellae. There are countless application examples where it pays off to discuss the task directly with the manufacturer of pneumatic motors during the design phase and to describe it in detail.

For higher demands, such as use in cleanrooms in the food and pharmaceutical industries, the manufacturer offers the product line of the ADVANCED LINE stainless steel motors, characterized by their sealed, oil-free operable, and corrosion-resistant pneumatic lamella motor. For this application, the exhaust air from the motor is vented outside the cleanroom via the exhaust hose.

The ADVANCED LINE lamella motor is ATEX certified, controllable, and even available with an integrated holding brake. Its power range extends from 20 W to 1.2 kW, from small speeds to high-speed applications. The pneumatic motor is very flexible – it can be operated optimally across a wide range of varying loads. The motor power can be adjusted by changing the operating pressure, and the speed can be steplessly controlled by throttling the air volume. Damage due to overload is almost impossible. When the pneumatic motor reaches its stall torque (about twice its rated torque), it simply stops. As soon as the load decreases, it restarts without damage, and this can happen repeatedly.

DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH & CO. has been dealing with compressed air as a working medium for many decades. DEPRAG pneumatic motors are established worldwide. Innovation and continuous improvement of existing product lines make the medium-sized machine manufacturer one of the leading producers. The DEPRAG standard program offers a variety of variants, from which customized drive solutions can be developed and manufactured according to the modular principle at an attractive price-performance ratio. Other core competencies of DEPRAG, headquartered in Amberg, include screw technology, automation, and pneumatic tools. The family-owned company employs 600 staff and is represented in over 50 countries.