Cushions precisely split quarried material

Powerful splitting and lifting cushions that can exert hundreds of tonnes of force to extract quarried material, are being introduced to Australia by industrial actuation and isolation specialists Air Springs Supply P/l.

The highly flexible and reusable Pronal special quarry lifting cushions, are produced by the same high technology flexible product company, that made the buoyancy bags used to lift heavy sections of the vessel Titanic from depths of 3900m below the Atlantic Ocean.

Available in standard sizes from just 7mm thick, they take advantage of the latest techniques used to extract blocks of quarried material, particularly diamond cable cutting, says Air Springs Supply national sales manager Simon Agar.

Using standard industrial air supply pressure of 6 to 7 bar, the cushions can exert up to 390t of force. Advantages of the technology include:

Thin 7mm profile makes the cushions easy to place along cutting lines;

Working power of 160, 190, 240 and 330t in starting position;

Multiplication of power by using several cushions in parallel

Loads can be tipped over by placing cushions on top of one another;

Lightweight design based on a high strength textile base fabric coated with synthetic rubber;

Cushions can be used several times; and

Great operational flexibility.

“The cushions offer a clean, precise and safety-oriented operation that can minimise damage to material being quarried,” Agar said. “The technology is the same as that used in applications as diverse as oil rig equipment flotation and recovery, heavy lifting of construction material and vehicles, splitting of heavy industrial and electrical plant for servicing, pipeline maintenance and mobile reservoirs and tanks for liquids ranging from potable water to hydrocarbons.”

More information: Air Springs Supply P/l, 02 9807 4077, fax 02 9807 6979, simon@airsprings.com.au ty, www.airsprings.com.au