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The wear-free valves from AKO for abrasive transported materials
Wear-free valves are used in industry wherever problematic and abrasive bulk materials are transported in conveyor systems. This robust valve solution offers several advantages based on its structural design. In addition to its non-wearing properties, it not only guarantees a constriction-free flow of the different transported materials, but is also designed in such a way that they close perfectly, therefore safely sealing off the product flow. Thanks to its simple and effective construction, it can be installed and removed quickly and easily in situ and therefore serviced on site, minimising the downtimes of the complete system.
The most important advantage, however, is that, in the case of these wear-free valves, only the rubber sleeve is installed inside and only the sections of the line connections come into direct contact with the transported material.
If these connection areas constructed of steel, stainless steel, aluminium or POM pose a problem for your requirements, they can be equipped with a so-called flange sleeve made of natural rubber without a problem for some configurations - therefore only the wear-free rubber compound of the sleeve and the flange sleeve are in the direct product flow.
Funktionsweise eines verschleißfreien Ventils von AKO
Wear-free valves and their function
AKO Armaturen offers the greatest selection of wear-free valves on the market. Thanks to the large selection, AKO is able to cover all kinds of branches and their individual requirements. The function of all wear-free valves is certainly the same for all variants: Independently of whether the valve is installed vertically and/or horizontally, the material flow is stopped by pressing the sleeve together. The closing procedure can be controlled by compressed air or hydraulics, alternatively. For opening, the applied compressed air or fluid is drained again, the sleeve opens again on its own again based on its elastic properties and releases the product flow again without constriction. '
This procedure is demonstrated once more in the animation shown above.
If you would like to use wear-free valves in your company, speak with our experts regarding the suitable configuration or tell us your requirements in writing. We would be pleased to advise you extensively.
Wear-free valves and their areas of application:
The following contains a small excerpt of industries in which wear-free valves are used:
- Cement and construction industry
(Gravel, sand, cement, concrete, plaster and other bulk materials) - Ceramic industry
(Sludge and solids) - Mining industry
(Potash, kaolin, etc.) - Water treatment
(For example, for the treatment and regulation of cream of lime) - Foundries
(Quartz sand, resin/sand mixtures, etc.) - Food industry
(Sugar, salt, etc.)
They are also suitable for use in commercial vehicles, silos or all kinds of weighing and metering systems.
The structural design of the wear-free valves from AKO Armaturen
Wear-free valves from AKO are constructed of only a few components:
- The sleeve
It assumes the main task within the valve. It is responsible for shutting off and releasing the product flow. - The valve housing
It completely surrounds the internal sleeve and, due to its elliptic form provides room for the compressed air required for closing and the labiate-closing sleeve to be pinched. - The connections
The connections are available in various standardised designs (e.g., flange, internal thread, tanker flange, tri-clamp, etc.) and materials (steel, stainless steel, aluminium, POM, etc.). In this way, the wear-free valve can be integrated into almost any industrial system.
Wear-free valves also have no components that protrude into the direct product flow and an almost completely crevice-free design. Wear due to increased abrasion and encrustation is effectively counteracted.
Since AKO Armatures highly values the quality of the sleeves and all other parts, customers profit from the particularly long life cycle of all components. For a variety of opening and closing procedures within an extremely short period of time, wear-free valves stop and regulate the transported material quickly and safely, without a problem.
The downtimes of the system due to defective valves or valves to be maintain are therefore effectively minimised.
If a sleeve has to be changed due to increased wear, this task can be completely quickly on site without a problem. The exchange can be performed very easily by the customer’s own employees. Experts of external service providers or special tools are not required for this purpose. All other components (such as the housing and connection units) can also be installed easily into the pipeline system with the new sleeve.
The core of wear-free valves - the sleeve
Especially during the transport of abrasive materials, the quality of the compound and process of the sleeve play a particularly important role.
The wear-free sleeve must have sufficient elasticity and the restoring force for the opening and closing procedures on the one hand and demonstrate a high abrasion resistance on the other. This goes without saying as hard, sharp-edged and granular materials and dust cause more abrasion than liquids. In cases in which abrasive materials have to be regulated or stopped, AKO therefore uses a high-quality natural rubber compound for the sleeves.
Wear-free sleeves from AKO are structured in three layers:
- Sleeve cover
The compressed air or fluid is applied to the outside of the sleeve - Special fabric reinforcement inside the sleeve
This guarantees a longer life time even at maximum wear - Sleeve core
This is the inside of the sleeve, which comes into to contact with the product being transported and therefore has an extremely abrasion-resistant design
In addition to natural rubber, we also use EPDM, a synthetic rubber, silicone and other elastomers during production - depending on the application. Our consultants are happy to help you find the right component for you:
Tell us your requirements on wear-free valves
Global market leader
Unique delivery promise
< 0.2% complaint rate
> 99% customer satisfaction
30 sales partner worldwide
Widest pinch valve product range
10 000 pinch valve variants
2 500 variants available ex stock
100 000 units sold each year
Extensive service activities
80 CAD formats
32 assembly & animation videos
16 multilingual documentation
