Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Bilstein gives LogSystems advantage for electrified monorail systems
january 20, 2016 - Bilstein

Bilstein gives LogSystems advantage for electrified monorail systems

videoprtempEnnepetal, 20/01/2016 - 40 vehicles with an unladen weight of 800 kg, a track with up to 4 km length and extreme 90 degree corners which can cause dangerous pendulum motions: This requirement profile submitted to the #bilstein department for special customer requests (KSW) in 2014 sounds dramatically like a motorsport brief. Although in fact this scenario takes place in the world of logistics at LogSystems GmbH & Co. KG from German Schopfheim, it is no less exciting. As the competition had to pass, one of the leading manufacturers for electric overhead conveyors asked #bilstein to provide special mono-tube gas-pressure shock absorbers to improve the setup of this successful concept. Now, transporting beverages, food and hygiene products becomes even safer and more efficient. Electric overhead conveyors are widely used in the industry and to laymen they look like a cableway for materials. The "vehicles", however, run on mostly horizontal ceiling rails and each has its own electric motors. The models offered by LogSystems achieve a maximum speed of more than 120 metres per second, which can quickly become critical in a tight corner radius. Although the vehicles, which weigh up to two tons when fully loaded, are decelerated before the apex, it was previously impossible to fully prevent the load carriers from swinging. Even if this does not cause the entire load to go “over board”, much smaller pendulum motions can already be enough to drastically limit the speed and the efficiency of the system. The corners are often directly followed by loading and unloading stations which require the vehicle to be completely still. LogSystems consequently had the idea to suppress any build-up of swinging motions with special shock absorbers. Given the first batch size of only 500 units, most suppliers only offered off-the-shelf products, though, which did not meet the specifications or the required dimensions. "BILSTEIN was the notable exception, however, and immediately took on the challenge through the department for special customer requests," explains Frank Oesterwinter at LogSystems. Based on the technical parameters, #bilstein succeeded in designing a suitable mono- tube gas-pressure shock absorber relatively quickly thanks to flexible production processes. The #bilstein philosophy that theoretical considerations can never fully replace extensive practical testing was then proven right once again: The first installation test with the prototype shock absorbers still showed minor #design weaknesses which could not have been predicted through calculations alone. But it soon became evident that LogSystems and #bilstein had been absolutely spot on with their idea: After "doubling" the pressure stage, the shock absorbers were so successful that up to 300 units per track are now used, depending on total rail length – two per vehicle. This allowed #bilstein to once again demonstrate that the department for special customer requests do not only know their trade in the automotive field, but are also capable of finding customised solutions for "logistics tracks".

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