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The firm based in Neponset, Illinois, said it designed the Tornado exhaust valve to improve bulk materials handling.
Air cannons typically provide a powerful blast of air to improve the flow of bulk materials through industrial storage and process vessels.
Most are triggered by a pressure drop, which meant the system would discharge when air pressure that held closed the cannon’s discharge port was released.
When installed on an air cannon, the Tornado fires in response to a positive surge of air pressure sent by a solenoid valve.
The valve makes an air cannon system safer for plant personnel. As discharge requires a positive signal, the air cannon will not fire accidentally in response to a drop in line pressure due to a failure in the air supply.
In addition, the positive action of the valve allows a faster discharge, which amplifies the output to produce up to 20% more force than a standard Martin XHV air cannon.
The improved air path of this air cannon system fills the reservoir three to four times faster than standard designs.
Martin Engineering’s Big Blaster XHV air cannons with the Tornado valve are available in 2-inch, 4in, or 6in discharge openings on 10 sizes of air tanks.
The exhaust valve is also available as a retrofit kit to upgrade air cannons supplied by any manufacturer.
