MechChem Africa September-October 2020

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

Cable carrier systems for heavy loads in harsh environments

BMG’s extensive portfolio of Tsubaki Kabelschlepp cable carrier systems and safety cables includes S/SXsteel cable car- riers, which have been designed to carry heavy mechanical loads in harsh environ- ments, including corrosive conditions. “TheS/SXseriescomprisesrobuststeel cable carriers, with a chain-link sandwich design, consisting of two plates welded together for high stability,” says Carlo Beukes, business unit manager, Power Transmission division, BMG. “This link design, with optimised geometry, allows contaminants found in harsh environ- ments to fall through the system when the cable carrier is in motion. Dirt build- up, which normally causes blockages of the stroke system, is prevented to ensure continuous free-running operation. “With conventional cable carrier systems, large amounts of foundry sand, GEMÜ is supporting the development of a newpragmatic solution, whichwill double existing ventilation capacities by enabling two patients to use the same ventilator. The Institute for Manufacturing of Cambridge (IfM) – which is part of the University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering – and the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge are collaborating to develop a method for splitting a ven- tilator’s air flow so that two COVID-19 patients can be treated simultaneously with one ventilator. Such a device would make it possible to double the capacities for the safe ventilation of patients for short periods. One requirement imposed by medical professionalswas that it had tobepossible to individuallymeasure and control the air flow to each patient. This was intended to ensure that a deterioration or improve- ment in thebreathingof onepatientwould not affect the air supply or monitoring of the other patient. In order to accomplish this, the IfMhas developed a read-outmeter, whichmakes

corundumor scale tend to block the cable carrier’s stroke system, resulting in fail- ure of the cable carriers and subsequent downtime.” The design of the S/SX series allows for increased unsupported lengths and large additional loads without sagging, when perfectly sized to the application. The stroke system, with special bolts and locking rings, is designed for extended service life. Plastic or steel dividers maintain neat cable separation and an aluminium cover system or covers with a steel strip, en- hance cableprotection. This series is avail- able fromBMGwith a galvanised finish or Stainless Steel construction, in different dimensions to suit exact requirements. BMG’s Kabelschlepp range of cable carrier systems and safety cables – known for high productivity, minimal mainte- it possible tomeasure the tidal volume for each patient in real time andmonitor both the overall pressure and the air flow on the device. The individual fine adjustment of the air flow for each patient requires valves that can ensure the air/oxygen mixture is precisely metered and are also easily accessible. To find a solution for these two chal - lenges, the scientists collaborated with specialists from valve manufacturer GEMÜ. They calculated the optimumflow rates for the air/oxygen mixture and rec- ommended that GEMÜ C67 valves in the

BMG’s Tsubaki Kabelschlepp cable carrier systems include S/SX steel cable carriers for carrying heavy mechanical loads in harsh environments.

nance requirements and reduced down- time – extends from standard individual componentstocompletesystemsolutions. These cable carrier systems are available in heavy-duty steel (S) and corrosion resistant stainless steel (SX) as well as in durable, lightweight plastic materials. www.bmgworld.net Tests of the ‘splitter’ with artificial lungs have so far yielded very promising results, so that the first details about the apparatus, which was developed as a portable device, are now freely available on the IfM website. The website will be updated with the complete details of the design and testing once the device has been approved for use. This will make it possible for the shar- ing device to be copied across the world so that it can be used as needed, particu- larly in countries that do not have enough ventilators. www.gemu-group.com

GEMÜ valves to combat COVID-19

DN8 size range be used, as these valves allow for a high air flow and simultaneously provide good manual controllability thanks to their low flow resistance. Thedesignof theGEMÜvalves alsoplays an important role, as the handwheels are the only parts of the newly developeddevice locat- ed outside the housing, allowing doctors to individually adjust the air flow for each patient.

GEMÜ C67 valves are being successfully used in a device for splitting a ventilator’s air flow.

September-October 2020 • MechChem Africa ¦ 35