H. Kuhnke Ltd, Romsey, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1794 514445 Email Us

Airbox. The Kuhnke Asi Pneumatic Slave Module

Kuhnke Airbox Vs. Valve Islands

These notes will help you decide to use Kuhnke Airbox instead of valve islands. The most dramatic benefits come from using the Airbox K range which comprises 8 models, each offering 4 inputs and a range of pneumatic outputs.

Ease of fixing.

Suface mount. Small footprint, low profile. Push in connectors are standard.

After sales service

Airboxes are standard components. One screw fixes to base plate. No need to specify the customised part number of most valve islands when replacing. Valve islands require time and care to repair or replace valve components and must be taken completely out of service when doing so.

Re-configuration

An Airbox can be two x 5/2 or two x 3/2 normally open or normally closed, or 5/3. Just connect the pneumatics accordingly and reset the user friendly AS-Interface software.

True decentralisation

Airbox is designed to sit next to the pneumatic device it is controlling. Valve islands by design are a form of centralisation limiting the major advantages of AS-Interface.

IP67 standard

The clean design of Airbox with its plastic body, not only looks better, but will operate in more hostile enviroments than a typical valve island.

Design

Airbox is designed for AS-Interface using Kuhnke pneumatic poppet valves integrated onto Kuhnke AS-Interface circuit boards. The result is smaller, lighter and requires less power from AS-Interface and/or auxiliary power supplies.

Speed

Kuhnke Airboxes will give a pneumatic output quicker than valve islands.

Signal delay

Kuhnke Airboxes have 8mm push in connections. These large ports ensure maximum airflow and minimum pneumatic signal delay.

Flexibility

Airboxes come in yellow cable or yellow and black cable options. Choose accordingly to system needs. Valve islands all require auxiliary power.

Cost

The totally integrated Airbox solution does not require the costly manifolds, end plates and wireways of valve islands, which are more expensive to produce and costlier to maintain.

Programming

Consider Airboxes as controllers of 1 or 2 pneumatic devices including closed loop feedback. The software advantages can then be seen for programming, diagnostics and re-commisioning.

 

Valve islands are not de-centralised, were conceived for use in control panels, hardwired to plc outputs. No consideration was ever made for inputs. The advent of plc to plc bus systems has seen valve islands "adapted" to become expensive and inflexible plc devices with internal comm ports but little else. The fault possiblilties of the internal wireway have been described as a diagnostics technicians black hole! Airbox on the other hand uses the connectivity of AS-Interface, the diagnostics of the latest ASICS, IP65/67 as standard, integrated inputs, and is designed for today's automation requirements. Airbox is easy to fit, easy to use, easy to reprogramme, easy to replace or readdress.

H. Kuhnke Ltd are proud to be a member of the AS-Interface Expert Alliance.

H. Kuhnke Ltd
21 Abbey Enterprise Centre
Premier Way
Romsey, Hants, SO51 9AQ
UK

Telephone: +44 (0)1794 514445
Fax: +44 (0)1794 513514