Air Pallets use air casters or airbearings
in multiples to allow one person to move a heavy load across
a distance safely and efficiently using a platform floating
on air. Airfloat
offers a wide variety of standard and custom air bearing
platforms to move pallets or any large heavy load.
U-Platform
Series "U" Platforms are low-profile, general purpose, type platforms sized for loads weighing up to 12,000 lbs. They are equipped with four air bearings connected by internal pneumatic plumbing to an on/off valve. Accessories include an operator handle, guide wheel, and a deadman-type control valve. They are typically used for easy manual movement of container and pallet-sized loads at workstations not having lift truck access or for omni-directional positioning of loads for machine loading and assembly operations. See how a U-platform provides easy movement of big paper rolls.
Contact Airfloat to put 40 years of material handling experience to work in your operation.
L-Platforms and XL-Platforms
Series "L" and Series "XL" Platforms are heavy-duty, welded steel structures designed for carrying large loads up to 150,000 lbs. These highly mobile air bearing equipped platforms are efficient for use in assembly lines, crane bay transfer, and random movement of any heavy load. Typical industries are machine tool, transformer, construction equipment, and aerospace. These platforms can be equipped with powered drives, guide wheels, and pendant controls.
Tire Platform & Transporter
Tire Transporter Case Study
Application:
A major construction equipment manufacturer
required equipment that would eliminate one person from a
tire mounting procedure on their assemble line.
Solution:
The
system consists of an air bearing platform mounted under
a tire handling fixture platform. The air bearings allow
virtually friction-free, omni-directional movement of heavy
loads by manual movement of optional air motor powered steerable
drive (0-180 degree rotation). The operator loads the tire
on the platform with an overhead crane or fork truck and
activates a clamping fixture. The clamping fixture is a fail-safe
design that allows for positive tire holding in case of a
loss of air pressure to the transporter.
Benefits:
Handling fixture can be raised or lowered (0 – 6”)
to adjust to a proper axle alignment.
A pneumatic scissors lift keeps fixture properly positioned
during lifting; the operator then can move the tire onto
an axle.
Free access from back side allows for good visibility
and clearance to mount tire onto axle.
All controls are pneumatic rocker switches and located
on back of U-handle.
All controls and valves are easily accessible from back
side.
System air requirements are (60 PSI @ 75 CFM).
Transporter can be easily lifted onto truck by crane
or fork for movement to new location
Air Bearing Platforms Video
Click on the arrow button in the middle of the player below to watch a short video demonstrating a U-Platform.
Click on the link below for a larger format, .wmv file, viewable in Windows Media Player.
Series "U" Platforms are low-profile, general purpose, type platforms sized for loads weighing up to 12,000 lbs. They are equipped with four air bearings connected by internal pneumatic plumbing to an on/off valve. Accessories include an operator handle, guide wheel, and a deadman-type control valve. They are typically used for easy manual movement of container and pallet-sized loads at workstations not having lift truck access or for omni-directional positioning of loads for machine loading and assembly operations. 
Series "L" and Series "XL" Platforms 
The
system consists of an air bearing platform mounted under
a tire handling fixture platform. The air bearings allow
virtually friction-free, omni-directional movement of heavy
loads by manual movement of optional air motor powered steerable
drive (0-180 degree rotation). The operator loads the tire
on the platform with an overhead crane or fork truck and
activates a clamping fixture. The clamping fixture is a fail-safe
design that allows for positive tire holding in case of a
loss of air pressure to the transporter.