Electrical power, water and telecommunication networks are growing. On the other hand, the distribution systems required for that are disappearing from the picture more and more. They have outlived their usefulness a long time ago. The reason for this apparent contradiction can be found in the products of joint cooperation between the two companies Langmatz and ACE.
No, they are not especially attractive, these gray, bulky distribution enclosures in the overall image locally and in the city. However, somehow one gets accustomed to the sight of them because, in the end, we desire to be supplied with the utilities telephone, power, water, gas etc. Distribution systems are necessary for this, which supply these media into our home, companies and institutional facilities. Since they are not a pleasing aesthetic sight, it is a positive message for us end users that the distribution systems can be concealed and even walked over by us. This is because ever more distribution enclosures in urban zones are placed underground and remain out of sight. The company Langmatz makes this possible in the application described here. In this case, it is not from nowhere that the idea has arisen to conceal distribution systems underground, and this has spread increasingly in past years throughout Germany and around the world from the beautiful town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This, according to Wikipedia, "powerful, district-associated municipality", world-famous with its ski-jump competition, among other things, is located in the district of Werdenfelser Land in the southernmost part of Bavaria and thus in the foothills of the Alps. Here, where municipalities and small towns are characterized by idyllic village squares, you get a sense of picturesque sights, which is why design engineers are finding solutions in placing distribution enclosures more and more underground. This has the result that throughout Bavaria, persons passing through and tourists, as well as many other persons enjoy distribution systems which are securely protected and sited invisibly underground: "On the one hand you have city planners. They are now provided with new forms of creative design options. On the other hand, however, the suppliers also know enough to esteem our products and services. This is because soiling on the enclosures and other forms of the vandalism are a thing of the past" according to Thomas Sailer, manager for materials management and logistics at Langmatz, as he outlines the main advantages of the clever solutions from one of the most beautiful parts of Bavaria.
No sudden back pain with lifting, thanks to opening aid
As long as the distributing systems are placed underground, the advantages described are obvious. However, what happens if they must be worked on? Does their opening bring with it untold disadvantages, such as difficulty of operation for maintenance fitters? Do they have to bend down and grope or even descend into the depths of the sewage system in order to enable them to work? By no means! This is because at Langmatz the customers and their requirements have priority. The company deals with these demands through the development of customer-oriented system solutions. An important objective in this case: To improve the conditions of work of the employees of utility services, where an opening aid for the ground manholes is made available to them. Therefore it is necessary to find a solution where the sometimes heavy coverings of underground distribution systems weighing up to 200 kg can be opened and closed easily. In case of their covers, it involves normal steel and high-grade steel frames which are lined with paving stones. Thomas Sailer referring to ACE Stoßdaempfer: "We have worked for years with the company from Langenfeld. I know their industrial gas springs well, and have always been fully satisfied with the performances of the products and the employees. As a medium-sized company like ourselves, ACE places a lot of value on optimally tailoring solutions to the requirements of the customer. "In this case, ACE also supplies (among other things) gas springs of stainless steel to Langmatz, who, for reasons of oxidation protection, also employ these special V2A springs in connection with the underground access manholes. Thus rapid delivery, fast installation, simple maintenance of the products and exemplary services are associated with the common characteristics of the two companies. In each case, the highest-possible levels of cost-effectiveness therefore result for customers and end users.
Large shutters also securely in hand: Industrial gas springs
Whoever has to deal with the opening and closing of shutters, protection caps or covers knows the advantages of industrial gas springs. This also applies to the Langmatz team, who strives to provide perceptible ease for users in case of controlled lifting and lowering of masses. This objective is achieved since, with the closing of the undergound access manholes, the nitrogen, with which the spring is filled, flows into the piston through the throttle opening. A defined inlet travel speed and minimum physical effort for the person therefore result in case of the spring, because the gas spring acts against the force of gravity of the shutter. With the opening of the shutter, the nitrogen flows back and supports the manual force. The person opening it gets the feeling of lifting a light object. Following the recommendation of the manufacturer, gas springs of the type GS-28, mostly with strokes of 400 to 500 mm directed to below, are installed with this application, as can be seen in the illustration. Thus the end-position damping is applied in addition to the thrust force of 150 N to 2,500 N. Further advantages of the modern machine element are a ceramic hardness layer on the piston-rod, an integrated plain bearing, as well as a grease chamber. As a result of this, the ACE gas springs are low-wear and guarantee high service-life durability. Unlike other damping options, these products are further characterized by a very good regulation-capability. An individual filling capability of the gas springs with nitrogen in particular guarantees this. According to desire, it is implemented either by the customer with a filling case on site or in Langenfeld. However, the filling requires a precise expert knowledge since the springs are provided with a high internal pressure of 200 bar. As well as a large, DIN-standardized accessories program, ACE also offers a wide range of gas springs of V2A stainless steel for the case described here. They are available with body diameters of 15 mm - 40 mm, with very different stroke travel lengths and with various opening forces. As well as the piston-rod, guide bearing, body and base in V2A, all attachment parts, such as the fork head, articulated lug, angled articulated link and so forth are additionally available for all building sizes. These extras are also an indication of the extent to which special requests are dealt with by the solution-providers ACE and Langmatz in their service package.
