Pneumatic Knocker 4.

Safety against Explosion Accidents

The Pneumatic Knocker may be used in the ex-range, if the solenoid
1. Design and Operation Principles
valve and the control system are explosion-proof and the knocker is
The Pneumatic Knocker achieves a high grade of
scavenged by external air through the air-scavenging outlets.
impact energy by the spontaneous release of the
accumulated compressed air pressure. Figure 1
shows the design. 5. Installation and Operating Instructions
The piston (1) designes as a permanent magnet, 5.1 It is only allowed to install and use the Pneumatic Knocker and the
adheres in the end-position to the anchor plate (2) Impulse Knocker as a knocking and evacuating device on silos,
until the compressed air fed through the lid (3) containers, cylinders and walls, after having paid special attention to the
overcomes the magnetic force. The impact piston instructions and in accordance with the technical data given therein.
loosens from the anchor plate, is very highly Installation, maintenance, pre-operational and operational as well as post-
accelerated vy the accumulated compressed air operational handling of the equipment and the accessories shall only be
and hits onto the striker (4) with a speed of 6 to 7 carried out by trained and qualified personal in compliance with the legal
m/sec., which transmits the impact to the silo wall. prescriptions and safety regulations. The knocker has to be installed,
When deaarating the cylinder, the piston will be secured and controlled so that - in case of loosened screws, cracked
pressed back into the starting position by means welded joints or other damages whatsoever - there will be no danger for
of the spring (5). Fig. 1 persons, animals, products or objects to be damaged or polluted. If the
Impulse Knocker is applied, the space between piston rod and impact wall
should be protected against grasping-in and the knocker be fixed in such
2. Application
a way that maintenance and exchange will be possible during operation
The Pneumatic Knocker is used for bulk goods with material flow
without any danger.
problems as for instance bridge, siphon and residue formations, when
5.2 The knocker shall be actuated only after having been tightly screwed
high speed shakers and vibrators with soft sine-shaped oscillations are no
on, otherwise its own bottom plate may be destroyed.
longer effective. The effect of the knocker is comparable to that of the
5.3 The area to be knocked should be able to swing so that the impact
famous "silo hammer", but without distorted silo spouts additionally
can expand in all directions. Reinforcements and ribs are to be avoided.
impeding the material flow.
5.4 It should only be knocked when the silo outlet is open or the following
The Pneumatic Knocker produces an ideal elastic shock, referred to as
conveying equipment is working, otherwise the product will be
impact energy E = m · v²/2 and impulse J = m · v. There is no impact force
compressed.
or out-of- balance such as vibrators generate. The effectiveness of the
knocker may be judged according to the following rule: "If the product can Fig. 3
be knocked off or be brought to flow by a hand hammer, the "Pneumatic
Knocker" would also be effective."
Material flow problems can be solved
by the operating personnel either by Fig. 2
actuating a switch or a valve or be
totally prevented by an automatic
control.
Fig. 2 may provide a rough reference
for chosing the adequate size and
number of Pneumatic Knockers for 5.5 The Welding Plate AP is to be welded directly onto the silo sheet at
round silos of 60° cone. In case of the lower third of the silo cone and adjusted by flattening the round part or
rectangular containers, the knockers by means of large welding seams. If it is fixed to smaller diameters, to
are installed at the longer sides. For insulated, rubberized or aluminum silos, please see our recommendations
product conveying out of a silo, cycle in leaflet 100-089.
times of 5 to 20 seconds are
recommended. Too frequent
5.6 The Pneumatic Knocker has to be screwed in such a way that the
knocking should in any case be
lateral deaeration borings are directed to the bottom. In case of larger
avoided, otherwise the product
dust quantities, the deaeration borings must be protected against dust by
would be compressed. Continuous product flows such as in dust filters
screwing in sound absorbers as filters or by wrapping the knocker with
and spray towers, should be knocked in cycle times up to 30 seconds. If
filter mats. Humid or aggressive vapors should by no means be allowed to
the layer of product becomes too thick, an avalanche-like break-off could
enter through the deaeration borings.
block the outlet or overload the following machines. If there are several
5.7 According to Fig. 3, the Pneumatic Knocker is connected with
knockers mounted at the periphery of a container, they are to be actuated
Solenoid Valve MV, Maintenance Unit WE and Impulser TG. The
one after the other, in order to have a more constant product flow and
compressed air is adjusted at 0.5 bar above the release pressure of the
compressed air consumption. When emptying container scales, one
knocker (approx. 2.5 to 3.5 bar). The length of the operating time should
should knock 2 to 4 times in a cycle time of 1 to 4 seconds. We also
be so adjusted to make sure that the impact will be released (approx. 0.5
supply the respective control units.
to 2 seconds). The interval time is to be adjusted according to the
operating conditions, but as long as possible and at least longer than the
3. Sound Insulation
deaeration time of the knocker. For shorter interval times, a larger
The Pneumatic Knocker has the greatest effect, when the impact is
solenoid valve and, in addition, a Quick-Action Deaeration Valve SE
transmitted without damping to the silo wall. It is, therefore senseless to
should be provided for.
damp the impact in order to reduce the noise, for this would also reduce
5.8 During operation, all screws must be checked as to their tightness
the effectiveness of the knocker. That is why the noise arising can only be
and, if necessary, be tightened by means of a torque wrench. As to the
reduced by sound insulation. We supply the necessary Sound Insulation
maintenance unit, the condensate must be discharged from the filter, oil
Hoods (KSH) for the knockers, self-adhesive Sound Insulation Plates
with 15 to 30 cSt be refilled, the adjusted pressure and the oiler function
(KSP) for the container wall, and Sound Absorbers for the deaeration
be checked again.
borings of the solenoid valves.

6. Pneumatic Impulse Knocker

The Pneumatic Impulse Knocker, a special design of the Pneumatic
Knocker, is provided for rotating drums and moving parts to be knocked
off, since the piston rod springs forward and backward at a high speed
without remaining in the end position.  

Type  Dimensions in mm Impact Storke Impact Impulse Weight Air con-

weight energy sumption
per impact
A B C D H L R   at 3 bar
kg mm Nm Ns kg litres 
K40  54 11 9,5 85 173 65 R 1/8"
K63  78 15 14 120 208 95 R 1/4" 0,32 35 7,7 2,2 1,35 0,18
K 80  92 19 14 140 249 115 R 1/4" 1,3 40 25,6 7,5 3,6 0,70
K 100  115 22 18 182 318 145 R 3/8" 2,45 55 58 16,7 6,6 1,30
K 125  150 27 18 205 406 170 R 1/2" 4,9 57 97 28,5 13,5 2,9
K 160 190 33 26 300 485 240 R 3/4" 9,7 80 205 60,5 25,1 6,2