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Airoflex

Carmen Garcia

Introducing the Next Generation of the Airoflex Portable Tipper

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Airoflex built the original Portable Tipper to handle the toughest off-highway dumping applications while still being road-ready in minutes. The new version keeps that same 45-ton capacity and rugged, over-the-road-ready design, and adds a round of upgrades focused on one thing our customers ask for most: less time spent cleaning and maintaining, more time running.

Here’s what’s new.

Hydraulic Leveling

The updated tipper now levels hydraulically, making Fully hydraulic leveling makes it faster and easier to get set up level on uneven ground before every dump.

Reduced Deck Slope

We decreased the deck slope byto 3 degrees, improving stability and control during operation. Making it easier to back on to.

Removable Cylinder Trunnion Bearings

The cylinder trunnion bearings are now removable, giving crews direct access for inspection and maintenance without tearing into the structure around them. allowing them to be replaced easily and removed for maintenance.

Replaceable Cylinder Mount Bearings

The cylinder mount bearings are a common spot for material buildup and corrosion — and historically, a tough spot to clean. On the new design, these bearings bolt on as standard stock items, so a damaged or worn bearing can simply be swapped out instead of repaired or worked around. Airoflex also keeps these parts in stock to help keep customers operational.

Enclosed Subframe Structure

We redesigned the subframe to close off the areas where material is used tends to collect. The result is a tipper that looks better, stays cleaner, and resists corrosion, with far less time spent scraping buildup out of hard-to-reach spots. We made the same kind of updates around the backstop and main pivot, opening up easier access for cleaning and maintenance in those areas too.

Relocated, Recessed Gladhand / Airline Hookup

The gladhand and truck air hookup now sit at the center of the deck, eliminating the need for extension hoses on hookup. The connection is also recessed, protecting it from damage during operation.

Updated Outrigger Wing Design

The outrigger wings have been redesigned to reduce spillage,  both over the top and underneath the wings, for a cleaner dump and less material lost around the unit.

Removable Sideshields

Sideshields are now removable, so a damaged shield can be replaced quickly, or swapped for an alternative design to fit a specific application.

Same proven platform. Built to stay cleaner and run longer. Improved performance

Every update on this list traces back to feedback from customers and operators of these units.  Airoflex is proud to offer a new upgraded version of portable tipper.  crews running these units in the field, less buildup, easier access, faster maintenance, less downtime. If you’d like to know more about like a closer look at any of these updates, including a walkthrough on the tipper itself, contact Airoflex or request a quote.

How To Bleed Telescoping Hydraulic Cylinders

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AOF Article - How to bleed cylinders-1

Proper air-bleeding is a critical step in installation and use of hydraulic cylinders. This article will explain how to bleed telescoping(multi-stage) cylinders and the parts required.

bleeder location

The location of the bleed port will vary depending on the type of cylinder.

airoflex - standard cylinders

Standard Cylinders

Standard Airoflex cylinders will have the bleed port on on the smallest sleeve (near the top pin of the telescoping end) at the a-frame of dumper connection.

airoflex-inverted-cylinders

Inverted Cylinders

Inverted cylinders, typically used on smaller trailer tippers or portables tippers will have the bleed port on the top of the cylinder (furthest away from the telescoping end) next to the lifting eye.

PORT VARIATIONS (TELESCOPING CYLINDERS)

  • Airoflex standard telescoping cylinders
    • Size: 1/8" NPT Port
  • Inverted Cylinders
    • Cylinder Model 911001 (portable tippers, some trailer tippers)
      • Size: Varies (adapter available for all port sizes)
        - Bleed Port Adapter Part #: 903036
    • Cylinder Model 911003 (2025 and newer)
      • Size: 1/8" NPT Port

required parts

airoflex-bleed-adapter

Bleed Adapter - Part #: 903036

The bleed adapter attached directly to the bleed port on older inverted cylinders (model # 911001). This part should be removed after cylinder is bled.

airoflex-bleed-valve

Bleed Valve - Part #: 903016

The bleed adapter attached directly to the bleed port on older inverted cylinders (model # 911001). This part should be removed after cylinder is bled.

airoflex-bleed-hose

Bleed Hose - Part #: 905023

The bleed hose connects to the bleed valve. The hose is used to direct oil to a bucket or other containment while the cylinder is being bled. The hose should be removed after the cylinder is bled. Longer versions are available.

CYLINDER BLEEDING PROCEDURE

  1. Start pump motor(s) and allow the power unit to idle for 10 - 15 minutes.
  2. Bump the controls for each circuit to check for proper response / operation.
  3. Bleed any auxillary line circuits (back-stops or pit doors) first. These are typically dual acting cylinders. Ensure all auxillary lines are bled and operating correctly before bleeding the telescoping cylinders.
  4. Remove the bleed port plug from the cylinder.
  5. Install the bleed adapters if applicable (part #903036). Warning: Do NOT overtighted the bleed adapters as the male threaded end can break off in the cylinder port.
  6. Install bleed valve (Part # 903016) and the bleed hose (part # 905023).
    • Note: Longer versions or extensions of the bleed hose are available.
  7. Place the bleed hose so the oil drains into a clean bucket or other storage container
  8. Actuate the cylinder control and continue until out-flowing oil is free of air bubbles.
  9. Remove the bleed hose, bleed port and bled apadater (if app.) and replace the port plug.
  10. Operate the cylinders through a full range of motion.
  11. Cylinders may need to be bled multiple times over several days until all the excess air in the system has been removed.
    • Note: Ensure the tank oil level is maintained after bleeding. Only clean oil should be put back into the power unit reservoir and it should be run through a filter prior to being added to the reservoir.

Wind Speed and Truck Dumpers

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Wind speed not only affects the truck dumper itself, but also the truck and /or trailer. Understanding how wind speed impacts truck dumpers is critical for proper design and safe operation.

Parallel Wind Direction

Wind acting parallel with the truck dumper, referred to as a ‘head’ or ‘tail’ wind, applies the greatest force directly to the deck. A head wind blowing from the front to the back of the dumper typically does not present significant issues when the dumper is loaded. Even with the deck unloaded, the dumper typically has sufficient mass to counteract wind forces; however, raising the deck while unloaded during high winds is not recommended.

A tail wind blowing from the back to the front of the dumper typically places the most stress on both the structure and hydraulic system.

This added stress occurs because the wind acts in the same direction as the gravity load of the truck or trailer. Depending on wind speed and direction, a tailwind can add several thousand pounds of additional force to the deck. If the deck is aged or the truck is heavier than the dumper’s load rating, the additional load can cause structural damage to the main frame.

Cross Wind

Cross winds are of greater concern than parallel winds, despite putting less force on the dumper itself. The reason for this is the truck and trailer, and not the dumper deck. The trailer presents a large surface like a sail for the wind to act upon. The trailer is most vulnerable to wind while it is in the raised position after the contents have been unloaded. An empty trailer is relatively light compared to its surface area. High wind speeds on an empty trailer can put a twisting force through the trailer and into the dumper frame, regardless of whether the tractor is tied down or not. In a worst-case scenario, the wind will cause the trailer to shift on the deck, creating more torsional forces on the dumper and potentially causing the truck and/or trailer to fall. Safety/retainer hoops are a last-resort feature and are not designed to restrain trailers during high-wind events.

combination winds

Wind very rarely acts completely parallel or perpendicular to specific pieces of equipment. Wind direction can change rapidly, and swirling or turbulent winds can create a combination of forces in multiple directions. Surrounding geographic features, buildings, or nearby equipment can create additional currents or wind turbulence, adding to the complexity of the wind loading.

Design Parameters

Airoflex dumpers are designed for site-specific wind loading based on ASCE hazard data. This allows the wind forces to be accounted for in the major axes of the dumper for both structural design and foundation loads. The design wind speed may be very high, and is NOT the operational wind speed for the dumper.

Operational Parameters

Airoflex recommends a maximum wind speed of 20 miles per hour, based on a 3-second gust, as the cut-off for operating any truck dumper. Larger models (65-foot deck length and up), dumpers located on flat or open terrain, or areas prone to high wind gusts, may require a lower wind speed maximum. Smaller dumpers, or dumpers that are blocked from the wind by buildings or other structures, may be able to operate safely at higher reported wind speeds due to being shielded from the full wind force.
Any increase in the dumper’s maximum operational wind speed is site-specific and depends on the user’s safety procedures. The user assumes full responsibility for operating above the Airoflex-recommended guidelines and should not do so without proper consideration and safety protocols in place. When deciding whether to operate a truck dumper under specific weather or wind conditions, a general rule of thumb is to consider crane operation. If a crane would not be operated at the current wind speed or weather conditions, then a truck dumper should not be operated.

Conclusion

Wind forces have a great effect on the design and operation of truck dumpers. Understanding how they interact with a truck dumper can not only help with better structural designs but also allow for safe and continued operations. Please contact Airoflex with any questions about design or operation regarding wind speed.