What Is A Pneumatic Trailer?

A pneumatic trailer is a special trailer used for the transportation of dry bulk cargo. It has a metal cylindrical body with several conical hoppers at the bottom. These hoppers are used for loading and unloading goods through an air system. This design makes it ideal for handling delicate materials that cannot be moved by other means.

Pneumatic trailers are commonly used to load items such as cement, flour, lime, sugar and plastic pellets. The airtight design of the pneumatic trailer keeps the cargo dry and protected from moisture or dirt in the air. Because of this, pneumatic trailers are common in industries such as construction, food processing and manufacturing.

How do pneumatic trailers work?

Pneumatic trailers work through the use of air, hoppers and valves. During the unloading process, air is pumped into the trailer. This creates pressure that pushes material out of the hopper through the tubing. Each hopper automatically releases dry goods such as cement, flour or plastic pellets. It uses air pressure and does not require any manual assistance.

A valve controls the strength of the air pressure. This ensures that the material flows out smoothly and quickly. Pneumatic trailers are easier to use and maintain than other methods such as gravity or screw conveyors. Pneumatic trailers are also more suitable for handling fine or powdery goods.

Advantages of Pneumatic Trailers

• Quick unloading: Pneumatic trailers utilize air pressure to unload cargo. This reduces the need for manual handling. The unloading process becomes faster, smoother and easier.
• Variety of cargo: These trailers can carry many types of dry cargo. They work well for loading cement, flour, sugar and plastic pellets. Since they can carry many types of cargo, they are used in many different industries.
• Cost saving: less labor is required as the unloading process is automated. This helps save time and money. Fewer workers are needed and the process is faster.
• Reduced risk of contamination: Pneumatic trailers are well sealed. This prevents dust or moisture from getting inside. This keeps the cargo clean and dry, which is important for certain materials.

Differences between pneumatic tank trailers and dry bulk tank trailers

Unloading Method

Pneumatic tank trailers use air pressure to push the cargo out. This process is automatic and requires no manual labor.

Dry bulk tank trailers typically use gravity or screw conveyors. Gravity moves the cargo by tilting the trailer. Screw conveyors push material out through a mechanical system.

Design

Pneumatic tank trailers have a special design. They use compressed air, a conical hopper, and control valves to aid in unloading.

Dry bulk tank trailers are simpler. They use large openings or built-in screw conveyors for unloading.

When to use

Pneumatic tank trailers are best for fine or powdery goods, like cement, flour, sugar, or lime. These materials need to stay dry and are easy to unload with air pressure.

Dry bulk tank trailers are better suited for larger materials such as gravel or coal. These materials can be unloaded using gravity or conveyor systems.

What do pneumatic trailers carry?

Pneumatic trailers are used to transport many types of dry bulk cargo. Here are some common materials that are transported:

• Cement: In the construction industry, pneumatic trailers keep cement dry while it is being transported. This prevents the cement from hardening during transportation.
• Flour: The food industry uses these trailers to transport large quantities of flour. The sealed trailers help keep the flour safe from dirt or germs.
• Lime: The construction and manufacturing industries rely on these trailers to transport lime. These trailers prevent moisture from entering and damaging the lime.
• Sugar: The food industry also uses pneumatic trailers to transport sugar. The trailers prevent moisture and contamination of the sugar.
• Plastic pellets: Factories use pneumatic trailers to transport plastic pellets. This ensures that production runs smoothly.

The airtight design of the pneumatic trailer is very important. It keeps the cargo dry, especially materials that are susceptible to moisture damage such as cement and flour.

Dry Bulk Trailer Design

Dry bulk trailers are built to safely transport large quantities of dry materials. They have a few important features like hopper compartments, air pressure systems, and ways to unload the materials. Here is how they are designed:

• Multiple Hopper Compartments: Most dry bulk trailers have multiple compartments for storing different materials. Each hopper is tapered for easy material flow. This also helps minimize the amount of material left over after unloading.
• Pneumatic Systems: Many trailers use pneumatic pressure to propel materials through tubes. This system is especially useful for handling fine or powdered materials. It can speed up the unloading process and reduce the need for workers.
• Unloading Methods: Dry bulk trailers can be unloaded in several ways. One is gravity unloading, where the trailer is tilted to allow the material to flow out on its own. Another way is to use a screw conveyor, which rotates the material and conveys it to the exit.

How to Load and Unload Pneumatic Trailers

Pneumatic trailers use air pressure, gravity, and valves to move materials smoothly during loading and unloading.

Loading Process

When loading materials, a silo or conveyor system is typically used to dump dry bulk materials into the hopper of the pneumatic trailer. The material enters through openings at the top of the trailer. Each hopper is made to hold different types of materials, like powders or small grains.

To prevent overfilling, the loading process needs to be controlled. This helps spread the material evenly inside the trailer.

Unloading Process

Unloading mainly uses the air pressure system. Compressed air is pumped into the trailer, and the pressure pushes the material toward the discharge opening.

There is a valve at the bottom of the hopper that controls how fast and how much material is released. The operator can open or close the valve to manage the flow of the material.

Sometimes, gravity also helps. If the trailer is on a slope, gravity pulls the material toward the discharge opening, making the process easier and faster.

This design makes it easy to load and unload materials efficiently. It also reduces the need for manual labor.

Key questions to determine equipment needs

What type of material is being transported?

You need to know if the material is fine granules, powder or larger pieces of dry bulk. Different materials require different trailer designs and unloading methods.

What is the volume and weight of the load?

The amount and weight of the material will affect the capacity of the trailer. You need to make sure the trailer can handle the load and meet your transportation needs.

How far will the material be transported?

Distance matters when choosing a trailer. Longer distances may require sturdier trailers, greater fuel efficiency, or additional equipment such as reinforced bodies.

Are there any regulations for transporting this material?

Some materials have specific transportation regulations. This is especially important for hazardous materials or foodstuffs, which must comply with safety regulations and require special certifications.

Different types of pneumatic trailer components

Hopper：Hoppers are the main component of pneumatic trailers. They are used to store and unload materials. Hoppers are usually conical in shape, which helps the material flow smoothly during unloading. Multiple hoppers can store different materials separately to avoid mixing.

Air Compressor：Air compressors power pneumatic trailers. They generate the air pressure needed to push the material out of the hopper. A good air compressor can speed up unloading and reduce loading and unloading times.

Valves and Ductwork:Valves and piping control airflow and material flow. The operator can control the speed and direction of unloading by adjusting the valves. Ductwork ensures that air and material flow smoothly without blockages or delays.

Safety Features:Pneumatic trailers feature safety devices such as pressure gauges, safety valves and emergency relief systems. These features help monitor and control air pressure. They prevent excessive pressure from causing equipment failure or accidents and ensure that the trailer works safely and reliably.

Customized Pneumatic Trailers from Genron

High quality pneumatic trailers from Genron. This is a specialized trailer designed to meet a variety of dry bulk transportation needs. With specially designed hoppers, air amplifiers, valves and piping systems. This greatly enhances efficient flow and handling during loading and unloading.

Whether it is the loading and unloading of powdered or granular materials such as cement, flour, plastic granules, etc.. Our pneumatic trailers are able to accomplish the transportation tasks with good efficiency and sealing performance. You can count on our company to provide you with reliable solutions for your transportation needs, helping you stay ahead of the competition in transportation operations across a wide range of industries.