Application: Multi Stage Fans providing air
for automated musical instruments
It takes a lot of air to operate an accordion but Tony DeCap
of Decap Organs, Herentals, Belgium believes he has found
the ideal solution for his automated instruments.
For five generations the DeCap family have been designing
and building fair/street/dance band organs but these days
the demand is not what it was. So Tony DeCap, the current
owner of the business, has been exploring new ideas. The end
result of his endeavours and significant investment is the
company’s automated accordion.
“What we need for these automated accordions is a constant
and consistent supply of air at a fixed pressure delivered
quietly”, says Tony. “Et voila! The Multi-Stage
MS8 centrifugal blower range from Air Control Industries is
exactly what we need. It is so right that it could have been
made for us!
“In addition, the blower is so compact it can be hidden
in the base of the plinth upon which we mount the accordion.”
Special features of the MS8 blower range that make it ideal
for this application are a virtual silent (noise levels below
65dB(A)) and maintenance-free operation. The blowers also
have a series of dynamically balanced impellers directly driven
by the motor through an extended shaft. Varying air flow performances
can be offered by simply changing the number of impellers.
It is also light weight thanks to its corrosion-free white
polyester fan case.
The precision of air delivery is essential for these new
automated accordions to ensure the quality of the music. This
is so electronically operated solenoid valves, which are activated
via pre-programmed signals from a PDA, deliver the right volume
of air at the correct pressure to produce the music.