Evergreen Supertanker firefighting jet
Evergreen Supertanker
Speed and force were needed for the Evergreen Supertanker or “water bomber,” - a modified Boeing 747 cargo jet - designed to hold, transport and dump 24,000 gallons of fluid on large ground fires.
The cargo hold is fitted with 4 fluid tanks, which dump from the bottom of the plane via four 16” diameter butterfly valve openings. The supertanker does the work of 7 standard fire-fighting planes.
The Exlar GSX40 is deployed in two areas of the application. For safety and for dump control, each tank must maintain absolute pressure control (sloshing 24,000 gallons of water would be a “catastrophic event”). The GSX40 controls the pressure regulation valve between the air pressure tanks and the fluid holding tanks. Additionally, another GSX40 regulates the dump valve, which controls the fluid dump.
- Exceptionally fast responses to command signal changes
- Roller screws offer up to 15 times longer life than ball screw actuators
- Less energy consumption with electric actuation
- Accurate and repeatable positioning
- Wide variety of mounting styles
- High cycle rates
- Multiple stroke lengths
- Available in standard sizes offering peak forces from 100 to 40,000 pounds
- Operation with nearly any servo amplifier
- Higher stiffness due to integrated design
