Controlling air flow and pressure is important in a variety of industries and applications. Pneumatic Tips is a great source of news about a range of pneumatic equipment components. Take a look at the articles below for more information on these and other pneumatic equipment components.
Fire Safe Fusible Link Shut-Off Valves
BI-TORQ® Valve Automation has received Factory Mutual (FM) approval on its fusible link assemblies used in systems requiring automatic shut-off in case of a fire. These state-of-the-art assemblies prevent the spread of fire by containing flammable liquids or gasses once the API 607 (American Petroleum Institute) fire-safe certified valve automatically closes based on thermal release of a fusible link.
FM approval means that BI-TORQ® Valve Automation fire safe fusible link valve assemblies can help reduce insurance costs and allow factories to meet facility-wide safety certifications. With torque outputs ranging from 55 to 21,000, FM-approved fusible link assemblies can be used with fire safe ball or butterfly valves from ½” through 24″ line sizes. BI-TORQ® Valve Automation’s unique design allows for manual operation of most units even when the unit is armed, reducing the need for secondary valves.
API 607 fire safe approved valves can be customer-specified or provided by BI-TORQ® Valve Automation in carbon or stainless steel construction with NPT, socket weld or 150# ANSI flanged end connections. With valve seat choices in TFE®, RTFE®, TFM, PEEK and Delrin, BI-TORQ® Valve Automation’s fire safe valves are suitable for a wide variety of industries. Applications for these automatic shut-off assemblies include tank farms, petrochem, airport and truck refueling stations, paint and toxic chemicals, and biofuel operations.
Actuator Improves Plant Safety & Valve Control
Oil and water don’t mix. Neither do oil leaks and EPA regulations. At Florida’s City of Cocoa Charles H. Dyal Water Treatment Facility, this posed a problem. The accumulator system used for the hydraulic actuators contained more than 100 gallons of hydraulic fluid which frequently leaked.
The plant had been in the process of replacing the electrical actuators on its butterfly valves with Rexa electrohydraulic (Electraulic) actuators from Koso America. Carrying out a similar replacement on the ball valves resolved the leakage issues as well as improved reliability.
The city of Cocoa on Florida’s Atlantic coast provides potable water to all of central Brevard County, including its own 16,000 residents as well as those in nine other cities, the Kennedy Space Center and all the cruise ships sailing out of Port Canaveral. The water comes from a mix of surface and ground sources.
The butterfly valves at the Dyal plant had been designed to use electromechanical actuators, but over time these had turned into a maintenance nightmare.
Looking for a long-term solution to these maintenance issues, the plant installed an Electraulic actuator on one valve as a trial in 2005. These self-contained actuators incorporate hydraulic, electronic and mechanical technologies. There are two main components – the Electraulic power module and a control enclosure. They do not require an external hydraulic pump or tubing, but operate by moving hydraulic fluid from one side of a double-acting cylinder to another.
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| The self-contained actuators incorporate hydraulic, electronic and mechanical technologies. There are two main components – the Electraulic power module and a control enclosure. |
The power module contains a brushless DC motor, gear pump, flow match valve, and thermal expansion reservoir. Upon receipt of a control signal, the pump delivers oil at a nominal 2000 psi to one side or the other of a hydraulic cylinder, causing motion in the desired direction. Buyers can pick from four different sizes of motors depending on the pumping volume and maximum stroking speed desired. The two smaller units come with stepper motors, while the larger units use servo motors with faster frequency response. The hydraulic cylinders come in either linear or a rack and pinion rotary design. A position sensor is mounted within or adjacent to the cylinders and provides position feedback to the control electronics.
Within the control sub-assembly enclosure are the Central Processing Unit (CPU), power supply, and motor drivers. On the outside of the box (or inside it when conditions require) is a two-line display giving actuator status and a five button keypad used for set up and calibration of the actuator. The motor driver receives commands from the CPU and sends control signals to the motor – DC step pulses for a stepper motor or Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) DC voltage for a servo motor.
In operation, the CPU converts an incoming control signal to a target position and compares this with the current position as reported by the feedback assembly on the actuator. If the difference is outside the range preprogrammed by the user, the CPU will send a signal to start the motor. The motor then drives the reversible hydraulic pump to pressurize one side of the cylinder or the other, moving the piston in the desired direction. Once the desired position is reached, the pump shuts down and check valves close, locking the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder and maintaining the actuator position without having to keep the motor running.
Koso America makes a wide range of Electraulic actuators. The linear actuators come in sizes from 2000 lb thrust (8,896 N) to 600,000 lbs (2,668,933 N) with stroke lengths of .75″ to 120″ (2 to 305 cm). Rotary and drive actuators range from 600 lb/in torque (68 Nm) up to 800,000 lb/in (90,387 Nm).
Moving to a Standard Design
The City of Cocoa’s maintenance team installed the actuator, provided power and hooked it into the plant’s Intellution iFIX SCADA system. Bill Grabe, a sales engineer for Pro-Co, Inc. of Winter Springs, Florida, then came out to do the startup and calibration.
The Electraulic actuator passed its initial tests for performance and reliability, so the city decided to standardize on this design, installing new actuators on the rest of its butterfly valves, about 40 total, ranging in size from 16 inches to 36 inches.
Staff started replacing the actuators in 2008 and are now down to the last few small units. Some are two-position actuators while others are modulating. In most cases they were just installed on the existing valves. But, as can be expected at a 30-year-old plant, some valves needed replacement.
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| Rexa electrohydraulic (Electraulic) actuators from Koso America were installed at the City of Cocoa starting with a trial installation in 2005. |
Eliminating Oil Leaks
With the butterfly valves under control, Childers next started looking at the ball valves on the high-service pumps. The city has four of the master pumps and normally only one operates at a time. The four pumps, however, shared a single hydraulic pump and accumulator system (HPU) operating four shut-off ball valves (one for at the outlet of each pump), so a failure would shut them all down. In addition, it would create a reportable environmental incident, such as in early 2009 when gallons of hydraulic fluid leaked into the room and into the plant’s drain system.
The existing 24″ Pratt ball valves had been in service for the last 25 years and the controls associated with the master pumps were fairly elaborate and outdated. It was crucial, therefore, to replace these actuators without affecting the existing controls. It was decided that, rather than replace the scotch yoke actuators with rotary actuators, a linear unit would be sized to replace the existing linear hydraulic cylinder. This allowed the plant to leave untouched all the existing switches and controls.
An accumulator system with food grade oil (Envirologic 3100) was provided for each Rexa linear unit (Model X2L20000-22-C-A) so that even if there is a leak it does not pose an environmental problem. Each unit only requires 1.5 gallons of oil or a total of 6 gallons for all 4 units, a significant reduction over the older 100 gallon system. Additionally, since the actuators use a sealed closed loop system, the oil does not degrade like it does in conventional systems. This eliminates the need for filters and oil changes, resulting in considerable savings in maintenance expense and oil disposal fees.
In August, the first of the four actuators was installed with the rest completed over the next few months. Like the actuators on the butterfly valves, these are performing as expected, Childers said.
Gas Shut-Off Valves Have Compact Double Valve Footprint
February 25, 2010 by admin
Filed under Pressure Sensing, Valves
ASCO Numatics introduced a new family of ASCO modular gas safety shut-off valves with a compact double valve footprint and the industry’s highest flow rates. The valves are ideal for boilers, furnaces, ovens, heating equipment, gas generators, and kilns used in commercial and industrial applications.
ASCO’s modular gas safety shut-off valves are available in two product families. The 8214(200) Series two-way normally closed solenoid valves can be used for fuel gases up to 5 psi. The V710(B)/AH(E) Series two-way normally closed electro-hydraulic actuated valves can be used with fuel gases up to 15 psi. This series is available with fast- and slow-opening constructions. Both product families come in 3/4” to 3” pipe sizes and have aluminum body constructions with pressure taps up and downstream.
New Solenoid Series Designed For 3 & 4 Pneumatic Control Valves
Spartan Scientific’s solenoid operator Series 3800 is specially designed for the pilot function of 3 and 4 way pneumatic directional control valves. These operators are available in plate mount and are interchangeable with most solenoid operator interfaces.
The Series 3800 also can be used in 2 way or 3 way manifold assemblies where multiple valves are combined into a single block station for transmission of air, water, or other liquid medium. The simple plate mount operator and the interchangeable orifice baskets easily make small manifolds for regulation of either automated work stations or coolant water in molding presses.
The Series 3800 has a pressure range of vacuum to 200 psi depending on the orifice size and is dust-tight and water resistant to IP 65. The shading ring is standard enabling both AC and DC coils to be used on all armatures.
Spartan Scientific is certified to ISO 9001 with design. The Series 3800, like all Spartan Scientific products, is manufactured in the USA to the highest quality standards.
North American Pneumatic Actuators Markets Report Released
February 9, 2010 by admin
Filed under Actuators, Equipment, Industry News
Research and Markets has announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan’s new report “North American Pneumatic Actuators Markets” to their offering.
This report titled North American Pneumatic Actuators Market provides the market dynamics of complete pneumatic product segment such as NFPA, non-repairable, mini/compact, rodless, rotary, slide, ISO VDMA type of actuators. In this research, Frost & Sullivan’s expert analysts thoroughly examine end-user analysis and distribution trends.
End-Users Prefer Innovation in Technology and Differentiation in Product Offering in the North American Actuators Market
With end-users cutting back on investments due to the economic slump, and demanding newer technologies and more product differentiation, participants in the North American actuators market are finding the going tough. The economy is expected to look up by the second quarter of 2010; till then, actuator manufacturers are focusing on high demand sectors such as food, packaging, and material handling to sustain growth. “While most end user segments are witnessing negative growth, manufacturers are targeting niche segments where demand is growing,” says the report. “Acceptance of standardized actuators such as National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) and ISO (International Standards Organization) and VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau) by end-user segments such as automotive has also helped in continuous production and revenue generation for the actuators market.”
Nonetheless, the economic crisis has resulted in a decline in pneumatic actuators sales for most manufacturers, and is compelling them to examine other market opportunities globally. Increased revenues are anticipated in the North American pneumatic actuators market as many companies continue to form alliances with overseas market participants to expand their customer base and provide more complete product lines. The unrelenting rise in the prices of raw materials has also facilitated the increase in product prices and hence revenues for the pneumatic actuators market, especially for NFPA products that find application in the food and packaging industries.
The growth of the pneumatic actuators market is aligned with the recovery of the U.S. economy. The development of value-added packages will attract potential clients toward manufacturers who have the capacity to offer complete solutions to end-users,” concludes the analyst. “The incorporation of control valves into sale of actuators is an example of this strategy in action.”
Humphrey Products 410M Series Manifold
The Humphrey Products 410M Series Manifold is designed to accommodate the standard 310 and 410 inline solenoid valves. This special design enables mounting both 3-way and 4-way valves on the same manifold, with the 310 Series mounting orientation determining the normally closed (NC) or normally open (NO) function. Manifolds are available in 2, 4, 6, 8 or 12 station lengths. The manifold contains two galleys, one is common media supply port and the other is a common vent/exhaust port. Other accessories include manifold station block-off plates, a separate 12-station control board that simplifies electrical connections between valves and/or sensors.
The Humphrey Products 310 and 410 solenoid valves are versatile, robust components for any pneumatic application. This balanced poppet design makes them ideal for low power and high flow applications. The 310 and 410 Series valves are compact 1/8-inch ported 3-way and 4-way direct acting solenoid valves. The short-stroke balanced poppet design permits rapid cycling and requires no lubrication. The 310 series can be plumbed normally open, normally closed or as a selector or diverter.
The 310 Series valves have a 0.12 CV; the 410 Series valves have a 0.14 CV. Both valves are rated for air and inert gas from vacuum at 28-inches Hg to 125 psig. The continuous duty coil has a power consumption of 4.5 Watts, comes with flying leads and is available in a range of AC and DC voltages. A push, non-locking manual override is standard. Options include conduit connectors, plug-in DIN-type connectors, locking override, and built-in flow controls on the 410 Series valves to save space, weight and the additional cost of external flow controls.
Humphrey Products
www.humphrey-products.com
Heavy Duty Switches For Hydraulic & Pneumatic Systems
AMS Calibration has released the NOSHOK 400 series of heavy duty mechanical pressure switches.
Designed for use across a range of applications such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems, pumps and compressors and in power generation, the switches provide a stable switching point setting.
The 400 series switch converts pneumatic and hydraulic pressure into switching functions and is designed for applications that require accuracy under high loads.
The switching point is fully adjustable through an adjustment knob with the adjustment range, and includes a locking mechanism.
AMS Calibration’s switch is SPDT, and can be normally open (N.O.) or normally closed (N.C.) depending on the wiring.
The 400 Series Switch is fitted with DIN EN 175301-803 Form A connectors for fast and easy installation.
It is also available with an LED indicator on the plug for visual monitoring of the switch status, or an M12 x 1 (4-pin) electrical connection.
The switch features a repeatability of ±2% of full scale, 360° rotatable male connections, high loadability (shock 30g, vibration 10 g) and Hirschmann (DIN EN 175301-803 Form A) with optional 36″ cable.
Double Eccentric Butterfly Valves Available in 14-16 in.
GF Piping Systems has announced expansion of its large diameter size range for the Type 567 Butterfly Valve to include sizes 14-16″. The new size range features a unique double eccentric off-center design and excellent chemical compatibility. Suitable applications include landfills where large size valves are required for drainage of underground leachate. Other applications include industrial water treatment, potable water treatment, swimming pools, water parks and waste water systems in such industries as chemical, chemical distribution, electroplating and power plants.
The 567 Valve’s unique double eccentric design features an off-center shaft that allows the disc to completely disengage from the disc seal, even when partially open. This results in reduced seal friction for longer service life and minimal maintenance compared to non-eccentric valve styles. The double eccentric design requires only about half the torque of a traditional boot design, which decreases wear on the disc seal to further enhance product life. Other advantages of this design include easier manual operation, compatibility with smaller actuators for reduced installation cost, and better protection against pressure surges.
The new large size valve features industry-standard ISO flange mount for easy electric or pneumatic actuation with most actuators. Other features include bi-directional capability, pressure rating of 90 psi at 70°F, and hand wheel. The valve is available with either EPDM or FPM seals, 304 or 316 Stainless Steel stem, and a Polypropylene body.
Pneumatic Pipe Cutters Can Cut Underwater
With different blades, UPCs cut 6″ – 48″ (150-1300 mm) steel, ductile iron, cast iron, clay, concrete, PVC or PE pipe in one revolution.
These pneumatic powered cutters are lightweight, easy to set-up and use, fast cutting, require only 12″ (300 mm) clearance around the pipe, provide a square cut, and can be used underwater.
New, tough blades for steel and PE pipe give operators a great new use for these long-established Reed cutters.
Everyone needs a handy tubing cutter, so check out Reed’s new spring-loaded C Cutters in 1/2′, 3/4″, and 1″ tubing capacities.
Could This Be The Wheel of the Future?
Most typical males constantly worry about our cars. “Is my oil low?”, “what is that ‘clunk’ing noise?”, “Did my wife put premium unleaded in this like I told her?”, “Why is my ‘check engine’ light on again?”. They even occasionally check the tires to see if they look low on air, and make sure to change them to studded tires for brutal winters. But what if you didn’t have to ever change the tire again dependent on the weather? What if you could buy one tire that would be designed to change to the weather? Yes, there may be a new kid in town in terms of cars and transportation; the Pumplon wheel could be tire of the future.
The Pumplon wheel, which resembles the shape of a pumpkin, or even a melon depending on its shape (hence the name Pumplon), is designed to change shape to whatever the road conditions call for through a rotary mechanism.
Living in a climate where you get to experience the four seasons to their extreme, you can get wet & rainy springs, 100-plus degree summers, chilly and colorful falls, and blistering cold winters. If you were to install the Pumplon on your car, according to Pumplon, you would not need to change them for any weather reason or road condition. Say for instance it was spring-time and there was a heavy rainstorm, by switching the Pumplons to the skinnier shape, it would increase contact pressure, cutting through the water on the road, allowing you to more safely arrive at your destination. Or if the road is flooded, switch the tires to the widest setting to make the car amphibious. In the summer, one may just want to hit the highway and cruise with the top down and feel the find in their hair, and for that they would change the Pumplon to the normal, or “ball”-look setting. For the fall and winter, when you may be trudging through mud or snow (intentionally or not), you will need as much surface area out of my tires as possible. You would consequently set the tire to its “melon” shape to get as much grip and surface area as possible, hopefully getting yourself unstuck in the mountain, or get you through the snow-packed roads to grandma’s house for Christmas.
With the world “going green”, it has brought about some rather interesting, very innovative ideas and concepts, and this one is no exception. The green benefits can be very numerous, from reducing travel times to increasing fuel efficiency.
The Pumplon wheel is the creation of Osmar Vicente Rodriguez, a native of Brazil, also a professor of industrial design at RCA Innovation. His intention for creating the Pumplon was primarily for solving transportation problems for farmers in developing countries where the majority of roads are either unkempt and in very bad condition.
How does it work, you may ask? The secret to the Pumplon is a steel shaft that can expand and retract by means of a rotary mechanism, pneumatic or hydraulic, adjusting rings which makes the wheel deformation wider or narrower.
The material of the tires has been the subject of special consideration. According to Rodriguez, “initially they were steel, but we replaced it with a thermoplastic material, which is easier to produce, lighter and cheaper, and is recyclable. The cover is of vulcanized rubber, similar to that used in tires conventionally, but more flexible to allow changes in size.”
