Actuators Flashcards
What are the three main sources of energy for actuators?
- Hydraulic (Pressurized Liquid)
- Pneumatic (Compressed Gas)
- Electrical
What is the term we can use to group Hydraulic and Pneumatic actuators?
Fluid Power Systems
What are the two types of Actuators motion?
- Linear - Generating a Translation or Applying a Force
- Rotary - Inducing a Rotation or Applying a Torque
What are the main characteristics we need to consider when characterising fluid power actuators?
- Bore - Cylinder Diameter
- Stroke - How far they can move
What is a common pressure operation range for hydraulic power?
Why is this?
0-6 bar because you will begin to experience leakages at higher pressures
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a hydraulic system?
Advantages:
* We can operate at high pressures (200 bar)
* Hydraulic actuators are stiff due to the fluids incompressibility
* Easy to control in position and speed
Disadvantages:
* Noisy
* High Friction
* Thermal effect (non-linear)
* “Messy” - Leakages of oil and fluids can occur at high pressure, which is why it’s uncommon for useage in the food industry
What are the two main differences between a hydraulic actuator and a pneumatic actuator?
- The fluid for a pneumatic is compressible because we are using gases compared to water
- In the industrial context, we don’t need to have a specific location where we reject the gases used since they are already cleanly in the atmosphere
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a pneumatic system?
Advantages:
* Quick (Fast answer)
* Excellent power to weight ratio
* No return lines needed
* Simple design and control (cheap)
* Fireproof
* Shock absorbant
Disadvantages
* Low working pressure: 5-10 bar
* Difficult to control in position or speed (due to the compressibility of the gas)
* Variation of the pressure due to temperature (PV=nRT)
* Delay (Dependent on the length of the tubing)
What is a pump used for and what type of system is it involved in?
Pumps are used to generate a flow of fluid
They are featured within a hydraulic system
What is a compressor used for and what type of system is it involved in?
Compressors are used to pressurize a gas
They are featured within a pneumatic system
What colours are the arrows for Pneumatic and Hydraulic Systems in a Fluid Power Diagram?
White arrows are used for Pneumatic systems
Black arrows are used for Hydraulic systems
What does a filter do?
Remove debris from the system
What does a lubricator do?
Reduce the friction in the system using a liquid, which is why they aren’t often used in a pneumatic system
What does an air dryer do?
Remove moisture from the air
What does a pressure regulator do?
They maintain a constant pressure in the system. They can do this before or after the system
What is a FRL Unit?
Filter Regulator Lubricator Unit
How do we collect multiple components into one in a fluid power diagram?
We draw a dotted line around the system to collapse it into a subsystem
What are valves used for?
- Change flow direction
- Change flow rate
- Change fluid pressure
What are the types of Spool Valve Actuators?
- Button
- Lever
- Solenoid
What are the 4 things DCV (Directional Control Valves) symbols show?
- The number of ports and the number of switching positions (Inlets and outlets ports are shown by lines)
- The flow path and arrows in the direction of flow
- The shutoff positions indicated by lines drawn at right angles (T)
- The actuation and return actuation method