Chapter 27: Other Actuator Technologies Flashcards
Another means of actuation is derived from pressurised fluids, what can these working fluids be?
These working fluids can be either gas such as air in pneumatic systems, or liquids such as hydraulic oil in hydraulic systems.
What is the theory of operation of fluid drive systems for pneumatic and hydraulic systems?
Pressure differentials are established to create flow, and create useful force and motion in the process.
Look at diagram 14, showing a typical fluid actuation system. How does it work?
The compressor, reservoir and regulator serve to ensure that the pressure and flow characteristics of the working fluid are reasonably well known and constant, so that the actuating solenoid values give the desired result at the actuator.
What type of actuator is shown in diagram 14?
The actuator shown in diagram 14 is a piston that provides linear motion.
What is the force available in the actuator shown in diagram 14?
The force available from the actuator is the product of the working fluid pressure and the piston’s surface area, minus losses from friction.
F=PxA -F1 .
Piston actuators can be easily obtained with a stroke, what does this mean?
A stroke is a linear range of motion. The linear range of motion usually ranges from a fraction of an inch to about 10 in.
Pneumatic systems can survive very large numbers of cycles before wearing out, why is this?
This is because of the limited number and simplicity of the moving parts.
What is typical pressure for a pneumatic piston actuator?
Typically 20psi
In contrast to pneumatic systems whose pressure doesn’t usually exceed 100psi, the working pressure of hydraulic systems can be?
The working pressure of hydraulic systems can be much higher, 3000psi is typical.
What is the consequence that the working pressure of hydraulic systems is usually so much higher than pneumatic systems?
This means that hydraulic systems result in far greater actuation forces, and hydraulic actuators are capable of creating thousands of pounds of force over very long strokes.
Hydraulic actuators are capable of creating far greater actuation forces than pneumatic actuators, but what does this mean for the components?
The components must be capable of withstanding high pressures and loads, and it becomes critical to ensure that working fluids don’t leak as it can be hazardous.
What is the difference between a solenoid valve and a solenoid?
From an electrical point they are much the same, but the difference here is that the solenoid valve is a component within a larger system comprising of an actuator, and within these systems solenoid values are used to modulate the pressure and flow of the fluid that does the real work. The effort required to control the solenoid valve is small compared to the forces and motion that can be generated by the working fluid and its associated actuators.
What is the theory of operation of a solenoid valve?
The theory of operation of solenoid valves is straightforward, a linear solenoid moves a plunger or a spool relative to one or more orifices in order to control the flow of fluid through a valve of the body. The routing of the fluid and resulting actions can get complex.
The simplex example of a solenoid valve is a direct acting 2-way valve. How is a direct acting solenoid valve described?
The solenoids plunger acts directly as the valves metering component, and the force to actuate it must overcome the working pressure in the system to either open or close (depending on if the valve is normally opened or closed- both are readily available).
What is the function of a 2-way valve?
A 2-way valve simply allows or stops the flow of the working fluid from the pressure port to the outlet or actuator port, as shown in diagram 15.
Diagram 16: Shows a cutaway of a normally closed, 2-way direct acting solenoid valve. On the left, how is the valve shown?
On the left the valve is shown in the closed configuration. In this state no current is flowing through the solenoid coil and plunger is held tight against the valve seat by the pressure from port P and the core spring.
Diagram 16: what happens when the solenoid is energised?
When the solenoid is energised, the plunger is pulled up towards the centre of the solenoid coil, allowing flow from the pressure port P to the actuator port A. To do this the solenoid must overcome the force from the core spring and the fluid pressure acting on the plunger.
Diagram 17: What do the left and right parts of this diagram indicate?
Diagram 17 represents the states of the 2-way solenoid valve. On the left side the valve blocks the path between the inlet P and the outlet A ports, and on the right the valve body is in a position that allows flow.
Similar to how switches are available with different poles and throws, equivalent solenoid valves are available such as?
For example a 3-way solenoid valve is analogous to a single port, double throw switch. It controls the flow so that the valve outlet port connected to the actuator is switched between the supply inlet port and the exhaust port.
What is a 3-way solenoid valve used for?
A 3-way solenoid valve is used to pressurize the actuator when the solenoid valve is energised, and to release the pressure and relax or retract the actuator when the valve is de-energised.
Diagram 18: What does this show?
The diagram shows a cutaway view of a normally closed, direct acting 3-way solenoid valve. The inlet port is labelled port P, and the outlet is labelled port A, the exhaust is port E.
Diagram 18: What happens when the solenoid is off?
When the solenoid is off, the plunger is pressed against the valve seat 1 and pulled away from valve seal 2 by a spring at the plunger’s centre. Thus the valve between the pressure port P and the actuator port A is closed, while the valve between the actuator port and the exhaust port E is open.
What is the exhaust port of a 3-way solenoid valve typically open to?
The exhaust port of a 3-way solenoid valve is typically open to atmospheric pressure so has the effect of venting the actuator.
Diagram 18: What happens when the solenoid is enabled?
When the solenoid is enabled, the plunger is pulled towards the middle of the solenoid coil, which reverses the states of valves 1 and 2: the pressure port is connected to the actuator port, and the connection between the actuator port and the exhaust port is closed.